Time unknowingly reached five in the afternoon, and Li Zao, who had disappeared for a day, finally returned. Beside Li Zao was a man in his twenties, dressed in punk style, with a Mohawk hairstyle dyed blonde. Despite his rather unappealing appearance, he carried himself with an arrogant air, his arm around Li Zao's shoulder as they walked in, surveying the place: "So this is my little wife's shop! Not bad!"
Li Nianlong frowned. He had no patience for these self-important thugs, especially ones who looked as unrefined as this. Did he really think dyeing his hair blonde made him some kind of gang leader? Such types were cannon fodder in real fights, destined to die quickly.
Seeing Li Nianlong's unfriendly gaze, Li Zao seemed rather proud: "Not bad, huh? Our shop brings in over a thousand in revenue every day, making tens of thousands a month with ease."
"Haha, I didn't expect my little wife to be a rich woman. From now on, I'll rely on you for my living," the punk laughed arrogantly.
Before Li Nianlong could respond, the old technician's face turned dark with anger: "Li Zao! Where have you been?"
Faced with the angry old technician, Li Zao seemed a bit guilty, but then she straightened up as if remembering something: "Grandpa, didn't you want me to find a husband soon? I went to find one today."
"You... nonsense!" The old technician was furious and moved to hit Li Zao, but he didn't see the leg of the massage bed and tripped, falling hard to the ground and nearly passing out.
"Grandpa!" Li Zao panicked, quickly running over to help him up: "Grandpa, are you okay? I..."
Smack—
A hard slap landed on her face, swelling one side of her cheek and making her cry: "Grandpa..."
"Shut up!" The old technician was furious: "You've grown up, huh? Your wings are hard now, huh? You want to fly, huh? If you want to fly, then get out! Go as far as you can! I don't have a granddaughter like you!"
"Grandpa..." Li Zao's lips quivered, her face covered in tears.
To quote a song, both the old technician and Li Zao were really "deeply hurt" this time.
At this moment, the punk took two steps forward, threatening: "Old man, don't push your luck. Do you really think you're something? If it's leaving, then fine, let's divide the property first. After splitting the money, my wife and I will leave immediately."
The old technician trembled with anger: "Is this the good husband you found?"
Li Zao also looked angry: "I'm talking to my grandpa. What does it have to do with you? Get out!"
"Come when you want, go when you want. What am I, a joke?" The punk sneered, suddenly pulling out a knife from his waist: "Do you believe I'll slash your face?"
Seeing the punk brandish the knife, Li Zao was frightened: "What... what are you doing? Don't do anything crazy."
"It's simple. Just split the property. I'll take the money and leave," the punk laughed arrogantly, as if he had her cornered.
"Want money?" Having seen enough, Li Nianlong stepped forward. Before the punk could speak, he slapped him.
Smack—
"Ah—" Li Nianlong's strength was immense. Even though he held back ninety percent of it, it was enough to send the punk to the dentist for half his teeth.
He spat out blood and a dozen teeth, indeed half his mouth.
"Five hundred, is that enough?" Li Nianlong stood over the punk, looking down at him with cold eyes: "If not, I can give you another five hundred. Just not sure if you'll live to take it."
The killing intent locked onto this unrefined punk. Given his nature, he was naturally spineless. The deliberate intimidation from Li Nianlong scared him so much that he wet his pants, the stench making other customers in the shop pinch their noses.
Li Nianlong frowned, grabbed the punk by the neck like a chicken, and tossed him out the door. Taking two steps forward, he stomped between the punk's legs when he couldn't stand up.
The punk nearly passed out from fear, but Li Nianlong moved his foot, leaving a two-centimeter-deep footprint in the stone floor, with several cracks radiating out.
Seeing this, the punk's heart nearly jumped out of his mouth: "B... Brother..."
"Don't let me see you again. If you come back to bother Li Zao or cause trouble for the shop, you won't see another sunrise." The killing intent was like a tidal wave, scaring the punk so much that he soiled himself. He was convinced this was a merciless killer, and he must avoid provoking him at all costs.
"I won't... I won't dare... I really won't..." The punk, speaking through his broken teeth, made himself clear. It seemed the human survival instinct was strong enough to overcome even the impediment of missing teeth.
"Get lost!"
