Special District 9 Chapter 144: Many Walks of Life in a Small Store

During the period of time that Qin Yu was away, Bucktooth was practically living at Hua-jie’s place. Other than returning back home to sleep every night, he would spend his time in the day here.

Hua-jie also had a good impression of Bucktooth too. Even though Bucktooth tended to speak in a roguish tone, he was still quite diligent, often helping her clean up the store. As such, Hua-jie allowed him to loiter around here, even bringing him food everyday as his salary.

Other than these superficial reasons, Hua-jie actually had some deeper intention behind taking care of Bucktooth too. She was aware that Qin Yu worked in the Police Bureau, so she thought that as long as she took care of his child, if something happened to the store, perhaps Qin Yu would be willing to stand up for her. After all, reciprocation was the new symbol of trust in this era.

In the time that Bucktooth spent in this store, he had seen the man beating Hua-jie up countless times, but he rarely discussed this matter with Xiangxiang.

Why was that so?

Because even though Bucktooth was still young, he had matured fast.

The man went by the surname of Zhang, and he was a ruffian on this street. He would often hang out with a bunch of lowlifes and do whatever that brought them easy money. Due to their ferocious appearances and their overly aggressive and violent attitude, hardly anyone was willing to cross their path.

Hua-jie and Old Zhang were companions who often hung out noisily in the rooms on the second floor to explore the intricacies of life. However, their relationship wasn’t pure as Old Zhang would often patronize other ‘meat stores’ as well. One thing to note was that he would never pay for the services, which meant that he was basically fooling around for free.

There might have been some people who were intrigued as to why Hua-jie would allow Old Zhang to do as he pleased. Wasn’t it a huge loss for her if the customer didn’t pay up? Not to mention, Old Zhang would often take money from Hua-jie, causing the sisters working under her to earn little too. Why would anyone be willing to follow her if they weren’t earning much?

In truth, there was a deeper reason behind that. Hua-jie’s store didn’t have the protection from any officials or the people from the streets, so she was entirely reliant on Old Zhang to settle matters if anything happened. This was why she had no choice but to tolerate Old Zhang.

And while Hua-jie was a money-grubber, she was very loyal to those working under her, never hesitating to stand up for them. On top of that, it was indeed true that those in their line of trade needed a ‘friend’ like Old Zhang around. Even during the peaceful era before, there was still no lack of violent pricks who let blood gush up into their head and down into their dicks once they were drunk, let alone in this current era.

Young Bucktooth was able to see through these complicated interpersonal relationships, so he was always careful to avoid talking about this matter before Xiangxiang. He knew more clearly than most children of his age just how important dignity could be.

However, in recent days, Old Zhang had been going on rampages more often than ever. He would lose all of his money in the casino before barging into the store, venting his frustrations through sex while demanding money from Hua-jie. As a result of this, Xiangxiang’s mood had been quite horrible recently, and she often hid in the courtyard to cry.

In the narrow living room in the store, Old Zhang nearly shouted his throat hoarse before Hua-jie finally walked down with her clothes cloaked over her. She asked impatiently,” What do you want?”

“Give me 200 dollars,” Old Zhang said as he picked at his yellow teeth leisurely.

Hua-jie ground her teeth tightly together as she tried her best to suppress her rage and said, “There were no guests today. Where am I to find 200 dollars for you?”

“Stop messing around. I’ll repay you once I win my money back!”

“I really don’t have it!” Hua-jie replied angrily as she sat down on a chair.

“I’m already nicely asking a request of you here, the least you can do is to accept it,” Old Zhang tossed his old coat on the sofa before walking over to the counter with a frown. “Hurry up and give me the money. They’re still waiting for me to head back!”

Guangdang!

Hua-jie pulled out the drawer and pointed at the tens of dollars inside, saying, “Take a look for yourself. Does it look like I have 200 dollars here?”

Old Zhang was stunned for a moment before he reached his hands into the drawer and swiped away everything in there. “What else do you have?”

“I don’t have anything else!” Hua-jie replied in desperation. “You already got the money you came for. Hurry up and leave!”

“Do you take me for a beggar?” Old Zhang smacked the table and shouted back. “If not for me taking care of your store, you wouldn’t be able to put yourself out for sale! What’s wrong with me taking money from you? This is the compensation you ought to fork out!”

“Old Zhang, why do you spout such dirty words?“ One of the sisters in the store couldn’t stand it anymore, so she stood up and talked back to Old Zhang. “Do you think that it’s easy for us to earn money? Who would be willing to do this if there had been another choice? It’s all to make a living! You shouldn’t go too far either!”

“Get lost, you have no business in this!” Old Zhang violently shoved that sister who had just spoken up.

“Old Zhang, you’re going to get me out of business at this rate!” Hua-jie raised her hand to gesture for the other sisters to stand back before looking at Old Zhang with a look of resignation. “I came under your protection in hopes that everyone can make some money, fill their stomach, and raise their children peacefully. But if you go at it like this, none of us will be able to survive at all!”

“Fine, I won’t argue with you.” Old Zhang picked his nose disinterestedly. “Give me 200 dollars today, and I’ll never interfere in your store anymore. We’ll be equals.”

“You said the same thing the last time too.”

“Fuck, you dumb sluts! Why do you have so much nonsense to spew?!” Old Zhang lost his patience. He reached out and grabbed Hua-jie’s hair and hollered at her, “Are you handing it over or not? Try pushing my buttons, and I’ll make sure you go out of business today!”

“Old Zhang, have some conscience!”

“What bloody conscience are you talking about?” While grabbing Hua-jie’s hair, Old Zhang swept his hand across the counter, knocking everything on top of the counter down to the floor.

Hualala!

Then, he raised his leg and kicked a nearby chair. “Bloody hell! What the fuck is with this nonsense I have to go through just get a bit of money? You think I dare not smash your shop?!”

“You're going too far!”

Hua-jie was starting to lose her patience. Gritting her teeth, she began tussling with Old Zhang, but as a woman, there was no way she could stand a chance against a man in his prime.

Old Zhang grabbed Hua-jie’s neck and slapped her face again and again. “Trying to attack me? You must have no idea what kind of reputation I have on this street! Go and ask around, see who dares to touch me!”

“Old Zhang, that’s enough!”

“Let Hua-jie go!”

“…!”

The other six sisters couldn’t stand watching it either. They quickly rushed forward and began tussling with Old Zhang too.

Old Zhang turned around and knocked them down with his fists and kicks before glaring down at them, saying, “Fine, I won’t ask 200 from you anymore. Give me 2000 instead. If you don’t fork out that money, I’ll immediately call my brothers to crash your store!”

Standing by the corner of the wall, Bucktooth stared at Old Zhang silently for a moment before rushing out of the room.

He might be young, but he had a wealth of life experience that others of his age rarely had. He knew that it was best for outsiders like him not to get involved in such a complicated situation.

Reaching the doorway, Bucktooth was just about to turn around to call Xiangxiang to follow him when he suddenly heard a crisp shattering sound behind him.

“I’ll kill you!”

Xiangxiang had smashed a glass bottle down on Old Zhang’s head. There were tears running down her face as she howled hatefully, “I told you that I’ll kill you if you dare hit my mum again!”

Old Zhang turned his head around and stared at Xiangxiang in a daze with blood trickling down his head.

The others in the room were dumbstruck too.

Holding onto the other half of the glass bottle, Xiangxiang closed her eyes and stabbed it right toward Old Zhang’s chest.