Gao Xinhua looked at this group of young people, silently lamenting in his heart that he's getting old. Lu Ming and Fan Lidada are just over thirty and already deputy directors, while he's over fifty and only just made it to deputy director. In a couple of years, these young people will surpass him in rank.

At the same rank, everyone still arranges themselves by age, but if there's a full director present, like Zhao Feiyang, then the seat of honor certainly goes to Zhao Feiyang, and Gao Xinhua definitely wouldn't be able to sit in that seat.

After Gao Xinhua sat down, Lu Ming and Fan Lidada sat down. Xu Chunliang and Lu Qi sat next to them, and Xu Chunliang asked the waiter to bring the dishes and open the wine.

Everyone could tell by the wine that the hosting standard wasn't low. Fan Lidada said, "The taste of Wuliangye is best suited for exchanging cups. Xiaoxu knows his wine."

Xu Chunliang laughed, "I don't really know much. I heard that Brother Ming doesn't like baijiu with a soy sauce aroma, so I picked what I thought was the best. I always believe that good wine is to be shared with good friends."

Lu Ming said, "The greatest joy in life is sharing. Enjoying alone is not as good as enjoying together. You and Xiaoqi really have a good relationship." He and Fan Lidada were classmates.

Lu Qi mentioned that he was Xu Chunliang's senior, or more precisely, an alumnus from the same school.

After three glasses of wine, everyone exchanged toasts, with Lu Ming first toasting to Gao Xinhua.

Gao Xinhua said, "Director Lu, I should be the one toasting you. You really helped us a lot with the Changxing matter."

Lu Ming laughed, "I must be the one to toast. I actually didn't help much with Changxing. Cleansing the online environment and upholding fairness and justice is my responsibility. Even without the connection with Xiaoxu, we would still crack down on those with ulterior motives online and clear out their rumors. As it turns out, Changxing can withstand the test."

Gao Xinhua silently praised Lu Ming's way with words. No wonder he could become a deputy director at such a young age. Times have changed, and more and more young people are emerging like bamboo shoots after the rain within the system. He's getting old and finds himself somewhat out of touch in such circles.

Fan Lidada also toasted Gao Xinhua. Knowing that Gao Xinhua and Director Qin from the tourism bureau were comrades, Fan Lidada toasted two more glasses, saying that if he knew, he would have invited Director Qin along, as Director Qin was his mentor.

Xu Chunliang stood to toast Lu Ming, who also stood, "Xiaoxu, I've heard a lot about your heroic deeds."

Xu Chunliang humbly said, "Brother Ming, I wouldn't call myself a hero, at most just a reckless fellow."

Lu Ming laughed, "Going solo and causing SEVEN STAR to temporarily close for rectification isn't heroic?"

Xu Chunliang guessed that it must have been Lu Qi who mentioned it, and quickly explained that the matter had nothing to do with him and was just a coincidence.

Lu Ming said, "Now there are all kinds of rumors online, with people saying the bar's owner offended someone, others claiming it's a police crackdown on illegal activities, and some even saying the place is haunted."

Xu Chunliang accompanied him for two more glasses of wine, poured another, and laughed, "Brother Ming, your usual work must be very heavy, right?"

Lu Ming said, "I wouldn't say heavy. Nowadays, the internet is full of all kinds of people, with statements that are hard to discern true from false. Some people are saying that the spiders and bats were planted."

Fan Lidada quipped, "Why don't they simply make up that the Five Poison Sect attacked SEVEN STAR?"

Everyone laughed aloud, and Gao Xinhua said, "Do they think it's a martial arts novel? The Five Poison Sect, and then the Beggar Gang too!"

Lu Qi said, "Don't you doubt it, we caught a few guys before who were calling themselves the Poor Sect, which is essentially the Beggar Gang."

Gao Xinhua said, "Is Hong Qigong still the gang leader? I don't think that's possible. It's probably just some beggars glorifying themselves. Even if it exists, it's nothing like the traditional Beggar Gang."

Fan Lidada said, "I once read a book about the modern Jianghu. It described things vividly, mainly saying there's always a Jianghu, just its form changes. These Jianghu sects have evolved, such as Taiwan Island's Bamboo Union Gang and Xiangjiang's Xinyi'an. Some sects have already gone legitimate and are now engaged in honest business, operating like modern enterprises, and recruiting high-level intellectuals."

Lu Qi nodded and said, "Brother Fan is right. Although some sects aren't mentioned anymore, they still exist. For example, many theft gangs belong to the Thief Sect, with their grandmaster being Kongkong'Er. Fraud syndicates and gambling groups hailing from the Qian Sect usually take Fu Xi as their patriarch. Have you heard of Orchid Sect?"

Fan Lidada nodded, "The book mentioned it. The patriarch of Orchid Sect is Guan Zhong, who is considered the founder of the lifestyle industry."

Lu Qi said, "During a sweep-sting operation last year, we found a shrine at the scene where they worshiped a deity. I was puzzled and thought it was the God of Wealth. Later, I realized they were actually venerating Guan Zhong."

Lu Qi then said to Xu Chunliang, "That SEVEN STAR also had a statue of Guan Zhong. I think they might be related to Orchid Sect."

