Spring Breeze Twenty Years

Chapter 449 Breakup

Hei Zi said, "Fifth Brother, what do you mean? What money are you talking about? I need the money right now, stop babbling."

Huang Laowu tightened his bag behind him and said, "How long have you been away from home? Hei Zi, I'm really impressed with you now. You're incredibly arrogant. You don't watch the shop or go home, but you come to the police station demanding money. Do you think I owe you anything?"

Hei Zi frowned and said, "Fifth Brother, what do you mean? You're not planning to give it to us? Can this group even stay together? If not, then break up. What's the point of this?"

Old Huang nodded and said, "Alright, you're so powerful now, there's no point in partnering with us. You need to make big money. Let's split it then. Are you going home tomorrow? Let's go talk it over."

Hei Zi waved his hand and said, "Okay, then we'll split it. I'll give you the money you two invested tomorrow. You two can go now."

Huang Laowu chuckled and said, "Hei Zi, you're so meticulous in your dealings? I never realized before. You put in six thousand with all your might, are you trying to force me and Lao Hou out? How dare you? Put in six thousand and force out fifty thousand? Have you gone mad from playing cards all day?"

Hei Zi said, "What, five thousand? We each get sixteen thousand. Did you eat the other ten thousand?"

Huang Laowu said, "Don't you know where that ten thousand came from? I lent you money to partner with you and split the profits, and now you've turned me into a grudge?"

Hei Zi waved his hand and said, "Don't bring that up. You didn't get that ten thousand back? I didn't invest it. Lao Wu, is it meaningful for you to say this so confidently? Now that you don't want to partner with me anymore, I'm returning the money to you. What are you going to do about it? Aren't you going to be ungrateful?"

Huang Laowu said, "So, according to you, giving us a refund is being generous, or what?"

Hei Zi said, "So what? It's only because of you guys that I feel bad. What about someone else? It wasn't me who suggested we stop being partners, so why should I pay you back? You wanted to leave, I didn't force you to, so who are you asking for money from?"

"Didn't you leave willingly? Isn't that reasonable? Fine, we're brothers, you two come collect your money tomorrow. I won't shortchange you a penny; I, Heizi, always keep my word."

Huang Laowu stretched and said, "Hei Zi, you've really become something else now. I never knew you were so particular. Alright, stop showing off here. Go wherever you want. From now on, let's pretend we don't know each other. Let's go."

Hei Zi said, "You guys can leave now. Leave the money behind. What about this month's accounts? Is it enough to cover your costs? If it is, just keep it. Return any excess to me. Come visit me again anytime, and I won't charge you."

Huang Laowu glanced at Lao Hou, who bit his upper lip, shook his head, let out a long sigh, and turned to go into the billiard hall.

Huang Laowu clicked his tongue and said, "You're really shameless now, Hei Zi. It's a miracle that you can gamble like this. I'll give you this shop, would you dare to take it? Hurry up and take them away, don't embarrass yourself here. Seriously, we've known each other for a long time, and I really don't want to fall out with you."

Inside the house, Old Hou said to a child who was standing to the side watching the commotion, "Wu, go to the police station and find Deputy Chief Liu. Tell him that there are people causing trouble and smashing up the shop. Run quickly."

The boy named Xiao Wu turned his head and glanced at Lao Hou, then held out his hand and said, "Five yuan."

Old Hou said, "You little brat, get going!"

Xiao Wu ran outside, then turned back and said, "Five yuan, remember that." He then ran off quickly.

Someone nearby asked, "What's wrong, Lao Hou?"

Old Hou shook his head and said, "MLGBD, it's just so confusing. Gambling is a scam. I reckon a fight is brewing soon."

The man looked outside and asked, "Who is it?"

Old Hou said, "Hei Zi. He's lost so much he's gone mad, he's brought outsiders to cause trouble." He walked to the door and tilted his head to look over there.

