"Someone's being assaulted! Someone's being assaulted!"
"Come and see what's going on!"
...
The surrounding crowd immediately stirred, gathering around to watch the spectacle with excitement.
"Stop it, all of you!" A furious shout rang out, and the crowd automatically parted to make way for a slightly overweight middle-aged man wearing a Zhongshan suit who walked in.
He was followed by several staff members, all of whom looked serious.
This man was none other than Shi Jixing, the newly appointed deputy secretary of the vegetable market.
"What's going on? Who's causing trouble here?" Shi Jixing shouted sternly.
"Secretary Shi, you've finally arrived!" As soon as Tan Wang saw Shi Jixing, he immediately put on a fawning smile and pointed at Xu Kuo to complain, "It's this kid! He overturned other people's stalls for no reason and even beat people up. He's utterly lawless!"
"Yes, Secretary Shi, you must stand up for us!"
"This kid is too arrogant, he must be severely punished!"
...
The surrounding vendors echoed their sentiments, wishing they could immediately drive Xu Kuo out of the market.
Shi Jixing looked at Xu Kuo and immediately flew into a rage. This Xu Kuo only got these stalls because of Yi Guanlin's connections, and now he dared to cause trouble!
Adding to their previous grudges, Shi Jixing grew increasingly displeased with Xu Kuo.
"Xu Kuo, what else do you have to say?" Shi Jixing shouted angrily. "Just because you have a few stalls, you think you're so great? Do you really think this market is your private property?"
"You ungrateful wretch! We entrusted you with so many stalls because we trusted you, and this is how you report to the county committee? Get out of the market right now and never come back! I'm taking back your stall!"
Xu Kuo smiled contemptuously, "Deputy Secretary Shi, who do you think you are? You can go back on what Secretary Yi personally promised?"
Shi Jixing's face was ashen, and veins bulged on his forehead. He hated it most when people mentioned Yi Guanlin, as if his position as deputy secretary was something he had picked up off the street, and therefore illegitimate.
"Hmph, Yi Guanlin? He's already retired! Now, I'm in charge of this market!" He said each word slowly and deliberately, gritting his teeth, "You, Xu Kuo, get out of here right now!"
A hint of mockery flashed in Xu Kuo's eyes, and the corners of his mouth turned up slightly. "Shi Jixing, you'll regret this. Don't you know how many people in this market are here for my fish?"
He looked around, and the vendors' shifty eyes only confirmed his judgment.
With Niu Erbao in tow, Xu Kuo strode away from the market.
"Hahahaha..." A burst of laughter came from behind, mixed with all sorts of vulgar and sarcastic remarks.
"This kid, does he really think he's someone important?"
"Exactly! Without Yi Guanlin, he's nothing!"
"Regretful? I think he's lost his mind!"
...
The vendors laughed without restraint, as if they could already foresee Xu Kuo's downfall.
Shi Jixing was even more smug and secretly pleased.
He cleared his throat and announced loudly, "Xu Kuo's five stalls are now available. Anyone who wants them, just say the word! But..." Before he finished speaking, several vendors immediately surrounded him, scrambling to get a share.
Back home, Niu Erbao plopped down on the floor, pounding his chest and stamping his feet, his face full of resentment and indignation. "Master, I can't swallow this! Let's go find Secretary Wen and have him settle this!"
Jiang Xiuying also came out of the house, her face full of worry. "Honey, why don't you go and apologize to Shi Jixing? More stalls mean more money. There's no need to confront him head-on." Women always seek stability, and she didn't want Xu Kuo to get into trouble.
Xu Kuo sneered, a shrewd glint in his eyes. "Admit your mistake? Those two words don't exist in my dictionary!" He was confident, as if he already had a plan. "Erbao, tomorrow morning, catch a lot of fish, and we'll go to the market again."
"Go again?" Niu Erbao's eyes widened, his face filled with disbelief. The stall's gone, what's the point of going again?
Jiang Xiuying was also full of doubts, not understanding what Xu Kuo was up to.
Early the next morning, Niu Erbao caught several large buckets full of lively fish, a delightful sight. He and Xu Kuo carried the fish together, preparing to go to the market.
They had only gone halfway when they ran into Tan Wang. The guy was leading a few thugs, swaggering over with a smug smile on his face.
"Hey, isn't this Xu Kuo? What, you want to set up a stall at the market?" Tan Wang blocked their way, mocking them sarcastically. "Don't even dream about it! Secretary Shi has already given your stall to someone else. Now, you don't even have a place to stand!"
Niu Erbao was so angry that he was trembling and was about to rush up to argue with him, but Xu Kuo grabbed him.
"Ignore him." Xu Kuo glanced coldly at Tan Wang.
Seeing that Xu Kuo remained silent, Tan Wang became even more smug. "Xu Kuo, I have good news for you. Two of your five stalls are now mine!" He patted his chest, looking like he was bestowing a handout. "If you kneel down and beg me, I might consider letting you help me with the accounting. How about it?"
Xu Kuo scoffed, his eyes full of disdain.
"Settling accounts? You probably don't have any accounts to settle, because... you simply can't sell any!"
"What did you say?" Tan Wang's face changed, and he became furious. "Xu Kuo, don't push your luck! I think you're just jealous of me!" He pointed at Xu Kuo's nose and cursed, "You good-for-nothing, what can you do besides raising a few worthless fish?"
Xu Kuo was too lazy to waste words with him and pulled Niu Erbao away.
Xu Kuo and Niu Erbao arrived at the entrance of the vegetable market. Normally, the vendors entered and exited through the back door, so they didn't notice Xu Kuo's arrival.
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