28: Chapter 28: Repaying Debts 28: Chapter 28: Repaying Debts Soon, Zhang Xueying came out of the house, but her face was still as red as a ripe apple.
“Thank you, Brother Chen Yang…
this is Fatty’s contact information…”
The shy Zhang Xueying handed the piece of paper to Chen Yang, shyly bowing her head, unable to meet Chen Yang’s eyes.
“Don’t mention it, it’s getting late, you should get some sleep, I’ll head off now.” Chen Yang took the piece of paper and turned to leave.
After Chen Yang left, Zhang Xueying did not immediately shut the door and go back inside, but stood at the door for a while.
It wasn’t until Chen Yang’s figure had disappeared into the night that Zhang Xueying, with a flushed face, finally closed the door.
Back at home, Chen Yang dialed the number from the piece of paper and arranged with Fatty the place to repay the money the next day.
Calling so late at night.” As soon as the call connected, Fatty’s fiery voice came through.
“It’s me, the one who is repaying Chen Zhuang’s debt, I’ve got all thirty thousand together, come get it tomorrow,” Chen Yang said indifferently.
You gathered thirty thousand so quickly?” Fatty was slightly shocked when he recognized it was Chen Yang, not expecting him to be so quick.
“Brother, didn’t see it coming, huh?
Quite capable to gather thirty thousand so quickly!” Fatty laughed.
“Cut the crap, are you coming to get it, or should I come to you?
Just say it.” Chen Yang had no interest in chatting with someone like Fatty, his own time was valuable, he just went straight to the point to arrange the repayment.
Chen Yang speaking in this tone didn’t annoy Fatty, who instead chuckled back, “Hahaha, okay, I don’t care where the money came from as long as I get paid.”
“Alright then, come find me at the Jun Wei Internet Cafe in town tomorrow, I’ll be inside the cafe.”
Having got the location, Chen Yang hung up the phone, then opened a drawer, took out thirty thousand and lay down in bed to sleep.
When he woke up, it was already dawn.
Chen Yang got up from bed, made himself breakfast, then took the thirty thousand and rode his electric tricycle towards the town.
The town where Fatty was located was the same place where Li Han withdrew the money yesterday, only more than ten kilometers from Liuhe Village, so it wasn’t far.
In just over twenty minutes, Chen Yang arrived on the main road of the town and found the Jun Wei Internet Cafe mentioned by Fatty on the roadside.
He parked across the street from the Jun Wei Internet Cafe, Chen Yang looked at his watch and realized it was just past nine in the morning.
“Wonder if this Fatty is up yet, better call him first.” Chen Yang didn’t rashly enter the cafe but decided to call Fatty in advance.
The call connected, and Chen Yang said, “Are you up?
I’m at Jun Wei Internet Cafe.”
I’m inside the cafe, come on in!” Fatty answered groggily, apparently just waking up.
Chen Yang hung up the phone, then locked his bike and walked into the Jun Wei Internet Cafe with the money.
This early in the morning, the internet cafe wasn’t crowded.
Only a few people were there, still slumped over the machines, fast asleep.
Chen Yang looked around and did not see Fatty in the cafe, so he walked straight to the bar counter.
The countertop attendant was also deep in sleep at this hour, Chen Yang knocked on the counter to wake him.
The befuddled attendant woke up, rubbed his sleepy eyes, and looked at Chen Yang.
Or do you want something else?”
“I’m here to see Fatty, where is he?” Chen Yang asked directly.
When he heard Chen Yang was here looking for Fatty, the attendant instantly became more alert and then pointed to a corner of the cafe, “Go up those stairs over there, Fatty is on the second floor.”
Following the direction pointed out by the attendant, Chen Yang saw a hidden metal staircase, and then he went up the stairs with his money.
Once he reached the second floor, Chen Yang was greeted by rows of mahjong machines and some gambling tables.
Turns out this internet cafe had more than meets the eye; though it was a regular cafe downstairs, the many mahjong tables and gambling tables on the second floor revealed it was a secret gambling den.
And with so many machines, it was evident that the scale of this gambling den was not small.
