Being carried onto an ambulance at the start? But this is America!

"Hey! Kid!"

Mike's disgruntled voice came from the side. He took a swig of a cheap energy drink, unusually avoiding alcohol today.

Pointing to himself and Old Tom, he said, "What about us? Looking down on the old man? Did I just show off my gun and skills for nothing last night?"

Old Tom also pushed up his reading glasses and silently looked over.

Li Ping was somewhat amused and exasperated: "Tom is our technical director. We rely on you for all these old appliances and recycled equipment. That's our core competitiveness."

"As for Mike, why don't you go grab a couple of drinks and relax today?"

He didn't expect that old Mike really wanted to do something, after all, he had no worries about food or drink and received more than a thousand dollars in welfare every month.

"Drink less today. I'm carrying a gun; I want to do my part for our cooperation!"

Mike's eyes widened, as if last night's experience had reignited his fighting spirit.

"We're a legitimate business, Mike."

Li Ping's mind raced and he had an idea. "However, since the recycling point is occupied, it does need reliable people to take turns looking after it."

"I don't want people who are addicted to drugs to join us. What do you think of the idea of ​​gathering some homeless veterans?"

I remember an old soldier once came to Roland for help; it was Franklin who brought him along.

Mike's eyes lit up when he heard this: "That's a good idea. I know quite a few homeless veterans who make a living on the streets."

They're all people rejected by this damn society. I only befriend those who haven't touched drugs. Leave this to me.

Everyone had something to do; it was a wonderful day.

On the way to church, Li Ping gained a deeper understanding of the auspicious and inauspicious cards.

"If we don't take action, last night's events will be disastrous. But if we act and seek help from other forces, we might be able to turn misfortune into good fortune!"

Taking a step down the path of power made Li Ping much more at ease, and things proceeded quite smoothly thereafter.

Li Ping and Li Fan showered and changed clothes in the church, and then properly finished their worship service.

Li Ping found attending church for the first time quite novel.

During the donation ceremony, Li Ping solemnly placed a brand-new $100 bill into the donation box.

This gesture was noticed by Ms. Marina, whose smile became even more benevolent.

Money doesn't matter; what matters is the faith in God.

The couple looking for movers were a middle-class pair; the husband was white and the wife was Latino.

Both husband and wife got promoted, and they are moving to a more upscale neighborhood.

Seeing that the Li brothers were young, strong, and full of energy, and hearing Marina mention that they had served Ms. Flora and received positive feedback, the couple's concerns were largely dispelled.

Especially after hearing that they had a collaboration event that could provide more manpower, the couple readily agreed and arranged to start work the next day.

After having a hearty free lunch at the church, Li Ping took Li Fan to meet up with Fletcher and the others.

"Be careful, kids. I heard the streets have been quite chaotic lately," Marina cautioned.

"Don't worry, we'll be careful." Li Ping nodded seriously.

While in the church, Fletcher kept sending messages to him, reporting news to his boss.

Last night, there weren't eight, but ten members of the Holy Shield gang who went to fight the White Raven.

The two fell behind during the chase; Franklin was the one who caught up.

The police didn't seem to intend to cause trouble for those who weren't present at the scene.

So they made contact with Franklin and successfully took over his grocery store, where they are currently located.

The store's name is very straightforward: Corner General Store.

Li Ping remembered that place; it had all sorts of things inside.

From potato chips and drinks to hardware tools, from cheap clothes to second-hand small appliances, there were even some cigarettes of dubious origin and fancy-packaged candies piled up in the corner.

Its biggest reputation is for selling second-hand items; people can always find treasures there, making the shop quite popular.

The shop owner has a knack for business, leveraging both online and offline channels.

Old Tom said that the things that had been repaired could be consigned to him for sale.

Franklin surrendered more easily than expected; he agreed almost instantly after Fletcher revealed his purpose.

With the Shield Gang gone, he was free from his cousin's clutches, but an even greater fear followed.

The loan and rent for the shop won't disappear; he and his daughter still need to eat and go to school.

Having lost his gang affiliation, he, a small fry with a bit of money, would immediately be targeted by other wolves in this neighborhood.

For him, the appearance of Fletcher and his group was a straw he had to grasp at.

At least they know the ropes and follow the rules, and they can quickly organize a group of people, making them capable of standing firm in this chaos.

Good afternoon, Franklin.

Li Ping pushed open the somewhat old glass door of the corner store, and the bell hanging on the door rang crisply.

He wore a gentle smile as his gaze swept over the slightly messy but well-stocked shop.

Franklin was tidying up cigarettes behind the counter when he heard the sound and jumped.

It sounds a bit like the masked leader's voice in the parking lot last night?

He looked up and saw Li Ping's handsome, sculpted Asian face, with the burly Li Fan following behind.

Franklin immediately realized that this was the boss Fletcher had been talking about.

His heart was pounding, but he immediately lowered his head and forced a smile: "Mr. Ping, you've arrived."

If it really is the same group from last night, they are ruthless and intelligent; he can't afford to offend them.

"very good!"

Li Ping nodded; Franklin's identity had changed very quickly.

Behind him, a little girl of about five or six years old, with light blonde hair and blue eyes, was timidly grabbing his trouser leg, peeking at Li Ping with a mixture of curiosity and fear.

"What a lovely child."

Li Ping naturally squatted down, his gaze level with the little girl's, and asked in a gentle tone, "What's your name?"

"Anna...

Franklin hurriedly pulled his daughter along, his voice hoarse, "Quick, call him uncle."

"uncle."

Anna called out softly, blinking her eyes.

Unlike her father, she wasn't afraid. Instead, she thought the uncle was really handsome, unlike those menacing people who often came to the store.

"good."

Li Ping smiled, reached out and gently pinched Anna's chubby little face; it felt nice to the touch.

He reached out and gave her a red envelope.

He immediately stood up and patted Franklin's tense shoulder with just the right amount of force.

"Relax, Franklin. We're not the Shield. We don't touch the leaf, and we don't do any of that dirty work that's deadly."

We are the "Bridge Underpass Cleaning and Recycling Cooperative," doing legitimate business.

Franklin's shoulders relaxed, and he nodded repeatedly: "Understood, Mr. Ping, I understand..."

His cousin said the same thing back then.

Franklin had resigned himself to his fate. With Anna around, where could he possibly run off to?

Let's just get through this damn loan first, and see how things go.

Taking advantage of the fact that there were no outsiders in the store, Franklin lowered his voice and quickly explained the details of the grocery store: the monthly turnover was about 20,000 US dollars, but the net profit was only 20%.

With the shop rent and various loans taken out when I opened the shop, my fixed monthly expenses amounted to more than five thousand US dollars.

However, the store's average monthly profit is less than five thousand.

It's unavoidable that profits can't cover expenses, since the money for goods and rent in the store is all borrowed, and the loans have to be repaid.

Previously, the Shield gang mainly used this place as a cover and a place to sell stolen goods. Selling leaves and dealing with various second-hand goods that cost no money were the main sources of profit.

"You can't make money just by selling groceries."

Franklin gave a wry smile. "Otherwise, I would have severed ties with the Shield of God long ago."

"Okay, I understand."

Li Ping nodded, didn't say much, but patted him on the shoulder again.

"Work hard to make a living, Xiao Fu. Follow us, and we'll find a way."

They were interested in this grocery store not to make money, but to have a sales channel.

As long as I don't lose too much, it's a business with no initial investment. What could I possibly be dissatisfied with?

After chatting with Xiao Fu for a while, Li Ping walked through the back door of the grocery store, where there was a yard full of cardboard boxes and miscellaneous items.