Chapter 829

The tall, thin man snorted coldly: "Don't try to change the subject. I'm asking you, I'm one of your regular customers, so why haven't you brought out such good items before? Are you looking down on me, Zhang Zhang Zhenbei?"

The stall owner, Qiao San, hurriedly explained: "How could that be? Zhang Zhenbei, you've misunderstood. I only just got my hands on this thing a couple of days ago; otherwise, I would have brought it out to show you long ago."

Zhang Zhang Zhenbei sneered: "I'll trust you one more time. This thing isn't bad; I'll take it."

The stall owner, Qiao San, looked troubled: "Zhang Zhenbei, I'm truly sorry, but this customer arrived before you. We can't break the rules, can we?"

Zhang Zhang Zhenbei glanced sideways at Cao Cao Weiguo: "Kid, you want to buy this?"

Cao Cao Weiguo ignored Zhang Zhang Zhenbei and spoke directly to the stall owner: "This item is nice, and I'm very interested. Name your price."

The stall owner, Qiao San, replied: "Little brother, you're someone who knows his stuff, so I won't play games. Eight hundred Brother Yuan, and this seal is yours."

"Eight hundred!"

Zhao Zhao Yuanchao exclaimed in surprise: "You really dare to ask for that much? Do you think this is made of gold?"

The stall owner, Qiao San, laughed: "Little brother, although this isn't made of gold, if you put it back in the old days, gold would be nothing but dirt compared to it. A whole chest of gold wouldn't even be worth mentioning alongside it."

Zhang Zhang Zhenbei stepped forward: "If you don't have the money, don't buy it. Qiao San, stop wasting time with these two little brats from out of town. We've known each other a long time; I'll take this for three hundred."

Cao Cao Weiguo smiled: "My friend, everything follows the principle of first come, first served. My brother here only said the price was high, he didn't say it wasn't for sale. Stall owner, I really like this seal, and I won't haggle with you. Five hundred Brother Yuan, one final price. If you nod, I'll pay right now."

The stall owner's heart raced: "Five hundred it is."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Zhang Zhenbei's face turned livid. He stared at Cao Cao Weiguo with malicious eyes: "Kid, you want to compete with me?"

Pigeon Market

In the pitch-black environment, Zhang Zhang Zhenbei's eyes were filled with murderous intent. Zhao Zhao Yuanchao reached for his lower back, while Cao Cao Weiguo pulled a stack of money from his coat, slapped it playfully against his palm, and handed it to the stall owner: "What kind of talk is that? I'm making a fair trade with the stall owner—one is willing to buy, and the other is willing to sell. It seems to have nothing to do with you, does it?"

Zhang Zhang Zhenbei said with a fierce look: "Outsider, don't think you're something special just because you have a little dirty money. You can go ask around who I, Zhang Zhang Zhenbei, am. Ask yourself, when have I ever failed to get something I set my eyes on?"

Zhao Zhao Yuanchao stepped forward with a cold, sharp gaze: "I don't care if you're Zhang Zhenbei or Zhennan. My big brother has already claimed this item, so stop your nonsense."

The stall owner, Qiao San, clutched the money and turned to plead with Zhang Zhang Zhenbei: "Zhang Zhenbei, give me some face. Don't make things difficult for my customer. Everyone, let's keep the peace; harmony is precious."

"Get lost! Who do you think you are! You think you're worthy of me giving you face?"

Zhang Zhang Zhenbei shoved the stall owner, Qiao San, aside roughly. Two of his lackeys behind him pulled daggers from their coats, staring aggressively at Cao Cao Weiguo and Zhao Zhao Yuanchao, full of threats.

Zhao Zhao Yuanchao sneered coldly: "What? You want to rob us?"

Zhang Zhang Zhenbei grinned hideously: "Little brat, you think this is a game? If you don't hand over the item today, don't think about leaving in one piece!"

Cao Cao Weiguo put the seal into his bag, then produced a pitch-black, gleaming Browning pistol, which he calmly pressed against Zhang Zhang Zhenbei's forehead: "You've got a big mouth. I'm not handing it over—what are you going to do about it? Chop me up?"

"You!"

The cold sensation on his forehead turned Zhang Zhang Zhenbei's face deathly pale. The people nearby were also shocked and instinctively backed away.

Zhao Zhao Yuanchao pulled a Type 54 pistol from his back and pointed it at Zhang Zhang Zhenbei's two lackeys: "Back off!"

"Whoa!"

The folk customs in the border regions were tough, and the bandits and outlaws were notorious. Few people who dared to come to the Pigeon Market were easily frightened, but pulling out weapons without a word of warning made everyone present feel their hearts leap into their throats.

"Zhang Zhang Zhenbei didn't check his fortune today!"

"He's run into some real hard cases."

"We've got a good show to watch."

Many people present recognized Zhang Zhang Zhenbei as the local bully. Seeing him—usually so arrogant and domineering—with a weapon pressed to his forehead, they felt a bit of schadenfreude. Others who had bad blood with him were just waiting to see him fall.

"Slap! Slap!"

Cao Cao Weiguo held the weapon to Zhang Zhang Zhenbei's forehead with his right hand and slapped Zhang Zhang Zhenbei's face twice with his left, sneering with disdain: "You dog thing, are you blind? Trying to show off in front of your grandfather? How many lives do you have? I'm asking you, how many lives do you have?"

