Authority

"Huh?" Zhao Yuanba froze for a moment, then quickly realized he might have been "riding someone else's coattails to the top" again. The powerful Hall Master of White Crane Hall was going to promote him.

Yes! A promotion!

At the thought, excitement bubbled up inside him. If he could get promoted to a higher position in the White Crane Merchant Association and earn a higher monthly salary, wouldn't life get even better?

He could visit higher-class brothels!

Zhao Yuanba immediately plastered on a "fake" ingratiating smile. He filled Jiang Yan's cup, though Jiang Yan still wore a "cold, expressionless face," and loudly thanked him:

"Thank you, Hall Master Jiang, for promoting me. I'm forever grateful.

"From now on, I'm ready to go through fire and water for you!"

From now on? Jiang Yan looked at Zhao Yuanba, whose thick, bushy beard covered most of his face. He squeezed his eyes shut before he could stop a filthy image from surfacing, then lowered his voice and said:

"No need to go through fire and water.

"Just dance for us!"

"Huh?" Zhao Yuanba looked baffled.

"Like those women..."

Jiang Yan pointed at the dancing girls in the hall and smiled meaningfully.

"Right here. Dance for us."

Zhao Yuanba finally understood. He glared and said:

"You're despicable."

He'd only been joking with Jiang Yan, and now Jiang Yan wanted him—a man built like a bear—to dance with a bunch of young women.

This was unforgivable.

"Hahahahaha!"

"Hahahahaha!"

Seeing Zhao Yuanba's crestfallen expression, Jiang Yan and Miao Xiao Hong exchanged a look and finally burst out laughing.

Sometimes, a man's happiness was that simple.

After several rounds of drinks, Jiang Yan, pleasantly tipsy, finally spoke at an unhurried pace:

"Brother Zhao, Xu Shaonian's doing well over at the Yanlu Merchant Association. You don't need