Super Soldier in the City

Chapter 1861 - 1923: Chopsticks Can Hurt People Too

"Oh?" This time, Liu Hao stood up. He wasn’t very tall, standing at about the same height as the shopkeeper auntie, in stark contrast to the tall men behind him. The tight clothes looked awkward on him, more like a monkey. As he stood up, the men behind followed.Seeing that he was about to make trouble for the women, the shopkeeper auntie hurried over to block Liu Hao, saying, "Didn’t you want to buy my shop? I’ve agreed, so why aren’t you signing the contract yet?"

Liu Hao saw the old lady blocking his way, smirked, and pointed at Qin Muchu, saying, "Kid, sit still for me, don’t leave. Once I finish my business, I’ll see if I won’t beat you up. How dare you try to act tough with me!"

"Don’t worry, I won’t leave. I also want to see what kind of clove you are, coming here to act like a big shot." Qin Muchu, skilled at sarcasm, retorted. Liu Hao wanted to go over again, but the shopkeeper auntie grabbed the contract from him and said, "I’ll sign!"

"Fine, sign it and include that five thousand; I won’t take advantage of you!" Liu Hao glared at Qin Muchu.

Though he said he wouldn’t take advantage, in reality, it was already a huge gain. He paid only one hundred and fifty thousand to take over this shop. Given the shop’s popularity, the monthly net income was more than ten thousand, which meant over a hundred thousand a year. He was buying the shop for just a year’s income, yet still claimed to give an extra five thousand, which was shameless.

The shopkeeper auntie took the contract, glanced at it, and was about to sign when Liu Hao sarcastically said, "You’re also selling me the recipes for those dishes, so don’t blame me for not warning you first!"

"What?" The shopkeeper auntie immediately looked up, her face furious, questioning, "Why should I sell them to you?"

"What, do you think this little rundown shop is worth one hundred and fifty thousand? Old lady, don’t be ridiculous. Young Master Liu is buying just those recipes. Once I have them, I’ll open a much bigger shop in the city center, making way more than this!" Young Master Liu sneered.

The shopkeeper couple looked even grimmer. They knew he was after the recipes, but selling them for one hundred and fifty thousand was impossible. They weren’t greedy, or they would have opened a bigger shop elsewhere and tripled their income. They stayed here because it was home, and the shop was their life’s work. Having the shop gave them purpose, and without it, they’d feel lost. Most of their income was donated to support college students.

Few knew this, often wondering, how a childless couple making good money still lived in a small house.

The recipes originated from the shopkeeper auntie’s ancestors, rumored to be secretly preserved by a Ming Dynasty imperial chef. These authentic recipes included herbs that alone might be toxic, but when combined and prepared uniquely, enhanced the dishes’ taste and according to Traditional Chinese Medicine, also benefited health. It was medicinal cuisine.

The shopkeeper auntie had only one daughter to pass them onto. With the recipes, she opened the shop with her husband, but they had no children. They used their earnings to help impoverished students and extend a helping hand to those in need.

The community respected them; neighbors praised their kindness, saying they were good people.

This hidden story was unknown even to Song Lianyao and the others, though they often received discounts or leftovers as gifts when visiting the shop.

Once, Bai He forgot her money but wanted dishes for her parents. The old couple let her take them, and she returned days later to pay, but they never mentioned it and even offered her money when she asked if she was in need.

The couple’s nobility showed in every aspect, and now, being bullied into selling the shop, the three women couldn’t stand it anymore.

Liu Hao suddenly slapped the table, shouting, "Hurry up and sign the damn contract, I still have to deal with that fool!"

Qin Muchu sprang up, pushing the chair aside, and walked over.

The shopkeeper auntie also said, "I can sell the shop, but not the recipes; they’re ancestral and can’t be sold to outsiders!"

"You’ll sell them or else. Let me tell you, the one hundred and fifty thousand is for the recipes. As for this rundown shop, I don’t even want it. But you must sell, or heaven forbid that little shabby building you live in might catch fire or you might slip and break a limb. It’d hurt, wouldn’t it?"

"You’re shameless!" The shopkeeper’s husband finally couldn’t hold back. Raising his spatula, he shouted, "I won’t sell, even if it means death. I refuse to believe there’s no justice. I wouldn’t sell the recipes for one hundred and fifty thousand, not even one and a half million. I’d rather take them to the grave."

