Chapter 208: Things Remain, People Change

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

I nodded. Looking at this place and thinking of the days I spent with Sister Shuang early on, 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 suddenly realize I didn't have the key. I had no choice but to knock helplessly to see if Third Brother still lived 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. He looked at Xiao Huan and me, then 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 either. I just moved here two months ago. You can ask the previous landlord about things before that!"

After saying this, the guy closed the door, clearly not 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.

Having been 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; Xiao Huan had basically donated all of the Zheng family's wealth, and what we had left was meager, so naturally, we didn't dare go to a big hotel to feast.

Arriving at the nearby street food stall, I discovered the owner hadn't changed. I walked straight in and shouted with a smile, "Uncle Li, fix 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 did happen 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 smug smile.

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

"You got it!"

Although Uncle Li and I were just customer and owner, I had always eaten at his place, and since Uncle Li was a good person who looked after me, we naturally got to know each other. When I had no money, I would occasionally come to Uncle Li's for a free meal, so our relationship was quite good.

Just then, three or four people who looked like hoodlums suddenly entered. After coming in, they kicked a chair nearby, slammed a bottle of beer they took from the side onto the table, and started shouting, "Old Man Li, get out here!"

Hearing this, Uncle Li hurriedly put down his work and ran out to say to the people in front of him, "Brother Liu, Brother Liu, tell me what you want to eat!"

The guy in front looked at Uncle Li with disdain, then stepped directly onto a chair and cursed at Uncle Li, "Old Man Li, don't you dare play 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 me. Can you give me a few more days?" Uncle Li said, feeling troubled.

Uncle Li's family conditions weren'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 protection money.

"Give you a few days my ass! Old Man Li, I think you're trying to be a deadbeat, aren't you? How much time have I given you? If you can't come up with the money today, I'll smash this dump of yours right now!" After saying this, the few people in front kicked the table next to them.

Uncle Li hurriedly 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 hair 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, and dressed quite plainly. I heard her grades were excellent; she might even be a candidate for Yanjing University in the future.

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

The little girl grabbed the clothes of those people 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 could probably sell for a good price. After all, some young masters like this age."

"You are shameless, beasts, animals!" Uncle Li cursed in anger.

"Damn you, you dare to curse me? You're looking for death!" After saying this, their hands were ready to land on Uncle Li, but I hurriedly stopped them.

I had just gone out to take a look, and I didn't expect to return and find this happening. It was fortunate I came back in time, otherwise, Uncle Li would have been in trouble.

I looked at the people in front of me and said coldly, "What are you doing? By what right are you hitting 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 hurriedly dodge and run to Xiao Hua's side, helping her up and asking, "Xiao Hua, are you okay?"

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

After saying this, I kicked them flying with one blow. The person I kicked crashed directly into the two people behind him, and several of them fell to the ground.

The leader, the one called Brother Liu, stood up and cursed at me through gritted teeth, "Damn you, do you know who I am? I am one of Brother Hu's men! If you offend Brother Hu, you offend Brother Zhi. Just wait to die!" ===== CHAPTER 209 =====