boyutpedia Chapter 28 Li Wei won a game
Chapter 28 Li Wei won a game
Although only one day had passed, there was no trace of the gunfight inside the Vicita Cafe.
There wasn't even a smell of blood.
I don't know if the waiter cleaned it thoroughly enough, or if the smell of new paint masked it.
Levi sat with Danielle at a coffee table, reading newspapers and drinking coffee.
At that moment, Antonio, the owner of the coffee shop and the same Antonio who had played dominoes with Levi a few days earlier, walked over.
"Li Wei, even though you're a new friend of mine, you should at least let me leave work, right? It's already 8 PM, we should have closed long ago."
Li Wei looked up from the newspaper, glanced at the somewhat disgruntled Antonio, and smiled.
"Antonio, wait another half hour, you'll thank me."
After saying that, he turned his gaze back to the newspaper.
As a veteran and the true leader of the Miami Cuban gang "76ers", Antonio has experienced many ups and downs in his 62 years of life.
Therefore, he immediately deduced that something would happen tonight, and it was very likely related to this young Asian man he had only known for a few days.
Antonio stopped chasing Levi away and instead pulled up a chair to sit opposite him.
"Li Wei, we're friends, right?"
"We wouldn't call each other friends, at most we'd call each other acquaintances."
Li Wei spoke without looking up, then turned the newspaper to the next page.
"Hey! Li Wei! What nonsense are you spouting!"
One of Antonio's "old buddies," an old man who had participated in the domino game, immediately reached into his coat pocket—he felt his boss had been insulted.
Antonio raised his hand to stop him.
Then he nodded to Li Wei.
"Okay, we're just acquaintances. Let's not talk about friendship, let's talk about interests."
"What exactly do you know? Tell me, and I'll pay for it."
"I'm not interested in money."
After taking a sip of coffee, Li Wei made it clear that he refused.
"Boss, let me take this bastard to the 'kitchen,' and I'll make him talk."
The old man spoke again, which enraged Antonio.
"Where's your manners?! We are the 76ers protecting Cuban Americans, not those street thugs!"
The old man fell silent.
Antonio sighed, but did not reprimand him further. Instead, he apologized to Levi.
"Sorry, Lafayette was one of the original 76ers, just like me."
"Back then, we hadn't been able to establish 'rules' in the community, and we could only maintain limited order with knives and guns. He was used to it and never changed."
Li Wei did not accept the apology, but he did not press the matter further. Instead, he stretched out his hand and began to count.
"Antonio, Lafayette, Cavisi, Drussi, that's four people. Where are the remaining 72? Where did they go?"
Lafayette reached into his pocket again, but after glancing at Antonio and seeing that he said nothing, he pulled his hand out again, his expression growing increasingly grim.
Antonio, the seemingly perpetually smiling fat old man, also looked gloomy.
"Of the original 76ers, only four of us are left. Most of those old guys died during the initial chaotic period, and many of the remaining ones died from internal injuries or other reasons. In fact, when I was in my forties, I felt that being able to die in a hospital bed would be considered 'enjoying my old age'."
"But the fact is you survived, lived to be 62, and had a net worth of tens of millions of dollars."
Li Wei spoke without any politeness.
Antonio nodded.
"Yes, so I never forget my duty—I must protect the community and 'our own people' in place of those who died."
Li Wei smiled, put the newspaper away, placed it on the table, and looked directly at Antonio.
"Antonio, could you please answer one question honestly? Do you sometimes feel tired?"
Antonio understood that Levi wasn't asking about the "fatigue" he felt from running an extra 500 meters during his workout that morning.
He looked intently at Li Wei.
He couldn't see any mockery or jest, nor could he discern any weapon Li Wei was carrying.
All he saw was sincerity, a pure pursuit.
After thinking for nearly five minutes, Antonio smiled and spoke.
"I'm 62 years old, and I'll be 63 on this day next month."
"I see."
Li Wei nodded, then looked up at the clock in the corner.
"Fifteen minutes left, shall we finish a game of dominoes?"
Antonio did not immediately agree, but instead asked a question in return.
"Even though you don't consider me a friend, I think you're someone worth befriending. So I won't ask you what you want to do anymore, I'll only ask one question—are you planning to help the 76ers, or do you want to go against them?"
Li Wei, however, took on the role of a "philosopher" at this time.
"Things usually have two sides. From the perspective of the 76ers' survival, my intentions may not be friendly. But from the perspective of the 'rules' you have upheld for 62 years and are about to enter your 63rd year, we are in the same trench."
Arafat gripped the gun for the third time, but Antonio merely tilted his head and pondered for a moment before calmly asking a question.
"When you say the 76ers are still around, are you referring to the name itself, or does it include the people associated with that name?"
Li Wei then became a performer again.
Like a theatrical actor, he exaggeratedly covered his forehead with the back of his hand, closed his eyes, and spoke in an aria.
"Oh my God! Antonio! You've really hurt me! Do I look like the kind of antisocial lunatic who likes to kill indiscriminately?"
Antonio smiled.
"You may not look like an antisocial person, but you're definitely a madman."
After saying that, he waved to Arafat.