Zhang Zhang Zhenbei's whole body stiffened: "Little brother, don't be impulsive. It's my fault for not recognizing a superior person; I was blind. I'll apologize to you right now. Let's talk this over properly. It's just a trinket, it's not worth it. You're still young; you can't take a wrong step now."

"Kneel!"

Cao Cao Weiguo said this in a cold tone, his calm eyes chillingly indifferent.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Zhang Zhenbei's face turned livid. He suppressed his rage and said: "Little brother, leave a path for others to walk so we can meet again in the future. Don't push things too far."

"Ah!"

The next second, Cao Cao Weiguo struck Zhang Zhang Zhenbei's head with the weapon. A scream erupted instantly, blood flowing freely, making everyone present shudder.

Cao Cao Weiguo: "Are you reminding me to pull up the weeds by the roots?"

"I'll kneel, I'll kneel!"

Zhang Zhang Zhenbei, head bloodied, knelt on the ground in terror. He knew he had met a ruthless man today and that his life could be lost at any moment. Thinking of his wife and children, thinking of this vibrant world, he really didn't want to die—not so soon.

"Boss!"

Seeing their boss kneeling in public, the two lackeys felt their anger surge.

Zhao Zhao Yuanchao held his weapon and shouted sternly: "If you want to die, just try moving."

Cao Cao Weiguo looked down at Zhang Zhang Zhenbei from above, sneering with contempt: "You have a lot of weight in this area?"

Zhang Zhang Zhenbei raised his head and said: "No, in your eyes, I'm just a fart. Today, I was blind and offended you. You set the terms; tell me how you want me to make amends, and I'll do it. I have an eighty-year-old mother above and a three-year-old child below. Please, show mercy and spare my life."

Cao Cao Weiguo sneered: "Now you know fear? Weren't you quite arrogant just a moment ago? Turns out you're a coward too! If I shot you dead right now, it would be a waste of bullets, damn it. I'm in a good mood today and don't want to dirty my hands. Empty out all the money you have on you, then strip naked, crawl around the ground three times, and shout 'Grandfather, I was wrong' three times. Then this matter will be considered closed."

Good heavens!

Hearing Cao Cao Weiguo's words, the crowd was dumbfounded, all eyes fixed on Zhang Zhang Zhenbei's face.

This Zhang Zhang Zhenbei was no nobody in this area. His ancestors were powerful figures who resisted the Japanese, and he came from a family of bandits. Many of his elders had worked under Marshal Zhang. When the Japanese came and the Northeast Army retreated, the Zhang family fled into the deep mountains to become bandits, committing many evil deeds.

Later, after the country was liberated, Zhang Zhang Zhenbei's father was lucky enough not to be wiped out in the mountains because he had stayed home to slaughter pigs. He was even allocated a piece of land during the land reform. However, although his father hadn't been a bandit, he wasn't a law-abiding person at heart either. He bullied the market and oppressed the people, and after causing a death and being reported, he was executed by firing squad.

Zhang Zhang Zhenbei, having lost his father, was raised by his mother. From a young age, he was a troublemaker, chasing chickens and dogs. By his teens, he was fighting constantly, often leaving people bloodied. He spent more time in reformatories and prisons than at home. Because he couldn't survive in his village, he came to Suifenhe and gathered a bunch of thugs to engage in petty theft. Privately, he did everything from grave robbing to speculation—anything that brought in money.

This guy was bold and meticulous, and before long, he actually made a name for himself. He became a figure in this area, and ordinary people really didn't dare to offend him. This only made him more arrogant and domineering; he walked with his nose in the air.

As the saying goes, extreme arrogance brings rain, and extreme arrogance brings disaster.

And so, this self-important Zhang Zhang Zhenbei met a ruthless character. Before he could even show his power, he had a weapon pressed to his forehead. No matter how capable he was, he had to kneel and beg for mercy.

"You don't want to?"

Cao Cao Weiguo said coldly, making Zhang Zhang Zhenbei shiver. He hurriedly looked up and said: "I'm willing, I'm willing. Whatever you want me to do, I'll do it."

A real man knows when to bend and when to stretch!

As long as the green hills remain, there's no need to worry about firewood!

Zhang Zhang Zhenbei endured the humiliation, took out all the money he had, and then hurriedly took off his coat, sweater, undershirt... In no time, he was stripped down to his birthday suit, shivering from the cold and so ashamed he wished he could crawl into a hole in the ground.

Cao Cao Weiguo sneered: "Why are you still keeping one piece on?"

Zhang Zhang Zhenbei, face red and neck thick, removed his last pair of underpants. Shame-filled and wishing he were dead, he began to crawl on the ground, tears in his eyes, shouting: "Grandfather, I was wrong! Grandfather, I was wrong! Grandfather, I was wrong!"

"Hahaha... Zhang Zhang Zhenbei, you're quite a character!"

"Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!"

Seeing that Zhang Zhang Zhenbei was actually doing as he was told, Cao Cao Weiguo's eyes turned cold, and he raised his hand to fire several shots.

A person who can bend and stretch like this is a future threat if left alive.

Following the sound of the gunshots, those who were watching the show were scared out of their wits, screaming and fleeing in panic. The pitch-black Pigeon Market instantly descended into chaos.

A madman!

This young man from out of town is simply a madman!

"Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!"

Zhao Zhao Yuanchao, seeing this, didn't hesitate either. He fired several shots, sending Zhang Zhang Zhenbei's lackeys to join him, and then quickly disappeared into the vast, dark night with Cao Cao Weiguo. The stall owner, Qiao San, collapsed on the ground, having wet his pants at the sight of the corpses lying there.