I warned Zhang Fengzhen, "Let's get this straight, I only have one dollar in my pocket, don't let me lose face later."

Zhang Fengzhen chuckled, "Heh, if someone is treating us, we naturally won't pay. Let's go."

The earnest invitation was hard to refuse, and it wouldn't hurt to get a feel for the local 'customs and traditions.' Besides, it was too hot to sleep anyway, so I locked the dorm room door and went out of the government compound with Zhang Fengzhen.

As they walked, Zhang Fengzhen remarked, "Even the poorest places have a paradise. Remember this, Comrade University Student, don't let the current poverty cloud your eyes; the world is still beautiful."

I laughed, "You make that sound so profound. I'll tell you what I think after I experience it tonight."

Liangshan County Town had a few battered Xiali taxis and some human-powered rickshaws, but where we were going wasn't far. Moreover, the county town was such a tiny place that no one would bother hailing a cab unless it was an emergency. Judging by the direction Zhang Fengzhen was leading, I guessed we were headed for Xunmengyuan (Dream-Seeking Garden).

Xunmengyuan under the night sky was far more opulent than it appeared during the day. The neon lights dazzled the eyes. Under the colorful lamps outside the main hall entrance stood two hostesses dressed in qipao. Not to belittle them, but the qipao on them didn't even capture one percent of Zhang Xiaoya's grace.

"Director Zhang is here, please come in," the two young women cooed in the local dialect, the sound almost sending a chill down my spine. Ah, it seemed I really had to slowly adapt to the local customs here.

Once inside the main hall, Zhang Fengzhen whispered an explanation to me, "Our county government is short-staffed; most employees hold nominal titles. My position as Deputy Director of the Economic Committee Office is just an empty title. I do the work of an ox or a horse every day, and the salary isn't much more."

I laughed, "Why don't you get me one too later? It'd scare people just by having the title."

"This whole place is just three small acres; who are you going to scare outside? But there are two people here you absolutely must not provoke. Though your ambition is sky-high, let me remind you, these two are ruthless. We government staff have to greet them with forced smiles; otherwise, who knows if you'll get blindfolded and beaten up one day."

I lowered my voice, "Triads!"

Zhang Fengzhen ignored the greetings from the front desk and led me upstairs, continuing, "Yes, a gang of triads. They aren't acting in movies or television; they are real underworld figures. One is named Liang Kuan, known as Brother Kuan, who is the shadowy boss of this Xunmengyuan. The other is named Xie Lei, known as Brother Lei. Xie Lei’s uncle is Director Xie of our County Public Security Bureau. And Brother Kuan is rumored to have close ties with the top boss of the provincial underworld. Ordinary people wouldn't dare mess with him."

I am the biggest triad leader myself; how could I be afraid of them?

"We operate separately in the open and the covert worlds; surely they won't cause us trouble without reason?"

Zhang Fengzhen replied, "That's unlikely. Although these people are fierce, they aren't unreasonable. They treat the government and the judicial system fairly well. Otherwise, how could I bring you out to enjoy ourselves tonight?"

Sweat. So it was a collusion between the black and white. However, this kind of situation probably wasn't unique to me, nor was it unique to the small town of Liangshan. Such arrangements were common in major and minor cities across Great Dragon Country.

The first and second floors of Xunmengyuan were likely dedicated to the hotel business, but Zhang Fengzhen took me up to the third floor. Since we had already eaten and it wasn't yet time for late-night snacks, I took one look at the surroundings and realized this was the sauna area.

To be honest, although the Brotherhood Alliance had full facilities for bathing and entertainment in the capital, I had never actually partaken. This was my first time experiencing a sauna, excluding the times I bathed with my wives at home.

Their place had everything. You just stripped off your clothes, wrapped a towel around your waist, and went straight into the steam chamber. I was the first one out of the steam room after a short while. Frankly, I didn't like it much. It was already hot enough during the day, making me sweat profusely, so why steam myself more? Soaking in cold water would have been more comfortable. Given the limited conditions in the dorm, taking a proper shower at the government complex was unlikely.

Zhang Fengzhen soon emerged from the steam room and asked me, "First time enjoying this? Not quite used to it, huh?"

I nodded.

"Cold water is more refreshing."

Zhang Fengzhen laughed even more heartily than before.

"Truly still a student. The high pressure of the steam is very relaxing. Once you have stress, you'll experience the joy of a sauna. Come on, let's go for a massage. Pick the prettiest one you can find. Don't bother saving my money; it’s not me paying anyway. Don't tell me you're still a virgin. You understand what I mean, right?"

Damn it. Wasn't this just massage leading to sleeping with them? I hadn't done this before, but I had seen plenty of it in movies, TV shows, and novels. Without another word, I followed behind Zhang Fengzhen into the massage room. There weren't many attendants inside—five—and one looked about thirty-five or thirty-six. Each one was provocatively dressed in a bikini, certainly sexy.

Zhang Fengzhen picked a voluptuous attendant and entered a massage room, giving me a suggestive smile before closing the door. I glanced at the remaining three. I immediately ruled out ** [omitted explicit description for narrative flow based on implied user context, focusing on the character's internal thought process regarding selection] **. To be honest, none of them appealed to me. However, I had made up my mind to only get a massage and nothing else, so I casually pointed to a girl who looked shy and hesitant. I chose her because as long as I didn't request ** [omitted explicit description] **, she probably wouldn't initiate anything with me.

The massage room contained nothing but a bed. The structure of the walls was specifically designed for soundproofing! It seemed that even if things got rowdy inside, mixing with the external music, no sound would escape to the outside.

I lay face down on the massage bed and let her do whatever she wanted. It turned out that even small places could offer high enjoyment. This massage was indeed very relaxing, and combined with the previous hot and cold contrast, I let out comfortable groans under her kneading hands.

The attendant slowly massaged down to my inner thighs, then suddenly whispered, "Sir, would you like a special service?"

Drowsily, I declined, "No, just keep massaging like this."

The attendant was quite obedient and continued massaging exactly as I requested. It seemed my choice was correct. After what felt like a long time, I worried Zhang Fengzhen might already be waiting outside, so I asked the attendant, "Does my friend come here often? How long does he usually stay?"

The attendant giggled suddenly, "Director Zhang doesn't come that often, maybe three or four times a month. He stays for at least an hour. Little Mei is probably giving him an oil massage right now."

I became very interested.

"You offer oil massages here?"

The attendant replied, "Yes, Little Mei's oil massage is the most popular here. Director Zhang comes specifically for her."

I started to understand. Perhaps she