"Thank you for your kindness, Mr. Otani. Would you like to have a drink? Apart from being the boss, I'm also a bartender."
While sending the off-duty workers and masters out of the door, Ye Qing welcomed Yokoichi Otani, who was outside the door, into the store.
It has been almost two months since I came to America, and this is the first person in the vicinity to express kindness to myself. For Ye Qing, who had not yet broken away from the student's thinking, it was as exciting as a lonely person who was rejected by the group suddenly having someone willing to make friends with him.
Of course, if he didn't bring Japanese material, perhaps the excitement would have been a little more.
"Oh, is it? Then I'm welcome, Mr. Ye."
After receiving an affirmative answer from Otani Yokoichi, Ye Qing walked into the bar with a smile. While chatting with the other party, I took out the shaker. Ye Qing's movement of holding the pot is fancy but very cool.
The palms of Shaker and Ye Qing were like cold-war lovers who were constantly arguing, and they always maintained an elusive distance. Every time it looked, the next second seemed like the shake kettle was about to fall to the ground with a bang.
Two glasses of cool mojitos were quickly brought to the bar, and next to the cocktails were snacks brought by Yokoichi Otani. Except for the sushi, which is normal in Ye Qing's eyes, the rest of the wasabi, octopus, sashimi, etc., in Ye Qing's opinion, is a bit anti-human...
"Ye Qing, originally there were no pubs and no gun shops in our area. Now you're here, and the vacancy in our area will be filled. Aunt Mary, who is next to me, also wants to meet you, but she has thin skin, hahaha."
Both are owners of nearby shops. When we met for the first time, the content we could talk about naturally couldn't escape this area.
"Hey, it's my fault. It's been almost two months since I've been here, and I didn't even think of visiting your neighbors. Otani, what do you think? You'll be at my store in two days; let's get together. Of course, I'm responsible for the drinks, and you need to prepare the food. After all, my cooking skills are really not that good."
"Okay, I'll start contacting them after I go back. In terms of time, how about the night after tomorrow?"
When Otani Yokoichi heard Ye Qing's reply, his expression brightened. But immediately, as if remembering something, Otani Yokoichi suddenly changed his words.
"Oh, yes. Ye Qing, there is one more thing I think I need to remind you of first."
"Speak!"
Ye Qing, who was stuffing a piece of sushi into his mouth, said vaguely. However, Otani didn't care about Ye Qing's rudeness and continued.
"You know, we're not here in Long Beach or Manhattan. So there's a little bit of a flaw in the law and order, but don't worry too much. At that time, most of the troublemakers will be students from nearby community colleges who don't study well. But there are also a small number of troublemakers who are indeed gang members."
Um? ? Hearing Otani Yokoichi's words, Ye Qing frowned. I still remember hearing about my uncle, who was in business when I was a child and seemed to have mentioned this kind of thing. And when it comes to the most annoying thing for small business people, this kind of gang member is definitely at the top of the list.
Hard-earned money, if you give them once, there will be countless times to pay their own labor and sweat. But if you don't give it, don't talk about those violent behaviors; just making trouble for you can make your business impossible.
"Haha, Ye Qing, don't worry too much. Although this is not a wealthy area, the sports fields in the east are indeed places where the wealthy people often come, so the speed of the police rushing over is not slow. Besides, before the police come. , we'll help you too. Besides, you're a gun shop, and if they dare to do it in your shop, then under federal law, you'll have no problem shooting them."
Seeing Ye Qing frowning, Otani Yokoichi smiled. There is a sense of pleasure in the tone that the goal is about to be reached.
"Of course, I personally don't recommend doing this unless it's an emergency. In that case, it's easy to offend these gang members to death. Let's go out to do business in order to seek money. Don't you have a saying, Be kind to make money? ."
"Well, thank you, Mr. Otani, for the reminder. I can understand what you mean, but what you just said, come and help me? What do you mean?"
Considering Otani Yokoichi's ancestral home, Ye Qing couldn't help but have ghost thoughts like the three-member group and the Black Dragon Society. The first time we met, God knows what roads are on the other side.
"Haha, it's us small businessmen nearby. In order to deal with the harassment of these gangs, we shop owners spontaneously unite. Once someone is looking for trouble, before the police arrive, we will form a group and confront them until the police arrive. The purpose of coming here today is to invite you to join us."
Otani Yokoichi said as he pushed a plate of sushi on his side to Ye Qing. He could already see that Ye Qing didn't touch the fishy sashimi and the like at all.
"Of course, it's not dangerous. We're not gang members, and we don't go out and grab turf or anything. It's not thirty years ago, when gang members were rampant. You join us, and they will have concerns when they come to you. People who know our film are not easy to mess with. Likewise, it is also good for us. After all, you are a gun shop, and you will make them more afraid of you if you join us."
Having said this, Ye Qing finally understood. Let me just say, even if there is such a custom of visiting new neighbors in Otani's hometown, this is the United States after all.
In such a place where the folk customs of "United States tip, shooting every day" are simple and people are elegant and easy-going. Where will the original customs be preserved? Perhaps a little, but with other purposes, indeed more crucial motives.
"If it's as you said, then I'm naturally willing to join. But I've only been here, and I'm not familiar with the situation here. Can you introduce me?"
Ye Qing did not rush to agree; it was the first time they met after all. If the other party is a gang member, and then he agrees in a confused way and then gets involved in some gang fights, then it will be a lot of fun.
"Of course. There are three main forces in Los Angeles: the Mexican Gang, the Black Gang, and the Asian Gang. Mexican forces are concentrated in Inglewood, the black car drivers outside the airport, and the employees of major car washes, most of which are Mexicans. The Black Gang is mainly concentrated in El Monte, bullying and bullying middle school students, or selling them some things that are prohibited by law."
Otani Yokoichi said and shrugged, as if he were very disdainful of these gang members. But think about the fact that the gang members in his hometown would go to fetch water and deliver meals for the elderly. Bullying middle school students is indeed a bit pricey.
Ye Qing nodded understandingly and listened to the other party continue to speak.
"The Asians organization is the loosest, and there are their people everywhere. There is not much to say. But generally speaking, these people are the dark side of this society. If you don't contact them, generally speaking, there will be nothing to do with them. Let's add Facebook. When you get to know us, I'm sure you'll be willing to join."