America's King of Poetry

Chapter 30 Money is not the purpose

Waking up in the morning, Arthur finished breakfast and was about to send Gina to school, but Gina said he didn't need him to send her off today.

"I don't go to school. Today is a visit day. I visit the museum in the morning and the public library in the afternoon."

Gina said in a cheerful tone while eating Arthur's fried eggs.There are quite a lot of extracurricular activities in American high schools, such as sports competitions, volunteer services and various visits. Today is their visit day.Arthur thought it was good, I finally didn't have to be late for work.

"How about you pick me up in the afternoon and we meet at the public library? My friend wants to meet you."

Before heading out, Gina suggests that Arthur meet at the public library.The visit will end at about three o'clock. Several of Gina's friends know that she has an Italian boyfriend who looks like Keanu Reeves, and they all want to meet her.Although Gina was a little worried that Arthur would be targeted by those guys, the girl's vanity still made her agree. Which little girl has a handsome boyfriend and doesn't want to show it off to her girlfriends.

Arthur agreed, and Gina happily kissed Arthur on the face, and then went out to take the subway to the museum in Brooklyn to participate in the event.

After breakfast, Arthur picked out the clothes for himself in the closet, but found that none of them looked decent.He already has eight cards in his hand, but he doesn't even have eight cards in his wallet, just one poor man.Arthur not only has to support himself, but also takes care of Gina's food and daily life, as well as the gas money for the motorcycle.The little girl is already very frugal in her life, she always doesn't wear much clothes, and she doesn't have any cosmetics.

During the time he came to the United States, Arthur shot and killed people, and even became the godfather of several people. He just didn't get any money for himself.

Thinking about it, it was a bit of a failure.

But Arthur also knew that money was not his goal, his goal was to make himself the least fond of money.

Arthur picked out a denim jacket that had a few holes in it, and it was a little too small for him. He looked in the mirror, and he was still quite handsome.Sure enough, whether a man is handsome or not depends mainly on his face, not his clothes.He looks like Keanu Reeves, and he would feel handsome in a rag.You have to look like Zhao Si, and wear everything like a dancer.

After going out, Arthur met the neighbor's fat uncle Sisi in the corridor.Sisi saw that Arthur was wearing a denim jacket with holes, with a sneering smile on his oily face, and said, "Oh poor Arthur, would you like to pick up some clothes from me for you to wear? Anyway, they haven't been sold before. If you want them, you can go to my place to get them."

Uncle Ceci runs a small business in Little Italy, selling clothes, hats, accessories and other small commodities.Don't think that Americans don't have roadside stalls. You can see roadside stalls everywhere in Little Italy, with everything for food, use, and entertainment.

The night Arthur traveled over, it was Uncle Ceci who yelled at him when he returned home.Ceci had always had a hard time with Arthur because he had a daughter who was just starting middle school.When Ceci saw Arthur living with a high school girl, he couldn't help but think of his precious daughter. He always felt that Arthur, as a neighbor, might attack his daughter, so Ceci hated him for no reason.

Facing Sisi's rudeness, Arthur snorted coldly, "As for the counterfeit and shoddy goods on your booth, I don't want to give them to me. They are made in Italy... When they are made in China, I will consider going to get a few from you. Oh, by the way, I think, Uncle Sisi, you should worry more about your daughter's study than my clothes, don't you think so?"

Hearing Arthur mentioning his daughter, Ceci immediately became furious, stopped Arthur in the corridor, pointed at his nose and said, "I warn you, little thing, don't think about my daughter! You are already living with a high school student. If I were the girl's parents, I would come to the door and put a shotgun in your mouth to keep you away from my daughter!"

Arthur's reputation in this area is indeed not very good, because there are too many girlfriends.After his mother Chen Wenjing passed away, he often brought girlfriends of different ages and skin colors home.Ceci is of Italian descent, and Italians place great emphasis on family and women's chastity. In Ceci's view, Arthur is a low-brow, and his precious daughter must not be targeted by such a low-brow.

In the past few days, strange noises have always been heard at night from Arthur's house next door. There is a wall between Ceci's daughter's room and Arthur's room, and the little girl can't sleep well for several nights.Sisi looked at her daughter's haggard face. Although she refused to say what happened, Sisi definitely had something to do with Arthur next door.

Facing Uncle Ceci's protection of the calf, Arthur didn't blame him, but Arthur didn't want to bear the unwarranted charges, let alone being told that he would put a gun in his mouth.Arthur's face darkened, his eyes fixed on Uncle Ceci who stood in front of him.Sisi looked into Arthur's eyes and realized that the frivolous Arthur in the past had disappeared, and had become dark and terrifying, giving goosebumps to the back of his neck.

"Get out of the way, I'm going to work." Arthur said coldly, his voice was very soft.

And Sisi moved away obediently as if receiving the voice command, and let Arthur go downstairs.When Arthur left, Sisi swallowed, and then he remembered that Arthur's father was once the leader of the Mafia, but he fell into despair after his death.As for who the Mafia is, as an elderly Italian, Ceci is not ignorant.

"It's nothing special, it's nothing special...it's all old stuff, old stuff..."

While comforting himself, Ceci also went downstairs to sell clothes and hats at the street stall where he worked.

……

Arthur walked to Luciano's restaurant, and there was a "jingle" when he entered the door. Schmidt looked up and saw Arthur with a look of surprise on his face, and said, "Oh Arthur, it's great that you're not late today. The store was very busy yesterday. How are you doing? Did you make any mistakes?"

