Chapter 420 — Putting on a Show (Part Two)

"Are you trying to rob us blind? Even highway robbery has its limits!" Fan Ce flared up, his eyes wide. "A brand-new tire only costs a little over a thousand yuan, and you're telling me the materials to patch one cost more than a new tire?"

"Rare things fetch high prices," Little Ma said flatly. "If you don't want the patch, then forget it—doesn't matter to me. Figure out some other way to get your car out of here."

"You—" Fan Ce jabbed a finger at the skull-vested man. "Fine, fine, I'll accept it. Ten thousand it is! I'll pay!"

Fan Ce figured he had played his part about as well as he could—surely it looked convincing by now? His behavior was exactly that of an outraged customer being fleeced, and Yang Ce and the others ought to be convinced he had nothing to do with this shop.

With that, Fan Ce produced his wallet. It held just over ten thousand yuan in all; once he handed it over, the wallet immediately went flat.

"Sir, it's not enough," Little Ma said after taking the ten thousand.

"Not enough? Didn't you say ten thousand?" Fan Ce was taken aback. He had been racking his brains for a way to stir up a conflict, and now Little Ma had picked the fight first—perfect, just what he wanted.

"Sir, take a close look at the bill. It's ten thousand per tire, and you punctured four tires, so you owe forty thousand!" Little Ma said.

"Forty thousand? What the hell—why don't you just go rob a bank?" This time Fan Ce's fury was genuine. He tore Little Ma's bill to shreds and bellowed, "Do you have any idea who I am, you son of a bitch? I put up with ten thousand, but you want to extort forty thousand out of me? You must have a death wish! Don't you know Section Chief Li of the Industry and Commerce Bureau is a friend of mine? Do you people want to keep this repair shop open or not?"

"Kid, we tried to talk nice, but you won't show us any respect—you want to make trouble?" Little Ma sneered coldly. "I don't care who you know. You slam forty thousand down on this table today and we're square. Otherwise, don't even think about taking your car."

"Oh? I'd like to see who dares stop me from taking my car," Fan Ce sneered back. "Besides, why would I take it? The car stays right here. I'm going to find some people right now—if you've got the guts, wait for me!"

"You're not leaving either until you put down forty thousand," Little Ma said, unhurried.

"What, still trying to extort me?" Fan Ce's patience snapped. He slammed the table with a crack. "You think I was raised on empty threats? Won't let me leave? Then let's see who can stop me!"

"Is that so?" Little Ma clapped his hands casually. "Boss, someone's making trouble!"

The moment Little Ma's words fell, five burly men charged out of the break room. Their leader had a face full of muscle, gripping an enormous wrench, while the others carried either sledgehammers for panel beating or hydraulic jacks. "...He says he has a friend in the Industry and Commerce Bureau, that they'll shut down our shop, and that he'll walk out of here without paying a cent..." Little Ma recounted, seasoning the tale generously.

"Oh? Seems the kid's got some swagger, does he? I, Niu Zhadan, have run this repair shop for five years, and no one has ever dared act this cocky in front of me!" Niu Zhadan sneered. "Kid, let me tell you straight—none of you are leaving today!"

"Th-this..." Fan Ce was visibly frightened now. "I... can't I just pay? It's only forty thousand. Boss, I didn't know any better—please don't take offense... I'll pay right now!"

"Pay? Too late!" Niu Zhadan ignored him. "You've embarrassed me on my own turf. If I let you walk out just like that, won't everyone laugh at Bomb Brother for being useless?"

"Th-then... Bomb Brother, what will it take for you to let us go..." Fan Ce grew frantic. "Just treat us like a fart and let us go..."

"Let you go? Sure!" Niu Zhadan waved a hand. "Get them—beat them till they can't even recognize each other. Take every cent they've got, then send them packing!"

"Bomb Brother, anything but that... don't hit us, please don't hit us!" Fan Ce dropped to his knees with a thud. "Bomb Brother, don't hit me—anything else, whatever you say. Just tell me what I have to do to be let go? I'm begging you..."

"Bomb Brother, over there—that girl's not bad looking, is she?" one of the thugs reminded Niu Zhadan.

"Oh?" Niu Zhadan narrowed his eyes at Zhao Ying and nodded. "Not bad, not bad at all! All right, I'll change my terms. If you can satisfy me, I'll let you all go!"

"What terms, Bomb Brother? Just say it—as long as you don't hit us, anything goes!" Fan Ce nodded eagerly.

"Me, I don't have many hobbies, but I do love watching live shows!" Niu Zhadan said. "Here's the deal: you and that pretty girl put on a live show for me. Make it exciting, satisfy me, and I'll let you go! If I'm not satisfied, I'll beat you till you can't even recognize each other!"

"Uh... this... isn't that a bit much?" Fan Ce scratched his head, the picture of reluctance.

"Then you can look forward to a beating! Get them!" Niu Zhadan waved his hand. "Break the woman's four limbs, break the men's five, and don't stop till they're dead!"

"No... no..." Fan Ce waved his hands frantically to stop them. "Bomb Brother, I'll do as you say, I'll do as you say..."

With that, Fan Ce turned to Zhao Ying with a troubled look. "Zhao Ying, to save our lives, let's just put up with this for now, all right? You heard him—if we don't go along with Bomb Brother, he'll break all our legs, he'll beat us to death! There are so many of them, and they're armed. We're no match for them at all!"

"Oh? Why does it have to be you performing with her? Wouldn't performing with me work too?" Yang Ce spoke up at that moment, looking at Fan Ce.

"Th-that... of course you performing would work too..." Fan Ce froze for a moment before replying, but his eyes darted toward Niu Zhadan, silently pleading for help.