Chapter 6

As the Three Flavors Hall was splashed with paint, Su Tao found a renovation company and asked them to repaint the walls. The business was already very quiet, and the sudden appearance of so many "demolish" characters on the walls would only make people feel that the Three Flavors Hall was about to go bankrupt.

The renovation workers arrived quickly and were about to start painting the walls when the developers also deliberately showed up, pushing the workers to the side.

The developers were well-prepared. The leader was a middle-aged man of average height, wearing a yellow Chinese-style robe, loose silk pants, and black cloth shoes. He was about 1.75 meters tall, with prominent temples. Behind him stood several henchmen, each holding a weapon.

"My name is Mo Dong, and I represent the Hongsheng Group to discuss the demolition with you," the middle-aged man said with a smile, giving the impression of a smiling tiger.

Su Tao had already guessed that the Hongsheng Group would come after their loss. He stood in the center of the Three Flavors Hall's sign, his hands behind his back, and said, "I'm sorry, I won't accept any negotiations. The Three Flavors Hall will not be demolished. Please leave."

"That's too arrogant," one of Mo Dong's henchmen said angrily. "Boss Mo, we need to avenge Scarface and show him some color."

Mo Dong remained silent, took a step back, and waved his hand. One of the henchmen then brought out a bucket of paint and splashed it all over the walls of the Three Flavors Hall.

The paint instantly made the walls look terrible.

One of the hired renovation workers couldn't stand it and tried to stop them but was kicked to the ground, scraping his head and bleeding profusely.

"Damn, who dares to interfere, we'll kill them!" the henchman said arrogantly.

Su Tao frowned, his face as calm as water, and walked into the pharmacy. When he came out, he had bandages, alcohol, and cotton, and first treated the injured worker.

"Will you sign the agreement? If not, I'll burn down your house today," the most aggressive henchman said, holding a bucket with a paper labeled "gasoline."

This was the套路 of forced demolition, forcing you to bow down.

The gasoline was splashed on the wall, and the onlookers gasped and scattered.

Cai Yan heard the commotion and came out of the antique shop, rushing to the Three Flavors Hall. She stood beside Su Tao and whispered, "Should we call the police?"

Su Tao sighed and smiled bitterly. "You can try."

Cai Yan called the police, but Mo Dong remained indifferent, his annoying smile still on his face.

After a long time, there was no response. Cai Yan said angrily, "They really have no regard for the law."

Su Tao smiled bitterly. "The other side has already made arrangements. The police station won't send anyone for now."

Cai Yan said angrily, "Corruption and collusion, a den of snakes and rats."

Seeing that Su Tao was still restrained, Mo Dong sighed and pointed.

A henchman took out a lighter, lit a cigarette, and threatened with a smile, "I'll give you one more chance. If you don't accept the demolition agreement, I'll burn down your house, and you'll be left with nothing."

Su Tao took two steps forward, thinking that the Three Flavors Hall, left by his grandfather, couldn't really be burned down by these people.

Just as he was about to act, a black Buick GL8 business car drove up and stopped in front of the Three Flavors Hall. A tall foreign woman stepped out of the car.

She took off her sunglasses, revealing an oval face with fair, smooth skin and golden hair like waves in the morning sun. She wore golden high heels, glanced at Mo Dong and his men, and then smiled at Su Tao, saying, "Tao, I came at an inconvenient time."

Vera's sudden arrival surprised Su Tao. Her condition wasn't stable, so how did she get out of the hospital?

Cai Yan looked at Su Tao with a complex expression, not expecting him to have a foreign friend.

Vera walked to Su Tao's side, waved a business card, and said with a smile, "I came to check out your pharmacy. It seems you're in trouble. Can I help you solve it?"

Su Tao shrugged and smiled. "If you can solve it, I... will treat you to a meal."

Vera didn't care about a meal. Her attractive cheeks relaxed, her red lips curved, and her eyebrows raised. "A gentleman's word is a binding promise."

Su Tao thought that Vera, this Russian girl, was proficient in Chinese and used idioms fluently. Could she be falling for him?

Vera was grateful to Su Tao. If she could help him out of this big trouble, it would repay his kindness. Vera had her secretary Li investigate Su Tao's situation. He was now facing a problem where someone wanted to demolish his pharmacy.

Since it was a demolition, it must involve money. In Vera's view, anything that could be solved with money wasn't a big deal.

She waved to Li Secretary, who nodded and then walked to Mo Dong.

Li Secretary said, "How much do you need? Name your price!"

"Go to hell!" a henchman kicked Li Secretary in the stomach, who staggered back and fell to the ground, his eyes wide with disbelief.

When Li Secretary got up and retreated, Vera was surprised. "They are completely unreasonable!"

Su Tao had already anticipated this outcome and smiled helplessly. "In Russia, if you encounter gangsters causing trouble, would they listen to reason?"

Vera, with her doll-like beauty, was now furious. If this were in Russia, she would have used her connections to eliminate these thugs.

But this was in China, and besides money, Vera had no other options. Seeing Vera's awkward expression, Su Tao walked in front of her, shielding her.

Mo Dong was pleased that his henchman had beaten Li Secretary, as it boosted morale. He clapped his hands, a signal, and immediately three or four henchmen rushed forward, ready to surround Su Tao.

Although Mo Dong had heard that Su Tao had martial arts skills, he wouldn't easily reveal his own abilities until Su Tao showed his. Knowing oneself and the enemy ensures victory. He let the henchmen be the cannon fodder to test Su Tao.

Su Tao didn't dodge but moved forward.

The crowd surged, and the henchmen, for some reason, either had numb wrists or weak legs. They lost control of their bodies and fell to the ground without even seeing Su Tao.

