12dz Chapter 400 So poor they couldn't even afford to eat
Chapter 400 So poor they couldn't even afford to eat
Slowly, the car drove into the small town, which was not a bustling city.
After the car entered the city, Ye Qing looked out the window and gazed into the city.
The city's outskirts are lined with low-rise bungalows, giving it a slum-like feel. These places look desolate, with very few people around.
According to Wang Chaoyin, these people should have gone to the city to work. Most ordinary people work more than twelve hours a day in order to maintain their simple life in the city.
Occasionally, you might see one or two people walking on the street, dressed simply or in worn-out clothes, looking exhausted!
Most importantly, Ye Qing sensed a numbness in the eyes of these people.
Yes, numbness!
They seemed to be repeating the same things day after day, resigned to their fate and destined to rot away in this place, seeing no hope whatsoever.
Ye Qing watched indifferently as the car drove along the street. After a short while, Wang Chaoyin said, "I'll get off here!"
Wang Shun nodded and pulled over to the side of the road.
Wang Chaoyin looked at Ye Qing and said, "Brother, do you have a place to go? Would you like to come to my house? I have a room and a bed!"
Ye Qing pondered for a moment. He was new to the city and didn't really have any good places to go. Moreover, this kid was bragging about how powerful his boss, Liu Wudi, was. Ye Qing's purpose in coming here was to investigate the situation on this island. Of course, he couldn't investigate the island through the lower levels. If he wanted to find out Van Guise's movements, he would have to go through some of the more powerful people in the city.
Going there to confront them would be too high-profile, so if this Liu Wudi really has some ability, we could introduce him to someone!
Thinking of this, Ye Qing nodded and said, "Alright then, I'll go with you!"
Wang Chaoyin's expression brightened as he said, "I'll take you to meet our boss tomorrow. You'll definitely have a lot in common."
Ye Qing smiled noncommittally, then looked at Wang Shun and said, "Uncle Wang, next time you go out to harvest vegetables, come find me on Yu Rong Street, and I'll go out with you!"
Wang Chaoyin nodded and said, "When you get to Yurong Street, just say you're looking for me, Wang Chaoyin. You can easily find out my name by asking around!"
Wang Shun nodded and said, "Okay!"
But clearly, he didn't take it to heart.
They were just strangers who met by chance. Ye Qing protected his truckload of vegetables, and he was grateful, but he didn't think Ye Qing would really help him solve any huge problems.
In this city, you can't trust anyone, not even... your own family!
Ye Qing saw through him, after all, his answer was very perfunctory.
However, he didn't take it too seriously. He wanted to help, but the other party didn't appreciate it, so he didn't bother trying to win them over.
After getting out of the car and watching it drive away, Wang Chaoyin, holding the dog, chuckled and said, "By the way, big brother, I still don't know your name!"
Yes, along the way, Ye Qing asked them questions, and Wang Chaoyin always called Ye Qing "Big Brother" without knowing his name!
Ye Qing smiled slightly and said, "My name is Ye Qing!"
"Brother Ye!" Wang Chaoyin said, "It's still a bit of a distance to Yurong Street from here, let's walk there!"
Ye Qing nodded, then looked at Wang Chaoyin and asked, "Can you handle it? Is there a taxi or something?"
"Yes, we do have some, but they're quite expensive. We won't let him make that money!" Wang Chaoyin coughed lightly.
Clearly, he was reluctant to part with it.
Ye Qing nodded and said, "Okay. But, would you like to find somewhere to eat?"
"Are you hungry?" Wang Chaoyin asked.
Ye Qing shook his head and said, "I'm fine, it's mainly you who's injured and hasn't eaten all day!"
"I'm fine!" Wang Chaoyin said awkwardly, "Brother Ye, since this is your first time here, I should have treated you to a meal at a restaurant, but as you can see, I'm really short of money. But it's okay, I still have meat and vegetables at home, I'll cook for you when I get back!"
Ye Qing nodded and said, "Okay! I'll hold the dog for you!"
