Chapter 4

Finally arrived, the Tianfu Hotel is located on Daxing Street in the southern part of the city, and it is considered one of the more upscale places to rent a room in the county. No wonder when I was putting on my shoes yesterday, Li Dan mentioned leaving a few for him, as he had something to do in the evening; it turns out he came here to rent a room. From a distance, I saw a large crowd gathered at the hotel entrance, with layers of people inside and outside, probably numbering in the dozens.

Damn it! Here you go! Zhang Shaoyu threw down ten yuan, opened the car door, and rushed out. The matter was urgent today; if only he could have a proper talk with that guy. With his demeanor, could he really be part of the underworld? After getting out of the car, Zhang Shaoyu ran desperately towards the Tianfu Hotel. His home was about ten minutes away by car; if he had to rely on his own two legs, it would take at least twenty minutes to run there.

Xiao Qiang turned around and gave Zhang Shaoyu a wry smile, then grabbed the person and started walking back.

After making seven or eight phone calls, Zhang Shaoyu finally let out a sigh and leaned back in his chair. This situation is quite troublesome; how can Li Dan be so hard to deal with? He was cornered outside a hotel, most likely for getting involved with someone else's girlfriend and caught in the act, what a disgrace! I really don't want to deal with this mess! However, such thoughts can only linger in a corner of my mind; when a brother is in trouble, regardless of right or wrong, I must help him first.

"Shao Yu, it's me, hurry over, something has happened!" This was Li Dan's voice, and upon hearing it, Zhang Shao Yu became anxious. Having known Li Dan for so many years, he had never seen him this frantic. Once, in the county town, this guy was cornered by a group from the vocational school, and he merely made a casual phone call: "Shao Yu, bring a few people over, something has come up." It was the first time he had called out in such a panicked manner.

It was truly a nightmare. After leaving the hot pot restaurant yesterday, my friends and I spent the night at an internet café, completely losing track of time. Later in the evening, we went to a nightclub and danced wildly, which inevitably led to another bout of heavy drinking. Zhang Shaoyu remembers that it was probably Li Dan and the others who carried him back.

Hello! Is this Xiaoqiang? This is Brother Zhang. Yes, uh, hi, don't interrupt me, listen to what I have to say. That kid Li Dan has gotten into trouble. Gather a few brothers and head to the outside of Tianfu Hotel immediately.

At least ten people. Xiao Qiang is a seasoned local in the county town. After graduating from high school, while Zhang Shaoyu and the others went on to university, he stayed in the county and followed his older brother. Since he is involved in this line of work, he must possess certain skills; just by hearing the footsteps, he can roughly gauge how many people there are.

Just a few steps out, I suddenly heard a series of crackling footsteps approaching from a distance

It is unclear who spread this statement, and whether it has undergone scientific verification remains uncertain. In any case, Zhang Shaoyu and his companions firmly believed in it at the time, treating it as a classic. From then on, whenever they encountered a beautiful girl, they would first examine her lower regions. Upon hearing Xiao Qiang say this, Zhang Shaoyu chuckled. Xiao Qiang then greeted Li Dan and led his brothers back.

Neglecting to wipe the sweat from his forehead, Zhang Shaoyu leaned over the railing beside him, deep in thought as he contemplated a strategy

Just as Zhang Shaoyu had eaten half of his meal, his phone in his pocket began to ring incessantly. Cursing under his breath about who the hell was bothering him so early, he answered the call

Zhang Shaoyu was rolling his eyes, contemplating how to start the conversation. Given that he was in the wrong, should he apologize first? It was also his fault for drinking too much yesterday and causing this ridiculous situation. Thinking about it, he truly felt sorry for her. Her boyfriend probably had a huge fight with her by now. Alas, what a misfortune.

Finally, he could only let out a long sigh and said to his brothers, "Let's go, it's nothing, just a misunderstanding." After saying this, he turned around and looked Zhao Jing up and down, then quietly said to Zhang Shaoyu, "Brother Zhang, I'm leaving first. If anything comes up, just give me a call, and I'll be there immediately."

"Hey, Qiang, have you seen Zhang?" One of the group called out before they had fully gathered. Perhaps it was because they had just mentioned it, they suddenly spotted Zhang Shaoyu not far away, and the group of brothers quickened their pace towards him. Xiao Qiang noticed that a few of them had already reached into their clothes behind their backs.

