For many people, the phrase "as a father" has a lethality that can be considered absolutely overpowered.
Matt was no exception. Li Pu's words immediately reminded him of his own father, who was a boxer.
Although his father had many flaws and left him far too early, the image of his father in his memory was always so tall and imposing.
Matt couldn't help but feel his eyes redden, the corners of his eyes moistened by a salty liquid.
"In that case, let's work hard together."
As he spoke, Matt put his arm around the shoulder of his partner and best friend, Foggy.
"Buddy, I think we'll have to work overtime again tonight.
Back when we were studying at Columbia University, I remember the Professor gave us a few similar case precedents.
We need to look them up and see if this case can bypass the patent appeals from the Stark Industries legal department."
"Hey, buddy, you can't do this! We've already worked overtime for several days in a row this week. Today is Friday; it should be Foggy's bar night!"
"But I need you, brother. Without you, a blind man like me relying solely on audio-reading... searching for those precedents would probably take forever."
Hard-controlled by the phrase "I need you," Foggy eventually had to yield to his good brother's proposal, shaking his head despondently as if to say, 'I really can't do anything about you.'
Li Pu was amused by their performance, and their behavior also reminded him of his brothers back in his dorm during his school days.
Those rascals who had life-and-death bonds with you in the Rift, signed in for you when you skipped class, desperately came up with all sorts of wild ideas before you confessed to a girl, and then gathered in a group to watch you make a fool of yourself during the confession.
Thinking of those people, Li Pu couldn't help but drift off for a moment. Then he said with a smile, "Tonight's supper is on me. Plus two large 'pistol' chicken legs; someone will deliver them to you in a bit."
"Can you send more Sichuan Pepper Hot Sauce!"
Foggy said excitedly, "Li Pu, you have no idea. The Sichuan Pepper Hot Sauce in your fast-food restaurant has become a trend. Some people even pay others specifically to come to Hells Kitchen to buy this chili sauce for them."
"No problem," Li Pu gave the chubby lawyer an "OK" gesture. "It's no problem letting you eat your fill of chili sauce for free."
Watching Foggy and Matt high-five in celebration before leaving, Li Pu also smiled.
Then, seeing that the auto repair shop had just closed, he invited Kevin and his nephew, "Luke Kid," to go for a drink at the bar.
"Boss, I think I'll pass. You know, the one at home has my clock-out schedule." Kevin shrugged helplessly.
For this pathetic middle-aged man who had completely fallen into the "marriage trap," Li Pu could only express a bit of sympathy for his situation.
More than that, it was actually respect.
After all, "Black men don't know who their fathers are" is not just a joke in America.
Kevin was able to marry and have children, keep his son in community school until the 12th grade, and work hard to save up college tuition for him.
This was actually quite rare.
And considering Kevin's family lived in Hells Kitchen, it was even more commendable.
So, Li Pu could only say "bye-bye" to Kevin and just invite that "Luke" to walk into the bar he owned.
Coulson followed him in... "Old Dutch, a glass of whiskey."
Since it was Li Pu's treat, Luke Kid didn't skimp by just ordering beer and instead asked for the most expensive whiskey.
Of course, it would have been better if the old bartender—who didn't just look somewhat similar to the Governor, but practically identical—hadn't intentionally added a few extra ice cubes to the glass.
"Hey, Old Dutch, do you have to be so stingy?" Luke Kid muttered dissatisfiedly.
"Rookies have no right to speak."
Old Dutch glanced at Luke Kid. He would never coddle this young black man who always followed his boss around to get freebies.
While speaking, he also served Li Pu a special drink—a milkshake that could be called a "calorie bomb."
"Li Pu, to be honest, if we didn't know each other, every time you came to the bar, I'd want to ask for your driver's license to check your age."
Li Pu didn't mind Old Dutch's words at all because he knew the old man was a straight-talker.
Old Dutch was a veteran. During the era he served, it was still the golden age of the USA, and most of the recruits were from decent families.
He had been in a special forces unit, rising from a private and sergeant major all the way to major, delaying his retirement until his 40s.
