These thugs were obviously the local thugs from the neighborhood, specifically here to collect "protection money"!
Protection money has always been just an excuse for these hooligans to make money. They are not skilled in protection, but are experts in causing damage. If a small stall owner cannot meet their demands, they might be constantly harassed or even have their stalls wrecked!
The little stall owner, who was originally focused on grilling lamb skewers, turned pale as he heard the voices of these thugs, "Hey, guys, I don't have that much cash right now. Can you give me a few more days? Five thousand bucks isn't a small sum..."
The lamb skewer seller's tone was pleading pitifully. In fact, he might have been able to come up with five thousand bucks, but that was his small stall's gross profit for nearly a month. How could he just hand it over so easily?!