Ah... rubbing his forehead, he got out of bed and just as he stood on the ground, he remembered something.

Zhang Shaoyu recognized him; this was the Xiaoqiang he had just called, a buddy from high school. The situation was urgent, and there was no time for idle chatter. Zhang Shaoyu glanced behind him, and including Xiaoqiang, there were a total of eight young men, all in their twenties, each armed. Most of them were brothers who had been hanging out with Zhang Shaoyu three years ago. When it came to facing challenges, Zhang Shaoyu understood better than anyone who had the courage and who did not.

It's nothing, let's go, I will treat you, let's go drink

However, this burst of joy did not last long, as it quickly dissipated. This was because he saw that the person pulling Li Dan was none other than Zhao Jing

No wonder Li Dan is so furious; he had a bad day today. Last night, he was in poor spirits and was mocked by his female companion, which left him feeling humiliated. As he was leaving the hotel in the morning, he was contemplating when to invite that girl out again when suddenly, a delicate hand reached out and grabbed his collar. The words spoken by the owner of that hand left Li Dan trembling with fear

Now that it's settled, let a fiery girl come your way and see how you handle the situation today

Zhang Shaoyu was quite the lone wolf, boldly stepping forward and raising his head to ask: "If there are grievances, they have their source; if there are debts, they have their owner. If there's something to settle, come at me, let my buddy go." His demeanor made Li Dan feel somewhat disloyal for betraying a brother. However, upon reflection, if it weren't for this guy's antics yesterday, he wouldn't have suffered so much or lost so much face; he deserved it! With this thought, he felt much better, and his head also lifted.

"Let's go." Zhang Shaoyu's tone was calm and unruffled, revealing no hint of anger. Yet Zhao Jing could not help but feel anxious; where did he want to take me? Today, he had gone to such lengths, he surely wouldn't let me off easily. Oh my, how unlucky I am!

Zhao Jing already regretted her impulsiveness. She had realized that Shao Yu was not a good person. Initially, she intended to intimidate him into agreeing to her demands, but now that thought had long been forgotten. In just a short while, he had brought two groups of people, totaling dozens, all looking fierce and menacing, clearly thugs. How could she be so unfortunate to encounter such a scourge!

As a result, her brother, who came out with her, rushed in and was furious. No matter how she explained, he simply did not believe her. He said, "Your parents sent you to university, and you learned these things? How shameless can you be?" The most outrageous part was that after returning home, her brother actually told their parents about this. The two elderly parents were extremely anxious. They said, "Such a precious girl, beautiful and with good grades, on the verge of graduating from university, with a bright future ahead, how could she fall so low?" Thus, the family interrogation began.

At this moment, the plague god was saying something to his friend, who had a face full of苦相. In the end, that fellow walked away with his head down. The plague god then approached.

Xiao Qiang did not respond at all, being dragged away while thinking about Zhang Shaoyu's words, he couldn't help but laugh. This Shaoyu is good at everything, but the only thing that bothers the brothers is this relationship issue. What’s so great about Zhang Li? Isn’t it just that she looks decent? There are beautiful girls everywhere on the street, so why are you so fixated on her? Besides, that silly girl once told you not to hang out with us, right?

A group of people was rushing over from the other end of the street. The brothers counted, and there were exactly sixteen of them, all young men in their twenties. Xiao Qiang took a closer look and immediately burst into laughter: "Damn, everyone is here today." The newcomers were none other than the friends Zhang Shaoyu had just called. Xiao Qiang found the situation quite amusing while also being surprised by Zhang Shaoyu's enduring influence among the brothers.

Zhang Shaoyu's gaze was piercing, his expression cold and stern. He reached behind him to grip the handle of a kitchen knife and strode quickly towards the crowd. However, this was merely a prop, intended to intimidate; if he were truly asked to use the knife to harm someone, he absolutely would not. It was not a matter of lacking the courage, but rather a question of necessity.

At that moment, Zhang Shaoyu did not say much; after clarifying the location, he hung up the phone. Damn it, it really is hard to find peace. Just yesterday, he vowed to turn over a new leaf and start anew. Today, enemies have come knocking at his door. In the world of Jianghu, one is not in control of their own fate. He rushed into his room, crouched down, and pulled out the dusty suitcase from above. Upon opening it, he found that aside from a few old clothes, the Zhonglong machete he had bought from someone else for fifty yuan had vanished without a trace!

