Xiao Feng didn't continue to press the issue and agreed readily, "Alright, but with that interruption, I've forgotten where we were... Hmm, let me think, where were we again?

Forget it, let me go back a bit. In the old days, at the docks in the coastal areas..."

Everyone had a row of black lines across their foreheads; this was way too far back!

Di Junxiong silently noted in his heart that his future master was quite vengeful, to the point of being petty.

Lu Yao couldn't help but remind, "We were just talking about the gambling den."

"Oh, right, the gambling den." Xiao Feng slapped his forehead, looking as if he had just remembered.

Di Junxiong leaned over to Lu Yao and whispered, "Mistress has a good memory!"

Lu Yao's pretty face turned bright red in an instant, "You, you should, should stop calling me that..."

Before she could finish speaking, she noticed Di Junxiong had already sat back on his little stool.

One must admit, Di Junxiong was really going all out in trying to get Xiao Feng to accept him as an apprentice. He was grasping every opportunity to earn favor with those around him, preferring to act than miss any chance.

Xiao Feng continued, "If the thugs at the gambling den can withstand a beating, then the den has successfully eaten. The medical expenses come from the casino's share, and regardless of how business fares, as long as the casino is open, it has to pay a monthly 'share fee.'

Su Yuzhuo frowned slightly, "In that case, it doesn't seem like too bad a deal?"

"Not a bad deal?" Xiao Feng chuckled lightly, "That money isn't so easy to earn. The casino people aren't fools.

Taking the share money is like selling your life to the casino. If the casino encounters troublemakers or any other issues in the future, the thugs from the gambling den have to be the first to step up. That's the rule.

Of course, it's not just casinos that have such people. Brothels, pawnshops, and other businesses can also have powerful people who take all the business. However, casinos are places where all kinds of people gather, money flows quickly, making it relatively stable."

"I see!"

Everyone nodded, now understanding why Xiao Feng speculated that Gui Si'Er's grandfather's generation might have been dock thugs.

Just looking at Gui Si'Er's style, it's clear he uses wit over force.

At this time, Xiao Feng continued, "It's said that there was a ruthless man once, at his wit's end, who placed a large pot of oil in front of the casino and jumped in himself, ensuring the clothing and food of his wife and children would be taken care of. Of course, by taken care of, I don't mean living well, just not starving."

"That can't be right?" Lin Zhiyan questioned, "If he was at his wit's end, where'd he get such a big pot of oil? And isn't the casino most afraid of causing deaths?"

"Maybe it was arranged with the casino." Xiao Feng shrugged. "I told you, it's just a story. Take it with a grain of salt. If you insist on being serious, then it's no fun."

"Is it true to use such tactics to extort people?" Fujiwara Keiaki remained skeptical.

As soon as he finished speaking, a voice answered from behind, "It's true."

Everyone turned to see Sun Shijie standing at the door, for who knows how long.

Zhao Guo'an, upon seeing him, stood up to offer his seat to Sun Shijie, because he was an elder, after all, etiquette must be observed.

Di Junxiong then offered his own little stool, gesturing for Zhao Guo'an to sit down.

Zhao Guo'an looked disdainful, shaking his head repeatedly, indicating he wouldn't be caught dead in such a situation.

After Sun Shijie sat down, he looked at Xiao Feng and sighed, "I haven't seen anyone jump into an oil pot myself, but I've witnessed what you call wit over force. That scene is etched in my memory forever.

I remember I was about the same age as you guys, maybe even younger. Those days, there was always something lively to watch, but it was never enough."

After his sentiment, Sun Shijie got to the point, "At the time, two people were involved in the wit over force, a middle-aged man in his forties, who worked at the largest local restaurant. His monthly share money alone was more than what ordinary businesses made in a month.

The other looked about the same age as I am now, skinny as a rake. He was well-known back in the day for his line of work, and everyone called him Second Master.

When the two met, they were polite at first, but soon began brandishing knives.

Though young, Fifth Master wasn't ambiguous. He daringly sliced two taels of flesh from his own calf and sprinkled salt on the wound, sweating while shouting 'it feels good'."

At this point, everyone couldn't help but imagine the scene, feeling uncomfortable all over. What's this if not insanity?

Sun Shijie continued talking to himself, "Second Master shook his head, said 'that's boring, flesh can grow back. Let me show you something that won't.'

With those words, he slapped his hand down on the table and chopped down with an axe, decisively and without a cry of pain.

I was standing right at the front, saw very clearly, Second Master cut his left middle finger. His index finger and thumb were already gone, perhaps taken during some youthful brawls."

Fujiwara Keiaki interjected, "Sorry to interrupt, but what if Second Master backed out when Fifth Master cut the flesh? Wouldn't that mean the two taels of flesh were cut in vain?"

Sun Shijie laughed, "Backing out at that point would ruin his reputation completely, never being able to hold his head high in the area for life. Not only would peers look down on him, even ordinary folks might spit a few words his way."

Fujiwara Keiaki nodded in understanding, "That answers my question. Please go on."

After a moment of reflection, Sun Shijie continued, "Though the younger Fifth Master had already turned pale, he was determined not to give up the restaurant's share money. Gritting his teeth, he chopped off two of his own fingers.

Immediately afterward, Second Master hung his head without speaking, and no one in the crowd watching said anything. Despite the bright sun, I felt a pressing weight on my chest, making it hard to breathe.

After a few minutes, Second Master lifted his head again and smiled, saying, 'People get old, and that thing becomes useless. Better to trade it for food and clothing. Young man, watch closely!'"

"Wait, wait, what does Second Master mean by 'useless'? I totally don't understand," the little girl blinked her big eyes, looking utterly confused.

Sun Shijie's face reddened; he couldn't bring himself to explain what "that thing" meant to a little girl.

"Lu Yao, do you know?" the little girl turned to ask.

Lu Yao shook her head, indicating she didn't understand what "that thing" meant either.

Not to mention Su Yuzhuo, who, despite spending considerable time in Huaxia, had always been the big sister in the Devil's Concentration Camp. Given her status, who would dare speak such risqué words to her?

However, Lin Zhiyan seemed to realize something as her expression turned slightly peculiar.

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