209: Chapter 207: Boss, I’ve Missed You So Much!
209: Chapter 207: Boss, I’ve Missed You So Much!
“Hey, hey, hey, what are you stupidly grinning about?
Hurry up and pay,” a voice called from behind as the dim-witted guy was laughing absentmindedly.
The dim-witted guy immediately reined in his laughter, turned his head toward the taxi driver, and flashed a broad, neat white smile as he said, “I’m sorry, uncle, I completely forgot for a moment.”
As he spoke, he started to fish around on himself—digging here and there—and after a while, he pulled out a bag of money enclosed in a white plastic bag; most of it was hundred-yuan notes, evidently no less than ten thousand yuan in total.
Seeing that the dim-witted guy had taken out so much money, the driver’s eyes gleamed and flickered with intrigue.
“Young man, you shouldn’t just flaunt your money around like that; it’s very dangerous.
When you have money, you should keep it somewhere safer,” the driver admonished, feigning concern.
The dim-witted guy laughed and said, “Hehe, I got it, uncle, no worries.
I always carry my money on me.
It’s safest that way, and nobody dares to rob me.”
The driver thought to himself with a smirk.
Not daring to rob you doesn’t mean they won’t dare deceive you.
Nowadays, who steals money when cheating is much easier?
“It’s true nobody would dare rob you, but it’s always good to be careful when you’re out and about,” the driver said, casually accepting the hundred-yuan bill the dim-witted guy handed over, pocketing it without any intention of giving change and continued, “Young man, are you here to look for someone or to find a job?
If it’s a job you want, I could give you some referrals.
Also, if you need to rent a place, I can help with that, too.”
But the dim-witted guy just gave the driver a look, shook his head, and grinned, “I’m looking for my boss, so I don’t need your help.
Plus, you’re not really acting out of kindness.
It won’t be easy to trick me out of my money.
Drop the idea, hehe, or I’ll have to be less than polite with you.” His reply was straightforward indeed.
Hearing what the dim-witted guy said, the driver was taken aback.
How could this fool be so astute?
He had seen through the driver’s intentions—was his acting really that poor?
However, with his scheme exposed on the spot, the driver’s face darkened with an ugly expression as he huffed, “You’re like a dog biting Lu Dongbin—you don’t recognize good intentions.
I meant well and you treat me like a villain; suit yourself then.” With that, he was about to drive off.
Upon seeing the driver about to leave, the dim-witted guy suddenly dashed to the front of the car and grabbed the car door, causing a heavy ‘thud’.
The car that had just begun to move came to a stop, the engine dying.
The driver cast a fierce glance at the dim-witted guy and snapped, “Let go, what are you trying to do now?”
The dim-witted guy gave a toothy smile, “Don’t be alarmed, I’m not going to hit you.
Although you’re up to no good, I don’t beat people at random.
The boss told me that in big cities, everything is governed by the law, and it’s wrong and illegal to just beat up people, so I don’t do that.
Besides, you can’t cheat me.
But you took my hundred yuan without giving me change—why’s that?”
The driver’s mouth twitched, and anger flashed across his face as he said, “What change?
The fare was over a hundred to begin with.
I only took a hundred from you and you still expect change.
Do you think you can get away with not paying?
Let me warn you one more time, let go, or I’ll call the police.”
“Fine, go ahead and call them, since I can’t be bothered to hit you.
I distinctly saw it was fifty yuan.
You took a hundred from me without giving change; you really think I’m that stupid.” The dim-witted guy grinned, looking naive and simple on the outside, yet harboring such a shrewd mind.
The combination of these two distinct traits in one person was slightly bizarre.
The driver was stunned for a moment, staring blankly at the dim-witted guy.
He had thought this big oaf looked like he had just left the countryside and would be an easy mark.
He had made good money from people like this before without incident, but now he had encountered a situation.
Nonetheless, he was not about to admit it, retorting, “Are you blind?
It obviously cost over a hundred, how did you get fifty?
Just because I’ve cleared the meter, doesn’t mean you can twist the truth like this.
If you can’t afford the ride, don’t take it.
You country folks are always pulling this stunt; I’ve encountered this more than once.
I’m tired of arguing with you.”
After speaking, the driver tried to start the car again, pressing down on the accelerator to drive off, but he was soon horrified to discover that the vehicle, as if mired in a quagmire, was not moving.
He revved the engine, which roared like a beast, but the car kept spinning in place, receiving infinite resistance and simply unable to go forward.
The driver, somewhat shocked, turned his gaze to the dim-witted guy and noticed his hand tightly gripping the car door, realizing that the deformation of the door and the force immobilizing the car were coming from his grip.
Completely dumbfounded, the driver could hardly believe his eyes, but the hard truth in front of him demanded his belief.
“How is this possible?
Is he even human?” These words echoed in the driver’s mind.
Despite the situation, the dim-witted guy looked unfazed, showing no sign of strain on his face, although his arm muscles were tensed.
“Alright, I’ll give you the fifty yuan; just let go already before you rip off my car door,” the driver quickly capitulated.
The dim-witted guy shook his head, “I’m not that easy to fool.
Give me the money, and then I’ll let you go.
If not, I’ll dismantle your car door.”