Originally, with the rank of "Major," even after retiring, Old Dutch could have lived a comfortable life on his generous pension.
But because he wanted to take care of some comrades who had retired due to injuries but didn't receive federal government subsidies, he used his pension to open a tavern.
Unfortunately, things didn't go as planned. Old Dutch might be very good at fighting, but he wasn't very good at business.
Adding to that, his tavern was in Hells Kitchen, so business was terrible.
When Li Pu met him, Dutch's Tavern was on the verge of bankruptcy.
He himself had already packed his bags, intending to return to his old profession with a few other old comrades and head to the battlefield as mercenaries to make a living.
After hearing his story, Li Pu gave him a hand, invested in the tavern, and let Old Dutch stay to continue managing it.
Relying on various "milk teas" and "Hand-Smashed Lemon" special drinks created by Li Pu, the tavern went from only being open at night to having customers during the day as well.
Although Old Dutch was initially a bit resistant to the marketing tactic of "punching lemons shirtless," after seeing the doubled turnover with his own eyes... how should I put it, this old man who almost had the word "tough guy" engraved on his forehead finally surrendered to evil capital.
Moreover, Li Pu said to him: "You worked yourself to death before and almost got yourself killed, yet you only managed to help a couple of comrades.
But if you continue to operate according to this model and open branch after branch, you might have the chance to run for Representative, Senator, or even Governor in the future!
When that time comes, you can push for legislation to help all those veterans who risked their lives for this country but didn't get rewarded."
Li Pu really had high hopes for this old man who looked a lot like the "Terminator." With a face like that, it wouldn't be too much to get some extra points when running for Governor, right?
While Li Pu was drinking his favorite milkshake, the future Governor lightly tapped the bar with his knuckles and whispered to him, "Li Pu, there's a young girl over there who's been waiting for you. You didn't do something to her, did you?"
As he spoke, Old Dutch gestured slightly in a direction with his rugged chin, which looked like it could be used to plow a field.
Following Old Dutch's gesture, Li Pu turned his head and saw a young girl with black hair, wearing a purple T-shirt and a studded jacket, drinking a bottle of beer straight from the bottle.
"Old Dutch, she clearly doesn't know me. Otherwise, why hasn't she come over to find me after I've been in here for so long?
Besides, you know me, I..."
Before Li Pu could finish, the girl seemed to realize someone was looking at her. She looked up and met Li Pu's eyes.
She stood up and walked straight toward the bar.
And just as she approached Li Pu, the girl suddenly threw a punch at him, hitting him hard in the chest.
Crack—
The fist made contact with Li Pu's chest. Muscle collided with muscle, and it didn't make much sound.
That "crack" sound was because when the girl's fist hit him, the leg of the high stool Li Pu was sitting on snapped.
However, Li Pu didn't fall; he stood directly on the spot.
"Hey!"
Seeing his boss being hit, Luke Kid quickly stood up as well, wanting to stop the other party's rude behavior.
Old Dutch also frowned deeply, reaching his hand toward the M1887 Shotgun hidden under the bar.
However, that girl's reaction was faster than both of theirs.
Seeing that her punch didn't cause any damage to Li Pu, a flash of disbelief appeared in her eyes. Then, she involuntarily began to treat Li Pu's chest like a sandbag, throwing a series of punches.
Bang, bang, bang, bang—
In the blink of an eye, the girl threw over a dozen punches at Li Pu. Her punching speed was even faster than a boxing champion's.
As for the force... let's put it this way: after throwing this flurry of punches, she felt like both of her hands were about to break.
So at the end, she suddenly raised her leg, wanting to kick Li Pu's groin, while simultaneously throwing a punch at his face.
However, before her punch and kick could fully extend, Li Pu's finger touched the girl's forehead first.
Snap!
Accompanied by a crisp flicking sound on the forehead, the girl's body paused for a moment, and then she fell straight back onto the ground.
At the same time, Li Pu turned his head, shifting his gaze toward the tavern guests who were looking at him in surprise.
To be more precise, he was actually looking at a man wearing a deep purple suit.
Li Pu gave the man a cruel smile.
"This girl's fist is really powerful."