Chapter 34: Forced to Sign a Slave Contract, Immediately Committed Suicide (Please Read Later)

"What a majestic stone lion."

The gate appears small from afar but grows large up close. Towering over ten feet high, its bronze mortises and vermilion lacquer exude majesty. It resembles an open, blood-red maw, ready to swallow anyone whole.

Standing outside the door, Li Xiaofan couldn't help but feel a sense of oppression. The thought that his brother lived in such a place strengthened his resolve.

After a moment's hesitation, I gently knocked on the door.

"In the dead of winter, I wonder which esteemed person has arrived."

A muttering sound came from inside the door, and then the door was opened.

The door was opened by some of the foremen of the odd jobs, who were responsible for sweeping the snow in the courtyard. The snow would melt and stick together, making it difficult to sweep. But compared to other odd jobs, it was much easier.

Those who manage to snag these kinds of jobs are all veteran handymen.

These menial servants, who were all bowing and scraping with obsequious smiles, immediately changed their tune when they saw the newcomer's dirty and tattered clothes, realizing they were no better than him.

"Hey kid, who are you?"

A servant asked impatiently, "We're not hiring servants now."

"Look at your body, you'd be blown over by a gust of wind, you can't do any work. Get out of here, don't die at the village entrance. We'll have to clean up after you."

Another servant said so.

After saying that, he was about to close the door.

"Brother, you've misunderstood." Li Xiaofan exhaled a breath of hot air and rubbed his hands together. "I'm looking for someone. Could you please let me know?"

The voice was young, but polite.

"Looking for someone?" The servant frowned, turned around and called out to the back, "Master Bi, there's a young outsider looking for someone. Should we send him away, or..."

Bi Hao, leaning on his crutches, got up from the wooden chair. He had been severely injured in his last duel with Li Xian, and it had only recently become possible for him to get out of bed.

"Looking for someone?" Bi Hao was also surprised.

It's rare to see someone sell themselves into slavery, and it's even more unusual for relatives to come looking for them.

"Who are you looking for?" Bi Hao asked with great interest.

Li Xiaofan said sincerely, "I'm going to take the winter exam and will be leaving Qingning County. My brother is in the village. I want to see him."

“What’s your brother’s name? If he’s a servant, he might be dead by now,” Bi Hao said jokingly.

"No, no, that can't be. My brother is already a bodyguard." Li Xiaofan shook his head repeatedly.

“Oh…” Bi Hao frowned. “So you’re a bodyguard now.” The teasing tone had lessened considerably.

"My brother's name is Li Xian. Brother... could you please go and inform him?" Li Xiaofan pleaded.

“Li…Xian?” Bi Hao’s expression changed, but he quickly suppressed it. “Are you sure your brother’s name is Li Xian?”

"What's wrong?" Li Xiaofan asked nervously.

"No...it's nothing. You can wait here for a bit." Bi Hao winked at the servants and then quickly left, leaning on his cane.

Those menial workers were all the foremen of their shifts. They didn't have any other skills, but they were very close to Bi Hao and knew each other's thoughts.

They immediately dispersed silently, intentionally or unintentionally blocking Li Xiaofan's path.

"Cousin, cousin!"

Bi Hao hurriedly sought out the steward, Luo Fang.

Luo Fang frowned, then waved his hand dismissively, "Get lost, get lost, just looking at you annoys me."

"Uncle, please listen to me." Bi Hao briefly recounted the events at Zhuangkou.

“Oh…” Luo Fang raised an eyebrow, a sinister plan forming in his mind. “In that case, wouldn’t it be effortless to come here?”

"Cousin, what do you mean?" Bi Hao pressed.

"You coward, you're a bit stupid and clumsy. But you have one redeeming quality." Luo Fang stood with his hands behind his back, pacing back and forth as if strategizing, and then said:

"It means being obedient and not making decisions on your own."

"Once Li Xian's younger brother comes out, all we need to do is trick him into signing a contract of servitude, making him a menial laborer from now on. But...do we have something on Li Xian now?"

Bi Hao's eyes widened, and he exclaimed with delight, "Uncle, you are truly the smartest person in the world!"

"Hahaha. No, no." Luo Fang laughed heartily and said, "Prepare the contract and come with me to the front gate quickly."

Not long after.

At the front gate, Luo Fang indeed saw Li Xiaofan. His clothes were dirty and disheveled, but his eyes were bright, and his eyebrows bore a resemblance to Li Xian.

"Young man, do you want to see your brother?" Luo Fang's smile was gentle, but a dagger was hidden in his smile.

"Hmm, is that alright?" Li Xiaofan asked vaguely.

"This...is a bit difficult, because the village has a rule that outsiders are not allowed to enter without permission." Luo Fang pretended to be troubled.

Li Xiaofan sighed softly, gazing towards the manor. In this way, the news of his upcoming studies wouldn't reach his brother.

“However…” Luo Fang deliberately dragged out his words, taking out a contract, “If you want to see the prince, sign this contract and you can enter the manor. I will then take you to see the prince.”

Li Xiaofan recognized it as a contract of servitude at a single glance.

He paused for a moment, his mind racing. Although he was young, he was not stupid and his ideas were quite clever.

“The servant said earlier that they were not hiring servants anymore. This man heard my brother’s name and immediately came looking for me, trying to force me to sign a contract of servitude.”

"I'm afraid I have a grudge against the prince and he wants to use me to control him. The prince said that everyone in the village is a wild beast, and he's absolutely right!"

Li Xiaofan feigned ignorance: "Ouch... I ate some wild fruit on the way, and my stomach hurts so much... I'm going to the toilet, and I'll come back to sign. Please wait for me, everyone."

"Hahaha." Luo Fang stroked his short mustache. "Sure, sure, go ahead."

Li Xiaofan broke out in a cold sweat and turned to run. Luo Fang waited for a moment, then realized something was wrong, because it was winter, and as far as the eye could see, everything was a vast expanse of white.

It was easy to see that Li Xiaofan had already started running at full speed. Luo Fang cursed, "Damn it, this kid's trying to run away, catch him!"

"What are you standing there for? Go for it... Ouch..." Bi Hao was getting impatient and kicked the servant next to him, but the kick aggravated his injury, causing him to wince in pain.

Several head servants quickly gave chase. Li Xiaofan was short-legged and dragging adult clothes along, how could he possibly outrun them?

They were quickly apprehended and brought back.

"Put his fingerprint on it," Luo Fang said coldly.

"Don't even think about it!" Li Xiaofan struggled frantically like a trapped wild beast, but there were too many of them and his limbs were firmly held.

"ah!"

He suddenly saw an opportunity, bit down hard, and the servant, in pain, released his grip. He quickly got up and left.

"You little bastard, I may not be able to beat the big bastard, but I can certainly beat you!"

Luo Fang was also furious; these two brothers were truly a troublesome pair.

He leaped forward, grabbed Li Xiaofan by the back of the neck, and circulated his internal energy, rendering Li Xiaofan's struggles futile.

He gripped Li Xiaofan's hand, channeled his inner strength, and forced blood from the tip of his index finger as he pressed it against the contract.

"Hahaha."

Li Xiaofan suddenly burst into laughter, staring coldly at Luo Fang, "You want to use me against my brother? Don't even think about it! If you sign this, I'll kill myself immediately!"

They have completely given up resisting.

Upon hearing this, Luo Fang felt a chill run down his spine for no apparent reason.

He hadn't expected these two brothers to be so stubborn. If that were truly the case, wouldn't his plan have backfired?

"Heh, you little brat, still dare to talk back." Luo Fang was about to press the contract down completely.

Just then, he suddenly felt a hand on his shoulder. The five fingers gripped tightly, as if digging into his flesh.

(End of this chapter)