Chapter 18

I've already delivered it, but she refused to accept it. I heard that you two have a good relationship, so I came to you to give it a try.

You could have found out that we are about to get together, right? My tone became increasingly cold.

But you two aren't together yet, right? Yi Zhen still had a full smile on his face: Can you help me pass it on?

No, I don't want to talk to him anymore.

I thought Yi Zhen would fly into a rage, but he just looked disappointed and put the necklace away.

As expected, it's not possible, sigh, I'll think of other ways. Yi Zhen walked out.

Hey, at least you should have asked how much Zuo Fei would charge to pass on the necklace, right? Houzi called out to Yi Zhen.

Yi Zhen turned his head: Really?

I shook my head: No.

You should make an offer, maybe Zuo Fei will be tempted! Houzi, typical of someone who enjoys stirring up trouble.

100 yuan, is that okay? Yi Zhen really opened his mouth.

Before I could say anything, Houzi rushed over: I can do it too!

Huang Jie, not to be outdone, rushed over: I can do it too, I only need 90 yuan!

80!

70!

I only want Zuo Fei to deliver it for me. Yi Zhen interrupted their bidding.

Houzi and Huang Jie turned to look at me, their faces full of the fiery expression that this was a good opportunity to make money.

I won't help you deliver it, even if you offer me a thousand yuan or ten thousand yuan, I won't help you.

By saying I only want Zuo Fei to deliver it, Yi Zhen revealed his intentions. He not only hoped I would pass on the necklace but also seemed to be challenging, suppressing, and declaring war on me.

Yi Zhen shook his head and turned to walk out again.

Hey, are we still friends? Houzi called out to him again.

Yes. Yi Zhen had a very polite smile, the kind of upbringing only rich kids have.

Great! Houzi said: Lend me five yuan.

Houzi, with the five yuan in hand, happily jumped around the dormitory, while Huang Jie, who didn't get to borrow money in time, looked regretful and shouted that he wanted to split the five yuan with Houzi.

Are you two serious? I knew they were playing, but I was also annoyed. Yi Zhen is clearly my rival.

Houzi quieted down and said: Zuo Fei, have you heard a saying in Dongcheng No.1 Middle School, 'Better to provoke a big cat than Yi Zhen'?

Yes, there is such a saying, because Yi Zhen is so rich, and with money, he can ruin everything. Xiao Ma, who was already in bed, suddenly blurted out.

Shut up. I glared at Xiao Ma, and he immediately retreated. Then I continued: I haven't heard it, I don't care if he can provoke or not, he won't touch Lin Ke'er.

In short, you can confront a big cat head-on, but don't confront Yi Zhen head-on. You can use indirect and subtle ways to fight him. This is my advice.

Houzi yawned: Let's go. He and Huang Jie walked out of the dormitory.

I thought for a moment and shouted out of the dormitory: You two are not allowed to go to the internet cafe! But it was already too late.

I lay in bed, thinking about Yi Zhen's words, feeling quite annoyed. Of course, it's annoying when your girlfriend is being targeted. Now, I already considered Lin Ke'er my girlfriend.

But no matter how annoyed I was, I had to put this aside for now because there were more important things to do.

The next morning, I went to the internet cafe and dragged Houzi and Huang Jie back. They had been up all night and now needed to sleep for a while! Huang Jie was fine; he was already exhausted and obediently followed me back. But Houzi was still energetic, sitting on the chair and refusing to get up, shouting: I can't betray my teammates, otherwise, we will be fools in Shanxi Province!

I turned off his computer, which almost made Houzi faint on the spot. I couldn't understand why games were so important.

I forcibly dragged Houzi and Huang Jie back to the dormitory and made them go to bed, feeling like a little nanny. I sat under the big tree all day watching them train. It was the last day of military training, and everyone was saying goodbye to the instructors with reluctance. Wang Yao still led the Thirteen Roses to play with me, she was really diligent in protecting me.

But after tonight, she won't need to protect me anymore.

Finally, it was evening, and the whole freshman class was filled with a tense atmosphere because everyone had heard that the Nine Princes would raid the dormitories tonight. As soon as evening classes were over, I ran to Houzi's dormitory. He was still sleeping, having slept all day, he should be well-rested, right? I shouted: Houzi, Houzi!

Houzi turned over: Go to hell, if you can't play, go home and drink milk.

I shook him a few times, but Houzi still didn't wake up, muttering: Can't betray my teammates, Zuo Fei, you're too unrighteous.

I got angry and shouted: You Shanxi people are all fools!

Houzi sat up: Who said that?! Bullshit!

After waking Houzi up, we went to wake up Huang Jie. This time, I didn't waste words and directly said in Huang Jie's ear: You Shanxi people are all fools! To my surprise, Huang Jie didn't react and muttered: Yes, all fools.

