The crowd immediately looked up, seeing two long-haired youths flanking Yun Yao, spewing crude, suggestive remarks. Ning Shixuan, closest to Yun Yao, shoved one of the long-haired men with both hands. "What are you doing! How dare you act like hooligans in public!"

One of the long-haired men sneered, "What are we doing? Someone whose father was a **criminal dares to sell wontons? We're cleaning up the scum for the people!"

"My dad wasn't a **criminal! Someone framed him!" Yun Yao shouted loudly.

"The witnesses and evidence are all there, and your father even committed suicide to avoid punishment. You still want to argue for him? I think you might as well come back with us. Let Brother Kuan have a good time with you; if he’s pleased, he might make you a concubine, and you can enjoy wealth and honor from then on," the two long-haired men declared.

Gangzi leaped in front of Yun Yao with a start, shielding her from the two men. "Damn it, you two sons of bitches, don't you know the night market is Scar Brother’s territory? Are you looking to die by causing trouble here?!"

The two long-haired men burst into laughter. "Gangzi, have you drunk yourself stupid today? With the venerable Brother Kuan here, Old Eighth doesn't get a say in Liangshan. We aren't here to cause trouble; we just suddenly spotted this girl surnamed Yun. Otherwise, we wouldn't bother with a pipsqueak like you—thwack!"

Bang! Hidden behind Gangzi was a wine bottle filled with white liquor. He swung it when the two weren't looking, smashing it onto the head of one of them. Shards of glass scattered as blood began to flow from the struck man’s head, dripping down his long hair onto the ground.

The other man was startled to see Gangzi, who usually bowed and scraped before them, suddenly turn savagely aggressive. "You idiot, anyone who hits Brother Kuan's man is signing their own death warrant."

Scar Brother stepped forward, drawing a long knife from his waist and flashing it before their eyes. "Go back and tell Brother Kuan that from tonight onward, this street in the night market belongs to us brothers. Tell him to keep his underlings in check and wander around here less."

The long-haired man shouted back, "Scarface, you've gone mad! Brother Kuan will chop you up! You wait here if you have the guts; I'll get someone to clean you up shortly."

Just as the long-haired man finished speaking, his knee was suddenly ambushed from behind. With a thud, he dropped to his knees. Then, someone grabbed their arms and twisted them backward. A pair of cold, gleaming shackles snapped onto their wrists—it turned out to be Ke Du and another police officer who had stealthily attacked them from behind.

Xie Sen stepped forward, chuckling broadly toward Zhou Qiang. "Some unruly social youth dared to disturb Commissioner Zhou while he was drinking. I will handle this seriously—must be handled with utmost seriousness. We cannot allow people like them to damage the public order of Liangshan County. Officer Ke, take them to the bureau and ensure they are dealt with strictly, understood?"

Ke Du repeatedly affirmed his understanding, then, along with the other officer who had been intending to arrest me, escorted the two long-haired men away. Zhou Qiang nodded at Xie Sen's explanation. Scar Brother and Gangzi certainly recognized the county's Chief of Public Security. Liangshan County was so tiny that you could bump into anyone while simply peeing. Seeing the two long-haired men handcuffed and led away, they naturally assumed they would be next. But they waited and waited, and no one moved to touch them. Instead, the Chief of Public Security treated their table with utmost deference. It was baffling.

Sun Caiwu suddenly recognized a figure known by every person in the county and stammered as he approached. "This, this isn't Secretary Ma? Wh-wh-why are you at my wonton stall?"

Secretary Ma ignored Sun Caiwu, instead bowing and scraping obsequiously toward Zhou Qiang. "You gentlemen continue your drinks; we will set up elsewhere. As the saying goes, barren lands breed wicked people. We couldn't be assured of the Commissioner's safety, so we must remain nearby to prevent any accidents."

With that, Secretary Ma pulled Xie Sen to occupy another square table nearby. Sun Caiwu turned to Ning Shixuan. "Xiao Ning, quickly serve Secretary Ma. It is an immense honor for him to dine at our humble stall."

Ning Shixuan politely set out stinky tofu and squid for Secretary Ma's table and poured wine, then turned back to Sun Caiwu. "Uncle, isn't it also an honor for you that Commissioner Zhou is eating at your wonton stall?"

"Who? Commissioner? Who are you talking about?" Sun Caiwu asked, completely bewildered, clearly having absorbed none of what Xie Sen and Secretary Ma had just said.

Ning Shixuan pointed at Zhou Qiang. "This is Commissioner Zhou Qiang, here to inspect our county’s work. Why didn't you introduce yourselves earlier?"

