Chapter 107: The Red Rose Electric Scooter (Second Update)

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When one person pursues another unilaterally, it often results in a warm face pressed against a cold backside. Only mutual effort makes every step meaningful, blossoming into joy and bearing the fruit of cause and effect.

A young mother, carrying little Hua’er, traveled from Green Vine City to A City, but it was a one-sided journey, naturally ending in cold indifference. She found that Jin Yue was no more enthusiastic than the villagers back home. After a brief, hurried exchange, Jin Yue tossed a few hundred yuan to the mother and child, uttered three words—“I don’t know”—and turned away into a crowd dressed in elegant attire.

Distant relatives are not as good as close neighbors. The young mother could only bitterly set down the beautiful glass filled with juice and, with little Hua’er’s mouth still tasting of durian, quietly exit the scene.

Hou San and Zhu Dachang walked toward Jin Yue, a mutual pursuit. In the instant they brushed past each other, Hou San’s heart bloomed with furious anger. After the flower blooms, cause and effect naturally follow.

“Retribution!” Hou San whispered, pulling Zhu Dachang, whose mouth was stuffed with cake, out of the jewelry store. They crouched under a large tree across the street, puffing out smoke rings, squinting at the jewelry store, and Hou San cursed, “I’m robbing this jewelry store today for sure!”

Zhu Dachang swallowed his cake, confused. “Why? Brother San, most of the stuff in there looks like weird stones. You can’t eat them or drink them. What good is robbing them?”

“Do you remember that woman?” Hou San pointed toward Jin Yue, who was mingling smoothly inside the store. His voice was cold. “The fake jewelry bag we swiped from the villa originally belonged to her. It was a trap! All of it was fake, not only making us empty-handed and foolish but also turning us into a laughingstock, chased by the police. At first, I thought the invitation was a gift from someone else, but it turns out she’s the mastermind behind the fake jewelry. That jewelry store is probably a counterfeiting den. Don’t you think we should mete out justice and rob her?”

“Rob her!” Zhu Dachang jumped up, growling, “Every cause has its effect. Her retribution is on me! Once the grand opening ends, I’ll rob her and let her taste the bitterness of retribution!”

“Not so fast. Our gear isn’t ready yet…” Hou San flicked away a cigarette butt with his toe and patted Zhu Dachang on the shoulder. “The horse that Ma rides is fast, the bowstring like thunder! We have two fiery guns, but we’re still missing a horse like Lu.”

“A horse?” Zhu Dachang scratched his head. “Where do you find a horse in this city? Only zebra crossings and merry-go-rounds…”

“I’m speaking metaphorically!” Hou San smacked Zhu Dachang on the back of the head. “Don’t even bother using that pig brain of yours to think about how we’ll escape after the robbery. Do you think you can run on just two legs? With your weight? We absolutely need a vehicle for transportation… This is a pedestrian street; no cars can get in. Even if one did, it’d be too conspicuous. We need a nimble electric horse!”

“An electric bike?” Zhu Dachang suddenly understood. “But we’ve never stolen electric bikes before. That blonde guy might have experience…”

“Hey, no stealing this time.” Hou San pointed to an electric bike repair shop diagonally across the pedestrian street, grinning slyly. “We’re going to be smart about this!”

“Smart my foot!” Dr. Wang slowly rode his Red Rose electric bike toward East View pedestrian street, phone pressed to his ear, speaking coldly, “Don’t get clever on your own. Stay quietly in the hotel. I’ll be there as soon as I finish at the jewelry store…”

Bang!

A loud tire burst echoed, and the electric bike immediately lost balance, wobbling toward the roadside.

Dr. Wang’s pupils shrank. He quickly jumped off the bike, glared at the iron nail embedded in the front tire, and muttered gloomily, “I’m hanging up first. Something’s happened here, might be delayed… Remember, don’t act rashly. Wait for me!”

After hanging up, Dr. Wang lifted the bike off the ground, glanced around, and saw a repair shop 500 meters away. He sighed in relief and pushed the bike in that direction.

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A few minutes later, Hou San emerged from the electric bike repair shop wearing a heavily stained black apron. Spotting Dr. Wang pushing the bike slowly toward him, his face lit up with joy. “Business is coming!”

Just then, Dr. Wang reached the shop’s entrance, panting, and waved at Hou San leaning against the doorframe. “Master, the tire’s punctured. Can you patch it up?”

Hou San lazily responded, “Oh,” and without expression, went to the bike, pretending to feel the front tire, pulled out the nail, tossed it aside, and sneered, “Can’t patch this. It needs replacing.”

