After making the phone call, Xia Xiaolan relaxed.
She sat back on the bench and ordered another ice cream.
The reason Xiangmihu was called a holiday resort was because it had everything.
Besides amusement facilities, there were nightclubs, hotels, and restaurants. It offered comprehensive entertainment services – with enough time, one could spend several days at the resort.
While Xia Xiaolan and Liu Yong needed to check on renovation sites, Li Fengmei and Liu Zitao could stay and play at the resort for a few days.
Liu Yong could certainly afford it.
He had been living in a shabby single-story house himself, but with his wife and child rarely visiting, what was wrong with staying at the resort hotel?
If that rat-faced man thought he could wait for Xia Xiaolan’s group to leave the entertainment center, he was mistaken.
In the end, Liu Yong might be the only one leaving.
But if this thorn wasn’t removed, wouldn’t that rat-faced hooligan become an unpredictable threat?
Xia Xiaolan didn’t make a fuss. After Liu Yong and his son finished riding the pirate ship and came back dripping with sweat, Xia Xiaolan and her uncle’s family ate as usual.
That hooligan was quite brazen, constantly smirking at Xia Xiaolan from a distance. How could Liu Yong not notice?
“Those people…”
In Pengcheng, Liu Yong hadn’t encountered such arrogance before.
After all, he managed dozens of workers – ordinary people wouldn’t dare provoke him.
Unfortunately, Liu Yong lacked an imposing presence. Even with several people following him, he didn’t look much like a boss. Without followers to set him off, he was even less noticeable, tanned dark by Pengcheng’s sun, without any air of authority.
The family had come to Xiangmihu following the traditional virtue of not flaunting wealth, and dressed very ordinarily.
A beautiful young woman like Xia Xiaolan, going out without someone intimidating accompanying her, easily attracted trouble. Xia Xiaolan had no control over her face – not seductive yet not demure, few good romantic prospects but always attracting thugs and hooligans.
Hearing Liu Yong’s question, Xia Xiaolan gave her uncle a meaningful look:
“It’s already noon, shouldn’t we eat first? When I called earlier, Li Dongliang asked you to go back. Later, we’ll let Aunt and Taotao stay at the hotel while we check the construction site before coming back.”
Between uncle and niece, they were investing over a million yuan. If something went wrong with the project, all that money would go down the drain.
Thinking of this, Li Fengmei worried even in her sleep, so she wouldn’t stop them.
“Taotao and I can stay here and play for two days, you go take care of business first!”
Liu Zitao was even less reluctant to let them go. The resort was so big, with many rides he hadn’t tried yet. Earlier he had been clinging to Xia Xiaolan, but now even his cousin’s sister had to take a back seat.
After lunch, Xia Xiaolan estimated the timing and slowly walked toward the resort exit with Liu Yong.
It was 2 PM when people were most drowsy. The resort wasn’t as busy as in the morning, with tired visitors looking for places to rest.
Those men were indeed following behind. Liu Yong clenched his fists, but Xia Xiaolan said softly:
“Don’t worry.”
Seeing a truck parked ahead, Xia Xiaolan felt relieved.
The people behind couldn’t wait any longer and rushed forward, trying to grab Xia Xiaolan.
“Ptui! You bitch, you dare kick me—”
Just as Xia Xiaolan reached the truck, its door suddenly opened, and out jumped short-haired Bai Zhenzhu, who immediately pinned the rat-faced man to the ground: “If you want to harass women, open your dog eyes wide and see if they’re someone you can mess with!”
Bai Zhenzhu was incredibly strong. She did business in the small commodities market, dealing with all sorts of people, and dressed in a masculine style – most people couldn’t tell her gender.
She was someone who could kick out Du Zhaohui’s teeth and beat up Hong Kong merchants without consequences. Du Zhaohui had swallowed his anger but considered “street fighters” like Bai Zhenzhu too troublesome to provoke. These street fighters were especially loyal to their friends – she had rushed over as soon as she got Xia Xiaolan’s call!
“Who are you? Let go of me, or you won’t leave this village alive.”
Bai Zhenzhu laughed, “Oh my, it’s the village tyrant!”
He was a village tyrant.
This area around Xiangmihu Holiday Resort used to be called “Xiangmao Lake,” with citronella grass growing around the lake – it was just a small fishing village on the border.
Later, foreign investors came, and the city government designated this large area as a resort. The original residents were relocated – this was “demolition and relocation” in the 80s. Of course, there was compensation – money and housing. No longer farming or fishing, these people became idle.
The rat-faced man was the village chief’s son.
Bai Zhenzhu clutched her chest, “I’m so scared, your father must be a big official.”
Xia Xiaolan wanted to roll her eyes – Bai Zhenzhu had become quite the old hand, with real theatrical talent.
“Don’t waste time with him!”
Bai Zhenzhu could handle several men by herself, but this was the village chief’s son who commanded respect in the area – soon over ten people surrounded the truck. Liu Yong was startled, but Xia Xiaolan remained exceptionally calm. Bai Zhenzhu knocked on the truck’s cargo hold, and dozens of dust-covered workers rushed out with a clatter.
They had brought all the renovation workers!
These men had kept their cool, only emerging when Bai Zhenzhu knocked on the truck.
Each respectfully called Liu Yong “Boss.” Liu Yong’s brow smoothed out, and he said generously: “Consider today a half-day off, with full day’s pay. If these dogs dare resist, beat them hard – I’ll cover any medical expenses!”
The thugs were nearly scared witless.
Just for touching a waist, were these people going to level the village or what?!
The hooligan’s face was still being pressed to the ground when Xia Xiaolan crouched down to look at him, smiling:
“You do this often, don’t you? Then I should get some payback for my fellow women.”
Touching her waist was one thing – Xia Xiaolan had already kicked him in return.
But he wouldn’t let it go, watching her for hours, waiting for her to leave the resort – wasn’t he planning to do something evil once they reached a less crowded place?
Xia Xiaolan threw her hat on his face.
Bai Zhenzhu’s hands were like iron pincers, making him howl in pain, snot and tears flying, with the smell of urine wafting up.
They started beating immediately, not sparing his accomplices either.
Xia Xiaolan just stood to the side, as if worried Bai Zhenzhu might go easy on them.
Yang Jie was among the renovation workers, occasionally getting in a kick.
His head was spinning.
The scorching sun must have made him see things – how could the delicate Sister Xiaolan be so fierce?
What had his sister said that day? Don’t doubt Sister Xiaolan, she made this trip just to look after the siblings… Yang Jie lowered his head. He never imagined Sister Xiaolan was such a boss. In the future, he must show more respect to Sister Xiaolan and Uncle Liu Yong!
…
Around the corner, Ji Jiangyuan watched in astonishment.
Harold smiled meaningfully:
“Ji, it seems Pengcheng’s public security isn’t very good. Your friend, that beautiful girl – is the part of China’s mafia?”
“No… China doesn’t have a mafia, we’re a nation of laws.”
We’re a nation of laws, and Student Xia Xiaolan is a Huaqing University honor student, a scholarship role model, not some female boss making people want to light her cigarette – what kind of development was this? In Pengcheng, wouldn’t calling his father’s secretary be better than bringing a truck of workers, creating a scene ready for a gang fight?!
That delicate person turned out to be such a gangster.
Ji Jiangyuan’s head hurt.
Xia Xiaolan wasn’t joking – when she said she’d make his mother kneel and apologize on Chang’an Street, it wasn’t an empty threat!