parentshiftbook Chapter 13 Taking Money to Solve Problems
Chapter 13 Taking Money to Solve Problems
Living together.
The old-established restaurant in Xisi Archway is famous in Beijing for its "Three No-Sticks" dish.
Tonight, the private room on the second floor of Tongheju Restaurant has been booked by the Qinghe Opera Troupe.
Manager Liu, dressed in a brand-new silk jacket, sat in the main seat, holding two walnuts in his hands.
Sitting next to him was "Little Shengyun," the one who betrayed his master and joined the Qinghe Class.
This young Sheng Yun is indeed handsome, with a fair complexion, red lips, and a pair of peach blossom eyes, exuding a feminine charm.
At that moment, he was sitting with his legs crossed, a "Hademen" cigarette between his fingers, and a look of disdain on his face.
"Uncle Liu, do you think Lu Cheng will dare to come?"
Xiao Shengyun blew a smoke ring.
"With that blockhead of a man, even if he'd practiced martial arts for a few days, he'd still be a country bumpkin who'd never seen the world. He probably doesn't even know which way the main gate of Tongheju faces, does he?"
Manager Liu chuckled, a venomous glint in his eyes.
"It's best if he doesn't come."
"If he doesn't come, I'll have someone spread the word tomorrow that Lu Cheng is a coward who's afraid of our Qinghe Troupe. Even if he puts on a great show on stage, his reputation will be ruined."
"If he comes..."
Manager Liu glanced at a burly man sitting silently in the corner.
The burly man was wearing a black, short, button-down jacket, his arms crossed over his chest, his muscles bulging like rocks.
What's most striking are his hands, which are a size larger than average, covered with thick, shiny black calluses.
This is a sign that you've mastered "Iron Palm".
"Then we'll have to let our 'distinguished guest' teach him a lesson on how to behave."
"It was a sinister look on Liu's face," he said.
This burly man was called Lei Laohu. He was a notorious thug leader in the Tianqiao area, known for his ruthless methods and taking bribes.
"Don't worry, Steward Liu."
Lei Laohu's voice was muffled, as if he were speaking from inside a jar.
"If you take someone's money, you have to do their bidding. Just one smash of that cup will be the signal, and I'll cripple his arm."
Just then, footsteps came from the stairwell.
Unhurried and steady, with composure and strength.
"They're here."
The people in the private room were immediately alerted.
The curtain was lifted.
Lu Cheng walked in.
Behind him followed only a blind man playing the erhu, Abing.
One old, one young; one blind, one sighted.
It looked shabby, but its aura inexplicably made everyone in the room feel breathless.
Lu Cheng's gaze swept across the entire room, finally landing on Xiao Shengyun.
When Xiao Shengyun was swept by that gaze, she almost dropped the cigarette she was holding and subconsciously put her feet off the chair.
That was the pressure of qi and blood from a "trained practitioner," a fear born of biological instinct.
"Hey, Boss Lu, what a rare guest!"
Manager Liu, being a seasoned veteran, reacted quickly, immediately putting on a forced smile and standing up to clasp his hands in greeting.
"I thought you were too busy to do me the honor."
Lu Cheng ignored his polite words and walked straight to an empty chair opposite the round table.
No one offered him a seat, so he sat down with an air of nonchalance.
Ah Bing, holding his erhu, stood quietly behind him, like a sculpture.
"Manager Liu is treating us, how could I dare not come?"
Lu Cheng casually picked up the teapot on the table and poured himself a cup of tea.
The movements were fluid and graceful, yet as steady as a mountain.
"I heard that Sheng Yun is doing quite well in your class?"
Lu Cheng picked up his teacup, gently blew away the tea leaves, and spoke in a casual tone, as if he were chatting about everyday matters.
Xiao Shengyun's face stiffened, but she forced a smile and snorted coldly.
"That's for sure. The Qinghe Class is fair in its rewards and punishments, and the silver they give out is real. Unlike the Qingyun Class, which is so poor that even mice walk around with tears in their eyes."
"Chengzi, don't force yourself."
"I heard you just got lucky, played a tiger and think you're all that?"
"If you know what's good for you, offer Uncle Liu a cup of tea today and call him 'Master.' Maybe I can put in a good word for you and let you work as an extra in the Qinghe Troupe, just to give you a job."
The atmosphere in the room froze instantly upon hearing this.
This is blatant humiliation.
Manager Liu looked at Lu Cheng with a smug expression, waiting to see him either lose his temper or back down.
However, Lu Cheng smiled.
He put down his teacup with a soft sound.
"play a small role?"
Lu Cheng looked at Xiao Shengyun with a hint of pity in his eyes.
"Sheng Yun, have you forgotten how our master taught us?"
"Be a good person before you act."
"For that one hundred silver dollars, you betrayed your master and abandoned the troupe leader who raised you. That's called injustice."
"You're slandering our sect outside; that's called disloyalty."
"A disloyal and unjust scoundrel like you dares to talk to me about making a living?"
"you!!"
Xiao Shengyun was so angry that his face turned a deep liver color, and he slammed his fist on the table and stood up.
"You're asking for trouble, Uncle Liu! You're the kind of person who won't listen to reason!"
Manager Liu's face also darkened, and he slammed the walnuts in his hand onto the table.
"What a silver tongue."
"Lu Cheng, let's speak frankly."
"The Tianqiao area in Beiping is shallow and teeming with turtles. If you want to establish yourself here, you can't rely on just words."
"Today, you either hand over the pair of bracelets that Master Jin gave you as a 'mountain-paying gift' to the Qinghe Troupe, or you'll avoid us from now on."
"Or...?"
Manager Liu slammed the teacup down in his hand.
Snapped!
Porcelain shards scattered everywhere.
"Brother Lei, someone's trying to sabotage us. How about you show them what you're capable of?"
Before he could finish speaking...
Lei Laohu, who was in the corner, suddenly stood up.
His presence brought with it a foul stench.
Its two-meter-tall body, like an iron tower, blocked the light from above and cast a large shadow.
"Kid, I heard you've practiced martial arts before?"
Lei Laohu grinned maliciously as he approached Lu Cheng step by step.
He walked to the table, but instead of making a move, he stretched out his large, dark hand and placed it on the thick, round mahogany table.
"This table is made of the finest rosewood."
As Lei Laohu spoke, he suddenly clenched his fists.
Click!
That was the sound of wood cracking.
His five fingers were inserted into the hard mahogany tabletop as easily as if they were tofu.
Wood chips flew everywhere.
Immediately afterwards, with a flick of his wrist and relying entirely on his finger strength, he managed to pry a palm-sized piece of wood off the table.
"Integrated power, this is the pinnacle of integrated power!"
Although Xiao Shengyun, who was not good at martial arts, had heard of it, he couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.
The ability to concentrate all the strength of the body into one, flowing through the fingertips, and gripping wood as easily as gripping mud—this is the manifestation of having mastered external martial arts.
In the Tianqiao area, Lei Laohu's skills are enough to make him do whatever he wants!
"Boy, how does your bone structure compare to this rosewood?"
Lei Laohu crushed the wood chips in his hand, his face full of provocation.
"Drink this cup of sawdust tea, then kowtow three times, and we'll call it even."
"Otherwise, I'll break every single bone in your body."
Manager Liu looked at Lu Cheng with a smug expression.
"Boss Lu, a wise man knows when to yield. Master Lei's skills are truly deadly."
The private room was eerily quiet.
Everyone stared at Lu Cheng, waiting to see him wet his pants in fear.