Hei Zi glared at Huang Lao Wu and said, "Lao Wu, are you really going to disrespect me today?"

Huang Laowu said, "How am I supposed to give you face? Give you the shop? Are you crazy? Or are you stupid?"

Third Brother said, "Damn it, this is ridiculous! Hurry up and give me the money. I don't have time to waste here with your nonsense."

Hei Zi Chong Huang Lao Wu said, "Give me the money. This is pointless. I don't need your money."

Huang Laowu said, "Do you think I need your money? You want to rob me? Come on, the bag is right here, come and grab it."

Hei Zi immediately grabbed Huang Laowu's bag. Huang Laowu didn't resist and let him take it. The bag contained the money collected from the dance hall and karaoke bar that day, not much, just over a thousand yuan.

In fact, back then, opening a karaoke bar didn't earn much money. A table cost fifty yuan, and at most, a night would only bring in two or three hundred yuan, which was less than what a dance hall could make. However, for ordinary people in that era, earning a hundred yuan a day was considered a very lucrative business. So, starting in 93, karaoke bars quickly spread to various cities.

Hei Zi took out the money from his pocket and counted it. Huang Lao Wu had already neatly arranged it into two stacks, one for karaoke and one for dance hall, and even tucked a note inside. This was to be accounted for with Li Gengsheng first thing tomorrow morning.

Hei Zi counted the money, looked up at Huang Lao Wu, and asked, "Only a little over a thousand? How come it's so little? Did you hide some?"

Huang Laowu was lighting a cigarette, his hands protecting his lighter without looking up, and said, "Hide your mother's ass! You think I'm like you?"

Hei Zi tossed the bag to Huang Lao Wu and said, "Forget it, whether you hide it or not is none of my business. Let's go, Third Brother. Lao Hou should still have some money. You can definitely scrape together the money today. I never expected them to turn out like this, they're trying to cheat me out of my money. Damn it. Tomorrow I'll do it all by myself. I'm not bragging, but I can make 30,000 yuan a month from this shop like it's nothing."

The third brother and his group followed Hei Zi to the entrance of the billiard hall. Hei Zi said, "Give me the money bag. You and Lao Wu can go back now. We'll settle the accounts tomorrow. I won't shortchange you a single penny."

Old Hou looked at Hei Zi and said, "You're pretty rich now, huh? Come on, pay back our eight thousand first, then you can brag."

Hei Zi waved his hand and said, "We'll settle things tomorrow. You'll get what you owe. Give me the money bag; I need money today. You and Lao Wu should go home now. This matter has nothing to do with you anymore." He reached for the bag, but Lao Hou slapped Hei Zi's hand away. Huang Lao Wu said from behind, "Lao Hou, give it to him. Let him take it."

Old Hou glanced at Huang Laowu, took off his bag, and tossed it to Hei Zi. Hei Zi caught it, slung it over his shoulder, opened the bag, and pulled out the money. The billiard hall had a bit more money, around two thousand yuan. Hei Zi added it all up and gave it to Third Brother, saying, "How about that? You kept your word, right? That's settled then. I'll stay and watch the shop. I'll find someone to watch it for me tomorrow, and then I'll come back to you guys."

Third Brother shook the money in his hand, nodded, and said, "Okay, then you can watch the shop. Call me if you need anything."

Hei Zi leaned closer to Third Brother and said, "If we don't have enough money to pay off the debts tomorrow, we might have to borrow some from you to pay them back. It wouldn't be right if we didn't pay them back. We've grown up together since we were kids, so we can't talk back to each other."

Third Brother looked around the billiard hall and said with a smile, "Sure, no big deal. If you don't have enough money, Third Brother can add it. I'll consider it a small investment, okay?"

Hei Zi said, "Okay, if it's really not enough, Third Brother, you can invest. I definitely trust you."

Third Brother stuffed the money into his pocket and said, "Let's go then, brothers, let's find a place to masturbate for a while."

(End of this chapter)