Chapter 166: Glory Before Death

Zheng Qian arranged for Duan Qiran to find a few people to spread the news about their recruitment drive and the big party, then immediately had them disperse.

News of Red Rose's high-paying recruitment and the big party spread quickly across Yebai.

Unlimited drinks and free entry for everyone—this free event was quite attractive.

However, nightclubs had used this kind of news as a gimmick before, where drinks were free but seats cost money, playing tricks on customers.

After hearing the news, the young playboys and nightclub girls of Yebai immediately went to Red Rose to confirm if it was true.

Representing Red Rose, Jin Zhiyuan told them, "Drinks are free, seats are free, entry is free—everyone is welcome as long as you come to have fun!"

"If I take even a single penny from you, you can take my head!"

Under such a passionate reply,

the news about Red Rose exploded throughout the circle.

Young masters and misses who liked going out to play,

college students from the local university town in Yezhou,

and young boys and girls who had never set foot in a bar but wanted to experience the nightlife were all discussing the free event at Red Rose.

The event at Red Rose happened to fall on the weekend, so many people called up their friends, planning to go to Red Rose and have a great time.

Most of them were coming with the mindset that "only an idiot passes up a freebie."

Free alcohol—it would be a waste not to drink it.

Red Rose was already one of the most famous bars in Yebai, so the news of it being free was a bombshell.

People who usually couldn't afford it and could only go to low-end bars now had a chance to enter Red Rose.

There was a lot of thunder outside, but the rain inside Red Rose was light.

The news was indeed sensational, so much so that even Jin Zhiyuan hadn't expected it to cause such a stir.

Very few people came to apply; only two or three, and none of them had any previous experience.

"Qian, look, these applicants are all newcomers; none of the veterans are coming."

Zheng Qian had anticipated this.

Those nightclub "veterans" were still in a wait-and-see mode. When Seattle was poaching people before, they had likely brainwashed them, claiming Red Rose was failing and going under.

Suddenly launching a free event, people would inevitably be skeptical.

If the free event was real, the door to Jin Zhiyuan's office would definitely be trampled down.

Who wouldn't want such great benefits?

What bar gives a 30,000 cash bonus upon hiring?

What bar pays social insurance and housing funds for a salesperson?

What bar offers such high commissions?

"Don't worry, Uncle Jin. Those people aren't stupid; they're sharper than anyone and are doing the math in their heads." Zheng Qian reassured Jin Zhiyuan, "How are things with the drinks? Have they arrived?"

"Yes, a few trucks came in the morning, and a few more in the afternoon. More will arrive tonight." Under Zheng Qian's arrangement, Jin Zhiyuan had already coordinated with the people from the Maldives.

They wouldn't be serving other alcohol tonight, only the local moonshine from the Maldives.

First, to test if these drinks suited the tastes of young people.

Second, it could significantly lower costs. Zheng Qian hadn't spent a penny importing these drinks from the Maldives; the bosses there had given them to him for free.

If the reception was good, Zheng Qian would push these drinks hard, sending people to buy out the supply directly so that Red Rose would be the only place in Yezhou with this alcohol.

He could even apply for a patent, turn it into a brand, sell it to other regions, and make a killing.

...

"Show your cards. I have a Full House of Kings."

Cui Jinghui revealed his hole cards: a pair of Kings.

"You have a pair of Kings? I have three Queens! What a cruel matchup!" Shi Yuzhu folded his cards, feeling somewhat unwilling.

That last hand had cost Shi Yuzhu 20,000, which pained him greatly.

In Cui Jinghui's eyes, a Texas Hold'em game of this scale was just small potatoes; he had never bet less than 50,000 in the gambling dens he frequented.

He was only playing casually because he was with a few old classmates.

Cui Jinghui grinned and raked the chips in front of him.

"Young Master! Something terrible has happened!"

Seattle's Operations Director, Lu Wenwei, stumbled and jogged into the room.

"How dare you! Can't you see I'm having a good time playing with my classmates?" Cui Jinghui was annoyed by the sudden interruption and felt he had lost face.

"Young Master, I deserve to die! I deserve to die!" Lu Wenwei slapped himself hard across the face twice.

"Let it go, Jinghui. He must have something urgent to tell you. We don't mind." Lu Shanshan said from the side.

Cui Jinghui nodded. Lu Wenwei stepped forward, leaned down, and whispered a few words into his ear.

"What did you say?!"

"It's absolutely true, I wouldn't dare joke with you about this!" Lu Wenwei said, bowing his waist.

"Alright, I get it. You can go." Cui Jinghui waved his hand, and Lu Wenwei retreated, carefully closing the door behind him.

"What's the matter, Jinghui? Why the panic?" Tang Xingyu casually tossed out some chips as the ante for the next hand.

After leaving the KTV last night, the group had gone to a hotel for dinner, then switched venues to play at Seattle, staying until midnight.

Cui Jinghui hadn't woken up until one o'clock this afternoon, so naturally, he hadn't heard about the situation at Red Rose.

If Lu Wenwei hadn't told him, he would still have been kept in the dark.

"The free event at Red Rose, I've already heard about it." Shi Yuzhu laughed, "You're a bit late to the news for a Young Master."

"I stayed out too late last night and didn't wake up until the afternoon. Otherwise, I would have known long ago." Cui Jinghui retorted irritably.

"I even sent people to Red Rose yesterday to see if I could acquire it; that way, I wouldn't have to fight them."

"Acquire it? How much were you offering?"

"Not much, not little—ten million."

"Wow, you wanted to acquire Red Rose for ten million? Not only did you fail to buy it, but you also pissed them off." Shi Yuzhu curled his lip.

"Heh, ten million isn't a small amount. If I really went after Red Rose, I bet you that shop wouldn't be worth a single cent."

Hearing Shi Yuzhu's words, Cui Jinghui actually fell into reflection. The act of sending someone to acquire it had low lethality but was extremely insulting.

Perhaps Red Rose was indeed pissed off enough to pull this stunt.

But so what?

They were going to die in the end anyway.

Wanting to have a final blaze of glory before they die?

"Jinghui, who is the new boss of Red Rose? Maybe your father and the others know him—he could be an acquaintance. Don't let a misunderstanding cause trouble between friends." Lu Shanshan kindly reminded him from the side.

"I know the former boss was called Tian Kaixuan, and he was a mortal enemy of my father. I really don't know about this new boss."

"I heard from my subordinates that he seems to be an old man in his fifties or sixties, wearing glasses, looking refined and scholarly, like a businessman."

"An outsider?" Tang Xingyu frowned.

Judging by that description, he must have made his fortune in another business and was now switching tracks to try his hand at the bar industry.