"So strong, if this video is uploaded to the internet, it will go viral. It's more exciting than an action movie," a young man secretly recorded the scene with his phone, seeing Su Tao in the lead, he raised his hand and openly recorded.

Mo Dong's smile turned sour. He had martial arts skills and combat experience, but Su Tao's techniques were unfamiliar, too fast, and deadly.

Vera, standing at the back, was amazed. She didn't expect this Chinese man to be not only a skilled doctor but also an impressive martial artist.

Cai Yan, covering her cherry-red lips, nodded calmly, as if this was expected, because she had long known Su Tao's strength.

Mo Dong knew that his henchmen couldn't stop Su Tao. He sneered, took off his robe, revealing a tight-fitting undershirt, with strong, well-defined muscles, and veins bulging, full of explosive power.

The small fry had been dealt with, and Su Tao, maintaining his pace, saw Mo Dong take off his outer robe, frowned, and thought, "If you want to fight, just fight. Why take off your clothes?"

Does taking off your clothes make you stronger? How pretentious!

As they approached, they tested each other. The seemingly weak Su Tao stood firm as a mountain, while Mo Dong, using the "two-character clamp horse" stance, retreated several steps.

The "two-character clamp horse" stance is a Wing Chun technique, standing with feet shoulder-width apart or slightly narrower, toes pointing inward, knees slightly bent, and legs clamped inward. When practiced to a high level, it is much more stable than a regular horse stance.

When Yim Wing Chun used this technique during her wedding, her husband Liang Bochou couldn't break her virginity on their wedding night.

After years of practice, one strike was enough to break through. Mo Dong, realizing he had no chance against Su Tao, was already thinking of retreating.

Just as Mo Dong was about to retreat, Su Tao appeared in front of him, lightly bumping his arm, causing Mo Dong to lose his balance.

Instinctively, Mo Dong used a fake Wing Chun inch punch and kicked, but Su Tao poked his armpit, and he flew out, landing on the ground with a "ouch."

"Smack," Su Tao stepped on Mo Dong's face, and he couldn't smile anymore.

The entire scene took less than ten minutes. There was no blood, but everyone except Su Tao was on the ground.

"Tell your boss that no matter what compensation you offer, I won't give up the Three Flavors Hall." He lifted his foot, leaving a clear footprint on Mo Dong's face.

Standing in the center of the sign again, Su Tao looked majestic, his thin, angular face, with sharp eyebrows and bright, determined eyes.

Many onlookers, including Vera and Cai Yan, were captivated, and the men were impressed, thinking this seemingly weak, effeminate young man was a real man.

The police siren finally sounded, and a police car arrived. The leading officer was slightly overweight. He looked at the complex situation and frowned. "We just received a report of a group fight. Please step aside and assist with the investigation."

"Group fight? They are forcing a demolition!" the crowd immediately expressed their dissatisfaction.

The officer waved his baton, clearing the way, and the crowd scattered.

He walked straight to Su Tao, pointing his baton at Su Tao's nose. "Are you the person in charge of the Three Flavors Hall? You are suspected of causing trouble. Please come with us."

Su Tao tilted his head, and the baton almost hit his forehead.

Su Tao raised an eyebrow, grabbed the baton, and took it from the officer.

"Have you lost your mind, resisting the law!" the officer was furious and kicked Su Tao's leg.

Su Tao moved slightly, poked the officer's lower abdomen, and the officer felt his lower body go numb, collapsing like a pile of cotton.

The officer, holding his stomach, shouted to his colleagues, "This guy attacked a police officer. Don't just stand there, cuff him." He didn't dare to approach, fearing another loss.

"Group fight, resisting the law, attacking a police officer!"

All three charges were serious. The auxiliary police came forward, showing their handcuffs, and Su Tao laughed coldly.

Seeing the auxiliary police about to take Su Tao away, Cai Yan was extremely anxious. She whispered to an old man, who was Mr. Xu, the owner of the paper-cutting shop, and had some influence in the area. He stepped in front of Su Tao, blocking the auxiliary police. "You can't just take him away. You can't be so unfair."

Because of Mr. Xu's intervention, the other neighbors also came forward, surrounding the police car. The leading officer, who had just gotten up, frowned. "What? Do you also want to attack the police? Or do you want to join him at the station?"

Su Tao was moved by the neighbors' support. He had rarely interacted with them since returning to the Three Flavors Hall, but it seemed the community was very warm-hearted.

Su Tao sighed. "I'll go to the police station with them. Thank you for your concern, neighbors."

Mr. Xu said, "We are all old neighbors. The alley is old, and we have feelings for this place. No one wants to be demolished. We can't put all the responsibility on you."

"Right, that's true!" the other neighbors agreed.

Su Tao gently pushed Mr. Xu aside and said calmly, "Don't worry. I'm just going to make a statement. I'll be back soon. Please take care of the Three Flavors Hall for me, Mr. Xu."

Nie Weiting had already arranged everything behind the scenes, aiming to catch him. If the neighbors obstructed the police, it would give the other side more excuses.

The auxiliary police came forward, grabbed Su Tao, and tried to handcuff him.

Su Tao shook his arm, almost knocking the auxiliary police over, and said calmly, "Isn't it just going to the police station? I'll go by myself!"

Mr. Xu was slightly stunned, watching Su Tao get into the police car, and said to Cai Yan, "This boy has the spirit of Old Su."

Cai Yan's eyes showed concern.

Su Tao, sitting in the police car, was calm. He had already guessed that he was set up by Nie Weiting. This was a trap.

One outcome was that Su Tao would be beaten by Mo Dong and his men; the other was that he would be taken away by the police for investigation.