"My point is that the owner of Jin Húlu net bar opened a small loan guarantee company, which, to put it bluntly, is similar to 'loan sharking.' I'm working as a salesman for him now. When I'm not busy, I also help with debt collection. You know, it's quite profitable."
He then patted Xiao Xun on the chest, "Brother, why don't you come work with us! You won't have to go out collecting debts. You can just sit in front of the computer, post ads, and make calls. I think Boss Jin values you highly."
Xiao Xun waved his hands, "I really can't do this. I have something else to discuss with you today."
"It's been a while. If you have something, we can chat while we eat. There's a restaurant up ahead, my treat. Let's go?"
"Let's."
Xiao Sanmao slung an arm around Xiao Xun's shoulders and walked ahead. The subordinate followed with his head held high.
The three entered the restaurant, and the subordinate courteously poured wine and offered cigarettes to the two.
Xiao Xun and Xiao Sanmao clinked their glasses. "I'm asking you a favor for this, alright?"
Xiao Sanmao looked at Xiao Xun, "We're brothers, no need for favors. Just tell me, brother, and if I can do it, I won't even bat an eye. If you need money, it's no problem. I don't have much, but a hundred thousand or eighty thousand is fine."
Seeing Xiao Sanmao's attitude, Xiao Xun was very pleased and felt that the matter was settled.
He then lowered his voice, "It is related to money, but it's not that I need money. Do you know a girl named Guan Jiawen? She's about my age."
Xiao Sanmao thought for a moment and took a sip of wine, "Let me think... I have some impression. She seems to owe us money, and it happens to be my business. I was planning to go collect from her these past few days."
He then looked at Xiao Xun's face, "Could she be your relative?"
Seeing Xiao Xun shake his head, Xiao Sanmao's eyes became complicated. "Brother, you can't do anything that would betray our deputy captain! She's the goddess of so many of us, you can't..."
At this moment, Xiao Sanmao's phone rang. He looked at the caller ID and smiled, showing the screen to Xiao Xun, "Look, speak of the devil."
"Hello! Boss, what could I be busy with? Just messing around. Haven't you seen Brother Xiao lately? Okay, let's not mention him, not mention him." While speaking, he winked at Xiao Xun.
"Didn't you tell me not to mention him? Why are you mentioning him yourself? Fine, fine. What does he need from me? You don't know, how would I know. Okay, I'll contact him, don't worry! Got it, got it, understood." After speaking, he hung up the phone.
He picked up his wine glass and looked at Xiao Xun, "Brother, how did you offend this 'tigress'?"
Xiao Xun and Xiao Sanmao clinked their glasses. "I didn't offend her, I just don't want to date her anymore. I feel it's not suitable."
Xiao Sanmao shook his head and finished his wine. "You say you haven't offended her, but you know, for people like her, even if you really don't want to date anymore, she has to be the one to break it off first." He then pointed at Xiao Xun, shaking his hand, "You're doomed, you're doomed."
After that, he changed the subject, "Right, you mentioned Guan Jiawen just now. What's going on between you two?"
"Nothing much, just a friend. She borrowed a lot of money online and can't repay it now. She's desperate and asked you for money to 'patch the western wall.'"
Xiao Sanmao listened and said, "Is that so? In my opinion, you shouldn't bother with her. People like that can't resist temptation. They insist on comparing themselves to others in terms of spending and dressing. They can't earn it themselves, and their families don't have it, so they can only borrow from online. When they can't repay, they start playing the victim. They're not worth sympathizing with."
He then poured Xiao Xun another glass of wine. "In the future, if you meet people like this, stay away from them. Don't get splashed with their blood and stain our clothes."
Xiao Xun looked at the wine in his glass. "I want to give her a chance. I don't want to see a young girl take this path."
Xiao Sanmao slapped the table. "What path, my dear brother? Do you know why we're good friends, why I consider you my brother? You were once so desperate that you had to sell your account, live in internet cafes, and eat instant noodles, but you never did anything illegal or borrowed a single cent online."
Xiao Xun's expression suddenly turned serious. He took out his phone. "How much money did she borrow? I'll repay it for her. But you must destroy her videos and photos, no copies. If I see even one online, our brotherhood will be over."
Xiao Sanmao stood up, a smile full of deference on his face. "Brother, don't say that, don't get angry. Fine, I won't say anything else. Just for your kind heart, brother, I'll delete the videos and photos. As for the money she borrowed, she can repay it slowly when she has it, or we can put it on hold for now, okay? Don't get upset, it's not worth it for someone like her."
Xiao Xun also stood up, picking up his wine glass. "You truly consider me a brother. Thank you." He then prepared to finish his wine.
Xiao Sanmao stopped Xiao Xun's glass, his expression also serious. "Brother, we've agreed, this is the only time. I also advise you not to be so kind. People like this will do it again and again. She can't resist the temptation. You promise me, and I promise you, if she encounters similar situations again, no matter how much she begs, let her bear it herself, alright?"
He then released Xiao Xun's hand.
Xiao Xun looked at the wine in his glass and finally drank it down in one gulp. "No problem, we have a deal."
Xiao Sanmao patted Xiao Xun's arm. "Come, sit, sit, eat, eat."
Then he said to the subordinate beside him, "See? This is my brother, a born good person."
The subordinate bowed and nodded, offering cigarettes. Xiao Xun refused.
Xiao Sanmao took one, lit it, and took a deep drag. "Brother, in this world today, money is everything. Come work with me, brother. Although I haven't studied much and don't have much education, I know that without money, things really don't work out."
Xiao Xun believed that Xiao Sanmao truly lacked education. If he had any education, and recognized a few more characters, he would know that the person sitting in front of him was the annual influential figure in the city, who had dominated the hot search for over half a month, known as the "redeemed Shawshank" of this era.
After several rounds of wine and food, it was nearing the afternoon.
At this moment, a call came in. It was Mu Jiahe.
Xiao Xun picked up the phone, half of his drunkenness dispelling. "Okay, I'll come find you right away."
After hanging up, he stood up and said to Xiao Sanmao, "Thanks, brother. I'll treat you to a meal when I have time. I have something else to do, so I'll be going now."
"Wait."
Xiao Sanmao also stood up unsteadily and called out.
Xiao Xun turned to look at him. "What is it?"
"When we meet, you call me brother, and I call you brother, but if I need to contact you, I have to rely on bumping into you. Fortunately, I happened to be doing business nearby today, otherwise, my boss calling me, I wouldn't even know where to find you."
Xiao Xun smiled knowingly and took out his phone, showing the QR code to Xiao Sanmao. "Come, add me."
Unexpectedly, as Xiao Sanmao took out his phone to scan, Xiao Xun suddenly noticed that the other party was using the latest flagship model from Jingji Group.
Xiao Xun quickly covered the QR code with his hand. "Forget it, let me scan yours. How can I let my brother scan me?"
Xiao Sanmao put his phone away and closed the scanning interface. "Does it matter who scans whom? You're still particular about this."
He then said to the subordinate beside him, "See? My brother is a particular person."
After Xiao Xun added Xiao Sanmao as a friend, they exchanged pleasantries for a while, then Xiao Xun left.
He walked out onto the street, quickly hailed a taxi, and headed towards the company.