The Revenge of an Ordinary Man

  Liu Handong walked over to Meng Zhiqiu and sat down, still on his guard. He did have a few friends in the provincial city, but they were all ordinary retired soldiers with no connections to the underworld. This Meng fellow was treating him with courtesy, definitely having ulterior motives.

  Meng Zhiqiu said: "Liu Handong, when did you get to know Lao Pi?"

  "I don't know Old Leather," said Liu Handong.

  Meng Zhiqiu furrowed his brow, picked up the phone and put it down again: "Lao Pi rarely asks me to do things for him, today he called and asked me to take care of you, but you don't even know him, this is really strange."

  Liu Handong was also puzzled, wondering who was behind his protection, but he didn't care about that anymore and just wanted to get out.

  Meng Zhiqiu said again: "From your accent, you are not a local?"

  Liu Handong said: "I am from Jiangbei."

  Meng Zhiqiu patted his shoulder: "Hey, fellow countryman, which part of Jiangbei are you from?"

  "Urban."

  "Hey, do you know Zhuo Er Ge in Hun City?"

  Liu Handong shook his head.

  Meng Zhiqiu smiled: "It seems that we are not brothers in Taoism. Never mind, no matter where you come from, once you arrive here, you are my brother."

  Liu Handong was completely at ease now, knowing that the other party was a friend rather than an enemy, and he could have a good night's sleep tonight.

  The cement floor was hard and cold, but fortunately Meng Zhiqiu ate well, letting the little prisoner give up his blanket to Liu Handong as a mattress, and they made do for one night. The next morning at 5:30, the prisoners got up with sleepy eyes, tidied up their living quarters, brushed their teeth, washed their faces, and went to the toilet. Of course, Meng Zhiqiu and others went first, sitting on the toilet reading the newspaper until they were satisfied before it was the turn of the others.

  At 10 o'clock in the morning, the police brought in six new prisoners. Some were detained for fighting and disturbing the peace, while others were driving under the influence of alcohol. Meng Zhiqiu sat on the bed with a majestic air, casting a sideways glance at the newcomers. Except for one middle-aged man wearing glasses, the other five had a gangster-like demeanor that didn't look like they were good people.

  The police closed the door and left, the cell was as quiet as death, the footsteps outside grew fainter and fainter, the tense atmosphere became thicker, some timid prisoners quietly shrank into the corners.

  Meng Zhiqiu suddenly smiled: "Did Wang send you?"

  The leader of the five men said, "Meng Zhiqiu, our boss entrusted you with this task, how can it be so difficult? Do you think that just because you know Jiangbei's Zhuo Laoer, you can swagger around in Linjiang? Don't forget, this is the provincial capital!"

  Meng Zhiqiu sneered: "Is the provincial capital opened by the Wang family? I don't pee in his pot."

  Another one said: "Meng Heizi, don't be shameless! Today we'll deal with you together!"

  As soon as the words fell, Liu Handong pounced like a hungry tiger, jumping down from the bed and knocking the man to the ground. With the momentum, he punched the man's temple, and the man rolled his eyes and stopped moving.

  Meng Zhiqiu threw away the cigarette butt and shouted: "Take action!"

  The biggest brawl broke out, and the five guys who came were all over 1.8 meters tall, sturdy and fierce, with a lot of fighting experience, and strong resistance to beating. On Meng Zhiqiu's side, there were many people pretending to be brave, but few could actually fight. However, Liu Handong's combat power was extremely strong, without any fancy moves, directly targeting the nerve-dense areas such as the throat, armpits, and abdomen. His punching speed was fast and ruthless, taking down three people by himself, while the other two were knocked down by Meng Zhiqiu.

  Five guys were lying on the ground, and the bespectacled man who had come in with them was trembling with fear, holding his head and not daring to speak.

  The whole process took no more than three minutes, and even Meng Zhiqiu was a little surprised. He returned to the bed, threw a cigarette to Liu Handong: "Brother, your fighting skills are quite good, where did you learn them?"

  "There are often gang fights in the army, and sometimes we also fight with locals." Liu Handong said.

  Meng Zhiqiu nodded and pointed at the people on the ground, saying: "These goods are sent by Wang of Shifeng Group to deal with you. He originally asked someone to pass a message to me, asking me to take care of you. Coincidentally, Lao Pi called me and said he wanted to take care of you, so I didn't bother with Wang's people. Today, they just sent people in."

  Liu Handong said: "Thank you, Brother Meng."

  "Never mind, I'll be leaving tomorrow, and you can take care of yourself for the rest of the days."

  The iron gate opened and the police walked in, looking at the person on the ground, coldly asking: "Who did it?"

  "Report it to the government, they themselves are fighting, we can't persuade them." said Meng Zhiqiu.

  The police officer gave him a stern look, scanning the prisoners in the cell. The prisoners blinked their innocent eyes and nodded in agreement with Meng's words.

  "You said, who exactly moved their hand?" The police looked at the man with the eyes.

  "Yes, yes, yes......yes" The bespectacled man looked at Meng Zhiqiu and then at Liu Handong, suddenly pointing to the five people on the ground, "They killed each other."

  The policeman slammed the door shut with a loud bang and walked away.

  Meng Zhiqiu sneered: "Well done, intellectuals, still using idioms to kill each other, this word is used perfectly."

  The bespectacled man was sweating profusely: "I don't dare, I don't dare."

  Those five guys were beaten into submission, crouching in the corner and no longer daring to cause trouble. Meng Zhiqiu and Liu Handong continued to chat and laugh as if nothing had happened, completely ignoring their venomous glares.

  In the afternoon, the police transferred these five people to other cells.

