My wife and I are both time travelers.

Chapter 83: If you are not ruthless, you can’t stand firm

After parking the car, Zhou Jiye quickly jogged towards the gate and greeted Xu Guoqing, who had arrived earlier.

"Brother Qing, I'm sorry I'm late..."

"It's not late, I'm early." Xu Guoqing smiled and pointed to the digital watch on his wrist. They had agreed to meet at 7:30, and it was only a little past 7:25. Zhou Jiye was not late.

"Come on, get this up and running!"

Now that everyone had arrived, it was time to get to work. Xu Guoqing threw away the nearly finished cigarette butt in his hand, stomped it out, and then beckoned Zhou Jiye to get to work.

Zhou Jiye quickly stepped forward and, together with Xu Guoqing, unfolded a large tarpaulin he had brought. The tarpaulin was quite large, about three meters long and one and a half meters wide, rolled up like a blanket. The two of them each pulled one end and quickly spread it out, then placed it on the sidewalk closest to the entrance on the right side of the gate.

Next, Xu Guoqing went to the vicinity to pick up a few bricks and used them to press down the four corners and edges of the tarpaulin. After finishing this, they stood behind the tarpaulin and patiently waited for Lin Ying and Lao Wen to arrive.

They smoked and chatted, and before long it was almost eight o'clock. At this time, people who had come to set up stalls in Xigong started to arrive one after another.

When a few people arrived at the door and saw that the best spot had been taken by two strangers, and that a large tarpaulin had been laid out on the ground, some of them were stunned for a moment and then went to find another place to set up their stall without saying a word. Others, however, were envious that this prime spot had been taken by someone else, and seeing that Zhou Jiye and Xu Guoqing had an tarpaulin laid out in front of them but nothing on it, they couldn't help but have their eyes on it.

One of the stocky guys, who was probably a regular at the stall, stopped his bicycle not far from them, tilted his big head and looked them over, then got off and walked up to them without saying a word.

After he came over, he didn't say a word. He just squatted down and started to lift the tarpaulin off Zhou Jiye and the others. He acted as if it were a matter of course, without greeting them or taking them seriously.

Before he could even grab the tarpaulin, a sudden, powerful force kicked him away. Caught off guard, he had no time to react and rolled twice on the ground like a tumbleweed. A sharp pain shot through his shoulder, and he looked up angrily.

"What are you doing, you little rascal? What do you want to do?"

Zhou Jiye glared with his bull-like eyes, looking fierce and menacing. He was the one who kicked him just now. They had been preparing for this situation when they discussed it yesterday, but they didn't expect that trouble would come before the matter was even officially set up.

“Damn it…”

The man's shoulder ached from Zhou Jiye's kick. He rolled twice on the ground, his clothes getting dirty. He instantly flew into a rage, got up from the ground, and launched into a string of profanities at Zhou Jiye's maternal elders.

Zhou Jiye didn't tolerate him at all. He stepped forward, grabbed the guy by the collar, and lifted him up.

"Everyone saw it! Everyone heard it! This little brat came to steal my things without even saying hello and dared to curse my mother? He's gone too far! If I don't teach him a lesson today, he'll think he's made of clay!"

As he spoke, Zhou Jiye raised his large, fan-like hand and slapped the other man across the face repeatedly, the two crisp slaps instantly stunning him.

"Who am I? Where am I? What's happening?"

The guy's forehead was ringing from the slap, and he was stunned for a moment. Why did they just start hitting him out of nowhere? Shouldn't they have argued back and forth first, with the guy insulting his mother and the guy insulting his elders, before actually fighting? Why didn't they follow the script?
After delivering two powerful slaps, the tall and burly Zhou Jiye shoved the guy away. The guy stumbled back several steps and landed on his backside. After a moment, he gradually came to his senses, and a hint of fear finally appeared on his face as he looked at Zhou Jiye and Xu Guoqing.

As an elderly man who often sets up a stall here, he has been through a lot in society and has experienced many arguments and even fights with others. But he has never seen anyone like Zhou Jiye who just comes up and starts fighting.

Moreover, Zhou Jiye deliberately made a few noises when he made his move, directly blaming him with two false accusations: one that he stole their oilcloth, and the other that he had insulted the other party's maternal elders for no reason. Then he made a ruthless move. This was the first time he had ever encountered such a ruthless person.

Feeling humiliated and looking for an opportunity to regain his composure, his gaze suddenly fell upon Xu Guoqing, who had remained silent.

Xu Guoqing casually unbuttoned his coat, slightly revealing the boning knife hanging under his ribs. Then, two sharp gazes fell on him like knives, startling the man so much that he trembled and immediately shut his mouth.

"roll!"

Zhou Jiye yelled at him, then ignored him completely, swaggered back to his original spot, took the cigarette Xu Guoqing offered, lit it with a clang, and then they continued chatting and laughing as if no one else was around.

This scene stunned everyone, especially the few who had shared the same thoughts as the man who had just been beaten. Zhou Jiye's ruthless and decisive attack, coupled with Xu Guoqing's calm and composed demeanor, and the thing that had been intentionally or unintentionally revealed and hidden in his clothes, were all clearly visible to them.

