Chapter 10

"Wow! You've been living here for more than a year?"

Gao Fei parked the car and walked into Chen Yu's residence, feeling very shocked.

"Is that strange? The illegal workers at the bottom have it much worse. If you don't believe me, go check out the Chinese factory in Pugiotto," Chen Yu replied calmly.

"Hehe, I'm just surprised that Italy has such houses. I always thought this was paradise," Gao Fei said with a sigh.

"This is the difference between the rich and the poor. We live in two different worlds."

Chen Yu packed his clothes, toiletries, books, computer, and other essentials, and Gao Fei helped load them into the trunk of the car. The furniture and appliances that were hard to take with them were left behind, hoping they could offset some of the rent.

While waiting for the landlord, Gao Fei called Xu Bing and told him that Chen Yu was moving to Florence, asking him to come over in the evening to see Chen Yu off. Xu Bing, who had the best relationship with Chen Yu among the other students, immediately agreed and gathered a group of their old soccer teammates.

At this moment, the landlord arrived. He was in his fifties, from Fujian, and had come to Italy on a tourist visa. He obtained his residency during an amnesty and now owned three restaurants. He was a shrewd businessman. Seeing a Mercedes parked outside and Gao Fei and Xu Bing looking distinguished, he sensed that Chen Yu might be about to make it big. He generously offset Chen Yu's cheap household appliances and furniture for a month's rent and warmly invited Chen Yu and his friends to his hotel for a discounted meal.

After playing soccer, Chen Yu and Xu Bing usually went to the restaurant where Chen Yu worked for dinner. Now that Chen Yu had quit his job at Zhang Fatso's Chinese restaurant, they didn't have a good place to go, so they followed Chen Yu's landlord to his Phoenix Residence Hotel.

Although Chen Yu and the others had been abroad for a long time, their eating habits hadn't changed. They still preferred Chinese food and Chinese wine. Chen Yu's landlord specifically instructed the kitchen to make the dishes more authentic.

Xu Bing came from a wealthy family of doctors and was at the University of Siena to enhance his credentials. The other students also came from well-off families. Today, they were all hosting a farewell party for Chen Yu, serving the highest-quality dishes and wine.

"Brother Chen, congratulations on your bright future and fame."

"Brother Chen, you've really made it like a carp jumping over the dragon gate."

"Brother Chen, don't forget to sign autographs and take photos with us when you become famous."

"If you become a superstar, I can tell my son, 'Look, your old man used to play soccer with Chen Yu.'"

...

Upon hearing that Chen Yu had signed with the Florence club, everyone was both envious and happy, raising their glasses to toast Chen Yu.

Xu Bing was the last to stand up with his glass. "Brother Chen, there's nothing more to say. Everything has been said by the brothers. We'll come to Florence to cheer for you. I'll drink first."

"Thank you, brothers. With your encouragement, I will definitely make a name for myself," Chen Yu said, finishing his drink in one gulp.

Gao Fei, a bit tipsy, also stood up unsteadily. "Today is your farewell party. I'll use this opportunity to welcome you to Florence. In the future, we'll team up and sweep the Italian third division."

Chen Yu chuckled. "Gao Fei, you're drunk. Don't drink anymore, or we won't be able to get back to Florence. I've never driven a Mercedes."

Xu Bing said, "Drink up. If you get drunk, just stay. We'll party all night, dance, and play games."

As they were talking, Chen Yu's phone rang.

"Chen Yu, it's Uncle Zhang. The contract has been finalized. It's a three-year deal with an annual salary of 15,000 euros. What do you think? If it's okay, come to the headquarters tomorrow to sign. The headquarters is next to Savonarola Square, a small white building. Or you can wait at home, and I'll come to pick you up."

Chen Yu took a deep breath and tried to sound calm. "Thank you, Uncle Zhang. I have no objections. I'll come to sign tomorrow."

While Chen Yu was on the phone, everyone held their breath. When he hung up, they all cheered, knowing the transfer was certain.

Chen Yu smiled and bowed to everyone. "Thank you, brothers. Let's stop here today. I have to sign the contract tomorrow. I can't go drunk."

Xu Bing chuckled. "There will be plenty of opportunities. Let's go dance and relax, then send Brother Chen to Florence."

As they left the private room, they found the hall in chaos. They couldn't even find someone to pay the bill. Chen Yu's landlord was facing off with several waiters and about eight Chinese workers, all pointing and cursing at each other, creating a very tense scene.

Gao Fei, with blurred vision from the alcohol, asked Chen Yu, "What's going on? Why are our compatriots fighting?"

