American Comics: BOSS Invasion

In the lounge, Lin Xue and Qi Shan sat facing each other, with Fujiang standing behind them. A plate of freshly served tea sat on the coffee table, with two cups already poured.

Qi Shan picked up a teacup, took a sip, and sized up Lin Xue. "Do you know what I admire about you?" he asked.

Lin Xue was stunned, unsure how to respond.

Lin Xue looked at Qi Shan.

Qi Shan smiled. "To be honest, this is related to your position in my heart."

Lin Xue lowered her head and remained silent for a long time before slowly speaking, "Mr. Qi, do you know how scary it is to jump off a building? I regretted it the moment I jumped.

I'm not grateful that you saved me; I'm grateful that you gave me a way out."

Qi Shan said, "Don't jump to conclusions. The road is always there; it's just a matter of whether you dare to walk it!"

With that, Qi Shan picked up his teacup.

Lin Xue's heart skipped a beat. So, that's how it is.

"Looking at your expression, you must have considered it before." Qi Shan spread out his palm. "This is Hong Kong. I don't need to describe how much influence finance has here. Your life in the past year has made it very clear.

You should know that in the past year, almost every week, someone has jumped off a rooftop.

The vast majority of them were smashed into a pulp. Besides a few who were crippled, with broken arms and legs, only a few particularly lucky ones were rescued, and you are one of them."

Lin Xue's eyes were firm, and she bit her lip and nodded vigorously. "Mr. Qi, don't worry. As long as I can take care of my wife and children, I'll do whatever you want me to do, even take the blame for someone else."

Qi Shan smiled. "It's good that you have such determination. That's exactly what I need. Don't worry, now that I've saved you, I won't let you throw your life away for nothing.

Someone who chooses suicide over hurting others, I can see that person's true nature.

I've always believed in the saying, 'Don't fight against human nature.' Since you've been laid off, I'll naturally give you a job from the past!"

Qi Shan raised his hand and snapped his fingers. Fujiang placed a document on the coffee table.

"This is a bar. The area isn't too big, just over 1,000 square feet. It's located in a back alley. The style isn't particularly novel, but it's advantage is that it's hidden.

I spent 20 million to buy the bar. Starting tomorrow, you'll go there as the manager."

Qi Shan looked at Lin Xue. "I've checked your resume. Before you were laid off, you were in this position, and you did very well.

I believe you should be able to handle it!"

Lin Xue was pleasantly surprised and quickly stood up, bowing repeatedly and thanking him, "Thank you, Mr. Qi, thank you for your trust. I will definitely manage the bar well."

"I don't care how well it's managed. What I need you to pay attention to, what I need you to do, is something else!"

Qi Shan leaned back against the sofa and said calmly, "I want you to observe everyone who comes to drink, especially the regulars. You must understand their personalities and basic information. Every week, have someone hand over the information, and just give it to my secretary.

She's Japanese; you can just call her Miss Fujiang! As for the salary, you can decide. If you're not satisfied, you should know what will happen."

Recalling the despair on the rooftop, Lin Xue shuddered violently and quickly said, "Mr. Qi, don't worry, I will definitely do my best. But, but with just me alone, I'm afraid it won't be easy to handle."

Qi Shan waved his hand. "The bar is up to you; I only want the results!"

Lin Xue nodded vigorously. "I understand, Mr. Qi!"

"Very good!"

Qi Shan nodded. Fujiang stepped forward and extended her hand. "Then, Mr. Lin, I'll see you out and hand over the documents!"

"Okay, okay!"

Lin Xue hurriedly stood up, bowed to Qi Shan, and followed Fujiang out.

Walking from the building to the side of the road, Lin Xue was still in a daze, touching the kraft paper bag in his arms. He still couldn't believe it.

After just one meeting, the other party handed him a bar. This was simply a turnaround.

In addition to these, there was also a cash check for 100,000 yuan to be used as initial operating expenses.

That being said, Lin Xue, who had read the information, knew that the bar was taken directly from the previous operator, and there was no need to make too many changes to the inventory or decoration. Even if there were some adjustments to the decorations, it would not exceed 10,000 yuan, so the main purpose of this 100,000 yuan was still for the salaries of the bar staff.

