Volume 1 Chapter 67 Pawnshop of Good Fortune

  Let Shi Qian continue to sleep, thinking about how to find Xuan first and save him. This is not a joke, removing someone's arm is a serious crime that can lead to several years in prison. But this kid is really annoying, apart from removing his arm, he also needs to be taught a lesson.

  I rode my motorcycle back to the pawnshop, Baozi was still on early shift this week and had already left. Li Shishi was sweeping the house, Ying Pàngzi was playing Double Dragon with Jing Ke, and Liu Bang had also "gone to work". According to Er Sha, he was texting that "Black Widow" he met at the bar until very late last night.

  Xiang Yu lay on the ground in an unusual way, propping his arm under his head, with a piercing gaze, thinking about his bread truck.

  Every time I come back and see them, I feel a sense of calmness and satisfaction. I start to think that we are really like one big family.

  I hugged a pillow and ran downstairs, and I happened to lie on the sofa preparing to sleep for a long time. Anyway, no one usually comes here, so I can pretend to be in charge of the store.

  Just as I was dozing off, Zhao Dage's second son, Zhao Bailian, suddenly shouted: "There is a killing aura!" He was squatting at my door, and this shout startled me into sitting up. I was about to scold him when a van stopped in front of my door, both doors opening with a loud creak. Six big men jumped out, adding to the driver's eight people, who all rushed in. The leader picked up an ashtray and slammed it onto the table, glaring at me and asking: "Are you Xiao Qiang?"

  "What's going on? Why are you looking for him?" I was about to respond when I saw that they were all holding clubs. Xiao Qiang had retired from the underworld for many years, but he still had a keen eye for these things - one glance and he knew they were here to cause trouble.

  That head said fiercely: "Less nonsense, are you?"

  I hastily pulled myself together, stood up and said: "Wait for me to call you." I rushed upstairs and shouted loudly, "Feather brother, your van has arrived!"

  All he heard was a loud noise above his head, and Xiang Yu, wearing slippers and large pants, rushed down the mountain like a fierce tiger, shouting in a thunderous voice: "Where is it?"

  I dodged behind him and poked my head out to say: "I'm Xiao Qiang, what are you looking for me?"

  Xiang Yu's sudden appearance indeed shocked the 8 of them, but seeing that we were only two people, they didn't take us seriously. The leader waved his club and said brazenly: "I'm going to smash your brains out!" He raised his club and was about to smash my computer when I shouted loudly: "Stop!"

  That head was stunned, and I quickly said: "Don't smash things, can we change places to smash people? You also saw that I don't have anything valuable, besides the neighbors are all old men and women who love to meddle in other people's business, what if they call the police?"

  That guy sneered coldly: "Xiao Qiang, you little rascal, you're quite a man, we don't think you can run away from us either. Where do you want to go?"

  I said, "Today is a school holiday, and there's an elementary school not far from here. How about going there?" As I spoke, I pinched Xiang Yu's waist hard, and he naturally understood the situation. He turned his head to me and said, "How can 8 people play? I'm not going."

  That guy burst into loud laughter: "Xiao, your friend is a coward. If you're a man, let's make a bet. We'll wait for you at the entrance for 1 minute!" He said, leading his people away.

  I poked Xiang Yu and said: "Did you hear that, Brother Yu? They say you're a coward."

  Xiang Yu didn't care at all, and casually said: "Can't you just kill them all? Why bother me?" As he spoke, he was about to go upstairs again. I forgot that he always thought of me as a god with limitless abilities.

  I tightly grabbed Xiang Yu and said, "Do you still want bread? I promise you, big brother Yu, as long as you help me take care of them, within three days not only will I get the bread for you, but also teach you how to make it."

  Xiang Yu turned his head and said: "Really?"

  "You're being cheated!"

  Xiang Yu didn't say a word and walked towards those 8 people, he was still too naive, if it were Hui San Niang, she would definitely say: "You're still young, be my grandson!"