Xu Chunliang asked, "Are they also a criminal organization?"

Lu Qi shook his head, "One can't determine they're a criminal organization based on this alone. And even if they belong to Orchid Sect, it doesn't prove they have a criminal record. SEVEN STAR is under Lanxing Entertainment Group, which is one of the most powerful entertainment companies in the country. They are not only involved in running bars and dance halls but also in film and television."

Hearing Lanxing Entertainment Group sounded somewhat familiar to Xu Chunliang. He thought for a moment and remembered that Hua Zhuyue was the East China Region's head of Lanxing Group and also the company's vice president.

No wonder she came to provoke them; it was for the SEVEN STAR bar matter.

Lu Ming said, "Today's society is information-driven, with crime methods constantly emerging, such as online gambling and prostitution, leading to an increased workload for us."

Gao Xinhua said, "Thanks to you all, otherwise online society would be a complete mess."

Lu Ming said, "We always say that the internet is not a lawless land, and that's not just talk. Some use the guise of free speech to say whatever they want online. If such people aren't curtailed, they turn into internet trolls and internet bullies."

Lu Qi said, "My brother is right. Now it seems online crime is overtaking traditional crime. Ten years ago, we often dealt with pickpocketing and highway robbery. Now these cases are decreasing annually."

Fan Lidada laughed, "Who carries a wallet apart from the elderly? Everyone pays electronically now—it's safer and more convenient."

Gao Xinhua thought to himself that he still carries a wallet. Although electronic payment is indeed convenient, he doesn't like using it. Fan Lidada's words made him feel a bit lost, as he suddenly realized he'd been classified as part of the elderly.

Xu Chunliang said, "I carry a wallet too. I never feel secure without some cash in my pocket. What if there's a power outage?"

Lu Qi laughed, "Since your workplace is on Weishan Island, carrying a wallet is quite necessary." He had visited Weishan Island not long ago, and his impression was that it was very underdeveloped.

Lu Ming said, "Carrying cash is a good habit. Although I handle cyber security, I don't advocate excessive electronic payments. Putting aside security issues, if there's a network failure or a power outage like Xiaoxu mentioned, it would be quite the predicament. There are precedents for this; when Hokkaido experienced a large-scale blackout two years ago, all supermarket payment systems were affected. What then? That's when cash transactions show their advantages."

Gao Xinhua said, "Traditional currency transactions have existed for so many years; they've been tested by history and clearly have value. Personally, I'm against electronic payments and online shopping. Ever since online shopping became prevalent, brick-and-mortar stores have been struggling. Back in my day, every Sunday, Huaihai Road would be packed, with malls full of customers shopping and enjoying themselves. But now, young people just stay at home. All they need is a phone—they shop online for clothes, order takeout for meals. Online shopping has ruined numerous traditional industries. 'A door not barred breeds thieves, water not flowing breeds decay.' If all young people stay home and rely on the internet, I fear our nation will have no future."

Fan Lidada said, "Dean Gao, you're absolutely right, but you've overlooked one thing. While e-commerce has killed traditional commerce, it has also spawned a batch of emerging industries. Hasn't the courier industry developed? If you consider all the deliverymen, it should now be the largest industry in the country."

Lu Ming said, "E-commerce and traditional business each have their strengths. But how to complement and support each other to develop together is a problem—even those within the industry haven't figured it out."

Lu Qi said, "I think it's difficult. Right now, they're more or less harming each other." Fan Lidada became interested upon hearing that Xu Chunliang is currently working at the Weishan Island Branch, now that the Weishan Island National Resort Project has been officially announced, marking a key focus for their tourism bureau's work over the next few years.

While discussing Weishan Island's future plans, Fan Lidada inadvertently revealed that Da Heng Group plans to invest in a water-themed park on Weishan Island, with the project already under evaluation. He was unaware of the past competition between Da Heng and Changxing, but his unintentional comment held significance, and both Xu Chunliang and Gao Xinhua realized that Da Heng Group's establishment on Weishan Island seemed inevitable.

None of those present smoked, and Gao Xinhua felt uncomfortable smoking, so he excused himself to go to the bathroom to have a cigarette. There, he ran into Zhao Feiyang in the hallway, whose banquet had also concluded. His party, consisting of Duan Yuanhong, the vice president of Hua Nian Group, had just left room 666.

Encountering Gao Xinhua here, Zhao Feiyang was also somewhat surprised. He proactively greeted Gao Xinhua, "Old Gao, what a coincidence, you're here too!"

In public settings, Zhao Feiyang typically addressed him in this manner, but today it felt somewhat jarring to Gao Xinhua. He smiled at Zhao Feiyang and said, "Executing the leader's orders here, having a meal with Director Lu of the Internet Monitoring Bureau."

Upon hearing Lu Ming's name, Zhao Feiyang had the intention to connect, but today's situation wasn't ideal as he had further engagements with Duan Yuanhong.

Zhao Feiyang said, "You didn't inform me in advance."

Gao Xinhua said, "He is hard to invite. It wasn't easy for Xu Chunliang to invite him. I feared it would conflict with your schedule."

Zhao Feiyang thought that how would he know if it conflicted with his schedule without informing him, so he nodded and said, "I won't join you today. I'll plan something separately another day."

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