Among them, Lin Xue exclusively enjoyed 30,000 yuan, and there were also liquor commissions.

According to his previous experience in running a bar, with such an exaggerated base salary, earning sixty to seventy thousand a month was no problem.

Yesterday, he was still desperate and ready to jump off a building; today, he had taken a turn for the better and become a bar manager.

The ups and downs of life were really too exciting!

It's just that Mr. Qi there…

Lin Xue's mind flashed with Qi Shan's calm and unwavering eyes from beginning to end, and he shivered violently.

He kept chanting in his heart: I must do things well, I must do things well!

Standing by the road to calm down, he looked at the cash check in the kraft paper bag, crossed the road to find a convenience store, thought for a moment, picked up the phone and started dialing.

"Ah Sheng, how have you been lately? Selling cart noodles? Why did you abandon that to sell this stuff? You are a proper chef with a chef's license, and you're especially good at teppanyaki. In the past, many bosses were fighting to hire you. What, the pay is too low?

When are you closing up shop? Let's get together. I've called Ah Hui and Ah Liang. Ten o'clock? Are you kidding me?

Ah Mei has to go to work at ten o'clock, okay? Let's make it eight o'clock, at the dai pai dong we used to go to, okay? That's it, hey, don't be late!"

"Ah Liang? What are you doing? Come out and get together tonight, eight o'clock at the old place! I know you're broke, but I'm not lending you money, lending you, you bastard, is the same as giving it away. Is that it? Eight o'clock, I won't wait for you if you're late."

"Ah Hui? Buying waste newspapers, making more than 20,000 a month? Then you must be as fat as a pig. Are your bartending skills still there? I have something good for you! Eight o'clock at the old place! That's settled!"

"Ah Mei? It's me, Ah Xue, not that long-legged girl, Manager Fat Xue, remember? Are you still running the dance troupe? No way, you're so pretty, you've gone to be a hostess? Don't do that, come out and get together tonight, I have something good to tell you, eight o'clock at the old place! By the way, do you have the long-legged girl's phone number? She ran off to the Philippines? Never mind, I'll look for it again!"

… …

Lin Xue leaned on the counter and made phone calls all afternoon, flipping through the phone book before stopping.

Eight o'clock in the evening, dai pai dong.

A large group of people were feasting in the plastic shed.

After several rounds of drinks and everyone had eaten their fill, they finally stopped.

Lin Xue looked at the crowd, their faces glowing after the hearty meal, tossed the large bone aside, grabbed a towel to wipe her hands, and said, "Looks like that brat Ah Liang isn't coming, so let's not wait for him and get straight to business!"

"Boss, no need to say anything else, considering this meal, we owe you one. We haven't dared to indulge like this in over a year."

"Yeah, it's really tough out there now. So many bars have closed down. We have no choice but to find other ways to survive, competing with others for scraps, selling cart noodles, selling seafood, collecting garbage.

Being looked down upon every day with our faces covered in dirt is one thing, but the main thing is we can't earn much money, barely enough to make ends meet. I can hardly go on living like this!"

"Who isn't? At least 2 million people in Hong Kong are living this kind of life, okay? At least you still have food to eat. Didn't you see the news yesterday? Someone jumped off a building again, thankfully they were rescued this time, otherwise Hong Kong's suicide rate would have exceeded 300 this year. And that's just what's been reported on the surface. If you include what the police have hidden, and the number of people who have mysteriously disappeared, it would have broken a thousand already, okay?

It's good enough to have a way to survive, don't complain here. Brother Xue called us here today, there must be something important to discuss, don't interrupt!"

The crowd reported on their lives, talking all at once, but they were interrupted by a bald man after only a few sentences.

Then all eyes turned to Lin Xue.

Lin Xue didn't beat around the bush and said directly: "I'm now working for a new boss. The boss has given me a bar to manage, located in Causeway Bay. I haven't seen the renovations yet, but the area should be around 1000 square feet.

I don't have any people on hand right now. You guys are all experienced in this industry, would you like to come and help me?"

As soon as they heard this, everyone's eyes lit up and they rushed to say: "Brother Xue, no problem, when do we start work?"

