"You have to pay a toll to pass the entrance of your village? What's the reason for this?"

Jessica frowned and said, noting that in the United States, she had never encountered such a situation.

Moreover, 90% of highways in the United States are free, and the remaining 10% charge less than a US cent per kilometer, which is about six cents. The toll is extremely low.

"What reason? Our reason, foreign girl. If you don't pay, you can go back the way you came. You're not allowed to pass here."

The shirtless man gave a signal toward the car window, and all ten villagers by the makeshift barrier blocked the bus.

If you want to drive, you'd have to run over these villagers, but the problem is which driver dares to run over ten villagers? The car owner has no choice but to pay the toll or return.

I believe many people traveling often encounter such situations. When a car passes through a village or a nearby dirt road, villagers set up private barriers, demanding money and refusing passage if you don't pay.

Poor mountains and rivers produce unruly people. Sometimes this saying is true. Few car owners would call the police over ten or twenty bucks. Even if they did, what could happen? Do you believe the police aren't conniving with these villagers? After all, the profits from this effortless scheme aren't small.

For travelers, ten or twenty bucks might not be much, and it's not worth wasting time to call the police, but being extorted for money leaves a bad taste in their mouths.

"How can these people be like this? Isn't this extortion..."

A girl said indignantly.

"These people are too despicable, asking each of us for twenty bucks. There are forty-seven people on the bus. That's more than nine hundred in no time. Imagine how much they'd collect in a day..."

"Sigh, this has become the norm domestically..."

"..."

Pop! Pop!

The shirtless man slapped the cash in his hand against the bus window twice, glaring fiercely at everyone.

"What's all the fuss about? If you want to pass the entrance to our village, either pay up or go back the way you came."

The shirtless man shouted, his voice loud, and the students who were speaking up just now fell silent.

"Hmph, a bunch of little brats. Don't pay up, and still want to pass through here?"

The shirtless man sneered internally.

Though he looked unpleasant now, he's been in a good mood lately. A new Qingxia River Valley attraction opened a hundred miles away from their village.

Recently, more people than before have been passing the village entrance. Once the attraction officially opens, presumably, even more tourists will pass through here. This is a steady income stream.

At this moment, Wang Shuai frowned, looking a bit displeased. Going to the Qingxia River Valley was his suggestion, but he hadn't anticipated encountering these unruly people. How was this any different from robbery?

"Brother Wang, what do you think we should do? If you handle this well, you could gain quite the reputation among our classmates."

Zheng Wei whispered.

Upon hearing this, Wang Shuai's eyes lit up. That's right, looking at it differently, if he settled this issue with the troublemakers, he could demonstrate his ability to handle things. His classmates would definitely think more highly of him, including Su Qingqing.

"But how to deal with these troublemakers?"

Wang Shuai frowned, thinking.

Could he beat them up?

Wang Shuai glanced at the burly frame of the shirtless man, then shook his head. It seemed unrealistic. Even if he could rally all the male classmates to beat up the shirtless man on the bus, there's no guarantee these villagers wouldn't call more people.

"Juejin, do you have any ideas?"

Wang Shuai turned his head to ask a boy beside him.

The boy sitting with Wang Shuai was named Fan Juejin, one of Wang Shuai's buddies.

Fan Juejin was a bit skinny, frequently wore black-rimmed glasses, and had a student haircut, somewhat resembling Detective Conan.

"Ideas? I've got one!"

Fan Juejin pushed up his glasses, a gleam reflecting off the lenses.

"What plan?"

Wang Shuai and Zheng Wei asked in unison.

"Throw money at them!"

Fan Juejin looked earnestly at Wang Shuai.

"What do you mean?"

Wang Shuai was taken aback.

"Brother Wang, these villagers are not to be messed with. If it comes to blows, we'll likely suffer. The best plan is..."

Fan Juejin whispered into Wang Shuai's ear.

"Not bad, Juejin. Your plan is quite good."

Hearing this, Wang Shuai's eyes lit up as he nodded repeatedly.

"Have you all decided yet? Pay up or go back the way you came?"

The shirtless man slapped the cash in his hand, glaring at everyone.

"You can't do this. It's against the law!"

Jessica frowned and said.

She had lived in Huaxia Country for a few years and understood some aspects of Huaxia's conditions, but seeing such brazen demands for money, she couldn't accept it.

"The law? Ha, what is that? Can it be eaten?"

The shirtless man sneered contemptuously.

"Foreign girl, I don't have time to argue with you. Hurry up and pay!"

The shirtless man was already seeing more unsuspecting foreigners approaching through the rear window of the bus, feeling impatient.

"Forget it, just give them the money."

The bus driver, a middle-aged man, had encountered such situations many times. He took out a twenty from his pocket and handed it to the shirtless man.

"That's more like it."

The shirtless man snorted coldly, taking the money.

"It's your guys' turn. Pay up."

The shirtless man pointed to two girls sitting in the front row.

The two girls were already intimidated by the shirtless man's loud voice and each took out a twenty from their pockets, ready to hand it to him.

"Stop!"

At this moment, Wang Shuai shouted, standing up from his seat.

Swoosh!

The sudden commotion made everyone turn their gaze towards Wang Shuai.

Especially Su Qingqing whose gaze came over, causing Wang Shuai to instinctively puff up his chest.

At that moment, Wang Shuai felt quite impressive, feeling as if his shout was resounding like thunder.

"Kid, interrupting my collection? You better have a reason."

The shirtless man gave Wang Shuai a glare, slapping the cash he was holding against his hand, making a loud sound as he spoke.

"Hmph, isn't it just about money?"

Wang Shuai said disdainfully and then took his backpack down from the overhead luggage rack.

"What's Wang Shuai up to?"

Sun Tiantian looked at Wang Shuai with his nose in the air, in a daze.

"I don't know."

Su Qingqing shook her head, a little puzzled.

Rustle!

Wang Shuai unzipped his backpack, revealing stacks of bright red renminbi. These were several tens of thousands he had specially prepared for this trip.

Seeing everyone's attention was caught, Wang Shuai took out a stack of bills.

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