Houzi said: Watch me.

Then he leaned down and said: Huang Jie, lend me five yuan.

I don't have it! Huang Jie sat up, annoyed: Go borrow from someone else!

Houzi had a smug look. When Huang Jie realized Houzi wasn't really borrowing money, he relaxed a lot and even hummed a song while putting on his shoes: What kind of rhythm is the most, the most swaying.

The three of us came to my dormitory, set up a table, and played cards while waiting for the Nine Princes to come. Houzi even stuck a sharp knife on the table and said: If Big Cat dares to collect from us, I'll make him bleed!

I was puzzled: Houzi, where do you get so many knives?

Huang Jie said: Don't you know? There's a street vendor on the way from the internet cafe to school. Houzi always steals a knife when he passes by.

Roll, I borrow them, okay?

Would they lend you dozens of knives for free?

I knew they were being silly again, so I didn't ask about it.

Students came back one after another, and I asked Xiao Ma to open the door. The corridor gradually became lively, with people playing and washing. Soon, someone outside said: The Nine Princes are here!

The corridor suddenly became quiet, and everyone ran back to their dormitories. Then we heard the sound of footsteps and occasional curses: Everyone go back to your dormitories, no one is allowed to show their head!

The sound was still outside, but it scared Xiao Ma into hiding in bed.

I said: What are you afraid of? Haven't you already paid the protection fee?

Xiao Ma said with a sad face: I'm afraid Zhou Kun will ask me for cigarettes.

Houzi pulled out the knife and waved it at Xiao Ma: If he dares to ask, give him a stab!

I can't do that! Xiao Ma quickly waved his hands.

Bang! A sound of a door being kicked came from outside, followed by a loud voice: Who the hell is Yang Zecheng?!

Houzi looked at me, and I immediately nodded, indicating I had noted this name.

The Nine Princes were raiding the dormitories tonight, clearing out students who didn't pay the protection fee, mainly to establish their authority. So the scene was definitely grand, and the sound was definitely loud. We didn't need to go outside to see what was happening; we could just listen from the dormitory.

I'm Yang Zecheng! Another voice rang out.

Once this dialogue started, a fight was inevitable. We heard the sound of punches and kicks, and it was estimated that at least a dozen people were surrounding and beating Yang Zecheng. Yang Zecheng's curses could also be heard: I won't give you money, you bastards!

The three of us nodded at each other, indicating this person was a tough guy and could be recruited.

But two fists can't match four feet, and Yang Zecheng's curses gradually became weaker. We heard Zhou Kun curse: You ungrateful thing, if you don't pay, I'll beat you every day!

Zhou Kun, don't be so harsh, look at his nose, you've almost broken it. How will he find a girlfriend? Big Cat's hypocritical voice also sounded.

Damn, ungrateful thing. Let's find the next one.

Bang! Slap!

Who the hell is Gao He?! It seemed Zhou Kun was the main force tonight, taking all the glory.

I noted this name. Five minutes later, Gao He received similar treatment to Yang Zecheng, being beaten by a dozen people until he couldn't even curse, but he was still a tough guy and someone we must recruit.

The corridor was still noisy, but no one dared to make a sound except for the Nine Princes and the beaten students. We could feel the tense atmosphere outside from the dormitory. Xiao Ma was completely scared, hiding in his blanket and shivering.

After half an hour, more than ten people had been beaten, and some dormitories even had two or three victims.

Houzi rubbed his hands and said: Damn, it's really refreshing, there are so many tough guys this year!

Huang Jie and I were also happy. The more tough guys, the better our chances!

I can't stand it, I have to go check. Houzi stood up and walked out.

Soon, we heard Big Cat outside: Oh, isn't this Houzi, where are you going?

I'm going to the toilet.

I remember you haven't paid the protection fee, right?

No, come find me later, I'm in Zuo Fei's dormitory.

Houzi came back after a round, excitedly saying: Damn, there are more than ten people lying around in the corridor, the Nine Princes are really beating people to death!

The more they beat, the deeper the grudge, the better for recruiting. This is what we want to see.

I said: But it's strange, why don't people help when others are being beaten?

Houzi said: Isn't that obvious? Without a leader, who would come out? Have you heard the saying, 'One Chinese is a dragon, a group of Chinese is a worm'? Unless there's a leader, Chinese people will always be a scattered group.

Huang Jie straightened his clothes: The leader is clearly me.

Bullshit, it's me. Houzi pointed to his nose.

I also didn't back down: You two stop it, who is more suitable to be the leader than me?

This is our old problem, and every time it comes up, we end up arguing. Soon, all three of us were red-faced, grabbing each other's collars, ready to fight.

Hey, what are you three doing? Big Cat stood at the door, with a group of people behind him, including Xing Qiu and Zhou Kun. Being the leader is great, always looking impressive!

