Chapter 74: If something is strange, there must be something fishy going on
They actually kept their promise and didn't ask for more.
How could Sang Yongjing notice this at this time? He was so sad that he wanted to cry but had no tears. He even wanted to slap himself twice.
They told you to take advantage of small opportunities and stop to talk to them when you have nothing to do. This is not like finding someone to do a job. They are clearly a group of scoundrels.
"But you didn't do any work at all." Sang Yongjing was silent for a while and finally said this.
Zhang Mazi raised his eyebrows. "Oh, you can eat whatever you want, but you can't say whatever you want. You invited us here to dig the soil, and we did it. Why are you trying to renege on your payment now?"
The most difficult first step has been taken, and continuing to confront them is not as difficult as imagined.
Sang Yongjing stiffened his neck and said, "You dug with a shovel twice, and there's not even a hole in the ground. You call that digging?"
He did not agree to hire these people to dig the soil. What's more, they didn't want wages, they were just trying to extort money.
After all, they are not real hooligans who can do things without restraint. Scoundrels like Zhang Mazi have always bullied the weak and feared the strong.
The more tolerant we are, the more they will become. When Sang Yongjing becomes tougher, they dare not act recklessly.
If the other party refuses to admit it, Zhang Mazi and his men will not resort to open robbery. After all, it is a business with no capital investment, so any extortion they can get is good.
"Well, we brothers have also contributed a lot, so we can't help you for free. The price is thirty cents, and we will leave immediately after we get the money." He took the initiative to reduce the price by ten cents.
In fact, Zhang Mazi himself didn't understand it either. He didn't know that at this juncture in the negotiation, whoever gave in first would be at a disadvantage.
Unexpectedly, just one sentence from him could make the other party give in and ask for less money. Sang Yongjing felt more and more confident and began to bargain with them: "No, five cents at most."
By the time someone went to find Shen Wenfu to tip him off, and he led his men over, the two groups had almost reached an agreement and were fighting over the last two cents.
"At least ten cents is enough. Any less and there won't be enough to go around."
Zhang Mazi was really impressed by the man in front of him. He looked like a scholar, but he was just like a street vendor, haggling over two cents.
"No, the maximum is eight cents, not a cent more." Sang Yongjing spoke very firmly.
During the argument with Zhang Mazi, he gradually realized that the people on the other side were just a group of cowards with fierce appearances, who didn't dare to attack him at all.
If they weren't afraid that if he didn't pay them, they would stay here and delay things, and he wouldn't want to give them a penny.
"What are you talking about?"
The sudden words startled the two people who were immersed in bargaining. They looked towards the source of the sound at the same time, but their expressions were different.
Sang Yongjing was delighted when he saw the newcomers and quickly said, "Village Chief Shen, you have to take charge of this for me. These people are forcing me to buy things and are insisting on paying them for digging the soil for me."
On the other hand, Zhang Mazi, who was originally full of energy, suddenly fell silent the moment he saw Shen Wenfu. He shrank his neck and lowered his head like a sick chicken, not daring to speak.
Shen Wenfu frowned: "Forced buying and selling?"
Zhang Mazi and his gang always like to take advantage of others and do some petty thefts, but this is the first time they have blackmailed anyone.
The first time he did this, he blackmailed the villagers, who had paid him money. It seemed like they didn't take him seriously at all.
Thinking of this, he looked at Zhang Mazi with an increasingly hostile look and asked in a deep voice, "Is he telling the truth?"
Zhang Mazi was very afraid of Shen Wenfu, or rather, no one in the village was not afraid of him.
Hearing him asking questions, he subconsciously wanted to seek support from his brothers.
When he looked back, he saw that the remaining four people had already hidden far away. When they met his eyes, they immediately looked away, fearing that they would be implicated.
...a bunch of cowards.
"Yes." Well, he is also a coward.
He recognized it quite readily, and Shen Wenfu's bad mood improved a little. Seeing that Sang Yongjing and his wife were not injured, he came to a conclusion on the matter.
"Apologize and return all the money you took. If I find you doing anything wrong in the village again, I'll be watching your head."
Zhang Mazi muttered softly, "I haven't got the money yet."
"Hmm?" Shen Wenfu thought he had an objection, and a fierce look flashed in his eyes.
"I, I mean to apologize immediately." Zhang Mazi was so scared that he trembled when he spoke.
Not only him, but also those scoundrels who had been hiding far away were dragged here by Shen Wenfu's orders and made to apologize to the Sang couple in front of him.
Looking at the backs of the five people leaving in disgrace, Sang Yongjing felt a little worried. He wondered if they would secretly come back to take revenge later.
Shen Wenfu walked up to him and bowed deeply. "Brother Sang, I'm sorry for not disciplining you properly. I frightened you and your wife."
"Village Chief Shen, please stand up quickly. We can't thank you enough for helping us get justice, so how can we accept your gift?" Sang Yongjing hurriedly helped him up.
"Those guys are notorious scoundrels in the village. Their fathers died early, leaving only their widowed mother. They eat and drink for free on weekdays, and the villagers take pity on them and let them do what they want."
Shen Wenfu briefly explained their origins, and then sighed again.
"Alas, I didn't expect them to be so bold today and actually extort money from people directly."
Sang Yongjing didn't know what his intention was in saying this. Was he trying to get him to stop pursuing the matter? He tentatively said, "They are also a bunch of pitiful people."
Shen Wenfu shook his head: "Brother Sang is too kind. If jade is not polished, it will not become a useful tool. If people do not learn, they will not know. I should also take some time to discipline them."
He said a few more words of concern to them and then led them away. Xiaohu, who came after hearing the news, helped them find people who could really do the work, and a group of people began to dig the foundation pit.
After listening to Sang Yongjing's retelling of what happened, Sang Yu frowned and fell into deep thought.
The last time she brought her parents to pay Shen Wenfu, his attitude was not so good. He didn't even say a few words to them.
How come in just a few days, he changed his attitude and called me "Brother Sang" so affectionately?
If something is fishy, there must be something fishy going on. What is he planning? It won't be profitable for our family.
Seeing that Sang Yu had been frowning since he finished speaking, Sang Yongjing thought she was worried about him. His heart warmed and he gently touched her head: "Yu'er, don't worry, Dad and Mom are fine."
His actions interrupted his thoughts, and Sang Yu simply stopped thinking about it for the time being. After all, there was nothing in the house that was worth his attention as a village chief.
She was concerned about something else: "What's Xiaohu's attitude?"
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