Chapter 6

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Chen Zhiyuan put down one of the servants without any hesitation and quickly pounced on the second servant.

After the strengthening of his physique, the actions of these servants were no different from a tortoise crawling in his eyes.

In just a moment, of the five servants that Xu Qingfeng brought with him, apart from the one leading the horse outside the courtyard, the remaining four were lying in the courtyard wailing.

Looking at the valiant Chen Zhiyuan, Xu Qingfeng, who had just been clamoring about snatching Zhu’er, stood rooted to the ground while staring blankly.

Didn’t they say that this kid was a drunkard and a gambler? When did he become so powerful?

“Young Master Xu, didn’t you want to snatch a woman? You don’t dare to anymore?”

Chen Zhiyuan was full of provocation as he beckoned Xu Qingfeng with his hand.

“This is the young master of the Xu family in the county town. Why did he come to our Taoyuan Village?”

“From what that kid from the Chen family said, this Young Master Xu must have taken a liking to Chen’s wife…”

“Heh! I didn’t expect Chen to be so capable that even Lord Xu is afraid of him.”

“Lord Xu doesn’t dare to fight back anymore…”

Because of the cries of the Xu family’s servants just now, most of the able-bodied villagers in Taoyuan Village came out to watch the show. They surrounded the Chen family’s courtyard, and at this moment, they were discussing animatedly.

It was human nature to watch the show. Even in this year of famine, it was still good to have a show that could make people forget about their current poverty for a short while.

Hearing the discussions of the surrounding villagers and the contempt in Chen Zhiyuan’s eyes, Xu Qingfeng couldn’t bear it anymore. If he were to cower here today, perhaps tomorrow there would be people in the county town saying that Lord Xu had been scared out of his wits by a poor kid. How could Xu Qingfeng continue to mingle in town? How could the Xu family retain their foothold in the county town?

“Chen, I’m going to fight it out with you. I, Xu Qingfeng, am here today to collect the debt, not to snatch a woman!”

Xu Qingfeng shouted loudly, rolled up his sleeves, and rushed towards Chen Zhiyuan.

Chen Zhiyuan was not in a hurry. His left hand grasped the fist that Xu Qingfeng threw at him, and his right hand clenched into a fist, smashing it firmly onto Xu Qingfeng’s left cheek.

Xu Qingfeng didn’t want to be outdone. When he fell, he even used a sweeping kick, but Chen Zhiyuan dodged it nimbly.

Then, a fist the size of a sandbag landed on Xu Qingfeng’s nose bridge again, and blood immediately flowed out.

Chen Zhiyuan pounced on him and sat directly on Lord Xu’s body. After another two punches, Lord Xu had already vented a lot of his energy, and he didn’t have much energy left to fight back.

“Chen, this is Lord Xu from the county town. You can’t beat him anymore. If you kill him, I’m afraid our Taoyuan Village will be in trouble.”

Seeing that Chen Zhiyuan had gained the upper hand, an elderly man holding a walking stick hurriedly advised him, and the surrounding villagers echoed him.

“Don’t worry, Elder Liu. I know what I’m doing. I won’t kill Lord Xu. It’s just that when Lord Xu saw my beautiful wife Zhu’er, he wanted to take her back as a mistress forcefully. Don’t you think I should teach him a lesson?”

Chen Zhiyuan put down his fist and raised his head to ask the elder and the crowd outside the courtyard who was trying to persuade him.

“This… he should be taught a lesson! Originally, a lewd man going after another man’s wife and daughter would be drowned in a pig cage!”

Elder Liu knocked his crutches twice heavily. With a hint of anger, he began to educate the surrounding people of Taoyuan Village.

All the people looked at Xu Qingfeng angrily. After all, no one wanted their wife to suddenly disappear just like that.

“It’s not like that… I’m just here to collect the debt… Chen’s wife borrowed money from my cloth shop, and she still owes my family 500 coins…”

Xu Qingfeng struggled to raise half of his body, and he couldn’t speak clearly to refute.

Chen Zhiyuan raised his fist and smashed it down like raindrops again, he said hatefully, “I owe you money. I owe you money. I paid back 500 coins for 100 coins, and I still owe you money, right? What kind of calculation is that? Calculate it for me again! How much do I owe?”

“Hey! Stop hitting me. Stop hitting me, Chen… Ah, no, Grandpa Chen, I miscalculated. It’s not that you owe me money, but I’m the one who owes you money. Please stop hitting me. I really can’t take it anymore.”

