The next day, Qiao Yi was helping her mother with housework. She got home very late after get off work yesterday. She watched her mother beat Qiao Shan for a while and then went to bed.
Qiao Shan brought in a box of coal briquettes; the family was running low, so he'd gone out early in the morning to buy more. As he worked, he rolled up his sleeves, his arm muscles bulging, a sight that drew the envy of Chen Xiangbei, who had come to see Qiao Yi.
Not knowing when he would be as strong as Brother Black Dog, Chen Xiangbei wiped the non-existent saliva and walked into their compound to say hello.
"Brother Qiao, is my sister Qiao Yi here?" Chen Xiangbei asked loudly, then walked to Qiao Shan's side.
Qiao Yi came out when she heard the sound. Seeing Chen Xiangbei coming to her, she immediately asked if there was any new news.
Chen Xiangbei looked particularly petite standing next to Qiao Shan. He stood on tiptoe with great effort, trying to compare his height with Qiao Shan. The scene was a bit funny.
"Sister, let me tell you, my second brother wouldn't help me get the information, so I turned to my brother-in-law. But the time was too short, and I only knew they had several locations, like a cunning rabbit with three burrows, which were quite well hidden. The leader was a small-time thug, but he wasn't a good guy anyway. The most troublesome thing is that their people are very scattered, with a group here and a group there. Even if we report them to the police, it's difficult to eliminate them..."
Chen Xiangbei talked a lot, and Qiao Shan and Qiao Yi's faces turned even paler. Qiao Shan's dark cheeks looked much whiter than usual.
"What should I do?" Qiao Yi frowned, almost upset. How could such a thing happen to her brother? Why did such an honest man have to suffer such a thing? Their family had never done anything bad, so why did they get such retribution?
"Xiaoshan, Xiaoyi, who is outside?" Qiao's mother was packing things in the house and was about to come out when she heard the sound.
Qiao Yi immediately grabbed Chen Xiangbei and told him not to talk nonsense. Her mother was not in good health, and her father often went to various places to buy things to nourish her body. He also had to work two jobs to make money and was often not at home. If something happened to her mother, the burden on the family would be even heavier.
Chen Xiangbei had inquired about Qiao Yi's family and naturally knew what their situation was like. He nodded in understanding and then said that he was a friend of Qiao Shan. Chen Xiangbei didn't know when he had developed some concept of the boundaries between men and women. He felt that since his parents' divorce, he should support the family like a man.
Although, no one in the Chen family would let him support the family, this did not stop him from wanting to grow up.
At this moment, facing Qiao's mother's question, Chen Xiangbei took a step towards Qiao Shan and just said that he came to talk to Qiao Shan about something. Seeing Qiao's mother enthusiastically wanting him to go in for a drink of water, he refused because he hadn't finished his story yet.
Chen Xiangbei rolled his eyes, trying to get Qiao's mother out of the way. Qiao's mother believed that guests should be more welcoming, and kept talking to him, so Chen Xiangbei had no choice but to chat with her.
"Auntie, I heard the meat union has a new batch of fresh pork today. The group in our compound lined up early. I think your local supply and marketing cooperative has also lined up there. I think you can buy good meat today."
Qiao's mother was truly bewildered. Their supply and marketing cooperative didn't have meat available every day; there would always be a long line whenever meat was available. Qiao Yi had just given her a few meat coupons yesterday, so it might be helpful to improve the children's diet. "Then you..."
Chen Xiangbei: "Auntie, I'm fine. I just came to talk to Brother Qiao Shan about something. I'll be leaving soon. You don't have to entertain me. If there's a long line later, I'll have to wait a long time."
Qiao's mother immediately took the vegetable basket from the house and turned around to praise him as a good boy as she walked away.
Seeing her walk away, Chen Xiangbei continued to talk about the situation over there. He had only spoken halfway when he noticed that Qiao Shan's expression was not right. He turned his head to look behind him, and a few thugs who didn't look like good guys suddenly appeared behind him.
Chen Xiangbei felt so unlucky in his heart. How could he be caught saying bad things to bad people? He was doomed and would definitely be beaten.
As expected, money is hard to make and shit is hard to eat.
The group of people just came today to ask what Qiao Heigou meant, but when they arrived at the alley, which was separated from Qiao Shan's house by a wall, they vaguely heard an unfamiliar boy saying bad things about them. How could they tolerate this? Wherever they went, they scared people away, and now someone actually openly said that they were not good people.
Although they are really not good people, it does not mean that they are willing to be gossiped about behind their backs.
One of them, a man with a pointed chin and monkey face, walked up and grabbed Chen Xiangbei by the collar and lifted him up. "Kid, say what you just said, kid? Say it again."
Chen Xiangbei was strangled and could only beg for mercy: "Brother, I didn't, I... I didn't mean you, seriously, I swear, I don't even know you, how could I say that?"
"Do you think we are fools and deaf? Are you trying to get yourself killed by trying to be clever with us?"
Chen Xiangbei had difficulty breathing. "Brother, I was wrong. I was really wrong. I won't do it again. Please let me go. Please."
The thugs laughed, "This kid is really spineless. We haven't even started fighting yet, but he's quick to admit his mistake."
Qiao Shan protected Qiao Yi behind him. Seeing that Chen Xiangbei had suffered this unexpected disaster because of him, he felt very sorry. So he bravely stepped forward and whispered, "Brothers, this matter has nothing to do with him. Why don't you let him go?"
Another thug cursed loudly, "It has nothing to do with him, but it has something to do with you and your whole family. Black Dog, our boss has offered you a very good condition. We have contacted you many times. When will you reply to us?"
Last time on the street, you said you needed to think about it, so we'll go to your master's house to find you later. At your master's house, you said you hadn't made up your mind yet, so we'll have no choice but to come to your house to find you. If you still can't make up your mind this time, we'll go talk to your parents and your sister next time.
So now, have you thought about it?"
The thug holding Chen Xiangbei pushed him towards Qiao Shan, who immediately caught him. Chen Xiangbei coughed a few times and his face flushed.
"I...I've thought it over." Qiao Shan was panicking, but he also knew they wouldn't let him go. He decided to just agree. If he got caught, it would only hurt him, not his family. He just didn't know his sister would be criticized because of him, or the factory might refuse to let him because of him, a prisoner.
That's better than being harassed by them. At worst, he can... leave half of the money he earns to his parents and half to his sister.
He felt extremely guilty and looked at Qiao Yi with red eyes, "I promise..."
Chen Xiangbei suddenly interrupted his mid-sentence with a violent cough. He didn't know where he got the courage from. Maybe he was angry at the gangster's threats, or maybe he suddenly felt guilty after seeing Qiao Shan and Qiao Yi, two honest people, being forced into this state.
He shouted, "Promise me!"
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