The Charismatic Charlie Wade

In the early morning light, amidst the gritty backdrop of New York City, Wesley and his crew whisked Aman, Antonio, and the
Zano family’s gang bosses away from Chinatown, en route to the harbor.
All the interim second-in-commands had been reinstated to their regular positions.
Jordan still felt a sense of unreality gripping him. Witnessing Charlie dismantle the Zano family overnight left him with a surreal
feeling.
Charlie noticed Jordan’s bewilderment as the curtain fell and decided to inquire, “Jordan, how are you feeling now?”
Jordan snapped back to reality, scratching his head as he mumbled, “Mr. Wade... I feel... I can’t quite believe it...”
With a smile, Charlie responded, “Then you must adapt quickly because, starting today, you’ll need to restructure the Chinese
gang promptly. While the Zano family is the largest mafia in New York, it’s not the only one. You’ll encounter numerous
challenges ahead. Since you’ve chosen this path, you must find a way to forge ahead.”
Jordan nodded earnestly and replied, “Mr. Wade, from now on, the Chinese gang will work on self-sustainability, and I’ll deliver
the profits collected from these gangs to you monthly!”
Charlie waved his hand dismissively, saying, “Most of their money was earned by preying on ordinary folks. I’ll acquire it from
them the same way and pass it on to you. Once the money is in my hands, there’s essentially no difference between me and
them.”
Jagoan continued, smiling, “Uncle Hogan regards you as his own, and you and I are considered acquaintances. If you’ve chosen
this path, then safeguard this money wisely. If you have grand ambitions, use it to grow the Chinese Gang and pave your path in
advance. You could become a renowned entrepreneur or even run for Congress when the time is right. If you’re not aiming that
high, save it for a comfortable life.”
During that time, North America was like a sponge, soaking up immigrants and illegal entrants from all corners of the globe.
Gangs, formed by various ethnic groups, sprouted like mushrooms after a rainstorm. In New York City alone, there were no less
than a thousand gangs of varying sizes. Across the United States, there were tens of thousands of them.
Jagoan stated, “You’re Chinese, a member of the Chinese gang, and you reside in Chinatown. Here, you represent all the
Chinese people trying to make a living. Hence, you can’t afford to be a coward in the future. Experience has shown that in this
line of work, cowardice won’t guarantee your safety. The more timid you are, the more people will want to take advantage of
you.”

Back in the day, his father had taken part in the Southwest Round, and his former superior had arrived in North America first,
amassing wealth and inviting him to join. It was during this period that they, middle-aged individuals riddled with bullet scars,
founded a Chinese gang in Chinatown, making their mark in the United States and Canada.
Jagoan nodded, his expression serious. “As a child, I heard tales of the overseas expansion of Chinese gangs. In those days,
Chinese gang members dared to confront adversity and achieved great success in Canada, the United States, and even Europe.
It was a modest beginning, but I never anticipated that in the 21st century, Chinese gangs in various locations would experience
a rapid decline. Many have disappeared, while others can barely survive in their respective Chinese enclaves. Do you know
why?”
Casey admitted hesitantly, “Over the years, Europe and the United States have indeed intensified their crackdown on gangs, and
the unity among overseas compatriots isn’t as strong as that among Koreans and Vietnamese. The overall situation has become
significantly more challenging.”
Jordan declared firmly, “Don’t worry, Mr. Jagoan. I’ve chosen this path, and I’ll give it my all.”
Jordan repeated solemnly, “Don’t worry, Mr. Jagoan. I understand.”
Casey trembled and respectfully asked, “Mr. Jagoan, what are your orders...”
Jagoan continued, “Many of the Chinese gang members from the last century hailed from battlefields. They left the military, some
yearning to explore the world, and thus ventured across the ocean to make a living. They had narrowly escaped death on flimsy
sampans, so they had no fear. They weren’t afraid of Americans, Italians, Mexicans, or Algerians in the United States. To them,
the Mafia meant nothing. What were Mexican drug lords to them? When they had faced near-death experiences and set foot on
this land, they lived by the words, treat life and death lightly, and defy anything that challenges you!”
Jagoan waved his hands, emphasizing, “All those excuses are just that—excuses. In my opinion, the rapid decline of overseas
Chinese gangs stems from their loss of the fierce spirit that once defined them.”
He knew that Jagoan was speaking the truth.
The Chinese gangs of that era, fresh off the boat, had managed to rise above tens of thousands of rival gangs, driven by the
blood coursing through their veins.
Jagoan pointed at Casey, remarking, “Now look at you, the so-called second and third-generation Chinese. You’ve long shed the
blood of your forebears! Many of you were born in the United States and didn’t have to traverse the ocean. You simply obtained

a U.S. passport and grew up on milk, cola, hamburgers, and cereal. Even if you were descended from wolves, you’ve been living
like domesticated dogs. Forget about inheriting your fathers’ blood, if I were to put you on the same sampan your fathers used to
come here, you’d probably collapse before even boarding!”
However, in Casey’s generation, that fiery spirit had nearly faded away, causing Chinese gangs to continuously lose ground,
withdraw, and contract. He had once naively believed that they still had the sanctuary of Chinatown, but little did he know that
their adversaries had grown too powerful, leading to several ill-fated attempts that left them defeated.
Recalling his father, who had never bowed to anyone, Casey felt immense shame.
Jagoan nodded and concluded, “But remember, Jordan, while the Zano family’s subordinates won’t dare to harm you, it doesn’t
mean there won’t be other adversaries in New York and the United States. I’ve only helped you this once. If a more formidable
foe arises in New York and seeks to end you, you’ll have to fend for yourself. Do you understand?”
Casey buried his head even deeper.
Jagoan turned to Casey, the former head of the Chinese Gang, and stated, “Mr. Vigo.”
Casey, full of remorse, hung his head low, saying, “Mr. Jagoan is telling me... from now on, I will fully cooperate with Brother
Jordan. I won’t bring shame to the Chinese anymore.”
With teary eyes, he promised Jagoan, “Mr. Jagoan, I, Casey, pledge to you that I’ll resurrect the spirit of the Chinese gang!”
Jagoan nodded slightly, rising to his feet. He stretched and said, “I’ve said all that needed to be said. I won’t delay here any
longer. From now on, you must take care of yourselves. If you encounter trouble in the future, you’ll have to rely on your own
strengths.” Both men nodded.
Jagoan added, “By the way, even though gangs are common in the United States, you should still adhere to the world’s moral
principles. Always compete with the strong to make a living, but don’t oppress the weak or monopolize the market. Don’t go too
far. If, one day, the two of you become as ruthless as those people, I’ll return to the United States to deal with you myself!”