"Hehehe! Come back!" Xiao Qiang, in a hurry, rushed over to block the way, wrapping his arms around the leader. At that moment, the guy was glaring with wide eyes, his gaze fiery, exuding an air of menace.

Zhang Shaoyu had just started to speak when he immediately closed his mouth, for he saw Zhao Jing crying. Two streams of tears slid down her fair face; one hand was clasped against her chest while the other covered her mouth, gently sobbing. Noticing Zhang Shaoyu's anxious gaze upon her, she turned her head away.

Brothers, when we rush in later, regardless of the consequences, just grab Li Dan and run. As for the rest, it doesn't matter! Before they even arrived, Zhang Shaoyu had already begun issuing orders. Several brothers claimed they were all high school classmates of Zhang Shaoyu, who used to have fun together every day during their school years. Brother Zhang is a man of integrity; how could they not come at his word? Everyone was ready to make their move.

There is no one in the living room, and on the dining table in the center lies the breakfast prepared by his grandmother for him. Although it is merely fried dough sticks with congee, Zhang Shaoyu eats it with great relish. Grandmother is truly wonderful, always thinking of him in everything. If he becomes successful in the future, he must repay his grandmother's kindness. Well, what about grandfather? He should be repaid too, even though he is a bit strict, he still does well for him and his studies.

Zhao Jing also has a fiery temper; no matter what her family says, they do not believe her, which makes her so angry that she slams the door and storms out. It would be one thing if her brother didn't believe her, but even her parents do not believe her, which truly saddens her. As she walks down the street, contemplating finding a few friends to go out for drinks, she suddenly sees someone in front of a hotel who was with that bad boy yesterday.

I have broken up, he asked himself. After receiving a positive answer, he felt relieved. Yes, indeed, I have broken up, I am single again, being single is great, no one to manage me, no ties or burdens. As he pondered these advantages, Zhang Shaoyu stepped out of his room

The conversation was split into two parts. Over there, Zhang Shaoyu was staring at Li Dan with a calm expression, which made Li Dan feel uneasy. This kid Shaoyu is notorious for being ruthless and is a smiling tiger, concealing his true nature. Although he appears completely unfazed right now, if he were to explode later, he would definitely beat me to death

Zhang Shaoyu has a soft spot; he is most afraid of women crying. In the past, whenever something happened between him and Zhang Li, as soon as she cried, he was rendered helpless. Someone once said that a woman's tears are the best weapon against men. But this girl in front of him seems to be overdoing it; there were no signs at all, and she just started crying? Could it be that she broke up with her boyfriend?

"Brother Zhang?" That person exclaimed while rubbing his head

What on earth is going on? Qiang, you have completely confused me! Don't delay, I need to greet Shaoyu!

"Shao Yu! You bastard! This is all your doing! You owe a debt of passion!" Li Dan raised her head and saw Zhang Shao Yu, who looked utterly astonished. In that moment, a myriad of grievances surged within her, and she couldn't help but curse loudly.

Neither of the two spoke, perhaps because neither knew what to say. Silence, a suffocating silence

The Fu River meanders beneath the dam, winding like a jade belt around the county town. At this moment, the sun has just risen, and the brilliant sunlight spills over the river's surface, creating dazzling reflections. In the middle of the river, several fishing boats are present, with fishermen already starting their day's work, shouting their calls and vigorously rowing their boats. At the bow, a few cormorants are joyfully flapping their wings, and suddenly one of them tumbles into the water, causing ripples to spread across the surface.

It must have been Grandma who took it away, hey! Saving a person is like putting out a fire. Zhang Shaoyu had no time to think further, rushed into the kitchen, grabbed a kitchen knife and tucked it into his waistband, not caring about the heat, and put on a suit before heading out. In the taxi on the way, he kept dialing the phone.

"Brother Zhang, what happened?" Xiao Qiang hurriedly concealed the item in his hand and stepped forward, frowning as he asked Zhang Shaoyu. Ultimately, this mess was caused by Zhang Shaoyu, but in front of so many people, he couldn't say much. After lightly clearing his throat a couple of times, he covered his mouth and whispered a few words in Xiao Qiang's ear.

