Cosmic Demon

Chapter 18 Beiguan Street, Boss Ze
The saying "the east is poor, the west is expensive, the south is rich, and the north is chaotic" in Tai'an urban area is widely circulated.

The "Dongqiong" here refers to the old factory street located in the eastern suburbs of Dangyang.

As industries moved away and factories closed down one after another, this old city area seemed to be forgotten, like a frail patient who had lost too much blood, gasping for breath and barely surviving.

But just like the weeds growing in the cracks of rock strata, the more difficult the environment, the more it can stimulate tenacious vitality.

The Old Factory Street did not become desolate and cold, but instead exuded a stronger sense of life.

At ten past seven in the evening, the streets and alleys gradually became lively.

Grandpas and ladies wearing sandals and fanning themselves with palm-leaf fans were strolling around; self-employed people selling fried and spicy skewers were pushing carts out to sell their food; the loudspeakers kept repeating the magical sound of "Bobo Chicken~ Ah Bo Ah Bobo Chicken~ Bobo Chicken at one yuan a skewer"!
"Ashi, let me treat you to a grilled chicken rack! This one tastes the best. I used to pester my mom to buy it for me every day!"

Li Yuan stopped in front of a cart with barbed wire and charcoal underneath.

Seven or eight chicken racks are turned over and roasted until they are slightly golden brown. The aroma is so fragrant that it makes people drool.

"Thanks, Brother Yuan. I'm just hungry. I haven't been to Beiguan Street for a long time. I almost forgot what grilled chicken racks taste like!"

Qin Shi was not polite and said directly to the boss:
"Let's make it spicy, no vinegar, more cumin."

At first glance, Li Yuan seems quite cold and difficult to get along with, but it's only when you get closer that you'll discover that he has a pretty straightforward personality.

He is a bit like the people of Jianghu that Qin Shi had met in his previous life, and he believes in the principle of "righteousness first" in old movies.

"Brother Yuan, I want to eat chicken too..."

Xie Yucheng came closer with a smile.

"Get out of here! You stuffed half a box of nutritional paste into your stomach and still managed to chew on a chicken rack. What a glutton!"

Li Yuan cursed but paid the boss three times.

Xie Yucheng pushed the issue further and deliberately said:

"At this time, it would be more comfortable to have another bottle of Hongbao soda."

Li Yuan took out a few small bills:

"Don't read it, just go buy it yourself! If you win, remember to give me the bottle cap, don't hide it!"

Xie Yucheng looked innocent:
"It's unfair, Brother Yuan, how could I do such an inhumane thing!"

Not long after, Qin Shi was given a bottle of orange-flavored Hongbao soda. He bit the straw and took a long sip. The coolness rushed straight to his brain. Then he gnawed on the hot grilled chicken rack in his hand. It was really a perfect match!
"My mom used to work in a slaughterhouse, and she would bring frozen chicken racks to my sister and me to fry every now and then."

Xie Yucheng had a smile on his face and said happily:

"The factory was in a recession later on, and I was laid off and had to sweep the floors and do laundry. It became hard to get food there again."

Li Yuan sneered:

"When my dad worked in the steel mill, he was the production model every month! The factory distributed benefits, such as apples and hairtails brought home in boxes, and during the Chinese New Year, we also received soap, towels, and large calendars... But when the Xinxing development was over, everyone moved to Tai'an New City and built a large urban circle. No one remembered Dangyang!"

Qin Shi was standing nearby and was deeply moved by what he heard. At that time, large-scale production was in full swing in the eastern suburbs of Dangyang. Workers gathered in groups and gathered together every time they got off work.

The machines in the factory run 24 hours a day without stopping, and in every corner there are banners with slogans such as "Focus on production and advance the process in an orderly manner", "Quality first, keep improving", and "Strive hard to increase production and efficiency".

The reason why chicken racks were chosen as the number one popular delicacy in Jiuchang Street is because the largest chicken farm and slaughterhouse in Hengzhou were opened here.

Workers and machines separate and pack the chicken and other parts for delivery to urban areas.

The remaining chicken racks were particularly cheap and tasted great after frying, so they became popular as a side dish for drinking.

"Those unforgettable years of passion and glory can only be heard from the older generation at the dinner tables in restaurants."

Qin Shi sighed in his heart and followed the two people who were chatting in front.