  Meng Zhiqiu said that the surname Wang will not give up easily, and it is likely that they will send other people in again. The detention center is not a prison, and making a drunk driving or fighting incident can easily get someone in to do things.

  Liu Handong said, come one by one, I'm not afraid of him!

  Meng Zhiqiu burst out laughing and patted Liu Handong's shoulder, saying: "After I leave, this place will be yours to manage."

  The next day, Meng Zhiqiu's detention period was over, and he left after graduation. The prisoners' eyes were filled with tears as they saw off Meng Lao Da. As soon as the door closed, they immediately gathered around Liu Lao Da, listening to his instructions.

  Liu Handong sat cross-legged on the cement floor, coughed dryly and said: "From now on, the rules have to be changed. I won't accept gifts or let people wash my feet. Everyone will take turns using the toilet and each person will be given enough time. Brothers are all from different places and industries, being able to gather here is fate. If you want to live well, you must unite. What do you say?

  "Yes!" everyone replied in unison, Liu Handong was capable of fighting and had a good temper. The humanized management method he developed as a squad leader in the army was put to use in the detention center, and the prisoners all sincerely supported him.

  The bespectacled man was even more tearful: "Being able to meet Liu Lao Da is truly my good fortune."

  "Don't call him 'Lao Da', call him 'Class Monitor'." Liu Handong corrected his wording.

  The glasses man is called Chen Yada, a small white-collar worker. He was locked in the detention center for the first time after committing a crime, and his fear and anxiety made him gain a lot of white hair overnight. However, the bullying and abuse he imagined did not occur, and Liu Handong covered him, which moved him very much.

  Liu Handong remained vigilant, but the Shifeng Group did not send anyone else in. Ten days later, Chen Yada's detention period was over and she left first, leaving her phone number with Liu Handong before departing and grasping his hand to say: "Monitor, let's keep in touch often."

  Five days passed and Liu Handong's detention period was over. He signed the penalty notice at the Public Security Detention Center and walked out of the main gate of the First Detention House. The sun shone brightly with not a cloud in the sky, and the area in front of the detention house was empty. Under a big tree far away, a pedal motorcycle was parked, on which sat a woman wearing Ray-Ban sunglasses.

  Ma Ling came to pick him up.

  Liu Handong ran over with a smile, and was about to get on the back seat of the motorcycle when Ma Ling jumped down from the road: "What are you doing, showing off?"

  "Aren't you here to pick me up?" Liu Handong asked innocently.

  "Where's the woman driving the man? You drive, I'll sit in the back."

  Liu Handong straddled the motorcycle, grasped the handlebars, and Ma Ling sat on the back seat. The two of them rode the motorcycle towards the city center.

  "Where's your off-road motorcycle?" Liu Handong asked loudly.

  "Lost!" Ma Ling replied, that car was parked in the underground garage of Shifeng Group, and it could still be found, which would be a surprise.

  "Is Dad's injury healed?"

  "What did you say?"

  "Dad..."

  Liu Handong was hit on the head.

  "It's my dad, not our dad, say it again." Ma Ling corrected.

  "Is your father's injury healed?"

  "It's almost done, still on a liquid diet, and will be discharged from the hospital in a few days."

  "I'll go take a look at him," said Liu Handong.

  "Wait, go after you find a job, otherwise it's too embarrassing like this." Ma Ling said.

  Liu Handong slowed down the car and turned back to ask in surprise, "I fought side by side with your dad, does he still need to find a job? What are you thinking?"

  Ma Ling's face turned red and she fiercely scolded Liu Handong: "You're not allowed to go, just not allowed to go."

  Under Empress Wu's power, Liu Xiangdong had no choice but to surrender.

  Forty minutes later, the motorcycle stopped in front of No. 108 Tiehua Street, and Liu Handong extended an invitation: "Come on up and take a seat?"

  Ma Ling nodded: "Good, let's take a look at your doghouse."

  Liu Handong pushed the motorcycle into the yard, but Ma Ling stopped him: "No need to, just take a look and go, I still have to go to work."

  "It's messy here, and electric motorcycles are often lost." Liu Handong explained.

  "Don't worry, this is my dad's territory."

  Liu Handong said, "The little thief doesn't know your dad." He pushed the motorcycle into the yard and locked it up, then took Ma Ling upstairs to the fourth floor under the watchful eyes of the four aunties playing mahjong.

  The room was empty with only a bed, a table and two chairs, which was Liu Handong's residence.

  Ma Ling looked down and clicked her tongue repeatedly: "Really clean."

  Liu Handong scratched his head, unable to tell whether it was praise or criticism. He had only lived here for a day, and inside and out, it was still Xiao Fan who cleaned up. However, after living in the detention center for half a month, there was still a layer of dust floating around.

  Suddenly remembering something, Liu Handong asked: "Right, do you know someone with the surname Pi?"

  Ma Lingdao said: "I don't know Pi Laoban, I know his wife. No one bullied you in the detention center, did they?"

  Liu Handong said: "Thank you, this skin boss is quite effective in speaking. A group of people sent by Shifeng Group were defeated by me and no one was sent again."

  Ma Lingdao said, "That's not Pi Laozhu's doing, it's the Public Security Bureau summoning Wang Shihuang, who is Wang Shifeng's younger brother and running dog. They naturally don't dare to make another move. Don't mention those things again. How will you thank me? Just talking without taking action won't do."

  Liu Handong said: "How should I thank you? By giving myself to you?"

  Ma Ling kicked him: "Stinky thing, who wants you? Invite me to eat rice noodles with beef."

  The two came to the rice noodle stall on Tiehua Street, ordered two bowls of rice noodles with double portions of beef, and as they were eating, Ma Ling suddenly asked: "What about that little girl who was with you?"

  Liu Handong said vaguely: "I don't know, maybe he went home."