My sister regretted sending me to the correctional facility.

There's an open-air barbecue place nearby that I often go to.

The food tastes good, the owner is honest, the portions are generous, and the price is cheap.

So I took the two of them here for barbecue.

When we arrived at the barbecue stand.

The boss's business was a little quieter tonight than usual.

The boss smiled when he saw me.

"You're here? What would you like to eat?"

I nodded; I was already quite familiar with the boss.

The owner's name is Wei Liu. He used to be a soldier and retired from the army. After retiring, he started this barbecue stall.

I called out, "Brother Wei, I'm going to have some skewers and drinks with two friends, and maybe we can chat about something."

Upon hearing this, Wei Liu immediately understood.

He pointed to the seat next to him.

"Then you can sit over there, no one will bother you."

Then, I led the two of them, pulling a shopping basket, to select some barbecue and took out three bottles of beer from the liquor cabinet.

Finally, Wei Liu was given the task of grilling.

The three of us sat down together.

At first, I didn't rush to talk to them about Liu Chaoyang.

Instead, they chatted about everyday family matters, quickly closing the distance between them.

These two people are named Sun Hao and Li Jian.

They all have elderly parents and young children to support, and are the pillars of their families. In order to make a living, they work as bricklayers on Liu Chaoyang's construction site.

Because Liu Chaoyang is a heartless boss with a despicable character, he has connections in both the legal and illegal worlds.

He enjoys bullying honest people.

Moreover, he prefers to hire honest people.

That way, he won't be afraid of retaliation from the other party when he sets up a trap.

At this moment, the owner, Wei Liu, brought out plates of barbecue one by one.

I thanked the boss while clinking glasses with the two men and taking a few sips.

"To be honest, I've dealt with Liu Chaoyang before. He's two-faced, despicable, bullies the weak, and has connections in both the legitimate and criminal worlds. If you keep working for him, you'll eventually be completely dominated by him."

Fueled by alcohol, I spoke my true feelings to the two of them.

When I said that, they both looked on with expressions of absolute agreement.

But soon, a helpless expression appeared on their faces.

“We know these principles, but in order to make a living, we have no choice but to work for him.”

"why?"

“Nowhere else wants us, only here can we get a living. We have nowhere else to go.”

It was only then that I realized that one of them was already forty years old, and the other was over forty.

The more we talk about this, the more upset I feel.

After three rounds of drinking.

The two gradually opened up to each other.

Sun Hao, his face flushed, said, "Lu Yi, you are young and promising, and kind-hearted. We believed from the beginning that you were definitely not a bad person! But we were forced to do this to rob you before."

"Here! This glass of wine is for you, as a way of apologizing!"

Slightly tipsy, I smiled and comforted the other person, saying, "The three of us became friends after a fight!"

These words warmed the other person's heart.

Li Jian, standing next to him, had some tears in his eyes.

His voice choked with emotion as he said, "We construction workers have always been at the bottom of society; very few people respect us..."

I patted his shoulder.

"Brother Li, if you want others to respect you, you can't just think about it; you have to prove it through your own efforts!"

"I am worthy of others' respect!"

My words struck a chord with both of them.

Sun Hao wiped away his tears: "Lu Yi, I'm so old, yet I'm not as insightful as you, a young person."

"Unfortunately, I'm too old now, and I don't have the chance to work hard anymore."

"First, I lack the ability; second, I have a wife and children to support."

I can understand his responsibilities and helplessness as a husband and father.

"I know."

Sometimes, comfort between men can be conveyed with just two simple words.

I saw that the boss, Wei Liu, was sitting not far away, lost in thought.

Perhaps he noticed us just now.

So he spoke from the heart, I wonder what he was thinking?

After finishing a bottle of beer.

I finally got the two of them talking.

Li Jian said, "That bastard Liu Chaoyang killed someone and then used his criminal gang to cover it up."

"But no matter how much he planned, he never expected that the two of us would have evidence of his crimes!"

As soon as he said that, I sobered up halfway.

I never expected this.

The two people in front of me are seemingly unremarkable low-level workers.

They actually had evidence of Liu Chaoyang's crimes in their hands!

Sun Hao, standing next to him, was also clenching his fists.

He stared at me intently: "Lu Yi, we're not joking with you, we really do have evidence of Liu Chaoyang's crimes!"

“Originally, we planned to report Liu Chaoyang directly, but Sun Lei’s death terrified us.”

"We know that we are outnumbered and outmatched. If we report Liu Chaoyang, we will end up like Sun Lei."

I can understand Sun Hao's concerns very well.

With Liu Chaoyang's power and status, dealing with two ordinary people would be more than a piece of cake.

Li Jian then said, "We have been keeping this evidence hidden, waiting for someone who can help us uphold justice to appear."

"Today, we have finally waited for this person, and that person is you, Lu Yi!"

Sun Hao nodded emphatically.

We both trust you unconditionally!

Suddenly, my nose tingled, and a warm feeling welled up inside me.

It feels so good to be trusted.

Faced with such trust from the two of them.

I also declared: "Rest assured, brothers, I, Lu Yi, will do everything in my power to seek justice for you!"

"Let's also seek justice for the deceased Sun Lei!"

In this way, I gained the complete trust of both of them.

They told me that the evidence was hidden in Li Jian's house.

This matter is too important and dangerous.

Therefore, apart from the two of them, even their family members were unaware.

Li Jian and I were discussing what to do when his wife took their daughter to school tomorrow morning.

They asked me to go to his house again to collect evidence.

I nodded in agreement with great excitement.

This matter is finally going to have a resolution.

The weight that had been hanging over my heart seemed to finally be lifted.

But that's it.

A dozen or so street thugs dressed in brightly colored clothes walked by on the street.

They walked with an arrogant gait; they were definitely the kind of young, spirited guys.

Then I suddenly saw it.

Sun Hao and Li Jian looked as if they had seen a ghost and hurriedly turned their faces away.

I felt puzzled and confused.

Did this group of people also bully Sun Hao and Li Jian?

At this moment, Sun Hao whispered, "Lu Yi, don't look at them. Don't attract their attention. These people are all Liu Chaoyang's men. He specially raised this group of thugs to help him handle things that he can't show his face in person."

Upon hearing the reminder, I immediately withdrew my curious gaze and didn't look at the group of people again.

However, the three of us had a strange reaction.

That's exactly what caught the leader's attention.

Immediately afterwards, the leader seemed to recognize Sun Hao and Li Jian.

This group of a dozen or so street thugs walked towards us.

Finally, they surrounded us completely.