Making money as easy as eating.

Here's a smoother translation while keeping the humor intact:

The fight was meaningless.

The moment the three bruised and battered police officers pulled out their guns, the whole scene fell into dead silence.

[ (Covers mouth, crying) It's over, it's over, it's OVER! These guys are so done for! ]

[ …Holy crap! ]

[ (Covers mouth, sobbing) They actually dared to beat up cops… I have to say, respect! ]

[ These guys are the real warriors… ]

[ (Covers face) Never in my life have I seen such boldness… Damn, they really went all in. ]

[ Ah, this… Awkward. ]

At that moment, Cao Shengming was stunned.

He had assumed that the three burly men getting beaten up in front of him were reinforcements that the little girl had called in.

But never in his wildest dreams did he expect… they were actually police officers.

The shining pistols in their hands were impossible to ignore.

Even though the safeties were still on, the sheer presence of those guns was enough to make everyone freeze on the spot.

The little girl stood beside him, her face filled with nervous anticipation as she covered her mouth.

As for Big Bull and his gang of seven or eight muscle-bound goons? They were straight-up trembling.

"C-Cops!?"

Big Bull's voice carried a mix of shock, fear, regret… and a hint of existential crisis.

"How the hell were we supposed to know they were cops!? This is all just a huge misunderstanding!"

The panic was real.

"I-I swear, I had no idea! If I knew they were police, I wouldn't have dared even if you paid me!"

One of the officers, still wiping away his nosebleed, scoffed. "Oh? So what you're saying is… if they weren't cops, you'd still have gone through with it!?"

"I've been a cop for eight years, and this is the first time I've seen someone dumb enough to actually throw hands with law enforcement."

"Call for backup! Take them in!"

Within two minutes, a police car came roaring onto the scene.

One by one, the goons were hauled into the backseat and whisked away to the station.

Long story short, Big Bull and his gang were royally screwed.

Assaulting a police officer wasn't just a slap-on-the-wrist kind of crime.

Sure, the injuries weren't too serious, but still—enough to ensure they'd be facing some serious consequences.

As for Cao Shengming and the photographer, they were brought in for questioning.

Not that they were in any trouble—on the contrary, they were actually seen as the good guys in this scenario.

After all, from the police's perspective, they had helped stop some troublemakers and called the cops before things escalated further.

The police chief even patted Cao Shengming on the shoulder and said, "Good job, young man. Society needs more people like you—brave and unafraid to stand up for justice."

Cao Shengming puffed up his chest, beaming with pride. "Thank you for the kind words, sir! I'll be sure to keep up the good work."

Then, he hesitated for a moment before adding, "Uh… by the way, my buddy here got hurt pretty bad. Do you think those guys should cover his medical expenses…?"

PFFFT!

The photographer, who had just taken a sip of water, nearly spit it all out.

His eyes widened, and he immediately clutched his stomach, groaning in pain. "Owwww… My ribs… I think I have some serious internal injuries… This is bad. Three to five grand in compensation at minimum!"

His acting skills were garbage, of course.

The officers saw right through his exaggeration—but since he was technically a victim, it wasn't unreasonable to ask for compensation.

In the end…

Big Bull's family had to come down to the station, and after some negotiation, the matter was finally settled.

Final result: +5000 gold

Walking out of the police station with five grand in his pocket, Cao Shengming suddenly felt like the world was a brighter, more beautiful place.

The photographer, meanwhile, followed close behind, looking hopeful.

"Bro… about that five grand… Shouldn't I get a cut?"

"Huh?!" Cao Shengming looked at him in disbelief. "What the hell are you talking about!? This money was earned with my blood, sweat, and tears! And besides, we're practically family—what's the point of talking about money between us?"

The photographer scowled. "Hold up, hold up… That's not right. This was my medical compensation. You should at least split it with me! Don't just pocket the whole thing!"

"Listen, bro—" Cao Shengming was about to start another round of bullshitting, but before he could, the little girl burst into laughter.

"You guys are hilarious!"

She stepped forward with a bright, playful smile. "Anyway, thank you for today. I really appreciate it."

"You're welcome," Cao Shengming waved it off, acting cool. "Helping those in need and punishing evil is just what I do. My grandpa always said I was born with a righteous heart! In ancient times, I would've been a wandering hero. You know what that is? Here, why don't you come back to my place tonight, and I'll explain it to you properly—"

The photographer cut in with a dry laugh. "Oh, please. You didn't mention that part before."

"What's the point of arguing?" Cao Shengming shot back.

The little girl giggled. "Well, how about this—I'll treat you both to dinner tonight to thank you properly. You can't say no!"

The photographer rolled his eyes and muttered sarcastically, "Oh yeah, like he'd ever say no to free food... or a free date."

Cao Shengming ignored him completely and flashed the girl his best grin.

"Aw, you don't have to be so formal with me! But since you insist… Where are we eating? I hear Linhai City is famous for its seafood. I've always wanted to try—"

"Goose goose goose goose goose—" The little girl burst into laughter again. "You really are funny! Alright, seafood it is. But you'll have to wait two hours. I have to head back to my station for a bit—I'm on shift today."

"Oh, right!" She suddenly remembered something. "I haven't even introduced myself yet. My name's Xia Keke. I'm a radio host. What about you?"

Before Cao Shengming could answer, the photographer chimed in with a smirk.

"Him? His name is Cao Shengming, and he just got back from a summer job in Syria."

"…"

Cao Shengming shot him a glare. "No, no! His name is Zhang San Li Si, and he's a war correspondent from Syria!"

Xia Keke blinked in confusion. "Huh!?"