1994: I Became a Literary Master in America

Chapter 73 "Soldier" Danny

"James, is this Snow Kung the Snow Kung I'm thinking of?"

"Yes!"

The two pigeons had been reduced to a pile of broken bones and debris.

James wiped his hands, got up and went into the kitchen, took a bottle of Corona beer from the refrigerator, and bit it open with his teeth.

"I knew you weren't honest, you pretended to be a good boy in front of Susan, never touching a drop of alcohol."

When he got home, he ate and drank like a glutton... Kid, don't let me find out where you bought all that beer.

"whispering sound!"

Undeterred by James's threats, Xu Shengjie continued his battle with the pigeon in his hand.

James Huang walked over, sat down next to him, took a big gulp of beer, burped, and looked quite satisfied.

"You think he's just an actor?"

Snow's husband is a PhD, and she herself holds a master's degree from the University of Texas at Austin's business school.

Do you know what the University of Austin's business school is most famous for?

"What?"

Xu Shengjie looked up, his mouth full of oil.

"Accounting! The accounting program at the University of Austin's business school is ranked number one in the nation."

Snow obtained her CPA license over there! After moving to New York, she appeared to be a full-time housewife, but in reality, she helped many neighbors, companies, and non-profit organizations in Chinatown with their bookkeeping and tax filing, earning over $150,000 annually.

"Hoho!"

Xu Shengjie was a little surprised.

He knew Gong Xue, but they didn't have much interaction.

It's perfectly normal. Before transmigrating, he was just a street thug, always fighting and brawling; after transmigrating, he had a ton of things to deal with. Although he had exchanged a few words with Gong Xue, they hadn't really had any real contact.

In 94, an annual income of $15 was quite a lot.

If inflation is taken into account, this number should exceed 600,000 in 2026.

An annual salary of 600,000 yuan, even over 26 years, is considered a high income.

"That amazing?"

"Look at her, she seems so carefree every day, as if she's just going through the motions of family life."

But their income is high!

The Pan-Asia Theatre Troupe, the same troupe as Zhang Disha, hired Gong Xue to help with accounting and tax filing; their methods were quite sophisticated.

When you caused trouble for that Vivian Chou, thankfully you didn't go too far.

Otherwise, if Snow were to step in and mediate, Kenny might not be able to hold out... But I'm curious, why are you causing trouble for Chou? You're not the type to bully people, unless it's...”

James put down his beer bottle, as if he had remembered something.

"Li the Cripple?"

Xu Shengjie looked up at him, then swept the bone fragments on the table into the trash can, picked up the roast goose leg rice next to him, and ate heartily.

"she……"

"She's fine. I was just returning her things."

Her passport and stuff are still there. But it's all in the past now, and she won't bother me anymore.

"If you really want to cause me trouble, I'm already in detention, even if you're the bureau chief!"

"Too!"

James Huang thought about it for a moment and nodded in agreement.

……

Monday marks the start of a new week.

The World Cup is still ongoing, but it is slowly coming to an end.

Xu Shengjie stopped paying attention to the competition results and instead focused on writing the script at home.

The script for "Run Julie, Run" was finally completed on Tuesday.

He had even finished drawing the storyboard and script, and still had the energy to complete the creation of about 50,000 words of "The Matrix".

During this time, he contacted Gong Xue.

I briefly explained the situation to Gong Xue, and she did not refuse.

However, her daughter has recently fallen ill, and she's been busy taking care of her, so she doesn't have the energy. The two agreed over the phone that once Alice, her daughter Zhang Xia, recovers, she will contact Xu Shengjie to discuss the details in person.

Xu Shengjie agreed!

The U.S. tax season runs from January to April 15th each year.

In other words, this year's tax issues need to be filed after January next year, as long as they are completed before April 15th.

And last year's tax issues...

Last year he was penniless, with no significant tax payments except for the 0.8% property tax.

When Xu Jiadong bought this apartment in the 1980s, it was over 80 square meters and cost him a total of $40,000.

But now, the apartment is worth nearly 300,000.

Property taxes in the United States are not a fixed amount, but rather based on market value, though this may be lower than the current market price. For example, some areas use historical purchase prices combined with depreciation or adjustment factors (such as New York's "7% discount"). The assessed value is dynamically adjusted based on market changes, home renovations, or years of disrepair.

At the same time, the tax rate is not fixed and will be calculated according to the rise and fall of real estate prices.

The higher and faster the housing price increases, the lower the tax rate will be.

Xu Shengjie's house is currently enjoying the lowest property tax rate in New York.

But over the course of a year, it still costs more than two thousand dollars in taxes!

But none of that matters anymore.

Taxes aren't a pressing issue right now. Xu Shengjie's focus is on his upcoming contact with Danny Airo, as well as the preparation and implementation of the filming schedule. He plans to start filming in late September or early October, which is a tight schedule.

On Wednesday afternoon, Xu Shengjie arrived at Spike's company.

The company, named "What Mule," has a logo of a mule grazing in a field.

Xu Shengjie didn't quite understand the meaning of the logo either. Anyway, companies in the US, especially in the art world, tend to have rather abstract names.

JJ Harris has arrived.

