Chapter 12: Jia Zhangshi Seizes and Plunders Fish

Yang Qing didn't know any of this, because the couple were crouching behind the windbreak, fishing with great enthusiasm.

Chen Hong looked at the catch and said sadly, "Obviously there are fewer fish today."

Yang Qing said while preparing the bait.

"More people means more disturbance; more disturbance makes the fish unwilling to surface. Besides, it's winter now, and the fish themselves are lazy to move, so fewer fish is normal."

"The few days ago we caught many fish because the lake surface was frozen over, plus heavy snow sealed the water, depriving the water below of oxygen; we opened a hole, and they came up to breathe."

"They also saw the bait and didn't want to leave."

"Now many holes have been opened on this ice surface, the oxygen level in the water has risen, and with all this commotion, fewer fish is normal."

What Yang Qing said made sense; as the sky grew brighter and more people came, Yang Qing's haul grew smaller and smaller.

With fewer fish, the two of them grew idle and began to pay attention to their surroundings.

At that moment, a clamor came over.

"Old Qian Po, give my fish back!"

An old man shouted angrily.

A familiar voice sounded in the couple's ears.

"What fish, where did the fish come from, you old calamity, how dare you frame me? Everyone, come look—this bad element is bullying people!"

As that voice rang out, many people looked over here.

The old man also felt a pang of panic; his background was bad, he couldn't find work, and had been living off his savings.

Today, after great effort, he had caught a fish, but this Old Qian Po stole one away.

Now being framed again by this Old Qian Po, he felt a mix of shock, anxiety, and anger; he dared not bear such a charge.

"You stole fish and still have the nerve to speak? You slander people and still have the nerve to speak?"

"Do you really think no one saw you steal the fish?"

"Just now you caught a fish and threw it to that little boy on the shore, pretending I didn't see?"

"Give the fish back right now, apologize, or we'll call the police."

Jia Zhangshi was also good at reading people; from his clothing she could tell at a glance that he was a remnant of the old regime, at worst a landlord.

That's why she dared act so arrogantly.

"Go ahead, call the police—let's see whether they believe you or me. You slander me, a poor peasant of five generations, and I won't let this rest."

The old man trembled with rage.

"You, you, you..."

Jia Zhangshi.

"What 'you you'? Hurry up and compensate, and the old lady will forgive you; otherwise you can go to jail."

By then, the couple's quarrel was gradually attracting some people.

Moreover, a few of the people who had been fishing near Yang Qing walked over.

"Marquis, what's going on?"

The old man called Marquis pointed at Jia Zhangshi.

"She stole my fish and framed me."

Then he recounted the whole incident.

Several young people looked at Jia Zhangshi, their eyes a bit cold.

People like them, having suffered endless contempt, are naturally united; some of those who can't get by are even the leaders of industries such as the pigeon market and black market.

They used their former wealth to also win over some officials.

So Jia Zhangshi was mistaken; such people are not so easy to bully.

This isn't 1966; you can't just mess with people at will.

She was used to throwing her weight around in the courtyard and thought everywhere was the same.

"Are you bullying our Marquis?"

Being stared at fiercely, Jia Zhangshi felt a little guilty, but those accustomed to arrogance get a bit excited when people gather.

"It's him who's bullying me, framing me."

The young person.

"Really? That means you didn't steal it? Good, that also means you haven't touched a fish, and there's no fishy smell on your hands."

Hearing this, Jia Zhangshi quickly pulled her hands into her sleeves and began rubbing them incessantly.

"Stretch out your hands."

Jia Zhangshi felt a deep malice.

"What right do you have? You lot of bad elements, bullying the elderly!"

By then the people around also realized, this old hag was just playing the rascal.

"Then let's call the police."

"Call the police?" Jia Zhangshi gasped, swallowing the words of her tantrum.

"Fine, call the police then."

Saying this, she turned and thrust her hands into the snowdrift, rubbing them hard.

The onlookers were instantly stunned by her shamelessness—how could someone be so thick‑skinned?

The young people were furious.

"Do you think you can wipe it away?"

Rubbing them did indeed remove the smell, and Jia Zhangshi even brought her hands to her nose to sniff.

"Hmph, go ahead and call the police."

Jia Zhangshi shouted, but no one paid attention to her.

Seeing that no one helped her, Jia Zhangshi felt uncertain inside, thinking these people wouldn't accuse her of being black, right?

She looked again at the other's increasingly fierce face, so she said again.

"Fine, today the old woman is in a good mood, I forgive you."

Saying that, she tried to leave.

The young man chuckled, gritting his teeth, and said.

"Then we really thank you for your magnanimity, go, we'll see this magnanimous old woman off, get to know each other, we must repay the favor properly."

His several companions laughed in unison and said.

"Yeah, that's appropriate, let's go get to know each other."

Jia Zhangshi was startled by the words, stammering.

"Then… no, no need…"

Then she ran away quickly.

The people around, seeing this, almost threw out their backs.

"I've never seen such a shameless person."

"Where is this person from? To have raised such a Lao Qian Po?"

"Yeah, yeah, it completely shattered my worldview; it's a new society, who would have thought you'd still meet such a thing."

"Just now I saw, this person also had a little boy with them."

"She caught a fish and threw it onto the shore, the little boy grabbed it and ran."

The young man spat toward the direction Jia Zhangshi ran.

"Lord Hou, there's no point getting angry at this kind of person; in a moment I'll get you two fish."

Lord Hou hurriedly waved his hand.

"No need, no need, I still have one, enough for me to eat."

The young man, seeing Lord Hou persist, didn't give any more.

"Lord Hou, if you have any matter, give a shout; your relationship with Lord Guan, we can't miss any business."

Lord Hou said gratefully.

"Thank you, later we'll go to the tavern for a drink."

The young man chuckled and shook his head.

"You go find Lord Guan, we aren't used to small taverns."

………

Yang Qing and his spouse hid behind the wind wall, watching the whole event with great interest.

Chen Hong: "Wow, Jia Zhangshi really isn't an ordinary person."

Yang Qing nodded: "Should we say this person is smart? If not lazy, this person could also accomplish things."

"The target was chosen well, but the composition is bad; many people, if it's not a big matter, would just grit their teeth and get by."

"If those few people hadn't passed by, I'm afraid she could have swindled away another fish."

"Even if exposed, ordinary Jingcheng lords wouldn't engage with such a shrew; she would most likely just run away."

"Not to mention the opponents are also a group of bad elements."

"You see, that's exactly what's happening now."

Chen Hong, having witnessed Jia Zhangshi's power again, couldn't help but say.

"How have you gotten through these years?"

"Given Yang Qing's background, living in such an environment, I truly don't know how much bullying he endured."