Chapter 45
"Third Master Hou! You've arrived quite early today!"
At the market, someone was trying to get close to Hou San, who was on patrol. It was a vendor selling small items. The man smiled obsequiously, but Hou San didn't give him any face, coldly snorting with a sarcastic expression.
"Hmph, it's already past noon, why are you still here? It's not early at all! Have you paid your rent for today? I've been keeping track of it every single day! Don't try to get on my good side with your Third Master! It won't work on me!"
Seeing Hou San's sarcastic attitude, the stall owner chuckled awkwardly, shrank back to continue setting up his stall, and didn't dare to approach any further. However, as he turned away, he and his companion secretly spat.
"Pah! What's with the attitude? You're just a lackey of the Huang family!"
The voice was very soft, but it still didn't escape Hou San's ears. He turned around abruptly, his eyes fixed on the stall owner like venomous snakes, his voice cold and ruthless.
"What did you say? I think Zhang Si is tired of living! You even dare to talk nonsense about your own grandfather."
After saying that, Hou San rushed to the stall owner in a few strides, and before the stall owner could react, he kicked Zhang Si hard. Zhang Si didn't expect Hou San to have such good hearing. Even though he was several steps away, Hou San still heard what he said. Caught off guard, Zhang Si was kicked and tumbled several times.
"Oh dear! I... I'm still drunk from yesterday! Oh dear! Third Grandfather, please forgive me! I'll never do it again! Oh dear, oh dear!"
Enraged, Hou San kicked Zhang Si several more times. The bystanders watched, too afraid to intervene or stop the fight. After kicking Zhang Si twice more in the stomach, Hou San grabbed Zhang Si by the collar, leaned close to his ear, and said in a vicious tone:
"Zhang Si! Since you don't appreciate Mayor Huang's kindness, why don't you double your rent today!"
Zhang Si, whose face was already bruised and swollen from Hou San's beating, shuddered at these words. Ignoring his pain, he immediately collapsed to his knees, crying out, "Third Grandfather! I was wrong! I was really wrong! Please don't raise the rent! I barely earn any money each day! Please!"
"Now you think of begging your grandpa? Too late! Ha! Let me tell you... ugh! Damn it!"
Halfway through his sentence, a figure suddenly darted out and bumped right into Hou San, who was standing with his back to the crowd. The figure was quite strong, and Hou San stumbled and fell to the ground.
Hou San, rubbing his knee in pain from the impact, frowned and turned around, cursing, "Damn it! Who is it?!"
"Oh dear! Third Master Hou! Oh, I'm so sorry! I'm so sorry!"
Hou San was helped up by the man, and only then did he realize that the person who bumped into him was none other than the steward of the Ji family! Hou San sneered and waved away the steward's hand that was brushing dust off him.
"Hey! Isn't this Steward Ji? You can't even see where you're going, are you in a hurry to be reincarnated?"
Manager Ji, with a pained expression, ignored Hou San's attempts to slap him away and continued to wipe the dust off Hou San's clothes with his sleeve. He bowed obsequiously and said in a distressed tone, "Oh, Third Master Hou, please don't joke with me. I was just in a hurry to go back and deliver a message to my master. I didn't expect to offend such an important person as you! I deserve to die! Please forgive me, Third Master. When I have some free time tomorrow, I will invite you to have some drinks."
Manager Ji's words were quite eloquent, immediately easing Hou San's anger by half. Although he didn't show it on his face, Hou San clearly no longer refused Manager Ji's gesture of brushing away the dust. However, when he heard that Manager Ji was going back to deliver some message, Hou San's brow twitched, and he gave Manager Ji a meaningful look, asking:
"Why are you in such a hurry to go back? What message do you want to send? Tell me."
"this……"
Seeing the hesitation on Steward Ji's face, Hou San's eyes gradually narrowed.
"Um?"
"Alright, alright. It's like this, I just went to the market to buy rice and saw Second Master Zhu and the Zhang family talking about going to the Fan family to demand an explanation. Third Master, you don't know, but this young lady from the Fan family has done my family a favor. Some time ago, my lady couldn't eat much because of her master's passing, and it was thanks to young lady Fan that she recovered. Today, she specially invited young lady Fan to our house as a guest. Now that I've heard such big news, I have to rush back to deliver a message to young lady Fan!"
After saying that, Steward Ji sighed again, seemingly talking to himself, "Alas, I also heard that the Zhang family seemed to have promised some benefits to Master Zhu, and it seems they are determined to wipe out the Fan family! Alas!"
Hou San was stunned upon hearing this; he hadn't expected it to be like this. He was a little suspicious. Zhu Er was supposed to be on duty today, so why was the Zhang family approaching him? Moreover, judging from Steward Ji's tone, it seemed he had secretly taken advantage of him again!
"You bastard Zhu Er!"
"Huh? What did you say, Third Master?"
Manager Ji didn't hear Hou San's words clearly and thought the other person was talking to him. Hou San glared at him and brushed away Manager Ji's hand that was supporting him.
"It's nothing! Okay, stop wiping! Get out of here!"
"Okay, okay!"
Manager Ji responded repeatedly and was about to leave when Fan Xiaoxiao's voice drifted over from afar.
"Third Master Hou! Third Master Hou!"
Manager Ji and Hou San were both startled when they heard the voice. They turned around at the same time and saw that Fan Xiaoxiao was pulling Aunt Wang and Uncle Wang towards them!
"Phew! Third Master Hou! You're here! Phew! I've been looking for you all this way!"
Looking at Fan Xiaoxiao, who was somewhat out of breath, Hou San was puzzled.
What do you want with me?
"What are you saying! What can I do for you! Of course, I'm here to uphold justice! Someone's trying to cause trouble for me right now! Of course I have to come to you!"
Hou San was taken aback. He naturally knew who was causing trouble for Fan Xiaoxiao, but he didn't expect Fan Xiaoxiao to come to him so openly.
"You're looking for me? To seek justice?"
Fan Xiaoxiao wiped the sweat from her face and nodded vigorously: "Yes! Aren't you in charge of Uncle Zhao's area? Then we have to ask you to uphold justice!"
Her words successfully attracted the attention of those around her, and many people quietly gathered around. Hou San glanced at the crowd, frowned, crossed his arms, and repeated his words to Fan Xiaoxiao with an ambiguous expression.
"Uphold justice? What kind of justice do you want to uphold?"
Fan Xiaoxiao blinked, mimicking Xiaobao's usual innocent expression, and tilted her head slightly to look at Hou Sandao: "What other justice could it be! Of course, someone is preventing the mayor from making money! Tell me, shouldn't you interfere with the mayor's money-making!"
(End of this chapter)
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