We three let go of each other and said almost in unison: Nothing, nothing, we're just exercising.

Hmm, you three should pay the protection fee. Big Cat stepped in.

Houzi took out a knife and stabbed it into the table: Is this okay?

Big Cat's face froze; he clearly didn't expect Houzi to do this. He just didn't understand Houzi.

Huang Jie and I continued to play with the cards, as if we didn't care about Big Cat.

Three with two, your turn, Houzi! Huang Jie threw out some cards.

Bomb! Houzi threw out two jokers with great force, making the knife on the table tremble: Send your mother to heaven, stop being cocky with me! This clearly had a hidden meaning.

Big Cat's face turned even uglier, but he didn't dare step in any further.

Ha, I'll deal with you three later. Big Cat laughed and walked out.

Big Cat can be flexible, that's why he respected Houzi for half a year. It's because of this that he has survived until today, but only until today. Tomorrow is the day we overthrow the Nine Princes!

We continued to play cards in the dormitory, while the Nine Princes continued to beat students who didn't pay the protection fee. This farce lasted until after 12 o'clock, with no dormitory manager or school intervention, as if they were used to it. I noted more than twenty names that night.

It feels like it's coming to an end. Houzi yawned: It's about time, we should wrap it up.

Wrapping it up is a code word. Since there were other people in our dormitory, he meant that the Nine Princes were about to wrap it up, and we should find the tough guys to discuss important matters.

Who the hell is Zheng Wu? Zhou Kun shouted again, but his voice was far away, clearly at the end of the corridor, maybe their last target.

I'm Zheng Wu! A voice shouted out, full of anger and unwillingness, overpowering Zhou Kun's voice, making the whole building seem to shake.

Then, we heard one, two, three cries of pain, and the sound of many footsteps running.

One person can't make so many cries of pain, so it must be the Nine Princes and their gang!

The three of us looked at each other and rushed out!

In the corridor, the Nine Princes were scattered, and a student with a bare upper body was chasing them, his chest muscles bulging, holding a black arm bar.

I'll kill you bastards! Zheng Wu shouted and swung the arm bar, and anyone who got hit immediately cried out in pain.

Zhou Kun, the unlucky one, seemed to have been hit two or three times and was running for his life.

Oh my God, oh my God! Zhou Kun howled as he ran past our dormitory door.

Damn, we caught a big fish! Houzi looked at Zheng Wu, his eyes shining.

Damn, I want to be his boyfriend. Huang Jie also stared.

Hearing this, I silently moved away from Huang Jie. I didn't know he had this preference!

Don't panic, damn it! Big Cat ran out of the toilet, holding a mop handle—was it the one I broke last time?

Get ready! Big Cat shouted and charged forward.

Big Cat swung a stick, and Zheng Wu swung back. Wood is no match for iron, and Big Cat cried out in pain but still fought fiercely with Zheng Wu.

Although I didn't want to admit it, Big Cat being the leader of the Nine Princes was not without reason!

This guy is indeed capable!

Although Big Cat was at a disadvantage against Zheng Wu, his actions stabilized the Nine Princes' morale. Others took out stools, wooden sticks, and hoes from nearby dormitories and rushed at Zheng Wu.

No matter how strong Zheng Wu was, he couldn't withstand the attack of twenty or thirty people. After struggling for a while, he fell in a pool of blood, and the Nine Princes continued to beat him.

Damn. Huang Jie couldn't stand it and grabbed a stool to rush over. I did the same, grabbing a stool. They were really beating him to death?

Don't move. Houzi stopped us, his eyes fixed on Zheng Wu on the ground.

We understood his meaning. We had already discussed that we wouldn't intervene tonight, letting the Nine Princes have their way. The harder they beat, the more the beaten would hate. But if this continued, we were afraid Zheng Wu would be in real danger. Houzi kept watching Zheng Wu, waiting for the right moment to act.

Enough. At the critical moment, Big Cat finally spoke.

Everyone stopped, and Zheng Wu lay on the ground, a pool of blood around his head.

Today is just a small lesson. If you don't pay the protection fee within three days, it won't be like this.

Big Cat finished speaking and led everyone away.

Let's go. Houzi spoke, and the three of us, like wild horses, rushed toward Zheng Wu.

But before we reached him, Zheng Wu got up on his own, wiped the blood from his forehead, cursed, and walked to the washroom as if nothing had happened, not even glancing at us. His proud expression was as if he had just won a battle.

This guy is really cool. Houzi said excitedly: Zuo Fei, this guy is yours, Huang Jie and I will find others, and we'll meet at 305. 305 is his dormitory, the best place for this.

Okay! I immediately ran to the washroom, also very curious about this guy named Zheng Wu!