Chapter 19: Chapter 19 Warning
After leaving the small restaurant, several people squeezed into a nearby alley. Su Peng wiped the blood from his face and spat fiercely, cursing, "Fuck, were you all raised by ***? How did you let someone take you down like that?"
"Brother Peng, that Dongzi guy is really incredible. We didnât even see how he made his move, and we all flew out. The pain was so unbearable that we couldnât get up to help you."
"No way?" Su Peng saw the expressions on his underlingsâ faces and knew they were telling the truth. Frowning, he said, "When did that kid become so powerful?"
"Brother Peng, are we really going to let this go?"
"Hmph, dream on. Just now, I was just trying to get away. Iâll go talk to my brother-in-law later, and Iâll make sure he pays for this."
"I knew you werenât going to let it go!" came Xiaodongâs voice from behind.
Suddenly, Su Peng twisted around, facing Xiaodong, his face instantly turning unsightly. He opened his mouth and said, "Brother Dong! I was just saving face in front of my boys. Donât take it seriously."
Xiaodong narrowed his eyes and said slowly to Su Peng, "Su Peng, considering our past friendship, I can let this slide this time, but I warn you, if you dare to trouble Gangzi and Xiaoqiang again, I will make you regret being born into this world."
Xiaodongâs voice was not loud, and his tone did not seem very harsh, but his gaze was like shooting arrows straight into the heart, making Su Peng feel uneasy as if all his thoughts were being seen through by Xiaodong, and as if his life was completely in Xiaodongâs hands, ready to be ended at any moment.
Trembling, Su Peng said, "I wouldnât dare, I wouldnât dare. From now on, this territory belongs to you, Brother Dong. I absolutely will not show up here again."
"Thatâs for the best, lest I grow tired of seeing you." Xiaodong gave Su Peng another deep look and turned to leave.
Su Peng watched as Xiaodongâs figure disappeared from his sight and stood there, not moving.
"Brother Peng, Brother Peng." It took two of his underlings calling him to snap him back to reality, only to realize his back was drenched in cold sweat.
Su Peng shook his head and snorted, saying, "Letâs go. You guys are all useless. Iâm practically supporting you for nothing; I still have to rely on my own wits to get out of trouble."
Xiaodong returned to the restaurant and nearly crashed into Gangzi and Wang Xiaoqiang.
"Dongzi, where did you go?" Gangzi sized up Xiaodong.
Xiaodong smiled slightly and said, "I just had a few words with Su Peng."
Gangzi snorted and said, "Whatâs there to talk about with him? Despite his sobbing just now, I guarantee not a word he said was true. That kid is too good a liar."
Wang Xiaoqiang sighed deeply and said, "Even though I know what he says is false, in light of our past, let it go."
Xiaodong thought the two had believed Su Peng, but it turned out they had seen through Su Pengâs cunning long ago, and said with a laugh, "Letâs go, letâs keep drinking."
The restaurant owner was facing the place with a distressed look, as there was little choice but to chalk up the losses to bad luck, given that these were not men to be trifed with.
"Uncle Li, put the damage on our tab and bring us two more dishes. Iâll settle the bill with you later."
"Alright!" Uncle Li was the restaurant owner, and he grinned, saying, "Dongzi, you havenât been here for so many years, how could I let you pay? Consider it my treat."
"Ah, Uncle Li, are you worried I wouldnât pay? Hereâs a thousand bucks, hold it first, and we can settle any difference later."
Xiaodong spoke while pulling a stack of money out of his pocket, handing a thousand to Uncle Li.
"Alright, then I will go make the dishes right away." Uncle Liâs face burst into a smile as he took the money, saying, "Dongzi, youâve really made it, being so generous with your money."
Xiaodong laughed heartily and said, "Iâve made a bit of money. I caused you so much trouble when I was younger; Iâm just glad you donât hold it against me."
"How could I? Just come by more often, thatâs enough."
"Dongzi, youâve just come back, how can we let you treat us to dinner? Let us pay instead." Gangzi and Wang Xiaoqiang both tried to give Xiaodong money.
Xiaodong held back their hands and said, "Weâre all brothers here, no need for such formalities. I wonât lie, Iâve made some money these past few years. If you guys ever need money, just tell me."
"Ah, thatâs needless. The two of us, at the very least, can still support ourselves. You havenât made much being in the military, better save it for getting married."
Only those who were officers in the military earned high wages; ordinary servicemen didnât make much. Even though Xiaodong served as a volunteer for years, how much could he have saved? So, when they heard what Xiaodong said, they just thought he was being a good and loyal friend, not realizing that Xiaodong was actually wealthy.
Before the dishes arrived, they started with a drink. The hefty Gangzi looked at Xiaodong and asked, "How come youâve become so strong, Dongzi? Taking on five or six people, I couldnât even see how you moved, and they all flew out."
Wang Xiaoqiang said in surprise, "Thatâs amazing. I was too busy hitting Su Peng; I didnât even see it."
Xiaodong laughed it off and said, "Itâs from all the training in the army."
"I shouldâve joined the army too if I knew it was like this. At the very least, I could have lost this fat. If I had developed some muscle, wouldnât have to worry about not picking up chicks."
Wang Xiaoqiang rolled his eyes at Gangzi and sighed, "Even if you were muscular, what then? Nowadays girls only care if youâve got money or a powerful father. Folks like us, even if we get girls, are just going to end up losing them to someone else."
Gangzi said, "Why didnât you retaliate just now then?"
Wang Xiaoqiangâs mouth twitched as he said, "I donât need that kind of girl. What I want is someone who truly wants to spend their life with me. It hurt to see her, but after beating up Su Peng, I actually felt better."
Xiaodong immediately praised him, "Well said, Xiaoqiang. We men should enjoy our fun, but when it comes to a wife, we canât be careless."
It wasnât until midnight that Xiaodong staggered his way toward home. He hadnât gone far when a man whizzed past him.
Then, another person ran up from behind, but when they reached him, they suddenly lunged at him, along with a loud shout, "Letâs see where you run off to now!"