Chapter 138: His Brain Has Gone Haywire

The thug who had been struck heavily was naturally no longer able to control Chen Huajiang. The voices of Gao Yun and the others, along with their rapidly approaching figures, caused Zhang Hao, who had rushed forward, to turn pale and his legs to weaken.

“So bold, huh? Daring to ambush me?” Chen Huajiang said coldly, once again creating a one-against-many situation.

With a sideways slide, he disarmed Zhang Hao’s chopping knife by seizing his wrist barehanded. The next moment, a knee strike sent Zhang Hao crashing to the ground, unable to rise.

“Y-you, don’t come closer, don’t come closer!” Zhang Hao was terrified and retreated step by step.

Chen Huajiang was not one for idle talk; he stepped forward like an arrow and delivered a brutal beating. Yet, the man was useless—after just three punches, he lay on the ground, clutching his head and wailing loudly.

“This—”

“Boss Chen, you defeated all of them?” Gao Yun’s senior brothers finally looked on in disbelief at the eight men sprawled on the ground.

Weapons were scattered around, and everyone’s eyes widened in shock. While they believed they could handle unarmed combat, facing eight thugs armed with weapons was an entirely different matter—they knew they couldn’t match that.

Gao Yun, especially, was stunned. Reflecting on her previous one-on-one duel with Chen Huajiang, she suddenly felt her defeat was well deserved. The man before her seemed not only equal in skill but far stronger.

“Thank you. Please keep an eye on them; I’ll go call for help,” Chen Huajiang nodded to them, then quickly headed toward the food street.

Soon, Chen Huajiang returned with Er Mao, Zhang Bao, and others, subduing Zhang Hao and his gang, then called the police from a small shop at the alley entrance.

“Brother Chen, I was wrong! Please spare me, have mercy!” Zhang Hao whimpered, sobbing and kowtowing to Chen Huajiang.

But this time, Chen Huajiang would not forgive him. The surrounding crowd looked on with disdain.

Soon, the police arrived and took Zhang Hao and his seven companions away. Chen Huajiang and Gao Yun went with them to give statements, and by the time everything was done, it was already eight o’clock in the evening.

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Despite his exhaustion, Chen Huajiang first escorted Gao Yun back to Anrong Alley.

“Chen Huajiang, there’s something I can’t understand,” she said.

“Your kung fu isn’t weaker than ours, it’s even comparable to my senior brother Liu Xiangyang’s.”

“Why then do you still want to apprentice under my grandfather? Or were you just toying with us from the start?”

Gao Yun remained silent most of the way, only voicing her doubts when they reached the entrance of Anrong Alley, looking at Chen Huajiang with confusion.

Her question made Chen Huajiang pause, reflecting carefully.

Originally, he intended to apprentice because of Gao Laogen’s strength—he was a legendary master. Among Gao Yun and her companions, Liu Xiangyang was the strongest, with Ma Liangping and Gao Yun weaker than him. In a fair one-on-one fight without using “underhanded” moves, Chen Huajiang would not be a match for Liu Xiangyang. But if anything went, he was confident he could easily teach Liu a lesson.

Chen Huajiang’s training had always been pragmatic. In his previous life, he had spent a fortune hiring combat experts to teach him quick, lethal techniques. Especially the moves from the Wild Dog Sect—unrestricted fighting techniques—he had spent 100,000 yuan learning from the sect leader for a month. Techniques like eye gouging, nose poking, ear picking with nail clippers, rings, keys, and other hidden weapons revealed a level of viciousness that shocked Chen Huajiang, shaking his worldview to its core.

“I know your grandfather is a successor of the Bagua Sect, and I am curious about Bagua Palm. I wonder if it really is as legendary as they say.”

“Besides, the more skills, the better. If I can learn, I will; if not, it doesn’t matter. I’m just taking it as it comes.”

“That’s probably why you’re confused.”

Chen Huajiang explained thoughtfully, and Gao Yun nodded in understanding. Everything made sense now.

“You’re a good person. Old Yang, Aunt Liu, and Widow Zhang all say so.”

“I’ll help you plead with your grandfather.”

After seeing her to the door of the bone setting clinic, Chen Huajiang turned to leave, hearing Gao Yun’s voice behind him.

He couldn’t help but glance at the corner of his mouth—he had just been handed a “good person” card. Though Gao Yun’s meaning was not what future generations would call a “good person card,” still, hearing it felt a bit awkward.

While Zhang Hao’s gang was still under interrogation, Chen Huajiang busied himself again.

Large quantities of glass bottles from the glass factory were delivered to Anrong Alley. With the help of temporary hired laborers, the bottles were carefully arranged in two courtyards.

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During this time, Chen Huajiang assessed the workers, remembering those who were diligent and hardworking.

After the work was done, he spoke to them individually, asking if they were willing to help long-term in preparation for producing orange soda.

Some agreed; some did not. Chen Huajiang did not force anyone but registered those willing to commit.

Chen Huajiang’s purchase of so many bottles quickly became the focus of gossip in Anrong Alley.

“Isn’t this obvious? Many people are pickling kimchi these days. He must want to resell them for a big profit.”

“Nonsense. There’s no way that many bottles will sell. I think there’s another use.”

“Probably brewing alcohol. I can’t think of any other use for so many bottles.”

In Gao Yun’s family’s bone setting clinic, a group of middle-aged and elderly people lay on bamboo beds, enjoying massages from Liu Xiangyang and others while discussing Chen Huajiang’s bottle purchase.

No matter how much they speculated, it was all guesswork.

Soon, everyone learned what Chen Huajiang was up to.

People from the Third Production Team of Five-Star Village arrived. Zhao Hongmei, along with Zhao San, Wang Erdan, and others, transported oranges in batches.

Chen Huajiang’s two courtyards were soon filled to the brim. Even the courtyard of Gao Yun’s bone setting clinic was borrowed for storage.

When all one hundred tons of oranges were delivered, Chen Huajiang completed the final payment with Zhao Hongmei.

“Boss Chen, may I ask what you’re doing with so many oranges?” Zhao Hongmei, curious, did not leave immediately but asked.

“Making orange soda,” Chen Huajiang answered directly without concealment.

Zhao Hongmei looked bewildered, scanning the two courtyards, then glanced at Chen Huajiang as if he were an idiot.

“Well, I wish you success,” she said, then quickly left with her team.

She walked faster and faster, eager to get away. In her mind, Chen Huajiang was clearly crazy.

Making orange soda here? Was he joking? Making soda isn’t that easy! In her eyes, Chen Huajiang was bound to lose everything.

Soon, word of Chen Huajiang’s plan to make orange soda spread through Anrong Alley, becoming the hottest topic of conversation at every meal.