  I pulled Xiang Yu again, and he said impatiently, "What's wrong now?"

  "Brother Ye, later on, it's best if no one loses their life, and even breaking arms and legs is not ideal. The most ideal situation would be for them to lie in bed for a few months and suddenly recover."

  Xiang Yu looked embarrassed, thought for a moment, and the gang of thugs outside shouted: "Time's up, if you don't come out, we'll smash your store!" He said as he walked out: "I'll do my best."

  There were 10 of us walking to school in a line, with the other eight being neat and tidy, while Xiang Yu and I were lagging behind. The scene looked like we were being escorted to our execution. This time, I made an exception and didn't bring my brick, but I didn't believe that even Xiang Yu, the enemy of 10,000 people, would need me to take on these eight - they had misunderstood him. Today, if there were 800 of them, he might be able to get excited, but for him, taking on these eight was like eating sparrow tongues.

  The small gate of the school was open, and the old man at the door probably went to play chess. I made an effort to lead this group of people inside. I knew that behind the school there was a small playground with narrow terrain, making it difficult for anyone to escape. These eight people initially looked at me as if they were watching an idiot - this place, even if someone was killed, no one would see it.

  Then they lined up in a row, I raised my arms and legs without any hesitation, took an arrow step into the circle, pointed at Item Feather: "You guys knock him down first!" As soon as he finished speaking, another arrow step jumped out 5 steps away, his face was red with anger,

  Teacher's style.

  That No. 8 didn't hesitate, picked up a stick and rushed to Xiang Yu's front, hitting him hard, then a scene that made me collapse appeared: Xiang Yu actually had no power to fight back!

  He clumsily used his arm to block the stick that came with a strong gust of wind, but his feet didn't move at all. He was like a big clumsy bear, blocking until later he simply stopped blocking and let them hit him. His skin seemed thick enough, as the sticks bounced back when they hit his body. Xiang Yu, however, showed no reaction at all.

  "I shouted loudly: 'Fei Ge, surrender already!'"

  Xiang Yu stood in the circle of falling sticks, helplessly throwing up his hands and saying to me: "I don't know how to fight, you won't let me kill or cripple, I've never done this before."

  I wiped the sweat from my forehead and said, "It's okay if I get beaten up, just don't kill me."

  As soon as my voice fell, Xiang Yu's arms suddenly lengthened, grabbing someone and throwing them into the air with a loud laugh. At the same time, his massive body flashed in front of another person, pushing him half a meter deep into the ground. With one kick, he sent that person flying, and two others were knocked down as well.

  In the blink of an eye, 5 people were blown away like small pieces of paper. The luckiest one was the guy who was thrown into the sky by Xiang Yu at first, because he didn't get hurt much. However, he soon became the unluckiest one - Xiang Yu didn't catch him.

  The three people on the scene didn't even react to what was happening, and then they saw their companions disappear below the 0.5-meter line. Xiang Yu picked up two more with one hand each, lightly bumped them together, and these two people were like they had ridden a roller coaster for 24 hours, their legs tangled as they ran around the small playground, staring straight ahead.

  The only one left was that little head, standing alone there, holding a stick in his hand, his legs trembling with fear, and even Xiang Yu didn't have the heart to hit him.

  I walked up to him, stretched out my hand and said: "Give it to me." He handed the stick over to me very naturally. I started beating him on the head and face, while saying: "Was it Liu Xuan who told you to come? Was it you guys who did that thing at the bar yesterday?" Xiang Yu turned his head away and said: "Ah, you're really ruthless."

  These eight are the same as last night's, they don't know Liu Xuan well, just a matter of course. I stopped my hand, leaning on my stick and said to them: "Today's beating is considered light, you've already been targeted by someone who loves killing whole families, if you don't want to be in the newspaper, hurry up and move house." These people turned pale.

  I also said: "Also, tell Liu Xuan that I still advise him to run away, do you all remember what I said?"

  There are 8 heads but only 7 are on the dot - one neck is dislocated.

  "Get out of here!"

