The ninth rule of "Chen's Scripting Principles"

- The key to creating and developing a plot lies in setting up conflicting conflicts.

If the story itself lacks a strong sense of conflict or is not captivating enough, then create 'misunderstandings' to drive the plot forward. Chen Ling flashed in her mind the rules she secretly summarized from her past life as a scriptwriter, a hint of a smile in her eyes.

[Audience Expectation +3]

[Current Expectation: 32%]

Seeing the two lines flashing in the soy milk, Chen Ling knew she had guessed correctly. Zhao Shu's expression visibly stiffened. He looked at Chen Ling in astonishment, first confused, then shocked, and finally fell into a deathly silence...

"Uncle Zhao, I promised Xiaoyi to keep it a secret... but you only have Xiaoyi as your son, surely you want him to carry on the family line... and he always hangs out with another boy, which will really affect his studies.”

Chen Ling sighed, "Today I saw him sitting in the back seat of that boy's car, laughing so happily...”

Zhao Shu's body trembled slightly, his hands involuntarily clenched into fists, his breathing becoming heavier. "Alright... Uncle understands.”

Zhao Shu forced a smile on his face, looking somewhat eerie, "Thank you, Ling.”

"By the way, Uncle, I promised Xiaoyi to keep this a secret, so you must not tell him that I told you...”

"Don't worry, Uncle knows.”

Chen Ling finished the last sip of soy milk, bid farewell to Zhao Shu, and left the shop. But Zhao Shu seemed as if he hadn't heard anything, burying his head in the room searching for something.

A few minutes later, he pulled out a thick stick from the corner, slowly sat on the bench outside the shop.

A gust of cold wind swept through the street, lifting Zhao Shu's few remaining hairs, along with the towel on his sweaty forehead. He sat quietly there, using the stick to poke the ground with one hand, his eyes filled with bloodshot veins staring fixedly at the end of the street, resembling a fierce general with a murderous aura!

Chen Ling appeared to leave the street, but secretly circled back through an alley. He stood in the shade of a corner tree, able to see the entire shop. A few minutes later, a tricycle swayed its way from the end of the road.

Zhao Yi sat with his legs crossed on the side of the car, the two buckets of salt behind him already emptied, playing with the few copper coins he had just earned, smiling so broadly his mouth almost reached his ears. "Hey, making money isn't that difficult.”

"Brother Yi, of course it's not difficult for you, I'm the one riding the bike all day!”

The young man in front stood up, pushing the tricycle with all his might, panting heavily. "We're brothers, why differentiate between you and me.”

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Zhao Yi took out two copper coins from his palm and stuffed them into the young man's pocket, "Here, for you.”

Not far away, Zhao Shu couldn't help but twitch his eyelids as he saw Zhao Yi touch the young man's waist. "Brother Yi, I rode the bike for you all day, and you're only giving me two pieces??”

The young man widened his eyes, "Didn't you receive twenty from the road management bureau!”

"Riding a bike is physical work, salting is skilled work, of course, I should get more.”

Zhao Yi lazily replied, then leaped off the tricycle, squinting and waving at the young man, "I'll wait for you at the usual place tomorrow... if you dare not come, I'll beat you every time I see you, got it?”

With that, he clenched the remaining eighteen copper coins in his hand, proudly walked towards his shop.

The young man riding the bike looked at him angrily, but with Zhao Yi's fierce glare, he backed down, hanging his head dejectedly and continued pedaling home alone. Zhao Yi, the young bully of Frost Street, was almost untouchable among the younger generation.

The young man who rode the bike was taken advantage of for a day, and he could only grit his teeth and swallow his anger. "Dad, I'm back!!”

Zhao Yi strode home confidently, holding eighteen copper coins in his hand, never before had he felt so self-assured. But for some reason, as soon as he walked to the store entrance, he felt a chill coming towards him.

The figure holding a wooden stick slowly stood up, and the atmosphere suddenly dropped to freezing point. Uncle Zhao's angry eyes locked onto Zhao Yi, like a general holding a long spear, aggressively walking towards him. "Father... father?”

Zhao Yi saw the stick and instinctively took a step back. "It's him, isn't it?”

Uncle Zhao pointed at the teenager riding away on a bike, his hand trembling with anger, "You little bastard! Instead of studying properly, you sneak around doing these things?!”

"If you want to date a girl seriously, fine, but why the hell did you choose a guy?”

"Can a guy give birth to a child for you?! Can he continue the Zhao family line?!”

"Are you trying to end your father's lineage?!”

While Uncle Zhao cursed loudly, he chased after Zhao Yi frantically with the stick, causing the latter to cry out in pain. Hearing Uncle Zhao's angry shouts, the neighbors on the street perked up their ears.

They curiously gathered around, pointing and whispering about Zhao Yi being chased, their faces showing shock. [Audience Expectation +1... +1... +1...] As Zhao Yi cried out in pain, the numbers in Chen Ling's eyes began to jump incessantly.

If he could enter the theater in his mind again, he would see the dense shadows of the "audience" watching this scene with great interest, a subtle smile on their lips. "The conflict is there... but we need more characters.”

Chen Ling's gaze fell on a tricycle in the distance. "Xiao Liu.”

Hearing Chen Ling's call, the teenager on the bike turned around, looking puzzled. "Ah Ling ge, you're here too?”

"How much did Xiao Yi give you today for going to Rongxue?”

"...Two bucks.”

The teenager's face showed resentment as he mentioned this, "He went back on his word. He originally said he'd let me ride the bike, earn money, and split the profits with me, but he only gave me this little, and threatened me to continue working for him as a laborer tomorrow...”

"Do you want to get back at him?”

Chen Ling stared into his eyes, "Or do you want to make sure he never dares to bully you again, even avoiding you when he sees you?”

"I do!”

"Then let me teach you...”

While the two were whispering, Zhao Yi was already exhausted from being chased. "Father, father, please stop! I really didn't do anything!”

Zhao Yi finally reacted, desperately explaining, "I swear, I, Zhao Yi, have always only liked women! Especially those who are full-bodied and charming...”

The onlookers' mouths slightly agape, lost in thought. Uncle Zhao paused, his steps slowing down, "Then what's your relationship with that boy on the bike?”

"We're just ordinary friends!”

"Are you telling the truth?”

"Of course it's true...”

"Xiao Yi ge!”

A young figure pushed through the crowd, rushing madly to Zhao Yi, embracing him and using his back to shield Zhao Yi from the stick. Zhao Yi was stunned. Uncle Zhao was also stunned. "You...”

Zhao Yi felt his mind go blank. Before Zhao Yi could speak, the young man with red eyes shouted loudly at Uncle Zhao, "If you want to hit someone, hit me! Don't hit my Xiao Yi ge!!”

The atmosphere suddenly fell silent!

【Audience expectations +2......+2......+2......+2......】