Chen Lishu, Wang Aixiang, and Liang Chunsheng looked up. Seeing that Zhao Liang and his group were clearly hostile, the three of them looked rather grim.
"I believe I told you I'd give you three days. If you haven't moved by then, I'll help you pack," Zhao Liang said.
Chen Lishu's expression was solemn. "This is my store. I should have the right to decide when to move."
"Heh." Zhao Liang turned back, sneering at his two subordinates. "This woman's got a tough mouth!"
"Brother Liang, I didn't expect there'd be a time when you couldn't handle things." A man covered in pimples looked at Chen Lishu with a lewd smile.
"Enough with the nonsense. Just smash her store. See if she can still talk tough then," said another man in a floral shirt, a cigarette dangling from his lips, as he exhaled a plume of smoke and narrowed his eyes.
"You heard them. My two brothers can't stand it anymore," Zhao Liang waved his hand. "No need to bother helping her move. Just smash it all. It'll be less trouble."
As he finished speaking, the two men behind him immediately moved towards the shelves.
"I'll see who dares to lay a hand on anything," Chen Lishu said, drawing a knife she had hidden under the counter.
"Sis, you..." Not only Zhao Liang and his group, but even Wang Aixiang and Liang Chunsheng were startled. They hadn't known Chen Lishu had hidden a knife under the counter.
"Zhao Liang, you're here for Zhao Hong, aren't you? If she wants something, she can come tell me herself. I despise this kind of backhanded scheming." Chen Lishu said coldly, looking at the three men in front of her. "And as for you three, if you think you can bully me just because I'm a woman, then try it. See if I really dare to cut you."
The 'Pimple' and 'Floral Shirt' men, seeing the fierce look in Chen Lishu's eyes, looked uncertainly at Zhao Liang, seeking his direction.
"All right, so you've got a knife to put on a show and scare people." Zhao Liang didn't take Chen Lishu seriously at all. "What can you do with that knife? Is it good for cutting vegetables? Let me tell you, I have at least eight or ten scars on my body. If you have the guts, come over here and chop at my head. If you can actually cut it off, I'll call you Grandma. If you don't dare, then just shut up and stay put. Don't try to act tough with me."
It wasn't just that Chen Lishu was holding a kitchen knife; even ten of them would be useless against Zhao Liang. It was obvious she was bluffing. If he didn't have this kind of ferocity, how could he manage dozens of subordinates? Moreover, this commercial street was his territory, and no one dared to provoke him.
Chen Lishu looked at his arrogant expression, her heart filled with hatred. But she still had her wits about her. If she truly lashed out at him, her life would be ruined. However, if she couldn't intimidate them, her store would inevitably be smashed today. While she was hesitating about what to do, she suddenly heard a muffled grunt.
Chen Lishu turned her head to see Liang Chunsheng being punched in the stomach. He turned pale with pain, doubling over and unable to stand up for a long time.
"Kid, where do you think you're going? Trying to sneak out to call the police or get backup? Without our brothers' permission, you're staying right here. Hear me?" The 'Pimple' man said, patting Liang Chunsheng's face. His voice was loud enough for the entire room to hear.
"Don't push your luck too far!" Chen Lishu stepped out from behind the counter and shoved the 'Pimple' man, causing him to stumble. "Liang Chunsheng, are you alright?"
Liang Chunsheng, seeing how bad things were, had intended to call the police. He didn't expect to be stopped and punched instead.
"I'm fine." He waved at Chen Lishu, forcing himself to stand straight.
"What? Is this good-for-nothing your man? He doesn't look like much. Feeling sorry for him? Why don't you beg me? I'll make sure to go easy on him next time," the 'Pimple' man said, his eyes leering at Chen Lishu. He reached out as if to touch her face.
Chen Lishu felt a wave of nausea. She raised her hand to slap him, but before she could move, a hand suddenly shot out from the side, grabbing the 'Pimple' man's wrist like an iron clamp. With a crisp "crack," the 'Pimple' man let out a scream of agony, "Ah!!!"
"Are you alright?" A deep, familiar voice came from behind her. Chen Lishu's body tensed instantly, her heart pounding uncontrollably. She turned around uncertainly, and upon seeing the familiar olive green uniform, her eyes widened.
"I haven't been gone that long, have I? You don't recognize your own man?" Gu Xingdong chuckled, seeing her dazed expression, and waved his hand in front of her.
Chen Lishu blinked a couple of times, confirming that everything she saw was real. Gu Xingdong had returned, and he had returned safely. The corners of her mouth curved upwards uncontrollably.
"When did you get back?"
"Last night." He had returned to the unit last night. This morning, after sorting everything out and reporting in detail to his superiors, he had rushed over.
"It's good you're back. It's good you're back," Chen Lishu murmured. Then, a thought struck her, and she suddenly felt wronged. "Why did you take so long to come back? I'm being bullied right at my doorstep." The more she thought about it, the more wronged she felt, and her eyes welled up. Although she had tried her best to act as if nothing was wrong these past few days, facing a group of men like Zhao Liang had made her uneasy. She hadn't been as calm as she appeared. Being under constant strain, all her grievances had surged out like a tide the moment she saw Gu Xingdong.
"...I was just doing my business, and they came to bully me. And these three, they're forcing me to move, saying they'll smash my store if I don't. As soon as her man returned, Chen Lishu didn't hold back, recounting how Zhao Liang had threatened her and even resorted to violence, telling him everything. With her man back, let's see if they dare to bully her!
Gu Xingdong had never seen her complain like this to him before. It seemed she had been truly pushed too far. A bloodthirsty glint flashed in his eyes.
Zhao Liang saw Gu Xingdong enter and disable his subordinate's wrist without a word. Now, seeing Chen Lishu complain, he narrowed his eyes dangerously and sneered, "A stinking soldier thinks he's all that? How dare you touch my brother? Then don't blame me for being rude. Let me tell you, you're finished today."
As soon as he finished speaking, Zhao Liang suddenly pulled out a switchblade from his pocket. Seeing this, 'Floral Shirt' promptly pulled out a piece of rebar he had tucked into the back of his waistband. Chen Lishu was taken aback. It was truly remarkable how he had managed to conceal it so discreetly. If they were this arrogant when she was present, what would she have faced when she wasn't? With this thought, Gu Xingdong's dark eyes instantly turned cold. Fresh from the battlefield, his killing intent radiated uncontrollably. Everyone present shivered. Chen Lishu also sensed that something was wrong. She wasn't afraid of Gu Xingdong, but she feared he might do something impulsive for her sake.