Kneel? Kowtow? Apologize?
Shi Shen and the others couldn't stop laughing at Lu Ming's words.
"Oh, I can't, I can't stop laughing. What a ridiculous joke. How idiotic could someone be to say something like that?"
"Some people are just stubborn to the end! Just wait until Brother Yan Ming arrives, let's see if he's still so boastful."
Shi Shen took a puff of his cigarette.
He glanced at his watch and said dismissively, "Before Brother Yan gets here, you still have a chance to survive. If you obediently pay us a million in compensation, I'm willing to let you off. After all, I'm here for money, not to hurt people."
A million dollars was equivalent to two to three years of revenue for a small restaurant like Zhu Lu!
Lin Zi'ang gritted his teeth.
If a million dollars could buy their lives, it was worth it.
He asked, "If I give you a million, will you definitely let us go?"
Shi Shen nodded, "Of course, I never break my word."
To save Lu Ming, Lin Zi'ang decided to use his bride price money. As long as Lu Ming could be saved, this amount of money was insignificant!
But Lu Ming stopped him again.
Lu Ming said casually, "Trust me, it'll be fine."
"But..." Lin Zi'ang looked at Lu Ming's resolute eyes and swallowed his words. At this point, he could only choose to believe him.
Shi Shen shook his head in great disappointment.
He said, "Is it worth losing your life for a mere million dollars? Tsk tsk tsk, some people just don't know what's important."
As he spoke, several cars drove over and stopped at the entrance of the restaurant.
The car doors opened.
A large group of men wearing boxing gloves got out and surrounded the restaurant tightly.
Finally, Yan Ming made his grand entrance.
Ever since Lu Ming beat him up last time, Yan Ming had been harboring resentment, eager to find an opportunity to vent; today, he finally found his chance to take out his anger.
He strode into the restaurant and immediately started cursing, "Which bastard has the audacity to mess with my subordinates? Are you tired of living?!"
Shi Shen quickly threw away his cigarette butt and walked up with a fawning smile.
He pointed at Lu Ming and said, "Brother Yan, it's this scumbag who ruined my good deed! He openly defied me, cutting off my financial path, and also cutting off your path, big brother."
Yan Ming snorted coldly, "There are too many clueless people these days, it's time to clean them up!"
Yan Ming took two steps forward and looked towards Lu Ming and the others.
The customers inside were terrified, standing against the wall, not daring to lift their heads, afraid of meeting Yan Ming's gaze.
Lin Zi'ang was sweating profusely.
Yan Ming's notorious reputation was well-known in Jinling. Everyone knew he was a wicked and cruel man.
If you provoked this King of Hell, you were not far from death.
Lin Zi'ang prepared himself for death. He even thought that he would tightly cling to Yan Ming's leg to buy Lu Ming time to escape.
However!
To everyone's surprise, the moment Yan Ming saw Lu Ming, he froze.
It was as if a balloon had been pricked, deflating with a hiss.
"What... it's you?"
Yan Ming met Lu Ming's gaze, completely stunned. His speech became even more hesitant, his mind utterly blank.
Lu Ming smiled slightly and said, "Long time no see, Top Supporter."
Yan Ming wished he could die!
In all of Jinling, he feared no one, except for Lu Ming, this jinx. And fate had it that he ran into him again today.
He remembered the last time, regarding Xiao Ni Jiang, Lu Ming had beaten him black and blue, and he had even spent a few days in a detention center.
He had just been released and ran into Lu Ming again.
He was truly his nemesis!
Yan Ming stood frozen, his face ashen.
Meanwhile, Shi Shen, oblivious to the situation, provocatively walked up and taunted, "What Top Supporter? Don't pretend to be close. Regretting it now? Too late! You little brat, weren't you shouting pretty loudly just now? Shout again, go on, shout again, Pfft, you useless trash."
Lu Ming chuckled.
He pointed at Shi Shen and said to Yan Ming, "Is this how you discipline your subordinates?"
Yan Ming didn't say a word, raising his hand and delivering a resounding slap to Shi Shen.
*Slap!!!*
This slap not only stunned Shi Shen but also left everyone else present bewildered. Lin Zi'ang's mouth hung open, too astonished to speak.
Shi Shen, after a few seconds of daze, asked, "Did... did you hit me?"
Yan Ming grabbed Shi Shen's head and roared, "You dog, how dare you speak to Mr. Lu like that?"
Shi Shen was completely flabbergasted.
What was going on?
Mr. Lu?
From Yan Ming's tone, he was extremely respectful, even fearful, of Lu Ming.
Shi Shen said, "No, Brother Yan, he's just a nobody. Do you need to be so polite to him?"
Yan Ming was speechless.
In this situation, Shi Shen still couldn't grasp the circumstances. How could he have such a foolish subordinate?
Yan Ming delivered a kick to Shi Shen's stomach, "Who are you calling a nobody? Damn it, you've been getting too comfortable. Today, I'm going to teach you a lesson about manners!"
He ordered his men to hold Shi Shen down on the table, then took off his leather shoe and fiercely whipped Shi Shen's backside.
"I'll teach you to be a smart mouth! I'll teach you to be a smart mouth!"
Shi Shen, with his tender skin, had never endured such pain. He screamed in agony, tears streaming down his face.
Seeing this, everyone was stunned.
Lin Zi'ang said, "What's going on? Wasn't Yan Ming Shi Shen's top supporter? Wasn't he called by Shi Shen to help him? Why is he... beating Shi Shen instead?"
After a prolonged beating, Yan Ming threw away his shoe.
Looking at Shi Shen now, his backside was bruised and bleeding, and he was on the verge of passing out from the pain.
Yan Ming put on a smile and said humbly to Lu Ming, "My apologies, Mr. Lu. My education of him has been inadequate, which led to you being offended. I have severely punished this ignorant fellow. Are you satisfied?"
*Whoosh*
Everyone looked at Lu Ming in amazement. Even the arrogant Yan Ming showed him such respect. What was Lu Ming's identity?
Lu Ming waved his hand, "Behave yourself from now on and be a law-abiding citizen."
Yan Ming nodded repeatedly, "Definitely, definitely. From now on, I guarantee he won't dare to extort benefits by visiting shops again. We will resolutely eliminate such social chaos!"
"Mmm."
Yan Ming then asked, "So... Mr. Lu, do you have any further instructions? If not, we'll take our leave."
Lu Ming surveyed the scene and said, "Don't rush off. Because of your group's misbehavior, Zhu Lu Restaurant's reputation has been damaged. How about this: you all will stay and work for the restaurant for free for one month, and help promote it to restore its image."
"Ah? A month?"
"Is there a problem?"
"No problem, not at all!" Yan Ming waved his hand and loudly instructed his subordinates, "Are your ears deaf? Hurry up and help with the work! You, go mop the floor; you, go prepare the vegetables; and you, go wash dishes in the kitchen! Quickly, get to it!"