Everyone's been reborn, so who would bother finding a wife on their own?

Chapter 187 The Arrogant Two Dogs

Song Huan squatted under the shade of a tree, flipped through the contract, folded it neatly, and stuffed it into her pocket.

Xiao Yunqing ran over from across the street, holding a folder in her hand, panting, her ponytail swaying behind her.

"All done?" Song Huan looked up.

Xiao Yunqing nodded and handed over the folder.

"The owner of that breakfast shop was very easy to talk to, and he signed the contract in no time."

Song Huan took it, glanced at it, and nodded. "Not bad."

Xiao Yunqing squatted down next to him and tucked the stray hairs behind her ears.

I've been running around with him these past few days, and my legs have gotten so thin from all the running, but I've learned more than I have in class.

Especially in negotiations, Song Huan always manages to present a tangible mountain of gold and silver to those bosses, making them eager to participate.

"What's still missing?" Xiao Yunqing asked.

Song Huan closed the folder and looked at the largest stationery store across the street.

"Stationery stores. These are the only items students buy most frequently."

The stationery store is located directly opposite the school, occupying three storefronts. It is the largest store in the area with the most complete selection of stationery.

Song Huan pushed open the door and went in, with Xiao Yunqing following behind.

The shop was quiet, with hardly anyone there.

It's the off-season now; business will be at its best after school starts.

The shelves were filled with pens, notebooks, and folders, all neatly stacked.

The shop owner stood behind the counter, his hair gray, wearing reading glasses, sorting through a stack of delivery slips.

Song Huan walked over and got straight to the point, "Boss, we're starting a food alliance and would like to invite you to join."

The shop owner looked up, took off his reading glasses, and looked at the two children in front of him.

He smiled briefly, like a sigh.

"You're the two kids who've been running around on the streets these past few days, right? I've heard it from several shop owners."

Song Huan nodded.

The shop owner put down the delivery slip, leaned back in his chair, and said, "I understand about the alliance. The food card offers a 20% discount for students. My shop sells stationery, not food."

"Students need to buy stationery too."

Song Huan said, "If you join, students with cards will have priority to come to your house. If you don't join, they might go to other houses."

The boss remained silent for a while.

He glanced up at the shop entrance, then looked down again, tapping his fingers twice on the table. "Actually, I'm already planning to sell this shop."

Xiao Yunqing was taken aback. "Why? Isn't your business doing quite well?"

The boss sighed, his voice lowering, "Business is good, but most of the money we earn each month goes to others."

He looked up, glanced at the doorway, then lowered his voice, "Thugs and hooligans come every month to collect protection money. If you don't pay, they cause trouble, smash things, and chase away customers. We call the police, but it's no use. They come back the next day, even more aggressively."

Xiao Yunqing frowned.

Song Huan didn't speak, but looked at the boss.

The shop owner took off his glasses and wiped the lenses with the corner of his shirt. "My grandson used to be with them. Once he robbed someone, and I called the police and had him arrested."

He paused for a moment. "Sacrificing family for the greater good? I guess so. But those people held a grudge, saying I cut off their source of income. They come every few days, and demand 2000 yuan in protection money every month."

He gave a wry smile. "My wife is still in the hospital. Where am I going to get so much money for them?"

Xiao Yunqing couldn't hold back any longer, "Why didn't calling the police work?"

The shop owner shook his head. "That guy's name is Er Gou. His uncle is the head of the nearby police station. We reported it once, and he was released the next day. He came back and smashed half of the shop."

He glanced at the cracks on the shelf, his voice lowering, "I promised to pay protection money every month, and that's when they finally stopped."

Song Huan was silent for a moment, then said, "Boss, if we can help you solve this problem, would you be willing to join our alliance? You won't have to transfer the shop anymore."

The boss looked at him for two seconds, then reached out and patted him on the shoulder.

"Young man, it's good to have kindness and a sense of justice. But there are some things you shouldn't touch. I'm an old man, it's nothing to me. But you're a young man with a bright future ahead of you, don't get involved in this."

Song Huan opened her mouth, about to speak.

The roar of a motorcycle came from outside the door.

