Chen Zhaozhong was smiling and was about to say hello to him. When he saw that his face was covered with bruises and purple scars, and there was even a cut at the corner of his mouth that had formed a black scab, he asked in shock: “Qiang Zai, What’s wrong with your face?!”
Qiangzi subconsciously turned away half of his face, and while taking the opportunity to serve the guests, he said hesitantly: “It’s okay, Uncle Zhong… I just tried to ride a motorcycle like someone else did a few days ago and accidentally fell…”
Chen Zhaozhong immediately said: “Impossible! Your injury was not caused by falling from a motorcycle at all! Look in the mirror and look at your panda eyes. It was obvious that someone had punched them with fists. The injuries on the corners of your mouth were not caused by injuries. I slapped you with so much force that it couldn’t even knock out the corners of your mouth, tell me! What’s going on!”
Qiang Zai said covertly: “Uncle Zhong…my injury is really…not really a beating…”
As he said that, he quickly looked at the clock and saw that it was already past nine o’clock. He quickly said: “Oh, Uncle Zhong, you said you didn’t say hello to me in advance when you arrived so that I could pick you up at the airport. It’s not too early now.” Or I can close the shop first and take you and Mr. Ye to find a place to live!”
After that, without waiting for Chen Zhaozhong to speak, he quickly said to the guest: “I’m sorry, sir, I have something to do today and I have to close early. I will pack this meal for you and take it away without charging you.” OK?”
When the guest heard this, he quickly nodded in agreement, but Uncle Zhong frowned and asked him: “Qiangzi, tell me the truth, are you in any trouble?”
As he was talking, a low roar of motorcycles suddenly came from outside. The roars were getting closer and louder.
Qiang Zai’s expression suddenly became extremely nervous, and he quickly said: “Uncle Zhong, Mr. Ye, I have something to deal with. Please go upstairs and avoid it first!”
Seeing the nervousness on Qiang Zai’s face, Ye Chen, who had been silent all this time, immediately realized that the sound of the motorcycle engine getting closer and closer outside was probably coming towards him.
At this time, Chen Zhaozhong realized that Qiang Zai might have caused a big trouble, so he asked sharply: “Qiang Zai, tell me the truth, who did you offend?”
Seeing that the matter could not be covered up, Qiang Zai had no choice but to explain: “Uncle Zhong, these people here are all members of a new gang in New York…”
Chen Zhaozhong exclaimed: “You owe loan sharks?!”
Qiangzi quickly explained: “No, Uncle Zhong! They just occupied Chinatown two days ago, and now they are collecting protection money from door to door. They want three thousand US dollars a month. If they don’t pay, they will beat people, and they even say they want to take over the store. It was smashed.”
Chen Zhaozhong frowned and asked: “Hasn’t Chinatown always been managed by Chinese gangs? In the past few years, the protection fee has been three hundred dollars a month. Why was it suddenly robbed by others?”
Qiang Zai sighed helplessly and said: “The Chinese gang had a fierce battle with them last week and suffered heavy losses. Big Viagra has already admitted defeat and handed over Chinatown to them…”
Chen Zhaozhong was slightly surprised, and then asked him: “What is the background of the new gang? They offered three thousand dollars a month. Isn’t this too dark?”
Qiangzi said indignantly: “Who says it’s not the case! We and several surrounding stores work from dawn to dusk to do business. We have to pay rent and labor. Because we don’t have legal status, we have to manage everywhere. It’s only a month of exhausting work. Earn a few thousand dollars, and they want three thousand, which means that everyone’s hard work is for them!”
Chen Zhaozhong asked again: “What is the origin of this new gang?”
Qiangzi replied: “The new gang is called Burning-Angel. Most of them are African Americans and a small number of Latinos from Brooklyn and downtown. It is said that they are backed by Italians. Now the Italians are gradually retreating into the background. They didn’t want to go out to fight and kill, and they were unwilling to give up part of the profits, so they supported a group of ruthless African-Americans and established such a gang…”