“Why should we treat them well?”
In an instant, some gangsters were angry and spoke up, “We are as imposing as usual. Why do we have to live with our tails between our legs?”
The meeting was held in a dilapidated factory building, and there were some tables and chairs that others didn’t want, one chair for each person. Lin Shiheng sat on the top chair, which was not broken and looked a little ornate. He put his feet on the table and looked at a group of gangsters, who were angrily expressing that they didn’t agree.
Liu Zi didn’t sit in a chair and stood behind him, massaging his shoulder for him. He sucked up to him. When he saw someone striking the table, he immediately glared at the guy.
“Why aren’t you listening to Shi-ge?”
The bastard that hit the table had a face full of anger. “Shi-ge, you are the best among us. We listened to you, but us brothers are living well, there is no reason to do this so suddenly.”
“Yes Shi-ge, aren’t us brothers’ prestige come from our ability to fight? If we do what you say, and greet the stall owners one by one, where would our prestige go? Who will listen to us in the future, and why suddenly do this? We need a good explanation!”
Liu Zi opened his mouth to speak, but was interrupted by Lin Shiheng’s outstretched hand.
The handsome and shabby man stood up and slapped the table.
Pa!
With this noise, a group of gangsters shook, even those who stood up just now swallowed and sat down slowly.
Fortunately, Lin Shiheng didn’t directly hit people like they thought he would, but looked serious.
“Although our brothers work conscientiously every day, guard the safety of the county and protect the people with all their heart and soul; On the surface, others still regard us as gangsters.”
“When we walk on the street, those people would hide from us when they see us. When we go shopping, before we open our mouths, they would take the initiative to give things to us, as if we were holding a knife to force them to give it for free. Let’s talk about it, is this kind of treatment fair to those of us who have a sincere heart?”
One by one, the small gangster group members listened quietly. Their faces, which still looked afraid, gradually showed some approval.
Lin Shiheng continued, “everyone said that our brothers collected protection fees by force, but didn’t we protect them? Once, those gangsters in the next county made trouble, didn’t drive them away? Like Liu Zi and his watermelon field, targeted by those bastards from the next county; They wouldn’t only trample on the watermelon field, they wouldn’t only beat people. Liu Zi might have been killed a long time ago. We wouldn’t have him as a brother!”
Liu Zi, who was massaging his back, like a minion to Lin Shiheng, felt sour in his eyes and remembered that it was these brothers who saved him when he was at his most helpless.
“Yes, Shi-ge, that’s very kind of you.”
“Although people outside talk about us as terrible as any monster, I know that brothers are warm-hearted. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have saved me at the beginning.”
At that time, the faces of several people who were involved in driving away the group of gangsters from the next county at the watermelon field, were a little unnatural.
In fact, they used to want to steal the watermelons and eat them. They didn’t expect to bump into that group of people that was beating him up. When they did, they heard those people say that their county was the territory of those group of people. The brothers couldn’t bear it.
They picked up weapons and directly came up to them.
Later, Liu Zi was accepted because his appearance of a daring fighter that day, making people feel like he was a real man. And he also came to give them watermelons every day.
Of course, no one said these words, so under Liu Zi’s moving eyes, Lin Shiheng added.
“I mean to let everyone have a better attitude towards those villagers, and I didn’t say I wouldn’t let anyone collect the protection fee. Aren’t we doing a good thing? Why can’t they be grateful when we do a good thing?”
“Usually I go out with a smile on my face. If someone can’t push a cart, I’ll go up and help him. It doesn’t take much effort. If there are thieves making trouble and smashing the stalls. It’s not enough to catch people directly as before. What should I say after catching them?”
A group of gangsters listened stupidly, “Shi-ge, if you catch someone, just make him pay the money. What else should you say?”
Lin Shiheng sat back on the chair again. His long fingers crossed on the desk, while his good-looking eyebrows slightly stirred up, “It’s not that easy, we said that we protect all the people here. If anyone dares to provoke the villagers again, he will be directly transferred to the Public Security Bureau if we catch them next time.”
