“I heard that man and that child are just some pretty boy living off a woman and a burden from the countryside. The man doesn’t even have a proper job in the city. A capable and shrewd woman like Xu Huaying can still lose her head over love.”
“In my opinion, Xu Huaying just likes his face. What love? Nonsense.”
“What’s the use of a handsome face? It can’t feed you or be spent like money. When all the money’s gone, she’ll regret it when she loses both wealth and the man.”
As work hours approached, the crowd at the entrance quickly dispersed.
Xu Huaying brought Xiao Huai Dong and Xiao Nanchu straight to the security office.
The head of the security section was Fang Zhiguo, a 32-year-old retired soldier. His father worked at the Civil Affairs Bureau as a director.
He was serious and rigid, but an upright man.
He had been waiting early in the office for Xiao Huai Dong.
Behind him stood a large, heavyset man—Wu Peng.
As the three entered, Wu Peng stared at Xu Huaying with undisguised interest.
Sensing the lewd gaze, Xiao Huai Dong calmly stepped in front of her and took out cigarettes from his pocket, offering them to the two men.
“No need.”
Fang Zhiguo didn’t take them. Instead, he looked at Xu Huaying with a stern expression. “I promised Comrade Liu I’d give you a job quota. But now the security section has new rules—all personnel must pass an assessment before taking the post. If this comrade can defeat Wu Peng, he passes. If he can’t even beat Wu Peng, then this place isn’t suitable for him.”
Xu Huaying’s expression darkened. This was clearly targeted.
“Brother Dong, since they don’t appreciate the cigarettes, put them away.”
“What? Cigarettes like that?”
Wu Peng’s eyes greedily followed the pack as Xiao Huai Dong put it away, full of regret.
If he had known they were premium cigarettes, he would never have refused.
“Have you decided? If you’re willing to take the test, we’ll start immediately. If not, I’ll take it as you giving up the opportunity. There won’t be another slot for you.”
Fang Zhiguo clenched his fists, recalling Wu Juan’s threats.
For his father’s sake, he had no choice but to do something against his conscience.
“Brother Dong, this is my fault. If I had known there would be an assessment, I wouldn’t have brought you.”
She looked at Fang Zhiguo. “Section Chief Fang, you should give this opportunity to someone else.”
Wu Peng was a distant relative of the Gu family and one of the men Niu Erya had once tried to match her with.
After she rejected him, he had even harassed her.
It wasn’t until she wrote a report against him that he stopped.
Judging by his expression, he had clearly been waiting for Xiao Huai Dong.
Xu Huaying narrowed her eyes, quietly observing Fang Zhiguo and Wu Peng.
“Since you’re giving up voluntarily, I have nothing more to say.”
Fang Zhiguo let out a breath of relief.
“Looks like this pretty boy knows his limits—he knows he can’t beat me and gave up. All looks and no substance. Someone like you thinks you can work with me?”
Wu Peng sneered, his gaze full of disdain.
From the moment he entered, Xiao Huai Dong had found Wu Peng’s gaze toward Xu Huaying disgusting.
Now that he had a legitimate chance to beat him, he wasn’t about to let it pass.
“Since you’re so eager to get beaten, I’ll oblige.”
Xu Huaying grew anxious. “Brother Dong, Wu Peng is very strong. Even two or three people together aren’t his match. He’s deliberately provoking you—”
“Aunt Xu, my dad isn’t even afraid of traffickers. Why would he be afraid of a big fat bear?”
With one look, Xiao Nanchu could tell Wu Peng was all brute strength.
Her father had caught bandits, fought wild boars, beaten vagrants, and even captured seven or eight thieves barehanded.
Compared to that, someone like Wu Peng was barely worth mentioning.
“Huaying, trust me.”
Xiao Huai Dong didn’t take someone like Wu Peng seriously at all.
He had once killed a wild boar weighing over 300 jin with his bare hands—without much effort. No matter how big Wu Peng was, he wasn’t that heavy.
“Then be careful.”
Even Xiao Nanchu believed in him—she wouldn’t dampen his confidence.
They moved from the security office to the open entrance area.
“We’ll compete here. Time limit: fifteen minutes. The one who admits defeat loses.”
Seeing he couldn’t stop this unfair test, Fang Zhiguo decided he would step in if Wu Peng went too far.
Several security guards on duty gathered at the entrance to watch.
“That’s Comrade Xu’s partner, right? Didn’t even bother to ask—Wu Peng is the strongest here. He could knock that guy down with one finger.”
“With Wu Peng’s aggressive nature, he won’t stop until the other guy is crippled.”
As they spoke, Fang Zhiguo called out, “Start!”
Wu Peng, less than 1.7 meters tall but bulky and thickset, looked like a small mountain.
He swung his fist straight toward Xiao Huai Dong’s face.
But Xiao Huai Dong easily dodged.
“You coward! Only knows how to dodge—fight me head-on if you’ve got guts!”
Wu Peng cursed and swung his massive fist again at Xiao Huai Dong’s head.
This time, Xiao Huai Dong didn’t dodge. He caught Wu Peng’s fist with one hand.
Before Wu Peng could react, Xiao Huai Dong pulled him forward and drove a series of powerful kicks into his stomach.
“Thud! Thud! Thud!”
The sound echoed like a butcher hammering freshly slaughtered meat.
When everyone finally saw clearly, Wu Peng was already sprawled flat on the ground.
“What…?”
The unexpected scene left everyone wide-eyed in shock.
Xiao Nanchu proudly patted her chest. “Aunt Xu, see? My dad is amazing, right?”
“Yes—Brother Dong has always been amazing.”
Xu Huaying ruffled her hair, filled with pride.
Wu Peng let out a feral laugh and sprang to his feet, charging at Xiao Huai Dong at what he thought was his fastest speed.
He threw another punch.
Xiao Huai Dong met it with his own.
Their fists collided.
Wu Peng staggered back more than ten steps before barely regaining his balance.
Meanwhile, Xiao Huai Dong stood firm like a mountain, not moving an inch.
The difference was obvious.
No one could believe how strong Xiao Huai Dong was.
Even Wu Peng, the strongest among them, had been defeated.
Just when everyone thought Wu Peng would admit defeat—
Unexpectedly, as if gone mad, Wu Peng pulled out a sharp fruit knife from nowhere and lunged at Xiao Huai Dong.
“Brother Dong!”
Xu Huaying screamed in terror.
Even Xiao Nanchu tensed, a talisman appearing in her palm.
If her father was injured even slightly, she would blow Wu Peng to pieces.
“Wu Peng, stop right now! Do you know what you’re doing?”
Fang Zhiguo was horrified.
Xiao Huai Dong struck sideways at Wu Peng’s elbow.
The knife fell from his hand.
Then he raised his fist and punched Wu Peng in the head several times.
Dazed and disoriented, Wu Peng opened his mouth to curse—
Only to be met with another punch straight to his mouth.