"What would you two like to eat?"
Chen Ping'an asked with a smile as he sat down at the stall.
Seeing that both of them said anything was fine, he looked up at the busy stall owner and said, "Elder, three bowls of Dou Naohua!"
"Alright, esteemed guest, please wait a moment."
The stall owner was an old man with a Face full of wrinkles and loose skin, but he seemed to be in good spirits.
There were four or five small tables in front of the small stall, and besides Chen Ping'an, there were two other tables of people eating and drinking.
The old man was very efficient and quickly served three bowls of Dou Naohua.
"Esteemed guest, if the flavor isn't enough, there's sauce over there. You can add as much as you like, it's free."
The old man said with a smile.
"Elder, your business is quite good!"
Chen Ping'an looked at the steaming Dou Naohua, feeling pleased.
"It's alright."
The old man wiped the sweat from his forehead, looked around, and said, "It's just that most of the money earned doesn't stay in this old man's hands; it's just passing through!"
"Oh?"
Chen Ping'an became interested.
"Elder, what do you mean by that?"
At first, Haotou was reluctant to say more. But after Chen Ping'an bought some more food, and with fewer customers later, Haotou gradually opened up.
Haotou's surname was Hao, and he was a native of Baishi City. He suffered a lot when he was young, working as an apprentice, a shop assistant, and a porter. When he was young, the situation in Baishi City was stable, and there weren't as many Gangs as there are now. As long as he paid some silver regularly, his life was stable.
Just a few years ago, this area became increasingly chaotic, and life was no longer so comfortable.
Now, there are all sorts of miscellaneous fees, constantly paying one after another. After calculating everything, it turns out that most of a day's work is for others.
Chen Ping'an listened quietly, taking a bite of Dou Naohua: "Doesn't the Zhenfu Division manage this?"
"Manage? Which Gang in this city isn't more overbearing than the Zhenfu Division? It wants to manage, but can it manage it all?"
As he spoke, Haotou gnashed his teeth in hatred.
Chen Ping'an still wanted to ask something, but then customers arrived.
"Haotou, six trays of small steamed buns, six large fried dough sticks, three bowls of wontons, and three bowls of small scallion noodles! Make it quick!"
Hearing this, Chen Ping'an could feel Haotou's Face twitch, but he quickly forced a smile and ran over with a laugh.
"Master Jiang, sirs, you've arrived! Sit, please sit first! The food will be ready soon!"
Haotou led the men to their seats and then immediately ran to the stall to get busy.
Chen Ping'an ate his Dou Naohua and looked up at the men.
At a table not far away, sat several ruffian-looking men, appearing rather slovenly.
"Ah, this life is truly boring me to death! Boss, when do you think this life will end?"
"Yes, Boss Jiang, we can't do this, we can't do that, it's really boring."
Several ruffians sat at the table and began to chat idly.
Listening to their words, the burliest and strongest man among them, with one leg straddled over the bench, spoke rudely.
"You're bored to death, aren't I? The higher-ups said to keep quiet these days and not cause any trouble."
"Boss, why do you think that is! They never managed us so strictly before. Why are they so strict now?"
"It's all because of the new Deputy Commander of the Zhenfu Division!"
Speaking of this, the ruffian Master Jiang looked displeased.
"It didn't have to be this way, but the previous Deputy Commander died a few days ago, didn't he? The Zhenfu Division is investigating very strictly. The higher-ups don't want to cause trouble. So they've restricted us more strictly!"
"When will this life ever end!"
A ruffian wailed.
"By the way, Boss, what's the background of that Deputy Commander? The higher-ups even seem to have specially prepared a gift for him!"
The ruffian Master Jiang glanced at the questioning ruffian and spat.
"You ask me, how would I know! But, I heard he's not very old, still a child!"
"A child? Hahahahaha... He's probably some Young Master who came here to be a mascot. After a year, he'll be transferred away!"
"A year! Couldn't it be a few months! If things go badly, he might just die in his home again!"
"Shh! Idiot! The higher-ups told you to be quiet, and you're talking so carelessly?"
