Chapter 48 - Playing with the Clown

“What…what?” Chen Wanqing was shocked beyond measure.

After over a year of professional interaction, she thought Wu Zhaoxiong was a chef so harsh he seemed almost inhuman.

Staff had complained more than once that he frequently scolded other chefs and workers, and she had almost never seen him satisfied with anyone.

Had the sun risen from the west today?

Wu Zhaoxiong’s attitude had made a complete turnaround from yesterday, not because he was utterly convinced by Su Xuan, but because he was considering his own future.

After tasting Su Xuan’s cooking yesterday, he was amazed.

There were such delicious dishes in the world.

Thinking of how well the guests would respond, Wu Zhaoxiong felt it really might be time for him to pack up and leave.

To keep this main chef position, which paid over ten thousand a month, Wu Zhaoxiong secretly told himself: I’ll yield for now and find an opportunity to settle scores with him later!

“Alright, you go first.

I’ll contact my friend,” Chen Wanqing waved her hand, feeling somewhat uneasy inside.

After hesitating for a moment, Chen Wanqing called Su Xuan and relayed Wu Zhaoxiong’s attitude to him.

Wu Zhaoxiong’s acting was terribly poor.

On his way to Bright Moon Building, Su Xuan had already guessed Wu Zhaoxiong’s intentions.

He mockingly accepted Wu Zhaoxiong’s apology, his face all smiles, as if he had truly turned hostility into friendship with Wu Zhaoxiong.

After ending the “farce,” Su Xuan had just stepped out of Bright Moon Building when his phone rang.

Pulling it out, he couldn’t help but wonder: Sister Xue?

“Hello, Su Xuan, where are you?

Are you free now?” Lin Mengxue’s voice was still so pleasant to the ears.

Having not seen her for several days, Su Xuan found her haunting his dreams.

Su Xuan smiled giddily, “Sister Xue, I’m free now.

Did you need me for something?”

“No, I’m out of town on business and probably won’t be back until the day after tomorrow.

I need a favor from you,” Lin Mengxue said directly, feeling no need for formalities with Su Xuan.

“Sure, just say it.

I’ll handle it without any issue!”

“Today is Mengru’s birthday.

I was supposed to celebrate with her, but I can’t make it back.

Could you please pick out a gift for Mengru and give it to her for me?” Lin Mengxue asked.

A birthday?!

Su Xuan marveled, suddenly thrilled: Isn’t this a godsend?

Fantastic!

Heaven is helping me too!

“This isn’t even something to discuss whether to help or not—it’s a small matter!

Consider it done!” Su Xuan said, then chatted with Lin Mengxue for a few more moments before hanging up.

He had been nervous about contacting Lin Mengru these past few days because he felt too awkward and didn’t know how to face Mengru; now, Su Xuan was almost jumping with joy.

Wasn’t this a great opportunity?

After all, women are easily moved, and once moved, there’s a chance for misunderstandings to clear up.

He rushed to the jewelry section in Wanda Plaza, chose left and right, and picked out a uniquely designed platinum necklace.

At such times, Su Xuan didn’t mind spending money.

Then, he went to the bustling nearby market.

As Su Xuan walked through various stalls picking out ingredients, he secretly planned: A dinner, can’t my cooking win over this girl?

Just as Su Xuan was lost in thought, three burly men came striding fast, one of them bumping into Su Xuan.

The man rudely walked past, jarring Su Xuan’s shoulder painfully.

“Excuse me!” Before Su Xuan had a chance to get angry, another man following close behind shoved him again, barked fiercely without even giving Su Xuan a glance.

Glancing with a trace of cold intent, Su Xuan stared at the receding “wild animals.” As the three men walked ahead, there was a bald man wearing a blue shirt with a gold chain around his neck as thick as a little finger, holding a notebook in his hand.

Having been bumped and then pushed, Su Xuan grumbled internally: Damn idiots, are their eyes on their knees?!

Carefully observing the men’s actions, the more Su Xuan watched, the stranger it seemed.

At each stall, the four men paused briefly, then negotiated with the stall owners before the bald man took some money, scribbled something on his notebook, and tore off a receipt to give to the stall owners.

“Sir, do you know those men?

They look like market administrators,” Su Xuan speculated, turning to ask the stall owner.

The stall where Su Xuan stopped was run by a man over sixty, with white sideburns and dark, weather-beaten skin, who looked very down to earth.

Hearing Su Xuan’s question, a slight fear appeared in the man’s eyes as he leaned closer and said, “You don’t know, those men are like plague gods!

The leader is called Brother Hu, no one dares to mess with them!”

With the old man’s brief explanation, Su Xuan understood the origins of these men completely; Brother Hu, the bald man, was a well-known bully in the area.

With the market’s lax management, he, being a mixed society element with a bunch of minions, had started collecting protection fees, much to the stall owners’ chagrin.

Hearing the old man’s words, Su Xuan laughed out loud, “What era are we in?

