Bai Quinn, who works at Blockbuster, is no stranger to VCDs.

VCD, a new thing that has just become popular in the past two years, looks like a music CD and is also a digital media audio and video storage format.

In terms of clarity, capacity and sound quality, VCD is not as good as video tape (VHS), and VCD players cannot record TV programs like VCRs, let alone play portable video cassette tapes (VCR) used for 8 mm home camera photography.

Therefore, VCD players are not popular in the United States. Film and television distribution companies will only choose VHS video tapes that are more in line with market demand, but will not distribute VCDs.

Maybe it's a professional relationship, but when it comes to VCD, Bai Quinn immediately thinks of it - piracy!

VCD discs are cheaper than VHS tapes, and blank VCDs cost less than ten cents.

VCD recording machines are also much cheaper than those for recording video tapes. If the outer packaging is simpler, the production cost of a VCD is sometimes less than thirty cents.

A VCD with a capacity of 600M is more than enough to store a movie if you do not pursue image quality.

Depending on the recorded content, VCDs of movies and TV shows can be sold for US$5, and some popular movies and TV shows can even be sold for US$15 each.

Therefore, many underground pirates are more inclined to choose VCD, and have begun to force consumers who buy pirated copies to buy VCD players.

With a cost of 30 cents and an average income of 10 US dollars, the profit of selling D is not as high!

The VCD that Chris' brother "communicated" with other enthusiasts should be considered pirated. In fact, it is difficult for Bai Quinn to judge, after all, the video was recorded by him...

Thinking further, Bai Quinn immediately discovered the problem, so he asked: "The home camera shoots in VCR format, right? Converting VCR video tapes to VCD requires professional equipment, which is not something that home machines can do.

.”

Chris didn't shy away from it, and said carelessly: "Don't I have a studio? My younger brothers are all helping in the studio. They usually do some of their own hobbies, and I don't bother to take care of them."

studio?

Oh, no!

Don’t you own a pork shop?

At this time, Uncle Tony intervened in the discussion, "Don't mention your money-losing studio! Sell it quickly while the equipment in it is still worth some money!"

Christopher wanted to open his mouth to defend himself, but it seemed that Uncle Tony had a deep prestige in his heart, so he immediately lowered his head to eat and responded with silence.

Tony was reluctant and continued: "Don't rush into an industry you are not familiar with. You only see people making money, but you don't know how they make money and what they paid..."

The hostess Camilla quickly changed the topic to ease the tension at the table.

"Mei Duo, when is your singing group's performance?"

Meadow is the eldest daughter of Tony and Camilla. She is 17 years old and is in eleventh grade. According to Chris, Meadow has very good grades and is the best at reading among the Soprano family of this generation. She will definitely be able to do well in the future.

Admitted to an Ivy League school.

"You promised me that you will come to my performance on the 11th of next month. I have a two-minute solo, which is the most important in the singing group."

"We will definitely be fine, we will definitely go..." Camilla said while glaring at Tony.

Tony hurriedly said: "Dad will never forget it!"

AJ also shouted that he wanted to go and take his grandma with him. Camilla agreed to take them there on the spot.

Chris also agreed to take his girlfriend Angelina with him.

The family looked at Bai Quinn, and Bai Quinn might not be available that day, because there was a trial match in Boston on the 10th. If he passed, he would probably participate in the WWF show on the 11th.

Everyone expressed regret, and Bai Quinn also breathed a sigh of relief. He has not yet made any plans to integrate into this family, at least he will not make a decision until he understands the whole story.

After dinner, Tony proposed to take Quinn out for a drink.

Christopher drove and chatted all the way, and soon arrived at a strip bar.

The strong man at the door respectfully welcomed the group in. Chris went to the bar alone, leaving only Bai Quinn following Tony into the deepest private room.

It's finally time for the real drama to begin.

As soon as the private room door was closed, the hustle and bustle outside was immediately cut off.

Tony leaned carelessly in the middle of the semicircular sofa and motioned for Bai Quinn to sit next to him.

"Okay, here we can talk openly. If you have any questions, just ask."

Bai Quinn didn't beat around the bush. After watching it for so long, no matter how stupid he was, he knew exactly what was going on.

"Uncle Tony, are you a Mafia member?"

"Yes, I swore an oath and will always abide by my oath." This is an admission.

"Chris?"

"He too..."

"Then do you belong to...?"

"The Cavacanti family. I am just a small captain, with big bosses above me and a bunch of younger brothers following me to make a living.

Chris, and the big cats you saw today, Big Pussy, Shark Head, and Sil, are all Made Man under me."