However, none of this had anything to do with Chen Yang; he was here today simply to repay the money.
Upon reaching the second floor, Chen Yang walked towards the interior and found a hidden room.
“I’m in the room, come in,” said a husky voice from inside the room, just as Chen Yang was inspecting it.
Hearing that it was the Fatso speaking, Chen Yang walked straight in.
He was not at all worried that Fatso might try anything sneaky, as he was strong as an ox and reacted very quickly.
If Fatso really tried anything against him, it would be downright suicidal.
As he entered, the room was very dark.
However, Chen Yang could still make out the general layout of the room thanks to the dim light falling through the small window.
The room had three sofas, with Fatso sitting in the middle one, clutching a woman to his left.
The woman looked good, dressed quite provocatively, with Fatso’s arm wandering inside her clothing.
Behind Fatso stood over ten heavily tattooed gangsters, all looking like they were from the underworld.
“I’ve brought the money.
Do you have Zhuang’s IOU?” After glancing around, Chen Yang’s gaze returned to Fatso before getting straight to the point.
“Heh, you’ve prepared the money, so why wouldn’t I have the IOU ready?” Fatso chuckled, then pulled an IOU from the leather bag tucked under his armpit and placed it on the coffee table in the middle of the sofas.
Chen Yang glanced at the piece of paper, then tossed thirty thousand in cash over.
“This is thirty thousand, and with this, we’re even.”
As he tossed the money, Chen Yang also picked up the IOU from the coffee table, opened it, and checked it.
The IOU was genuine, featuring Chen Zhuang’s signature and his thumbprint.
Having paid the money and obtained the IOU, Chen Yang had no intention of lingering any longer and turned to leave; but just as he was about to reach the door,
Fatso suddenly spoke up.
As soon as Fatso spoke, two thugs by his side quickly rushed to the door and shut it.
Seeing this, Chen Yang knew Fatso was itching for a fight again.
“Brother, Chen Zhuang’s debt is paid, now it’s time to settle our account,” Fatso said from the sofa, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth with a wicked grin.
I don’t owe you any money!
If you’re itching for a fight, just say it outright—I’m itching to throw punches too,” Chen Yang’s expression cooled slightly as he turned around, his piercing gaze locking with Fatso’s.
Remembering their previous encounter, Fatso involuntarily shuddered at Chen Yang’s fierce look.
But then he thought about the brawny men surrounding him, surely they could handle this young man, couldn’t they?
“Heh, who said you don’t owe me money?
Last time I went to Chen Zhuang’s place to collect a debt, you injured so many of my brothers.
Don’t they deserve medical expenses?” Fatso scoffed, removed his arm from within the woman’s clothing, lit a cigarette, took a deep drag, and said, “I won’t ask for much—just fifty thousand for the five brothers you injured!
I’m giving you ten days to pay up, or I’ll still send Widow Zhang to the brothel in the county town!”
Seeing the wicked smile plastered on Fatso’s face, Chen Yang understood clearly now.
He wasn’t here for Chen Zhuang’s thirty thousand at all, everything was just to sell Zhang Xueying to the brothel.
But also, from Fatso’s perspective, thirty thousand wasn’t a lot.
Selling Zhang Xueying to a brothel, given her looks, could earn him several hundred thousand a year, so why would he care about his own thirty thousand?
Remembering all this, a colder chill crept over Chen Yang.
“I don’t have that money, but if you dare touch a single hair on Zhang Xueying, I swear I’ll cripple you—believe it or not?” Chen Yang said coldly, issuing a threat.
“Aiya, Fatso, look how arrogant he is, even threatening you!
I think you shouldn’t wait ten days—just do it now, and then sell off the widow,” the coquettish woman in Fatso’s arms feigned shock, nuzzling into his chest to stir his emotions.
You dare to be so arrogant on my turf, you think this is your Liuhe Village?
Brothers, take him down!” provoked by anger, Fatso waved his hand, signaling his men to attack.
And those tattooed men had been ready for a while.
At Fatso’s command, they all charged forward, fists swinging.
Watching the flurry of punches coming his way, Chen Yang remained composed, grabbed a chair next to him, and swung it hard.