Chapter 3

Chapter 3: A Grown Man With No Shame

“You must’ve seen wrong,” Su Mo Er said, glancing over before rolling her eyes. “She left the Su Family. Where would she get money to buy clothes that nice and take a plane? She’s probably crying in some little corner right now.”

“Forget her,” Su Mo Er added impatiently. “My grandfather’s birthday is coming up soon. Which auction did you say it was, the one selling antiques worth collecting? I’ll go buy something. Grandfather will definitely like it.”

Su Mo Er grabbed her friend’s hand, ready to leave.

She didn’t want her mood ruined just because she saw someone who looked like Su Qian.

By then, Su Qian had already passed security.

She was walking toward the waiting area.

Without meaning to, she turned her head and recognized Su Mo Er at a glance.

But she only looked at Su Mo Er calmly for a moment before withdrawing her gaze.

She didn’t want to get tangled up with Su Mo Er at all.

After boarding, Su Qian leaned back comfortably in her seat and closed her eyes slightly.

[Having money was really nice,] she thought quietly.

After getting off the plane.

Su Qian took a taxi to the address Jiang Xiao Yu had given her.

Near the neighborhood was a large stretch of wasteland. Uncle Jiang planted plenty of melons, fruits, and vegetables. Every day he went out early to pick fresh produce and bring it to the market to sell.

Those vegetables weren’t sprayed with pesticides. They were green and healthy, and in the market, his business was the best.

At the market.

A bald man strolled up with his hands in his pockets and stopped at Uncle Jiang’s stall, looking down at him.

“Old Man Jiang, isn’t it time to pay this month’s stall fee?” the bald man shouted.

This bald man was the bully of the market.

On normal days, he often demanded “stall fees” from vendors.

Uncle Jiang frowned, his gray brows wrinkling as he stopped sorting vegetables and looked up. “Didn’t I just pay the stall fee last week?”

The bald man snorted, mockery on his face. “That was to the market. You still haven’t paid mine!”

“Yours? You’re not the one collecting stall fees. Why should I give you money?” Uncle Jiang said, a flash of confusion and anger in his eyes.

“Hmph. I’m the market boss’s nephew. In this area, what I say goes!” The bald man crossed his arms, acting like a local thug. “Everyone else paid – and you’re the special one?”

“I sell these vegetables with hard work,” Uncle Jiang said, his wrinkled face full of weariness. “I paid every fee I’m supposed to pay. Y-you… aren’t you clearly trying to extort me?”

“Oh? You still dare talk back?” The bald man stepped forward, closing in on Uncle Jiang. “If you don’t pay today, don’t even think about setting up here again!”

As he spoke, he kicked over a bamboo basket filled with leafy greens, scattering fresh vegetables all over the ground.

“You…” Uncle Jiang’s eyes turned red instantly.

He trembled as he reached for the greens, but the bald man grabbed his arm.

“Old Man Jiang, don’t be stupid!” the bald man said viciously. “This market is mine. If you don’t obediently pay up, you’ll suffer later!”

Several vendors exchanged looks.

No one wanted to step forward to help Uncle Jiang.

Some even wore expressions of gloating.

Uncle Jiang didn’t want trouble, so he gave up on the greens.

He pushed his tricycle toward the market entrance.

“Old Man Jiang, it’s just a stall fee. Why are you being so stubborn?” someone said. “If you offend him, how will you stay in this market?”

“Yeah,” another agreed.

A vendor selling roasted sweet potatoes sneered, “Old Man Jiang, you’re already so old. Don’t fight us for business anymore. You should go home and enjoy your retirement.”

“Exactly, exactly,” someone else echoed. “You’ve already got your neck buried in the dirt. What are you still tossing yourself around for?”

“Y-you people are going too far!” Uncle Jiang shouted, his face flushing red.

He wasn’t stupid. He could tell they were joining together to drive him out.

“Stop talking!” the bald uncle snapped impatiently. “Today you pay, or you pay. Otherwise, don’t blame me for being rude!”

“We’re all neighbors. Don’t make it too ugly. Uncle Jiang, you should just pay,” someone said.

“Even if you’re old, you can’t break the market rules.”

“Yeah, everyone pays. You’re the only one acting special.”

The other vendors watched Uncle Jiang with gloating eyes.

Uncle Jiang gripped the tricycle handle tightly.

He shook with anger.

The bald uncle didn’t bother talking anymore. He marched over, about to kick the tricycle, still cursing as he did it. “I’ll let you set up. I’ll let you set up!”

Su Qian arrived at the market at that moment.

“Sir who sells fruits and vegetables,” Su Qian said, because there weren’t many people around and she spotted Uncle Jiang’s stall right away.

She took a photo and sent it to Jiang Xiao Yu to confirm.

Jiang Xiao Yu (Apocalypse Survival): “[Excited] Yes, that’s my grandfather! Ah – is my grandfather being bullied?”

Only then did Su Qian notice the bald uncle, his face vicious as he kicked Uncle Jiang’s tricycle.

“What are you doing? How can you bully an old man!” Su Qian shouted, rushing forward.

She grabbed the big metal ladle from the tofu pudding stall next door and swung it at that shiny head.

Clang.

The ladle slammed hard into his skull.

The bald uncle yelped, clutching his head with both hands, his face twisting in pain.

Everyone around was stunned.

Including Su Qian herself. It was her first time hitting someone, and she couldn’t help feeling nervous.

Su Qian’s heart pounded.

She quickly took out her phone and started recording.

The bald uncle flew into a rage. Ignoring the pain, he tried to snatch Su Qian’s phone while yelling, “You damn girl! You hit me and you’re recording? I’ll teach you a lesson!”

Su Qian quickly stepped back a few paces, raised her phone high, and shouted, “Don’t you dare! If you keep this up, I’ll send this video to market management and the police. Let them judge it and see how you people bully an old man!”

The other vendors panicked.

Their earlier aggression weakened in an instant.

The bald uncle was furious, but he didn’t dare act rashly. He only snarled, “Don’t stick your nose in. I’m just making him pay a stall fee.”

“A stall fee?” Su Qian glared at them. “Is that how you collect a stall fee? You’re clearly bullying an old man. This is too much!”

“Miss, forget it,” Uncle Jiang said, his eyes reddened with emotion. “Don’t get yourself into trouble because of me.”

“Sir, don’t be scared. I already called the police,” Su Qian said, staring hard at the vendors.

Of course, she only said that to comfort Uncle Jiang.

Things had been too urgent just now. She hadn’t had time to call the police at all.

“Oh? Trying to scare me?” The bald uncle laughed arrogantly. “I didn’t do anything to that old man. What can the police do to me when they come?”

Su Qian looked at his smug face, her nerves tightening.

The bald uncle could tell. This little girl was just putting on a show.

He strode forward.

He marched toward Uncle Jiang and Su Qian, his momentum fierce.