Theron accompanied her.

Sally is still studying and hasn't had much work lately.

So I let her come with me, partly to familiarize herself with the circle and broaden her horizons, and partly to help me with small tasks.

That must be an assistant!

I reckon it'll still be free.

Xu Shengjie wasn't surprised, but as his gaze swept over Charlize Theron, he suddenly asked, "Charlie, do you work out?"

Yes, it has been maintained.

My knees are not good, and my doctor told me to strengthen the muscles around my knee joint by jogging. I jog five kilometers every day, supplemented with flexibility training such as yoga, and I've also learned some judo techniques.

It's been three years since 91!

"Then your stamina must be quite good."

"Yes, I think it should be pretty impressive."

Theron answered with a hint of pride.

Xu Shengjie laughed and said, "But simply learning judo is not enough."

If you're interested in martial arts, I can recommend a martial arts school in Chinatown. Also, some styles of Chinese Kung Fu are very good at flexibility training. Most importantly, many Kung Fu masters are also top-tier Traditional Chinese Medicine therapists.

"Chinese Kung Fu? Bruce Lee?"

"No, no, no, Bruce Lee is more accurately described as a fighter."

He based his fighting style on Chinese Kung Fu, while also incorporating the essence of other countries' martial arts, and blending it with his personal philosophy to create a new style of fighting.

"Oh, I see. Well, that makes me a little interested!"

As Theron spoke, he glanced at Xu Shengjie twice.

"Harris said, 'You're a good fighter?'"

"Um, I've learned a little."

"If we have the chance, shall we have a contest?"

"Charlie!"

Harris quickly spoke up to stop him.

Xu Shengjie didn't mind at all, and nodded with a smile, saying, "Sure, let's have a match sometime."

In Xu Shengjie's memory, Theron knew how to fight and had been training for more than ten years.

But now...

He's probably just a newbie.

"What are you gesturing about?"

Spike and a man in his sixties came in from outside.

This older white man looks very fit and strong.

Spike came in and asked with a smile.

Harris seemed to know them quite well, and stood up with a smile, saying, "Charlie just said he wanted to have a fight with Jeffrey."

She's been training for a few years, but I doubt she's a match for Jeffrey.

The white man paused for a moment, then burst into laughter.

"No need to estimate, Charlie is no match for the little tyrant of Chinatown, the infamous bone crusher."

"A bone crusher?"

Harris looked at Xu Shengjie with a puzzled expression.

The old white man, however, seemed indifferent and reached out his hand to Xu Shengjie.

"Danny Eiro was once a 'soldier' ​​of the Gambino family."

Xu Shengjie's eyes narrowed, and he stepped forward to shake hands with Danny Airo in a special way.

"Jeffrey Xu, Ghost Shadows Gang 49ers, but he has since left the group."

"I know, I know!"

Danny Airo did not show any disdain on his face.

He laughed and said, "Mr. Dennis is now working with Mr. Gorty to develop Sheepshead Bay. Although we are no longer involved, we are still considered to be on the same side."

I heard about your situation from Spike, and I'm very interested in it.

But let me make it clear first, I can be your producer, but I won't be able to focus all my energy on it until mid-September.

Of course, before that, I can arrange some basic things first. Do you have any questions?

"As long as it doesn't delay the start-up in late September or early October, I'll be fine."

"So it's settled then?"

It's a deal.

Harris hadn't expected things to go so smoothly.

Daniello, being a seasoned veteran, thought he'd have to use some persuasion, but to his surprise...

She glanced at Danny, then at Xu Shengjie.

"Then, gentlemen, let's talk about some specific matters."

She had to step up her game; otherwise, being looked down upon by Xu Shengjie would be a bad thing.

So the two sides sat down and began to discuss the specifics.

There aren't any major problems with Danny Airo; it's mainly a scheduling conflict. He's going to France in late August or early September for the premiere of "Léon: The Professional." After that, he'll be mostly free.

As for issues such as the preparation of the production team, they are not major problems.

For Danny, it was a piece of cake.

"Jeffrey, what does 49ers mean?"

Theron, who was sitting behind Xu Shengjie and Harris, suddenly leaned closer and asked in a low voice.

"An identity within a gang."

"The 'soldier' ​​that Mr. Airo mentioned..."

"That's an identity within an Italian family, similar in nature to my '49ers'."

"oh!"

She let out a soft gasp.

"Have you ever killed anyone?"

"I don't know, but I'm not too sure about Mr. Airo's side."

Soldiers are a low-level member of a mafia family, responsible for carrying out specific tasks.

Below the soldiers, there are also initiators or associates, but those are all peripheral members.

Xu Shengjie wasn't very clear about the specific nature of the Mafia.

However, he knew that to become a "soldier," one must have seen blood on their hands.

Moreover, once you become a full member of the Mafia, it's practically impossible to leave except by death.

So Danny Airo...

He's most likely a pawn sent into the film industry by the Gambino family. Such a person will have no further connection with the family; the family might even provide him with some resources and assistance. However, they will also have to make sacrifices when the family needs them.

In contrast, Xu Shengjie's "withdrawal" is the real "withdrawal".

Deep down, he also felt quite fortunate!

……