Chapter Two: One Big Family

Because the Chen family’s breakfast table had their quick-witted little Chen Hong, the meal ended amid laughter and cheer. After they finished eating, the head of the Chen family, Da Shan, caught hold of Chen Liang, who was about to head out. “Second, you’ve been out of junior high for years already. It’s time to settle down. Don’t be out there causing trouble all the time!”

“After the New Year, the factory will be hiring. I’ve already signed you up. Don’t get into any more mischief!” Chen Da Shan had lived his whole life upright and honest, yet somehow, his second son turned out to be the one who loved trouble the most.

“Exactly! Second Brother, stop hanging out with those good-for-nothings all day, being a street rascal. There’s no future in it!” Even his little sister, Chen Rong, couldn’t help but chime in after hearing their father criticize Chen Liang.

“Alright, little sister, is everything your business? Get to school already!” Chen Liang scolded her, imitating his own exasperated style.

But Chen Rong paid her brother no mind and kept complaining to their father. “Dad, you have no idea how annoying Second Brother’s friends are. Especially that one they call Skinny Monkey—he’s always waiting for me at the school gate, pestering me to be friends with him. Dad, you need to do something about Second Brother!”

Chen Liang had actually been wanting to find a reason to get rid of his troublesome friends. Hearing his sister, he instantly saw an opportunity—what a heaven-sent chance!

“What? Skinny Monkey, right? That’s it, I’ll go and—no, I’ll go teach him a lesson!” Chen Liang, furious, got up to leave.

“Stop! Always fighting and making a scene—what kind of behavior is that?” Chen Da Shan quickly called him back. If he really beat someone up and caused trouble, what then? He knew his second son’s temperament all too well.

“Don’t worry, Dad. I know what I’m doing. I’ll just tell them not to bother my little sister anymore. Skinny Monkey is a toad lusting after a swan!” Chen Liang quickly promised his father he wouldn’t fight, and was finally allowed to go.

Among his crew of local rascals, Chen Liang was absolutely the leader. Whatever reputation they had managed to carve out in this big city was all thanks to his fists, each step hard-earned through brawling.

From a young age, he’d hated studying and loved displays of courage. He apprenticed himself to a supposed descendant of the imperial wrestling guards, and learned all the wrestling skills that man had to teach.

Once he’d grown up, he got even stronger. Five or six grown men couldn’t even get close to him before he’d taken them all down.

So when Chen Liang walked into the dilapidated courtyard where his gang normally hung out, cries of “Brother Liang!” and “Boss Liang!” echoed all the way in.

Ignoring the group, Chen Liang strode straight into the rundown house, where three or four people were playing cards. Without a word, Chen Liang kicked the table over.

The startled card players only quieted down when they saw it was Chen Liang. “Brother Liang, what’s going on?”

A small, dark-skinned man with an overly familiar manner approached him, pulling out a pack of precious Da Qianmen cigarettes and offering one to Chen Liang.

Chen Liang didn’t even glance at it, his eyes fixed on the man. “Skinny Monkey, Hou Qi, have I ever treated you badly?”

Hou Qi, not sure what had gotten into Chen Liang so early in the morning, was utterly confused. What’s going on here?

“Brother Liang, what are you saying? You’ve always been good to your brothers—no doubt about it! You’re the best!” He gave Chen Liang a thumbs-up, though inwardly he couldn’t help but scoff—this guy’s a bit thick; a couple flattering words and he loses all sense of direction.

“Good. As long as you don’t blame me for what comes next.” Chen Liang nodded.

In the past, Chen Liang had been just like that legendary “Timely Rain” from the old stories—always ready to help friends in need, even if it meant fighting tooth and nail for them. His reputation grew, but his name became increasingly infamous.

When all that’s left around you are sycophants, even a good man turns bad. Over time, Chen Liang’s more upright friends drifted away, until he, like the tragic hero in a martial arts film, was surrounded only by flatterers.

It wasn’t entirely his fault. His teacher had been a man of the wilds, and you couldn’t expect much refinement from him. But now that Chen Liang had changed, there was still time to turn things around.

“Brother Liang, what’s gotten into you?” Hou Qi was genuinely frightened by Chen Liang’s words. What did he mean, “don’t blame me for what comes next”? What was he planning?

With a cold laugh, Chen Liang reached out and grabbed Hou Qi by the neck, lifting him off the ground with one hand, the man’s scrawny body dangling helplessly.

“Ugh… help…” Skinny Monkey, nearly suffocating, writhed and thrashed like a catfish, hands and feet flailing against Chen Liang.

Only when Hou Qi’s eyes started to roll back did Chen Liang toss him aside.

Gasping for breath on the floor, Skinny Monkey glared at Chen Liang, hatred in his eyes.

“Brother Liang, what are you doing?” “Yeah, Brother Liang, we’re all brothers here. Why the heavy hand? Are you cutting us off?” “Can’t we talk things out?” The others, shocked by Chen Liang’s display of strength, began to protest as soon as he released Hou Qi.

With a snort, Chen Liang turned and slapped the loudest of them straight across the room. And it wasn’t just a slap—the man was sent flying. Chen Liang had always been unnaturally strong, and since he’d grown up, his strength had only increased. Now, he was a force of nature.

After that blow, silence fell like a curtain. No one dared make a sound except for the harsh breathing of Skinny Monkey.

My god, this was terrifying. To send a grown man flying with a single slap—was this guy a human-shaped dinosaur in disguise?

Once the room was quiet, Chen Liang looked down at Skinny Monkey and spoke slowly, pronouncing each word clearly: “So, I hear you want to be my brother-in-law?”