Zhong Hai City's West District Farmer's Market, bustling pedestrians and vehicles, in the evening, weaved back and forth. Vegetable leaves and dirty water flowed on the ground, all kinds of shop signs with withered paint, and occasionally a few monotonous neon lights were already flashing. Workers going home, children coming home from school, old people buying vegetables, and all kinds of travel-worn passers-by, made this dusky sky seem even more depressing.
Perhaps in this kind of international metropolis, this kind of block, is like the most despised stain in people's hearts, only hoping that it never appeared.
Near a low wall near the crossroads, there was a man leisurely doing something that others would not think to be very honorable.
This was a young man selling mutton skewers, wearing a white vest, his body was full of oil stains and soot, he wore a pair of coffee colored pants, and a pair of dull blue plastic slippers.
The young man's hair was a bit messy, but his slightly mature and handsome face still had regular features, if one looked carefully, there was a hint of a man's aura. Unfortunately, regardless of his appearance, the girls on the street would not look at him, because, he was only selling mutton skewers.
The young man put a few skewers that had just been grilled to the side, the weather was hot, it was easy to grill, but it was hard to sell, although fifty cents for two skewers was already very cheap, but after a whole day, he only earned a dozen yuan, just enough to eat two meals.
However, the young man's face did not have much depression, but with a trace of satisfaction and leisurely expression, he sat down on the small bench behind him, looking at the busy scene in front of him, this kind of scene, seemed to be the most beautiful scenery.
"Old Li, the money that you promised two days ago should be paid!" A duck's neck like voice suddenly appeared from the side.
Three boys who looked to be less than 20 years old walked over. They were dressed like hooligans. The one in the lead had his hair standing up and a silver metal chain hanging from his neck. His jeans had a few holes in them. His face was a little thin and he had a cigarette in his mouth.
Old Li was a small fry food vendor, next to the young man, similarly, there was no business in this hot day, he was sitting there worrying.
"This …" Old Li's face was bitter. "My young master, please bear with me. It's such a hot day, how am I supposed to pay if there's no business …"
"I say, Old Li, don't be so shameless. If it weren't for our Brother Feng protecting you, your stall would have long since been torn down," one of Li Feng's lackeys threatened and flattered.
The hooligan who was called Brother Feng seemed very proud. He grinned and patted the little man who flattered him, then said to Old Li, "Today's protection fee, whether you give it or not, I must get the money. Otherwise, I'll destroy your stall right now!" After that, he picked up a skewer of ham sausages, took two big bites, and threw the remaining half to the ground.
Old Li was at his wit's end. He clenched the small stack of notes in his pocket and decided to spend it like this. That was the money for his wife's medical treatment. How could he have the heart to "show filial respect" to these ruffians!?
"I'll help him." The young man who was selling mutton skewers suddenly walked over. He took out a few dry notes from his pants pocket. It added up to no more than a hundred yuan. He handed it over and said indifferently, "This is all I have. Old Li is old and in urgent need of money. You guys should also accumulate some good karma."
The hooligan squinted his eyes and laughed. He took the few notes and gave them to the lackeys behind him. "Yang Cheng, you still want to pretend to be a good person. You haven't even paid your own protection fee!"
Yang Cheng frowned. He sighed in his heart. These little fellows didn't study properly at such a young age. Why did they become hooligans? But he wasn't their father, so it wasn't good for him to say anything. He also didn't want to cause trouble, so he lightly said, "Tomorrow, I'll pay it tomorrow."
"Okay, I'm not an unreasonable person. Let's cooperate well. I'll protect your business, and you pay me the money. It's only right and proper … I'll come back tomorrow to collect the money." After saying that, the hooligan swaggered off with his two followers to scourge other small vendors in other places.
At this moment, Old Li's eyes were already red, and he looked at Yang Chen with some bitterness, "Little Yang, why do you have to do this? You're always helping me pay those lackeys, how can I ever feel at ease … …"
"Old Li, don't say that. When I first came here, I was unfamiliar with this place. If it wasn't for you, I wouldn't even have a friend to talk to. You're my benefactor. I'll repay you. "
"You … What can I say about you …" Old Li seemed to know that he couldn't change Yang Cheng's mind. He could only silently sigh.
Yang Cheng didn't mind and smiled. His smile was very light, but very sincere. He didn't seem to be affected by the extortion just now. "Right, how's your wife's illness?"
Old Li's eyes were full of gratitude. "Thanks to you lending me money a while ago for my wife's surgery. Now she just needs to go for a checkup and take some medicine."
"Oh, that's good. I wish her a speedy recovery." Yang Cheng nodded with satisfaction.
Old Li bitterly smiled. "Little Yang, the money you lent me, I'll definitely pay you back. If I can't pay you back before I die, I'll let my daughter pay you back … Alas, if it wasn't for me, you could've opened a good store with that hundred thousand yuan. You wouldn't need to come here to sell mutton skewers and suffer from those hooligans."