“That’s not right…” Dr. Wang frowned. “I’ve run over nails before and they patched it. Why can’t you fix it?”

“Are you questioning my professionalism?” Hou San narrowed his eyes. “It’s because this tire was patched before that it can’t be fixed now.”

Dr. Wang snorted coldly and tilted his head. “Master, that’s unfair… The previous patch was on the rear tire. I haven’t even ridden this bike for years; it was only out a few days ago when my Geely four-wheeler was stolen. The front tire’s been fine since I bought the bike. You’re telling me it can’t be fixed just because of the rear tire? Are you trying to fool an idiot?”

“Changing the subject!” Hou San rolled his eyes, stood up, and clapped his hands. “If you want it changed, fine. If not, forget it!”

“Changing the subject?” Dr. Wang twitched his eyelids and laughed bitterly. “If you’re going to make stuff up, at least come up with a believable excuse. No fool would believe that! You clearly want to scam me today, don’t you?”

Hou San pulled a crumpled cigarette from his pocket, lit it, took a deep drag, and exhaled smoke toward Dr. Wang leisurely. “Just say if you want it changed or not?”

Dr. Wang bit his lip, his face darkening, and ground out, “Change it!”

“Much obliged, 250!” Hou San stretched out his right hand. “Cash only, no card.”

Dr. Wang’s eyes bulged, fists clenched. “Two hundred fifty to change an electric bike tire? Why don’t you go rob someone instead?”

“Food can be eaten carelessly, but words can’t be said recklessly. Robbing isn’t as gentle as me. Watch out, or I’ll sue you for defamation!” Hou San blew out another smoke ring, expression unchanged. “Everyone has their ambition, and tires have their prices. Mine’s premium, worth 250!”

Dr. Wang took a deep breath, trying to calm his anger, grinding his teeth. “Fine! 250 it is. Change it first, I’ll pay after!”

“No,” Hou San shook his head, stubbed out the cigarette, pursed his lips. “It’s custom to pay first! When you go to the hospital, you pay upfront. What if I fix your bike and you don’t pay? Pay first!”

Veins bulging on his forehead, Dr. Wang pulled out two red bills and some coins, counting up 250 yuan, slapped it into Hou San’s palm, then added a yuan more, frowning. “I’m no fool. Here’s an extra yuan for rush service. Hurry up! I’ve got urgent business!”

Hou San made a sour face, pocketed the money, and carried a new tire out from the shop, muttering, “Two hundred fifty-one… You’re the fool! Don’t even understand, and you throw in an extra yuan for rush…”

Dr. Wang glared coldly, frowning. “What did you say?”

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“Nothing,” Hou San quickly began changing the tire, forcing a smile at Dr. Wang. “Complimenting you, you’re generous! Two hundred fifty-one, such a lucky number!”

Dr. Wang blew out a breath, turned his face away, folding his arms. “Cut the sarcasm. Hurry up!”

“All done!” Moments later, Hou San tossed aside the old tire and plopped down on the bike. “I’ll test it for you to see if it leaks. Service so good, you’ll feel your 250 yuan was well spent!”

Dr. Wang turned back, suspicious. “That fast?”

“Faster is better.” Hou San twisted the handlebar, and the bike shot forward. “I’ll take a quick lap to check. Wait here, I’ll be right back!”

Watching Hou San’s retreating figure, Dr. Wang shouted, “Check carefully! If anything goes wrong while I ride, I want triple compensation!”

Five minutes passed. Dr. Wang glanced at his watch, scratched his head, muttering, “Why hasn’t he come back yet?”

Just then, a middle-aged bald man wearing an apron approached the repair shop entrance. He patted Dr. Wang’s shoulder with a stern face. “What are you doing? Standing in front of my shop?”

Dr. Wang glanced at the man, noting some words in his tone, suddenly suspicious. “Your shop? You’re the owner?”

“Uh-huh…” The man looked wary. “What do you want?”

Dr. Wang’s throat went dry. Pointing toward Hou San’s direction, he asked reluctantly, “Is that short guy your employee?”

“What short guy? Are you joking?” The man frowned. “This tiny shop can barely support me. I can’t afford employees!”

Dr. Wang stiffened, his face pale. “You’re the owner… Then why weren’t you in your shop? Where did you go just now?”

“A fat guy asked to borrow my phone. I kindly lent it to him for a call. He took it and ran,” the man said, hands on hips. “I chased him for two blocks before I got it back.” He stared at Dr. Wang. “Who the hell are you?”

Dr. Wang turned his head to look again in Hou San’s direction, dumbfounded. “Damn, I really am a fool!”

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