Dragon Head Supreme Chapter 183
Chapter 183: A Reunion with Ting Ting
As the clock struck eight in the evening, Chen Xue Wen finally got a break after a long afternoon of hustling. He took a few of his brothers and headed to a nearby street-side food stall for dinner.
With the new year closing in, business at the Electronic Dynasty was booming. The slot machines never got a moment’s rest—always occupied, spinning, ringing, and swallowing bills like hungry beasts. The migrant workers returning home for the holidays brought pockets full of cash, and they weren’t shy about spending it.
Each machine easily raked in forty to fifty grand a day. And out of that, at least ten percent stayed in the house. After all, no casino ever runs at a loss.
Occasionally, a lucky soul would hit it big. Chen Xue Wen made sure to seize the moment, hyping up their win, making a spectacle out of it. His men would even escort the winner to the bank to deposit their earnings, reinforcing the legend of Electronic Dynasty as a place where fortunes could be made. Word spread, the crowds grew, and business soared.
The revenue pouring in daily was unimaginable. Some nights, the Electronic Dynasty couldn’t even hold all its guests, forcing them to redirect customers to their partner establishments. Lai Hou, the street-smart kid who grew up in the underworld, managed the overflow like a pro. He had a natural talent for schmoozing, and with the generous budget Chen Xue Wen gave him, he kept the high-rollers entertained and well-fed. Thanks to him, even the other gambling joints in Old Square were seeing an upswing in profits.
As they ate, the conversation revolved around business. Lai Hou, always the most animated one, grinned between bites of lamb skewers.
“Brother Wen, if this keeps up, we’re looking at a cool ten million profit by the time the new year rolls in!”
Chen Xue Wen chuckled. “Let’s follow Third Brother’s advice—spread some of that profit around.”
He turned to Ding Three and added, “Speaking of which, make sure the enforcement squads and all the other departments are well taken care of. The last thing we need is trouble during the holiday rush. Shutting down for even a single day would mean losing hundreds of thousands.”
Ding Three laughed confidently. “Don’t worry about it. We’ve got solid connections now. They treat us way better than they ever did Snake.”
“You just focus on running the place. Leave the politics to me.”
Chen Xue Wen nodded in satisfaction. Having Ding Three by his side meant he didn’t have to deal with the bureaucratic mess himself. He wasn’t cut out for that kind of game, but it was a necessary evil. A single misstep with the authorities could bring everything crashing down. Thankfully, Ding Three had a knack for greasing the right palms.
Meanwhile, Wang Zhen Dong updated him on the new recruits. Li Er Yong, Lai Hou, and Wang Zhen Dong had all been bringing in fresh blood, slowly grooming them into trusted hands. No real boss builds an empire overnight. Loyalty had to be cultivated. Relying on a bunch of aimless thugs was a fool’s move. Any punk could be bought for a few hundred bucks.
Better to train a small, disciplined crew than manage a horde of unpredictable street rats.
After finishing his report, Li Er Yong leaned in with a smirk. “Brother Wen, a few friends have been asking… are we still running those underground fight tournaments?”
Wang Zhen Dong scoffed. “Fight tournaments? Forget it!”
Chen Xue Wen leaned back, shaking his head as he listened to Wang Zhen Dong’s complaint. “Dong, you can’t think like that,” he said, voice steady and firm. “This is how we got our start. When we needed to make a name for ourselves, these guys helped spread the word. Now that we’re on top, we can’t just turn our backs on them.”
He shifted his gaze to Lai Hou. “Monkey, set aside two hundred grand. Before the year’s up, we’re throwing a big tournament.”
“Make it all-inclusive—fighting games, high-score runs, shooters, the whole spread. And the prize money? Make it worth their while. Announce it as… I don’t know, something flashy—‘The Annual Grand Championship’ or whatever.”
He smirked. “I don’t care how much it costs. If two hundred grand isn’t enough, then three hundred. Just make it loud, make it big, and make sure we leave an impression.”
Lai Hou nodded instantly. “Got it!”
He grinned. “Damn, Brother Wen, if we pull this off, those champions are gonna have the best year of their lives. They won’t even know how to thank you!”
Chen Xue Wen chuckled. “They helped us rise. Paying it back is only right.”
As they talked, a sharp voice rang out from across the way. “Do you even know what you’re doing?!”
Heads turned toward the commotion. Inside a small shop, the boss lady was berating a girl. “I told you to skewer them properly, and this is what you do?” She huffed, eyes narrowing. “You’re not a kid anymore! You look smart enough, so why can’t you use your head?”
The shop owner, who had been grilling meat outside, rushed in, waving his hands. “Hey, hey! What’s with the yelling? Ting Ting just started today. Of course, she’s gonna make mistakes.”
The boss lady whipped around, scowling. “Shut up! I know exactly what you’re up to. You saw a pretty girl and hired her just so you could stare, didn’t you?” She scoffed. “You dirty old fool, you’re not fooling anyone!”
As the couple shouted at each other, the girl stood frozen, awkward and unsure.
At their table, Chen Xue Wen’s crew stiffened. Wang Zhen Dong suddenly shot to his feet, his voice rising in disbelief. “Wait—why the hell is it her?!”
It was the same girl who had applied for a job at their arcade earlier that day.
Li Er Yong and Cheng Yong exchanged glances before standing as well. “Whoa, what’s she doing working here?”
Cheng Yong scoffed. “What do you think? She didn’t get the job with us, so she had to find something else.”
“Damn, Wen, this is on you,” Li Er Yong said, shaking his head. “She would’ve been perfect for the arcade, but you turned her away. And now? She’s here, stuck skewering meat. Is that really the kind of job for a girl like her?”
“Brother Wen, maybe… maybe we should bring her in after all?”
Chen Xue Wen shot them both a cold look. “You two done eating?”
They nodded.
“Then get your asses back to the arcade.”
He signaled for the check, tossed some cash on the table, and walked out without another glance.
Lai Hou grabbed a few skewers on the way, munching as he followed behind.
Ding Three sighed at the others, shaking his head. “You guys, man… seriously? Never seen a woman before?”
“Fuck off,” he muttered, then strode out.
Left with no choice, Li Er Yong and Cheng Yong sighed and trailed after them, defeated.
Back at Old Square, Wang Zhen Dong casually told Chen Xue Wen he was heading out to check on a few other shops. He wandered around for a while, making it look good, then quietly slipped back toward the street-side food stall.
This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation