Chapter 55 Internal Strife

When Fan Xiaoxiao and her group arrived at the dock the waiter had mentioned, Zhu Er and Hou San were being pulled apart by two groups of people, their faces bruised and swollen. Even in this situation, they still looked extremely agitated.

Hou San's arm was being pulled tightly from behind, and he was struggling desperately toward Zhu Er. His face was flushed with anger, his eyes were wide open like copper bells, and the veins on his neck were bulging, making him look quite frightening.

"Damn you, Zhu Er! I've turned a blind eye to all the things you do at the market! But today you actually dare to mess with your grandpa! You're asking for it!"

Zhu Er, clearly unwilling to back down after being insulted, was strong, and it took two or three burly men standing behind him to barely restrain him. Even then, he continued spitting at Hou San, saying, "Pah! Hou San, you bastard, stop spouting nonsense! Last time I asked you how much that thing cost! What did you say to me? Worthless! Worthless, and you still dare to ask me for something today?! I think you're just taking advantage of me because I'm easy to bully!"

As if that wasn't enough, Zhu Er kicked Hou San repeatedly.

The vendors, desperately trying to pull the two men away, felt utterly miserable. What had they done to deserve this? They were just trying to set up their stall when these two monsters started fighting. Fan Xiaoxiao and Fan Shi, who was holding Xiaobao, were pushed to the outer edge of the crowd and could only see the general outline. Aunt Wang stepped forward and patted the taller vendor, asking curiously, "Hey, brother, what's going on? Why are they fighting?"

The vendor, engrossed in watching, perked up at the sight of Granny Wang's curious expression. Grabbing her excitedly, he exclaimed, "Oh, Granny! You don't know, do you? Zhu Er apparently stole something from Hou San and got caught! After a fight, Hou San demanded something else from Zhu Er, and Zhu Er instantly went ballistic, and the two started fighting. It was a really fierce fight, more exciting than a women's brawl!"

Fan Xiaoxiao and Madam Fan exchanged a glance after hearing this. They remained silent. Little Bao, in Madam Fan's arms, couldn't see clearly what was happening ahead because of his height, and anxiously tugged at Madam Fan, saying, "Mother! Little Bao wants to see too! What's happening up ahead, Mother!"

"Kids shouldn't watch fights! They'll learn bad habits!"

Rejected by the Fan family, Xiao Bao pouted and dejectedly uttered an "oh." Just then, a group of men dressed as servants arrived from the back alley at the street corner, carrying a sedan chair behind them. They shouted towards the gathered crowd, "Make way! Make way!"

"The mayor is here!"

Someone shouted something, and the crowd that had been pretending to be deaf and dumb instantly scattered like birds and beasts. Even Fan Xiaoxiao and her friends hurriedly followed the crowd to hide next to a nearby stall.

The sedan chair stopped in front of Zhu Er and Hou San, and a fat man dressed in brocade robes stepped out. Fan Xiaoxiao carefully scrutinized the man from head to toe. He looked somewhat like Zhu Er, but his small, squinting eyes gave him a more shrewd appearance. This must be Huang Yuan, the so-called mayor of Guqu Town!

At this point, Zhu Er and Hou San were no longer restrained by external forces, but in front of Huang Yuan, the two still dared not continue to act recklessly, and could only glare at each other.

Huang Yuan's narrowed eyes swept over the two people in front of him, and he sneered, "I didn't know you two had such guts, actually fighting outside."

Hou San wiped the blood from under his nose and snorted.

"Hmph, you should ask Zhu Er about this! He was the one who attacked me first."

Zhu Er, caught off guard by Hou San's preemptive strike, winced at his already bleeding lip, hissing in pain: "Ouch, brother! Don't listen to his nonsense! He lied to me first!"

"Shut the fuck up! You found me and attacked without saying a word! And you still want me to..."

Hou San's voice suddenly choked. He turned and glanced back at Huang Yuan, who had already squinted his eyes. He hesitated whether to tell Huang Yuan about the walnuts. They were worth hundreds of taels of silver. If Huang Yuan found out, not only would he lose the walnuts, but he might also be punished.

"What else did I tell you to do?"

Huang Yuan asked Hou San in a calm tone, his face expressionless. But Hou San knew that the more Huang Yuan acted this way, the angrier he was. Suddenly, sweat broke out on Hou San's back, and the atmosphere became tense.

Fan Shi and Wang Da Niang, who had been watching the show from the sidelines, became a little nervous. Wang Da Niang tugged at Fan Xiaoxiao's sleeve and asked in a whisper, "Girl, do you think Hou San will reveal the story about the walnuts?"

Fan Xiaoxiao shook her head, staring at the scene of Huang Yuan pressuring Hou San, and replied in Wang Da Niang's breathy voice: "It shouldn't be. Hou San isn't stupid. This matter involves them accepting benefits behind Huang Yuan's back, and these benefits are not a small amount. The consequences of it getting out would be far more serious than they are now."

"Oh, really?"

"Well, you'll see! Hou San definitely won't say anything, but that Zhu Er is a brainless idiot; I reckon he'll harm Hou San."

Sure enough, after a short while, Hou San seemed to have finally made a decision. He opened his mouth, his face grim, and cursed, "What the hell do you want me to do! Look what he did to me! He made me lose face in the street like this! How am I supposed to maintain my authority and manage the vendors in the future!"

"Pah! Hou San! What are you talking about, saying it's shameful! You were the one who hit me the hardest! Aren't my injuries obvious? Now you've learned to act tough in front of my brother! You're something else! If you can't manage the vendors, then don't! It's better if I manage them myself, it'll save me the trouble! Who knows if you'll secretly try to take advantage of me behind my brother's back!"

Hou San's heart skipped a beat. He hadn't expected Zhu Er to be so quick-witted at this crucial moment, actually managing to turn the tables on him! Hou San quickly glanced at Huang Yuan's expression and saw that Huang Yuan's small eyes were indeed slightly open, staring at him like a dead fish. Hou San couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat.

"You... what nonsense are you talking about! I think you just want to oust me so you can supervise everything yourself! Don't think I don't know, you're always lazy and good-for-nothing, and I think that's why you'd do this!"

"Hou San, I think you're really drunk in broad daylight! What's your relationship with my brother? I'm his cousin! How could I do such a thing! You're an outsider! Shut the hell up!"

"Smack!"

Zhu Er had just finished speaking when his face was slapped hard to the side. He was stunned for a moment, and it took him a while to realize that Huang Yuan had actually hit him. Zhu Er covered his face and turned to Huang Yuan in disbelief, asking, "Brother, are you crazy? You actually hit me!?"

Huang Yuan's face was now chillingly cold. He rubbed his reddened palms and said, word by word, "I hit you for spouting nonsense! Hou San is one of us! You clearly don't know what's good for you!"

"I!"

"What do you mean, 'what do you mean, 'what do you mean, '!' Come back with me! Don't embarrass me in public!"

Having said that, Huang Yuan flicked his sleeves and was about to get into the sedan chair. But Zhu Er and Hou San still didn't move. Huang Yuan glanced at the two of them and snorted, "Heh, what? Do I have to invite you?"

"No!"

"If you don't have it, then get back here!"

"Yes, brother!"

Hou San didn't respond, just kept his head down, seemingly lost in thought. Huang Yuan narrowed his eyes and lowered his voice, "And you, San?"

"Okay, brother-in-law."

(End of this chapter)