CHAPTER 94: 092 UNWRITTEN RULES

Tian Sangsang looked at them wearing security uniforms, yet acting arrogant and domineering—nothing like someone serving the people.

She furrowed her brows slightly and said quietly, "Comrade, I’m from the countryside and don’t quite understand. Why do we have to pay money here? What kind of money are we paying?"

The little lackey gestured to the side and explained, "See here, any shop on this street has to pay a management fee every month. Even small vendors like you have to pay. Otherwise, you think about it—people coming and going, blocking the road like this isn’t good, right? This is the decision from above, and also from the street committee. Don’t ask too many questions; just pay up honestly and it’ll be fine."

In later years, this kind of situation became very common. It was because there were too many street vendors, affecting the city’s aesthetics and planning. It was just differences in policy from above—some places managed loosely, others enforced tighter controls. The strictest time Sangsang ever saw was when she went to the food street; the entire street was empty, no longer lined with stalls like a dragon’s tail, only storefronts on the roadside glowing brightly.

However, it was only 1980 now, and still a small place. There weren’t many vendors in town—just a few scattered here and there; it couldn’t have been impacting anything, right?

If you wanted to do business peacefully and avoid trouble, you still had to obey orders. As the saying goes, "Officials and merchants walk hand in hand." But looking at the disdainful attitudes of these few men, Tian Sangsang couldn’t stomach it. She tugged at the corner of her mouth ironically. "Of course we’ll obey the rules. Brother, you see, we’re just doing small-scale business. It’s not easy to feed the family these days. How much do I need to pay?"

"Five yuan."

Tian Sangsang froze. That’s way too much! A regular worker’s monthly salary was only around thirty—asking her to pay five yuan a month, that’s outright robbery!

Suppressing her temper, Tian Sangsang smiled and said, "Brother, could you show some leniency? I really can’t afford that amount. Do you know how you calculate the fees for shops and other vendors?"

The lead officer, Chen Gong’an, looked at her with a smirk and a hint of hostility in his eyes. "We charge the shops five yuan a month, other vendors one yuan a month. But you’re different. Just look—how much space are you taking up? We have to treat you differently! You’re so fat, and you’ve got a kid and a dog with you."

Meng Shuyan, a child after all, shrank back behind Tian Sangsang in fear at Chen Gong’an’s malicious gaze. Little Milk Tea bared its teeth, glaring at him as though ready to pounce. If not for Shuyan clutching tightly onto it, it might already be biting someone.

"You—" Tian Sangsang let out a cold laugh. This wasn’t a simple matter of collecting management fees anymore; it was outright extortion under the guise of bureaucracy! From the beginning, she’d sensed something off—these men hadn’t asked her for fees before, but suddenly showed up today, and conveniently raised the price for just her. Was it because she was easy to bully as a widow with no backing?

"I’m not paying," Tian Sangsang straightened her back, speaking firmly. "It’s the same street stall, yet you want me to pay five times the amount as others. I don’t have that kind of money." For one, she refused to let herself be pushed around; for another, she genuinely had no money left. All her savings had gone to helping Zhao Chun treat his leg.

"Not paying, huh?" Chen Gong’an’s face darkened with irritation. "Then starting tomorrow, you’re banned from setting up a stall in town. That’s the regulation."

The little lackey, seeing his boss’s anger, sneered at Tian Sangsang disdainfully. "What kind of person is this? Doesn’t even know how to read the room."

Tian Sangsang was furious. If she couldn’t set up her stall anymore, how was she supposed to make a living and provide for her family? Living off the land wasn’t sustainable, nor was relying on meager resources from her surroundings. These men clearly didn’t intend to reason with her—they were deliberately pushing her to a dead end. Damn it, they think she’s a pushover just because she’s quiet? They’re dead wrong!

This wasn’t the old society anymore, where being an official meant you could act like a tyrant. And calling her fat was definitely not a valid excuse for charging more!

"Sangsang." Her clenched fist was suddenly pulled aside by someone, and a gentle voice reached her ears.

The warmth of his hand and the faint fragrance of his body nearly made Tian Sangsang gasp aloud. Her god suddenly held her hand?

Xu Yiyuan, dressed in a black-and-white casual outfit, smiled lightly as he looked at the group of men. "Chen Gong’an, she is my friend. I heard everything that just happened. Why is my friend being treated differently when the rule applies equally to everyone?"

"Oh, she’s a friend of Teacher Xu?" Chen Gong’an’s attitude changed instantly, cracking an ingratiating smile. "This isn’t something we can decide—it’s the higher-ups."

"Which higher-ups? Captain Chen or the town mayor?" Xu Yiyuan remained calm and collected.

Chen Gong’an hesitated, somewhat apprehensive. While Xu Yiyuan lived alone with his elderly mother, his uncle, second uncle, and aunt all held positions in the city government.

Xu Yiyuan seemed indifferent to his nervousness, speaking as though negotiating, "Five yuan is really too much for her to pay. How about I cover it for her for now?"

"No, no, how can I let Teacher Xu do that?" Chen Gong’an looked conflicted. "But the fee does have to be paid, otherwise I won’t be able to explain it to the captain. Since she’s your friend, how about we give her a few days to figure it out?"

"Fine, give her a few days," Xu Yiyuan responded, his voice light and nonchalant, leaving no room for further discussion.

But how many days exactly? Chen Gong’an glanced at Xu Yiyuan, who clearly didn’t want to discuss the matter any further. Frustrated, he left with his men, muttering to himself that it’d be better to let the captain deal with them.

Realizing he was still holding her hand, Xu Yiyuan let go casually and asked, "Did you offend someone recently?"

Tian Sangsang barely had time to process the shock of being held by her god before she lowered her head in thought. The day’s events did seem like they were targeting her specifically. She’d always believed in maintaining peace and never deliberately provoking others. But the world didn’t always work that way; sometimes trouble came to find you even if you didn’t seek it. Recently, if she’d offended anyone... Chen Biao?

Tian Sangsang didn’t confirm or deny it, instead saying, "Thanks for earlier. By the way, who is this Captain Chen you mentioned?"

"Captain Chen is the town’s police squad captain. His cousin happens to be the area’s local tyrant."

"You mean Chen Biao?" Tian Sangsang blinked, asking.

Xu Yiyuan nodded, falling silent for a moment before advising, "You’d better pay the money. It’s an unwritten rule in this town. If you don’t, you’ll face trouble later."

"Teacher Xu, why are you saying that as well?" Tian Sangsang disagreed. "I won’t pay. If I do, it’ll only be one yuan—and even that, I’ll give it some more thought. I don’t think this fee should exist at all. You’ve been to the county, you must know a lot. Do they have this kind of practice there?"

Xu Yiyuan shook his head.

So the answer was no.

Tian Sangsang continued, "That’s what I mean. The smaller the place, the less formal the rules. This situation is just people abusing their positions for personal gain, flagrantly violating propriety. It’s because everyone condones it, remains silent about it, that it’s become a sort of unspoken rule. I don’t want to change the world, but I also won’t become someone who’s changed by the world."