"Keep accounts?" Xu Kuo scoffed, as if he had heard the biggest joke in the world. "With your shabby stall, you don't need me to keep accounts. Go count your money and play by yourself!"
The thugs behind Tan Wang immediately started jeering: "Hey, pretty arrogant, huh! You think you can take advantage of a peasant like that?"
"Exactly! You should take a good look at yourself in the mirror. It's your good fortune that Brother Tan thinks highly of you!"
"Don't be ungrateful! Follow Brother Tan, and you'll live the high life!"
Hearing these foul words, Xu Kuo's face grew colder and colder. He had wanted to let the matter rest, but these people insisted on provoking him.
Tan Wang waved the letter in his hand smugly: "Xu Kuo, let me tell you, I put a lot of effort into getting this stall! You're doing me a favor by managing my accounts! Don't be stubborn!"
As he spoke, he observed Xu Kuo's expression, expecting Xu Kuo to be envious, jealous, and resentful, but to his surprise, Xu Kuo remained unmoved.
Xu Kuo raised an eyebrow, his gaze sweeping over the letter clutched tightly in Tan Wang's hand like a cold star, and let out a sneer full of contempt.
"This little thing is worth treasuring? Tan Wang, your market stall is less than an ant in my eyes!"
"You!" Tan Wang instantly flew into a rage, his face flushed red as if it were about to bleed, and the veins on his forehead throbbed. "You ignorant bumpkin, what do you know! The stalls in the vegetable market are money trees; you can make a fortune just by lying down!"
"Exactly! That country bumpkin's got a screw loose!"
"Brother Tan, why bother arguing with him? Just beat him up and teach him a lesson!"
The thugs were shouting and rubbing their hands together, creating a tense atmosphere.
Tan Wang took a deep breath, suppressing his raging anger, and forced a sinister smile onto his face: "Xu Kuo, you just wait! It won't be long before I'm rolling in money, and then you won't even be worthy of carrying my shoes! Let's go!"
Tan Wang and his thugs left, cursing and swearing, their arrogant words echoing in the air: "That idiot, he's really asking for trouble!"
"Just wait and see, he'll be crying for his parents soon!"
"By then, even begging Brother Tan won't be of any use!"
Jiang Xiuying's tense body finally relaxed, her face full of worry: "Xu Kuo, they won't come looking for trouble again, will they?"
Xu Kuo gently patted her hand, his gaze firm: "Don't be afraid, I'm here. Tomorrow we'll go to the county town and show them who the real clowns are!"
The next day, just as dawn broke, Niu Erbao got up early, packed his belongings neatly, and paced back and forth at the village entrance while waiting.
The thought of going to the county town with Xu Kuo and broadening his horizons made him so excited that he couldn't sleep all night, and his whole body trembled slightly.
After the three successfully met up, they rushed to the county town's vegetable market without stopping.
As soon as you step into the market, a strong sense of lively atmosphere hits you.
The sounds of hawking, bargaining, and shouting mingled together, creating a lively symphony of everyday life.
The renovated market is orderly, with stalls neatly arranged and bustling with customers.
Xu Kuo's eyes were sharp, and he immediately locked onto Tan Wang, who was not far away.
At this moment, Tan Wang was directing several thugs to set up a stall, busy hanging up signs and carefully arranging goods, working up a great deal of energy.
Seeing Xu Kuo and the other two approach, Tan Wang was slightly taken aback at first, then a "I expected this" look appeared on his face. He curled his lips and let out a sneer: "What, you've come to your senses? You've come to beg me for a meal?"
In his view, Xu Kuo must have changed his mind and was planning to join him.
Xu Kuo glanced at him coldly, his voice low and powerful: "Please? You're being far too presumptuous. I'm here to see my stall."
"Your stall?"
Tan Wang seemed to have heard the biggest joke in the world, and he threw his head back and burst into laughter. "Xu Kuo, you really have some wild ideas! Do you think that market stalls are like roadside weeds, something you can just get whenever you want? Stop daydreaming!"
"Exactly! Don't they even know their own limitations?"
"He really thinks he's someone important!"
Several thugs also joined in with sarcastic remarks.
Xu Kuo ignored them and led Jiang Xiuying and Niu Erbao straight to the side.
Coincidentally, Xu Kuo's five stalls were lined up right next to Tan Wang's stall, a grand and imposing sight.
Niu Erbao put down the items in his hands and quickly began to tidy up the stall.
Seeing this, Tan Wang's face instantly darkened. He pointed at Xu Kuo and the other two and shouted sternly, "What are you doing? This is someone else's stall! Get out of here! Don't get in the way!"
Xu Kuo and the other two completely ignored Tan Wang and continued with their own busy work.
Tan Wang was furious. He gave the thugs a look and said, "What are you all standing there for? Throw them out!"
Several thugs immediately surrounded them, each looking menacing and rubbing their hands together, ready to fight. One of them arrogantly shouted, "Get lost! Or don't blame us for being impolite!"
Seeing the thugs approaching, Jiang Xiuying turned pale with fright and instinctively backed away, tightly gripping Xu Kuo's clothes.
Although Niu Erbao was also feeling uneasy, he gritted his teeth, took a sudden step forward, and stood in front of the two men. "You... what do you want to do? You want to hit someone in broad daylight?"
"stop!"
Just as tensions were about to rise, a stern and authoritative shout rang out like a thunderclap from a clear sky, abruptly stopping the thugs in their tracks.
Everyone looked in the direction of the voice and saw a middle-aged man in a Zhongshan suit with an extraordinary demeanor striding towards them, followed by several people who looked like cadres.
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