Chapter 113: The Protection Racket

An Nan smiled faintly. “He won’t be arrogant for much longer.”

She still remembered that in her previous life, around this time, a gang showed up demanding “protection grain.”

With Sun Peng acting so high and mighty now, he was bound to become a thorn in their side.

Sure, he had a gun—but those people weren’t to be underestimated either.

Their neighborhood was in a development zone that had only been built in recent years. The original locals, after their homes were demolished, had all been relocated to a resettlement complex across the street. The people there had been neighbors for generations, so they were close-knit and well-acquainted.

Especially the young men who’d grown up together—thanks to hefty compensation from the demolition, they didn’t need to work, so they often hung out in groups, giving them a bit of a streetwise, gang-like vibe.

After the extreme heat hit and their supplies ran out, they started robbing homes and collecting “protection grain” from others.

A hundred or two able-bodied young men, moving together in a big, intimidating group—united against outsiders, and when it came to fighting, they were wild and reckless.

In her last life, they brought several nearby neighborhoods under their control, making regular rounds to collect protection grain.

Anyone who dared refuse would be dragged away and tortured. When they were finally thrown back into their neighborhood, they’d be missing an ear or a finger, and still forced to find more food for the gang. With little medicine and no doctors, living was worse than dying.

Don’t be fooled by these thugs—they might look like idle street punks, but they were cunning.

They knew their strength lay in unity, so they came up with ways to keep the other residents from banding together against them.

They divided the residents into classes.

First-class residents, who obeyed, only had to hand over one jin of grain per month. Second-class, who were less obedient, had to give three jin. Third-class, those who resisted, had to cough up five jin.

Every now and then, they’d take some of the goods collected from third-class residents and hold a lottery, handing out prizes to the first-class as a “benefit.”

Soon, everyone was scrambling to be first-class, completely forgetting about resistance.

These racketeers exploited human nature and made a killing.

For a whole year, the residents were squeezed dry.

It wasn’t until a man from the neighboring Qian’ao complex, driven mad after his wife was assaulted and killed by those animals, blew himself up with homemade explosives, taking many of them with him, that peace was finally restored.

An Nan popped a spoonful of ice slush into her mouth, thinking:

Last time, these racketeers ruled over her neighborhood. But this time, they were bound to clash with Sun Peng, who had a gun.

Both sides were after the residents’ supplies. There was no way they could coexist.

As for her, she’d never pay any protection grain. She’d been wondering how to deal with those thugs, but who would’ve thought Sun Peng would make himself such a target this time around?

Perfect. She could just sit back and watch the tigers fight.

Sun Peng loved playing the “when the snipe and the clam fight, the fisherman wins” game. Little did he know he’d be one of the snipe or the clam this time.

Chu Peipei, who’d been worrying about Sun Peng and his gun ruling the neighborhood, looked up to see An Nan calmly eating her ice slush.

She couldn’t help but scoop up a spoonful for herself.

And honestly, with that cold bite, her anxiety eased a little.

She leaned back in her chair, imitating An Nan’s relaxed posture.

Forget it. Sun Peng had never dared come up to the 14th floor anyway. She should learn from Nan Nan—focus on living well in the moment, and deal with trouble as it comes.

With the world in such chaos, there was no end to worrying about the future.

Downstairs, in 1302.

Sun Peng lounged comfortably on the sofa, while Wang Xiaoyu, sweating profusely, massaged him.

Ever since he’d gotten his hands on a pistol, this past month had been like heaven.

He had so many supplies at home there was barely room to store them. He’d even taken over the empty apartment next door, 1301, and filled it to the brim.

He didn’t have to worry about anyone stealing from him, because no one in the whole building dared cross him now!

He squinted contentedly and asked Wang Xiaoyu, “Don’t you think life now is even better than before the disaster?”

Wang Xiaoyu snapped, “No way! It’s hot and stuffy, there are cockroaches and snakes everywhere, and I’m scared out of my mind every day! Before the disaster, I’d be out shopping or at the beauty salon at this hour.”

She couldn’t help but reminisce about her pre-disaster life, a look of bliss on her face.

Back then, she dressed up every day, the very picture of a sophisticated city woman.

Now? She was in a ragged nightgown, shuffling around in old slippers, sweaty and grimy, her greasy hair tied back…

And she had to wait on this bastard like a slave!

She rolled her eyes fiercely when Sun Peng wasn’t looking.

Sun Peng said nothing.

It was true—he wasn’t starving anymore, but he couldn’t enjoy gourmet food, drink, karaoke, or mahjong like before.

Yet, for some reason, he still felt happier now.

Maybe it was the fearful looks from his neighbors?

Or the way his lackeys treated him with such respect and flattery?

He’d had some money before the disaster—he could eat and play as he liked—but it was nothing compared to this sense of satisfaction.

This must be the allure of power!

Just then, his lackeys came in.

“Brother Sun, here’s today’s grain.”

Sun Peng glanced at the haul. “Not as much as yesterday, huh?”

The one in front glanced nervously at the gun in Sun Peng’s hand and stammered,

“Brother Sun, we’ve already searched the whole building… This is the third round. I don’t think they have anything left.”

Sun Peng shrugged. “No matter. Tomorrow, you’ll come with me to the Qian’ao complex next door. Once we clean them out, we’ll have plenty more supplies.”

If it hadn’t been so hot lately, he’d have taken his gun and conquered the neighboring complex ages ago!

But his lackey frowned. “Brother Sun, the Qian’ao complex has already been taken over by a gang collecting protection grain. There’s nothing left to grab.”

Sun Peng frowned. Someone beat him to it?

He was annoyed, but deep down, he was cautious. In times like these, anyone able to run a protection racket had to be tough.

No need to pick a fight. There were plenty of other complexes nearby.

He thought for a moment. “Then let’s try Yundi complex.”

“That one’s been taken too…”

He scowled. “Then Jinxiu Guantang!”

“Also taken…”

Sun Peng: …

He’d only slacked off for a month, and the world outside had changed so much?!

His face twisted in frustration. Who were these people, able to control so many complexes at once?

He sat up, asking seriously, “How many people are in this protection gang?”

Could it be some huge organization?

The lackey answered honestly, “Word is, about a hundred or two.”

Sun Peng’s brow furrowed. Just a hundred or so, and they could control three complexes at once?

There were tens of thousands of residents in all those neighborhoods! How could so many people let themselves be ruled by just a hundred thugs?

Unless… they had guns too?!"