Chapter Sixteen: The Local Tyrant’s Overture

Chapter Sixteen: The Local Tyrant’s Overture

Xu Yun suddenly slammed his palm down on the table, and despite the long-haired youth’s Herculean effort, he couldn’t overturn it, leaving him red-faced with shame. At that moment, the youth realized he was outmatched and tried to flee, but Xu Yun was quicker; he grabbed the youth by the collar and pulled him back, landing a punch squarely on his nose.

The blow hit the tip of his nose, splitting his brow and sending blood streaming. The sourness surged up his nasal passage, and two front teeth were knocked out. His mouth was a medley of bitter, sweet, sour, and spicy flavors. Xu Yun dealt with punks like this with only one word: hit!

The youth couldn’t take the beating and quickly begged for mercy, his missing teeth making his plea whistle through the gaps: “I was wrong! I was wrong! Please stop!” Xu Yun tossed him to the ground like rubbish. “What’s with the flies? Who taught you that rotten trick?”

“Brother, please, be magnanimous and forgive me,” the youth dared not say anything reckless.

“Still got a stiff tongue?” Xu Yun chuckled. “Guoguo, bring the knife!”

Ruan Qingshuang knew Xu Yun was only bluffing, so she let Guoguo excitedly run to the kitchen and return with a gleaming kitchen knife. The youth’s scalp tingled at the sight of the cold blade. “Brother, what are you doing? Let’s talk this out! I put the flies there, I even fried them at home. Just treat me like a fart and let me go!”

“You really are shameless, aren’t you?” Xu Yun raised the knife, its cold glint flashing. “Which hand did you use?”

“Brother, I deserve it, I was reckless. Give me a chance, I’ll change!” The youth’s Adam’s apple bobbed, his knees trembling so badly he nearly wet himself.

Xu Yun sneered. “You had your chance, but you won’t talk. I’ll count to three…”

“Four Wolves Gang! It was the Four Wolves Gang who told me to do it!” The youth blurted out before Xu Yun could even start counting, fumbling in his pocket and producing a small bottle containing four or five fried flies. “They gave me this too!”

Everyone present realized the truth and began cursing the gangsters and the Four Wolves Gang, their worries about the kitchen’s hygiene instantly dispelled.

Instead of harming its reputation, the commotion at the medicinal food shop only reinforced customers’ trust in its cleanliness. Guoguo even made the kitchen open to the public; as long as it didn’t interfere with Xu Yun’s work, customers could watch freely.

Ruan Qingshuang’s smile became ever more relaxed. Since coming to Hedong City alone, she had never felt such ease as today, and now she felt no regret for fleeing her marriage.

Who could have imagined that not only was she not destitute, but she now owned her own little medicinal food restaurant, had a lively and adorable daughter, and had even encountered a man who moved her heart.

After the five troublemakers were chased out, business at the shop boomed even more than yesterday. Xu Yun cooked until his legs went weak, and Guoguo counted money until her hands cramped.

When the last wave of customers finally departed, Xu Yun breathed a sigh of relief and quickly prepared three portions of cordyceps quail soup and a dish of old duck steamed with yam, calling Ruan Qingshuang and Guoguo to eat together.

Just then, Qin Wan’er suddenly pushed open the door.

“Wan’er Sister!” Guoguo jumped up to greet her.

“Guoguo missed her sister, didn’t she?” Qin Wan’er took Guoguo’s little hand and laughed. Ruan Qingshuang, in high spirits, greeted her as well: “Wan’er, have you eaten yet? Join us.”

“Hehe, Qingshuang, you always know me best. I really haven’t eaten!” Qin Wan’er stuck out her tongue playfully.

Guoguo looked at them in confusion. “I call you Sister Wan’er, but you call Mom ‘Sister.’ Should I call Mom ‘Sister’ too?”

“You should still call me Mom,” Ruan Qingshuang replied, amused.

Qin Wan’er was delighted by Guoguo’s cuteness. “So what should you do, Guoguo? Maybe you should call me ‘Mom Wan’er’ instead?”

“That won’t do!” Guoguo pointed seriously at Xu Yun. “That would be too easy for Dad—he’d have two wives!”

Ruan Qingshuang and Qin Wan’er were rendered speechless by Guoguo’s words.

“Ahem!” Xu Yun cleared his throat, steering Guoguo away from the topic. “Qin Wan’er, you’re nowhere to be found when there’s work, but you show up for dinner. Is that how a helper should behave?”

Qin Wan’er snorted. The bureau held a commendation ceremony all morning, praising her for yesterday’s achievement—taking down the Four Wolves Gang’s casino, a remarkable feat! Not only was she promoted, but the entire Wenhui District police station was commended. Director Liu, in good spirits, gave her half a day off to go home and share the good news.

Instead of going home, Qin Wan’er had inexplicably come to the medicinal food restaurant, knowing full well the credit belonged entirely to Xu Yun, not herself.