Wang Chaoyin didn't delay. He handed the dog to Ye Qing, and the two walked along the street.
The city wasn't large, and Wang Chaoyin clearly knew it well. He led Ye Qing through the streets and alleys, walking for about three kilometers.
The places they went to were all outlying cities, where most of the buildings were tiled houses or old buildings, at most three or four stories high.
Before long, they came to a street.
As in other places, there weren't many people on the streets!
After walking for a while, Wang Chaoyin saw a middle-aged woman busy at a stove set up by the roadside.
Wang Chaoyin greeted her, saying, "Aunt Li, are you done cooking?"
The old lady Li looked up at Wang Chaoyin, then frowned and lowered her head, not wanting to pay him any attention.
A hint of embarrassment appeared on Wang Chaoyin's face, but he wasn't angry. Instead, he walked to the side.
Ye Qing glanced at Wang Chaoyin with a half-smile. This guy had boasted that he was very famous in Yu Rong Street, but... it turned out that no one here paid him any attention!
Wang Chaoyin said somewhat awkwardly, "I'm mainly responsible for collecting protection money on this street. I'm trying to squeeze money out of them, which is why they treated me like this!"
"Yes!" I understand!
As he spoke, Wang Chaoyin continued to introduce things to Ye Qing.
There are some small restaurants and vendors on both sides, none of them are very large.
However, compared to other surrounding streets, this street actually has a relatively strong sense of local life.
The protection fees here are relatively low, so people here are probably living a better life.
After walking a few more steps, Ye Qing heard a sound coming from the side!
Ye Qing looked around and found it was a movie theater.
Wang Chaoyin said, "There's a movie and TV show place here. It's owned by my older brother, Liu Wudi. It costs five cents per person. If you're bored, you can go in and watch some DVDs!"
Ye Qing was speechless. This was so outdated!
After walking for a while, Wang Chaoyin arrived in front of a wooden door and said, "We're here, this is my home!"
He pointed to a two-story building on the side of the street and said.
“Sure!” Ye Qing said, looking at the two-story building.
"I'm also a prominent figure on Yu Rong Street!" Wang Chaoyin chuckled dryly, then took out his wallet and opened the roller shutter!
Pull up the roller shutter.
Midou broke free from Ye Qing's arms and ran to a dog cage inside. She ran over with a rag doll in her mouth and kept rubbing against Ye Qing, as if she wanted to play with him!
"Midou, go play by yourself!" Wang Chaoyin scolded.
Ye Qing walked into the room!
The rooms aren't very big; there are only two rooms and a kitchen on one floor.
However, it was cleaned very well.
"I'll go cook!" Wang Chaoyin said. "Brother Ye, you can wander around for a bit!"
Ye Qing glanced at Wang Chaoyin's injuries and said, "Forget it, I'll do it!"
With that, Ye Qing walked towards the kitchen!
Wang Chaoyin had been walking for so long and was indeed feeling a bit exhausted, but he didn't refuse. Instead, he moved a wooden chair to the kitchen and told Ye Qing where the things were.
Ye Qing went to the rice jar to find rice, and after opening it, he fell silent!
The rice in the rice jar was pitifully little. He took a bowl and poured it all out, and there was only about half a bowl of rice left!
Wang Chaoyin said awkwardly, "I ran out today and didn't have time to buy rice. It seems like it's impossible to buy any at this time!"
"It's alright, have some porridge!" Ye Qing smiled, not minding at all!
"There's half a piece of cured meat and a few potatoes on the wall in the backyard..." Wang Chaoyin added.
"Row!"
Ye Qing went to the backyard, looked at the wall, and then fell silent again.
The half-piece of cured meat that Wang Chaoyin was talking about was only about three fingers thick, enough to cut into about ten slices!
This guy, he collects protection money for an entire street, but he's living in abject poverty!
He shook his head, took the meat off the table, then picked up three somewhat emasculated potatoes from the ground and went to the kitchen.