Three sounds of chairs scraping backward echoed, especially Gangzi, whose face turned redder than a monkey's backside. He had just implied that the visitors arrived penniless and would leave adorned in gold, suggesting they were just there to eat, drink, and play with young women.

Sun Caiwu muttered to himself, "This joke has gone too far! Damn girl, how could you dare not inform me about something like this beforehand? What am I to do now?"

Zhou Qiang reached out and helped Sun Caiwu up. "Uncle Sun, I'm just an ordinary person, why be afraid? And you two, we were having a good time drinking just now; let's continue."

Scar Brother declared with swagger, "Right, let’s continue! Anyone who is Brother Qian's friend, even if they were the Chairman of the Military Commission, wouldn't be surprising. Let's drink!"

Yun Yao hid in an inconspicuous corner, weeping silently. I walked over and patted her shoulder. "Yun Yao, I know you have grievances and worries. Can you tell me? Since you call me Brother Zhao, your troubles are mine. No matter how complex or perilous the situation, I will help you. Trust me, okay?"

Based on our previous encounters, Yun Yao already trusted me immensely. She burst into tears and collapsed into my arms. "Brother Zhao, my father was not a **criminal! Those bad people framed him! They forced my father to death just to bully my mother. Now my mother is mad, and my father is dead. What should I do!"

I patted Yun Yao’s back. "I am here. Brother Zhao will handle everything for you. Don't cry. Look how beautiful you are today, like a princess. You look much less attractive when you cry like this."

"But they have knives and guns, and they even dare to murder openly. We cannot fight them. I can't let you take this risk," Yun Yao pleaded.

I pointed at Zhou Qiang, who was not far off. "Look, Brother Zhao is friends with high officials from the province. Can you not trust me based on this alone?"

Yun Yao hesitated. "But they are the underworld. No matter how high the official, it’s useless."

I chuckled. "What if Brother Zhao told you he was the biggest boss in the entire underworld? Would you believe it?"

Yun Yao quietly pulled away from my embrace. "I wouldn't. Brother Zhao is a good person. If it weren't for you, I would have died twice already."

I placed both hands firmly on Yun Yao's shoulders and spoke seriously. "Slowly, you will believe what Brother Zhao says. Being in the underworld doesn't mean everyone is bad, and being in the legitimate world doesn't mean everyone is good. It’s too crowded and chaotic here right now. Shall we talk more when we return tonight, okay?"

Yun Yao wiped the tears from her cheeks and nodded. "Okay. I'll go help Sister Xiao Ning. Brother Zhao, hurry and go keep Commissioner Zhou company drinking. Come to my room tonight; I have so much I need to tell you."

I couldn't entirely blame the two long-haired men for their crude behavior toward Yun Yao earlier; her figure and beauty made self-control difficult. Going to her room tonight—could I really control myself?

Zhou Qiang downed several large glasses of draft beer, and a slight flush appeared on his face. "Let me tell you all, the most satisfying moments of my life were drinking with Zhao Qian and the others. We used to sing back then, 'Life is short, why not sing while drinking.'"

Gangzi exclaimed, "I can't believe such a high official sings! Sing something for us to hear."

Zhou Qiang took a bite of stinky tofu. "Delicious. Snacks like this are rare even in the capital city. Alright, let's all sing together. What’s the point of life if it isn't thrilling? A life with bosom buddies and friends is not wasted. Everyone join in: 'How many confidants does one have in life, how many friendships last forever...'"

Gangzi shouted, "‘The Light of Friendship’! I know how to sing that. A girl sang it to me when I graduated from primary school. Though we part today with a handshake, friendship remains in our hearts. Though we separate now, we are certain to meet again later..."

Zhou Qiang laughed heartily, raising his glass to clink with Scar Brother again. "Sing, everyone sing! Even if we cannot meet, we are still friends. Though mountains miles apart separate us, we know in our hearts that friendship cannot change..."

"What are they singing?" Secretary Ma asked Secretary Liu. "Why isn't it 'The Sister Sits on the Bed'?"

Secretary Liu nearly spat out the wine he was drinking. Secretary Ma only knew that one song and assumed everyone else only enjoyed singing tunes of that style. "That’s a theme song from a movie, 'Prison on Fire,' starring Chow Yun-Fat and Tony Leung Ka-fai. This song is widely used by Chinese people as a song of friendship."

"Friendship?" Secretary Ma questioned skeptically. "Commissioner Zhou and a street vendor, two petty thugs, singing about friendship?"

Secretary Liu sighed inwardly. It seemed the generation gap between them was quite significant.