chapter 34 Pay off debt ===

"Fine, I'll have Klaus Li go with you," Eddie Zou said. "The antique street is familiar to him, and those grandsons recognize him too." After hanging up the phone, Thorpe Chen drove out. It was already late. In a house on the antique street, Joe, Jermaine Zhang, and Thorpe Chen's former card-playing buddy, Carey Liu, were enjoying hotpot and drinking. "Brother Jermaine, Lionel Ye was a sucker, haha, we made a good profit this time.” "This deal felt good." Jermaine Zhang took a sip of his wine, "We should find more suckers like this in the future." "Brother Jermaine, last time I mentioned that Thorpe Chen hasn't been taught a proper lesson yet. You shouldn't forget about that." Carey Liu said with a sinister tone. The last time Thorpe Chen visited the antique street, he tried to set up a trap for Chen, but ended up getting beaten by him. He still held a grudge. "Don't worry, we'll have someone teach him a lesson soon," Jermaine Zhang nodded. "You won't have to bother looking for me. I'm right here." The door opened, and Thorpe Chen walked in. "Thorpe Chen, you dare come here?" Carey Liu was furious, "Guys, get him!" Suddenly, several men in the room stood up. Jermaine Zhang grabbed a machete, "I didn't like you back at the antique exhibition hall. Do you dare come here seeking death? I'll finish you off." "Jermaine Zhang, who are you trying to kill?" A group of people surrounded the house tightly, and a man walked in. The man was Klaus Li, Eddie Zou's right-hand man. The thugs on the antique street, those who loaned money or played tricks, kept their tails between their legs whenever they saw him. "Klaus, Brother Klaus." The people inside were stunned. This was Klaus Li, Eddie Zou's top lieutenant. They usually tried to curry favour with him but often failed. "Brother Chen, are these the ones you mentioned?" Klaus Li respectfully asked upon entering. "Yes, it's them." Thorpe Chen nodded. "Kneel." Klaus Li glanced at them. Without hesitation, the men knelt down immediately. "Brother Klaus, we usually abide by the rules. If we've done something wrong, please let us know, and we'll correct it," Jermaine Zhang stammered. "What did you say you did wrong?" Klaus Li slapped Jermaine Zhang hard, dazing him, "This is Brother Chen." "Brother Chen? Brother Klaus, you must be mistaken. This guy is just a thug. We used to play cards together," Carey Liu exclaimed, shocked. "Shut up." Klaus Li kicked him to the ground and smashed a stool onto him. With a crack, Carey Liu screamed, one of his arms broken. "From now on, open your eyes wide. This is Brother Chen. Even Boss Zou respects him. Do you guys think you have enough heads to offend him?" Klaus Li coldly shouted. "Brother Chen, I was wrong. I won't dare again in the future." The men were terrified. Though they didn't know Thorpe Chen's background, anyone Eddie Zou feared was not someone they should mess with. "Has Lionel Ye left?" Thorpe Chen asked, staring at Jermaine Zhang. "Yes, he left. He repaid the money. I'm sorry, Brother Chen. I didn't know who you were. I'll repay the money immediately," Jermaine Zhang said, trembling. "Jermaine Zhang, you need to get it straight. You're a loan shark, right? You're satisfied with just tripling the amount?" Thorpe Chen sneered, "Don't you usually want five or eight times the amount? How else would you live up to your reputation?" "What...what..." Jermaine Zhang was dumbfounded. He didn't understand Thorpe Chen's intentions. "They just left, right? Chase them, teach them a good lesson, and demand more money. Do you understand what I mean? And don't be kind to them," Thorpe Chen calmly instructed. “I understand, Thorpe Chen. Let's catch up with them and teach them a lesson,” Joe responded swiftly. He was familiar with Lionel Ye and knew that the Ye family looked down upon Thorpe Chen. It seemed that Lionel Ye had angered Thorpe Chen again. If that was the case, they just needed to teach Lionel Ye a lesson. “Aren’t you going yet?” Thorpe Chen frowned and said, “They will leave soon.” “Okay, I'm going now. Joe, gather the men,” Jermaine Zhang hurriedly got up. On Antique Street, Lionel Ye and his wife hadn't had the chance to leave yet. “Keep your eyes open in the future. If it wasn't for Gloria Ye's money and mine combined, you wouldn't have been able to repay that high-interest loan,” May Zhou grumbled as she walked, “You're all talk and no action.” Lionel Ye hung his head, listening to May Zhou's scolding, “I’m sorry, wife. I'll be careful in the future.” “We can still get money from Gloria Ye. Tomorrow, I’ll go with Mom and take all one million from her,” May Zhou said resentfully. “What if she doesn’t pay?” Lionel Ye asked. “If she doesn't, I'll slap her. If needed, we'll beat both her and Thorpe Chen up. Are you afraid of them or something?” May Zhou said angrily. “Lionel Ye, stop right there,” at that moment, Jermaine Zhang, accompanied by Joe and others, caught up with them. “Brother Jermaine, I've already paid the money, and I paid it early within three days,” Lionel Ye's legs trembled in fear. “Lionel Ye, the rules have changed. The money you paid isn't enough. Gather another three hundred thousand, and we'll call it even,” Jermaine Zhang ordered. “Why? We signed a contract. This is illegal. I can call the police on you,” May Zhou retaliated defiantly. “Call the police? Give it a try,” Jermaine Zhang said, giving May Zhou a harsh slap. May Zhou screamed. Half of her face quickly swelled up. After staggering back a couple of steps, she timidly said, “Why did you hit me?” “Hit you? We're here exactly for that,” Joe fiercely kicked Lionel Ye, causing him to scream in pain. “Kneel,” Jermaine Zhang ordered. “Brother Jermaine, let's talk calmly,” Lionel Ye pleaded with a mournful face and knelt. He was the kind to bow under pressure, especially from loan sharks. “You too, kneel,” Jermaine Zhang barked at May Zhou. May Zhou started to cry, kneeling timidly. “Think you’re so tough?” Jermaine Zhang slapped her again, “Thinking of calling the police? Who do you think I am?” After more than a dozen slaps, May Zhou’s face swelled up, covered in blood and dirt, making her look like a mad woman. “I won’t dare to do that again, Brother Jermaine. I was just venting my anger. I won't call the police,” May Zhou sobbed, tears and mucus streaming down her face. “Three hundred thousand, got it?” Joe menacingly pointed at Lionel Ye. “I can’t gather that much, Joe. Considering we have known each other for a while, please let me go,” Lionel Ye begged. “You can't gather that much?” Jermaine Zhang raised an eyebrow and with a kick, knocked him to the ground. Then, several men stepped forward and began to kick him brutally.