Li Dan lacked the integrity expected of a revolutionary youth, immediately defecting and betraying his comrades. Not only did he divulge all of Zhang Shaoyu's information except for his height and measurements, but he also volunteered to use his phone to call Zhang Shaoyu, even though it was about to be shut down.

Upon reaching the dam, Zhang Shaoyu stopped and secretly observed her following behind. This girl truly is a beauty, with a head full of glossy black hair, smooth and radiant, and delicate features arranged in an orderly manner, making her look pleasing. Especially her thin lips, which were tightly pressed together at that moment, adding a touch of sensuality. Coupled with her pink sleeveless T-shirt and white fitted casual pants, she was a stunning beauty

It is said that chaos arises from busyness. Zhang Shaoyu, with a kitchen knife tucked into his waist, was running wildly down the street, attracting the attention of passersby. However, he had no time to care about this. As he turned a corner, he unexpectedly collided head-on with someone, and the two of them bumped into each other.

"Hey! Are you blind?" the other party shouted loudly. Zhang Shaoyu was already fuming; I hadn't even said anything, and you started cursing first. Just as he was about to explode, he looked up and saw seven or eight young men of similar age standing in front of him. The one who bumped into him had striking golden hair, wore a tight T-shirt, and was bare-chested, holding a shirt in his hand. Strangely, the shirt was completely wrapped around his hand, with the hanging part trailing down long.

Hello! Who is it!" he called impatiently

Upon exiting the southern gate, one is greeted by the renowned flood control embankment of the county town. Zhang Shaoyu paid no mind to whether that girl followed him and walked straight ahead. Although Zhao Jing felt somewhat fearful, she still hoped to persuade or request this troublemaker to lend her a hand. However, once they reached the embankment, she began to regret coming along, as this area was notorious for criminal activities. Several cases of robbery and sexual assault had already occurred on this very embankment.

Xiao Qiang's expression was unpredictable; at one moment, his eyes widened in disbelief, and at another, he bit his lip, trying hard to suppress a laugh. In the end, he could only manage a wry smile and shook his head. He placed a hand on Zhang Shaoyu's shoulder, initially intending to make a sarcastic remark or a joke, but then he remembered that this person was his brother, and he couldn't speak carelessly.

Hey!" Zhang Shaoyu shouted, drawing the attention of the onlookers who turned their heads in unison. Seizing the opportunity, Zhang Shaoyu squeezed his way in, ready to pull out a kitchen knife! The brothers behind him also pushed forward with all their might, and a street brawl was on the verge of breaking out

"Can you tell me what happened between you and your boyfriend?" Zhang Shaoyu asked cautiously, resembling a child who did not understand the situation.

Ah, Xiaoqiang, there is no time left, brother, hurry up and follow me!" Zhang Shaoyu ran with sweat pouring down his face, but he didn't even have time to wipe it off, anxiously speaking to his brothers. Everyone knew that Li Dan was in trouble, so they didn't ask many questions and quickly followed Zhang Shaoyu towards the Tianfu Hotel.

Although he felt scared inside, he did not lose his composure. He glanced at the road; turning left at the intersection ahead would lead to the police station. As long as he could get this guy to the police station, everything would be fine. Just when he was feeling anxious, he was suddenly discovered. In a moment of panic, his hands became unresponsive, and he slammed on the brakes, causing the car to lurch towards a trash bin by the street. Fortunately, Zhang Shaoyu was quick-witted and managed to grab the steering wheel, twisting it with all his might, and narrowly avoided a collision. In a moment of panic, his hands became unresponsive, and he slammed on the brakes, causing the car to lurch towards a trash bin by the street. Fortunately, Zhang Shaoyu was quick-witted and managed to grab the steering wheel, twisting it with all his might, and narrowly avoided a collision.

Zhao Jing ignored him, continuing to sob softly. She felt wronged; after all, when you go to a hot pot restaurant for a meal, who did she offend? How did she end up encountering such a character, who inexplicably leaned over to say thank you? It would have been fine if that were all, but why did he have to throw that box of things in the restroom?

