As soon as money was mentioned, Chicken immediately got furious, as if he'd suffered a great grievance.

"Is that so," Chen Tianlong nodded, then took a wallet out of his pocket, counted a wad of red bills, and asked, "Can I pay for him?"

"Huh?" Chicken was momentarily taken aback, unsure of what scheme Chen Tianlong was playing, but seeing the red bills right in front of him, his eyes widened in disbelief, nodding repeatedly, "Yes, yes!"

"Don't give it to him, he's extorting you!" Seeing Chen Tianlong about to pay for him, Old Zhao hurried forward to block the two of them.

"It's alright." Chen Tianlong gently pushed him aside and handed the money to Chicken, "Take it."

Chicken hesitantly took the money, counted it, and indeed it was a genuine two thousand yuan. He was overjoyed, thinking to himself, "Damn, I met a fool. I can find that flirtatious woman tonight!"

Seeing the money in hand, Chicken prepared to leave with a few hooligans. Before leaving, he turned back ostentatiously to shout at Old Zhao, "Old bastard, this month's money is owed. Have it ready for me in a few days, or I'll smash your stall!"

"Don't rush off just yet," as Chicken and his group were quickly leaving, Chen Tianlong called after them.

While Chen Tianlong spoke, Tang Bing and others discreetly blocked their path, clinking plates and chopsticks menacingly as they eyed them.

Seeing the money in hand but unable to leave, Chicken steadied himself, clutching the money tightly, and asked shakily, "Is there something else?"

Chen Tianlong walked over with a smile, then hooked Chicken's neck and asked, "Chicken, my brother, we might have offended earlier, but now it's resolved and I have a few questions still. Could you enlighten me?"

Chicken, shaking so much that his legs wobbled, stammered, "What... what do you want to know?"

"Look there!" Chen Tianlong glanced at him, then pointed to the various distant stalls, "Since you're here sent by Master Long to protect this place, and everyone has paid, you naturally need to protect them, right?"

Speaking of this, Chicken even forgot where he was for a moment, proudly saying, "Of course, as long as they pay, they're under my protection. Anyone causing trouble, I'll kick their ass!"

"That's right," Chen Tianlong nodded with a smile, "So if they've paid and things still get smashed, how should that be handled?"

"Bullshit, gotta compensate! If they break stuff, pay for it! If they won't pay, I'm the first who won't stand for it!" Chicken said boldly.

"Truly dedicated and responsible, impressive!" Chen Tianlong threw him a thumbs-up, genuinely praising him.

Chicken looked proudly smug, completely forgetting Chen Tianlong was there, not noticing Tang Bing and others opposite, casually lighting a cigarette and tossing one to Chen Tianlong.

"That's right, and I'm not bragging—anyone doing business on Shennan Street mentions Chicken, no one's unconvinced. By the end of next month, Master Long will promote me to Hall Master, heh heh!"

"Ha ha, then truly congratulations!"

Chen Tianlong laughed heartily, then leisurely pointed to the mess in front of Old Zhao's stall in the distance, "Chicken, since you're so capable, all the stalls under your watch got smashed. By your logic, for as much as was destroyed, shouldn't there be equal compensation?"

"And also, it's clear, the protection fee was entirely paid. Now Old Zhao's stall was smashed. As the protector here, shouldn't you show a bit of responsibility? If Master Zhou hears about vendors under your area getting smashed while you're present—it doesn't seem right, does it?"

"Damn it, you're courting death!" one of the hooligans following Chicken couldn't hold back, raising his hand to slap.

But he was fast, Tang Bing was faster. With one hand he grabbed the hooligan's arm, while the other swung a plate at his head.

Bang!

The plate caved in with a hefty impact, the hooligan yelped in pain, quickly holding the hurt spot.

"Ha ha, bro, well done!"

Yang Fan laughed, holding a shiny thing, which turned out to be a plate twisted into an iron rod.

Though it looked odd, it scared the other hooligans pale.

Turning a plate like that, what kind of strength does that take?

Chen Tianlong nodded approvingly at a few people, "Great job, lads!"

Chicken, ultimately a leader, had a clearer head than these hooligans, realizing he'd lost this time. Though numbers favored them, the opposition clearly consisted of formidable individuals. In the brief clash, they constantly found themselves at a disadvantage.

Not to mention the mysterious fellow beside him hadn't even acted yet; if his subordinates were this formidable, then the leader must surely be more formidable!

"Damn it, got played by these students today!"

Chicken thought viciously, though furious, he was helpless. Beneath the eaves, he couldn't but yield. Only now did he understand these students had set a trap on purpose!

He gritted his teeth, glaring at Chen Tianlong, angered, "Kid, I've got my eyes on you. Tell me, how much to compensate!"

Seeing Chen Tianlong remain silent, he quickly pulled out a few red bills, face livid, "Is this enough?"

"Heh, you think I'm a beggar?" Chen Tianlong spoke airily without a glance.

"Fine! I fully admit defeat!" Chicken felt stifled, his hands trembling as he glared furiously at Chen Tianlong, "I'll give you all, now can I leave?"

With that, he pulled out the two thousand yuan Chen Tianlong had given him earlier.

"Hold on!"

Unexpected to him, Chen Tianlong didn't take the money, instead walking up to the smashed stall, picking up a small stool, shaking it in front of Chicken, "Oh my, it's missing a leg, how terrible."

Chicken was clueless—a broken stool was terrible? These stools can be found in second-hand markets for ten yuan apiece, endless supply!

Chen Tianlong stood up, then examined the broken stool more closely, regretfully saying, "Tsk tsk tsk, what a pity. I recall this stool is an heirloom of the Zhao Family, over a thousand years old, used by Emperor Qin Shi Huang. Last time the State's Cultural Relics Bureau offered a million, Old Zhao wouldn't sell—after all, it's a family heirloom, can't just let it go."

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