"They're demanding wages," Chen Yu understood immediately. His landlord not only ran a restaurant but also a leather goods workshop in Pugiotto. These workers were likely illegal immigrants who entered Italy on tourist visas and stayed, working under extremely low wages, no holidays, and 18-hour workdays.

"Working without pay is too much. I'll call the police," Gao Fei, drunk and overly righteous, said.

"Calling the police might get both sides in trouble. Many of them are illegal workers and are afraid of the police," Chen Yu noticed a frail woman with long hair among the workers and frowned, as he hated seeing women mistreated.

Just as they were talking, the workers and the landlord's side got into a physical fight.

As the saying goes, "Fighting has no good hands, and cursing has no good words." The disadvantaged side started using weapons, and the other side followed suit. The onlookers, who had been close, now backed away to avoid being hit. Some secretly called the police.

The frail woman, who had been hiding behind the others, was now dodging everywhere. A short waiter, however, wouldn't let her go, chasing her with a basin.

"Help! Help!" The frail woman, seeing that Chen Yu and the others were numerous and tall, ran over to them.

"Want money? I'll give you silver," the short waiter followed, threatening her.

Chen Yu and the others were already furious. Seeing the man come over, Gao Fei punched him in the face, and Chen Yu kicked him in the stomach almost simultaneously.

The short waiter, quick to react, blocked Gao Fei's punch with the basin but couldn't avoid Chen Yu's kick. He fell to the ground, sliding a meter on the smooth marble floor, screaming like a pig being slaughtered.

In the heat of the fight, no one paid attention to the short waiter. Chen Yu, having kicked the scumbag, was worried about getting involved with the police, which could affect his new job. He told the frail woman, "The police are coming. Run quickly." Then he pulled Gao Fei and ran out of the hotel, followed by Xu Bing and the others.

Gao Fei, though drunk, knew that being caught by the police would be bad. This wasn't China, where a favor could solve everything. Here, it would affect his work and insurance, and they had just arrived in Florence, making it hard to explain.

At the parking lot, Chen Yu and Gao Fei said to Xu Bing and the others, "We're going back to Florence. You should go back to your dorms too, so you don't get involved."

"Okay, be careful on the way."

Xu Bing and the others quickly hailed a taxi and left.

Just as Chen Yu and Gao Fei were about to get into the car, they noticed the frail woman still standing by their car. Gao Fei shouted, "Run! Why are you following us?"

"I... I..." The frail woman, unable to finish her sentence, suddenly fainted, her face pale.

Chen Yu, seeing her fall, quickly caught her. "Let's take her to the hospital. She might be sick."

Gao Fei was also panicked. "Where's the nearest hospital? Hurry!"

Chen Yu carried the frail woman, who was as light as a cat, into the car and sat in the driver's seat. "Give me the keys."

"You said you can't drive."

"I said I haven't driven a Mercedes, not that I can't drive."

Chen Yu started the car, and it shot forward like a race car, making Gao Fei's stomach churn.

A few minutes later, they stopped at a small hospital. Chen Yu got out to help Gao Fei carry the woman inside, but she had already woken up.

"How are you? Let's take you to the hospital."

Chen Yu and Gao Fei asked almost simultaneously.

"I'm fine. This happens often," the woman said weakly, trying to stand but failing twice.

"Better to get checked," Chen Yu said, noticing her pale face.

"I have no money and no insurance," the woman said, lowering her head.

"Don't worry about the money."

Gao Fei nodded at Chen Yu, and they helped the woman into the hospital.

The doctor examined her, prescribed some nutritional supplements, and said she was malnourished and had low blood sugar. There was nothing serious, and she just needed to rest and improve her diet.

Chen Yu and Gao Fei, surprised by the nutritional supplements, found that Gao Fei had little money left from his night out. Fortunately, Chen Yu had brought his savings. After paying, they helped the woman back into the car.

"Where do you live? We'll take you home," Chen Yu asked.

"I have no home. My parents are dead," the woman said sadly.

"How old are you?"

"I'm 16."

Ah! It's a little girl.

Chen Yu and Gao Fei were now in a dilemma. Spending money wasn't a problem, but they couldn't take care of her. If she went back to work, she might die.

The girl kept her head down, twisting her clothes, waiting for the men to decide her fate.

After a moment's thought, Chen Yu said to Gao Fei, "Why don't we take her to Florence? Once she's better, we can ask Uncle Zhang to find her a job."

Gao Fei shrugged. "Probably the only option."

Chen Yu asked the girl, "Do you want to go to Florence with us? Do you know Florence?"

The girl hesitated, thinking Chen Yu and Gao Fei didn't seem like bad people. "I want to."

"Then we're friends. I'm Gao Fei, he's Chen Yu. What's your name?"

"My name is Zhao Muyu."

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