"What? My dad was beaten!"
Xiaotou was shocked upon hearing this and immediately ran home.
"With Uncle Changshun's honest and simple nature, how could trouble come knocking?
Could it be related to the Ghost Pattern Fish?"
Bai Qi's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly followed.
Outside the fenced yard, a crowd had already gathered in several layers.
"Dad! What happened!?"
Xiaotou rushed over, pushing through the villagers gathered to watch the commotion, just in time to see his father continuously bowing and begging for mercy:
"Brother Wang, I really didn't know that was your fishing spot..."
Wang Laizi, bald with sores on his head, crossed his arms and sneered:
"Playing dumb, huh? I fish under the willow trees at Mihun Bay every day.
You didn't know? Who are you kidding!
The bait made of chicken and duck meat, used for four or five days straight, cost me a lot of money, you know?
And you just took advantage of the fish I've gathered!"
Behind him stood several hooligans, lending support to his words.
Each of them dressed in short shirts and long pants, their burly arms covered in tattoos, intimidating to behold.
The gathered villagers outside the fence only dared to watch, with no one daring to speak up and lend a hand.
Against petty thieves, everyone is willing to help shout and lend effort.
But when faced with shameless scoundrels, they can only shut their doors and hide like turtles.
After all, no one wants to bring trouble to their house.
This is simply human nature!
Irritating these hooligans is sure to bring endless troubles like being doused with dung, poisoned chickens and ducks, trampled vegetable fields...
Uncle Changshun, dark-skinned, spoke humbly with conciliatory words:
"Brother Wang, I already sold the two Ghost Pattern Fish to the East Market Shop... let's say I owe you ten taels of silver, and when I have some money, I'll pay you back immediately!"
Wang Laizi, unreasonable yet proud, seized Uncle Changshun's weak spot and naturally wouldn't let go:
"Ten taels of silver! I'd have had a grand time winning in the gambling den with that capital!
Besides, winter is approaching, and prices for rice and charcoal are rising... how are you going to account for that?
Nine out of thirteen isn't enough, Shunzi!"
Uncle Changshun, being clumsy with words, couldn't argue with the likes of Wang Laizi.
Besides, he had indeed caught Ghost Pattern Fish near the willow trees in Mihun Bay last night.
This matter was as if mud had fallen in his pants, completely unclear.
"Let go of my dad!"
Xiaotou got angry, like a little bull, rushing straight at Wang Laizi.
With young blood boiling fiercely, how could he sit by while his parents were bullied?
"You little brat! When adults are talking, is there a place for you to shout?"
At the fence gate, a tattooed muscular hooligan spat.
Single-handedly, he held down Xiaotou, whose body wasn't fully grown, and with fingers spread wide, slapped a heavy slap across his face!
To be a hooligan, one must at least have enough resources to not worry about food and clothing.
Otherwise, drinking northwest wind every day, becoming thin as a stick.
Who would bother to deal with you?
Facing such a sturdy man, Xiaotou was no match.
He was directly knocked over, lying flat on his stomach!
"What are you doing? Don't hit my child!"
Seeing Xiaotou get slapped to the ground, honest Uncle Changshun's eyes reddened, and he immediately pushed Wang Laizi away.
"Shunzi! Pushing it, huh?
You took my fishing spot, and now you're the one in the right?
If I don't teach you a lesson today, spill some blood, do you think I'm easy to bully!"
Wang Laizi was not about to let it go, grabbing Uncle Changshun.
He lifted a foot and kicked him square in the waist, turning him into a rolling gourd on the ground.
Xiaotou clutched his swollen mouth, screaming tearfully:
"Dad!"
From the inner room, a woman holding a kitchen knife cried out:
"Husband, are you okay? Wang Laizi, you people are too bullying!"
In an instant, the scene descended into chaos, like a pot boiling over.
Wang Laizi fiercely surveyed the onlooking villagers, then turned back to Changshun's family:
"Shunzi! Consider ten taels of silver as what you owe me; I'll come to collect later!
Your family's black canopy boat, for now, will be kept by me..."
