"Go find Li Jindi and demand money!"
Chen Jianghe put down his chopsticks, a concrete idea forming.
"Are you crazy?"
Zhang Peng's eyes widened in shock.
Li Jindi was now a big shot on North Street, with over a dozen thugs under him; even ordinary ruffians would walk a wide circle around him.
For them to go demand money from Li Jindi, wasn't that like an old man hanging himself, tired of living?
"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing. Li Jindi will have to give this money, whether he wants to or not. Let's go home first, I need to get something!" Chen Jianghedidn't explain, leading Zhang Peng back to the small building.
Although the trash in the small building had been cleared, the heavy smell of smoke lingered.
The bedrooms upstairs all showed signs of having been ransacked, and it was unclear whether valuables had been taken by Shao Wan or by those ruffians.
Some decorations, picture frames, were thrown on the floor; the radio, DVD player, and large color TV were all gone.
Chen Jianghe found a picture frame under the TV cabinet. Inside the frame was a yellowed photograph of two young people in military uniforms.
Zhang Peng recognized one of them, but not the other.
One of the people in the photo was Chen Zhiming.
"Jianghe, can this photo really get us the money?"
Zhang Peng asked, puzzled. He was increasingly unable to understand Chen Jianghe's thoughts.
"This photo can be exchanged for capital for us to establish ourselves on North Street. Let's go!" Chen Jianghe put away the photo and went with Zhang Peng to Yonggui Game Hall.
Shortly after, the two arrived at North Street, a relatively bustling street in Pingjiang District. Many businesses operated here, and there were quite a few entertainment venues.
Billiard Halls, game halls, internet cafes, restaurants, and small inns could all be found.
This single street was controlled by several big brothers, all local tyrants.
In those days, if you opened a business and didn't know the people in charge, you couldn't survive.
After a while, the two arrived near a game hall. The game hall occupied four or five storefronts downstairs and even more upstairs, with a huge neon sign hanging on the facade.
It read 'Yonggui Game Hall' in large characters.
The game hall was bustling with people, and young people constantly entered and exited.
"Ever since Li Jindi took over the game hall, he changed the 'Lie Huo (Fierce Fire)' game hall to the 'Yonggui' game hall. Most of the old staff have been kicked out!"
"He also took over the two adjacent storefronts and knocked down all the walls. Now, Yonggui Game Hallis the biggest on the entire North Street!"
"There are nearly a hundred machines in there, and twenty or thirty slot machines. I heard people say that the daily revenue for the store is several thousand now!"
Zhang Peng looked nervously in the direction of the game hall.
When Chen Zhiming ran the game hall back then, the daily revenue was only one or two thousand. Li Jindihad indeed grown and strengthened the game hall.
"What's wrong? Are you a little scared?"
Chen Jianghe looked at Zhang Peng.
"Last year, I had something to find Shao Wan about. I went in and Chen Gang slapped me a few times and beat me up!" Zhang Peng scratched his head, a little embarrassed as he said.
"Who is Chen Gang?"
"Chen Gang is Li Jindi's right-hand man. All the thugs in the game hall are under his command. He's a lunatic, and he's especially ruthless. You must be very careful of him!"
Zhang Peng warned.
"Right-hand man?"
Chen Jianghe sneered, "Later, you wait for me across from the game hall. If anyone comes out looking for you, run immediately, don't worry about me. I'm going to find Li Jindi!"
"Jianghe, you're going alone? Are you crazy?"
Zhang Peng was shocked and quickly pulled Chen Jianghe back.
If Chen Jianghe went into the game hall alone like that, wouldn't that be like a lamb entering a tiger's den?
"Don't worry, Li Jindi wouldn't dare touch me. If he really dared to touch me, then he will have to answer to someone!" Chen Jianghe said in a deep voice, "As long as you don't get caught, I'll be safe. Be sharp!"
"Jianghe, be careful!"
Zhang Peng gritted his teeth and could only agree.
He looked at the knife on the meat stall not far away and secretly made up his mind that if things went wrong in the game hall, he would rush in to save Chen Jianghe.
Chen Jianghe nodded and strode into Yonggui Game Hall, heading straight for the staircase inside the game hall.
"Kid, what are you doing?"
As he passed, three thugs smoking at the staircase entrance blocked his way.
The three thugs had bulging waists, all carrying weapons.
"I'm looking for Li Jindi!"
Chen Jianghe quickly glanced around and noticed two or three young ruffians playing games nearby also looking over. These were likely also thugs guarding the place.
In this environment and at this distance, even if he could instantly take down one or two thugs, he would still be attacked by the others.
"Looking for our Boss Li, who the hell are you?"
The thugs not only didn't move aside but became even more vigilant.
"I am Chen Jianghe!"
The several thugs exchanged glances, none of them knowing who Chen Jianghe was.
"Chen Jianghe?" Just then, a man with a buzz cut and a scar on his face came down the stairs. "Kid, do you think this is still Lie Huo Game Arcade? Look at the sign here, this is now called 'Yonggui Game Hall'!"
"Gang Ge, do you know this kid?"
The thugs quickly moved aside.
"This kid is Chen Zhiming's idiotic son. I think three years in prison made him stupid!" Chen Gang spat a thick wad of phlegm on the ground, looking at Chen Jianghe with a ferocious expression.
Across from the game hall, Zhang Peng saw Chen Jianghe surrounded by several ruffians and immediately looked anxious.
"Li Jindi, you stole my family's game hall, are you just going to be a coward and hide?"
Chen Jianghe ignored him, suddenly raising his voice and shouting loudly upstairs.
Many young people in the game hall heard the commotion and looked over.
"You little bastard, you're looking for death!"
Chen Gang suddenly reached out, grabbing for Chen Jianghe's neck.
"Gang Zi, a guest has arrived, let him come up!"
Just then, a man's voice rang out from upstairs, and Shao Wan's figure also appeared at the staircase entrance. Seeing Chen Jianghe, a somber look flashed across her beautiful face.
"Kid, you'd better be sensible, don't look for trouble!"
Chen Gang raised his chin, and the thugs beside him understood, frisking Chen Jianghe to confirm he wasn't carrying any weapons before letting him go upstairs.
A cold glint flashed in the depths of Chen Jianghe's pupils. These guys were so wary of him, clearly afraid of his retaliation, which meant Chen Zhiming's death was indeed related to them.
Chen Gang, along with a few of his subordinates, followed Chen Jianghe upstairs.
"Jianghe, when did you get out? When your dad and I were out in society, you were only this tall. In a blink of an eye, you're all grown up. Sit down, tell me, what can I do for you?"
Li Jindi gestured with his hand, looking at Chen Jianghe with a smile.
"Uncle Li, you took my dad's game hall without paying a single cent. Isn't that inappropriate? I'm here for the money today!" Chen Jianghe didn't waste words and spoke directly.