Several cars drove up from the other end of the street and stopped in front of the store.

Footsteps were making a commotion; someone was walking this way.

The door was kicked, making a loud bang.

"Old man, have you prepared the money for this month?"

A young man with dyed yellow hair walked in, followed by four or five others carrying sticks.

The one in the lead, with blond hair, a thick chain around his neck, an earring in his ear, and a cigarette in his mouth, squinted as he scanned the store.

It was Er Gou.

The boss's face turned pale.

He quickly stepped out from behind the counter, blocking Song Huan and Xiao Yunqing, and shielding them behind him.

My hands were trembling as I took an envelope from the drawer and handed it over.

"This month's, two thousand, you count it."

Er Gou took it, moistened his finger with saliva, and counted the bills one by one.

After counting, he looked up, stuffed the envelope into his pocket, and said, "Not enough, two thousand five hundred this month."

The boss's expression changed.

"You promised two thousand, why did it increase? My wife is still in the hospital, where am I going to get that much money?"

Er Gou flicked the cigarette butt onto the ground and stomped it out.

"Prices have gone up, so what?" He took a step forward, followed by his henchmen. "The houses outside have all gone up in price, can't we go up too?"

Song Huan saw that someone's hand had already touched the iron rod.

The shop owner was bent over, his hands supporting himself on the counter, his lips trembling.

"Ergou, your grandfather and I have been friends for decades, you..."

"Don't mention my grandfather!"

Er Gou's voice suddenly rose, sweeping the pen holder off the counter and scattering pens all over the floor.

"If you weren't my brother's grandfather, I would have killed you long ago!"

He kicked over the trash can by the door, spilling garbage, with crumpled paper and beverage bottles rolling all over the floor.

The boss rushed over to help, but Er Gou pushed him away. He staggered a few steps, bumped into the shelf, and almost fell.

"stop!"

Song Huan called out and stepped out from behind the boss.

Er Gou turned around, pointing the iron rod at Song Huan, "You're pretty arrogant, kid!"

He looked him up and down, and was about to speak when his gaze suddenly stopped.

Behind Song Huan stood Xiao Yunqing, her hair tied in a ponytail, wearing a floral dress, with fair skin, big eyes, long eyelashes, pursed lips, and slightly furrowed brows.

Er Gou's eyes widened, looking from her face to her legs, then back to her face, his mouth agape, revealing his stained teeth.

"Hey, this chick's not bad." He tucked the iron rod under his arm and took two steps forward.

Xiao Yunqing felt uncomfortable being stared at like that, so she took a step back and hid behind Song Huan, clutching the hem of his clothes.

Fearing a conflict would break out, the old man quickly stepped in to mediate.

"Ergou, the kids are just kids and don't know any better. Don't take it to heart. We can discuss the money later."

Er Gou ignored him, his eyes still glued to Xiao Yunqing.

"Old man, when did you get such a hot girl at your shop?"

His henchmen behind him laughed along, some whistling, others banging iron bars on the floor.

Song Huan turned around and glanced at Xiao Yunqing.

She stood behind him, her face slightly pale.

He turned back, his voice neither loud nor soft.

"Go call your dad."

Xiao Yunqing paused for a moment, then turned around and ran behind the counter, picked up the landline phone, and pressed the buttons.

Er Gou watched her make a phone call, laughed, and slung the iron rod over his shoulder.

"Make a phone call? It won't make a difference who you call."

He spat his cigarette butt on the ground and ground it with the sole of his shoe. "I'm telling you now, either pay up or..."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over Xiao Yunqing, a grin spreading across his face.

"Let this chick keep the brothers company. Don't you guys like playing the good guys? Let the brothers have some fun, and we'll waive the 2500 yuan."

The henchmen behind him laughed even louder.

Some people whistled, some banged on the table with sticks, and some imitated Er Gou's tone, speaking in a sarcastic manner.

"Just hanging out with the guys."

"It's just for fun, we're not going to do anything."

"That skin is so white."

Xiao Yunqing held the microphone.

The call had been connected. She took a deep breath and spoke in a steady voice.

"Dad, someone is bullying me."