The Stepmother’s Counterattack: Raising a Child in a Bygone Era
Chapter 321 - 320: Noodle Shop Closure

Chapter 321: Chapter 320: Noodle Shop Closure

Shen Mingzhu rushed to the noodle shop and saw that the place was in complete shambles.

Broken bowls, noodle soup, and congealed noodles were scattered everywhere, making it difficult to even find a place to stand.

Five or six unruly-looking youths were each occupying a table, with each one smoking and showing a defiant attitude.

Outside the shop, several passersby stopped to watch the commotion.

"Young sister, why have you come alone? Where’s Pei Yang?"

Seeing that Shen Mingzhu had only brought Shen Hongmei with her, Shen Chaobei hastily pulled Shen Mingzhu outside the noodle shop, as if fearful that Shen Mingzhu would be bullied by the gangsters inside.

Shen Xiangnan and Qin Jinlian also ran out from the noodle shop, surrounding Shen Mingzhu with faces full of panic.

"Mingzhu, you must think of something. These people are beating and smashing things—they can’t be driven away, and we can’t do business."

Shen Mingzhu ignored Qin Jinlian’s words and turned to ask Shen Chaobei what had happened.

The incident began a few days earlier.

A few days ago, two of these thugs came to the noodle shop to eat and, after eating, refused to pay, saying they wanted to run up a tab.

The brothers naturally disagreed, especially since they didn’t know them.

A verbal altercation ensued, and with Shen Chaobei and Shen Xiangnan being tall and strong, the two thugs didn’t get the better of them and left cursing.

Today, the two thugs returned to the noodle shop with a group of people to cause trouble.

They deliberately harassed and scared away customers, not only occupying tables but also preventing the brothers from conducting their business. The disturbance had been going on all morning.

"Did you call the police?"

"We did, but as soon as the police arrive, these people leave, and once the police are gone, they come back."

Shen Mingzhu turned her head and instructed Shen Hongmei to call the police, while she prepared to enter the noodle shop to meet with the troublemakers.

Both brothers and Qin Jinlian held onto her, trying to stop her from going.

"What’s the use of you going? Aren’t you afraid of getting beaten up?"

"Young sister, don’t go in there. These are not good people; they’re capable of anything."

"Where’s Pei Yang? We need him here to handle this."

The three of them were all talking at once.

Shen Mingzhu said, "Pei Yang has gone to the countryside to collect apples. He won’t be back until tonight."

Upon hearing this, the three of them looked as deflated as frostbitten eggplants.

"Now what are we going to do?"

Shen Mingzhu instructed the distressed Qin Jinlian to wait outside the noodle shop while she, along with her brothers Shen Chaobei and Shen Xiangnan, went inside to negotiate with the other party.

Seeing her arrival, the gangsters all revealed malicious smirks on their faces, and their gaze on Shen Mingzhu was as slimy and disgusting as slugs.

This was the first time in her life, counted across two lifetimes, that Shen Mingzhu faced such a situation. Her scalp tingled, but she managed to maintain a calm facade.

"May I know who the leader is?"

As her words ended, a youth with a crew cut and a conspicuous scar on his left cheek knocked on the table, his eyes roaming freely over Shen Mingzhu.

"Little sister, looking for me?"

Shen Mingzhu stepped forward toward the man and was held back by Shen Chaobei, "Young sister..."

"It’s okay."

Shen Mingzhu signaled with her eyes for Shen Chaobei and Shen Xiangnan to follow behind her and then stepped closer to the man.

"My last name is Shen. My elder and second brothers own this noodle shop. May I ask for your distinguished name?"

The man with the scar felt flattered by Shen Mingzhu’s respectful manner. "Ever heard of Cao Cao? I’m from the same clan."

"So, it’s Brother Cao. My apologies for the oversight."

Shen Mingzhu uttered the courtesy, then turned to tell Shen Xiangnan to pour water for the men.

