Chapter 4: Creditors Gather at the Door

"Dad, don't smoke when you're angry; it's bad for your lungs."

Zhou You kicked Mou Xiaoli away, not even glancing at him as if he were trash, then gently patted his father's back.

Seeing his son had returned, Zhou Laodie's gaze revealed relief, "You'er, you're back."

"Are you hungry? I'll have your mother cook later."

Mou Laoyao, standing to the side, wouldn't have it; he felt sorry for his son and pointed at the Zhou Family father and son, jumping up and down while cursing.

"Zhou You, how dare you hit my son?"

Mou Xiaoli curled up like a cooked shrimp, clutching his stomach and rolling on the ground, feeling as if his internal organs were about to split apart.

He groaned incessantly, "I'm dying, I'm dying, it hurts so much."

Zhou You said coldly, "He made a move on my father just now, so he brought this on himself. If there is a next time, I will kill him outright."

"You old fossil, nobody invited you here; you came to my door looking for a beating? I'll grant your wish."

Mou Laoyao was so angry his face turned red, "Old Zhou, is this how you discipline your son?"

"Didn't you just say it yourself? I don't know how to discipline my son."

Zhou Laodie's single sentence left him choked for words.

"You just wait. If anything happens to my son, I'll have you face a lawsuit."

Mou Laoyao left behind two harsh threats and, supporting his son, slunk out the door.

After they went outside, they didn't go straight home, but instead stood at the entrance shouting and cursing.

"Neighbors, come and see, the son of the Old Zhou family is hitting people."

"I told you so, how could a child from a good family get involved with people from the Wild Fox Gang?"

"Just you watch, there will be a time when they're unlucky and crying."

The shrill voices echoed all around, and many households poked their heads out of doors and windows to watch the commotion.

"Don't go out, they're all neighbors."

Zhou Laodie grabbed Zhou You; he, too, felt disheartened.

Adversity reveals true feelings; recently, there was no scene his father hadn't witnessed.

Just as he was about to close the door, Mou Laoyao's voice suddenly rose an octave, "The debt collectors are here."

"The debt collectors are here! Old Zhou family, don't close the door and hide; if you have debts, pay them back. Keep your word and protect your home."

Zhou Laodie sighed and asked Zhou You, "How much money do you have left on you?"

"Only 25 taels left."

The registration fee was 5 taels, and the first month's tuition was 20 taels; half was spent immediately.

Zhou Laodie did not press for where the money went, "Let's go, the creditors are at the door."

Outside the door, Mou Laoyao's face was full of smugness; if he hadn't spread the news everywhere, this group of creditors wouldn't have come knocking that very night.

Originally, if Zhou You had followed the arrangements and gone to kowtow and apologize, the matter would have been resolved.

Afterward, Zhou Laodie would work to save money to pay off the debt, and in ten or eight years, they could have recovered.

But today, Zhou You didn't go; after offending the gang, not only was his job gone, but even his normal life was hard to guarantee.

Because of this, those creditors naturally worried they wouldn't get their money back.

The swarming creditors almost broke the gate, and in the end, they simply stood at the entrance together.

An old man wearing a long gown, who was a bookkeeper for a firm and considered a colleague of Zhou Laodie, was among them.

He had lent ten taels of silver, which was the largest single sum.

"Brother Zhou, I'm sorry, coming over so late, but my wife has fallen critically ill and we need the money."

The old bookkeeper was very polite and didn't get red-faced or angry.

The others were more agitated, wishing they could eat the Zhou family alive.

"Forget the interest, just pay me back the principal."

"I'm telling you, I know people at the yamen; if you don't pay, I'll call a Constable to arrest you."

"Zhou, you want to die yourself, don't drag us down with you."

The crowd was surging, and the noisy clamor almost shattered the doors and windows.

Neighbors walked out one after another, standing around the Old Zhou house, whispering and watching from the sidelines.

