Chapter 3 Professional Scammer
1004 Words
As soon as Chen Jiahua stepped out of the bar, regret hit him like a brick. D*mn it. Why did I have to act so cocky in front of the guys? It’s not like I actually know anyone on the leadership team at Jiajing University.
Wait—did he?
A memory surfaced: last year, he had helped an old woman lying by the side of the road. She’d mentioned that her son had connections at Jiajing University and offered to help him if he ever needed it, even giving him her phone number.
But Chen Jiahua wasn’t the kind of person to take advantage of others’ goodwill. His motto was Be like Lei Feng: help others without asking for anything in return. So he’d sternly refused her offer while still accepting the number out of politeness.
“That number should still be saved in my old phone. I’ll go back home tonight and see if I can find it.”
Chen Jiahua mounted his motorcycle again, taking a lesser-used suburban road this time. Unfortunately, this road was known for having a professional scammer—a seasoned old man who made his living faking accidents.
The scammer had an interesting backstory. In his youth, he had worked at the docks in Dongpu, repairing railroads and hauling cargo. Later, he had dabbled in gang life in the port area, earning a reputation for his brutal toughness. But after a violent turf war left him injured, he had spiraled into despair and eventually found his calling in staged accidents.
More than a few drivers had tried to retaliate after being scammed by him. However, despite his limp and his age, the old man had surprising strength, often turning the tables and beating his would-be attackers.
Over time, his “business” declined as regular drivers learned to avoid the area, leaving him with only the occasional out-of-towner as prey.
Today, as Chen Jiahua rode his motorcycle down the road, the scammer finally saw his chance. Like a hunter pouncing on prey, the old man darted out from the roadside with lightning speed and flung himself to the ground. His execution was flawless: quick, decisive, and convincing—so much so that even Chen Jiahua, who had seen his fair share of scams, couldn’t help but admire the theatrics.
He was 100% sure he hadn’t hit the man.
Parking his bike, Chen Jiahua walked over to inspect the situation. The old man began shouting in rapid dialect, full of accusations and demands for compensation. His tone left no room for negotiation.
“Old man,” Chen Jiahua said, his Mandarin crisp and precise, with a hint of a northern twang. “I’m just a broke student. If you’re gonna scam someone, at least aim higher—like a Lamborghini or a Land Rover. My second-hand Haojue motorcycle is worth, what, 5,000 or 6,000 yuan at most? It’s not even insured. What’s in it for you?”
The old man ignored him. He had been lying in wait in the heat for hours—no way he was leaving empty-handed. Students were easy marks, after all: timid and eager to avoid trouble.
“If you hit me, you pay. So what’s it gonna be—settle privately or call the police?”
The old man’s voice was surprisingly strong for someone lying in the shade of a roadside tree. From his vitality alone, Chen Jiahua could tell this guy was in better shape than many overworked young people.
Chen Jiahua stifled a laugh, his face adopting a look of feigned concern. “Alright, old man, I’ve only got 500 yuan on me. If that’s not enough, there’s nothing more I can do.”
The scammer stood up, grumbling and cursing about how broke Chen Jiahua was. Still, 500 yuan was better than nothing, and much easier than dealing with wealthy car owners who might retaliate. He shuffled over, muttering about how “lucky” Chen Jiahua was to have encountered such a “reasonable” person.
Stretching out his hand, the old man said smugly, “Young man, you’d better watch out when driving in the future. Not everyone’s as understanding as me. If you run into someone unreasonable—”
Smack!
A crisp slap echoed through the air. Chen Jiahua’s sudden strike sent the old man spinning half a turn before he collapsed to the ground, dazed.
For a moment, the scammer couldn’t even process what had happened. Two of his teeth had been knocked out, but that was the least of his concerns. By the time he realized he’d been slapped, he was already fumbling for his phone to call for backup.
Unfortunately, Chen Jiahua moved faster. Snatching the phone, he casually tossed it into a nearby peach orchard.
Placing his foot on the man’s neck, Chen Jiahua leaned down with an air of exaggerated grievance. “You’re not a kid anymore. Why aren’t you doing tai chi in the park like a normal old man? Running scams on the side of the road—don’t you think you’re tempting fate?”
The scammer wasn’t frail; in fact, he was only in his early fifties and still retained much of the strength that had made him a feared dockworker decades ago. Just recently, a Jiajing Daily article had reported on a young man in his twenties who got into an argument with an old man after a minor traffic accident. Thinking the old man would be easy to bully, the youth ended up getting thoroughly beaten.
But today, the scammer had met his match. Chen Jiahua was no average victim, and the old man found himself completely overpowered.
Defeated, he had no choice but to beg for mercy. In response, Chen Jiahua pulled out two crumpled 1-yuan notes and tossed them to the ground.
“Here’s your medical compensation,” he said cheerfully. “Take care of yourself.”
With that, he mounted his motorcycle and sped off, leaving the old man sprawled on the ground, speechless.
- Writer