Uncle Changshun, with a face full of dirt, lay on the yellow earth, his voice hoarse as if it were gone:
"Without the boat, how am I supposed to go to the river and fish? You're cutting off my family's livelihood!"
Wang Laizi was unfazed, grinning:
"Your two daughters are sold off as servants, what's the use of your remaining son?
Might as well sell him to the mines, could fetch six to seven thousand big coins!"
The woman clenched the kitchen knife, trembling with anger:
"Beast! You filthy-hearted wretch! Heaven will come for you sooner or later!"
Wang Laizi ignored her, instructing the thugs to start dragging the canopy boat away.
"Hold it! Brother Wang, how much does Uncle Changshun owe you? I'll pay it back for him!"
Bai Qi understood the situation, suddenly stepping forward, facing Wang Laizi.
"You? Bai Ahqi?"
With a sharp, monkey-faced look, the scab-covered man frowned and surveyed him:
"I remember you almost starved to death a while ago? How did you suddenly become so bold, coming out with ten taels of silver? Don't just puff yourself up here."
Bai Qi smiled kindly, still with that harmlessly friendly demeanor:
"I suppose Brother Wang hasn't been to East Market Pier lately, unaware of the situation.
My fishing skills have improved; yesterday I even caught a Silver Sand Carp, just delivered to the shop, you can ask anyone.
Ten taels of silver, with some effort, isn't hard to gather.'
Wang Laizi was stunned for a moment, his expression somewhat peculiar.
Treasure fish turned into a cabbage?
Anyone can catch one?
He thought about it and felt Bai Ahqi wouldn't dare bluff him, then he raised a thumb:
"Good, good, really loyal, Ah Qi!
Since you're stepping up, everything's negotiable.
I don't want to force people onto a dead end, as long as you give money readily, we'll consider the matter closed."
Outside the fence, layers of townspeople were surprised.
Ten taels of silver is no small amount!
Farmers and fishers.
Year-round working from dawn till dusk, just to earn this much.
This Bai Ahqi simply said he'd give it.
Truly generous!
"I remember, Changshun borrowed two big bowls of rice from Ah Qi, and now he's repaying it!"
"Tsk tsk, with rice prices rising, a thousand coins only buy twenty bushels, Changshun gave two bowls and earned ten thousand, really enviable!"
"Oh, shut up, Ah Qi's brother knelt before your door, why didn't you give a grain?"
"Ah Qi finally made it, now catching treasure fish and capable of supporting his family! Soon he'll be moving into town..."
The townsfolk discussed mostly praising Bai Qi's act of repayment.
Good returns for good deeds, a satisfying scene everyone loves.
"You've had your moment in the spotlight, now we should talk money."
Wang Laizi moved in close, grinning with those yellow rotten teeth, making people recoil.
"So, shall I take it from your home, or...?"
Bai Qi lowered his head, obediently reaching into his bosom:
"I only brought a few strings of big coins, as interest.
In a few days, I'll gather ten taels and give it to Brother Wang, is that okay?
In the future, don't bother Uncle Changshun, come to me instead."
Wang Laizi didn't expect the money to be so easily attainable, his face blossomed with joy:
"Good, good, no wonder Brother Quan always praises you, often saying Bai Ahqi of East Market is the sharpest.
On your account, the interest on Changshun's debt won't accumulate, as long as it's settled within three days!"
Seeing Bai Qi gripping a patched coarse cloth purse, slightly shaking with the sound of copper coins clashing, he eagerly extended his hand to accept it.
"But beware! This money might be too hot to handle, you may not hold onto it!"
Bai Qi lifted his eyelids, finally revealing a hint of coldness.
His five fingers clamped tight on the purse, suddenly thrusting forward.
"Bang," the purse hit Wang Laizi's face, the sound echoing like a hammer striking a sandbag.
A surge of Qi Blood flowed into his arm, driving the tightened muscles.
Straight sent him reeling backward, feet leaving the ground!
Thud!
Wang Laizi, like a torn rag bag, wailed as he fell seven or eight meters away.
His legs twitched for a while, collapsing like a pile of muddy flesh.
"Anyone else among you..."
Bai Qi pulled back his fist, turning around, staring unblinkingly at the few thugs:
"Want to take money from me and just leave?"