"Bring me the dominoes, I want to play a game with Levi. And while I'm at it, let's see if he really has the right to say things like that."
Arafat quickly brought up the cards.
After shuffling a few hands of cards, Levi and Antonio began a one-on-one duel, just like back in the park.
It's still "block". Each person draws seven cards and takes turns playing a series. If they can't play a series, they skip it. Whoever plays all their cards first wins.
If no one can play a card, the game is "locked," and the player with the fewest points wins.
During the process of drawing cards, Li Wei seemed to casually ask a question.
"You and Miles seem to get along quite well."
Antonio paused for a moment while drawing cards, but he quickly resumed drawing cards while responding as if it were just a casual remark.
"He's alright. I have some business dealings with him, and he pays promptly and never delays payment."
"The arms trade?"
Li Wei directly exposed the truth.
Antonio glanced helplessly at Danielle, who remained silent the entire time.
"Do you really have to talk about this in front of this young girl?"
Upon seeing this, Danielle glanced at Levi.
Li Wei ignored her—he was still angry with Danielle because of the Coke can from a few hours ago.
"Okay, what I really wanted to ask was, you were the one who tipped off Miles, weren't you?"
With that, Li Wei played the first card, [6-4].
Antonio started speaking as he added "4-2" to the end of the 4.
"Yes, Ian and Ron broke the rules of the underworld. Even if we talk about personal relationships, I will tell Miles that his third-in-command is planning to team up with outsiders to take him down and betray the Crocodile Gang."
Li Wei satisfied his curiosity and, after learning the whole story, stopped talking and began to concentrate on playing cards.
The same goes for Antonio.
The game ended quickly.
Li Wei lost again.
"There has been progress, but it's not enough."
Antonio commented on Levi's card skills.
Li Wei smiled.
"It's only just begun, isn't it?"
After saying that, he began shuffling the cards.
Antonio, seeing this, didn't say anything more.
The game continues.
In the second game, Li Wei lost again.
In the third game, Li Wei lost again.
In the fourth round, Li Wei had two cards left, while Antonio had three.
"It seems I have the upper hand now."
"Even if you win, it's still 1:3."
"No, Antonio, sometimes the outcome of a game depends on just one crucial round."
After saying that, Li Wei played a [3-3].
安东尼接了一张【3-6】，然后他手上还剩一张【6-3】和一张【3-2】。
He glanced at the card table; if Li Wei couldn't continue, he would still win.
Unfortunately, Li Wei had only one [6-1] card left in his hand.
Antonio lost decisively.
"Okay, you win."
Antonio put down his cards, and Levi suddenly spoke up.
"It's almost time."
As soon as Li Wei finished speaking, more than a dozen gunmen burst in.
Antonio glanced at the crocodile logo on their clothes and frowned.
"Myers was just taken to the police station, not killed. He hasn't even been sentenced yet, and you little brats are already breaking the rules you made with the 76ers?"
An "action captain" carrying a submachine gun immediately stepped forward, curling his lip in disdain.
"Old man! With Tessa taking over, the old rules don't apply! From now on, only the Crocodile Gang's rules count! Those who don't want to die, just cooperate!"
"Then let me show you the rules of the 76ers!"
Arafat pulled a light machine gun directly from under the bar, set it up, and cocked it with a clatter.
"Damn it! Trying to scare me! Let's see who's faster!"
But before he could fire, Li Wei spoke first.
"roll."
The action team leader immediately looked over with an unfriendly expression, but when he saw Danielle with her hand on her lower back, he paused for a moment.
Then he became somewhat exasperated.
"Damn it! If we were on the same side, we should have said so earlier! What if Boss Tessa docks our pay if a fight breaks out?"
After saying that, he left with his men.
Arafat couldn't help but look at Anthony, while Antonio frowned and looked at Danielle.
Li Wei smiled and pointed at Danielle.
"Let's get to know each other formally. You're the action leader of the Li Wei gang, and this will be the official rule for the Miami gangs from now on."
"Li Weibang?"
"The rules that are officially recognized?"
Arafat and Antonio spoke almost in unison.
But unlike others, Arafat looked at Levi with some shock—he didn't understand when this "Levi Gang" had suddenly appeared in Miami, and it seemed quite formidable.
Antonio looked at the somewhat embarrassed Danielle, but spoke to Levi instead.
"So, Tessa is also a member of Levi's gang."
"Li Wei is the new financial manager; she'll be the unsung hero from now on."
Li Wei told Antonio frankly.
Antonio was stunned for a full minute before finally shaking his head and laughing.
"Okay, Li Wei, you really won."
"I just hope your rules aren't too harsh."
At that moment, Li Wei reached out his hand to Antonio.
"Interested in working part-time as an 'Operations Director' at Levi's?"
"The new rules will be discussed and decided by you, Tessa, and Danielle. I think you'll be satisfied with that."
Antonio paused for a moment, but quickly smiled and took Levi's hand.
I can't think of a reason to refuse.
Li Wei smiled too, because he felt that his megaphone toy (unlimited battery life version) would be in his hands around dawn tomorrow.
He was so excited he couldn't sleep, so he decided to drag Antonio along to continue playing dominoes.