chapter 14 three years

Hexagonal Pavilion could be considered a rather upscale restaurant near the station.

Its exterior had a touch of antiquity, with eaves decorated in a style reminiscent of ancient flying rafters. The interior decor was already quite impressive for this era.

Frank chose this place to treat, intending to show his intentions of getting on good terms with Benjamin.

He was well past the age of recklessness. Having come this far, with only one leg slightly disabled, it was a testament to his accumulated virtues in past lives.

Benjamin brought along a few guys who had been performing well lately. These were the ones he had observed to have potential and he intended to trust them more.

As they entered, Frank, who had been waiting for some time, immediately came forward, warmly saying, "Bro Red Robe, I'll be the host today. First, it's a thank you, and second, it's about building connections, haha."

Benjamin shook Frank's hand, a smile on his face. "Bro Frank, you're overestimating me. Who doesn't know that Bro Frank has the widest network in the territory of Wu City? I'll be counting on you, for my future prosperity."

Frank started by humbling himself, but Benjamin, an intelligent character, naturally wouldn't take his words at face value. Frank was also surprised. In his impression, guys of Little Red Robe's age with such a big scene usually acted arrogantly. He hadn't expected Little Red Robe to be so steady, which made him regard him even more highly. Their conversation grew increasingly warm.

Frank is essentially making a living based on his connections. Benjamin, on the other hand, is currently thriving, so it's only natural for him to cultivate good relationships.

Benjamin, having lived two lifetimes, has long buried his resentment deep within him. For a while, the two of them chatted and laughed heartily.

After a few rounds of drinks, the atmosphere at the table became even more lively. The focus of Benjamin's team shifted to Frank, who didn't dare refuse a drink. His words were witty and created a lively atmosphere at the table. Benjamin watched and nodded in approval. Indeed, society was a crucible; everyone who managed to make something of themselves was no ordinary person.

Frank did have a strong capacity for alcohol. In no time, he had downed nearly two bottles of liquor, his complexion unchanged, though his speech had slowed considerably.

"They say Bro Frank's connections are more numerous than the railroad tracks in Wu City. I was thinking of asking you for a favor."

Suddenly, Benjamin thought that even though he was about to get his hands on these cars, he still didn't have a driver's license. He looked at Frank in front of him and brought it up.

Frank burst into laughter. The main purpose of this meal was to try and win the business of registering the cars for Little Red Robe and his gang. But he hadn't expected that these people didn't even have driver's licenses.

"Benjamin, if it's about the cars, you can count on me. I have no problem with that," Frank immediately agreed.

"Good, thank you. It's not just me and Simon's group. Since we're dealing with this in one go, let's include my three brothers who came with me," Benjamin said, pointing to the three guys who were with him.

Andrew Li, Xavier Zhang, and Wesley Wang were handpicked by Benjamin, whether intentionally or not. These three individuals had developed very close relationships with Simon's group respectively. It could be said that they were the most capable assistants for each of them.

When they heard about getting their licenses, their eyes lit up as they looked at Benjamin. They understood that being a driver was a highly sought-after profession nowadays, and obtaining a driver's license was a significant opportunity.

They exchanged a glance and thought, "They say Bro Red Robe is generous, and it seems it's true." They knew they had entered Benjamin's inner circle. Suppressing their excitement, they stood up simultaneously and bowed respectfully, saying, "Thank you, Bro Red Robe."

Frank, clear-headed despite the alcohol, was also amazed by Benjamin's generosity. He had quoted a price of 3,000 for a driver's license, and these three were paying nearly ten thousand. The fact that they didn't hesitate was astonishing. Seeing their excited expressions, it seemed that if Benjamin asked them to jump off a building in the future, they wouldn't even frown. This Little Red Robe was extraordinary, knowing when to advance and when to retreat, displaying remarkable skill. In the future, he would undoubtedly be a prominent figure in Wu City.

Benjamin was unaware of the high regard Frank held for him in his heart. He smiled and gestured for the three to sit down, raised a toast to them, then turned to Frank with a smile, saying, "Bro Frank, I'll entrust the registration and licensing matters to you. Just give me a total, and I'll give you the money."

People were strange. After negotiating the deal, Frank found himself less interested in making money. His intuition told him that building a good relationship with Benjamin was far more important than earning a few bucks.

Being a quick decision-maker, he bit the bullet and gave a base price, "Thirty thousand."

Benjamin was somewhat taken aback by this price, but when he saw Frank's expression, he immediately understood his intentions.

"Alright, I'll write you a note. You can go see Sis Fiona and get fifty thousand from her," Benjamin told the three men, who were still excited, waving their hand.

At the same time, he discreetly nodded towards Wesley, the most perceptive of the three, indicating the table of liquor.

---

In the end, Nicholas couldn't hold back his anger and dumped the full plate of braised pork on his older brother's head before leaving.

As his head cooled down from the cold wind, he suddenly remembered his older brother's instructions, scratching his head involuntarily.

He knew that going back to ask his brother again was out of the question. It was just a matter of finding the right person. Suddenly, a person's face flashed in his mind.

"Yes, I'll find him. He surely knows."

Nicholas became excited and didn't care what time it was. He went to a convenience store, bought some gifts, and knocked on the door of a house.

Frank looked at the five bundles of crisp hundred-dollar bills in front of him. Seeing Benjamin's expression that brooked no refusal, he sighed and raised his glass, finishing it in one gulp.

"Bro Red Robe, ten years. Within ten years, you will dominate Wu City."

Frank gave a thumbs-up.

Benjamin sat at the head of the table, with three men standing quietly behind him.

His demeanor was calm, and his tone was gentle as if he were talking about a trivial matter. "Three years."