Chapter 36: Reasoning with a Thug

Lin Ruanruan was puzzled. She had clearly just arrived in Daliang not long ago, so how could there be so many familiar faces?

All these familiar faces were here to cause her trouble.

It seemed she was too kind-hearted, allowing these clowns to repeatedly bounce around in front of her.

Squinting her eyes, she watched as several people quickly approached her. A teenager pointed at her and complained to the person he brought along, his face full of indignation.

"Dong-ge, it's this woman."

This teenager was none other than the one who, a few days ago, had brought some stall owners to cause trouble and ended up getting beaten up by Lin Ruanruan.

Since that day, he hadn't set up his stall again, and naturally, no one else on the street attempted to imitate her roasted chestnuts.

"Ah! Brother Bai, what a coincidence to meet you again so soon."

The person brought by the teenager was also familiar. Lin Ruanruan had seen him once; he was the mustached Cheng Dong, who had tried to extort protection fees from her and was beaten up by both her and Bai Cheng'an.

However, the grudge they had was significant, and Lin Ruanruan had no good impression of Cheng Dong.

But, what did this mustache just say? They had just parted and met again?

Something about this didn't sound right.

Pressing her slightly twitching brow, Lin Ruanruan glanced at Bai Cheng'an.

The bearded rough man looked expressionless and merely let out a soft snort from his nose.

"Dong-ge, do you know them?" The teenager who brought Cheng Dong to seek revenge looked embarrassed when he saw him greeting them first.

"Know them? Of course, I know them. Brother Bai is the hero who wiped out the bandits' den and is about to work under my uncle."

Cheng Dong's gaze at Bai Cheng'an was full of deep affection.

Lin Ruanruan watched coldly from the side and couldn't help but shiver.

Could she really watch such a bromantic scene?

"What are you doing here?" Bai Cheng'an's voice was somewhat impatient, his lips pale, clearly exhausted.

"Me?" Cheng Dong was slightly taken aback. Seeing Bai Cheng'an excited him so much that he momentarily forgot his purpose.

"What is your relationship with this little stutterer?" The teenager, emboldened by Cheng Dong's presence, put on the same arrogant demeanor he had in front of Lin Ruanruan before.

Lin Ruanruan sneered internally. It seemed this person hadn't learned his lesson and was still looking for a beating.

Bai Cheng'an didn't answer directly, only casting a cold glance at him before looking at Lin Ruanruan.

The question in his eyes didn't need words; Lin Ruanruan knew what he was thinking.

Her constitution probably made her prone to attracting trouble. These people always came to bother her, and there was nothing she could do about it.

"They are husband and wife." Before the main parties could speak, Cheng Dong, who had suddenly become Bai Cheng'an's little fanboy, spoke up.

"I say, Li Si, maybe there's some misunderstanding between you and Bai's sister-in-law. Since I'm here today, let's bury the hatchet and not mention the past."

Bai's sister-in-law?

Lin Ruanruan glanced at the mustache. He was quite unreserved.

"Bury the hatchet? Dong-ge, we paid protection fees. You can't just stand by and let us be bullied; how can we respect you then?"

Li Si specifically called Cheng Dong to help him save face. Unexpectedly, this little thug not only didn't help him but also talked about burying the hatchet.

What a joke. He might be able to bury the hatchet, but could those who saw him get beaten up in the street do the same?

If he didn't save face today, he would replace that down-and-out scholar as the next laughingstock of Changping Town.

"Protection fees? That was all in the past. I won't collect protection fees anymore."

Cheng Dong waved his hand dismissively.

"Dong-ge, what are you saying? We won't collect protection fees anymore?"

As soon as he said this, the few little brothers he brought along objected first.

"Why not? We were doing fine."

"Yeah, Dong-ge, we've always followed your instructions and only collected protection fees, nothing else."

One of the people who spoke up was the little brother who had previously tried to collect protection fees from Lin Ruanruan with Cheng Dong.

"I know," Cheng Dong stretched his voice, interrupting the little brothers.

"But, I'm also going to work under my uncle. From now on, the protection fees in this market town will be abolished. Be smart and don't let anyone bully you."

Lin Ruanruan sneered. She thought this little thug had turned over a new leaf, but it turned out he had just secured a stable job.

"Dong-ge, you're going to be an official!" The little brothers were overjoyed to hear that he was going to work in the yamen.

"Not an official. My uncle said I would start as a yamen runner with Brother Bai," Cheng Dong glanced at Bai Cheng'an, his eyes full of admiration.

"That still means getting a monthly salary and a position. Dong-ge, you're amazing." The little brothers flattered him again.

Lin Ruanruan's ears hurt from all the flattery. She tugged on Bai Cheng'an's sleeve and started to walk away.

"Wait a minute, we're not done yet. You can't leave."

Li Si, truly fearless, directly blocked Lin Ruanruan's path and stretched out his hands to stop her from changing direction.

"Last time you injured me, causing me to stay at home and recover for many days. We need to settle this account."

Lin Ruanruan clenched her fists, considering how to peel the skin off his face, when suddenly Li Si was lifted off the ground.

Bai Cheng'an handed his things to Cheng Dong and lifted Li Si as easily as a chick.

Effortlessly placing Li Si aside, Bai Cheng'an pulled Lin Ruanruan behind him.

"You've caused her trouble?" His strong, thick voice carried a hint of questioning.

"She beat me, kept me bedridden for days, and it cost me two taels of silver to see the doctor and get medicine."

Li Si adjusted his disheveled clothes and gritted his teeth.

"Yeah right, as if you could afford two taels of silver for a doctor," Cheng Dong, carrying a large black pot, mercilessly exposed his lie.

"Dong-ge, I don't care if you collect protection fees next year or not. But you've collected this year's fees, so you have to handle this for me."

Li Si stubbornly stuck out his neck, showing no fear.

"Hey, Li Si, what did I do today to give you the illusion that you can order me around?" Cheng Dong was immediately displeased.

"When you collected our protection fees, you said you'd protect us if anything happened. Now that something's actually happened, you're refusing to help. How does that work?"

Lin Ruanruan almost laughed at his logic.

Li Si must have a screw loose, or he got his head squeezed by the door before coming out.

Cheng Dong collecting protection fees was typical thug behavior. In modern times, he'd be considered part of a gang.

Trying to reason with a gangster is something no sane person would do.

"I don't care. If you don't resolve this for me, I'll bring all the stall owners to demand a refund tomorrow," Li Si decided he would continue to trouble Lin Ruanruan, stubbornly threatening Cheng Dong .