At this point, the driver dared not say another word, hastily handed over fifty yuan to the dim-witted guy, who then released his hold.
The area he had gripped was dented as if it had been run over by a heavy truck.
This definitely wasn’t a problem with the car’s quality, but rather the scary strength of this big guy.
Although the car was crumpled, it would cost a fair bit to fix it, which pained the driver greatly.
It was a case of trying to steal a chicken only to end up losing the rice.
But there was nothing to do but accept it.
The driver didn’t dare linger and took off in a hurry.
The big guy pocketed the money, grinned, and said, “The old Immortal was right, people out here are too sneaky and cunning.
The world is too vicious.
You have to be on guard at all times or you’ll suffer losses.
But I’m so smart, it’s not so easy to take advantage of me.
It seems that even in this paradise, there are many demons and monsters.
On my way here, I encountered five or six swindlers.
If the old Immortal hadn’t told me not to beat people at will, I would have really liked to hit someone; it’s annoying.
Heh, I should go find the boss.”
“Lengzi.” Tangyu, who had just gotten out of the car, saw a tall figure standing by the roadside and was stunned for a moment.
A look of surprise immediately spread across his face.
The big guy, who was about to head toward the tower, turned around at the sound of the voice, his smile growing even broader, like a blooming lily.
Throwing his bag aside, the big guy opened his arms and lunged at Tangyu like a child who had found his father, shouting excitedly, “Boss, I’ve missed you to death!”
After saying that, he hugged Tangyu, completely enveloping him in his huge chest.
This drew odd looks from several passersby, and even some whispered comments.
“Let go, let go; mind the image, I still care about mine even if you don’t,” Tangyu pushed Lengzi away.
“Heh, our image is great, what’s there to be afraid of?
I’m just overexcited,” Lengzi said, grinning.
Tangyu sized up Lengzi, punched his sturdy chest a few times, and nodded with satisfaction, “Not bad, not bad.
You’ve gotten even more solid than before.
It looks like you haven’t neglected your Kung Fu training in the half month I’ve been away.
Lengzi, what brings you here?”
“Boss, of course, I came to find you.
The old Immortal sent me over, said I should come and help you out.
Hehe, if it weren’t for the old Immortal stopping me, I would have come to find you much sooner.
Being at home alone is so boring when no one dares to play with me, and it’s not fun at all.
I was so bored I just practiced Kung Fu like crazy every day,” Lengzi said.
“Oh, Master sent you to find me.” Tangyu nodded.
He smiled inwardly, thinking it seemed Master wasn’t entirely hands-off after all, at least he had sent a capable assistant his way.
With Lengzi by his side, Tangyu also felt much more at ease; it was like adding a Divine Weapon to his arsenal.
Many things that he found inconvenient or didn’t want to do, and that others didn’t have the ability to do, could now be handed over to Lengzi.
“Boss, have you run into any trouble in Donglin City?” Lengzi inquired.
Tangyu made a face, “There is a bit of trouble, yes, but nothing urgent at the moment.
There might be issues in the future.
I’ll tell you about it later.
Your trip here went smoothly, right?
You weren’t cheated by anyone?
You didn’t cause any trouble?”
“Hehe, no way, boss.
How could someone as clever as me get cheated?
I did come across five or six swindlers, but I saw right through them.
Just now, that taxi driver tried to cheat me out of fifty yuan, but I got it back.
No, boss, when I left, the old Immortal warned me not to randomly fight with people.
It would be very troublesome, and I could get taken to the police station; I understand that,” Lengzi said with a toothy grin.
Tangyu nodded, “With your smarts and ability to read people, it’s true that the average person can’t take advantage of you.
But I am a little worried about your temper.
Outside isn’t like home, where the law has little influence due to our remote location.
But here in Donglin City, the law is very strict, so you can’t just go around fighting with people.
Even if you do have to fight, try not to injure people too seriously, or you could end up being taken to the police station.”
“Mm-hmm, I got it, boss.
Anyway, I’ll be with you from now on, I’ll do whatever you tell me,” Lengzi nodded.
Tangyu smiled and nodded.
Lengzi always listened to him, so he wasn’t worried about him causing any trouble.
“You must be hungry after the long ride.
Let’s go get something to eat and fill your stomach, and then I’ll take you to buy some clothes and change up your style.
You can’t keep dressing so shabbily in the big city.
You’ve got to look the part,” Tangyu said.
“Heh, sure thing, boss.
I’m starving,” Lengzi nodded, walking over to pick up his tattered luggage.
Tangyu smiled.
Having a friend by his side felt warm and comforting.
He would no longer have to fight alone.
But how to make use of Lengzi?
This gave Tangyu something to think about.
Having him always by his side was certainly not going to work; it would be inconvenient if he had to bring him along for everything.
But leaving him behind, Tangyu felt a bit uneasy.
Arranging a job for him at Xinxin Culture and Art might not be easy, as the types of work Lengzi could do were very limited; he simply couldn’t handle most ordinary jobs.
Even for a security job, Xinxin Culture and Art didn’t need one, but Empire Trade Tower might, which was worth considering.
Tangyu had also thought of letting Lengzi work with Brother Hu for a while, having Brother Hu take him on to do some work, and calling on him when he needed him.
For the time being, these were the two arrangements Tangyu had in mind.