With a shout, the punk scrambled away, crawling and rolling.
Ignoring the onlookers on the street, Li Nianlong turned back into the shop. He then addressed the customers: "I apologize for the disturbance. We'll close for today. You can come to me for early appointments and free services tomorrow. Thank you for your understanding."
"Master Liu, don't mention it. No one wants this kind of trouble. We understand," the customers were very considerate, and the promise of free services the next day made them even more courteous.
After respectfully seeing the customers off, Li Nianlong closed the door and handed a broom and dustpan to Li Zao: "You've been idle all day, the shop is dirty. Go clean it up."
Li Zao, teary-eyed, looked at him, biting her lip: "Brother Liu, I..."
"Don't 'me' now, go quickly." He shoved the broom and dustpan into her hands and pushed her: "Clean up, and then we'll deal with you."
Crying, Li Zao silently cleaned the floor, while Li Nianlong helped the old technician to sit on a massage bed: "Master Li, are you okay?"
The old technician sighed: "A family misfortune!"
"Don't say that. Everyone makes mistakes." Li Nianlong quickly interjected: "I think Li Zao was just confused for a moment. There's no need to hold a grudge. After all, I'm an outsider, but that's why I can see more clearly."
Seeing the old technician's attention was on him, Li Nianlong softly continued: "No matter what, Li Zao is your granddaughter. You know she's not a bad girl. When you get home, you can punish her however you see fit, but after that, let it go. Don't let one fly ruin your future peace."
The old technician's face remained dark, silent.
Li Nianlong knew the old technician was truly heartbroken this time. His granddaughter, whom he depended on, had brought back a thug, making him feel his ten years of effort were wasted... no, even less than a dog. At least a dog knows how to please its owner, while his granddaughter had broken his heart.
The old technician's silence made Li Zao, who was cleaning, even more anxious. She cried as she worked, deeply regretting her actions. She hated herself for the first time in her life. If there was a remedy for regret, she would buy twenty pounds of it.
The old technician remained silent, and Li Nianlong didn't continue to persuade him. When Li Zao finished cleaning, he called her over: "Li Zao, come here."
Li Zao put down the tools and walked over quietly.
Li Nianlong pointed to the massage bed opposite: "Sit."
Li Zao sat down quietly.
"The door is closed, no one to disturb us. No matter what, speaking out helps solve things. Do you know you made your grandpa very sad with what you did today? Do you know you were wrong?"
Tears fell from Li Zao's eyes again as she wiped them: "I... I know... I was wrong... Grandpa, I'm sorry... so sorry..."
Li Zao's tearful apology finally touched the old technician's sensitive nerves. He sighed with tears: "Li Zao, you were so foolish!"
"Grandpa..." Li Zao jumped off the massage bed, throwing herself into the old technician's arms, crying and repenting: "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I was wrong, Grandpa... forgive me... I'll change, I promise I'll change."
"You bad girl, you deserve a beating!"
"Grandpa, hit me! Hit me! I'm sorry... I'm so sorry..."
The scene of the grandparent and grandchild crying and embracing was very touching.
Li Nianlong watched silently. When they stopped crying, he spoke again: "It's good that things are out in the open. You've cried, and scolded. But Li Zao, you still haven't told us the truth behind your actions."
At this point, Li Nianlong noticed a change in both their expressions. The old technician's was strongly inquisitive, while Li Zao's was very complex, a mix of emotions he couldn't read.
Li Nianlong asked: "Li Zao, what were you thinking?"
"Master Liu is right." Seeing Li Zao's hesitation, the old technician's face darkened: "You must explain yourself."
"Grandpa, I..." Li Zao was still reluctant, but the old technician's expression grew darker: "If you don't speak,
I have no granddaughter!"
The old technician was a traditional parent, good at making harsh statements to his children. Such words were very impactful, forcing them to comply unless they were extraordinarily stubborn.
Although Li Zao was stubborn, she wasn't at that level. Facing her grandfather's harsh words, she gave in.
"I... I'll say..." Filled with grievance, Li Zao turned her gaze to Li Nianlong, her eyes full of resentment.
Li Nianlong was puzzled: "Why are you looking at me? What does this have to do with me?"
Li Zao didn't answer but raised her hand to point at him, full of grievance and anger: "Grandpa, it was him! He made me do it."