Chapter 78: I Am a Sage of Words

"Xiao Yang, don't listen to his nonsense! He's still a child and doesn't know any better!" Ma Fengying hurriedly interjected.

Yang Meng was taken aback by her words. "He's still a child? Sister Ma, I know your child means everything to you, but I really have to say it—an overindulgent mother ruins her son."

"And what the hell are you supposed to be? Who gave you the right to lecture me?" Lu Xin snapped at Yang Meng, hurling an expletive.

Ma Fengying quickly grabbed Lu Xin's arm. "Xin Xin, how can you talk to your Uncle Yang like that?"

Lu Xin pointed at Yang Meng and sneered, "Uncle Yang? Hah! Isn't he just some moneyed, mother-obsessed psycho? Mom, think about it—he lets you live here rent-free, wants you to run his barbecue restaurant as the manager—what's he really after, if not you? Good thing I came in time. If I'd been any later, who knows what would have happened! Mom, I'm a college student now. If college has taught me anything these past years, it's broadened my horizons! The world is far darker than you think—trust me, I'm right about this!"

Yang Meng nearly burst out laughing. Does he even know how he got into college these past few years? Or where his tuition came from? He’s not wrong, the world is indeed darker than he imagines.

Ma Fengying wanted to explain, but Lu Xin cut her off. "Mom, I know what you're thinking—you just want to save money, right? But money isn't saved, it’s earned! Your son is grown now; it's my turn to take care of you! And you don't need to worry about a place to live—my girlfriend is from Handong City. Her family has an extra apartment. We'll move in with her—no more suffering in this dump! Mom, trust me on this!"

Ma Fengying looked at Yang Meng with a troubled expression. Just then, Yang Meng's phone rang. After glancing at the caller ID, he smiled. "Sister Ma, don't worry—it's a good thing for a son to be filial. Oh, and don’t worry about me—I’ll always have a place for you at the barbecue restaurant if things don’t work out. I’ll take this call—make any decision you like. Hello? Brother Zhang, what’s up? Oh? At your place? Alright, I’ll be right there! Sister Ma, I need to go. Make yourselves at home!"

Why was Zhang Qiang suddenly calling him? Probably wanted him to pick up his motorcycle. With that in mind, Yang Meng headed out, flagged down a taxi, and went straight to Focus Bar.

He couldn't help but feel regret over Ma Fengying's situation.

Their relationship had been just fine—how could things change so drastically because of her son?

Then again, it was understandable. For Ma Fengying, her child was everything; her greatest hope was to see him succeed.

But just because he understood didn’t mean he could accept it. As the saying goes: the pitiful often have something detestable about them. And it couldn’t be more true!

Take Lu Xin, for example. Just listening to him, you could tell he had zero real-world experience—he hadn’t yet been knocked around by life. In other words, he simply hadn’t suffered enough.

Those most easily duped are either the elderly or young people just past twenty. There are too many like them these days: broke, yet acting as if tens of thousands are pocket change; doing nothing all day, yet convinced they’re meant for greatness and look down on everyone else.

Where does their confidence even come from?

When he arrived at Focus Bar, Zhang Qiang was already waiting for him.

Yang Meng smiled. "Brother Zhang, I was a bit tipsy last night and forgot my motorcycle. I came by this morning but your place was closed. You could've just called and let me pick it up myself—no need to wait here."

But Zhang Qiang looked apologetic. "Yang, actually, I have something to tell you..."

"What is it?" Yang Meng was in a good mood, smiling pleasantly.

But as soon as Zhang Qiang spoke, Yang Meng's smile froze. "Brother Yang, your motorcycle was stolen last night."

"What?" Yang Meng's eyes widened. "Brother Zhang, don’t joke like that! It’s not funny. That would be the third motorcycle I’ve had stolen."

He didn’t really believe it and thought Zhang Qiang was playing a prank.

Zhang Qiang gave a wry smile. "Then this is the fourth one."

Yang Meng scrutinized Zhang Qiang, realizing he wasn’t joking. His smile faded.

Zhang Qiang said, "I wish I were joking, but your bike really was stolen. But don't worry, the thief has already been caught."

Yang Meng clenched his jaw in anger. "Where is he? I hate thieves more than anything—especially motorcycle thieves!"

Zhang Qiang pushed open the bar’s door. "They’re all inside."

"All? More than one?" Yang Meng asked, puzzled.

Zhang Qiang forced a smile. "Go in and see for yourself."

Inside, Yang Meng saw Gao Pei with a group of people forming a circle. In the middle of the dance floor, more than a dozen young men and women crouched with their heads in their hands.

Looking closer, he realized several of them were injured—Gao Pei hadn’t been gentle.

"This many?" Yang Meng asked, surprised.

Zhang Qiang nodded. "It was a whole car theft ring. Gao Pei didn’t sleep all night—rounded them all up!"

