Chapter 1

In the evening, in the farmers’ market located in the west region of the city, there were numerous noisy pedestrians and vehicles indifferently passing through. Vegetable leaves and dirty water were strewn all over the ground. There was an enormous amount of different fading store signboards, and occasionally there would be some single-colored neon lights lit up. There were workers returning home, children that finished school, elderly buying groceries, and the many different travel-worn passersby, causing the gray dusty sky to seem more and more depressing.

Perhaps within a metropolitan city like this, such a region was the stain that people looked down upon the most, a region they wished never existed.

By a wall next to an intersection, was a man who was leisurely and contentedly doing what others viewed as shameful.

This was a young man covered in oil and grime, selling fried chicken. He was sporting a white vest, coffee-colored pants, and a pair of stiff blue plastic slippers.

The young man’s hair was messy, but had a rather mature and handsome face, if one took a closer look, one would notice this was a man with backbone. It’s a pity that no matter how he looked, the ladies walking along the street wouldn’t even pay him a glance, because, he was just a fried Chicken seller.

The young man placed the fried Chickens he just cooked to the side. With the hot weather, grilling was easy but selling was hard. 50 cents for two fried chicken was considered cheap, but after a whole day, he only earned a little over 10 dollars, barely enough to have 2 meals.

However, the young man didn’t seem to be dejected by this, he instead had a relaxed and satisfied expression. He sat down on his stool, looking towards the crowded street, as if such a view was the prettiest scenery.

“Old Lio, it’s about time you paid for what you agreed upon 2 days ago!” A high-pitched male voice suddenly appeared from the side.

The 3 approaching males didn’t look above 20 and were dressed like gangsters, with upright hair, silver chains, holey jeans, scraggy faces, and a cigarette in their mouths.

OId Lio was a peddler selling deep-fried snacks right beside the young man. Similarly, due to the hot weather he didn’t have much business and was on his seat with a worried expression.

“This…….” Old Lio showed a bitter face, “My Young Master, please be patient. With this hot weather, how am I able to pay without any business……”

“Listen here Old Lio, don’t take a yard after being given an inch. If it wasn’t for big bro Sam protecting you, this stall of yours would’ve been wrecked long ago.” A henchman said in a threatening, yet flattering way.

The hooligan called big bro Sam seemed extremely pleased, he patted his henchman, and said, “Today’s protection fee, you can choose to pay or you can choose not to pay. I must get the money either way. Otherwise, I will wreck your stall now!” with that said, he picked up a skewer of sausage, took two big bites and threw the remainder on the ground.

Old Lio was stuck without a way out and tightly gripped the small stack of notes in his pocket, considering whether or not to spend it like that. The money was meant for his wife to see a doctor, how could he bear to use it as a “present” for these rascals!?

“I’ll pay for him.” The man from the fried Chicken stall suddenly walked over, and fished out a few notes from his pocket, not even amounting to 100 dollars. He handed it over and indifferently said: “This is all I have, Old Lio is getting on in years and urgently needs money, you guys should accumulate some good karma.”

The little hoodlum squinted his eyes and laughed, then took the notes and passed it to his henchman behind, “Michael, you want to pretend to be a good person, but you haven’t paid your own protection fee!”

Michael creased his eyebrows, lamenting in his heart about why these fellas were not properly studying at their age. Why be a hoodlum, but as he wasn’t their father, it wasn’t his position to say anything. He also didn’t want to stir up trouble, so he dully said: “Tomorrow, I will pay tomorrow.”

“Good, I’m not an unsympathetic person, everybody should cooperate. I protect your businesses and you pay me money as a matter of fact…… I will come tomorrow to collect then.” After speaking, the little hoodlum and his two henchmen strutted towards other stalls, bringing them grief.

The eyes of Old Lio had already reddened, he bitterly looked towards Michael, “Little Michael, why do you trouble yourself? You are always helping me pay those thugs, how can I let this go on….”

“Old Lio, don’t say such a thing. When I just arrived and wasn’t used to life here, I probably wouldn’t even have a friend to talk to, if it wasn’t for you. You are my benefactor, and this is my way of repaying you.”

“You kid….. What should I say to you…..” Old Lio seemed to understand that he couldn’t convince Michael and could only sigh.

Michael didn’t mind and laughed, it was a dull yet sincere laugh. As if the extortion earlier didn’t affect his mood, “By the way, how is your wife’s illness?”

Old Lio’s eyes were filled with gratitude, “It’s all thanks to you for giving me the money to have an operation for my wife. Right now she only needs to go for a few more check-ups, take some medicine and then she’ll be fine.”

“Oh, that’s great! I wish her an early recovery.” Michael satisfyingly nodded.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***