‘Brother Hu,’ who gave him the guts to collect protection fees?!”

Carrying his bag and moving forward, although Su Xuan was irritated, he thought of rushing to cook birthday dinner for Lin Mengru and eagerly

If you don’t pay it, take your fish and roll out!

And don’t come back to set up your stall!”

“Business hasn’t been good today.

I haven’t sold many fish since morning, I’m begging you…” The elderly lady genuinely didn’t have the money to pay the “stall fee,” her voice full of pleading.

“Are you paying or not?”

The old woman’s face showed innocence and fear as she begged, “I really don’t have the money…

please.”

Enraged, Brother Hu kicked over a fish crate and said to the big man behind him, “Get rid of this old hag!”

Three big men kicked the crates over, spilling fish and water everywhere.

The elderly lady, both anxious and furious, grabbed one of the big men trying to stop their brutal act, only to be shoved forward by the big man.

Desperation in her voice, she cried, “You can’t do this!

My fish…”

Annoyed and angry, Brother Hu approached the old woman and shouted impatiently, “Get lost fast!”

“Smack!

Smack!” Two loud slaps landed on the old woman’s face, Brother Hu’s face filled with arrogance and irritation, “Move it or I’ll kill you!”

Falling down on her rear, the old woman couldn’t stop crying.

Brother Hu forcefully pulled the old woman up and slapped her cheek twice more.

Those around watched painfully; everyone felt sorry for the old lady and hated Brother Hu’s unreasonable ways, yet all were too scared to speak up.

Su Xuan had just passed by the stall and witnessed the scene, fury rising within him: Damn it, what scum, worse than animals!

This was intolerable, though Su Xuan himself could bear being pushed around by Brother Hu and his gang, he couldn’t stand it any longer now.

With angry eyes fixed on the four men, Su Xuan spoke in a cold tone, “Forcing protection money, hitting an elderly, do you even count as human?”

“Mind your own ****ing business!

If you’re so upset, why don’t you pay for her?!” Brother Hu turned his head, his eyes burning with hatred as he stared at Su Xuan.

“Come and get it.” Su Xuan pulled out two crisp red bills, holding them in his hand with an air of disdain, his left fist already poised to strike.

All Brother Hu saw was the money.

It didn’t matter who paid, he tentatively reached out and grabbed the bills, but no matter how hard he tugged, they wouldn’t come loose.

A mocking smile played on Su Xuan’s face, completely infuriating Brother Hu.

Is this kid messing with me?!

“****ing hell!” The bills tore in half, and Brother Hu threw the pieces away, furiously cursing, “****!”

Just as the three strong men were about to make a move, Su Xuan was one step ahead.

He crouched down, grabbed a live fish, and with a wicked smile said, “I’m treating you to fish!”

“Huh?!” Brother Hu’s face was a picture of surprised agony, his throat felt like it was splitting.

His movements as quick as a whirlwind, Su Xuan’s right hand clasped Brother Hu’s neck while his left hand shoved the live fish down Brother Hu’s throat like force-feeding a duck.

Despite Brother Hu’s resistance, Su Xuan’s strength was terrifying.

Brother Hu’s mouth was almost torn apart as the fishtail flapped up and down, about a quarter of the fish stuffed into Brother Hu’s mouth.

“Beat him to death!” Brother Hu struggled to spit the fish out of his mouth.

A big man, quick to react with a shocked look, shouted as he smashed a fist towards Su Xuan.

Seeing this, two more big men joined in, pouncing toward Su Xuan.

The stall immediately became chaotic, some stall owners scared enough to quickly dodge, including pedestrians who quickly cleared a safe distance, sparking an unexpected fight.

“I see you three also want some fish, let me oblige!” Su Xuan pushed away the first big man that charged at him, landing a heavy blow on his back, nearly making him face-plant if not for steadying himself with his feet.

With a mid-air flying kick, two big men took a heavy blow to their chests and groaned in pain, their expressions as agonized as if they had lost their parents.

Grabbing one of the big men, Su Xuan’s right arm locked around the man’s neck, rendering him immobile.

Su Xuan’s movements were like precision Shaolin Kung Fu—his foot kicked into the water box, a live fish flew out, and with another kick, the fish turned instantly into a bullet flying towards the big man’s face.

The big man’s face filled with terror, trying to dodge but bound tightly by Su Xuan, the live fish collided with his face, loosening his stance, his right cheek swollen.

“Nice!” Someone from the crowd cheered, and unexpectedly, applause and shouts of approval followed.

Su Xuan shifted his right leg slightly forward, delivering a strong hit to the back of the big man’s knee, naturally making him kneel down.

In the motion of retracting his dangling right leg, he glared sideward, and the big man fell beside the water box, his face dripping with water.

“Your turn now, thinking of running?!” The other big man, terrified, weakened in the knees, and turned to flee.

Su Xuan gave no chance, kicking the water box again and said with a sardonic smile.