vncnus Chapter 204 Assigning Work
Chapter 204 Assigning Work
Li Gang glanced at him, said nothing more, put down a hundred or so silver dollars, picked up a gun and a grenade, and turned to leave.
The gambling den owner hurriedly put on a smiling face, bowing and scraping all the way, and personally escorted Li Gang out of the gambling den. Only after watching Li Gang's figure disappear into the street did he breathe a long sigh of relief, his back already covered in a cold sweat.
On the other side, Yan Shuo had Zhou Hu carry the bruised and swollen Kamiya Konosuke to a secluded courtyard.
There was a stove and ingredients ready in the courtyard. Yan Shuo found a stone bench and sat down. Looking at the trembling Kamiya Konosuke, he said in a flat tone, "Tell me, besides cheating at gambling, what other skills do you have?"
Konosuke Kamiya quickly straightened up, a hint of pride mixed with a touch of apprehension on his face: "Sir, I... I can cook! Japanese food! It's just the usual street stall standard, but the taste is definitely not bad!"
Yan Shuo raised an eyebrow, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes, then waved his hand: "Since you know how to cook, go to the kitchen and make a few different dishes for me and the brothers to try. If you do well, you'll benefit; if you don't, you know the consequences."
"Yes! I understand!" Kamiya Konosuke quickly replied, not daring to delay for a moment. He rushed into the kitchen, rolled up his sleeves, and got to work. Although he was covered in injuries and his movements were somewhat inconvenient, he was exceptionally serious and efficient when cooking.
Before long, several steaming Japanese dishes were served, including fried pork cutlets, miso soup, and a few cold side dishes. The presentation wasn't particularly refined, but the aroma was irresistible and whetted the appetite.
Yan Shuo picked up his chopsticks, tasted each dish, his eyes lit up slightly, and he nodded repeatedly in praise: "Not bad, not bad, the taste is really good, more authentic than many Japanese dishes I've eaten."
While Kamiya Konosuke's cooking skills may not be at the level of a top chef or comparable to the exquisite dishes in high-end restaurants, they are rich in flavor and have a down-to-earth quality. The fried pork cutlet, in particular, is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, with a flavorful sauce that leaves you wanting more after just a few bites.
Konosuke Kamiya scratched his head, a slightly embarrassed smile on his face, and quickly explained, "Sir, you flatter me. These are all classic dishes from Nagasaki. They're nothing special. Restaurants all over Japan are learning to make them. They're just like steamed buns, mantou, cucumber salad, stir-fried vegetables, and stinky tofu in China. They're the most common and widespread dishes. They're not high-class, but everyone loves to eat them."
He paused, then added, "However, although everyone knows how to make it, to make it so delicious that people praise it and want to come back for more, that takes real skill!" As he said this, his face was full of pride, and his previous sleazy and fearful demeanor had dissipated considerably.
Zhou Hu, Li Gang, and several other team members also came over, picked up their chopsticks, and took a bite. Their eyes lit up, and they nodded in praise: "Delicious! Even better than what you get in Japanese restaurants in the city!"
"This fried pork cutlet is so authentic, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, it's so satisfying!"
Hearing everyone's praise, Kamiya Konosuke's cheeks flushed slightly, and he even seemed a little shy. He scratched his head and chuckled, his eyes filled with the joy of being recognized.
Looking at him like this, Yan Shuo couldn't help but ask, "With such good skills, how did you end up as a lowly wanderer? Why don't you open a small stall and sell these delicious dishes? Or did you gamble away all the capital you would have used to open a stall?"
When this was mentioned, Konosuke Kamiya's smile faded slightly, but he still told the truth: "Hehe, sir, you know what I'm talking about. I originally had 500 yen, thinking that this amount of money was not much and I couldn't afford to open a high-end restaurant. So I thought I would go to the casino to double my money, and then buy a shop so I wouldn't have to pay rent. Whatever I made would be mine. But I didn't expect... I didn't expect to lose so badly and even get involved with the yakuza."
"Hey, you've got a pretty deep mind."
Yan Shuo scoffed, his tone dripping with sarcasm, "You think you own the casino? That you can just double your money whenever you want? You really think gambling is a sure-fire way to make money?"
Konosuke Kamiya looked somewhat aggrieved and explained in a low voice, "I was just thinking that those Chinese wouldn't dare offend us Japanese! You see, I usually wear ronin's clothes and wander around the streets, and they really haven't dared to offend me. I just didn't expect them to dare to do something like this behind my back..."
"Ha ha ha ha!"
As soon as Kamiya Konosuke finished speaking, the team members in the yard couldn't help but burst into loud laughter, laughing so hard they were doubled over. Even Yan Shuo couldn't help but curl the corners of his mouth, his eyes full of laughter.
This Kamiya Konosuke is truly naive, even to the point of being foolish.
Those people have gone so far as to run gambling dens and employ thugs; they're no longer ordinary petty thugs. How could they possibly tolerate him just because he's Japanese?
Those who join gangs rely on ruthlessness and courage. Gangs without temper and guts would have been swallowed up by other gangs long ago, leaving not even ashes.
It would be easier to talk things out face-to-face, since he was dressed as a ronin. If he were a Japanese officer with soldiers by his side, he might even be fawned over by those gangsters.
But he was just a lowly ronin, with no one to rely on. He usually walked around the streets with a few friends, and he might be able to act arrogantly because of his "Japanese" identity. But once he was alone, he dared to renege on his debts. How could those gangsters possibly let him off the hook?
If we don't teach him a lesson, if we don't let him know how many eyes the King of Hell has, he'll probably never know how to write the word "death."
Do you really think Chinese gangsters have no temper?
Do you really think Chinese gangsters are cowardly?
The team members laughed for a while before gradually stopping, and when they saw Konosuke Kamiya's bewildered expression, they couldn't help but laugh again.
As the laughter subsided, Yan Shuo's expression turned serious again, and his tone became somber. He said to Kamiya Konosuke, "Stop grinning like an idiot. Since those gangsters dared to lay a hand on you once, they've already remembered you. As long as you're still wandering the streets, they'll dare to cause you trouble again, or even kill you outright."
The smile on Kamiya Konosuke's face froze instantly, and a hint of fear flashed in his eyes. He quickly lowered his head and dared not utter a sound.
Yan Shuo continued, "Although I helped you settle your gambling debts and temporarily got you out of trouble, I can't guarantee you won't face retaliation from them in the future. With your personality, you're not suited to opening a restaurant on the street; it's too conspicuous and could easily cause more trouble."
He paused, then changed the subject, revealing a pre-planned arrangement: "Here's what I'll do. I'll introduce you to a job. The canteen at the Shanghai Military Police Headquarters is currently hiring a Japanese chef. You can work there; it's stable, and no one will dare to mess with you. I'll make a call in a bit, and Major Koizumi Toshio will arrange everything for you. You don't need to worry about it."