  Eight people supported each other and walked out, I suddenly remembered something, used a stick to point at the leader: "You stand still."

  His legs went soft and he sat down on the ground with a thud. I said, "I've saved so many of you, and yet you look at me as if I hit you, but actually, among all of you, your injury is the lightest. How do you repay me?" What I said was true, Xiang Yu's one blow and my dozens of blows were the difference between internal injuries and external injuries.

  I saw the leader still didn't understand, so I simply said: "Give me your car key." He was very pleased and put the van key on the ground, and also told me: "There is half a box of Zhonghua cigarettes in the car that we just bought, consider it as a gift to you. Also, the clutch of that car is high, you'll be tired when stepping on it."

  This sentence made me laugh, this kid is really cute, I took out all the money in my pocket and gave it to him - you know I'm also considered a rich man now, there are often several thousand yuan in my pocket, which is enough to buy a broken van on the black market. Then threatened him again to move house.

  In this way, Shi Qian cut off this thread, and I could at least free up a few more days to think of a solution.

  I was thinking about my own things, Xiang Yu was also thinking about his own things: he snatched the car key and ran back. I didn't follow him crazy, I just didn't believe he could start the car by himself.

  I strolled back to the pawnshop, and saw Xiang Yu already sitting in the car, mimicking my movements and making the engine hum. The fact that he could do this made me look at him with newfound respect.

  I stuck to the glass and watched him fiddle, Xiang Yu awkwardly sat in the passenger seat, opened the car door for me, and I got on the car with a proud face.

  "First release the brake, then turn the key, step on the clutch and shift into first gear slowly." Although I taught him correctly, I intentionally made the actions very quick. In fact, I didn't want him to learn too quickly, because if he really drove away, the consequences would be unthinkable. I found a car for him to practice driving because I was afraid he would collapse from frustration, but not letting him learn is because I'm afraid I'll collapse.

  I pulled out the key: "You practice these first today."

  "How can I practice without a key?"

  I said: "With keys I'm not at ease, you just make do for now, I'll go catch up on some sleep."

  I slept until nightfall and Baozi saw me snoring loudly, didn't even call me to eat. After I woke up, I felt dizzy and my head was swelling, stuffy nose and short of breath - I'm sick.

  I'm probably too tired these past two days and fell asleep on the sofa again, I think it's time to exercise, that white-robed young general who was once as strong as a jade tree in the wind is now no match for the wind and frost.

  Baozi made me a half pot of wonton soup, I added a few drops of sesame oil and slurped it up. A phone call came in, it was a very familiar voice, he affectionately called me Xiaoqiang and said: "Are you free? Let's go out for dinner."

  I vaguely asked: "Are you..."

  "Am I Liu Xuan? You've forgotten so quickly?"

  I just came back to myself

  We just talked on the phone yesterday, and I said: "You don't say 'not used to'."

  Liu Xuan smiled awkwardly and said with a sincere tone, "Xiao Qiang, why didn't you tell us earlier that you're the boss's person? We've really made a big splash in the Dragon King Temple."

  Old Hao, who runs a pawnshop, inevitably has dealings with underworld figures, but it's just a matter of interest, he doesn't have much deterrent power. Liu Xuan wouldn't have known whose shop this was before trying to smash it, so he's saying this because he's eaten a loss and is giving himself an excuse to step down, because now he can't figure out my real strength.

  "Do you have some time? Come out and sit for a bit."

  I said: "Not today, I'm sick and drinking a medicinal soup."

  He was stunned for a moment, probably didn't expect me to refuse so readily. He reacted quickly and said: "There were some minor misunderstandings in the past, wasn't it just because of that broken manager's position? You want it, take it."

  I hope this matter can be resolved like this, at least he yielded a bit. Good men value their dignity, and they don't necessarily care about his arm.