Yang Meng patted Gao Pei on the shoulder. "Thanks, I owe you one! Hm? That girl looks familiar—isn’t she one of your barmaids? What’s her name again—Casey, right?"

Zhang Qiang gave a bitter smile. "Good memory, Yang. Her real name is Sun Meiyan. She’s our barmaid. The whole thing was her boyfriend’s doing, and she was the inside person."

Sun Meiyan looked at Zhang Qiang through tears. "Boss, I swear I’ll never do it again. I didn’t know it was Mr. Yang’s bike..."

Zhang Qiang cut her off. "So if it was someone else’s, that would be fine? Yang, her boyfriend is that kid with the yellow hair—what’s his name again?"

Yang Meng glanced at the yellow-haired punk—his face was swollen beyond recognition. Yang didn’t care what he was called. "Since you’ve caught them, where’s my bike?"

Zhang Qiang didn’t answer, but looked at Yang Meng with a troubled face.

Yang Meng was puzzled. "Why do you look like that?"

Gao Pei smacked the yellow-haired kid on the back of the head. "These brats, after the recent crackdown, were scared and laid low for a few days. Once their money ran out, they started stealing again. Your bike looked too cool, so they set you up and stole it."

Yang Meng blinked. "Manager Gao, I’m asking about my bike."

Gao Pei kicked the yellow-haired punk again and said angrily, "Yang, your bike was too valuable—imported and with all the paperwork. They were afraid to sell it whole, so..."

Gao Pei fell silent, looking at Yang Meng.

"Come on, Manager Gao, stop dragging it out! What happened to my bike?" Yang Meng pressed anxiously.

Gao Pei nodded at the yellow-haired punk. "They took your bike apart and sold it for parts."

Yang Meng nearly coughed up blood in fury.

His "Six-Eyed Demon" was worth over three hundred thousand yuan! Dismantled and sold for parts, he’d be lucky to get twenty thousand!

How could they bear to destroy such a bike—they truly had no heart.

Yang Meng glared at the thieves squatting on the floor, seething with anger.

Gao Pei, sharp as ever, handed him a rubber police baton. "Yang, want to let off some steam?"

At his words, the thieves turned white with terror—they’d already been beaten once, and now another round?

"No, please! We know we were wrong!" A chorus of wails filled the air.

"Shut up! The next one who speaks gets it first!" Gao Pei yelled, and the room fell silent.

Yang Meng looked at those cowering on the ground, shook his head, and with a burst of strength, snapped the rubber baton in two, the halves hanging by a strip of wire.

"If I laid a hand on them, they wouldn’t survive," Yang Meng said flatly.

Zhang Qiang, Gao Pei, and the others all nodded in agreement. They had no doubt—snapping a rubber baton like that? Was he even human? One blow from him could easily break a bone!

Yang Meng looked at the trembling group and shook his head. "Forget it—let the police handle it."

"Huh?" Zhang Qiang and the others were stunned.

Yang Meng shrugged. "When my third motorcycle was stolen, I said we need to catch these thieves and teach them a lesson. But looking at them now—so pathetic—it’s better to just call the police. Besides, a buddy of mine just got promoted; this’ll make a nice welcome gift."

At this, the thieves panicked. "Please, sir, we swear we won't do it again! Don’t call the police! If my mother finds out, she’ll break my legs!"

"Yeah, me too! I’m still young—if I go to jail, my life’s over!"

"I was just along for the ride—it wasn’t my idea!"

Yang Meng snorted. "Shut up, all of you! You should’ve thought of this when you decided to steal!"

He tossed the broken baton at their feet. "Manager Gao, do me a favor—if any of them makes another sound, find a way to shut them up!" With that, he dialed Ling Feng’s number.

Gao Pei folded his arms, watching the group. "Thought you were being clever, huh? Stealing a bike worth over three hundred thousand? Now you’re in real trouble."

Sun Meiyan, already in tears, begged, "Manager Gao, we know we were wrong. We’re willing to compensate Mr. Yang—can’t we settle this privately?"

Gao Pei sneered. "Privately? Someone with a three-hundred-thousand-yuan motorcycle doesn’t care about your compensation. Get ready for court."

Yang Meng hung up the phone and, hearing Gao Pei’s words, added, "Manager Gao, to be honest, I didn’t buy that bike—it was a gift. But you’re right about one thing: they’ll have their day in court!"

Zhang Qiang laughed. "Yang, you’re an interesting guy. When Li Xiaoqing got in trouble, you said she was young and deserved a chance; but with these kids, you won’t let up. Why is that?"

Yang Meng burst out laughing. "Li Xiaoqing didn’t hurt me, so of course I could play the good guy. But these guys stole my bike—so of course I can’t forgive them. That’s right, I’m a hypocrite—too bad for them they crossed me!"