A life of success begins with being a landlord.

I protested, "Sister Li, no way! Chunyan and Sister Ling won't disappear from my life just because of 30,000 yuan."

Sister Li sighed softly, "Young man, you're too young."

"Sister Li, you don't understand Chunyan and Sister Ling." I smiled and hung up the phone.

Chunyan and Sister Ling won't abandon me because of 30,000 yuan. Besides, I've made it clear that if they can't pay it back, I won't take it.

Furthermore, I have a bright future. If Chunyan follows me, she might earn 300,000 or even 3 million.

If Chunyan can't figure this out, can't Sister Ling figure it out too?

Back in Sanlichuan, I got off the bus and was about to go upstairs when I noticed two men sitting in front of Fat Sister's Fried Noodles shop, their eyes filled with hostility.

I was slightly surprised and pressed down on the screwdriver at my waist.

The two men saw me and stood up at the same time.

I slowly backed away, retreating to the corner of the wall, and pulled out a screwdriver.

"Brother Zu, don't misunderstand."

The man at the head of the group, who was under forty years old and had scars on his face, raised his hands and said, "I came empty-handed, without bringing anything, to thank you."

I frowned: "What are you thanking me for? I don't know you!"

The scarred man bowed deeply: "Thank you, Brother Zu, for saving my brother the night before last. If it weren't for your help bandaging him, my brother would have died."

"Were the guys fighting here the night before last your brother?" I remembered the brawl the night before last.

"Yes." The scarred man nodded and pointed to the Changhong Restaurant across the street: "Brother Zu, can we go over there and talk to each other alone for a bit? Just me."

I glanced at the Changhong Restaurant across the street and nodded.

The scarred man carried a cloth bag and we crossed the road together to the restaurant.

I knew the way well, and led Scarface into a small private room, then closed the door.

"Thank you so much, Brother Zu, for saving my life."

Scarface bowed again: "My name is Zhang Sheng, nicknamed Zhang Scarface, from northern Anhui. I've heard of you; you're from central Anhui, so we're from the same hometown."

I nodded, accepting my fellow villager's opinion.

Zhang the Scarface opened the cloth bag, and inside was a large bundle of banknotes!

Judging by appearances, it's around 100,000 yuan.

I frowned: "Old Zhang, what does this mean?"

"Brother Zu, listen to me."

Zhang Bazi sighed, "The night before last, you did some simple first aid and saved my two brothers. If it weren't for you, they would have bled to death."

I gave a wry smile: "I saw they were about to die, and I couldn't bear to do it. It was nothing, you don't need to thank me."

"No, your small act of kindness is a lifesaver for us."

Zhang the Scarface pushed the cloth bag toward me and said, "Brother Zu has connections everywhere in Sanlichuan. I need your help with something else: get my brothers out. We have people and money, but no connections."

I frowned: "You mean those people who got arrested for fighting the night before last?"

"Yes, there are six in total, and they are still in the detention center."

Zhang Bazi clasped his hands in a fist and said, "If Brother Zu can help, we will remember your great kindness for the rest of our lives."

"Old Zhang, you overestimate me."

I shook my head and smiled wryly, pushing the money back: "I'm young, just started out here to make a living, how could I possibly help you get someone out of trouble?"

Zhang Bazi is definitely not a good person, and I don't want to have anything to do with them.

I don't dare take his money.

One day I committed a crime, and he said he would give me the money he had stolen, so I went to jail.

"Brother Zu, please accept this thank-you fee."

Zhang Bazi pushed the money back and sighed, "What happened the night before last is still unresolved. As long as Director Nie from Sanlichuan helps, my brother can still get out. Brother Zu, please help me make a connection, I'm begging you. From now on, just say the word, and I'll go through fire and water for you."

I paused for a moment, then dialed Director Nie's number.

Director Nie didn't answer the phone and hung up immediately, probably because he was busy.

Five minutes later, the call came back.

"Director Nie, how are those out-of-towners who got into a fight in Sanlichuan the night before last?" I asked directly.

"He's in the detention center, still under interrogation. What's wrong?"

"Oh, it's nothing, it's just that two of my fellow villagers... seem to have been innocently dragged into this."

"Is that so? Come over here and let's talk in person. I happen to have some time at the Qingshan Club at noon." Director Nie hung up the phone.

Zhang Bazi was overjoyed and bowed deeply again.

"etc."

I waved my hand to stop Zhang the Scarface: "Brother, we're not on the same side. I really don't want to get involved in this. This is the first and last time I'll help you. In the future, I hope you won't come looking for me again. Just pretend we don't know each other."

"Brother Zu, I'll listen to you! But if anything happens in the future, remember to come to me. I'll be there for you through thick and thin!"

"No need." I shook my head, got up and went downstairs.

"Brother Zu, your bag..."

"It's your bag, not mine." I shook my head and left.

Zhang Bazi had no choice but to carry his bag and follow me.

I told Zhang Bazi to take a taxi and wait for me in front of the Qingshan Club.

I rode a motorcycle.

At the Qingshan Club, I first went to see Director Nie alone and explained the situation: "Director Nie, I don't know anything about Old Zhang's background. He asked me for help, so I came to inquire, after all, we're from the same hometown..."

"Fighting can range from minor to serious." Director Nie nodded. "Call Old Zhang over here, I want to ask him what happened."

I thanked him and called Old Zhang in, but I avoided him and went outside to smoke.

Old Zhang brought another big bag; I don't know what was inside.

A dozen minutes later, Nie opened the door, saw Old Zhang out, and smiled at me, saying, "What a coincidence! Old Zhang is still my comrade-in-arms. We used to fight on the same front."

Comrades?

I was taken aback. But judging from their ages, they were indeed not that different.

I know that Nie was a soldier who participated in the rotational fighting on the southern border and was even wounded.

Nie pointed to Old Zhang's face again: "He also escaped death. Look at the scars on his face, they were from stray bullets. If the bullet had been a little off course, he would be in a cemetery on the front lines right now."

I looked at Old Zhang and couldn't help but feel a deep respect: "Amazing!"

Old Zhang smiled, clasped his hands in a fist and said, "Then I won't bother you any longer, Sergeant. Brother Zu, we'll take our leave now."

Nie Suo waved his hand and said, "I'm busy today. I'll treat my comrades to dinner another day."

I nodded and took my leave with Lao Zhang.

As we stepped out of the club, Old Zhang breathed a sigh of relief and clasped his hands in a fist salute to me: "Brother Zu, let's have a meal together."

"No need, I have things to do at home."

I shook my head and declined, then got on my motorcycle and sped away.

Back in Sanlichuan, I was starving.

I ate a big bowl of beef fried rice in front of Fatty Sister's house.

The plump woman brought me a bottle of drink and whispered, "That scarred guy is actually quite loyal; he gave me 1,500 yuan, saying it was compensation for my losses."

I was a little surprised and laughed, "Then you can keep it."

I dare not accept the money, but Sister Fatty can accept it without any problem.

After I finished eating, I returned to 302.

Just as I was about to open the door, I found a cloth bag in front of it, the same cloth bag that Zhang Bazi had given me before!

I turned my head to look around, but there was no one in the hallway.

After a moment's hesitation, I opened the door and took the cloth bag inside.

Upon opening it, there was indeed 100,000 yuan inside. Some of the banknotes even had bloodstains on them.