Made Man is the basic position of the Italian Mafia. In the Sicilian period, the image of the Mafia was the protector of the people and was considered by the people to be "heroes" or "fighters", so its members were called Made Man - men of honor.

However, Made Man is not the bottom of the mafia, but rather a middle-level member. The real bottom is Made Man's subordinates and followers.

Followers cannot participate in decision-making, and part of their income must be handed over to Made Man, and most of them have no chance to advance in level, because the Mafia is an organization connected by blood and belief. Only purebred Italians can be promoted from junior to Made Man.

Of course, as times change, there are fewer and fewer pure-blooded Italians, and mixed-race Italians are gradually being accepted and allowed to become Made Man.

It’s not that non-Italians have no chance of entering the core ranks.

In the structure of the mafia, each big boss will be equipped with a strategist and a deputy. The deputy is like the vice president of the United States. He is a spare part. If the boss fails, the deputy can replace him in time to prevent the organization from being leaderless.

The deputy is personally appointed by the boss, but the strategist who assists the boss is not. The strategist is publicly recommended by all the bosses, and most of them are the ones with the best brains, the most ideas, and the most money-making people in the organization.

This meritocratic position is not too entangled in bloodline.

In fact, Tony's family's military advisor was Jewish.

Having said that, now that Tony has admitted that he is a mafia, Quinn is even more nervous.

Are you recruiting me to join them?

Can I say no?

Tony took out a cigar and lit it, but Bai Quinn didn't wait for a new question.

"Why don't you ask?"

"It's hard to ask, there are some things you can't know too much about." Bai Quinn answered honestly.

Tony smiled and said: "Well, since you don't ask, let me tell you."

Bai Quinn asked anxiously: "After listening, do I have to join the gang?"

"Hahaha! How could it be possible for you to join the gang so easily? Chris made a lot of noise in order to be Made Man... Let's not mention him..."

Tony suddenly became serious: "Even if you don't join us, you are still a member of the Soprano family. This bloodline is something you must bear when you are born. So there are some situations you must know, otherwise when something happens, you will

You will be caught off guard, and your father Charlie suffered this loss back then."

Bai Quinn sat up straight and listened attentively.

Tony spoke eloquently: "You should know about the National Mafia Commission, right?

In the 1930s, Mafia boss Luciano established an organization to mediate conflicts among Mafia families.

There are rumors that the committee has five seats and is controlled by the five major families. This is not true. There are more than 100 families in the country. How can five families manage it?

I can't say how many seats there actually are, and you can't know. You just need to know that our Kavacanti family has a seat on the committee, and it's not just any ordinary small family.

Then let’s talk about the Soprano family. Our Soprano family is an important part of the Cavacanti family. People in our family have been the bosses of the family, and my uncle, Giuliani, is now the head of the family.

The deputy may take over the boss's position at any time.

These are all things you can know. If you are not involved in the family business, other families and gangs will not disturb you, but it is difficult for the official to say.

Charlie was calculated by the authorities.

According to tradition, girls in the family never get involved in the family business, and Stannie is no exception. She went to school and worked in New York, and then met Charlie.

Because she was worried that the family business would affect their relationship, Shi Dani deliberately concealed matters about the Mafia.

In addition, her mother objected to their being together, so Dani rarely brought Charlie back. She actually kept it a secret for several years, and Charlie didn't even know we were a mafia family until after we got married.

In the end, a car accident ruined everything.

That time, Charlie drove drunk and got into a car accident, injuring one person. It was originally just a small matter, but it was taken advantage of by someone with intentions.

The FBI found Charlie and first revealed our hidden mafia identity to him, and then forced him to infiltrate the family and serve as their undercover. Otherwise, he would be severely sentenced for his drunk driving that caused a car accident, and could even be sentenced to up to three years in prison.

Although Charlie refused the FBI, he also refused our help because of our concealment. In the end, he was sentenced to half a year in prison. This sentence was a bit harsh. I think the FBI must have played a role in it.

If he had accepted our help at that time, we would have hired the best lawyer for him and we would have dealt with the injured person. He would not have gone to jail, but at most he would have been fined and worked in the community.

Therefore, I must let you know what the Soprano family does to avoid the situation that happened to Charlie again."

"Then why did Charlie increase the sentence?"

"Once a person enters prison, many things become uncontrollable. We also suddenly learned that he participated in a gang fight in the prison and stabbed other prisoners and his sentence was increased.

At that time, Stannie speculated that Charlie was targeted in prison because of his family background. It was unreasonable for a low-level criminal who was drunk driving to be locked up with serious criminals. If he was not forced, there was no need for him, a short-term prisoner, to join a prison gang.
To be continued...