Hearing the name of the Public Security Bureau, the gangster’s face immediately changed.
“Shi-ge, it shouldn’t be as serious as going to the Public Security Bureau. When I see those uniformed people, I feel scared. Besides, we are all people of the underworld. Throwing people to the Public Security Bureau would offend many people.”
“What underworld?” Lin Shiheng separated his hands and slapped the table again, with a dignified look. “Listen, this is the end of it. I’ve received news that there will be a big crack down. Originally, I wanted to let the brothers scatter to protect their lives. I just thought that it’s not easy for you to support your family and make a living on your own. If we dissolve so suddenly after eating and drinking well, how would we continue? We may turn out like those dirty thieves, and steal things!”
The group of people who listened changed their faces, looking stupidly at him.
“Shi… Shi-ge, you don’t mean… it’s not only the people in the city?”
“You think the county would be okay? Not to mention the county, even the villages. As long as it’s reported, it would still be investigated by the Public Security Bureau. If nothing was found, it would be okay. If they find something, it’s a direct capture. Even the old or young. Then what would you do?!”
“It’s too big for me to talk about. I’ve been holding it in my heart for many days. I can’t eat well or sleep well every day. I went to the city yesterday to inquire about it.”
Hearing this, Liu Zi asked doubtfully, “Shi-ge, didn’t you go to the town yesterday?”
Lin Shiheng withdrew the arm he was massaging, his brow wrinkled tightly and his eyes full of worries. “Liu Zi, don’t interrupt, talking about business.”
Liu Zi pulled back his hand and listened to the other brothers who were equally worried.
“Yes, Liu Zi, don’t interrupt Shi-ge. He’s talking business.”
“Shi-ge, leave him alone. Go on, we’re not going to make a sound.”
He can’t talk about his grievance. He can only ask Lin Shiheng to continue, and help Shiheng massage his shoulders again.
Lin Shiheng’s handsome face was full of solemnity, and his tone was serious. “I have thought about it day and night, and I finally came up with such an idea.”
“Before we acted arrogantly and offended those people in the next county. If they sent someone down, that person would definitely report us. Even if they didn’t report us, people in the underworld would at least have several enemies. When they report us, the people who investigate would naturally check it. And how would they check…?”
The expression of the group gradually turned serious after thinking for a while, “it must be asking the county people.”
“Shi-ge, you mean… Make our reputation better, so that when the people above really send someone to check, and we are good to the villagers… they would certainly help us with some good words, so that we wouldn’t have to worry about being caught.”
Lin Shiheng nodded. “That’s what I mean… ”
It dawned on all of them.
“Shi-ge is smart!”
“Shi-ge, it was my fault just now. Please don’t resent us brothers. I’ll buy some good wine and food in a few days. We’ll have a good drink to make amends to you.”
“Doing it that way… we would treat people better in the future, and help them more. When something happens, they would be too embarrassed if they didn’t help us. Shi-ge, you’re a genius!”
Lin Shiheng’s reserved hand waved, “not much, isn’t it for our brothers?”
Standing behind him, watching the atmosphere change from tense to harmonious, Liu Zi: “…”
Wasn’t ‘being nice to everyone’ a cover for sister-in-law’s parents?
Why did it come to this?
He was in a daze and couldn’t think about it, but he needed to think it through. Suddenly Lin Shiheng urged, “what are you doing? Keep massaging.”
“Ah… oh, oh, yes!”
Liu Zi was so urged, his hands immediately moved, the original confused brain was blank, he forgot everything.
***
People in the county were surprised to find that the small gang in the county, who collected protection fees seemed to have changed overnight.
The protection fee was still charged, but they weren’t as ferocious to people as before, and they were even smiling.
Especially those vegetable farmers who usually push their carts by themselves and struggled hard every morning when they push their carts uphill– If they meet those gangsters, they would come forward to help them.