NOVPUB
Chapter 101: Chapter 101: The Fat-Headed Dog Man
Aqiang glared impatiently at He Fang. "Stop rambling, give me the straw."
Si Xiaohui, who had finally got what was happening, leaned in to He Fang and whispered, "Sister Fang, who is this guy?"
"My husband." He Fang bit her lip, feeling extremely embarrassed. It was her first time meeting Si Xiaohui, and she couldn’t believe she’d let her see the worst part of her household. She had no idea what Si Xiaohui must think of her.
"..." Si Xiaohui shut up at once when she heard He Fang’s reply. This man was abusive and he looked violent; she didn’t dare to cross him.
Si Xiaohui was a real homebody: capable and confident amongst her own people, but wilting in the face of tough outsiders.
"Did you hear what I said?" Aqiang suddenly snapped, raising his hand as if to hit someone. "Don’t wait for me to give you a slap."
Frightened by the threat of being hit, He Fang instinctively took a step back, exclaiming in alarm, "I, I didn’t say I wouldn’t give it to you."
No sooner had she spoken than she rushed to fetch the straw, hoping that once her husband had his straw, he would leave and not interfere with Tong Yao’s business. She had already paid for his milk tea.
"Sister Fang." Tong Yao stood up, calling for He Fang’s attention. Her face stern, she commanded, "Don’t give him the straw. I’m not selling him milk tea."
As if a man like him who commits domestic violence deserves to drink milk tea!
She couldn’t control what Aqiang did at home, but this was her stall. No one could bully her here. If she backed down this time, this scum would definitely take advantage of her even more in the future.
Sometimes keeping the peace careered the perpetrator to commit more wrongs.
People like Aqiang only understood force. If you stood up to him, he would back off. But if you showed weakness, he would walk all over you.
"Sister..." He Fang’s hand stilled in the air, stuck between handing over the straw or not. She was afraid of Aqiang making a scene, and she didn’t want to get on Tong Yao’s bad side either.
Even though she hadn’t known Tong Yao for very long, she had come to understand her temperament. Tong Yao might be young, but she was very decisive. She had a clear handle on things, and when she got angry, she was like a fiery flame capable of burning a vast grassland.
"What’s the problem?" Aqiang sneered at Tong Yao. "You refuse to serve a customer when there’s business at your door?"
With her face hard, Tong Yao shot back: "The milk tea is mine. If I want to sell it, I’ll sell. If I don’t want to sell, I won’t. Today, I don’t want to sell it to you. Put down that milk tea in your hand, now."
"Hey, quite the temper for someone so young," Aqiang began to act like a ruffian, still holding onto his milk tea. "What if I don’t put it down? What are you going to do to me?"
Tong Yao retorted, "If you don’t put it down, it’s theft. I know where you live, I’ll call the police and have them arrest you." In a society ruled by law, did he really think he was above it?
He’d better watch out if he crossed the line with her.
"Sis, please don’t call the police. Deduct the money from my salary if you must. Even if it’s three yuan, it’s fine." Upon hearing that Tong Yao was going to call the police, He Fang felt a surge of panic. This was her husband. If he got arrested, what would happen to her and Niuniu?
One fight aside, when it came down to choosing sides, she knew clearly that she and Aqiang were on the same team. She couldn’t let a few cents ruin her husband’s life!
"Did you hear that? Someone has paid. I’m legally buying something here. How is that theft? You can’t just say whatever you want." Upon hearing that Tong Yao was about to call the cops, Aqiang was initially unnerved. But once He Fang spoke up, he instantly regained his confidence and began to act cocky again, showing off his defiance.
"Can’t you understand human language?" Tong Yao tried to set him straight. "I said I’m not selling, I’m not selling to you specifically. Even if you pay, I’m not selling it to you."
She was the boss, she had the final say.
"Say that one more time?" Aqiang felt like he was losing face in front of his friend because of Tong Yao’s attitude. He pointed at Tong Yao’s nose furiously, "Who do you think you are, acting all high and mighty in front of me? You’re just a little girl! Do you know who I am? Everyone runs away when they hear my name!"
He couldn’t believe a girl could intimidate him so much.
"Aqiang, she’s my boss. Why are you bullying her? Please, I beg you, just leave!" Stuck in the middle, He Fang had a troubled look on her face. Although she couldn’t understand Tong Yao’s actions, Aqiang was her husband after all. Couldn’t she just save her face and sell him two cups of milk tea?
Why was she insisting on escalating this situation?!
If things really got out of hand, wouldn’t she be the one to suffer when they got back home?
"Sis, these guys look like trouble. Why are you arguing with them? Just let them buy the milk tea and go. Sister Fang is even paying for them." Si Xiaohui tugged at Tong Yao’s clothes and tried to talk her down. Business was business, why was she being stubborn with He Fang’s husband? 𝙣𝒐𝙫𝙥𝙪𝙗.𝙘𝙤𝙢
These guys looked like trouble, Tong Yao would stand no chance against two grown men if they really lost their temper.
Couldn’t she see that?
Aqiang was fired up when he saw that Si Xiaohui and He Fang were afraid. He looked at Tong Yao with defiance.
To be honest, he came here to test the waters. He wanted to find out if He Fang really was earning money by working here. If that was the case, then Tong Yao had to give her a raise.
He was providing her with a place and even the water. Was he a beggar to be compensated with 35 yuan?
He’d thought it over the entire night. If Tong Yao was easy to deal with, he’d demand at least 100 yuan for the salary. After that, he should be able to enjoy free milk tea with his friends whenever he wanted. She wouldn’t hear the end of it otherwise.
He Fang mentioned once that Tong Yao could earn tens of yuan a day, and was expecting to make over a thousand a month. The cost of making milk tea was low, so the net income must be nearly a thousand. Giving He Fang a hundred really wasn’t that much. He Fang might be dumb, but he certainly wasn’t. Without a hundred yuan salary, he would make this difficult.
Tong Yao scoffed coldly, fixing Aqiang with a gaze that was twice as fierce as his as she declared, "I don’t care who you are. This is my milk tea stall. When I say I’m not selling, I’m not selling. Put down that milk tea and leave. Or I’m calling the police right now."
Did this fat, sleazy man really think he could push her around like he did with He Fang? Dream on!
The friend at Aqiang’s side studied Tong Yao. She may be young, but her clothes and makeup made it clear she was from a well-off family. Her fearless demeanor and constant threats of calling the cops made his heart pound.
The crackdown on crime had been severe these past two years. If she really called the cops, there was a good chance they’d both end up in jail. He wasn’t willing to do time for a children’s drink.
Besides, his relationship with Aqiang was purely of mutual convenience. He wasn’t really a good friend or a brother. He didn’t respect Aqiang, so he decided to leave, but not before throwing in a few jabs.
"Alright then. I won’t drink this tea." He placed the milk tea back on the table and laughed at Aqiang. "Aqiang, your words carry no weight. You claimed we could drink milk tea here freely, but it seems that’s not the case. I think I’ll pass. I wouldn’t want to get thrown in jail over a sip of milk tea. So, drink up... I’m heading out."
His comment hit Aqiang right where it hurt, stomping on his pride and rubbing it into the ground. Aqiang lost his temper, grabbing his friend. "Maotou, don’t go. Not only am I going to treat you to milk tea today, but it’s also going to be free."
