Chapter 198: Things Are Different

Back here, I arrived at the house I had rented before. Xiao Huan looked at the place in front of her and asked me curiously, "Brother Yang Yun, is this where you lived before?"

I nodded. Looking at this place, thinking of the days I spent with Sister Shuang, I couldn't help but feel a touch of emotion.

I opened the door that hadn't been opened for a long time, only to find that I didn't have the key. I had no choice but to knock and see if Third Brother was still living here. After all, Third Brother used to live with me; perhaps he was still here.

However, I was disappointed. The person who opened the door was a man I didn't recognize. The man looked at me and Xiao Huan and asked suspiciously, "Who are you looking for?"

"Uh, I wanted to ask, where are the people who used to live here?" I asked the man in front of me, puzzled.

"I don't know. I just moved here two months ago. You can ask the previous landlord about what happened before!"

After saying that, the guy closed the door. It was clear he wasn't particularly welcoming of our arrival. Xiao Huan stuck her tongue out at me awkwardly and said, "Brother Yang Yun, did we make a wasted trip?"

"It’s fine, let’s go somewhere else!" I smiled and patted Xiao Huan’s head.

After sitting in the car for so long, I figured we should solve the problem of food first. I took Xiao Huan to the small snack restaurant from before. After all, we only had a little money on us now; the Zheng family’s assets had basically all been donated by Xiao Huan, and we had very little left to use, so naturally, we didn't dare to go to a big hotel to eat and drink.

Arriving at the nearby food stall, I found that the owner was still the same. I walked straight in and shouted with a smile, "Uncle Li, get me two dishes, the usual!"

When Uncle Li saw me, he looked at me in disbelief, grabbed my shoulders, and said excitedly, "Is that you, Yang Yun? Am I dreaming? Didn't they say you were dead? What is this?"

"No, no, something happened before, and I almost didn't make it. Luckily, I have a tough life, otherwise, you really wouldn't be seeing me now!" I said to Uncle Li with a proud smile.

Hearing my words, Uncle Li patted my shoulder and said, "Good lad, this meal is on me. Sit down quickly, I’ll go stir-fry it right away!"

"Alright!"

Although Uncle Li and I only had a customer-owner relationship, I had always eaten here before, and Uncle Li was a good person who took care of me, so naturally, we knew each other. When I had no money, I would occasionally come to Uncle Li’s to mooch a meal, so our relationship was quite good.

Just then, three or four people who looked like small-time thugs suddenly walked in. After entering, they kicked a chair to the side, took a bottle of beer from the table, slammed it down, and started shouting, "Old Man Li, get out here!"

Hearing this, Uncle Li quickly put down his work and ran out to say to the people in front of him, "Brother Liu, Brother Liu, what would you like to eat? Just say the word!"

The guy in front looked at Uncle Li with disdain, then stepped on a chair and cursed at him, "Old Man Li, stop playing dumb with me. I told you before, protection money, protection money! If you don't pay the protection money this month, don't blame me for smashing your shop!"

"Brother Liu, please calm down. I really don't have any money on hand. Can you give me a few more days?" Uncle Li said, looking troubled.

Uncle Li’s family situation wasn't great. His wife didn't work, he had a daughter in school, and an elderly mother who was ill. Usually, his daughter’s tuition and his mother’s medical expenses were already a struggle, let alone the protection money.

"Give you a few days, my ass! Old Man Li, I think you’re just being a rascal, right? How much time have I given you? If you can't come up with the money today, I’ll smash this broken shop of yours right now!" After speaking, the few people kicked the table next to them.

Uncle Li quickly begged them, "I beg you, I really don't have any money now!"

"Damn it, do you think I want to come and collect your protection money? I told you before, this is what the new boss, Brother Zhi, wants. If you dare not pay, then it won't be me coming to find trouble for you, it will be Brother Zhi. Once Brother Zhi comes, do you think you’ll have any good days left?" The people in front grabbed Uncle Li by the head and cursed.

"Don't hit my dad, don't hit my dad!" Just then, a little girl ran out from inside. This little girl was Uncle Li’s daughter, about the same age as Xiao Huan, dressed quite plainly. I heard her grades were very good; maybe she would be a candidate for Yanjing University in the future.

"Xiaohua, what are you doing? Go back and do your homework, this has nothing to do with you!" Uncle Li was frantic when he saw Xiaohua come out. After all, these people were not good people, and it would be bad if they hurt the child.

The little girl grabbed their clothes and shook them desperately, which angered them so much that they pushed the little girl away and cursed, "Get lost, don't get in our way!"

The little girl cried bitterly on the ground. These people grabbed Uncle Li by the collar and threatened, "If you don't pay up, don't blame me for selling your daughter. Looking at your daughter, she should fetch a good price. After all, some young masters like this kind of age!"

"You shameless, beastly, animals!" Uncle Li cursed angrily.

"Damn you, you dare to curse me? You’re looking for death!" After speaking, their hands were ready to land on Uncle Li, but I quickly blocked them.

I had just stepped out for a moment, and I didn't expect to find this happening upon my return. It was a good thing I came back in time, otherwise, Uncle Li would have been in trouble.

I looked at these people and said coldly, "What are you doing? What right do you have to hit people?"

"Where the hell did you come from, you idiot? Trying to act cool, huh? Like playing the hero?"

Uncle Li took this opportunity to quickly dodge and run to Xiaohua’s side, helping her up and asking, "Xiaohua, are you okay?"

I ignored their words and turned to look at the crying Xiaohua and Uncle Li on the ground. My gaze gradually turned cold, and I cursed at them, "You actually bully a little girl? You are simply beasts!"

After speaking, I kicked them flying. The person I kicked crashed into the two people behind him, and all of them fell to the ground.

The leader, the one called Brother Liu, stood up, gritted his teeth, and cursed at me, "Damn you, do you know who I am? I’m one of Tiger Brother’s men! You’ve offended Tiger Brother, which means you’ve offended Brother Zhi. Just wait to die!"