Chapter 25: The Yamen Runners Take Action to Control the Hooligan

Just as Li Yaoguang bowed to thank everyone and motioned for everyone to disperse, suddenly, five guys with rolled up sleeves, exposed arms, and strong bodies, led by one who had his shirt open to reveal his solid chest, walked in aggressively against the gradually dispersing crowd with their hands folded across their chests, interrupting Li Yaoguang's unfinished words.

Li Yaoguang looked at the newcomer in surprise. Before she could ask any questions, the newcomer puffed up his arms deliberately and spoke threateningly.

"Boy, are you new here? Do you know the rules?"

"Rules?" What rules? "Who are you?"

Li Yaoguang was still confused, but Uncle Li, the rat poisoner, noticed something was wrong. He ran over and grabbed Li Yaoguang's arm, lowering his voice to remind him, "Boy, have you forgotten the protection fee I told you about? Protection fee! Ten cents, ten cents per stall."

"Oh oh." This is the feeling.

Li Yaoguang suddenly realized and said he knew. He gave Uncle Li a look of gratitude and comfort. He also knew that as long as he continued to set up a stall, this hurdle was inevitable. He did not complain or shirk his responsibility, but politely bowed to the visitor.

"Hello, brothers. I know the rules. Haha, I'm sorry to bother you guys to collect it. I'll give it to you right away. Right away..."

Seeing that Li Yaoguang had a response, Uncle Li quickly ran back to his car and winked at his concerned stall mates. Several of them lowered their heads and took out their own pockets to count and prepare their own protection fees. However, they were secretly glad that they had benefited from Li Yaoguang today. Their business was good, and they didn't have to delay paying the money.

When Li Yaoguang ran to pick up the bowl, the people around her who were afraid of causing trouble had almost all dispersed. Only some of her loyal fans who she had just gained today were left. Seeing this, they all showed concern. Li Yaoguang quickly shook her head at them, indicating that it was okay. In addition, the four yamen runners who had unconsciously given her a reward just now were now silently watching her.

Li Yaoguang saw that the yamen runner was feeling miserable, and thought to himself that there would be more to come. He had to quickly get rid of the scoundrel in front of him, and then pay the yamen runner honestly so that he could get away and go home.

Li Yaoguang walked with heavy steps while holding the bowl, and kept complaining in his heart that it was really not easy to live in ancient times. Who was it that said time travel is good and wonderful? Only those who travel through time will know.

As she walked, Li Yaoguang quickly picked out ten copper coins from the bowl. To be on the safe side, she was cautious and did not care how much money was in the bowl. She poured all the remaining money into the cloth bag she was carrying on her back.

This was specially prepared by her aunt for her to store money, and she didn't expect it to come in handy.

After neatly pouring the money into her pocket, Li Yaoguang came forward with the copper coins in one hand and the bowl in the other. However, she didn't expect that her action of secretly collecting the money had already been seen by the five ruffians who were staring at her closely.

Seeing her petty and cautious look, the five rascals couldn't help but curl their lips.

Hearing the clinking sound of coins falling into pockets, the five people's eyes were filled with excitement.

So when Li Yaoguang came closer and handed over the ten copper coins in her hand, the five men's faces changed at the same time. One of them rudely slapped Li Yaoguang's hand holding the copper coins away, and the guy in the lead stretched out his iron arm, grabbed Li Yaoguang's collar by the chest and pushed her in front of himself, and launched a crazy attack on the small girl.

"Boy, do you think we are beggars? Huh? You want to send us off with ten coins? Pah! You just talk and the coins fall. Since it is so easy to make money, and we work so hard to patrol the streets for you, shouldn't you be more generous? You are so stingy that you are only willing to pay ten cents for protection? What do you think I am? Huh?"

"Be what?", of course, be a bandit!
Subconsciously, Li Yaoguang reached out to protect the cloth bag she was carrying and secretly transferred most of the copper coins into the space, just in case the other party really tried to rob her, she could also ensure that the loss would not be too severe.

Just when Li Yaoguang had made the worst plan and Uncle Li next to her was frightened and changed his face and mustered up the courage with other stall owners to try to come up and plead for Li Yaoguang, the group of yamen runners who were silently watching Li Yaoguang acted faster than the loyal fans she had just gained.

"What are you doing? What are you doing? San Tuzi, I haven't seen you for a few days. You seem to have improved? Ha! It seems that you brothers have been patrolling the huge Wa Lane in South City? It seems that the good public security in Wa Lane is also maintained by you brothers? Then what are we brothers?" San Tuzi and his five companions were shocked. Seeing the four yamen runners approaching, they wanted to explain, but the other party did not give them any chance. The youngest one, who was wearing official uniform, even looked at them in a weird way.

"Boss, I think the three bald guys just don't take us brothers seriously!"

"No, no, Xie Chatou is not like that..."

The young yamen runner did not give the baldy three a chance to explain and continued to ridicule them.

"No? Ha, you think ten cents is not enough, and you want protection money, that's it? Tsk tsk! I'm not afraid to tell you the truth, we didn't collect any protection money from this young man's stall, not to mention my boss even took the lead in giving him tips! We are all like this, how dare you, a bunch of bald street bullies, ask for money? Who gave you the face?"

"This, this, this, this..."

"Little one!"

Seeing that the five street bullies were sweating profusely and almost fell to their knees because of what the young yamen runner said, the leader, Xie Chatou, interrupted them. The young yamen runner, who was called Xiaoyao, shut up. Then their leader, holding the hilt of the knife at his waist with one hand, stepped forward.

"Third baldy, you are a real man, but you look down on a child. Don't you feel ashamed? I am ashamed for you! Hurry up and put the man down!"

Bandits have always been afraid of seeing officials. In front of the officers in charge of them, they were frightened. The three bald men who were still holding Li Yaoguang immediately became timid and let go of Li Yaoguang's clothes and smiled in a flattering manner to the officers, especially to Officer Xie.

Seeing that the other party was still staring at him with dissatisfaction, San Tuzi realized something and quickly bent down, bowed and nodded to Li Yaoguang to apologize. He also diligently straightened the clothes around Li Yaoguang's neck that he had pulled crooked just now, and then looked at Xie Chatou and the others.

"Thank you, sir. Do you think this is okay?"

Upon seeing this, Xie Chatou hummed coldly. The young Xiaoyao was still dissatisfied, but he dared not say much because of the gaze of his boss.

The third bald man was also a wise man with good eyesight. Upon seeing this, he quickly bowed to the other yamen runners and begged for mercy. Finally, he turned around and bowed solemnly to Li Yaoguang. At the same time, he signaled his companion who had just hit Li Yaoguang's hand to quickly pick up the coin he had just slapped away.

"Today, my brothers and I frightened you, sir. It's our fault. Please forgive me, sir. From now on, in this South Street Wa Lane, the three bald guys will not dare to bother you again. Please forgive me, sir."

"Don't dare."

Li Yaoguang was really a coward and she really didn't dare. After all, not only did she have no backing, she was also a weakling with no fighting power.

Now she is just a bully relying on the power of others, but she doesn't even know the rules of the people she relies on.

Feeling unsure, he decided to take a step back and took the ten cents handed over by the bald man. Li Yaoguang nodded to let it go and watched the group of people leave quickly in a dejected manner, looking very different from when they came.

(End of this chapter)