Where did these two ruthless guys come from? I've never seen them before. So fierce? So domineering? Unsure of the situation, none of the group dared to act rashly. Some even secretly considered calling the police and saying that thugs who were bullying the market had come to deal with these two.

Before they could even figure it out, a man in his thirties dressed in a cadre uniform rode up to the West Palace gate on his bicycle. When he saw Xu Guoqing standing by the gate, the man rang his bicycle bell and then parked the bicycle next to them.

"Aqing!"

"Hey, Genbao, you're here for work! Come on, have a cigarette." Upon seeing him, Xu Guoqing, who had just been looking stern, instantly became all smiles and greeted him with great enthusiasm.

He took out a cigarette and handed it to Genbao, then lit it for him with a lighter. Genbao happily took a puff of the cigarette, glanced to the side, and his gaze fell on the oilcloth they had already laid out.

"Are you starting to set up your stall today?"

"Yes, we'll need your help, Brother Genbao."

"Haha, it's only right that we take care of each other, brothers. By the way, where's the stuff you're selling? Why is there nothing on the stall?"

"The goods haven't arrived yet. Let's get the stall ready first, and someone will deliver them in a bit."

"Hmm, that's good. Let's reserve a good spot first. You're quick-witted, kid."

Genbao nodded with a smile, glancing at Zhou Jiye, who was smiling obsequiously to the side. At this moment, Xu Guoqing quickly introduced him as his little brother, Zhou Jiye. Zhou Jiye, being perceptive, stepped forward and called out, "Brother Genbao!" Genbao happily shook hands with Zhou Jiye and said that since he was Aqing's brother, he would be his brother too. They were now acquainted, and he told him not to hesitate to ask for help if needed.

After a brief chat, Genbao gave Xu Guoqing a wink. Xu Guoqing nodded in understanding, then quietly took out two packs of good cigarettes he had prepared beforehand and slipped them into the other man's hand. The man naturally and casually put them in his pocket, nodded in satisfaction, and then deliberately raised his voice to Xu Guoqing, saying, "It's almost time for work. I'm going in first. You guys set up your stall here and do your job. If you need anything, just come find me, understand?"

"I know, I know!"

Xu Guoqing nodded repeatedly, watching Genbao push the cart into the West Palace gate. After Genbao left, he continued chatting and laughing with Zhou Jiye.

All of this was witnessed by everyone, and no one expected that these two newcomers were not only ruthless but also had powerful connections.

They set up their stall here every day, and most of the staff at Xigong know them. Moreover, although Genbao is not the top leader of Xigong, he is still a minor leader. Although this area in front of the gate is not under the jurisdiction of Xigong, if the Xigong cadres really want to take charge, both the street office and the police station will give them some face.

Genbao's appearance completely dispelled the idea of ​​the few people who had been planning to call the police to deal with Zhou Jiye and his group.

They have connections and backgrounds, you can't compete with them in terms of connections, and you certainly can't beat them in a fight. Not to mention Xu Guoqing, who looks like a ruthless guy hiding his weapons, Zhou Jiye, who is tall and strong, is not easy to deal with. Everyone saw how ruthless Zhou Jiye was just now. With your small frame, you wouldn't stand a chance against him. What's the point of making a fuss?

Zhou Jiye and Xu Guoqing's actions subdued these people, and Genbao's appearance made them fully realize the truth. Those who had originally planned to cause trouble immediately quieted down, and even the guy who had been slapped twice earlier became obedient. Everyone tacitly accepted that Zhou Jiye and his group had taken the best spot, and they each found other places to set up their stalls. Before long, various stalls were set up one after another at the entrance of the West Palace.

Not long after, Lin Ying and Lao Wen finally arrived. They had four large cardboard boxes tied to their bikes and rode directly to Zhou Jiye and the others.

"This is a great location!" Old Wen couldn't help but say as soon as they met. Their stall was in the best spot at the entrance of the West Palace. It was the first thing people could see when they entered or left the West Palace. The good location made it much more convenient to sell their goods.

Zhou Jiye and Xu Guoqing exchanged a smile. They didn't tell Lao Wen and Lin Ying what had just happened. Now that the things were here, why stand there like idiots?

The two men immediately stepped forward to help unload the cardboard boxes from the truck. While unloading, Zhou Jiye asked Lin Ying a question. Lin Ying told them that two of the four boxes contained bell-bottoms and jeans, one box was half shirts and half sunglasses, and the last box contained lighters, perfume samples, digital watches, calculators, and other such items. Except for the cassette tapes, whose condition and price were unknown and therefore not brought today, they had brought some of the other items.

They unloaded the cardboard box, took out the contents one by one, and neatly arranged them on the oilcloth spread out on the ground. At this moment, everyone looked at them curiously. After all, what had just happened, plus the fact that it was Zhou Jiye and his group's first day setting up a stall here, and that they had set up such a large oilcloth, everyone was wondering what they were selling.

When they saw the items laid out on the stall, especially the dazzling array of things, everyone was first stunned, then shocked, and even more incredulously raised their hands to rub their eyes.

(End of this chapter)