Chapter 5: The Small-Minded Heart Never Dies

Apprentice of the Jian Xiong Martial Arts Hall.

The six bright, shining characters were carved into a jujube wood plaque, radiating immense intimidation before the crowd.

As for whether it was worth it, as Zhou You had just said? That hardly needed asking; it was a huge profit.

This wooden plaque protected the three members of the Zhou Family, and from this day forward, no petty scoundrels would dare to intrude.

Any thief or pilferer who knew someone in this house was studying at the martial arts hall would not dare to even approach the corner of the wall.

It is no exaggeration to say that each of the six characters was worth at least fifty taels.

"Old Zhou, congratulations, congratulations!"

The old accountant cupped his hands in greeting, not saying a single word about the debt.

He said enthusiastically, "When I go to work tomorrow, I'll speak with the shopkeeper; it's been so many years, your wages should be raised!"

"The 10 taels of silver I owe you?"

Zhou Laodie asked in confusion.

The old accountant waved his hand generously, "Keep it for now, I'm not in a rush to use it."

It was as if his sick wife had never existed at all.

Zhou Laodie breathed a sigh of relief; with the remaining 40 taels of debt, 25 taels would be enough to pay off the majority.

He gathered his spirits to deal with the other creditors, "Tell me how much I owe, and I will pay it back right now."

The creditors, who had been fierce and menacing just a moment ago, put on a different face, becoming incredibly enthusiastic.

"What are you saying, Old Zhou? We've known each other for so long, do you think I'm the type to kick a man when he's down?"

"Your family is in difficulty, and this is exactly when you need money; don't mention paying it back again."

"Your boy is truly promising; another day I'll bring my girl over to visit so they can get to know each other in advance."

Not one of the creditors wanted their money; they were all busy trying to mend their relationship with Zhou Laodie, and some even asked if he was short on cash and could borrow more.

In just a brief interval, this bunch of creditors had all become reasonable, good-natured people.

The neighbors watched, dumbfounded, yet they knew the Zhou Family had not only recovered but was about to become prosperous.

If not now, when would be the time to build a good relationship?

The entrance to the Zhou Family home remained lively until midnight before it finally quieted down.

Zhou Laodie's face was glowing, and his previous decadence had been swept away.

"You'er, you must remember, your master is like your own father, perhaps even more important than your own father."

"You must honor him and serve him; you must never be slack."

"Back in my day, when I was an Apprentice..."

Zhou Laodie was immersed in his memories when his wife came over carrying steaming hot food.

"You've been busy for so long, you must be hungry. Eat, eat."

Suddenly someone knocked on the door, and it was Li Guafu.

Li Guafu was carrying a basin of meat dishes and spoke enthusiastically, "I closed up the stall and had some leftovers; Brother Zhou, please don't mind."

Zhou You glanced at it; they were not leftovers, but a complete meat dish.

In the past, even if Li Guafu had leftovers, she wouldn't have given their family a single scrap.

She must have heard what happened at the Zhou Family home after returning from her stall and immediately came over to curry favor.

Li Guafu sat down and refused to leave, praising Zhou You for being promising, then began complaining about how hard it was for a woman to raise children alone.

"Little Zhou, when you have success in the future, don't forget to look after your auntie."

As Li Guafu said this, she seemed to mention something intentionally or unintentionally.

"Oh, by the way, I saw that Mou Laoyao's house didn't light a fire; they might be so angry and frustrated that they can't even eat dinner."

"Mou Xiaoli even went out late at night; I don't know what he went off to do."

Upon hearing this, Zhou You nodded, "Many thanks for the reminder, Auntie."

If the father and son of the Mou Family next door still refused to give up and wanted to pull some tricks, he would not be blamed for being heartless.

Tu Laosan held a girl in his arms, tearing into a large pork knuckle with his mouth full of grease.

The cheap liquor tasted like water, and the fragrant pork knuckle tasted like wax.

The more he ate, the more stifled he felt; the girl in his arms had red eyes, trying her best to suppress her sobbing.

