Chapter 544: Confrontation (Seeking Monthly Votes)

"I just happen to know a few characters and know how to do a bit of arithmetic..."

Fang Yu smiled and said, "Now that I've reminded you, does Hu Ye remember? These ten taels of silver of mine are truly hard-earned money. I saved up ten taels, and I contributed ten taels to the gang! There was absolutely no skimming! I spent my own money to learn martial arts, so what is the problem?"

Only then did Hu Ye truly feel like he was riding a tiger and unable to get off.

He couldn't very well say that fishermen aren't allowed to save money, could he? That would provoke public outrage!

And Fang Yu's skills... he feared he couldn't take him down without calling upon a Martial Master from the gang, but the key was—he had no legitimate reason to act!

He didn't even dare to notify the gang.

"Haha... haha..."

"Mm. It didn't succeed..."

Such forbearance and meticulousness—if he also possessed talent for martial arts, Hu Ye didn't even dare to imagine it.

"The money was all robbed, everything that could be sold was sold, so what's the point of getting married!" Lao Yutou dropped the boat pole, sat at the bow, and lit his dry tobacco: "Your turn."

"How else could he have died? He lay there severely injured, lacking medicine... Lao Chutou lay there for several months and ultimately couldn't hold on... Xiao Chu, however, was young and managed to pull through; now he's like a different person."

The waiter greeted them with a face full of smiles.

Lao Yutou steered the boat directly away from this stretch of water: "Then, Yu, you'll have to forgive me; I'm afraid I can't be too close to you in the future..."

But who could have imagined that among the miserable fishermen, such a freak as 'Fang Yu' would emerge?

Hu Ye's eyes rolled, and he squeezed a smile onto his face: "So that's how it is... a misunderstanding... this is all just a misunderstanding."

Si Niang giggled: "The former Ayu is now a master too, is he qualified enough?"

'As long as I'm careful about the dirty tricks of this dead tiger after going ashore, I'll be on the lake the rest of the time. Even I might not know where I am, so he won't be able to find me...'

Aaron waved his hand and strode away from the Fish Market.

Hu Ye's face flushed red, and he roared in a low voice: "What else can I do? That kid's strikes are ruthless... I fear his techniques are so proficient that ten men couldn't get close to him; I must invite a Force-Entering Martial Artist to deal with him! The key is... he is honestly earning silver for the gang, so on what grounds can you take action?"

Lao Yutou sighed and spoke from the heart: "When will we ever see the end of these bitter days?"

"It really didn't succeed!"

After an unknown amount of time passed, Lao Yutou continued: "Lao Chutou is dead!"

Her words had a hidden meaning, still remembering what Aaron had said earlier.

A Black-Awning Boat emerged from the nearby reeds, and the one poling the boat was none other than Lao Yutou.

Aaron muttered to himself, took out seven large coins: "Two bowls of Old Yellow Wine, one plate of sliced meat. Pack it to go!"

He gave a dry laugh: "I am in charge of the Fish Market on behalf of the gang. Upon discovering an anomaly, I naturally had to ask; once it's cleared up, it's fine... Nothing to see here, why are you all gathered together? Disperse, disperse!"

"Of course, that dead tiger can't trouble me, but he might target the people around me..." Aaron sighed: "Keeping our distance in public and helping me in private—I am already very grateful."

Aaron looked at her face, seeing that although several years had passed and she was still vaguely similar to when they first met, there were a few more crow's feet at the corners of her eyes.

The sound of water rustled...

Aaron helplessly covered his forehead: "If I had truly succeeded in martial arts, I would have formally joined the Qingshan Martial Arts Hall and settled down in the city; why would I bother coming back to continue being a poor fisherman?"

"Then about getting a wife..."

Because... Hu Ye was only a low-level manager of the 'Golden Fish Gang', yet he guarded such a massive treasure bowl; could it be he hadn't secretly embezzled or skimmed some off the top?

He definitely had!

Once the higher-ups of the 'Golden Fish Gang' were called in for a face-to-face confrontation and an audit, it was uncertain whether Fang Yu would die, but he would certainly be dead!

Hu Ye felt bitter inside.

"I don't want to."

"How did he die?" Aaron was startled.

She puffed out her chest again: "... Don't you want to borrow some money and try again?"

After walking out of Sanshui Wharf, Aaron arrived at a riverbank and mimicked the call of a partridge three times.

He wore a fawning smile and called out humbly: "Master Yu..."

'From Ayu... to Yu... now I've become Master Yu... I suppose I can be considered of the "Master" generation.'

A failure well-deserved, a failure most wonderful!

As for the more critical matter of his own falsified accounts and stolen money, Hu Ye would, of course, not speak of it.

After a long while, the Black-Awning Boat sailed into Taize Lake.

"Sigh, that's true... it's not easy for a poor man to turn his life around!"

A lackey beside him said unwillingly.

"Lao Yutou, stop teasing me... just call me Yu or Ayu as before. Sorry to trouble you this time."

"Got it!"

One boat, two people.

Slap!

No sooner had the words left his mouth than he was knocked to the ground by a heavy slap from Hu Ye.

Of course, no matter how low his emotional intelligence was, he couldn't say that; he could only show a look of being unable to cope and retreated in a sorry state, carrying the wine gourd amidst Si Niang's giggles.

Lao Yutou suddenly asked another abrupt question: "It really didn't succeed?"

Aaron walked to the 'Yuyang Restaurant', preparing to buy something for Lao Yutou.

"Sigh..." Si Niang sighed faintly, not knowing what she was thinking of: "People, you know, you just have to accept your fate!"

His boat was still parked in the reed marsh; he had to rely on Lao Yutou to take him there.

Aaron gave a bitter smile and handed over the wine gourd and the paper-wrapped meat.

But in the end, the other party still failed.

At this moment, Si Niang walked out from the back kitchen, her almond eyes darting around as she saw Aaron: "Oh my... isn't this Master Yu?"

"Si Niang..." Aaron smiled foolishly.

He bullied the fishermen for being illiterate and unable to calculate, so naturally, he could manipulate the accounts and embezzle money in secret.

'Sigh... by the time I am qualified to sleep with you, you will already be old... this is also the helplessness of life.'

The lake was vast and misty.

Yuyang Restaurant.

"Hu Ye, are we just going to let this kid go like that?"

News of the Fish Market incident spread quickly, and after confronting Hu Ye and remaining unscathed, Yu's title was upgraded to 'Master Yu'.

"Besides, that kid's martial arts moves are skillful and his combat experience is rich; it's clear he didn't just practice hard, but was fed moves by someone... even if he was kicked out of the Wuguan, he might still have some connections among his fellow disciples and be doing quite well!"

Si Niang swayed her water-snake waist as she walked over and lowered her voice: "Went to practice martial arts?"

He glared hatefully in the direction Aaron had left, then suddenly laughed: "Good kid, he really is hiding his true strength... even I misjudged him! Fortunately... he doesn't have the fate for martial arts!"

The waiter nimbly took out a yellow-skinned gourd to pour wine—this gourd was lent to regular customers, to be returned next time—and wrapped some sliced white meat in oil paper.

"Master Yu is here."

'This dead tiger is even softer than I imagined... it seems he is likely embezzling and doesn't dare report it to the gang at all. Hmm, this is actually more favorable for me.'

"Then Hu Ye, I shall take my leave as well."

"Hey!"

Aaron took the boat pole and rowed listlessly, watching Lao Yutou there drinking Yellow Wine from the gourd and eating sliced meat.

(End of this chapter)