Republic of China, 1928: Starting from a Wonton Shop

Yunniang's face was deathly pale, her body trembling violently. She struggled desperately to break free, tears streaming down her face. "Chunsheng, no, don't worry about me..."

She knew these people's methods all too well. They were like a leech; once they were on, they couldn't be removed. She didn't want to ruin Li Chunsheng's newly opened business or his clean reputation because of herself.

"Did you hear that? That bitch told you to mind your own business!" The bearded man looked at Li Chun with smug disdain. "Manager Li, business is all about harmony. I'm in a good mood today and want to find a woman to have some fun with. If you know what's good for you, go back to the kitchen and cook your dishes! If you insist on playing the hero saving the damsel in distress..."

The bearded man's face darkened, and he shoved Li Chunsheng back, saying, "Believe it or not, I'll smash up your lousy shop!"

Li Chunsheng was pushed back two steps, his lower back hitting the hard countertop, causing a sharp pain.

Even in a past life, a person with a conscience would not stand idly by and watch someone die.

Moreover, this is the Republic of China era.

In this world, if he backs down today, these people will dare to shit on his neck tomorrow!

Li Chunsheng took a deep breath to calm the surging blood in his chest. He knew his own limitations; to fight these people hand-to-hand would be suicide.

"Manager Li, what's wrong? You're not convinced?"

Seeing that Li Chunsheng didn't make a move, the burly man with the thick beard assumed he was scared. His face trembled even more violently. He still held Yunniang's wrist tightly with one hand, and with the other hand, he picked up the wine bowl on the table and took a big gulp. The wine flowed down his messy beard and soaked his clothes.

"Let me tell you, I've got my eye on this woman today! Even if it's the King of Heaven himself, I'll take her with me, not just your lousy restaurant!" The bearded man slammed the empty bowl on the ground with a loud crack, sending shards of porcelain flying everywhere.

"Take him away?" Li Chunsheng suddenly laughed.

"Sir, judging from your accent, you're from the overpass area, right?"

The bearded man was taken aback: "So what if I am? What? You want to talk to me?"

"I wouldn't dare."

Li Chunsheng crossed his arms, leaned forward slightly, and glanced over the bearded man at the thugs behind him.

"Since you're friends from Tianqiao, you must know the rules. In this city of Beijing, everyone has their own patrons and their own leaders. You gentlemen have crossed over to Qianmen to drink and eat, and I, Li Chunsheng, am happy to open my door for business. But isn't this act of forcibly abducting a woman and smashing up my shop a bit too extreme?"

"Absolutely amazing?" The bearded man sneered. "I'm absolutely amazing! What can you do to me? Call the police? Go ahead and do it! Let's see if those gruff policemen will bother with my business over a prostitute!"

Sitting in the corner, Zhou Zhengnan looked at Li Chunsheng, feeling secretly anxious: This young man may have some courage, but it's useless to reason with such a stubborn person.

"The patrol officers can't do anything to you," Li Chunsheng nodded, seemingly agreeing with the bearded man's words, "but this shop isn't one that anyone can just smash up."

He stared into the bearded man's eyes and said, word by word, "Before you smash up this shop, you'd better find out who's protecting it."

The bearded man chuckled. "What? You have someone backing you? Tell me, see if they can scare me to death!"

Li Chunsheng didn't answer directly, but turned to look at Ya Ya, who was trembling with fear beside him: "Ya Ya, don't be afraid! Go, go out the door and walk east to Longxing Teahouse, find that Master Ma who plays with iron balls all day, and tell him that there's trouble here."

Ya Ya was stunned for a moment, then she wiped away her tears and ran out.

"stop!"

Although the bearded man had drunk too much, the mere mention of the keywords "Longxing Teahouse" and "Ma San" sobered him up considerably.

Black Tiger Gang, Ma San!

One of the bearded henchmen reacted quickly, stepping forward to block the doorway and stop Ya Ya.

"Big Brother..." another subordinate whispered in the bearded man's ear, "This area outside the front gate is indeed Ma San's territory. I've heard that Ma San is ruthless and vicious, and not someone to be trifled with."

The bearded man's expression changed.

He was indeed a figure of some importance in the Tianqiao area, but he was just a local thug. Compared to Ma San, a local strongman with a gang background and dozens of brothers under his command, he was nothing.

Even a powerful dragon can't suppress a local snake, let alone someone who's just a mudfish.

But when he looked around, he saw that there were already quite a few onlookers inside and outside the shop. If he was scared by Li Chunsheng's words, would he still be able to survive in the martial arts world?

"Damn it! Don't try to intimidate me with Ma San!"

The bearded man roared, his grip on Yunniang's hand loosening slightly. "Even if Ma San weren't here, he'd still have to be reasonable! This woman is a prostitute, what's wrong with me paying to have some fun? Even if it's Ma San, he can't stop the brothers from having fun, can he?"

He's gambling.

I bet Li Chunsheng is bluffing, and I bet Ma San won't stand up for a small restaurant owner.

"Reasoning?"

Li Chunsheng sneered, keenly noticing a hint of panic in the bearded man's eyes.

If the other party is scared, then things will be much easier.

"If you want to be reasonable, then let's be reasonable."

"Don't you even bother to find out how many shops outside Qianmen are under the Black Tiger Gang's protection? My shop just opened, and not only did Master Ma personally bring his men to support it, but Captain Liu, the patrol officer, also came with his men!"

"You're causing trouble here now, and you're even going to smash up the shop?"

Li Chun slammed his hand on the table!

"You didn't just vandalize my shop, you vandalized Master Ma's place! You slapped the police in the face!"

The bearded man was intimidated by Li Chunsheng's imposing aura and unconsciously loosened his grip on Yunniang's hand.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Yunniang broke free and ran crying behind Li Chunsheng.

"You...you fucking lie to me!" The bearded man was still being stubborn, but his confidence was clearly waning.

"Whether it's a scam or not, you'll know if you try it. If you dare to touch a single table or chair in this shop today, or even lay a finger on my sister-in-law, just try it."

The bearded man broke out in a cold sweat! This kid is too calm!

If it weren't for someone really protecting him, an ordinary citizen would have been so scared of these vicious thugs that he would have wet his pants long ago. How could he dare to talk to them like that?

"Big brother, should we turn back?" The underling next to him was also feeling uneasy. He tugged at the bearded man's sleeve. "The waters around Qianmen are too deep. Let's not get caught in a trap."

The bearded man had a way out, but he still couldn't save face. He glared fiercely at Li Chunsheng, pointed at his nose, and cursed:

"Fine! Manager Li! You win! I'll let it slide today for Master Ma's sake! We'll see!"

After saying that, he waved his hand and said, "Let's go!"

A group of people grumbled and slunk away towards the door.

"Wait a minute."

Li Chunsheng's voice rang out again.

The bearded man paused, turned around, and glared angrily: "What? You want me to stay for dinner?"

"No need for food. I only serve food to my friends, not to my dogs. Consider this meal on my behalf, but! I have something to tell everyone here."

She glanced at Yunniang behind her.

"Yunniang is my sister-in-law, she's had a hard life; but once she steps into my Li's Restaurant, she's my employee; if anyone dares to humiliate her with things from the past, they're ruining my Li's reputation, and don't blame me for being ruthless!"

After saying that, he looked at the bearded man and said, "Take care, and don't bother seeing me out."

"You, surnamed Li! Things change! You just wait!" After uttering these harsh words, the bearded man led his gang of men and walked out without looking back!