CHAPTER 68: CHAPTER 68: GAMBLERS HAVE NO BACKBONE

"Brother Lei, y-y-you... weren’t you going to collect the debt? Why did you bring him back?"

Zheng Aqiang looked at Chen Wenjun as if he had seen a ghost, his mind racing, trying to fabricate a lie.

Before Gao Lei could speak, he harshly kicked Zheng Aqiang and yanked him up, "Debt? IOU? Zheng Aqiang, let me tell you, I hate being deceived the most, and those who lie to me never have good endings! How are you going to prove your words are true?"

Zheng Aqiang was scared witless, urine trickling down his pants.

Gao Lei’s expression changed, and he tossed Zheng Aqiang to the ground like garbage.

A lackey brought over a chair for him.

Gao Lei sat down, while Zheng Aqiang was so frightened he almost lost his soul, pleadingly looking at Chen Wenjun, "Wenjun, say it, you owe me money, right? I initially didn’t want to collect it from you, but Brother Lei pressed for it; I had no choice but to give him the IOU. Please help me, just this once, the last time!"

Chen Wenjun laughed in anger, "Zheng Aqiang, with your mouth opening and closing, you think you can snatch a thousand bucks from me? Am I a fool to you? I’ve already explained to Brother Lei whether the IOU is real or not, even if this goes to the police, I’m not afraid."

Zheng Aqiang was dumbfounded, his gaze suddenly turned vicious, "After all these years of being brothers, I beg you this once, and you still won’t help me! You’re not human!"

"I’m not human?" Chen Wenjun scoffed coldly, "You know we’ve been brothers for so many years, your requests have been countless, right? I helped you before out of past friendship, and because Ping’an pleaded on your behalf.

Never thought you’d threaten my son; he pleaded for you because you forced him. Zheng Aqiang, I can’t afford to have a brother like you, it’s best we part ways."

"You..." Zheng Aqiang wanted to protest.

Gao Lei angrily kicked the table over.

Zheng Aqiang shivered, instantly panicked, and spinelessly knelt before Chen Wenjun, "I really have no other way out, if I don’t pay they’ll kill me; you won’t just stand by and watch, will you? Help me this last time, I swear I won’t borrow money from you again...

Chen Wenjun shook his head firmly, "You’ve never returned the money you’ve borrowed, not to mention I’m broke now; even if I did have money, I wouldn’t lend it to someone who threatens my son. You should take care of yourself."

He turned to Gao Lei, "Brother Lei, I’ve made myself clear, Zheng Aqiang’s matters have nothing to do with me. Also, let me be clear, he’s a malicious and cold-hearted person; he previously ambushed me to steal money, knocking me out in an alley and taking all my cash.

Lately, he’s been stealing from my family’s boat, not just once. Fortunately, I installed traps on the boat; his eye injury was caused by them. A person like him deserves death."

Chen Wenjun’s anger grew as he spoke, as if venting a lifetime’s worth of grievances.

Gao Lei, initially furious at being tricked by Zheng Aqiang, suddenly sympathized with Chen Wenjun upon hearing about his ordeal.

Frowning, he glanced back at Chen Wenjun, "Why would you become brothers with such scum, are you blind?"

Chen Wenjun lowered his gaze, feeling somewhat disheartened, "We grew up together; I never expected he’d turn out like this, let alone treat me this way!"

Though there was some act to his words, they were still true.

From childhood, Zheng Aqiang had been his closest playmate. After today, their friendship was irreparably shattered, with no turning back.

Gao Lei waved dismissively, "You have nothing else to do here, leave!"

After thanking him, Chen Wenjun left decisively.

Zheng Aqiang hadn’t expected Chen Wenjun to be so ruthless, to cut ties as he said, and cursed in rage.

Gao Lei’s lackey viciously kicked Zheng Aqiang several times, venting his displeasure, "Damn it, he had the nerve to trick us! I even accidentally injured Chen Wenjun because of him, let’s see how I deal with you!"

They were thugs, not actual gangsters; today they hurt an innocent, breaking their code. If other thugs found out, how would their brothers manage on the streets?

The more Gao Lei thought about it, the angrier he became, and even personally hit Zheng Aqiang with a stick.

Even as Chen Wenjun walked away, he could still hear Zheng Aqiang’s wretched screams.

The wind blew, raising goosebumps on his skin as he quickened his pace homeward.

His heart raced until he stepped onto the fishing boat.

Rowing quickly to Nanyu, he saw Lin Qin standing at the door with a flashlight.

He hurriedly docked the boat and scrambled down.

"Why so late?" Lin Qin was worried, seeing Chen Wenjun drenched in sweat made her even more anxious.

Chen Wenjun hurriedly ushered her inside, secured the door, and explained the day’s events briefly.

"I’ve cut ties with Zheng Aqiang. He owed five hundred bucks this time, not a small amount. Gao Lei was tricked as well, so he won’t let Zheng Aqiang off lightly; he’s finished!"

Lin Qin stomped her feet, cursing Zheng Aqiang fiercely, "Serves him right! If you ask me, Gao Lei should just finish off that menace."

Chen Wenjun shook his head, "It’s unlikely; Gao Lei seems ruthless but not unreasonable, he should avoid senseless murder... Let’s not talk about it anymore, apply some medicinal wine on my back, it hurts."

The hit he took was a solid blow to his back, surely leaving a big bruise tomorrow.

Lin Qin’s heart tightened, and she rushed, nearly twisting her ankle.

Luckily, Chen Wenjun’s quick reflex saved her, "I’ll get some red soil to patch up this path; it must be flattened and compacted."

They had plenty of red soil, though none was available on the island.

"Let’s not talk about that now, let’s check your injury."

The couple climbed the steps into the yard.

The house had just had its concrete slab poured; they were camping in tents in the yard.

Lin Qin fetched hot water for Chen Wenjun to wash up.

She applied the medicinal wine under the kerosene lamp.

The strong scent drew Lin Yi over, "Injured where?"

The couple didn’t hide it from him, explaining Zheng Aqiang’s situation, causing Lin Yi to curse Zheng Aqiang fervently for his evil.

The next morning.

The first thing Lin Qin did was check Chen Wenjun’s back, reassured that it was just a bruise, nothing serious.

As usual, they carried on with their tasks, neither went out of their way to inquire about Zheng Aqiang.

During those three days, Chen Wenjun restored the path from Nanyu’s breach to their yard, while the two kids ran and jumped along it.

Despite Chen Ping’an’s awkward movements, he dared to run and jump with them.

Seeing this, Lin Qin was relieved and whispered to Chen Wenjun, "Look, Ping’an exercises this way every day; he will definitely improve."

She dared not hope Chen Ping’an would ever be completely normal, only that he could become self-sufficient and independent.