Chapter 037 【Brother Bo Zai】

The injuries on Xu Qiang's body weren't actually severe, but due to not being cleaned and bandaged in time, they had started to fester. Among them, the two wounds on his back required a total of twelve stitches. After bandaging the wounds, Gu Feng also had the doctor give Xu Qiang some medication.

Leaving the clinic, Gu Feng glanced at Xu Qiang, who was secretly observing him, and said, "You haven't eaten yet, right? Let's go get something to eat first."

"I've eaten, you go ahead," Xu Qiang said with a lack of confidence, just as his stomach let out a rumble. The sound made Xu Qiang's expression turn somewhat awkward; clearly, he hadn't eaten.

Gu Feng didn't say anything more to Xu Qiang and took him to a nearby dai pai dong.

At that moment, the dai pai dong was quite crowded. After entering, Gu Feng found a quiet corner and sat down with Xu Qiang.

"What can I get you?" The waiter promptly brought over a menu, asking with a professional smile.

"Half a dozen oysters, half a dozen scallops, two prawns, one serving of duck wings, one serving of edamame, and one serving of steamed chicken feet." Gu Feng looked over the menu, then glanced at Xu Qiang and asked, "Do you drink?"

Xu Qiang nodded.

"Bring another jug of beer, and also help me go out and buy a pack of Marlboros." Gu Feng noticed Xu Qiang constantly glancing at a man smoking nearby and knew he was craving a cigarette.

The food came out fast, as it always does at places like this, and in no time, the dishes were all served.

Looking at the table full of delicious food, Xu Qiang's Adam's apple bobbed, but he didn't reach for the chopsticks.

"Help yourself with the chopsticks," Gu Feng said to Xu Qiang while pouring beer. "If you want to smoke, open the pack yourself."

Hearing this, Xu Qiang hesitated for a moment, then picked up the chopsticks and began wolfing down the food. Earlier, the money in his pocket had only been enough to buy food for his mother. To make sure his mother had a meal, he had gone nearly 24 hours without food himself.

Gu Feng opened the cigarette pack, took one out, lit it, and took a light drag, his gaze never leaving Xu Qiang.

"Why aren't you eating?" Xu Qiang asked, somewhat puzzled, noticing that Gu Feng hadn't touched his chopsticks.

Gu Feng stubbed out the cigarette in his hand and smiled, saying, "Just about to."

Soon, the dishes on the table were polished off by Xu Qiang and Gu Feng. Seeing that Xu Qiang still looked hungry, Gu Feng called out to the waiter again, "Same order again, and also add a few cold dishes."

After saying this, Gu Feng handed the cigarettes on the table to Xu Qiang but didn't take one for himself. Gu Feng didn't have a smoking habit; he only smoked when he was agitated, like just now. However, in the past few years of his life, he hadn't had many opportunities to feel agitated.

Xu Qiang didn't hesitate. He took the cigarettes, lit one, expertly blew a smoke ring, then grabbed the glass in front of him and downed it in one gulp.

"Pour yourself another if you want to drink," Gu Feng said calmly, holding his own glass.

Xu Qiang refilled his glass but didn't rush to drink. Instead, he stared at the table, seemingly unable to meet Gu Feng's gaze directly.

"Starting tomorrow, go to school on time and stop running around with those gangs," Gu Feng set down his glass, choosing his words carefully. "Tomorrow, I'll take your mother to get treatment. I'll cover all your tuition and living expenses."

Gu Feng's words made Xu Qiang's body jerk. He looked up at Gu Feng with confusion, then finally shook his head, his expression resolute as he said, "I'm not going to school."

"Why not?" Gu Feng frowned.

Xu Qiang took a deep drag of his cigarette, then grabbed the glass on the table and emptied it in one go, his expression desolate as he said, "I'm not cut out for studying."

"Even if you don't study, you can learn a trade," Gu Feng said, seeing Xu Qiang's equally firm expression and didn't push him. "What future is there in that life? Have you seen those knife scars on your body? I don't know if you're incredibly lucky or just tough as nails, surviving so many stabbings. But let me tell you, in this world, a person's luck can't always be good. If you keep mixing with that crowd, sooner or later you'll be hacked to death on the streets, because you're just a small-time lackey."

At this point, Gu Feng couldn't help but sigh. Ling Wei's father was also involved in organized crime, and Xu Qiang was a member too, yet the status and positions of the two were worlds apart.

"Sooner or later, I'll become a boss," Xu Qiang said with unwavering determination, as if even the sky falling wouldn't change his mind.

Xu Qiang's resolve surprised Gu Feng. He truly couldn't understand why this young man in front of him was so determined to enter the underworld. After a moment's thought, he asked, "Are you involved in all this to make money?"

Xu Qiang nodded, then shook his head.

"Is that it or not?" Gu Feng pressed.

Xu Qiang didn't answer. Instead, he picked up another cigarette, lit it, and took a deep drag. At that moment, Xu Qiang's eyes held a trace of sorrow, his cold gaze hiding a faint sadness.

This time, Gu Feng didn't rush to question Xu Qiang. He could tell that Xu Qiang was hiding some secret in his heart.

Just then, a group of people suddenly walked into the entrance of the dai pai dong. The leader was a bald man covered in tattoos. Behind him followed over a dozen young men in their twenties, each exuding a thuggish aura.

"Boss!" the bald leader shouted into the main hall.

The customers in the dai pai dong paled slightly at the sight of this group. Some of the more timid ones even put down their chopsticks and quickly left.

"Who are you?" The boss was a man in his forties, short in stature, wearing an ingratiating smile.

"This is Brother Bo Zai. We're here to collect protection money!" said a young man with dyed blond hair standing beside the bald man.

Brother Bo Zai?

Hearing these three words, Gu Feng's expression changed slightly, and he instinctively looked toward the bald man and his group. At the same time, Xu Qiang also snapped out of his silence, glaring coldly at the bald man and his companions.

"Brother Bo Zai?" The boss looked puzzled. "I thought this was Brother Li's turf?"

*Slap!* Upon hearing the boss's words, Bo Zai sneered, gave the boss a slap, then kicked him to the ground, saying coldly, "Ah Li from the Red Star Gang is lying in the hospital right now. Starting today, Miao Street is under the control of Ah Bo from the Dong Xing Gang."

After saying this, Bo Zai wore an arrogant expression. Even his underlings behind him were acting all high and mighty, their noses practically in the air. They scanned the room with malicious eyes, as if showing off their power.

Suddenly—

The blond-haired man beside Bo Zai fixed his eyes on Xu Qiang. His pupils dilated sharply, and he tugged at the bald man's sleeve, saying, "Brother Bo Zai, isn't that the kid who cut several of our brothers last night?"

As soon as he spoke, Bo Zai and the dozen or so others all turned their attention to Xu Qiang. A cruel smile appeared at the corner of Bo Zai's mouth, and he waved his right hand, saying, "Waste him!"

As Bo Zai spoke, several of his underlings behind him had already pulled out daggers and cleavers from their waistbands and were walking toward Xu Qiang.

Xu Qiang sprang to his feet, grabbing a beer bottle from the table and smashing it against the tabletop. He then gripped the broken neck of the bottle, glaring coldly at the approaching men, while saying in a low voice to Gu Feng, "This doesn't concern you. Get out of here first!" With that, Xu Qiang charged at the thug in front like a frenzied wolf.

P: Friends who haven't bookmarked this book, please add it to your bookshelf. Also... leave your recommendation votes, thank you!