Chapter 171: I Only Want Five Yuan

As soon as Lu Yu asked the question, the man opposite him suddenly looked flustered, his face changing in a flash as he hurriedly said, "I, I really don't know!"

"Don't be nervous, I don't have any other intentions," Lu Yu quickly said to reassure him. "I'm just curious; that old man is usually here, so why is he missing today? I've been able to see him every time I've come before."

"Oh, is that so?"

Upon hearing Lu Yu say this, the stall owner was clearly relieved. He looked Lu Yu up and down, subconsciously shrinking his neck, and explained, "I just saw that this spot was pretty good and nobody was occupying it, so I came over to set up my stall. As for why that old man didn't come this morning, I really have no idea."

"So, he hasn't shown up all day today?" Lu Yu frowned slightly, pondering to himself that this didn't fit the old man's character.

As far as he knew, even if the old man knew that no one might take the bait, he would still guard this spot through wind and rain, hoping to encounter someone fated.

"So it was him!" At this moment, some people around noticed the commotion here.

"I remember, this person has been here quite a few times, right?" someone muttered in a low voice.

"Yeah, every time he comes, it feels like he's specifically looking for that old man. If I remember correctly, he came once yesterday afternoon." Another person chimed in.

"Yes, yes, yes. At that time, he pulled out two or three hundred yuan all at once, and the old man's mouth was grinning almost to his ears," another person added.

"I really don't get it. What kind of dog-shit luck did that old man have, or is this guy really stupid, just happy to be scammed?"

"Probably just not very bright in the head."

The whispers of the people around reached Lu Yu's ears. He turned around, and instantly, many people's faces turned deathly pale; one by one, they either looked away or pretended they knew nothing.

"Does anyone here know why that old man didn't come today?" Lu Yu asked, raising his voice.

However, no one responded to him. Everyone put on an indifferent, detached attitude.

Come to think of it, with that old man's temper and conduct, his popularity couldn't be very good; it would be a blessing if he didn't attract hatred.

Consequently, Lu Yu took 10 yuan directly from his pocket, held it high, scanned the crowd, and said, "If anyone knows where that old man lives and can take me there, this money belongs to them."

In an instant, the scene became so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Soon, a young man in his twenties raised his hand high and shouted loudly, "Big Brother, I know! I'll take you!"

"I know too!" A middle-aged woman was not to be outdone. "I also know where that old geezer lives. I'll take you; you just need to give me 9 yuan."

"I only want 8 yuan! 8 yuan will do!"

"I know too, I only want 5 yuan!"

"You guys!" The first man who answered was furious. He had clearly been the first to react, but this group—they were just too shameless! Were they even human?

"Fine, you'll do," Lu Yu pointed to the man who only wanted 5 yuan.

Although Lu Yu was not short of this bit of money, Conservation was a good habit after all.

"Hehehe." A triumphant smile immediately appeared on the man's face as he walked up and reached out to take the money.

"Don't be in a rush. Once we reach the place, the money will naturally be yours," Lu Yu said, glancing at him.

"Alright, Big Brother, don't you worry. The place where that old man lives is just a few houses away from mine; it's very close," the man said with a grin, and amidst the envious and jealous gazes of the crowd, he led Lu Yu toward the north.

The further they walked, the more remote the road became. The surrounding environment also grew increasingly dirty and dilapidated.

There were quite a few more pedestrians on the road.

"Big Brother, we're almost there," the man said with a smile.

Lu Yu looked up; before him was a Shantytown, estimated to have several hundred households.

The houses here were low and broken, tightly connected, with the distance between opposite doors being less than a meter, appearing extremely cramped. The ground was covered in puddles and potholes, and the corners were piled high with trash.

The air was filled with an indescribable, pungent odor that made one feel nauseous.

Even though it was part of the Zhou Family Fort, compared to where Su Chungui and the others lived, this place was like two completely different worlds. Compared to his own Zhai, the gap was even more astonishing.

At this moment, many gaunt people sat at their doorways, casting their gazes toward Lu Yu, their eyes filled with curiosity, greed, and a trace of fear.

"Big Brother, once you go in, you must not show your wealth, otherwise, who knows what might happen," the man reminded him thoughtfully.

Although this area belonged to the Zhou Family Fort, there was no Guard Team to maintain order at all; even if someone died, it was likely no one would investigate.

If Lu Yu were to pull out dozens or even hundreds of yuan right now, what would happen was self-evident.

The man led Lu Yu past one house after another, finally arriving in front of a room. The door was ajar, and it was quiet inside.

"Big Brother, this is it," the man said, rubbing his hands.

Lu Yu walked up and reached out to knock on the door.

"Bang bang! Bang bang!" The knocking sound was exceptionally loud in the silence.

"Who is it?" A voice full of displeasure came from inside the room.

Lu Yu nodded slightly; that was indeed the old man's voice.

He took out the 5 yuan and handed it to the man.

In an instant, the eyes of the people around widened.

The man accepted the money with profuse thanks and said with a face full of anticipation, "Big Brother, if you need to find anyone else later, just let me know. Don't worry, the price remains the same."

"No need, just this one," Lu Yu said, then pushed the door open and walked straight in.

The light inside the room was dim, and the smell was unpleasant.

"Who are you?" The old man's voice sounded again, his tone sounding even more irritated. "Why are you barging into someone else's room? Don't you know that trespassing is illegal?"

"Give it a rest. Of all the things you've done, which one isn't illegal or against the rules? You're in no position to talk about others."

As Lu Yu spoke, his gaze fell on a bed on the north side, where he saw the old man leaning against the wall with his lower body lying on the bed.

"Little brother? Is it you?" The old man was stunned for a moment, and then his emotions became agitated. He seemed to want to get up from the bed, but the next second, a shrill scream came from the room.

"What happened to your leg?" Lu Yu hurried to the bedside and looked at the old man's right leg.

"It's, it's nothing." The old man's face was contorted, his complexion frighteningly pale.

"Nothing?" Lu Yu looked suspicious. "It wouldn't be broken, would it?"

After a long while, the old man finally recovered from the pain and forced a smile at Lu Yu, saying, "I wasn't careful when I came back last night and accidentally broke my leg."

"Is that so?" Lu Yu's gaze scanned the room.

He discovered a broken bowl on the floor with shards scattered everywhere, along with some miscellaneous small items, creating a scene of chaos.

A trace of panic flashed across the old man's face, and he hurriedly changed the subject: "Little brother, why did you come?"

"I didn't see you at the stall, so I spent some money to have someone bring me here; you have to reimburse me for this money," Lu Yu said.

"How could I..." The old man just wanted to complain, but the words stopped at his lips; he then widened his eyes, looked at Lu Yu in disbelief, and asked: "Little brother, did you come specifically to find me? Could it be, could it be..."

"Yes," Lu Yu nodded, "This morning, that elder of mine made a special trip to Anshan City."

"Gulp." The old man swallowed a mouthful of saliva, his heart feeling like fifteen buckets drawing water—a chaotic mess of ups and downs.

"Th-then what?"

Lu Yu did not speak; he took the small box the old man had given him earlier out of his pocket.

The old man was stunned, and then a self-deprecating smile appeared on his face.