Xiao Li couldn't understand. "What are you all saying? I can't understand a single word."
The group of people, drunk and belligerent, spoke in mixed Mandarin and Cantonese, "What's the deal? Can't even speak Cantonese, how can you be a waitress?"
"There aren't many Cantonese people in this town, why should I speak Cantonese?" Xiao Li tried to explain to the red-faced, thick-necked drunks.
Their eyes were fierce and menacing, giving off an impression that they were not easy to provoke.
I pulled at Xiao Li, worried that she would be at a disadvantage. "Let me talk to them, I understand."
My mother is Cantonese. Although I don't speak it perfectly, I can understand it. "Gentlemen, may I ask what you have brought? If it's a protected animal, our establishment does not handle such items."
"It's just a snake caught from the wild. Very common, certainly not a protected species." One of the big men untied the snake bag to reveal a flower snake that had its mouth tied up inside.
Looking at the flower snake that was barely alive, I one was surprisingly not as fearful as before.
In its dark, shiny snake eyes, there seemed to be a hint of sadness and loathing.
This snake was not ordinary.
Though I wasn't familiar with snakes, something told me that it might have undergone some form of cultivation.
A slight movement stirred in my abdomen, and a faint voice whispered, "It's so pitiful." Original content can be found at novelFɪre.net
Before this, I might have hesitated.
But now, I steadied myself and told the big man, "This snake looks like a Mang Mountain Ironhead Snake, which is a national level protected animal."
"What nonsense is this waitress spouting? How is that possible!" The big man swung his arm, pushing me aside, and demanded in mixed Mandarin and Cantonese, "I want to see your boss. No knowledge whatsoever, spouting nonsense over there. Where's the owner of this place? Is there someone in charge who can make decisions?"
Chen Decheng approached, politely asking, "I am the owner of this establishment. May I know what the issue is?"
"Boss, they want our kitchen to cook a snake, but it looks to me like a protected animal." I said to Chen Decheng.
The big man, who obviously understood Mandarin, glared at me as if he wanted to slap me just for speaking.
Upon hearing this, Chen Decheng's expression darkened as he explained to the group of drunks, "The penalties are very severe nowadays, and we really cannot do this. Our business barely turns a profit, so please, brothers, show us some leniency."
"How about this, since the snake can't be eaten anyway, why don't you sell it to me?" Although I didn't have much money, I could still borrow a few thousand from the boss if needed.
The drunk sneered at me, deliberately blowing foul smoke in my face, "You a mere waitress, thinking you can afford this snake? Thirty thousand bucks a pop, if you have the money, take it away."
"I... don't have that much..." I responded awkwardly, fixing my gaze on the men.
If they didn't know this snake was a rare animal, why would they inflate the price to such an outrageous figure?
"A broke-ass trying to play rich? Out of your league!" The drunk spat on the ground near my foot and then said to his companion, "There's no shortage of dining spots here. If this one won't do it, we'll just go next door. It's all the same."
Chen Decheng spat behind them, "What a bunch of trash!"
"Boss, shall we call the police?" I said to Chen Decheng.
Chen Decheng sent me the Forest Public Security's phone number directly via WeChat, "See which store they enter, then call this number and report them directly."