In the crowd, the voices of Mou Laoyao and his son were the most piercing, explaining the origin of this turmoil.

"Old Zhou's son is good for nothing; he didn't take the money to apologize, but instead went to eat and drink, returning reeking of alcohol."

"With Tu Laosan's temper, he'll set fire to their house tomorrow."

"We can't let them live here anymore, lest they implicate the neighborhood."

Zhou Laodie looked at the unfamiliar neighbors and the angry creditors, feeling as if the world were collapsing.

But he could not fall; this home still needed him to hold it up.

A pair of strong hands supported Zhou Laodie's back, "Dad, don't worry, I'm here."

Zhou You took the silver from his bosom and held it high in mid-air.

"Everyone, I am the son of the Zhou Family, Zhou You; everyone knows me."

"Your money is all here, and I have spent half of it."

As soon as these words were spoken, the crowd erupted in a commotion; it meant that half of them would not be able to get their money back.

But Zhou You continued, "I spent the money, but not on eating, drinking, or playing."

"Who would believe that?"

Mou Laoyao and his son in the crowd sneered disdainfully, their voices particularly loud.

"I spent the money to buy a wooden plaque; it really wasn't cheap, a full 25 taels of silver."

"What a coincidence, since you are all here, help me see if I've made a profit or a loss?"

The neighbors and creditors thought Zhou You had gone mad; what kind of broken wood could be worth 25 taels of shiny silver?

This amount of money could buy enough grain for one person to eat for ten years.

The old accountant spoke on behalf of the creditors, "Old Zhou, there is still 25 taels, paying back half first would also be fine."

"We trust your character, but your son is still young, don't let him cause any more trouble."

As he spoke, Zhou You said to his mother, "Mother, hang this wooden plaque at the entrance."

His mother was illiterate, so she carefully wiped the surface of the plaque with her sleeve and hung it on the main gate according to Zhou You's instructions.

"Old accountant, what words are written on the wooden plaque?"

Most of the people present were illiterate and could not tell what was written on it.

Only a few people, including the old accountant, the Zhou Family, and Mou Xiaoli, who worked as a waiter at a restaurant, were literate.

The old accountant squinted at the wooden plaque and read it out word by word.

"Student of Jian Xiong Martial Arts Hall."

As soon as these words were spoken, the crowd immediately erupted.

The Zhou Family's boy had joined a martial arts hall, and it was the famous Jian Xiong Martial Arts Hall in the city.

Jianxiong Laoye was a famous martial arts master in the city and a guest of honor for wealthy families.

What virtue or ability did Zhou You have to be able to become a Disciple under him?

Mou Laoyao did not believe it and questioned his son, "Xiaoli, look carefully, are these the words?"

Mou Xiaoli had learned his characters from menus; after struggling to recognize them for a long time, he confirmed that the old accountant was right and nodded slowly.

"It must be fake, a piece of broken wood,..."

Mou Laoyao wanted to say more, but his son covered his mouth with his hand.

After all, Mou Xiaoli worked at a restaurant, so his experience was much greater than his father's.

It was easy to forge a wooden plaque as proof for a martial arts hall, but it could not withstand an investigation; once an incident occurred, the trouble caused would be much more serious than offending a gang.

Moreover, the 25 taels Zhou You mentioned were clearly the 5 taels for the martial arts hall registration fee, plus 20 taels for one month of tuition.

After hearing his explanation, Mou Laoyao immediately collapsed to the ground, finished.

He had hoped to watch the old Zhou Family decline, but he never expected them to turn things around and become even more prosperous.

Zhou You had joined the martial arts hall and had the protection of Jianxiong Laoye; Tu Laosan was nothing!

Once he finished his training and returned, every firm and cargo station would fight to hire him, with a starting monthly salary of 10 taels.

Jealousy gnawed at Mou Laoyao's heart like a Poison Snake Realm, making his vision go black.

How did things turn out like this?