Chapter 150: The Thugs

Even on a workday, the highway was bustling with traffic, much of it comprised of large heavy-duty trucks—the kind often called "Jiefangs"—hauling freight.

H-City is the provincial capital of H-Province and its economic hub. Day or night, a constant stream of massive cargo trucks moves in and out of the city. Whether hauling goods out or bringing them in, this activity is a vital engine for the city’s economic prosperity and commercial life. Consequently, these heavy-duty transport trucks are the most common sight on the highways around H-City.

There is an unspoken rule on these highways: whenever you encounter these massive trucks weighing dozens of tons, it is best to keep a wide distance. One reason is the fear of a cargo spill or the vehicle tipping over and crushing others; the second is the danger of being sideswiped in an accident. Often, the big truck might emerge from such an incident unscathed, while the drivers of the smaller vehicles caught in the wake face a grim fate.

This is precisely why Chang Yu dared not drive on the highway alone, opting instead to have Xiao Li drive for him. If one’s driving skills aren’t top-tier, it’s best to avoid the highway altogether to prevent mishaps. While Xiao Li’s driving was significantly better than Chang Yu’s, even he remained completely focused, eyes locked straight ahead, throughout this stretch of the journey.

When they finally turned off the high-speed highway and onto a small concrete road leading into the countryside, both Chang Yu and Xiao Li let out a collective sigh of relief.

A-County is a small town adjacent to H-City. Administratively, it falls under H-City's jurisdiction and is only about an hour’s drive away. To reach A-County, one must first navigate a section of the highway and then travel along a winding rural road.

The orphanage where Chang Yu grew up was in A-County; he had spent the most crucial eighteen years of his life there. Perhaps because of the proximity, Chang Yu had remained in H-City to make a living after leaving the orphanage. Unlike his peers—some of whom headed to the capital or the bustling metropolis of Shanghai to carve out a future—Chang Yu was the only one who chose to stay close to home.

Chang Yu gazed silently at the fields passing by outside the window. Endless stretches of corn and barley swayed in the breeze, a sea of green that seemed to have no horizon. They stood like lonely spectators, watching every traveler pass by, season after season, wave after wave, in an endless cycle.

In the distance, the sky was a deep azure, streaked with layered, wave-like clouds. The scenery was so picturesque it was enough to soothe the soul. Occasionally, groups of birds would chatter as they flew overhead, leaving behind a trail of joyful cries. The rural landscape was beautiful, a sight rarely seen by those living in big cities. As one of the nation's largest grain production hubs, H-Province’s agricultural development was highly advanced; the fields were almost entirely covered in crops. It felt like a diligent and loving mother, year after year, sending countless harvests to every corner of the country.

Time passed quickly, and soon they drove into the county seat. Looking at the familiar roads and the buildings lining the narrow streets, Chang Yu was overcome with a tide of emotions.

"Nothing much has changed here," Chang Yu remarked with a sigh.

"A-County is just a small place; it’s hard for it to change much in such a short time," Xiao Li replied as he parked the car in front of a large, traditional courtyard house. "Sir, we have arrived."

Staring at the familiar courtyard, Chang Yu’s eyes began to mist over. Memories of his childhood flooded his mind—every scene of his youth seemed to have played out in this very courtyard. This unassuming place was where his dreams began; it was his root and his soul. After all this time, it was his first return to this soil. He wondered how the Director—the grandfather figure of the orphanage—and the children who remained were doing.

Just as Chang Yu reached out to knock on the door, a discordant, noisy clamor erupted from inside the courtyard.

"Old man! I’m warning you, you have to pay up within seven days, or I’m taking this courtyard!"

"When that happens, you and your little brats can go beg on the streets! Hahahaha..."

The speaker’s tone was incredibly arrogant and boorish. Even just hearing his voice, one could feel the overwhelming stench of a low-life hoodlum.

"Sir, seven days is simply too short. We don’t have the means to scrape together such a large sum of money in such a short time," a frail, trembling voice replied—clearly an elderly man.

Chang Yu recognized that voice instantly; he would know it anywhere. It was the voice of the Director, the man he called "Grandpa."

"What do I care? The contract is in black and white—seven days is the final deadline. What, are you trying to welch on your debt?"

"We are just simple, honest folks; how could we dare to welch? It’s just that things have been tight lately. Please, I beg you, give us a few more days."

