Byron City.
Although he had signed the purchasing contract and planned to gradually hand over aboveboard business operations to Jones, Zhong Shenxiu knew things wouldn’t be that simple.
To make a fortune in Byron City’s black market spirits business, there was an insurmountable threshold—the federal Prohibition agents!
Despite extensive preparations and even concealing the initial stock in secret warehouses with stealthy transportation, there was still the risk of exposure for both bars and pharmacies!
If those agents, like mad dogs, kept sniffing around, they would eventually find a slip-up or clue.
Therefore, they had to be dealt with!
"Actually... this isn’t too difficult, considering the situation in Byron City. I don’t know about agents from other cities, but most of the Prohibition agents here, well, they have damn well taken bribes!"
Otherwise, the three major gangs openly running liquor businesses would have been shut down countless tis.
Perhaps a few agents remained loyal to their duty, but they were a negligible minority.
When their superiors were accepting bribes, everything else lost significance.
"Of course, those are the Notting Hill family’s informants, not mine. I should cultivate ’my own person’ among the Prohibition agents, even utilizing federal power to wreck rival bars..."
"But, all that is a matter for later."
Choosing a location for the pharmacy and planning various hiring needs kept Zhong Shenxiu extrely busy.
At the sa ti, local gang mbers learned about Whisperer Bar and knew the Notting Hill family had reconciled with the Sirian, Li Wei, realizing this bar had strong backing, so they didn’t co looking for trouble on purpose.
This also made the recruitnt work by Smith a lot easier, easily bringing in several waiters and female attendants.
Zhong Shenxiu conducted brief interviews and decided to hire them all, additionally deciding not to let Jones co to the bar anymore.
After all, boys of that age are the likeliest to turn bad.
...
Federation Calendar 667, September 1st.
In this world, the Federation also divided a year into twelve months, a month into thirty days, and a day into twenty-four hours; this mysterious division, they say, ca from a deity venerated by the church, who governed the jurisdiction over ti.
The forr Li Wei never gave it much thought, but Zhong Shenxiu, after learning of it, was rather surprised.
The slums.
Outside the forr shanty of the Mojito family.
Zhong Shenxiu was preparing to move with Jones.
Previously, living here was a necessity, but now that conditions had improved, they naturally wanted to move to a more upscale neighborhood.
At least, in Li Wei’s mory, the slums’ security was really bad, with bodies occasionally found in the sewers and even the agents cocking their guns before entering, as if stepping into a war zone.
In Zhong Shenxiu’s view, everything in this old ho could be discarded, but Jones insisted on making one last trip back.
They hired a carriage and the two moved so furniture, mainly items with special aning, onto the carriage. The rest could be thrown away.
Of course, they would soon be found by even needier owners; residents of the slums were experts at making do.
The commotion at the Mojito family’s attracted the neighborhood’s attention.
A few children curiously observed the scene, while so adults looked on with envy.
They were also vaguely aware of the events that had taken place before, understanding that the Mojito family owning a bar wasn’t much different from having a money printing machine.
Now, having successfully escaped the mire of the slums, this tale would beco an idol to many, motivating generations of slum children to strive for it.
"Li Wei, are you guys moving?"
Mrs. Wesley just happened to pass by delivering bread and greeted them.
"Yes, I’ve rented an apartnt on rlin Avenue in the Earl District. You’re welco to co and visit."
Zhong Shenxiu smiled in reply.
The Earl District is a well-known middle-class enclave in Byron City, featuring hospitals, departnt stores, police stations, and public carriage services; it’s secure and convenient for living.
Those from the slums couldn’t help but feel even more envious upon hearing this.
A girl with two braids, freckled cheeks, wearing a checkered dress and brimming with health and vivacity, imdiately stepped forward: "Hey, Jones!"
"Hey, Misha!"
Jones greeted the young girl with so awkwardness.
But it was Misha who, with complete ease, addressed Shenxiu: "Is your bar still hiring? I’ve been fired from the coffee shop and I’m in need of a job."
Looking at Jones’s pleading eyes, Shenxiu smiled and nodded: "Sure, go see Smith and tell him I said so, and the daily wage is thirty cents!"
Misha’s eyes lit up, and she imdiately agreed, rolling up her sleeves and wanting to help the two brothers move, but Shenxiu turned her down.
After a flurry of activity, they drove their cart to Earl District, rlin Avenue No.25.
A three-story apartnt building lood before them, with an iron fence at the front and a small garden stretching from the main entrance to the living room.
At this mont, Carla and Jennifer heard the commotion and excitedly ran out.
"Mm, Carla, your dressing table, and Jennifer’s toy cabinet, neither has been left behind..."
Shenxiu said with a smile while patting the heads of the two little girls, then asked, "How do you like the new rooms?"
"Of course, I love the bedroom with its private bathroom," Carla answered with a smile: "It’s just that Jennifer might be too young to stay in a room alone."
As she spoke these words, Jennifer rolled her eyes at her side.
This made Shenxiu chuckle, while also reflecting on how children from poor families tended to mature earlier.
The family entered the apartnt and began to enjoy their dinner.
This ti, Shenxiu had bought the al from outside, with white bread as the main, and turkey, fries, steak, and various jams.
"Tomorrow, the ho tutor I hired for you will arrive, starting from the most basic alphabet lessons..."
Shenxiu said with a smile, holding a cup of sweet wine.
Whether slow or smart, the children were soon to experience the terror of howork.
"And you, Jones, you need to start learning from the accountant I’ve hired."
He glanced at Jones, who was letting out a strange laugh, and added a word, eliciting a howl from him: "Why?"
"Hmph, you can’t understand financial statents or read financial reports and you still want to start a company to make big money?"
Shenxiu scolded disdainfully: "If you want to take over so aspect of the business, this is a necessary process. Otherwise, I won’t be at ease."
"Alright, alright..."
Jones covered his head with a look of pain, as if foreseeing a miserable future life; he seed to be developing a headache already.
Carla and Jennifer exchanged glances, but they could not help but snicker.
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