Xu Qingfeng finally couldn’t take it anymore. His face was badly bruised and he begged for mercy.

Chen Zhiyuan finally let go. He pulled Xu Qingfeng’s collar and asked, “Tell me, how much do you owe me?”

“A hundred coins…”

“Huh!”

“Ah! No, no, no. Just like Grandpa Chen said, five thousand coins! Five thousand coins!”

Xu Qingfeng was a wise man who knew to avoid than fight when the odds are against him. He quickly changed his words.

“Lord Xu, isn’t your Xu family a big family with big businesses? Today, didn’t you say that the interest rate is different every day? I’m sorry, but it’s the same for me too. Ten thousand coins! Not a single cent less!”

Chen Zhiyuan leaned closer to Xu Qingfeng’s pig-like head and spoke slowly, word by word.

“Aiyo, Grandpa Chen, you must be joking. Even if I sold the Xu family, I still wouldn’t be able to get 10,000 coins. Please be merciful!”

Xu Qingfeng’s face immediately turned bitter when he heard that. He couldn’t stop complaining.

“The Xu family is rich. Besides shops and caravans, don’t you have land? You can sell it too. 10,000 coins. If you agree, I’ll let you go. If you don’t, we’ll just wait here and see who dies first!”

Chen Zhiyuan was unreasonable and was not going to let him go. He turned his head and looked as if he was going to wait until nightfall.

Another quarter of an hour passed.

“I agree, I agree. As long as you let me go back, I’ll definitely gather 10,000 coins and give them to you…”

Xu Qingfeng gave in. After all, a wise man would avoid the current disadvantageous situation. If this continued, he might really die. As long as he could go back, there was still room for maneuver.

“Young Master Xu, you are quite smart. Words don’t mean anything. Give me a written statement.”

Chen Zhiyuan laughed when he heard that. He got off Xu Qingfeng’s body and picked him up. He looked at the old man outside the courtyard and smiled. “Elder, I don’t have a pen and paper at home. Please lend me your pen and paper. I will definitely thank you in the future.”

“Junior, you don’t have to thank me when you’re just borrowing a pen. My grandson, go back quickly and bring me my pen, ink, paper, and inkstone.” Elder Liu smiled happily when he heard that and ordered his grandson.

Lord Xu usually bullied men and women in the county. Today, Chen Zhiyuan could be considered to have helped his fellow villagers vent their anger. The villagers nearby were all overjoyed.

“Yes,” a child responded and ran away in a hurry.

Not long after.

The brush, ink, paper, and Inkstone appeared in front of Lord Xu.

Xu Qingfeng gritted his teeth and used his trembling hand to write down [Xu Qingfeng owes Chen Zhiyuan 10,000 coins today]. After that, he dipped his hand into the blood at the corner of his mouth, stamped it with his fingerprint, and handed it to Chen Zhiyuan.

“Brother… Brother Chen, 10,000 coins is not a small amount. Even if I amass it, it will still take some time. Why don’t you come back to the town with me? Once I amass it, you can bring it back at the same time. What do you say?”

Xu Qingfeng lowered his head and hid the hatred in his eyes as he spoke to Chen Zhiyuan in a low voice.

“Lord Xu, once you enter the town, it will be your world. Do you think that I, Chen Zhiyuan, am a three-year-old child that is easy to fool?”

Chen Zhiyuan pursed his lips.

Trying to trick him into entering the town? He’s not stupid.

“Brother Chen, what are you saying? How would I dare? It’s just that there’s so much money, and if you don’t go personally, how can you bring it back? If I send someone to send it back, what if the people that were sent to deliver the money runs away with the money? When that time comes, and you ask for 10,000 coins again, where am I supposed to get you another 10,000 coins again?”

Xu Qingfeng pretended to look at Chen Zhiyuan as if he was wronged, like a bullied little wife.

Chen Zhiyuan had goosebumps, but he had to admit that his words made some sense. If no one went to retrieve the 10,000 coins, neither side would be at ease. Chen Zhiyuan himself would definitely not go. Who knew what other tricks the Xu family had up their sleeves, but if he were to send someone, he would not be able to find them in a short time.

Just as he was in a dilemma, a familiar voice came from outside the crowd.

“Brother Zhiyuan, Brother Zhiyuan, we’ve bought the wine. Oh my God, what happened? So many people have surrounded the place!”

Chen Zhiyuan grinned when he recognized the voices of Chen Dali and the other two. He had a plan in mind.

Wasn’t the money courier here already?