In the western agricultural market of Zhonghai City, pedestrians and vehicles shuttle around at dusk, creating a noisy scene. The ground is covered in dirty water from vegetable leaves, and various signs with faded paint hang outside shops. Occasionally, a few shops have monotonous neon lights flickering. Workers returning home, schoolchildren, elderly people buying groceries, and various types of dusty pedestrians make the gray sky even more depressing.
Perhaps in such an international metropolis, this kind of block is like the blemish in people's hearts that they hope never existed.
However, next to a low wall close to the intersection, there is a person leisurely doing something that doesn't seem very honorable to others.
He is a young man selling lamb skewers, wearing a white vest covered in oil stains and dirt, with coffee-colored shorts and a pair of stiff blue plastic sandals. His hair is a bit messy, but his slightly mature and handsome face still has well-defined features, and if you look carefully, there is a hint of masculinity. Unfortunately, no matter how he looks, the girls passing by on the street won't give him a second glance because he is just a lamb skewer vendor.
The young man puts several freshly grilled skewers aside. It's easy to grill in hot weather, but it's hard to sell. Although each pair of skewers only costs five jiao (50 cents), he can only make about ten yuan (less than $2) after a whole day's work, barely enough for two meals.
However, the young man doesn't show much disappointment on his face. Instead, he wears a satisfied and relaxed expression, sitting on the small stool behind him, watching the busy and anxious scene in front of him as if it were the most beautiful scenery.
"Old Li, you promised to pay me the money a couple of days ago, didn't you?" A voice like a duck's neck suddenly appears from the side.
Three boys who look no older than twenty walk up, dressed in a vulgar manner. The one in front has his hair standing up, wearing a silver metal chain and jeans with several holes. His face is a bit gaunt, and he still has a cigarette in his mouth.
Old Li is a small vendor selling fried snacks next to the young man. Similarly, in the hot weather, he is sitting there with nothing to do and worrying.
"Well..." Old Li looks distressed, "My young master, please give me a little more time. It's hot out, and there's no business. How can I pay you?"
"I'm telling you, Lao Li, don't be shameless. If it weren't for our boss Feng backing you up, your business would have been shut down a long time ago." One of the henchmen threatened and flattered.
The thug known as Feng was very pleased with himself. He grinned and patted the flatterer on the back, then turned to Lao Li and said, "Whether you pay the protection fee today or not, I have to get my money. Otherwise, I'll shut down your business right now!" After saying that, he picked up a string of sausages and took two big bites before tossing the remaining half onto the ground.
Lao Li was at a loss. He clutched a small stack of bills in his pocket, planning to hold out. That was the money he had set aside for his wife's medical treatment, and he couldn't bear to "honor" these ruffians and scoundrels.
"I'll pay for him," a young man selling lamb skewers suddenly walked over and pulled out a few crumpled bills from his pants pocket. The total amount didn't exceed a hundred yuan. He handed them over and said indifferently, "That's all I have. Lao Li is old and needs the money urgently. You guys should accumulate some good karma."
The thug sneered and took the bills, handing them over to his lackey behind him. "Yang Chen, you still try to act like a good person. You haven't even paid your own protection fee yet!"
Yang Chen furrowed his brow, feeling sorry for these young boys. They didn't study hard and became thugs. But he wasn't their father, so he didn't say much. He didn't want to cause any trouble either, and calmly said, "Tomorrow, I'll pay tomorrow."
"Okay, I'm not unreasonable. Let's cooperate well. I'll protect your business, and you'll pay me the money. It's only natural...I'll come to collect it tomorrow." After speaking, the thug led his two followers and swaggered off to harass other small vendors in the area.
At this moment, Lao Li's eyes were already red. He looked at Yang Chen with a bitter smile and said, "Xiao Yang, why bother helping me pay these dogs' fees? It's hard for me to live with myself."
"Please don't say that, Lao Li. When I first came here, I was a stranger with no friends. If it weren't for you, I still wouldn't have anyone to talk to. You are my benefactor, and I must repay your kindness."
"Lad, you're too kind..." Lao Li seemed to know he couldn't persuade Yang Chen, and could only sigh in silence.
Yang Chen smiled nonchalantly. His smile was light but genuine, and he was not affected by the extortion just now. "By the way, how's your wife's illness?"
"Thanks to the money you lent me for her surgery, she only needs regular check-ups and medication now."
"Oh, that's good to hear. I wish her a speedy recovery." Yang Chen nodded satisfactorily.
Old Li gave a bitter smile. "Xiao Yang, I'll definitely pay you back the money you lent me. If I don't clear the debt before I die, I'll have my daughter pay you back. If it weren't for me, you could have used that 100,000 yuan to open a decent shop instead of selling lamb skewers here and taking crap from those small-time thugs."
Yang Chen shrugged. "I actually like this kind of life. Selling lamb skewers is not bad. It's simple and I can make ends meet."
"I'm telling you..." Old Li sighed. "Xiao Yang, you're only 23 or 24 years old. Young guys your age are either in college or striving to climb up the ladder. You don't even have a girlfriend. Are you planning to sell lamb skewers like this forever? I'm worried for you, even if you're not."
Hearing Old Li's genuine concern, Yang Chen couldn't help but reveal a bitter smile. He wasn't not worried, he just didn't even think about those things.