"Damn, are you getting worked up? Shit, you old fart, I’ll beat you into the hospital today and cover your stay, make sure you’re comfortable in there!" Liu Hao said, preparing to kick out.

Qin Muchu saw this and quickly reached out to grab him, but the burly man behind Liu Hao noticed him approaching, blocked his way with an arm, while Liu Hao had already lifted his leg, exerted effort, and kicked out.

"Ah!" A miserable scream rang out, Liu Hao’s kick failed to hit the shop owner’s husband, instead, his own thigh throbbed painfully, as if cramped, then he slipped and fell with a thud, hitting his head on a chair, issuing another wretched scream, his subordinates hurriedly ran over to pull him up, fumbling clumsily.

Liu Hao held his head, glaring angrily at the people dining inside, he was sure he had been ambushed, the chopstick lying on the ground was evidence, someone had hit his leg with it, resulting in his fall.

"Who did it? Damn, if you’re tough, stand up, I promise not to beat you to death!" Liu Hao glared at everyone.

The shop owner couple also looked confusedly at those dining inside, who had made a move?

The three women stood up at this moment, upon seeing Liu Hao fall, they knew it was Li Yifei who made the move, understanding his stance, they weren’t afraid of escalating matters. Song Lianyao walked directly to the shop owner’s wife and said, "Auntie, don’t worry, we’ll help you."

"You... girl, don’t get involved in this, take your boyfriend and leave quickly, and you all too, thank you, but you might not be able to eat here anymore, sorry for that." The shop owner’s wife apologized, trying to push Song Lianyao out, but Yin Feng’er grabbed the shop owner’s wife’s hand and said, "Auntie, we’re not leaving. We haven’t finished eating yet, how can we leave? Rest assured, as long as we’re here today, no one can cause trouble. We’ve been customers here for over ten years, we love the taste, and if you don’t want to sell, no one can take it from you!"

Bai He nodded forcefully, glaring at Liu Hao with her big eyes.

Liu Hao, having somewhat recovered, heard the three women’s words and sneered, looking at them disdainfully, said, "Alright, young ladies, you’ve got some guts, if you’re intervening, let’s see what you can do! I want to see what you can manage today!"

"Ugh, shameless!" Yin Feng’er spat.

Song Lianyao smirked disdainfully and said, "Tell us about your background, being so arrogant — just relying on a few people isn’t enough."

"Remember, my name is Liu Hao, I haven’t changed my name or my surname. I’m Young Master Liu!" Liu Hao, even now, wanted to show off, saying, "Young ladies, you’re my favorite, tsk tsk, look at that face, that figure, that ass..."

Whoosh, a chopstick flew over, this time directly hitting his front tooth with a clang, making Liu Hao shut his mouth, crying out in pain, feeling like he’d lose his two front teeth, his screams without end.

The one who made the move was naturally Li Yifei, this time his speed was incredibly quick, but the lackeys were also prepared, one of them saw Li Yifei fling his hand, pointed and shouted, "It’s him, he’s the one who did it! Young Master Liu!"

Hearing this, Liu Hao immediately opened his eyes, releasing his hand to see a pool of blood in his palm, furious he spat out a mouthful of blood and shouted, "Fuck you all, showing you respect, eh? How dare you hit me, get them! Beat those two guys under the table!"

Qin Muchu had already been blocked, started exchanging blows with the thugs immediately, but he also had a tall build and wasn’t afraid, with Li Yifei, a fighter like a war god, backing him up, he had courage. Seeing them closing in, Qin Muchu directly grabbed the blocking thug’s arm, twisted forcefully to drag the body over, then punched the face with his other hand.

The punch made the thug hold his face and squat down in pain, others didn’t expect these two would dare strike first, infuriated they retaliated.

Liu Hao stepped back, shouting, "Damn it, hit them! How dare they fight back, I want you two on your knees singing ’Conquer’ for me, and licking my shoes!"

Yin Feng’er, seeing Qin Muchu make a move, clapped her hands excitedly and shouted, "Go, Muchu, mwah!"

Bai He also had a trace of excitement on her face, this real-life encounter was helpful for her writing, making it more vivid and authentic.