Sitting at the table were still the same group from that night. Baldy was seated at the innermost spot, and the rest of the underlings crowded around a single table, looking a bit cramped. They were all talking, while their leader Baldy remained silent, listening to their speeches.

One of the underlings downed a glass of liquor in one gulp and said with extreme dissatisfaction, "Boss, the Axe Gang is pressing us so hard. Every month, we can only collect so little money. If we really have to pay them every month, and not paying means we can't continue, I can't swallow this anger."

Another underling, hearing this, also expressed dissatisfaction, "Yeah, I can't swallow this either. Sanyuan Street has always been our territory. Why should we pay them just because they show up? What gives them the right? Just because they've been growing fast lately?"

"Right!" Another underling picked up the glass in front of him and finished it in one gulp, saying, "Boss, if we really follow their words, then what's left for us? Isn't that just handing all the hard-earned efforts of the brothers over to them, making wedding clothes for them?"

As soon as this was said, the rest of the people at the table began to show their little emotions. Each revealed their dissatisfaction, the more extreme ones drinking while voicing their discontent, while those who could calm down a bit stayed silent, though their faces showed discontent, quietly listening to the others.

At this moment, a more composed person stood up to persuade everyone, "What are you doing? The boss knows what to do. What do you mean by pointing fingers? Are you saying you won't even listen to the boss anymore?"

A few underlings, hearing this, immediately explained, "No, boss... we didn't mean it that way, we just..."

Baldy, who had been sitting and listening without speaking, frowned as he heard this, and said, "Enough. It's nothing."

Those underlings didn't explain further after this.

"But... boss, if we really let the Axe Gang do this, what future do we brothers have? It's hard enough just to make a living. If it goes like this, we're just living under their thumb. Aren't we mixing for nothing? We're just feeling dissatisfied for the brothers and feeling wronged for you, boss!"

Hearing this, Baldy furrowed his brow.

Hao Jian, though chatting with Zhang Danlin, was also listening intently to their conversation. Gradually, he got a pretty clear picture of the situation.

Though he spent most of his time at school every day, his mind wasn't at school. Mainly because he wanted to help Liang Xiaohan a bit, so he kept somewhat informed. Like the Axe Gang, which recently surged in prominence, developing significantly within just a few months and becoming quite formidable. Small forces like Baldy's, with just a dozen or so people, naturally dare not offend a gang like the Axe Gang.

The Axe Gang itself was originally just a small force. Nobody knew how they grew so suddenly strong. They are ambitious and arrogant. Hao Jian knew this from interacting with them. The Domestic Abuser became abusive to that extent, encountered Brother Rui at the Haunted House bullying even female students, none of them are decent, rotten to the core.

Hao Jian had no good feelings for the Axe Gang, mostly just loathing. Hearing the three words 'Axe Gang' made him feel a bit disgusted from the bottom of his heart.

However, from their conversation, Hao Jian learned something. That was, the Axe Gang was expanding its power, recruiting members everywhere, and also starting to suppress forces that didn't submit to them, like Baldy's. They survive by collecting protection money, and the Axe Gang demands Baldy hand over their collected protection money each month. This is something no force could tolerate.

Yet the key issue now is a significant matter at hand: the Axe Gang's power is large and strong, while theirs, with just a dozen people, simply doesn't have the capacity to contend with such a large force.

The options are either to hand the collected protection money over to the Axe Gang, thus becoming their subordinates, working for them without getting any benefits in return, or handing over the protection money and figuring out how to survive without that income. They aren't individuals alone; they have families to provide for. Without this income, how can they live on, how can they continue?

However, if they don't hand it over, the Axe Gang won't let them off, won't allow them to continue collecting protection money, will likely take over their territory, drive them off, or directly suppress them, leaving them with no way to continue. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

Both options, one resulting in living under their oppression, the other in being suppressed without a place to belong, are bad choices. Consequently, Baldy is really torn because he doesn't know what to do.

Either way might lead to more trouble, and the alternative is likely no better. He is now very conflicted, having difficulty even making a decision, a look of worry across his face.

Hao Jian, sitting by the side and listening to their conversation, organized his thoughts in his mind and came to a conclusion.

Thinking this, a look of joy suddenly appeared on his face, because he suddenly remembered something.

At the table beside them, the conversation continued. While Hao Jian was listening, his mind was racing, and he was also chatting with Zhang Danlin. Zhang suddenly spoke of what she wanted to do in the future, what she might end up doing, then asked Hao Jian what he wanted to do. Hao Jian paused in surprise, then laughed and replied he wanted to be a rich man.

Hearing Hao Jian say he wanted to be rich, Zhang Danlin smiled and said he would achieve it. Hao Jian did not speak further; Zhang Danlin didn't know that what she said would happen had already happened. Money to Hao Jian now was merely a string of numbers, not much of significance, with its main use being to buy happiness.

Yet his greatest joys were no longer something money could buy.

The two of them chatted on and off, while Hao Jian kept part of his attention on the table next to him.

Suddenly, amidst the bustling night market, two cars pulled up, and in moments, dozens of people got out, each looking fierce and intending harm, the kind you could tell at a glance.

The cars stopped in front of the night market stall. The group got out and headed straight towards Baldy's table. Upon seeing them, Baldy's face immediately turned ugly.

Hao Jian recognized them at once as members of the Axe Gang, coming specifically to cause trouble for Baldy's group. Evidently, they were already heading straight toward Baldy's group.

Baldy's underlings stood up immediately upon seeing them, and before long, that group reached Baldy's table.

The other customers, seeing this scene, knew trouble was brewing and quickly left after paying, each with a frightened look, fearing they might be caught up in the chaos. The owner, seeing so many customers leaving, felt pained but dared not speak seeing it was the Axe Gang, merely standing aside quietly.

By this time, most people had left, leaving only Baldy's and Hao Jian's tables. Sensing danger, Zhang Danlin tugged Hao Jian, urging him to leave, but Hao Jian merely smiled and said it was fine, continuing to eat, and she sat back down.

The group from the Axe Gang approached Baldy's table. Baldy's underlings stood as if preparing for a big fight.

Seeing them, the leader of the Axe Gang, Little Yellow Hair, chuckled, "What? Looking for a fight?"

His words made the underlings behind him poised to attack if words failed, while Baldy's often-bullied underlings, suddenly filled with bravado, appeared ready to engage in a fight, prepared to die if necessary.

But Baldy waved his hand and told his underlings, "Sit down!"

The underlings protested, "Boss!"

"I said sit down!" Baldy suddenly lost his temper.

The underlings, seeing Baldy angry, were immediately scared, said nothing further, and sat down obediently.

Seeing this, Little Yellow Hair laughed, "Smart choice, knowing when to yield."

Baldy said nothing, but his face looked grim.

At this moment, the underlings behind Little Yellow Hair began laughing loudly.

"Trash, cowards, useless!"

"If I were mixing like you, I'd be too embarrassed to call myself a gangster, utterly disgraceful!"

"Trash!"

"..."

The underlings, as if they had rehearsed, immediately began mocking Baldy's group upon seeing the opportunity.

Listening to this, Baldy's face twitched slightly, but he didn't react. Still, it was apparent he was furious, ready to fight, yet rational enough to calm himself and hold back.

His underlings were visibly outraged, and were it not for the intimidation of the Axe Gang's strength, they would have already attacked.