Chapter 242 — Something Was Overlooked
The Blossom Guardian · Page 2 of 2
"A few days ago? A few days ago was Brother Niu's mother's birthday — that was your gift money. Today's is the protection fee!" one of them, a scar-faced man in a tank top, said impatiently.
"This..." The vendor's face froze. He knew well enough that this was likely a con, but a man under another's roof must bow his head. This Scarface was a local thug who made his living collecting protection money from the snack street.
"Hurry it up, don't dawdle — what, you don't want to run this place anymore? Want us brothers eating and drinking here for free every day?" Scarface threatened. As he spoke, he casually picked up a mala skewer from Wei Zhao's table, shoved it into his mouth, and tossed the stick back onto Wei Zhao's table.
"Hey, if you eat it, don't throw it there — we'll be paying for that later." Wei Zhao frowned and spoke to Scarface.
"Huh?" Scarface was taken aback. He hadn't expected this customer to have the nerve to talk to him like that. He turned his head, ready to start cursing, when his eyes suddenly landed on Sun Jingyan sitting with Wei Zhao. His eyes went wide on the spot, and a lewd grin spread across his face. "Well, in that case, Big Brother here's treating! Let's all eat together — you boys, bring your chairs over!"
With that, Scarface plopped himself down in a chair right next to Wei Zhao and Sun Jingyan, and looked at her. "Little sister, my treat — eat whatever you like. How about we have a little liquor?"
Sun Jingyan frowned slightly. She hadn't expected Wei Zhao to be such a troublemaker. These men had come to collect protection money; once they'd collected it, they'd have been on their way. Even if they grabbed a skewer of mala chuan, the owner would know well enough not to count it against them. But Wei Zhao had to go and open his mouth, and now he'd dragged this jinx right over to their table.
"Did I say you could sit here? Do I even know you?" The moment Wei Zhao saw this creature leering at Sun Jingyan, he was done keeping quiet. She was, after all, the employer about to hand him money — and you're going to hit on her right in front of me?
Besides, Wei Zhao might not like meddling in other people's business, but this wasn't other people's business. Scarface had planted himself at this table because of what Wei Zhao had said. Naturally, Wei Zhao wasn't about to indulge him.
"Who the hell are you?" Scarface turned, ready to shove Wei Zhao. He'd long since found this brat an eyesore, and was looking for an excuse to make him give up his seat — well, now the excuse had walked right up to him.
"Smack!" The answer Scarface got was a resounding slap across the face. That morning Wei Zhao had just finished beating Zou Ruoming, and hadn't gotten his fill — with Wang Zhifeng around, and so many eyes on them, he couldn't rough Zou Ruoming up too badly. But now there were no such scruples, and so he slapped Scarface so hard that half his face swelled up like a steamed bun, puffing out in an instant.
"What I hate most is people cursing my mother!" Wei Zhao had never had a mother since he was small, so he was deeply sensitive about anyone bringing her up.
"You... you dare hit me?" Scarface stared at Wei Zhao in disbelief. Along this food street, he was a man who walked around as if the road belonged to him. Never mind being hit — nobody even dared raise their voice at him. So Wei Zhao's slap knocked Scarface clean senseless...
"Get lost." Wei Zhao shot Scarface a look of contempt. He rather looked down on types like him — collecting protection money was one thing, but stepping out to hit on women besides?
"You got a death wish? Still wet behind the ears and already out here acting tough?" Scarface was so angry he almost laughed. He seized a bottle of liquor from the next table and hurled it at Wei Zhao. "Acting tough takes real strength — not fantasy!"