The wheels of my electric scooter rolled over food-delivery soup stains on the ground. I cursed and barely had time to squeeze the brakes.
A crowd had gathered up ahead, blocking the alley entrance. I honked twice, but nobody paid me any mind. I peered over and saw three thugs with dyed-blond hair surrounding an old woman. The leader kicked over the foam box in front of her.
“Old woman, didn't you hear us? This street pays protection money!”
The old woman hunched over. Plastic bottles were scattered all over the ground. She shakily tried to bend down and pick them up, but the blond thug kicked the box again. It flew into the middle of the road, where a truck ran over it with a crunch, smashing it to pieces.
I glanced at the food order hanging from my handlebars. It was due in twelve minutes. A late delivery meant a twenty-yuan penalty, and I was still three hundred yuan short on rent this month.
But I'd already gotten off my bike.
“Hey.” I propped up my scooter and walked over. “What kind of tough guy picks on an old woman?”
The three thugs turned to look at me. Their leader sized up my delivery uniform and sneered. “A delivery boy thinks he can stick his nose into other people's business?”
I took off my helmet, hung it on the handlebars, and went over to help the old woman up. She was terribly thin, her arms like sticks. She wore a faded old padded coat, its cuffs completely frayed. As she grabbed my hand, I felt how cold her fingers were.
“Young man, don't get involved. Just go,” she said in a voice so hoarse I could barely hear her.
“I'm getting involved whether you like it or not.” I stepped in front of her and faced the blond thug. “Either get lost or I'll call the police.”
