"It's me," Jiang Dao nodded. "I didn't expect you to work here." He hadn't paid attention earlier, so he hadn't noticed it was his classmate. It was said that her family was poor and she had repeated grades, which was why she looked a bit older than him.
"So it's really you?"
"How did you become so strong?" She was incredulous—how did someone change in just one year? Did he go to the gym? Did he take some medicine to grow stronger? It seemed so, looking at those defined but flexible muscles that had just beaten two guys earlier.
"I just exercise and sleep well." Jiang Dao didn't explain much, as even his family was slightly surprised, but one excuse made things clear. It's normal to grow some muscle as a boy in puberty, right?
She had the expression of not believing but didn't pursue it anymore. "By the way, how should we deal with this trio?" She pointed towards the sleeping thugs on the floor with hatred in her eyes.
"Didn't I say call the police?" Jiang Dao said casually.
"R-right!" As if awakened, she hurriedly took her broken old phone and dialed a number. Meanwhile, the other staff member Chen Feng came closer.
"Brother Su, thanks for your help earlier so we could catch this group of robbers." Chen Feng had heard everything, and although he was surprised that this strong man was a student, he wouldn't look down on him and still gave him his thanks. After all, he really helped keep this shop safe. The auntie who owned this shop was good to him, so he had to keep it intact.
"It's nothing. I'm just protecting myself," Jiang Dao accepted the gratitude but didn't let it get to his head.
"No matter what, you helped us. So if you have any trouble, you can come to me at 4th district in the East Western suburbs. Just say my name, Chen Feng, and I will come to help you."
Chen Feng vowed to give his help if any need arose—one reason being his gratitude for the help, and another being that he saw potential in this strong student. It wouldn't be bad to get connected early; maybe he would be the one needing help in the future.
Half an hour later, the security Bureau arrived under the rain.
The Security Bureau appeared.
The rolling door opened, and the three gangsters sat with their heads down, backs facing each other, their hands and feet tied with translucent strong tape.
Seeing the surveillance records, the bearded uncle named Xiang Zunhua in police uniform exclaimed along with other officers at his side.
"Is this really a teenager?" He looked at it again and was amazed by the arm power of this young man.
"Look at that reaction—it was like an ace from another department," his partner said, also surprised.
"Yes, it's my classmate!" The staff girl Xiao Xiao said proudly, as if it was she who was being praised.
"Then can you tell him, if you meet him next time, that if he wanted to be a police officer, with his talent and decisiveness he would surely have a bright future."
After saying that, Xiang Zunhua looked at the three tied-up guys on the ground. One of them was already awake and looked at the police and staff, especially Chen Feng, with hatred in his eyes.
"Hehe, you will pay for this... especially you!" Pointing at Chen Feng, the guy talked wildly, saliva flying like molten lava from an erupting volcano. He was so arrogant, as if he wasn't tied up, until the police officer slapped the teeth out of him, waking him up to reality.
*Slap!*
"Watch your manners, boy. Your fate is in our hands."
The police officer wiped his hands as if hitting this guy had tainted his purity. The criminal who was slapped lowered his head in anger and pain. Because of this, Chen Feng and the police hadn't noticed the hope on his face, as if someone would save them.
His brother was part of some association with good status, and although he didn't know what it was, he could see by the clues that his brother was a powerful person. He was only robbing because he wanted to and to follow his friends.
"Just you wait! This isn't over!" Thinking of this, he closed his eyes and pretended to surrender to his fate.
"These two people are habitual offenders, and they have a lot of criminal records. One is called Wang Hu, and the other is called Tang Xiaoshen. As for the other one, it should be their new member."
After a simple operation of the smart bracelet on his hand, he quickly found out the identities and historical criminal information of the two gangsters, but the other one was not in the database.
Chen Feng was not surprised by this, because when he took off the mask, he recognized the two men. They were the two gangsters he met in the alley just last week when he was taking a night walk in the city.
"Leader, how will they be dealt with later?" Xiao Xiao asked from the side.
"Jail. Robbery and intentional injury are serious crimes in our Chiyang country. Although they failed, they will be sentenced to at least seven to ten years."
Xiang Zunhua explained, and Xiao Xiao breathed a sigh of relief.
The police picked them up one by one and loaded the trio into the police car. Chen Feng and Xiao Xiao followed to see them off.
"Sister, have you told the manager what happened here?" Chen Feng asked.
"Yeah, she was furious, but hearing that it was resolved, she gave us a 30% discount on anything we buy here," Xiao Xiao replied.
"What, so much?" Chen Feng was surprised and grateful—grateful for the robbers inadvertently helping him get a discount, and surprised because he didn't expect that just standing there and subduing a guy would lead to such a blessing. With this discount, he could buy more nutritious foods in this store to support his strong body.
After a while, the trio was secured in the car, and the police uncle Xiang Zunhua said to them, "Tell Madam that Old Six has already taken care of this."
The uncle police officer Xiang Zunhua bid his farewell, mentioning the manager of this store. He and the manager were classmates, so when he heard that someone was making trouble here, he quickly called his partner and came here prepared.
"Yes, we will. Thank you, Officer."
Xiao Xiao said with a smile and went back inside along with Chen Feng after the police car drove away, disappearing in the rain.
...
Meanwhile, Jiang Dao was already inside the bus heading to his destination. He didn't waste time waiting for the police anyway—the trio was already tied up with tape they found in the store.
Thinking of the earlier scene where he instinctively subdued the robber.
"Is this the feeling of becoming stronger?"
Jiang Dao raised his head and put his hand in front of his face, seeing the callouses below his fingers. The scene he encountered in the convenience store today flashed through his mind.
If he was just an ordinary person, there would be no need to say more about today's ending.
But there are not so many "ifs" in the world.
He is no longer the weakling he was at the beginning.
The meaning of protecting himself had become more concrete in an instant, and it had also given him more feelings and motivation.
"However, we still can't take it lightly. That group may have other companions, and they may retaliate privately."
The thought flashed through Jiang Dao's mind, and he picked up his phone to check the time.
9:38 a.m.
There was no regret or fear.
It was done, and he would do it even if it happened again.
This was the duty of a customer and his own principle.
And the veins on his fist became clearer, and Jiang Dao's eyes became deeper.
Even if they want revenge, just wipe them out.
Thinking of this, he stopped distracting himself.
"Martial arts..."
**End of chapter**
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