"Brother Xue, how much will we get paid?"

"Can the salary compare to what we used to make?"

Lin Xue raised his hand and pressed down, saying: "As long as you show your true skills and manage the bar well, I will negotiate the salary with the boss.

After all, this is your old profession, you should be familiar with it. As for the side hustles you've recently developed, give them to your family if you have one, give them to your relatives if you don't. Don't give them up for now, after all, it's a source of income.

But everyone knows that there is a global financial crisis now, don't think that good things will fall from the sky and hit you on the head. The boss has other requirements!"

The crowd looked at each other. The bald man spoke first, cautiously probing: "Brother Xue, your boss isn't involved in illegal activities, is he?"

"Possibly!" Lin Xue recalled Qi Shan's face and his calm, extremely indifferent expression.

"But you don't have to worry, the boss promised me before that I would manage the bar. Don't you know me? I won't touch those things.

The boss's requirement is very simple, he is looking for a person, but he is not sure about this person's information, so he requires us to pay attention to observing the guests, and it is best to be able to find out some basic information about the guests, which I will summarize and submit.

My requirement for you is that each person gives me information on at least one person every day. It doesn't need to be too detailed, just the name, gender, appearance, and recent experiences. If you can be more detailed, that would be best."

Speaking of this, Lin Xue glanced at Ah Mei and said: "Ah Mei, you have an advantage in this regard, you are so beautiful, men are willing to talk to you.

If you can dig out some useful information from the guests, the boss might even give you extra rewards!

Even without the basic salary plus the alcohol commission, a month's income would be about the same as being a hostess. This side is a little more decent after all, what do you say?"

Ah Mei is a trendy beauty, in her early 20s, with long, light yellow hair hanging over her shoulders, a pure white tank top on her upper body, hot pants and small leather shoes on her lower body, exposing her fair shoulders and fleshy thighs, creating a very sexy look.

Ah Mei has a small nose and small eyes, and a small face, and her voice is slightly hoarse, always giving people the feeling of a rebellious teenager, which is why she is particularly attractive to men.

Strangers would think that Ah Mei is a little girl who likes to play around, both sexy and innocent.

Only their friends know that Ah Mei is the most scheming one. Two years ago, she and a few friends formed a dance troupe, singing and dancing in various bars, and also working as a beer girl.

Her monthly income is quite considerable.

As soon as Lin Xue finished speaking, Ah Mei directly raised a beer, without saying a word, drank it all in one gulp, and smashed the bottle on the table, making a bang, and said: "Brother Xue, from now on you are my boss, thank you for giving me a hand. To be honest, recently there is a guy named Big Head Dragon who comes to support me every day, and he brought a lot of underlings. If I don't get out of here quickly, I will be forced into his bed sooner or later.

But you have to be mentally prepared, he is缠ing me very hard, even if I hide in Causeway Bay, he might come looking for me. Brother Xue, you have to support me!"

Lin Xue's mind flashed with Qi Shan's face, and he nodded without hesitation: "Don't worry, he won't dare to cause trouble! Ah Sheng, what about you?"

The bald man didn't say a word, picked up a beer and drank it all in one gulp.

Lin Xue nodded: "Good, decisive enough, Ah Hui, what about you guys?"

Several men looked at each other. Ah Hui said: "Brother Xue, to be honest with you, we have been a little desperate recently. If you hadn't appeared today, we would have been ready to buy a few daggers and take a risk.

You gave us a hand, we will remember this kindness in our hearts. Don't worry, bartenders, waiters, and parking attendants can start work tomorrow!"

Lin Xue slapped the table and shouted: "Good, everyone is so united, the future will definitely be better and better. Boss, bring two more cases of beer, let's not go home until we're drunk tonight!"

With a meal, he found several old buddies, and Lin Xue finally set up the framework of the bar.

For the next week, everyone was taking inventory, changing some decorations, cleaning up, and finding someone to change the sign.

Perhaps inspired by the Umbrella Corporation logo, Lin Xue had a whim and changed the sign to "bulu", and also changed the logo to a small umbrella.

Thus, the red umbrella and the blue umbrella appeared in Hong Kong at the same time.