"Hey, buddy, where are you driving to?" Suddenly noticing that the road outside was wrong, it should be the way to the Public Security Bureau! The driver, probably a novice, was so scared that his face turned pale. On the first job of the day, he picked up a gangster who was constantly making phone calls in the car. The driver looked in the rearview mirror and saw a young man in the back seat making a call while reaching behind him to feel something. Eventually, he clearly saw that it was the handle of a kitchen knife. On the first job of the day, he picked up a gangster who was constantly making phone calls in the car. The driver looked in the rearview mirror and saw a young man in the back seat making a call while reaching behind him to feel something. Eventually, he clearly saw that it was the handle of a kitchen knife.

A discerning person can see at a glance that there is something hidden here

With a severe headache, when Zhang Shaoyu opened his eyes, he felt a swirling halo of light in front of him, as if the chandelier on the ceiling had taken on a spiral shape. He threw off the blanket and sat up, shaking his head incessantly.

In a moment of anger, fury surged within me, and I confronted him boldly, accusing him loudly of having an affair with my sister. After all, that girl had already run away, leaving no witnesses to contradict me. After such a commotion, I finally managed to force the true culprit to reveal himself

Fortunately, the knife was not pulled out. When Zhang Shaoyu rushed in, he did not see the imagined dozen or so people beating up Li Dan; instead, he saw Li Dan, disheveled, being held by the collar by one person, with his head hanging low. The sight was truly pitiful. This made Zhang Shaoyu laugh. Hey, kid, this is what you get for being unruly and not controlling yourself, getting caught by someone.

What is even more unfortunate is that the girl he was with in the hotel room was truly untrustworthy; as soon as trouble arose, she simply walked away. Now, Li Dan finds himself in a situation that is hard to explain, akin to having mud stuck in his pants—it's not exactly excrement, but it might as well be. Later, Li Dan recognized the woman who had caught him, and he also realized a serious issue: why was this girl grabbing me? It was Zhang Shaoyu who had teased her yesterday. Subsequently, Li Dan recognized the woman who had caught him, and he also realized a serious issue: why was this girl grabbing me? It was Zhang Shaoyu who had teased her yesterday.

Zhang Shaoyu nodded and patted Xiaoqiang on the shoulder, expressing that it was truly a waste for him to make the trip today. Although he was his brother, he still felt somewhat guilty about it

I apologize. Zhang Shaoyu spoke up, saying that as a man, one must admit their mistakes and take responsibility.

How could you be such a pervert? My sister is underage! You actually brought her to a hotel room! Are you even human?

"By the way, this girl is quite nice; she might even be a virgin. Just look at the way she stands, Zhang. " At this point, he winked at Zhang Shaoyu with a mischievous grin. Zhang Shaoyu recalled that during their high school days, there was a saying among the boys: to determine whether a girl was a virgin, one should observe if there was a gap between her legs when she stood with them together. A girl who had lost her virginity could never keep her legs fully together. Zhang Shaoyu remembered that during their high school days, there was a saying among the boys: to determine whether a girl was a virgin, one should observe if there was a gap between her legs when she stood with them together. A girl who had lost her virginity could never keep her legs fully together.

Zhang Shaoyu did not ask any questions; he could easily deduce what was going on. He turned around and waved to the brothers behind him, who were watching him closely, and said helplessly, "It's nothing, just a misunderstanding"

Hello! Gangzi, Brother Zhang, listen to me, notify all the brothers you can find to gather at the Tianfu Hotel, that's it

Zhao Jing stopped crying, reaching out to wipe the tears from her face. Upon seeing this, Zhang Shaoyu hurriedly searched his body. Zhao Jing realized that he was aware of his own shortcomings and was trying to make amends, so she waited for him to take out a tissue. However, after rummaging for a long time, he finally spread his hands with an awkward expression and said, "I don't have any."

This sentence, filled with profound grief and indignation, echoed for a long time in the streets, reaching the ears of everyone. Almost simultaneously, everyone turned their heads, and a wave of gazes shot directly at Li Dan! In that moment, Li Dan silently sighed in her heart: retribution!

Looking at Zhao Jing's slightly raised lips, her eyes filled with laughter, and her elegantly slanted posture, Li Dan understood that this was a conspiracy! It was definitely a conspiracy! Sure enough, after Li Dan endured the gaze of the onlookers, Zhao Jing finally spoke her terms: Where was that kid yesterday? Bring him out.