The broken bowl, noodle soup and solidified noodles were scattered all over the floor, making it difficult to even stand.

Five or six young men who looked like they were not easy to mess with occupied several tables in the noodle shop, each with a cigarette in their mouths and an arrogant attitude.

Outside the store, several passers-by stopped to watch the excitement.

"Little sister, why are you here? Where is Pei Yang?"

Seeing that Shen Mingzhu was only accompanied by Shen Hongmei, Shen Chaobei hurriedly dragged Shen Mingzhu out of the noodle shop, as if he was afraid that Shen Mingzhu would be bullied by the thugs in the shop.

Shen Xiangnan and Qin Jinlian also ran out of the noodle shop and surrounded Shen Mingzhu, their faces full of panic.

"Mingzhu, you need to think of a solution quickly. These people are beating and destroying things, and we can't drive them away. We can't do business anymore."

Shen Mingzhu ignored Qin Jinlian's words and turned to ask Shen Chaobei what was going on.

The story begins a few days ago.

A few days ago, two of these hooligans came to the noodle shop to eat noodles, but they didn't pay after eating and said they wanted to buy on credit.

The two brothers naturally disagreed, after all, they didn't know each other.

The two sides had an argument. Shen Chaobei and Shen Xiangnan were tall and strong, with plenty of strength. The two thugs didn't get the upper hand and left cursing.

Today, two thugs brought a group of people to the noodle shop to cause trouble.

Not only did he deliberately throw things and make noises to drive the customers away, he also occupied the table and prevented the two brothers from doing business. He had been making trouble for the entire morning.

"Did you call the police?"

"They reported it, and when the police arrived, these people left. When the police left, these people came back again."

Shen Mingzhu turned around and asked Shen Hongmei to call the police, while she prepared to go into the noodle shop to meet this group of people.

The two brothers and Qin Jinlian all held her back, preventing her from going.

"What good will it do if you go? Aren't you afraid of getting beaten?"

"Little sister, don't go. These people are not good people. They are capable of doing anything."

"Where's Pei Yang? We have to ask him to come."

The three of them were talking to each other.

Shen Mingzhu said, "Pei Yang went to the countryside to pick apples and will be back in the evening."

Hearing this, the three of them shrank like eggplants hit by frost.

"It's over now, what should I do?"

Shen Mingzhu asked the sad-looking Qin Jinlian to wait outside the noodle shop, while she took the two brothers Shen Chaobei and Shen Xiangnan in to negotiate with the other party.

When they saw her, the gang of thugs all showed malicious smiles on their faces, and their gazes on Shen Mingzhu were as sticky and disgusting as slugs.

This was the first time in Shen Mingzhu's two lifetimes that she had faced such a scene. Her scalp felt a little numb, but she tried to remain calm on the surface.

"I wonder who is the leader?"

As she finished her words, a young man with a crew cut and a conspicuous scar on the left side of his face knocked on the table and looked at Shen Mingzhu presumptuously.

"Little sister, do you have something to ask your brother?"

Shen Mingzhu raised her foot to walk towards the man, but was stopped by Shen Chaobei, "Little sister..."

"fine."

Shen Mingzhu signaled with her eyes that Shen Chaobei and Shen Xiangnan should follow her, then she walked towards the man.

"My last name is Shen. This noodle shop is opened by my eldest and second brothers. May I know your last name, eldest brother?"

The scarred man was very pleased with Shen Mingzhu's humble attitude, "Cao Cao knows, right? He and I are from the same family."

"It turns out to be Brother Cao. My apologies."

"Brother Cao, my elder and second brothers just came from the countryside. They are uneducated and uninformed. They accidentally offended Brother Cao. I would like to apologize to Brother Cao and your brothers on their behalf."

Cao Haigang's eyes wandered over Shen Mingzhu's jade-white face, and he said frivolously, "Little sister, do you have a boyfriend? I really like you. If you follow me, I will make sure you have a good life."

Shen Mingzhu smiled and replied, "I am from the countryside, I got married early, and my son is already six years old."

After saying that, he changed the subject directly, "Brother Cao, I don't know what my elder and second brothers did wrong to make you upset. Why don't you tell me? We can discuss everything."

"Okay, since you're so sensible, I'll just tell you straight away."

Cao Haigang raised two fingers and said, "From today on, you have to give me two hundred yuan every month."

Shen Chaobei got anxious when he heard this, "Why should I give you money?"

Cao Haigang sneered, "Just because this area is under the jurisdiction of me, Cao Haigang, you might as well go out and ask around, who I, Cao Haigang, am!"

Even though Shen Mingzhu was mentally prepared, she was still shocked by Cao Haigang's loud mouth.

Although the noodle shop business was okay, the profit from working hard for a month was only a little over 200 yuan, but Cao Haigang asked for 200 yuan right away. It seemed that opening this noodle shop was helping Cao Haigang make money.

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"Brother Cao, to be honest, this noodle shop has only been open for less than a month, and the total profit is less than 200 yuan. Can you think of a lower price?"

"Stop your mother!"

A thug next to Cao Haigang slammed the table and pointed at Shen Mingzhu fiercely, threatening, "You bitch, don't be so shameless. Two hundred a month, one cent less and you won't be able to live well!"

At this time, a gangster sitting at the door reminded him: "Brother Cao, the police are here."

Cao Haigang pointed his finger at Shen Mingzhu in the air and said, "Little sister, I will come to collect the money at 12 noon tomorrow. If you don't get the money, don't blame me for being rude to you."

After saying that, Cao Haigang left with a group of his men.

The police entered the noodle shop and saw that the three people were fine. They asked a few questions as per routine procedures and then left.

"Little sister, what should we do now?"

"Damn it, let's just fight them!" Shen Xiangnan was very angry.

As soon as he finished speaking, Qin Jinlian punched him hard, "What are you talking about? Go away!"

After scolding Shen Xiangnan, Qin Jinlian pulled Shen Mingzhu, with a flattering look on her face, "Mingzhu, quickly think of a solution. Otherwise, ask that Miss Zhong you know for help? Her family is rich and powerful, so it will be no problem for them to deal with these ruffians."

Shen Mingzhu ignored Qin Jinlian and turned to Shen Chaobei and his brother and said, "Please clean up the store. I'm going to go out for a walk."

After walking out of the noodle shop and looking around, Shen Mingzhu went to the grocery store diagonally opposite and bought a pack of Yunnan Yunnan noodles.

After paying, Shen Mingzhu handed the cigarette to the boss.

Facing the boss's puzzled look, Shen Mingzhu smiled and said, "Boss, I want to ask you something."

After coming out of the grocery store, Shen Mingzhu went around other stores on the street before returning to the noodle shop.

"Pack your things and prepare to move."

"What? Move away? Where to?"

"What nonsense are you talking about? Your elder and second brothers have rented this store for a year and have paid the rent. Now they are moving out, what are they going to do with the rent?"

Shen Mingzhu looked at the three people from the Shen family and said, "I just asked. All the shops on this street, except those related to Cao Degang, have to pay protection fees to Cao Haigang every month. The minimum monthly payment is one hundred yuan."

"Apart from the protection money, Cao Haigang and his men eat and take whatever they want on this street, and never pay."

"If you do business on this street and make a profit, it all belongs to Cao Haigang. If you lose money, you have to pay the protection fee out of your own pocket."

The three of them were stunned by Shen Mingzhu's words.

"Then the police won't care?"

(End of this chapter)