Many children bring happiness, a shameless start

The scenery outside the car window quickly slipped by.

Lip and Ethel were talking and laughing as they drove home.

Suddenly, the new mobile phone that Lip bought for Ethel two days ago rang.

"Hey, Veronica, what's up?"

"Ethel, is Lip with you?"

"He's here, let him answer the phone!"

Lip took the phone with one hand.

"Hello, Veronica…"

"Lip, we were robbed! Kevin was shot!"

"What! Is Kevin seriously injured?"

"Hi Lip, I'm Kevin. It's just a scratch from a stray bullet! Fuck!"

"What's going on?"

"I can't explain it in just a few words! I'm at Wallace Street Park now. I'll talk to you when you get here."

"Good!"

Lip stepped on the accelerator a little more.

"Lip, what's the matter? Veronica sounded anxious!"

"Kevin and Veronica were robbed!"

"Who's that arrogant? Robbery in the park in broad daylight!"

Ethel was stunned.

"I don't know either. But I'm guessing it has something to do with the local gangs."

"Gangs?!"

"Yeah, they're the only ones who would dare rob and shoot so brazenly in broad daylight."

"Shot?! Was Kevin shot?" Ethel gasped, covering her mouth.

"Don't worry, it's just a scratch, nothing serious!" Lip reassured, holding Ethel's hand.

Lip then focused on driving.

It was originally a 40-minute drive, but they got to the park in just 28 minutes.

Lip got out of the car and saw Kevin sitting on a park bench, his left leg wrapped in gauze, while Veronica anxiously looked around.

"Veronica!" Lip shouted, waving his hands as he quickly walked over with Ethel.

"Lip! You're here." Veronica held Lip's hand tightly, relieved.

"Lip!" Kevin smiled slightly apologetically. He tried to get up, but Lip pushed him back down.

"Kevin, don't force it!"

"Lip, really, I'm fine. It's just a scratch, the blood wasn't much. If you don't believe me, ask Wei!"

"It's really nothing, just a scratch. I used the gauze from the ice cream truck to treat it." Kevin added.

"Kevin, you're lucky!" Lip said with a small smile.

"Hey, hey!" Kevin rubbed his head and smiled.

"Kevin, tell me what happened!" Lip lit a Marlboro, took a puff, and handed it to Kevin.

Kevin took it, inhaled, and slowly began to explain.

"Business was great today! The special Marlboro we've been selling is super popular in the South District, and the supply couldn't meet the demand. We made over 8,000 yuan by 5 p.m."

"But who would've thought, when Veronica and I went to sell the last few B- and C-grade rods in the park, we were ambushed!"

Kevin covered his face with his hands.

"G Dog's men, Fei Luo and Shou Qiao, also came over and bought some. After smoking, they praised the Marlboro. Then they went to play one-on-one basketball."

"Vi and I stayed behind to sell, but suddenly, Fei Luo and Shou Qiao rushed over, fired shots in the air, and pointed guns at Veronica and me."

"And you two were robbed?"

Kevin and Veronica nodded.

"What were you two doing when you were robbed?"

"I was counting money and checking the daily sales."

"Did you leave the car window open or the door slid open?"

"Lip, how did you know?"

"Kevin, what were you thinking? This is the South District! Counting thousands of dollars in public—are you crazy? You might as well be asking for trouble!"

"I… I wasn't paying attention because I was happy with the sales. Who would've thought something like this would happen?"

"You feel lucky the bullet didn't hit you, right?"

"No, no! I didn't mean it like that!" Kevin quickly waved his hand.

"Kevin, listen. If you're ever in a situation like this again, don't count money in public. It may seem harmless, but it could cost you your life."

"I'll never do something that stupid again, but it won't be so bad I'd lose my life!"

"You never know what could happen."

"What do you mean?"

"That's Murphy's Law."

"Lip, is that something Murphy, the grocery seller , said?"

"Edward Murphy was an engineer. In 1949, he proposed a psychological theory known as Murphy's Law or Murphy's Theorem," Lip explained patiently. "It says: if there are two or more ways to do something, and one will lead to disaster, someone will choose that option. It's been extended to mean: If something can go wrong, it will."

"Ah, I get it now!"

"Kevin, I'm explaining this so you understand the risks. Your business will keep growing, and so will the danger."

"Lip, really? I'm starting to get worried. Kevin's involved with drug cartels in Mexico! If we're caught, Kevin and I could end up in prison for life."

"Veronica, with high risk comes high reward! The more money you make, the greater the risk!" Lip said calmly. "But for now, stop selling special cigarettes in the South District."

"Why?!" Kevin asked, confused.

"Because Fei Luo and Shou Qiao are likely targeting you. No matter how much you sell, you're just working for them."

"Wait, are you saying they're going to rob me every day?" Kevin couldn't believe it.

"Kevin, if you could make thousands of dollars every day by robbing people, wouldn't you do it?"

"Damn it! I'm gonna grab my sand eagle later."

"You have a pistol, they have pistols too. Do you think they'll be scared of you?"

"Then I'll give Veronica a rifle and an AK! Still, I don't get how arrogant they can be!"

"Kevin, do you even have a legal gun license?"

"No."

"Then your latest task is to get a gun license as soon as possible. After that, buy pistols, rifles, and shotguns at a licensed store, using the excuse of maintaining the bar's security. Then we'll get insurance for the ice cream truck."

"Lip, what are you planning to do?"

Kevin and Veronica asked in unison.

"Nothing. I already made a deal with G Dog a while back. But since he can't control his men, and they're all over your business, I don't think the Wild Dog Gang needs to exist anymore."

Lip's eyes were cold, and his tone was firm.

Kevin and Veronica stared at Lip in shock, exchanging glances.

Ethel looked at Lip with admiration and love.

She had an inexplicable feeling that everything Lip said would come true!