Yang Cheng pursed his lips. "I quite like this kind of life. Selling mutton skewers is not bad. It's simple and I can get a few meals."
"I say, you …" Old Li said somewhat gloomily. "Little Yang, you're only twenty-three or twenty-four years old. Other young men at your age are either in college or working hard to climb up the social ladder. You don't even have a girlfriend now. Are you going to keep selling mutton skewers? You're not anxious, but I'm anxious just looking at you. "
Seeing Old Li's sincere concern for him, Yang Cheng unconsciously revealed a bit of bitterness at the corner of his mouth. It wasn't that he wasn't anxious. It was just that he didn't think about it at all.
※ ※ ※
After nightfall, Yang Cheng packed up his stall and pushed the single-wheeled cart back to his rented small dilapidated apartment.
This was a small building that had been around for god knows how many years. The monthly rent was only one hundred dollars. It was only because no one lived here that it was so cheap. Yang Cheng wasn't like others who were worried about the house collapsing. Seeing that it was very cheap, he moved in.
The furnishings in Yang Cheng's apartment were very simple. It was almost all second-hand goods that he picked up from the outside. Bed, cabinet, chair, and a television that only CCTV could watch.
After pushing the things from the stall into his small room, Yang Cheng looked at the calendar hanging on the wall. He counted the days. After suddenly remembering something, he immediately ran into the toilet.
In less than five minutes, after taking a cold shower, Yang Chen walked out of the bathroom naked. His skin was a healthy wheat color, with well-proportioned lines. Every muscle on his body wasn't very conspicuous, but upon closer inspection, one could feel a hidden sense of masculinity.
Walking to the big wooden cabinet beside the bed, Yang Cheng scratched his wet hair in distress. He looked at the messy clothes inside. After choosing a few, he finally put on a beige shirt and a pair of light linen pants. On his feet, he still wore the same plastic slippers.
After leaving the door, Yang Cheng went straight to the busiest commercial street in the West End. It was also the only street in the dilapidated West End that was presentable. It was known as "Bar Street."
The nightlife of debauchery and debauchery was already pervasive. Colorful skirts and a variety of perfumes. As soon as he entered Bar Street, the atmosphere of the city swept over.
Yang Chen wasn't like the other youngsters, either brazenly, or secretly peeping at those shining white women's thighs on the street while drooling. Instead, he walked straight to the entrance of a bar called "ROSE".
The bar's neon sign was not very dazzling. It could only be considered a medium-sized bar that exuded a somewhat ambiguous atmosphere. The colorful rose-shaped lights dotted the billboard.
After entering the bar, Yang Chen walked to the bar counter in a familiar manner, and sat at the corner of the bar.
"Brother Chen, you're here." The young bartender in a black vest smiled warmly when he saw Yang Cheng. At the same time, he handed him a glass of water. "Sister Qiangwei has been waiting for you for a long time."
Yang Cheng smiled at him. He took the glass and took a sip. "Sister Qiangwei isn't mad, right? I came home a little late, so I'm late."
"I'm not mad, I'm not mad." The few pimples on Little Zhao's round face seemed to be smiling. He whispered to Yang Cheng, "Brother Chen, teach me when you have time. How did you manage to get Sister Qiangwei? You have to know that the number of men who are interested in our boss in Zhonghai can line up from the West End to the estuary. I've never seen our boss care so much about a man in so many years. But now, she's asked me five times whether you're here or not … "
"Don't talk nonsense. Sister Qiangwei and I aren't as complicated as you think …" Yang Cheng replied faintly and helplessly.
Little Zhao had an expression that said, "I won't believe it even if you beat me to death". He then sighed, "Sigh … Brother Chen, to be honest, you're really cool. To be able to hook up with an outstanding beauty like our Lady Boss, which man wouldn't want to stick to her every day? Only you can make a beauty wait for you when it's rare for you to come. That's why there's a saying that the unattainable is the best. This saying also applies to women … "
Just as Little Zhao was bragging like a Casanova, a charming yet dignified voice came from behind him. "Little Zhao, how many more times do you think I can deduct your salary?"
Little Zhao was dumbfounded as if an electric current had passed through his body. He immediately dodged to the side as soon as he came back to his senses. He continued to pretend to mix drinks seriously as if nothing had happened. However, the cold sweat on his forehead revealed the fear in his heart.
Dressed in a modern and magnificent cheongsam, the slit vaguely revealed a charming sexiness from the bottom of her thighs. Her full breasts and slender waist matched with a face that looked like it was meticulously carved into porcelain. Her shoulder-length light purple hair made her look like a young woman from a painting. She leisurely walked in front of Yang Chen.
Yang Cheng smiled. He looked at the woman without any awkwardness and said sincerely, "Sister Qiangwei, you're so beautiful. Happy birthday."