Chang Yu could no longer listen. A scene instantly formed in his mind: a group of vicious thugs wielding clubs and axes, sneering as they surrounded a defenseless old man and a group of shivering children. They waved their weapons at the vulnerable, spewing threats with the arrogance of those who look down on everyone else.

How could the already destitute Director possibly come up with such a sum? He was likely kneeling on the ground, tears streaming down his face, begging these social parasites for more time.

"This is going too far! What era do they think this is? Still playing the loan shark game?" Furious, Chang Yu kicked the gate open and marched into the courtyard with Xiao Li in tow.

Seeing the aggressive entry of Chang Yu and Xiao Li, the people in the courtyard froze. They never expected anyone to interrupt them at the climax of their extortion.

"Li... Little Yu?" The Director was the first to recognize him, his voice trembling with shock. "How are you here? Why didn't you tell Grandpa you were coming back?"

Looking at the frail, shaking old man whose speech was now so weak, Chang Yu’s heart ached. Time was truly heartless; it aged people year by year. In just two years, the Director’s face had deepened with wrinkles, and his once-clear eyes had become dim and clouded.

"I just came back to see you," Chang Yu forced a smile. "But you, Grandpa—you’ve really aged in these two years."

As he spoke, he swept the courtyard with a fiery gaze, his eyes lingering menacingly on the hoodlums. "But better late than never. Since I’ve caught you in trouble, leave it to me."

There were five men, all middle-aged with bloated bellies and greasy faces. Contrary to his imagination, they weren't holding weapons; instead, they were dressed in suits, holding briefcases, and wearing polished leather shoes. The leader wore a thick gold chain, had a tattoo on his arm, and a face full of blubber—the very picture of a "successful" local thug.

So, even hoodlums wrap themselves in suits these days to look like respectable professionals?

They had the Director cornered in the center, with two older children hiding behind him, too terrified to speak. Chang Yu remembered them; they had been the ones to see him off when he left the orphanage.

"And who might you be, kid?" The man with the gold chain, sensing that Chang Yu’s composure and confidence were not those of an ordinary person, decided to test the waters. Usually, when people encountered them, they were terrified and retreated to avoid trouble. Anyone who stood their ground was either backed by someone powerful or was of a higher status—either way, he needed to be careful. If he accidentally kicked an iron plate, he would be the one to suffer.

Chang Yu had seen the world. He had witnessed the dark, filthy underbelly of society and had struggled on the edge of life and death. He had seen the lonely, cold heights of high society, the power of the cultivation world, and the special privileges of the Disaster Management Bureau. If it were the old Chang Yu, he might have felt a flicker of fear. But the current Chang Yu was no longer the cautious, trembling boy at the bottom of the social ladder.

As someone with a degree of privilege, he felt no need to fear these bottom-feeders. The worst-case scenario was simply beating them all up; he could easily lay them all out without needing Xiao Li’s help. He could just report to the Bureau that he had mistaken them for being possessed by a calamity, and have someone like Katerina clean up the mess to avoid police trouble. Under the guise of eradicating a calamity, as long as he didn't kill anyone, the Bureau would back him.

"I am a child who grew up in this orphanage," Chang Yu said, his voice ringing with confidence. He rolled up his sleeves, eyeing the leader and calculating where to strike first.

"Just an orphan, huh? You almost had me fooled," the man with the gold chain sneered. An orphan meant no family, no connections—just a kid in his early twenties with no foundation. He concluded that he didn't need to be polite; he could just chase him off. "I suggest you stay out of this! Since you’ve left this place, don't go meddling in things that don't concern you! If you push me too far, I’ll show you what we're capable of!"

"Since I’ve run into it, it concerns me!" Chang Yu retorted, unfazed.

"Young man, don't think we're just bullying the weak." The man with the gold chain waved a contract in front of Chang Yu. "This is the contract your Director signed. How much he borrowed and when it’s due—it’s all here in black and white. Paying debts is only natural. Even if you take us to court, we’re the ones in the right."

"Right? You’re just a bunch of social parasites running a loan shark operation!" Chang Yu hated this kind of posturing. His anger flared. He cracked his knuckles, ready for a fight. "I've always despised you leeches who live off others' blood and sweat. Today, I’m going to teach you how to be decent human beings!"

"Little... Little Yu, let’s talk this over. Please, don't resort to violence," the Director pleaded, fearing for him. He only remembered the Chang Yu from two years ago—the skinny boy who would surely be overpowered. He didn't know that for the current Chang Yu, dealing with these men would be like playing with toddlers.