"Oh, right, right!"
"......"
At the stall, several ruffians chatted casually. Chen Ping'an listened for a while and generally understood the background of these men.
They were from the Crocodile Gang, one of the four major Gangs in Baishi City!
From their words, that ruffian Jiang was also a small leader in the Crocodile Gang.
Chen Ping'an took a look and found that this ruffian Jiang had already embarked on martial Dao cultivation, making him a figure among ordinary people.
With the arrival of the men, the two tables that were originally eating at the stall finished their food as quickly as possible, paid their bills, and left. It was clear they didn't want to have any dealings with the Crocodile Gang.
Ordinary people wouldn't dare to casually provoke the Crocodile Gang. When they saw them, they had to hide!
Haotou's movements were not slow, and he quickly served the men's food one after another.
"Haotou, business has been good recently!"
The ruffian Jiang looked at Haotou with a half-smile.
Haotou squeezed the sweat in his hand and forced a smile: "Thanks to Master Jiang and the sirs, business is barely getting by!"
"Barely getting by? I don't think so!"
The ruffian Jiang sneered twice.
Cold sweat immediately broke out on Haotou's back. Just as he was trembling and didn't know what to say, the ruffian Jiang waved his hand and told him to step aside.
"You old man, you're no fun at all!"
"Yes, yes, yes."
Haotou nodded and bowed, a huge weight lifted from his heart.
"Brother, he's so pitiful." Chen Er'ya whispered to Chen Ping'an.
Haotou's appearance just now indeed made people feel sorry for him. Especially when compared to his cheerful and relaxed demeanor when chatting with Chen Ping'an, and then seeing his current caution and worry, it made one feel even more so.
Chen Ping'an glanced over there and nodded.
Life is hard for everyone!
The Crocodile Gang men ate extremely quickly, devouring their food like a whirlwind. During the process, they also looked in the direction of Chen Ping'an and the others. They were somewhat curious as to why they weren't leaving.
Seeing that Chen Ping'an and the others were not dressed like ordinary commoners, the Crocodile Gang ruffians didn't say anything.
"Haotou, your craftsmanship has improved! The taste is still good!"
"This old man thanks Master Jiang!"
Haotou smiled ingratiatingly.
"Hmm, it's indeed good. I'll come back tomorrow to taste it again!"
Haotou's hand twitched slightly, but his expression remained unchanged: "As long as Master Jiang likes it. You're always welcome."
"Hmm, let's go!"
The ruffian Jiang stood up from the stool, patted his backside, and left. The other two looked at Haotou, chuckled twice, and left in turn. "Why don't they pay!"
Watching them pat their backsides and leave without even settling the bill, Chen Er'ya was a little displeased.
Hearing this, Haotou's expression changed. He wanted to go forward and tell the Xiao Yatou not to speak loudly, but it was too late.
The Crocodile Gang men hadn't walked many steps when they heard the Xiao Yatou's words and all turned around.
"You mean... pay?"
A cold smile appeared at the corner of ruffian Jiang's mouth, and his gaze fell on Chen Er'ya.
"Tsk tsk tsk... Haotou didn't even say anything, but you, Xiao Yatou, are taking charge! How interesting!"
"Where did this Xiao Yatou come from! Doesn't she have an adult to look after her?"
The other two ruffians also looked at Chen Er'ya.
"Master Jiang, she's just a Xiao Yatou, please don't take her words to heart! Your coming here to eat is giving this old man Face, there's no reason for you to pay!"
Haotou quickly darted in front of ruffian Jiang, his body Just right blocking his view of Chen Er'ya.
"Get out of the way!"
Ruffian Jiang shouted sternly.
"Master Jiang! You're a magnanimous person..."
Before Haotou could finish his sentence, a ruffian darted out from the side.
"Boss Jiang told you to get out of the way, didn't you hear!"
The ruffian shoved Haotou's shoulder, and the sudden force made Haotou's legs go weak, and he collapsed to the ground.
With Haotou no longer blocking her, Chen Er'ya's petite figure reappeared before the men.