Walking into the deep night, we entered the busiest Beiguan Street. …

……

The planning and construction of Dangyang Old Town is very complicated.

Various factories, tube-shaped buildings and family quarters are densely packed together, resulting in cramped alleys and narrow corridors, forming a winding spider-web-like layout.

Generally, the elderly people living in the old factory streets are accustomed to calling the north and south sides "streets" and the east and west sides "roads".

Beiguan Street is quite special. Its original name was Xingshun Road. It is located right at the intersection of the north, south, east and west, and is separated by a pedestrian bridge in the middle.

Due to the huge flow of people, a large number of shops have been opened. With fashionable clothes, the latest electronic products and various entertainment venues, they attract fun-loving men and women from the Old Factory Street to flock in.

Qin Shi held the straw in his mouth, shook the empty bottle, and asked softly:
"How do you know Brother Ze?"

As a well-known model student in Baogong Street, he naturally had no time to hang out in the night market late at night.

When I first arrived at Beiguan Street, everything around me seemed unfamiliar.

Qin Shi took a quick look and saw many young people wearing sailor shirts and carrying small green bags across their shoulders in the bustling crowd coming and going.

They gathered in groups of two or three, some leaning against the curb smoking and drinking, some standing at the door of karaoke bars and nightclubs and slipping small cards to everyone they met.

Before I went to school, my parents always told me to stay away from these people.

Later, Qin Shi heard neighbors gossiping and learned that this group of people were called the "Cleaver Team" and were thugs who roamed the streets.

Those army green backpacks were often stuffed with bricks or kitchen knives, so they could be used for fighting when something happened.

Compared to the family quarters, where there are food stalls and convenience stores lined up, and the atmosphere of old men and women listening to the radio and enjoying the cool air.

This place exudes a feeling of intoxication similar to that of alcoholic beverages, like another degenerate form of the glamorous urban circle.

"How did you get to know Brother Ze? Of course it was because of a fight."

Li Yuan did not hide anything and said slowly:
"Acheng and I were just in high school, and during the summer vacation we went to Beiguan Street to look for part-time jobs. A labor manager took advantage of our young age and introduced us to work as waiters in a karaoke bar. He said we would be paid daily, fifty yuan a day, and we would get commissions from selling more drinks.

As a result, the labor leader not only took twenty yuan from Ah Cheng and me, but also deducted our commission for alcohol. I couldn't hold back my anger, so I hit him on the head with a bottle."

Xie Yucheng took over the conversation with a wry smile:

"He's a laborer, taking people everywhere to take jobs, and he's a veteran. As soon as Brother Yuan started, I knew something bad was going to happen, so I pulled him and tried to run, but I didn't get away. The thugs at the door stopped us, and then we were dragged into the private room and beaten like two dead dogs.

That old man asked me and Brother Yuan to pay 10,000 yuan for medical expenses. If we can't come up with it, we will each lose one hand."

Li Yuan shrugged:

"Later, Brother Ze came forward. When he found out that we were both studying at No. 9 Middle School, he asked Ah Cheng and I to work at the place he was in charge of. Previously, it was at the Banana Karaoke Hall, but recently it was moved to the Midnight Palace next to the Hongxia Hotel."

Qin Shi threw the soda bottle into the trash can:
"Zege people are quite righteous."

Li Yuan nodded:
"Brother Ze also studied in No. 9 Middle School for a year. Later, his family was in financial difficulty, so he went on a ship with his relatives. It seemed to be a large ship that dredged sand. He could earn hundreds of thousands of dollars a night! Now he helps the big boss look after the business!

Brother Ze takes good care of his subordinates, and everyone is willing to work with him. Otherwise, how can we say "West of Beiguan Street, Brother Ze is the best"? "

It turns out to be "Causeway Bay Chen Haonan".

Qin Shi smiled, wondering if Brother Ze also had long flowing hair and a group of brothers playing with lighters.

"We're here, Ah Shi. In front of us is the Midnight Palace, the most splendid nightclub on Beiguan Street. I heard that many wealthy people in the urban area would sneak over here to play."

Li Yuan took the lead, leading Xie Yucheng and Qin Shi, and turned into a dark alley where various black garbage bags were piled up, and raised his hand to knock on the locked iron door.

(End of this chapter)