Chapter Thirty-Eight: Stirring Up Trouble

Chapter Thirty-Eight: Stirring Trouble

The street looked utterly dilapidated. The shops lining both sides of the road had already shuttered their doors. The place resembled a scene from the 1980s. The tremors had destroyed many buildings, and numerous workers were now hastily repairing the roads.

Shen An got out of the car and walked toward a place where lights were still on. Warm steam rose from within, and he could see a woman busying herself inside. She was the owner of the spicy hotpot stall.

As Shen An approached, he noticed her haggard face and realized at once how much she had changed. In just a few days, the hardships had transformed a once mature and charming woman into this weary figure.

“Would you like some wonton soup?” she asked, having sensed someone approach.

“Aren’t you selling spicy hotpot anymore?” Shen An, already familiar with the place, sat down at a small table, eyeing the makeshift shop. His voice sounded familiar.

The owner looked up at Shen An in surprise. He was tall and strong, his eyes bright and spirited, his hair cropped close—he looked especially energetic.

“Shen An? So it’s you! You’ve changed so much, I almost didn’t recognize you.”

Upon seeing an old customer, the woman looked quite pleased. “You must be thirsty. Here, let me pour you some water.”

She fetched a disposable cup and filled it with hot water from a thermos.

“I’ll have a bowl, then,” Shen An said, noticing other customers nearby. He didn’t want to interrupt her business.

Around them sat several migrant workers. The destroyed buildings in the area had been contracted out for repairs, and work continued around the clock. Road repairs were tricky, but Shen An believed that with continued effort, everything would soon be restored.

The woman’s name was Xu Qingru, forty years old, divorced for some years. She had a daughter in high school. Shen An and Sun Ming often came here for spicy hotpot. But since the tremor, he’d rarely visited; today he’d only come to take a look, not expecting such a dramatic change.

Her house had collapsed, and though some compensation had been promised, now she was selling wonton soup out of a tent. Business was slow at this hour; spicy hotpot didn’t sell well, so this was her only option for now.

Xu Qingru was, after all, a woman, especially in times like these.

The streetlights had gone out early in the night; many parts of the city were paralyzed, and troublemakers prowled the streets. In recent days, some hooligans had come to harass her. With the neighboring shops closed and her friends gone, she was left to earn a living and support her child on her own.

“Boss, is the wonton ready yet?” someone called impatiently.

After the shop collapsed, her employees had all left. Shen An frowned at the scene but said nothing.

Once she’d finished serving the others, Xu Qingru brought Shen An a generous bowl of wonton soup.

“You’re too kind,” Shen An said.

“I know you young people have hearty appetites,” Xu Qingru replied, her mood noticeably brighter. It was mostly because she’d run into Shen An. He used to be a regular at her stall—always polite, and she’d noticed how he often observed her, sometimes intentionally, sometimes not.

For a woman her age, it was flattering to feel someone’s admiration, especially when she still carried some allure. Shen An had helped out in her shop before; once, when troublemakers came, he’d scared them off.

Xu Qingru no longer cared for romance; being able to support her daughter through her own skills was her greatest wish.

Shen An ate slowly, asking about her current situation. Xu Qingru’s smile was forced as she answered.

“It’s alright, just getting by these days. When Xiaoyu’s school break comes, I’ll take her out for a walk, get some fresh air.”

Not long after, a group of men with thuggish faces came in. Their leader was bald and looked particularly fierce—broad-shouldered and muscled, followed by a few obvious underlings.

“Got anything to eat?” the leader demanded.

Xu Qingru quickly put on a smile. “Just wonton soup. Big bowls or small, gentlemen?”

“What the hell, only wonton?” The man’s mood was foul, his upper lip bare, eyes cold.

“Big bowls, four of them. Make it quick.”

Xu Qingru nodded and hurried away.

One of the underlings helped himself to tea. Shen An had intended to leave, but seeing these men, he decided to stay a bit longer. They were clearly trouble, and if they meant harm to Xu Qingru on this lonely night, it would end badly.

Shen An finished his wonton, sipping tea and fiddling with his phone. The connection to his future self seemed severed. While he could still contact the future, it was never meant to be constant. Either side could break off contact at will, which was convenient—it meant no one could uncover his secret through technology anymore.

Xu Qingru served the wonton to the group, who began eating. Meanwhile, Shen An and Xu Qingru chatted idly.

After about ten minutes, the group seemed finished. Shen An noticed the man who’d taken off his jacket now stood and put it back on.

“Boss, where to next?” an underling asked.

“The Imperial KTV. Come on, I’ll show you the world,” the leader replied.

At the mention of Imperial KTV, the others’ eyes lit up. They quickly stood and made for the door.

“Hey! You haven’t paid yet!” Xu Qingru hurried after them.

The group turned, looking at her as though she were mad.

“You expect Brother Tiger to pay for his meal? Are you out of your mind?” the leader sneered, not in the least courteous because she was a woman. With a rough shake, he flung her hand aside.

“Get lost. Follow us and we’ll smash your shop,” he growled.

Frightened by his aggression, Xu Qingru took a step back, but remembering they hadn’t paid, she gritted her teeth and chased after them.

“No, you can’t just leave. You ate and didn’t pay—I can’t let you go.”

Blocked by her, the bald leader’s expression turned ugly. He’d come to discuss business at Imperial KTV and frequented this area often; never before had anyone dared ask him for money. He hadn’t expected this woman to be so bold—not only demanding payment but actually blocking his way.

“Third, what are you standing there for? This woman doesn’t know her place—take her with us. Didn’t Young Master Chen say he needed a mature woman at Imperial KTV? She’ll do just fine.”