Chapter 94 Turning the Tables

"Fine, if you don't want to work here, then leave now."

She pointed to the door without hesitation.

"Tools taken away, people left, that's all."

The master was stunned.

He originally thought Zhou Shufen would back down.

Unexpectedly, she turned the tables and ordered him to leave.

The anger on his face froze instantly, finally turning into a hint of panic.

Then he started acting tough.

"You think you can just leave like that? I turned down all other jobs for this one! You have to pay me in full, not a day less, or I'm not leaving!"

He stood with his hands on his hips, striking a pose as if he would fight to the bitter end.

He tried to force Zhou Shufen to give in by pestering and delaying.

Zhou Shufen sneered inwardly.

What kind of situation hasn't she seen?

She has never relied on weakness or concessions to get where she is today.

Are you afraid of this kind of person throwing a tantrum?

She calmly took out her phone, ready to make a call.

"Listen up, either take the money and leave, or I'll call the police and tell you to get lost."

Her tone was as cold as ice.

"I won't leave until you pay me! You think you can just kick me out?"

The master crossed his arms and glared at her with disdain.

Zhou Shufen suddenly rolled up her sleeves and stood in front of him.

"You try it, I don't believe you really dare to stay put. If you don't leave today, I'll show you what regret is."

At this moment, Zhou Hairong suddenly stepped forward and stood in front of Zhou Shufen.

"Mom, don't worry, let me talk to him. Leave this to me."

He took out a cigarette and casually put it in his mouth.

He then handed her another cigarette, his tone low and threatening.

"If you want to resolve this, settle your wages on the spot and you can leave now. But if you don't want to leave, then I'll have to tell everyone... If word gets out in the neighborhood, who will dare to hire you?"

The master was stunned, his expression changing repeatedly.

He stared intently at Zhou Hairong, trying to find a flaw in his demeanor.

Zhou Hairong simply looked at him quietly, without dodging or flinching.

In this line of work, reputation and referrals from acquaintances are the only way to make a living. If your reputation is ruined, you won't be able to make a living anymore.

He eventually took the money, turned around, and walked out.

Zhou Hairong didn't argue or make a scene, but he forced the other party into a corner.

Zhou Shufen stood there, somewhat stunned.

She began to wonder: Has this child really changed?

The shop renovation has been a busy month, and it's finally almost finished.

Zhou Shufen looked left and right, her face beaming with a long-lost smile.

Every brick and every penny in this place is soaked with her sweat; it represents all her hopes for the future.

Just as she was filled with joy, a group of people suddenly rushed in from outside the door.

They were all burly, with fierce faces and flashy tattoos on their arms.

Some of them were carrying steel pipes and wooden sticks, clearly not there to discuss business.

Zhou Shufen's heartbeat almost stopped.

She has never caused trouble or made enemies, so why would someone like this come to her door?

She looked at Zhou Hairong in a panic.

Sure enough, Zhou Hairong's face turned pale instantly, and he involuntarily took two steps back.

"Zhou Hairong, you're really something. You hid for a month and made us search the whole city for you."

The man leading the group had a deep scar on his face.

When he spoke, he exuded a ruthless and gloomy aura.

"We've finally run into each other today, shouldn't we settle the score?"

"Brother Dao, I'm sorry, I'm not hiding, I'm really trying to raise money... Please don't be angry."

Zhou Hairong clasped his hands together and lowered his head so low it was almost touching his chest.

"Think of a way? You've been thinking for so long, but where's the money? Hand it over!"

Brother Dao sneered, swung his arm, and smashed it hard against the glass display stand.

There was a loud "whoosh".

Wood chips and shards of glass flew everywhere like raindrops.

"stop!"

Zhou Shufen rushed forward and spread her arms to block the broken display stand.

"I paid for this to be installed, you can't just smash it!"

Brother Dao gave a disdainful sneer.

"Who are you? You have no right to speak here."

"This is my mom... Brother Dao, this is my biological mom!"

Zhou Hairong hurriedly rushed between the two.

"Please be merciful and don't stoop to her level. If you want to hit or yell at me, come at me. Don't hurt her..."

"Oh? Is that your mom?"

Dao Ge narrowed his eyes and looked Zhou Shufen up and down.

He gave a cold laugh.

"Madam, your son owes me a sum of money, a full 83,000. Either pay it back now, or don't blame us for being ruthless."

Zhou Shufen stared intently at Zhou Hairong, her eyes sharp as knives.

"What exactly happened? Explain yourself!"

"What have you been doing all these years? Are you still trying to hide it from me? Are you still trying to make me take the blame for you?"

Zhou Hairong's legs went weak, and he collapsed to his knees with a thud.

"Mom, I was wrong... I'm useless. After I left home, I made some friends, and then... then they took me to those kinds of places, and I... I was confused for a moment, and I got involved with things I shouldn't have. I spent all my money and am now drowning in debt... I really didn't want this to happen, but I can't stop..."

Explain yourself!

Zhou Shufen's voice suddenly rose in pitch.

"What did you touch? Did you go gambling?"

"You're still asking?"

Brother Dao sneered from the side.

"You good son, you spent your hard-earned money on things, burning through tens of thousands, and now you want to renege on your debt? The Black Dragon Sect's money isn't so easy to owe!"

"What?"

Zhou Shufen's mind exploded.

She lost her footing and almost fell, but luckily she managed to grab the counter.

She felt a tightness in her chest, making it hard to breathe.

She never imagined that her son would fall to such a state.

Debt...

Someone chased me to my doorstep and smashed my shop...

Is this the ending she got after working hard all her life?

"You, you..."

Zhou Shufen's voice was so hoarse that it was almost inaudible.

"How could you do such a thing? I carried you for ten months, raised you with so much care, and this is how you repay me? I'm so heartbroken... so heartbroken..."

She slowly closed her eyes, unwilling to see her son who had broken her heart any longer.

"Alright, I've given you two plenty of time."

Brother Dao strode forward and grabbed Zhou Hairong by the collar.

With a violent shove, Zhou Hairong's back slammed heavily onto the concrete ground.

"Hand over the money now! Otherwise, you won't see the sun tomorrow!"

His gaze was cold and fierce as he stared at Zhou Hairong's face.

Zhou Hairong was so frightened that snot and tears streamed down his face uncontrollably.

He frantically wiped his face with both hands, screaming at the top of his lungs.

"Mom! Mom, save me! He's going to beat me to death! I don't want to die! I really don't want to die!"

Zhou Shufen suddenly opened her eyes, her voice booming like thunder.

"Stop! If you dare touch him, I'll call the police right now! Who are you people? You're clearly just street thugs trying to make a living by intimidation and extortion!"

Dao Ge froze, a hint of hesitation flashing in his eyes.

He stared intently at Zhou Shufen.

The silence that lasted a few seconds felt like centuries.

Zhou Shufen straightened her back and met Dao Ge's fierce eyes head-on.

Brother Dao put down the iron rod, a cold smile creeping onto his lips.