  But things aren't as simple as I thought, Liu Xuan started talking in a tone: "We're out here to make a name for ourselves, if we lose face, we'll be finished. I've already invited several old timers from the Jianghu, when the time comes, we'll all come out, you just need to show your attitude, call me Brother, let people know that I'm a brother who cares about his siblings, and not think that I'm afraid of trouble, it's good for both of us, what do you say?"

  I'm thoroughly fed up with this person, all he cares about is saving face, he's a hypocrite who wants to have it both ways. His meaning is clear, it seems like he's saying that with his status, he can't be bothered to argue with me, and instead wants to graciously accept me as his subordinate and bestow the manager position on me.

  Look at how I treated him? I was wholeheartedly trying to save him, from the first word I spoke to him until just now when I said I was drinking wonton soup, wasn't every sentence true?

  I lost my patience, wiping my nose and telling him: "Forget about eating, Manager, if you dare to do it, just continue doing it. I'll remind you one last time, good luck to yourself."

  "Xiao Qiang!" Liu Xuan said with a heavier tone: "The people I've called are all reputable figures, you don't want to offend them together, do you?"

  "That's a sea cucumber with its head cut off!"

  "My surname is Xiao, I'll fight you to the death!"

  "We must take advantage of the opportunity!" I'm really worried that next year will be all about this husband and that husband, and it'll be a mess.

  I regret hanging up the phone - I should have scared him a bit more. Today's conversation exposed his fear of me, he is not that kind of ruthless person who can stake his life and family on it. What I'm most afraid of now is that he will be in this half-dead state, neither quitting nor coming back to work.

  I was leaning on the sofa like a big shot, worrying about the country and the people, when Baozi said: "Hurry up and drink, it's getting cold!" The big shot quickly continued to sip the wonton soup. When I saw Baozi bend down, the pearl that Li Shishi gave her fell out of her chest, and for a moment, I was distracted. Baozi saw me staring at her blankly, followed my gaze, and lowered her head, muttering: "You're sick to the point of almost dying, and you still have this kind of thought?" I only then realized that she had misunderstood me, so I said: "Put the pearl away at home, it's not safe to wear it."

  Baozi casually put it in his clothes: "Wear it and play with it, who can still grab it?"

  This pearl reminds me that the small villa thing should also be grasped tightly, but it's difficult for me now to finish building the school and buying the bar after being financially strained. After buying a house, what if the wind bottle is not repaired or can't be sold? What will I use to support those hundreds of people?

  But then Baozi's words finally solidified this idea, she said: "Do you want me to cut some more pickled vegetables for you?" I almost shed tears, they say that people who are sick are emotionally fragile and especially grateful for kindness, anyway, that's just how I am.

  I think it's time to do something for Baozi, as for the others, I don't care about them anymore. I'm not Fan Zhongyan or Du Fu, nor am I Bai Su'e. I'm just a man who has already gotten engaged, and all because of that plate of salted vegetables, I'll even give her a big house.

  I gave the White Lotus a call, and as soon as she picked up the phone, she enthusiastically chatted with me for half a day. She would talk about her childhood one minute and then discuss which clothes were on sale the next. After chatting for a few sentences, she asked if I still remembered so-and-so. As I listened, I figured it out: she had actually forgotten who I was, but was afraid to say so and offend me, so she was fishing for information.

  I said: "Bai Jiao Zhu, it's me, Xiao Qiang who plans to buy a house."

  She immediately had an impression and said strangely: "Do you really want that house?"

  "How rare, didn't plan to have me follow you to cough?" Later I found out that the white lotus flower really thought so, because of the ride I was riding, she said it was her first time seeing a man riding a motorcycle with his wife and children buying a villa.

  I really want to buy it, Bai Lianhua is excited, I let her prepare the relevant procedures and tell her that I will go see the house tomorrow.

  I hung up the phone and Baozi started nagging me again: "Get rid of that crappy mobile phone, aren't you ashamed?"

  I took out the card and threw that antique phone into the drawer. Anyway, I'm going to sleep well today and won't answer anyone's call. I said, "I'll change it tomorrow."

  I didn't know, this almost became a decision I would regret for the rest of my life.