the dicussion of Curley's wife leads Whit to invite George to come with the other men "to old Susy's place." What is "old Susy's place," and what purpose does it serve in the novel?

Old Susy's place is a whore house (prostitutes). Susy's place provides the men with the ability to socialize with the opposite sex, something they cannot do on the ranch.

“Jus’ the usual thing. We go in to old Susy’s place. Hell of a nice place. Old Susy’s a laugh—always crackin’ jokes. Like she says when we come up on the front porch las’ Sat’day night. Susy opens the door and then she yells over her shoulder, ‘Get yor coats on, girls, here comes the sheriff.’ She never talks dirty, neither. Got five girls there.”