That year the flowers bloomed 1981

Chapter 1431 Is this how you all play?

Li Ye, Jin Peng, and the others ultimately failed to pay their respects to the Old Locust Tree because they witnessed a spectacle on their way there.

A group of seventeen or eighteen-year-old kids and a group of twenty-something youths were gesturing and exchanging threats on the street, saying things like "I'm going to kill you" and "You're fucking asking for it."

Since the crackdown in the early 1980s, street fights have decreased significantly, and the control of weapons has also decreased. At most, people might play with small iron rods. So, when such a situation occurs, many people will gather around to watch the excitement.

When Li Ye and Li Dayong saw those cursing and swearing kids, it was as if they were seeing their younger selves, because they were clearly high school students on winter break.

"Brother Peng, do you think a fight could break out?"

"Hard to say, students these days are all pushovers. If it were you and Dayong's time, they would have been fighting tooth and nail by now."

"What do you mean 'back then'? You were the one with the worst temper back then, okay? Everyone on this street knows you! You still have the nerve to talk about me like that?"

Li Ye was unhappy. He and Li Dayong used to fight often, but they always believed in "I won't offend others unless they offend me," unlike Jin Peng, who was a street thug who would start a fight at the slightest provocation.

However, Jin Peng continued, "Xiao Ye, don't you understand yet? Those students went to the arcade during their vacation and got scammed by these young people, so they called over and started making a huge fuss. If it were you and Dayong, could you have put up with it until now?"

"Arcade? Where's an arcade?"

Li Ye glanced around but didn't see the arcade.

Jin Peng pointed to an alley: "Look, it's in that alley, it's your cheap cousin's business."

Jin Peng then pointed to several young men arguing: "Those guys hang out with your cousin, one of them is even his cellmate."

Li Ye immediately remembered what his cousin Zhao Meiwen had told him: his younger cousin Cui Aiguo had opened an arcade, and business seemed to be doing quite well.

Arcades in the 1990s did indeed do well, but they were also rife with problems. These places were natural magnets for the unemployed, attracting scoundrels and troublemakers.

Since these people don't have much money, they naturally bully another major group in the arcade—students.

Playing video games is in a student's nature. These days, to play video games, you either need a Famicom at home or you have to go to an arcade.
Studying hard is a noose around a student's neck, so how can they have fun at home? As a result, students like to go to arcades in groups, and then they often get into conflicts with people from outside the community.

"That kind of person is not my cousin."

Li Ye said disdainfully, then suddenly asked, "Brother Peng, how do you know these people?"

Jin Peng sneered, "I've been coming back frequently lately because of the metal smelting plant. One of your sister-in-law's relatives has become addicted to this arcade and insists I take him there."
After I came over and took a look, I found that the kid could make hundreds of yuan a day. I can't afford to support a rich guy like that; I'd stay as far away from him as possible.

"How much money do you make in a day?"

Li Ye sensed something was wrong.

He assumed that Cui Aiguo's arcade was the kind of coin-operated game arcade where you could play racing games, King of Fighters, or Thunder Fighter.

These days, a game only costs a few cents. Even if you play for twenty hours a day, you won't spend a hundred dollars!

Then there's only one possibility: this arcade has more than just coin-operated game machines; there's another, more exciting "game."

Just then, Li Ye saw Cui Aiguo.

Compared to the last time he and Tong Mingyue went to Beijing, Cui Aiguo was noticeably fatter, and his eyes were also more "spirited" than before.

However, when he saw Li Ye, he coldly turned his head away, as if he didn't recognize Li Ye. Li Ye understood Cui Aiguo's mentality.

Decades later, many successful people will encounter relatives similar to Cui Aiguo. After their demands are ignored, they will become stubborn like this: "So what if you're rich? We can't afford to be relatives like you."

[Nobody wants a relative like you.]

Li Ye's face immediately darkened.

Li Ye didn't care whether Cui Aiguo lived or died, but since this matter involved his uncle Zhao Yuanchao, Li Ye couldn't just ignore it.

These days, government employees are all very bold; they all think that small things are no big deal.

People like Zhao Yuanchao, who live in a county town, are more likely to "lower their guard".

Zhao Yuanchao may not have a direct connection with this arcade, but that doesn't stop Cui Aiguo from using the title of deputy director of the Public Security Bureau to bully others. If something happens one day, how will Zhao Yuanchao explain himself?
"I have to go to my aunt's place. You all go and pay your respects to the Old Locust Tree God first!"

Li Ye parted ways with Jin Peng and the others, and went to an appliance store near the county department store.

My aunt Li Mingxiang's home appliance business has grown bigger and bigger. Last year, she built a five-story home appliance building, which she built ostentatiously right across from the department store.

Today is the 29th day of the twelfth lunar month. My aunt was standing her last shift when she saw Li Ye walk by, which surprised her.

Li Mingxiang smiled and said, "What's wrong, General Manager? Are you here to give your aunt some guidance on work?"

Li Ye shook his head and said, "No, I just saw two groups of people arguing on the street. After hearing what Jin Peng said, I realized it was related to Cui Aiguo."

Li Ye explained in detail the pros and cons of the arcade, hoping that his aunt could have a good talk with his uncle and that they could no longer spoil Cui Aiguo.

Of course, Li Ye believed that Zhao Yuanchao's indulgence was most likely due to Li Mingxiang's influence; otherwise, how would he know who Cui Aiguo was?

Sure enough, Li Mingxiang exclaimed in surprise, "What? You're saying there's gambling inside? Aren't they those video game machines?"

Li Ye sneered and said, "Perhaps a few cents for a game coin is no longer enough to satisfy his appetite."

Li Mingxiang said with some hesitation, "But what if Aiguo gets arrested too?"

Li Ye said, "He's only gambling with a few hundred yuan at a time right now. It will be too late to catch him once he starts gambling with much bigger amounts."

"I'll call your uncle right now."

Upon hearing that it might affect her husband's future, Li Mingxiang disregarded any sisterly affection and immediately began dialing Zhao Yuanchao's number.

After making the call, Li Mingxiang anxiously told Zhao Yuanchao what was going on, urging him to eliminate the potential danger as soon as possible.

The couple chatted on the phone for a long time before Li Mingxiang finally hung up.

Then she said mysteriously, "Your uncle told me to leave it alone. In my experience, he's probably playing the long game! Maybe he'll pull in the net soon."

Li Ye: "."

Is this how you all play?

(End of this chapter)