"Is this... a bit too high?"

Now it was Chen Fang's turn to feel somewhat embarrassed.

Wang Gaoxing took a deep drag of his cigarette.

He said, "High? Not at all! Look, the commotion you all just caused has already disrupted business for the vendors, and there were plenty of customers standing around watching, which greatly affects our market's reputation. Asking each of you to pay 3000 is quite a reasonable price."

All three of them shivered at once.

Yu Zhengchuan couldn't help asking, "You want each of us to pay three thousand?"

"What's with that tone? Don't tell me it should be me paying each of you three thousand? What are you thinking about? As if pies fall from the sky!"

Wang Gaoxing continued with the same contented expression he had earlier.

After a pause, Chen Fang said, "Manager Wang, that's a bit unreasonable, don't you think? Each of us paying three thousand? It's clearly your market people selling the fake goods, the fault lies with you."

"Young man, what you just said is not quite right. Whether the goods are fake or not isn't for you to decide; it's for us to decide. Right now, you are the ones causing unnecessary trouble, of course, you should be the ones to pay."

"What if we refuse to pay?"

Chen Fang asked.

Wang Gaoxing stood up.

Moved to his office desk.

Began fiddling with the computer for a while.

Waving at Chen Fang, he said, "Come over and take a look."

The three of them gathered in front of the computer screen.

They saw Wang Gaoxing open up a surveillance feed.

The feed also showed a room.

The room was empty.

In the corner, a family of three huddled together.

A couple and a child who looked about ten years old.

Wang Gaoxing said with a smug air, "See that? Tourists from up north. They claimed they found a fly in their food, making a fuss out of nothing. They're also paying three thousand each. It's been two days and two nights, and they're still holding out without paying."

Then he clicked the mouse.

Another room appeared.

There were two young girls inside, looking like college students.

"These two went even further, claiming that all the milk tea in our market is made with saccharin. Not much, just three thousand each. They'll be released as soon as they pay up."

After saying this,

He turned off the computer screen.

Addressing Chen Fang and the others, he said, "We deal with so many of these cases every year in our market. No one dares not to pay up. I'm a reasonable man. Pay the money, and all's well. If you don't pay, you'll end up like them, locked away in a little room. But I'll remind you kindly, it won't be an easy time."

What does it mean to use the most relaxed language to deliver the most brutal message?

The Wang Gaoxing before them was a prime example.

"Isn't this illegal detention?"

Chen Fang asked.

Wang Gaoxing laughed heartily.

He said, "Illegal detention? Illegal under whose law? Here in Starlight Night Market, we are the law. Of course, you can call the police or the market authorities now if you like, that's your choice. But as for the money, don't even think about shortchanging us a penny."

Having finished,

Wang Gaoxing sat down again,

Leisurely watching the three men.

The three of them exchanged glances.

Chen Fang said to Yu Zhengchuan, "You call the market authorities."

Then, turning to Li Xiaodong, he said, "You call the police."

Immediately, both of them got busy with their tasks.

Throughout this, Wang Gaoxing didn't try to stop them, as if he knew the complaints would be ineffective.

In about two minutes,

Both had finished their calls.

Now, they were waiting for the two departments to show up.

Wang Gaoxing said with ease, "See? Didn't I say I'm easy to talk to? Here's the deal, I'll give you twenty minutes. You can wait for the police or the market authorities to come, and at the same time try to scrape together some money. After twenty minutes, if you still haven't paid, then don't blame me for being impolite."

"It seems to me you're not so much market management as you are the mafia, right?"

Chen Fang asked with a chilly tone.

Wang Gaoxing wasn't upset.

He responded, "You can say whatever you like. After all, the customer is king, and I don't mind telling you the truth. This place is protected; you people won't be able to stir up any trouble. Better to pay up quickly to avoid suffering later."

Given Chen Fang's personality.

He was determined to resist till the very end today.

Just at this moment,

his cell phone began to ring.

It was an unknown number.

Chen Fang didn't want to answer at first.

After hesitating for a moment, he still put it to his ear.

"Hello, how can I help you?"

Chen Fang asked politely.

Over the phone, a terrified woman's voice cried out, "Chen Fang, save me, save me..."

It was Chu Ni's voice!

Chen Fang recognized it.

Anxiously, he asked, "Where are you?"

There was a series of muffled breaths on the phone.

Then, a hushed woman's voice continued, "Qingling District, Zhaocai Alley, next to a trashcan, there's a streetlamp here, he's going to kill me, he's going to kill me..."

"You whore, I knew you were going to fucking seduce men again, give me the phone!"

Over the phone, a man's voice could be heard.

Chen Fang's heart chilled for a moment; it was indeed Ding Guiqi's voice.

Next, there was the sound of struggle, accompanied by the woman's sobs.

Then a click.

The call was disconnected.

The situation was urgent.

Chen Fang couldn't afford to delay.

Chu Ni had helped him, and he couldn't just sit back and do nothing.

After a brief hesitation, he turned to Yu Zhengchuan and said, "A Chuan, pay up!"

"But..."

Just as Yu Zhengchuan was about to argue,

Chen Fang shot him a glare.

He could only reluctantly pay the money.

Wang Gaoxing moistened his fingertips and counted the cash once more.

Satisfied, he said, "That's more like it, okay, you can leave now, and you're welcome to visit Wulan City again."

They opened the door and went outside.

Only then did they realize

the office's entrance had already been crowded with a dozen security guards.

One look at the batons attached to their waists, and it was clear that if they hadn't paid, force would have been the next step.

Back in the car.

Yu Zhengchuan complained indignantly, "Ah Fang, we could have taken those few guys, why..."

Before he could finish speaking,

Chen Fang said, "We'll come back here tomorrow. We need to head to Zhaocai Alley now, something's happened to Chu Ni..."

Yu Zhengchuan then realized the seriousness of the matter.

He floored the accelerator and sped off.

Zhaocai Alley was in an old neighborhood of Qingling District.

Luckily, it wasn't very large.

After the three got out of the car, they searched according to the landmark Chen Fang mentioned, which was a streetlamp next to a trashcan.

After about ten minutes or so,

Chen Fang and Yu Zhengchuan received a call from Li Xiaodong.

He had found it.

The two immediately moved closer to where Li Xiaodong was.

Indeed.

In a secluded corner, there was a streetlamp next to a trashcan.

More importantly, beside the trashcan was a disarray that seemed like the aftermath of a fight.

On a nail in the wall,

hung a piece of torn fabric.

It was ripped from the robe Chu Ni had been wearing.

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