Chapter 18: Picking a Fight with the Wrong Person!

Outside the door stood a fierce-looking woman, flanked by a few unruly young men, all exuding an air of unrestrained arrogance. The woman was none other than Hongmei Sun. It was clear she had come today because of the bicycle incident.

Last time, she had come demanding money, only to be thoroughly beaten by Guodong Shen, which she obviously still resented. Now, arriving with reinforcements, her intentions were all too apparent.

"Yueru Liu, I’m here for my money. The bicycle costs five yuan and thirty cents. Your husband hit me, so with medical expenses included, the total is twenty yuan! If you don’t pay today, you’ll see what happens," Hongmei Sun declared, arms crossed, radiating confidence. Clearly, she had no intention of leaving empty-handed.

Twenty yuan—equivalent to ten days’ wages for Yueru Liu.

In these times, a teacher’s salary was nothing to boast about. Compared to ordinary workers, it was even less; the only advantage was that teaching was less physically demanding.

"Hongmei, I apologize for what happened that day. But I checked at the bicycle shop, and it only needs a small part replaced, which costs a few cents. If you don't have time, I can get it fixed for you. As for my husband hitting you, I’ll take you to the hospital and buy you some supplements. But twenty yuan… that’s too much. That’s almost my entire monthly salary—I really can’t afford it," Yueru Liu explained anxiously.

Their family was already struggling, burdened with debts. The couple still had to make ends meet, and with all the weddings and funerals this month, there was no spare money left.

"So you’re saying you don’t want to pay?" Hongmei Sun scoffed, glancing at Yueru Liu. The young men at her side all took a menacing step forward, their gazes hostile.

"If you don’t want to pay, there’s another way—pay with your body! One yuan per time, keep us company twenty times and the debt’s settled," one of the thugs sneered.

"One yuan per time? Isn’t that too cheap for a woman like her? She’s not only pretty but an educated woman—she must be worth more!"

"What a figure," another jeered. "I can’t believe that loser managed to marry someone like her."

Their jealous eyes shot over to Guodong Shen.

"Say that again if you dare," Guodong Shen warned, his eyes cold and voice sharp. "Apologize!"

The atmosphere instantly turned tense, the room dropping into sudden silence.

Then, almost on cue, the group burst into raucous laughter.

"What did this guy just say? Is he kidding me? Did you really think you could say that to us?"

"Apologize? Who do you think you are? Why should we apologize to you? You’re nothing!"

"If you owe money, you pay it back. That’s common sense. You want an apology? Pay up first!"

Hongmei Sun and the others looked at Guodong Shen with open disdain. No one took him seriously. Everyone in the neighborhood knew the Shen family was so poor they could hardly afford food. Shops that used to let them buy on credit now wouldn’t dare extend them a single cent.

"Paying your debts is only right," Guodong Shen replied coldly. "But let’s be clear: you brought this on yourself. You deserved that beating. Why should I pay you? As for the bicycle, it was probably already broken. Are you seriously claiming my wife broke iron with her body? My wife may be naïve, but she isn’t someone you can push around!"

Only Yueru Liu might have believed such a story—he certainly didn’t.

Hongmei Sun’s expression shifted, her tone turning threatening. "So you’re really not going to pay? You’re sure about that?"

Last time, she’d come alone and suffered for it. This time, she’d brought backup.

"I have money. Name your price—I can afford it. But I don’t owe you anything. Why should I pay? Isn’t that ridiculous?" Guodong Shen sneered.

Yueru Liu was stunned. Money? Where? Their household could barely scrape together enough for food. The last of their living expenses had been stolen by Scar and his gang. She was already worrying about what they would eat tomorrow.

She was a teacher, after all. If her colleagues found out she was so poor she couldn’t afford to eat, how humiliating would that be?

"Still such a braggart, Guodong Shen," Hongmei Sun jeered. "Da Zhuang, I knew he wouldn’t pay up. He’s all yours. If you handle this, you get half!"

The young men advanced, grinning maliciously. Yueru Liu, terrified, quickly hid behind Guodong Shen, her face pale.

"Wait, can you give me some time? I’ll go to my parents’ house for the money and bring it in two hours, all right?" Yueru Liu pleaded. She didn’t want things to escalate—she knew she was partly to blame. Now that Guodong Shen had changed and was willing to work hard, their lives would surely improve. Of that, she had no doubt.

But Guodong Shen glared at her. "What are you saying? First, we don’t owe money—why should we pay? Second, I’ve already told you: I won’t let you live humbly and degraded like before!"

That was what Guodong Shen wanted.

Yueru Liu was taken aback.

Of course, Hongmei Sun and her gang mocked these words without restraint. They closed in, growing more aggressive. Yueru Liu trembled with fear.

But Guodong Shen remained unmoved. He glanced at Scar, who immediately understood and rushed forward, shoving the young men aside with fierce determination.

"What do you think you’re doing? You dare touch my big brother? Tired of living, are you?" Scar snarled.

Scar was not someone to cross—his reputation for ferocity was well known in the underworld. With fresh blood still staining his face, he was a fearsome sight.

"Scar?" The name alone carried weight in the surrounding districts. Even if these punks had never met him, they knew who he was—one of Baldy’s men, someone not to be provoked.

Their faces drained of color.

"What are you waiting for? Get lost!" Scar barked.

The young men scattered, vanishing in an instant, leaving Hongmei Sun standing there, awkward and frightened. She had never imagined Guodong Shen had such dangerous connections. Who would befriend a penniless man like him? She simply couldn’t understand it.

"If I find out you ever bother my big brother again, you’ll regret it," Scar threatened. "Why are you still here? Get out!"

With that, Hongmei Sun nodded frantically and stumbled out of the courtyard.

"Well done," Guodong Shen said at last, turning to Scar.

Scar grinned sheepishly. "Of course, Brother Shen, Sister-in-law. I’ll take my leave now. If you ever need anything, just call. I was wrong this time—thank you for letting me off."

Guodong Shen nodded slightly, watching as Scar departed.