Marry a Duke

Chapter 219 Compensation

"Two tables and a few stools are indeed not worth fifty taels, but this big brother has delayed our business and we have lost a lot of money. I'm asking you to pay fifty taels for the sake of you bringing a bunch of little brothers with you."

This was her first time opening a shop, so she wanted to see something happy.

If one person comes and pays protection money, there will be a second one, a third one—

The little money she earns is not enough to support her family, and it's not even enough to pay protection fees.

"Don't think that we are easy to bully just because we are outsiders. We run a shop legitimately and pay taxes to the government. The government will protect our legitimate rights and interests. There is no need for you to take action."

"Who do you think you are? You still need the government to protect you." One of the younger brothers said this, and the others laughed at him.

It can be seen that they also do not believe that the government will help the merchants.

That's why Scar Brother dared to come to the door openly to collect protection fees.

Maybe they are in collusion with the government.

"Even if the government doesn't protect us, we are law-abiding and can protect ourselves."

Alin took a step forward.

After all, he is a guard from the *** Palace, so his skills are certainly not comparable to those small characters in front of him.

Cheng Jiang doesn't even need to take any action.

He could clean them up cleanly by himself.

"Let's make a choice for each other." With Alin standing in front of her, Fu Ran's back was still very straight. She was glad that she brought Alin and Cheng Jiang out with her this time.

It ensures their safety to a great extent.

If she was alone with Dong Niang and Wu You and encountered these scoundrels, they would probably have no choice but to pay money to ensure their safety.

"Are you going to pay to compensate for our losses, or are we going to pay for your medical expenses?"

Scar Brother and his brothers have never encountered such a lack of respect.

The younger brothers immediately became excited.

He had to rush into the shop and smash everything inside.

They can choose not to pay protection fees, but there is no need to do this business.

The first person who rushed in was a tall and thin man, but Alin used all his strength to pull the man away.

The latter ones are not difficult to solve.

Everything was resolved within two moves.

He is just a bully who relies on his evil, numbers of people, and ferocious appearance. He collects protection fees because he is a gambler and bullies the weak and fears the strong, not because he has any strength.

Perhaps in Nanxiang Town, they are indeed considered powerful.

But this little bit of strength is nothing in front of Alin.

Several people were knocked down and hadn't yet reacted to what was happening.

"You, who are you?"

Scar brother said in horror.

Who on earth are they to have such skills?

The person behind him is the constable from the government office, but he doesn't have such skills.

Alin stepped forward and stepped on Scar Brother’s chest.

"You are not qualified to ask about our origins. If you know what's good for you, get out of here as soon as possible. If you're late, someone will come and carry you away."

His tone sank, and Scar Brother's little brothers almost pissed themselves in fear and crawled away.

"Wait--." Fu Ran asked Alin to stop Scar Brother.

"Why are you in such a hurry? I haven't paid the money yet."

Those who were watching the fun finally understood that Scar Qiang was no match for Aling's brother and he was beaten to a pulp.

They also plucked up the courage to speak up for Fu Ran.

"Scar Qiang, you smashed someone's things, so you should pay for it. How can you leave without paying?"

"That's right. They were beaten like this but still demanded protection money. Are they protecting others, or do they want others to protect them?"

"Our Nanxiang is unlucky because of people like you."

Every word they said was like a needle piercing Scar's heart.

"Shut up, it's none of your business." Scar said angrily.

"Give me the money. I'll give you fifty taels now. If I delay any further, my loss will be even greater. Then don't accuse me of raising the price."

Scar Qiang doesn't have fifty taels on him.

Fifty taels is not a small sum.

Even if they collected protection fees for several months, they might not be able to collect more than fifty taels.

Those small merchants only give one or two taels of silver a month.

Some of them can't be given even if they are beaten.

"I, we don't have fifty taels - you bastards, why are you running away from me? Come back quickly."

A few younger brothers who had not yet run away ran back.

If several people pooled their money together, they could only get ten taels of silver.

No more.

Ten taels of silver were handed to Fu Ran. There were still customers queuing outside. Fu Ran took a pen and paper and wrote an IOU, and asked them to put their fingerprints on it.

"I'll keep these ten taels for now. You still owe me forty taels. You have three days to pay it back. Otherwise, I will take the IOU and sue the government." Fu Ran said.

Scar Qiang responded immediately.

Fu Ran then let them go.

Several people supported each other and left.

After crossing the street, a younger brother said with a sad face: "Boss, do we really have to collect forty taels to compensate them?"

"What's the use of compensation? As long as we get out of this, you still want to make money from us."

"But they have our IOU in their hands. What if they take it to the government?"

"Are you stupid? Will the government believe them? As long as we don't admit it, the government won't help them."

Yes, they are familiar with the government officials.

From time to time, I would pay more tribute to my superiors.

Scar Qiang narrowed his eyes at this time.

There was cruelty in his eyes.

"Tonight, light up that shop."

Several younger brothers were startled.

"Brother, there are more than one shop, and they are connected to a whole street. If we light up the whole street, we will really go to jail."

"Idiot, let's just stand aside and burn only one piece to prevent the fire from getting bigger."

"This is good."

*

I was delayed today by something, so the closing time was postponed by an hour.

Fortunately, we sold out and closed the stall in the afternoon.

Fu Ran picked out two tables and some stools again and sat on some cheap wooden stools.

Some people bought breakfast and there was no room to sit in the shop, but they liked to gather together and chat, so they prepared some small wooden stools so that they could eat breakfast in their hands.

The shop was locked.

But this lock is not very strong and ordinary people cannot open it. However, if someone uses violence, it can definitely be broken.

When Fu Ran was leaving, he felt a little worried.

"Ah Lin, do you think Scar Qiang and the others will come to take revenge?"

"If they dare, they live in Nanxiang. If they dare to touch the shop, I will make them pay tenfold."

Fu Ran had seen A Lin's skills before. He was indeed very ordinary among the guards of the ***.

But such general guarding skills are also acquired through years of practice.

Commonly known as Lianjiazi.

Cheng Jiang's skills are even better than Alin's.

Ordinary thugs can still be dealt with.

Fu Ran finally felt relieved and went home to have a nap.

The only downside to running a breakfast shop is that she has to get up very early in the morning to prepare. If she doesn't take a nap, she's afraid she'll die suddenly.

You can make money, but if you don't have the life to spend it, it's meaningless.

Dongniang took Wuyou, Alin and Furan for a nap.

Cheng Jiang is looking after the house.

If Wuyou sleeps, Dongniang will sleep with him.

Wuyou didn't want to sleep, so Dongniang played with her in the yard.