When Out and About, Protect Yourself!

New York, Chinatown. With the late spring cold receding, the weather gradually warmed. Wearing white underneath and a black short jacket over it, Liu Ren walked down the street, greeting the neighbors as he made his way toward the guild hall. By the time he arrived, A Chao had already finished packing his things. Liu Ren stepped forward, beaming. "Brother Chao, you're early!" "You could sleep a little longer!" A Chao spoke to Liu Ren before him, his face giving nothing away. "Really, Brother Chao?" Liu Ren looked at A Chao in pleasant surprise and asked instinctively. "You fucking can't take straight talk, can you?" A Chao stared at Liu Ren, stunned. He hadn't expected this kid to really seize the opportunity. "Hehe, didn't you tell me to sleep more? I took it as you looking out for me!" Liu Ren looked at A Chao happily and joked in response. "Go on, go on, you're a pain. Carry these things to Uncle Qing's place!" A Chao tossed the things straight to Liu Ren without any ceremony. Liu Ren held the heavy load with both hands, glanced down, and immediately saw these were some kind of municipal items. He frowned, thinking of the notorious "certain act." These days, survival was extremely difficult for the Chinese people, after all, that act existed. And the reason he and Uncle Qiang and the others had secured immigration permits was precisely because of Liu Ren's amazing feat of saving people aboard the Titanic. Otherwise, as soon as they had disembarked, they would have been forcibly deported... He came to the door and knocked politely. Not long after, when Uncle Qing's voice sounded, Liu Ren pushed the door open and entered. But just as he appeared, he saw a weeping woman with tears on her face saying, "Uncle Qing, I only have this one daughter! I beg you, take pity on us mother and daughter, and help us get justice!" Listening to the woman's lament, Uncle Qing furrowed his brow. "Madam Xiang, I know Shu Yi is your only daughter, but things can't be done this way! Most of the inspectors are watching us now. Some things really aren't what you think..." "But Uncle Qing, my daughter is still lying in the hospital! Those bastards were released the same day. Is there really no justice here? Ah!" Madam Xiang questioned Uncle Qing, her eyes brimming with tears. Uncle Qing looked at Madam Xiang in silence without answering. Because he represented not only himself but the entire group. Uncle Qing naturally wished to repay kindness with kindness and vengeance with vengeance, but the problem was the statutes were becoming stricter. They already struggled to survive; at this critical juncture, wouldn't causing a bigger incident just draw attention? Madam Xiang leaned on the chair and stood up unsteadily, saying nothing, because she understood the bitterness of being under another's roof. Watching Madam Xiang's departing back, Uncle Qing stood up, hurriedly took out scattered money from his pocket, and stuffed it all into her hand. "Go take care of Shu Yi first. I'll think about this matter again!" "No need, Uncle Qing. If Shu Yi dies, I don't want to live either..." Madam Xiang pushed away the money and left, dazed and spiritless. Uncle Qing watched Madam Xiang leave, as if he had lost his soul, sighing involuntarily, the light instantly gone from his eyes. Liu Ren placed the items on the table and stepped forward. "Uncle Qing, let me handle this!" "You? What are you doing? Young and not thinking of walking the straight path! Get out!" Uncle Qing lifted his head and spoke irritably. Rubbing his head awkwardly, Liu Ren turned and left the room. But after Liu Ren left, Uncle Qing sighed, "This world, ah..." Madam Xiang slowly returned home across the street. But just as she was about to open the oppressive door before her, not knowing how to face her daughter, a clear voice called from behind: "Madam Xiang!" She looked back. The young man in a black short jacket with a handsome face made her think of something, and she immediately said, "You?" "Madam Xiang, where is that person? Uncle Qing said to leave this matter to me!" Liu Ren spoke to Madam Xiang, looking at her seriously. Hearing Liu Ren's words, Madam Xiang's eyes, which had lost their luster, instantly lit up. "Did Uncle Qing really say that?" "Yes, Uncle Qing spoke. I'm here to help you and the young lady collect the debt!" Liu Ren nodded firmly, without the slightest hesitation. After all, as an upright youth who put benevolence and righteousness first, he would not allow his compatriots to be bullied and then swallow their anger! As for how to handle it afterward, wasn't that simple? You can't find the person, so how the fuck are you going to deal with it? You have to know this is New York! What's New York most famous for? The Statue of Liberty? No, it's the Hudson River, the Hudson River! Stirring No. 42 spaghetti in a gasoline barrel—who could find the person? You can't expect a few fishing buddies to drag it up, right? Besides, if you could fucking hook up a cement barrel weighing two or three hundred jin with a fishing rod, Liu Ren would have to call in the Orc Beastmen! After all, these days, that person wasn't using a fishing rod, was he? It would have to be rebar! Liu Ren: You, you, what can't you fish for? You just love fishing for cement barrels, right? A Chao: Is it possible he can't catch any fish? After night fell, Liu Ren took off the black short jacket, changed into the cheapest, shabbiest suit, put on a hat, making it impossible to distinguish his appearance. But just as he went downstairs, A Chao burst out from the corner: "Where are you going?" "Oh, Brother Chao, what a coincidence, you're going to Broadway too?" Liu Ren feigned surprise and laughed. "You're going to Broadway?" A Chao looked at Liu Ren in disbelief, suspiciously questioning. After all, since Liu Ren had arrived, he had never heard that he liked going to Broadway. But thinking of Uncle Qing's instructions, A Chao still said seriously: "You're not planning to go alone, are you?" "Brother Chao, what are you talking about? I look like I couldn't hurt a fly, how could I..." "Clang!" Just as Liu Ren waved his hand to gesture, a bayonet fell from behind his waist and hit the ground heavily. A Chao looked at Liu Ren in silence, tilting his head, as if asking, how do you explain this? "Hey, you know, being far from home, we Chinese when out and about need to protect ourselves well. Carrying a bayonet with me isn't a big problem, right?" Liu Ren explained to A Chao with a smile, picking it up himself. But before he finished speaking, just as he lifted his clothes, A Chao saw the revolver at his waist: "What about this thing?" "I like playing Russian roulette with people! That's not too much, is it?" Seeing that the revolver at his waist had been discovered, Liu Ren smiled and straightened his clothes. A Chao slapped his forehead and said: "Give me a break... do you think I'm a fool?" "You're not a fool, sometimes you're quite clever!" Liu Ren explained to A Chao with a smile on his face. But after hearing Liu Ren's words, A Chao leaned forward and pressed his face against Liu Ren's: "Huh?" "I'm just kidding. But since you're here, why not go together?" Liu Ren invited A Chao as if saying something very ordinary, like going downstairs to buy a pack of cigarettes. A Chao looked at Liu Ren in shock. "You really plan to go?" "Brother Chao, enduring won't solve the problem! Only benevolence can!" After saying this, Liu Ren walked straight out, pressing his hat with his right hand, and said: "Tonight, no one can save their lives, not even Jesus! I'm telling you..."