She had originally come to thank him, but seeing Xu Yun made her annoyed. “Can’t I come to chat with Qingshuang and Guoguo? What business is it of yours?”

“Dad, go make two more dishes,” Guoguo commanded. “It’s not convenient for you to join the women’s conversation.”

Xu Yun smiled knowingly. If these two stunning women became sisters, it would be a blessing; at least Ruan Qingshuang wouldn’t be alone in this city. He wouldn’t have to worry about her being bullied.

After all, Xu Yun didn’t know if he would settle in Hedong City for good. Life was unpredictable; he had left even the place he once hoped to stay forever—what place could truly hold him?

Three women, one show. Though Guoguo was young, her mental age was quite mature, chatting animatedly with Qin Wan’er. The three even planned to go shopping for pretty clothes together the next weekend.

In no time it was four in the afternoon. The vegetable and meat vendors who had been arranged earlier showed up to deliver goods. Though Qin Wan’er was the cherished only child at home, she pitched in and helped Ruan Qingshuang and Xu Yun unload.

Xu Yun was very pleased with Qin Wan’er’s performance and proudly pulled Guoguo to his side. “How about that, your godfather found a great free helper, didn’t he?”

“Dad, isn’t it more like you’re looking for a second mom for Guoguo?” Guoguo eyed Xu Yun suspiciously.

Qin Wan’er blushed furiously.

Ruan Qingshuang glared at Guoguo. “Is your backside itching again?”

“I’m just voicing Dad’s thoughts!” Guoguo said solemnly.

Luckily, Qin Wan’er received a phone call that eased the awkward atmosphere. After murmuring a few words, she hung up. “I need to go back to the station—they said the Four Wolves Gang’s boss is trying to bail someone out.”

“Wan’er Sister, three thousand!” Guoguo quickly held up three chubby fingers.

“Mm!” Qin Wan’er wasted no time, said goodbye to Ruan Qingshuang and Xu Yun, and swiftly rode off to the police station.

Not long after Qin Wan’er left, the restaurant’s booming business continued. Everyone who tasted the medicinal food raved about it, and word spread like wildfire, turning the shop into the hottest spot in Wenhui District.

They worked late into the evening, until eight or nine o’clock, when finally all the customers had gone.

For the first time, Guoguo stuffed the money into her wallet without bothering to count—it was just too exhausting!

“Qingshuang, if there’s nothing else, I’ll head home. You and Guoguo should close up and rest early,” Xu Yun said as he took off his apron and donned shorts and a tank top. “No need to get up early for groceries anymore—sleep in a bit.”

“Well… be careful on the way,” Ruan Qingshuang still couldn't bring herself to ask him to stay.

Guoguo, seeing her mother’s hesitant expression, sighed and shook her head like a little adult. “Too reserved, sigh…”

Before Xu Yun could leave, a glaring xenon headlight pierced the glass door, flooding the restaurant and making Ruan Qingshuang and Guoguo squint in pain. The sleek, black Audi A6 turned off its lights and engine. A tall, thin young man jumped out of the driver’s seat, quickly opened the rear door, and out stepped a middle-aged man with graying hair and triangular eyes—his presence cold and sinister.

Almost immediately, several more cars roared up behind the Audi, each unloading burly men with tattoos of dragons and tigers. Together, men and cars nearly surrounded the entire restaurant.

Xu Yun’s keen instincts sensed trouble. Ruan Qingshuang’s brows furrowed; she was nervous. Guoguo’s eyes showed worry as she quickly hid behind Xu Yun.

Despite the middle-aged man's smile, not a hint of kindness could be felt. He strode toward the restaurant, while the tall youth closed the car door and hurried to open the shop door.

Xu Yun addressed the man with the fierce face. “Here to eat?”

“Already ate,” the man replied in a raspy voice. He sat alone, muttering to himself, “Medicinal food is a good thing, combining traditional Chinese medicine and culinary experience. Medicine becomes food, food takes on medicinal properties; medicine draws strength from food, food boosts medicine, the two complement each other.”

He looked up at Xu Yun, his gaze venomous, and rasped, “Am I right?”

Xu Yun immediately recognized the man’s voice and sneered. “I was supposed to look for you, but it seems you’ve come to me instead.”

The man touched his thinning hair. “Xu Yun, you’ve managed to take down three of my brothers. I respect your abilities. As the saying goes, a wise man adapts to circumstances! Join me, and I guarantee your life will be a hundred, a thousand times better than it is now.”

“I’m no wise man, but I have a saying for you too,” Xu Yun smiled.

The man’s brow furrowed; few had ever refused his olive branch. “What’s that?”

Xu Yun shrugged. “A bat with chicken feathers stuck to it—what kind of bird are you? At your age, hitting you would be embarrassing. I’ll give you a chance: get lost!”

“Old fool, stop wasting your breath! My dad will never become a thug!” Guoguo snorted, full of confidence now—after all, they had friends in the police station!