A fire flared up in Tu Laosan, "Who are you mourning for?"

He slapped the girl across the face, and the redness and swelling were visible to the naked eye.

"Do you believe I'll reward you to the dozens of brothers outside?"

The girl was scared pale on the spot, kneeling on the ground and kowtowing desperately for mercy.

She was the daughter of a farmer who couldn't pay back a usurious loan and had been captured by the Wild Fox Gang to be violated.

The other party had lied to her, saying that if she served Tu Laosan well, they would let her go home.

In reality, according to the style of the Wild Fox Gang, any respectable woman they grew tired of playing with was sold into a brothel as a prostitute.

"Third Master, calm your anger; if this female is broken, she won't be worth any money."

A cunning advisor with a goatee stepped forward to speak, "Third Master, the Zhou boy still hasn't come."

Today was originally supposed to be the day the Zhou son came to apologize; kowtowing was secondary, but the key was the 50 taels of silver, which would have kept him happy for a while.

What is the point of being in a gang if not to make money?

Every fierce and cruel act was for the purpose of scraping the bones and sucking the marrow to extract wealth.

He had waited at the hall for a whole day, but Zhou You never appeared, and there was no sign of the 50 taels of silver.

Tu Laosan was furious and couldn't wait to take his men to storm the house and burn their whole family down.

"Send people to handle it; break the legs of that couple surnamed Zhou, then throw dead dogs and dump night soil at their house."

"I don't believe I can't ruin his reputation. Once I've had my fun, tie him up and bury him outside the city—bury him alive."

Tu Laosan's cruel words were filled with complete disregard for human life.

At this moment, a gang member outside reported that someone had brought a message.

The person who arrived was none other than Mou Xiaoli, who, fearing he would be seen by neighbors, had come under the cover of night to tip them off.

"You're saying that brat has joined the Jian Xiong Martial Arts Hall?"

This was tricky; although the Wild Fox Gang also employed martial arts masters, they would never offend Wang Jianxiong for the sake of Tu Laosan.

Gangs and martial arts halls generally maintained an attitude of minding their own business.

Tu Laosan's older brother, the gang leader, had strictly warned him that while he was allowed to eat, drink, play, bully men, and oppress women—and would even be supported during conflicts with the Mad Horse Gang—he was absolutely forbidden from offending the martial arts halls.

"Don't be anxious, Third Master. As far as I know, when the martial arts hall recruits students, they eliminate eighty percent of the Apprentices within the first three months."

"The Zhou Family brat has mediocre aptitude. Once he is expelled from the martial arts hall after three months, we can settle the score with him then."

"By then, he won't be a member of the martial arts hall, his wooden plaque will have been taken away, and with no one to protect him, he'll be yours to do with as you please, heh heh!"

With a silver-tongued display, he made Tu Laosan beam with joy.

"Good, then we'll wait another three months. I want to play him to death slowly."

Tu Laosan saw that Mou Xiaoli hadn't left yet, his face wearing a fawning expression, clearly waiting for a reward.

He must be blind; I don't even pay for my own meals, and I'm supposed to give you a tip?

"Open his eyes for him, throw him out."

A group of thugs swarmed forward, kicking and punching Mou Xiaoli, beating him until he wailed incessantly.

Mou Xiaoli's newly received wages were snatched away, and he was stripped of his outer garment and cloth shoes, then thrown onto the street shirtless.

He was beyond tears; when he touched his face, it was covered in blood, and two or three of his teeth had been knocked out.

He had come in the dead of night to tip them off, but instead of getting any benefits, he had been robbed and beaten.

It was truly a case of being a villain in vain.

Mou Xiaoli shivered in the night wind, thinking that given Tu Laosan's viciousness, his future retaliation against the Zhou Family would surely be even more unscrupulous.

He was miserable, and he couldn't stand to see the Zhou Family succeed either.

Imagining the miserable future of Zhou You and his family, a look of blissful radiance appeared on his bruised and swollen face.