Schmidt had a smile on his face, but his words were a little bit weird. Arthur didn't bother with him, took off his coat, and said, "There is no mistake. I will work hard today. I am not late today. Can you give me some bonuses for not being late."

Schmidt still smiled, and said: "Dear Arthur, it is an extrajudicial favor for you to ask for leave without deducting your money. If you are not late, you will be rewarded... Hehe, let's talk about it later. Quick, go to the back kitchen and unload today's steaks. The car should be here soon. This batch of good steaks is very important..."

After going to the locker room to change clothes, Arthur started his day's work.

Every other week, the butcher sends frozen steaks to the restaurant for use in a variety of steaks.Arthur needs to wear labor protection gloves to the cold storage truck to transport the steaks to the freezer, which is a lot of work.There is also a cutting machine specially used for cutting meat next to the freezer. A large steak needs to be divided by this linear cutter with a sharp jigsaw, and turned into small steaks for cooking.

This job is also done by Arthur.

All morning, he was busy carrying and cutting steaks.He had to be very careful, the blades on the cutting machine were extremely sharp, even hard beef bones could be cut easily, not to mention human hands.If you accidentally rub your hand, although there is a sensor on the machine that will force the blade to lock, your hand will still be cut.In the past, the help chef in the store had a hand cut that damaged the nerves, resulting in semi-disabled fingers.

When it was the busiest time at noon, Arthur began to help Carson with work such as arranging dishes, washing vegetables, and cutting vegetables.Luciano's restaurant sells the most spaghetti. The most commonly used ingredients in spaghetti are onions and minced meat, so Arthur has to keep chopping onions and minced meat, and the whole kitchen is very busy.

Arthur smelled of onions and the flesh of steak, and his white chef's uniform was stained with red and yellow stains.Although this kind of work is boring, it makes people feel very fulfilled. You don't need to use your brain, just do it and get it done.At this time, several people opened the plastic curtain and entered the kitchen. Arthur turned his head and saw Russell, Montoro and a big fat man.

Everyone in the kitchen stopped. Looking at these three people, everyone knew that they belonged to the Luciano family and were the real owners behind this store.Montolo was at the forefront, he is now the new boss of the Luciano family.He shouted to everyone: "Hey! Hey! Don't stop, don't stop, the shop is busy! Work, work!"

Only then did everyone continue their work, only Arthur stopped, knowing that Montoro was here to see him.The family affairs should be almost settled, and he will come to the store to have a "work report" with Arthur.Of course, the people under him must not know that their new boss actually has a real boss who works as a cook in Luciano's restaurant.

Montolo stepped forward and did not hug Arthur, which would expose Arthur's relationship with the gang.Montoro just leaned forward and said softly, "I'm sorry Godfather, I can't salute you here, there are too many idlers."

Arthur nodded slightly, thinking who cares about you saluting, if you have something to say quickly, I am busy.Arthur pointed to the back door, and the four of them walked through the stove and sink to the alley outside the kitchen.Beside the big green trash can, flies and mice were scurrying around, and a bad smell came out.As delicious as the food in the front hall is, the smell of the gutter at the back door is as bad.

Montoro and Arthur went to the bottom of the wall alone, and briefly told Arthur about the situation of the gang.There was brief confusion among the gang after Tony and Casey went missing, but Montolo quickly took control with Russell's support.Tony's three horned heads, Montolo, Silves and Dior, among them, the big fat Dior and Montolo are all the way, and this is the one who came with us today.

But Xilves is loyal to Tony, saying that he must find out the truth about Tony's disappearance.However, at the insistence of everyone, they also agreed that Montoro would first act as an agent of the family's affairs and deal with various matters after Tony's disappearance.He suggested that the real party leader can only be decided after the whereabouts of Tony's life and death are determined.

Yesterday, Montolo went to the Staten Island district in southern Jersey, met with the chairman of the New York Gang Federation, and obtained his approval to represent the affairs of the Luciano family.This chairman is none other than the leader of the Gandolfel family, Jackie Gandolfel.

"Didn't Jackie make things difficult for you?" Arthur is now very concerned about the leader of the Gandolfel family, and he can sense that this is a big black hand who has hidden behind and manipulated many events.There must be a lot of involvement in him, and exposing him or even overthrowing him will be an important step on Arthur's way forward.

Montolo shook his head and said, "No, Jackie agreed very readily, and said that other families would also support it."

Arthur lit a cigarette, took a puff, thought for a while, and said, "Be careful with Sylvester, he may have contact with the Gandolfield family."

Montoro nodded. At this time, Arthur noticed that the big fat man Dio who was standing not far away kept looking over here, and he was quietly looking at himself.As soon as their eyes met, Dio immediately looked away.I have a little impression of this fat Arthur. He was Tony's driver earlier, and later he was promoted to the head of the family, responsible for trade unions, construction, transportation and other work.

Arthur took a puff of cigarette and asked, "Is Dior reliable?"

Montoro said: "Reliable, he is my brother-in-law, we are a family."

Montolo's wife and Dior's wife are sisters, and there is no more trustworthy and reliable relationship in the gang than family in-laws.

Of course, Arthur didn't believe in blood ties, after all his uncle killed his father and he killed his uncle.

Now Arthur only trusts those who have a "link" with him.

"Do you have any instructions?" Montoro asked Arthur not to speak.

"Yes." Arthur flicked the cigarette ash, and continued: "Can you get me two nice clothes, and, do you have a TV? My house lacks a good TV."

(End of this chapter)