"Brother Cao, my elder and second brothers have just come from the countryside. They are uneducated and inexperienced. If they have inadvertently offended Brother Cao, I apologize on their behalf to you and your brothers."

Cao Haigang’s eyes roamed over Shen Mingzhu’s fair and delicate face, his tone frivolous, "Little sister, got a man? I’m quite fond of you. As long as you’re with brother, you’ll want for nothing."

Shen Mingzhu returned with a smile, "I’m from the countryside, where women marry early. I’ve got a son who is already six years old."

Having said that, she quickly changed the subject, "Brother Cao, I wonder what my elder and second brothers did wrong to upset you. Please feel free to talk about it. Everything is negotiable, right?"

"Alright, since you’re so straightforward, I’ll get to the point," he said.

Cao Haigang held up two fingers, "Starting today, I want two hundred from you every month."

No sooner had Shen Chaobei heard this than he got agitated, "Why should we give you money?"

Cao Haigang sneered, "Because I, Cao Haigang, am in charge of this area. You all can go and ask around about who I am!"

Even though Shen Mingzhu was prepared for trouble, she was still shocked by Cao Haigang’s audacious demand.

Though the noodle shop’s business was decent, a month’s hard-earned profits only amounted to just over two hundred. Cao Haigang demanded two hundred right off the bat, effectively making the noodle shop’s business solely for his benefit.

"Brother Cao, to be honest, this noodle shop has been open for less than a month and hasn’t made a total of two hundred yet. Could you, perhaps, lower the amount?"

"Less my ass!"

One of Cao Haigang’s underlings stood up, slamming the table and menacingly pointed at Shen Mingzhu, "You damn woman, don’t push your luck. Two hundred a month, not a penny less, or none of you will have a good time!"

That’s when one of the toughs sitting at the door spoke up to warn, "Brother Cao, the cops are here."

Cao Haigang pointed his finger in the air at Shen Mingzhu, "Little sister, I’ll be by to collect the money at noon tomorrow. Don’t blame me for being unkind if you can’t pay."

After that, Cao Haigang led his gang away.

When the public security arrived at the noodle shop and saw that the three were unharmed, they asked a few routine questions and left.

"Sis, what do we do now?"

"Damn it, let’s just fight it out with them!" exclaimed Shen Xiangnan, clearly upset.

No sooner had he spoken than he was punched hard by Qin Jinlian, "What are you blabbering on about? Go stand over there!"

After scolding Shen Xiangnan, Qin Jinlian pulled Shen Mingzhu aside, a pleading look on her face, "Mingzhu, you need to come up with a plan quickly. Otherwise, why don’t you ask that Miss Zhong you know for help? With her family’s wealth and influence, dealing with these hooligans should be no trouble at all."

Shen Mingzhu ignored Qin Jinlian and turned to instruct the Shen brothers, "You two clean up the shop. I’m going out for a bit."

Leaving the noodle shop, Shen Mingzhu looked around and headed to the grocery store diagonally across the street, where she casually bought a pack of Yuxi cigarettes.

After paying, Shen Mingzhu offered the cigarettes to the owner.

Meeting the owner’s puzzled gaze, Shen Mingzhu smiled, "Boss, I’d like to ask you about something."

Coming out from the grocery store, Shen Mingzhu visited the other stores on the street before returning to the noodle shop.

"Pack up, we’re moving."

"What? Move? To where?"

"What are you talking about? Your elder and second brothers rented this place for a year, and the rent is all paid up. If we move now, what about the rent?"

Shen Mingzhu looked at the three members of the Shen Family, "I’ve just asked around. Every shop on this street, except those related to Cao Degang, has to pay Cao Haigang protection money every month, with the least amount being a hundred."

"Besides the protection fee, Cao Haigang and his men take whatever they want from these streets and never pay."

"Doing business on this street means that any profit made belongs to Cao Haigang. If there’s a loss, it’s out of your own pocket, and you still have to cover the protection money."

All three were stunned by Shen Mingzhu’s words.

"Doesn’t the public security care?"

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