Chapter 165: Borrow five taels and return seven

After eating the wontons, Wang Hou took Tang Xiao Yu and left. After some inquiries, they finally found the location of the flying slave house.

Before they even got close, Wang Hou could hear the nearby commoners discussing.

"These pigeons are annoying to death, they stink to death."

"Look at the clothes I just washed this morning, I just put them outside for a while, and they've become like this?"

"You still dare to hang clothes outside?"

"No, today we must let that unlucky guy Zhang give us an explanation!"

"If you ask me, he's not an unlucky guy, we who live near him are the unlucky ones!"

Tang Xiao Yu and Wang Hou stopped at the same time. The two just watched from afar, not in a hurry to step forward, checking the situation first.

Wang Hou stared at this group of people without blinking, opened his mouth and said to Tang Xiao Yu: "Xiao Yu, you can't be impatient when doing these things. Often, the more you know about the target, the more you can win by surprise at the critical moment!"

"I know!" Tang Xiao Yu waited patiently with Wang Hou in place, just like a serious student.

A group of neighbors gathered together and became more and more angry, finally walking together to knock on the door of the 'unlucky guy Zhang'.

"Zhang Zhengyan, come out!"

"You must give us an explanation today!"

"Either you move away, or you sell all those broken pigeons!"

With the shouting becoming more intense, the door finally opened, and Zhang Zhengyan appeared in front of everyone.

Looking at this pale-faced man with a 'chicken nest' on his head, Wang Hou expressed great interest.

Zhang Zhengyan stammered: "I don't know... fellow villagers... today this is..."

A big aunt in the crowd waved her hand impatiently: "Don't know what, we know what we came for, you just say how you will handle these pigeons?"

Zhang Zhengyan's face was ugly, "Of course, keep raising them!"

As soon as these words came out, the voice of the big aunt just now became sharp: "Still raising? I tell you, no way!"

The others also opened their mouths one after another, standing on a unified front to denounce Zhang Zhengyan.

"We absolutely don't agree to this!"

"That group of beasts not only poops nearby every day, but also steals our food."

"Not only that! They fly out early in the morning, making it impossible for people to sleep."

"Washed clothes and didn't dare to hang them outside, they stank even when placed at home."

Clearly, Zhang Zhengyan's eloquence wasn't that sharp. So many people were talking one after another, and Zhang Zhengyan couldn't even find words to respond

At this moment, an old man walked out from the crowd, leaning on a cane, and said, "Everyone, be quiet for a moment. Let me say a few words!"

Clearly, the old man had great prestige. As soon as he spoke, everyone fell silent, quietly waiting for what would follow.

Zhang Zhengyan was the same, looking at the old man with full expectation, hoping he could help put in a good word for him.

"Zhengyan! Logically speaking, what you do is none of the neighbors' business, but if you affect everyone's life, that won't do!"

Zhang Zhengyan's hope was shattered; he could only grit his teeth and explain, "Grandpa Hong, I know about this matter. I have been trying my best to control it."

Someone in the crowd heard this and gave a disdainful cold snort, "Those are just a bunch of beasts. Can you really control them so they don't poop and pee?"

Grandpa Hong nodded and continued, "Just as I said, everyone is a neighbor; you cannot ruin everyone's life because of yourself! If you don't want to sell them, why not lock them all up and don't let them out!"

Zhang Zhengyan was shocked and stammered in explanation, "That... that won't do, right? These... these pigeons... if they are kept locked up all the time, they will get sick!"

"Hmph! Since that's the case, then you give everyone an explanation yourself!"

Clearly, Zhang Zhengyan's stubbornness made Grandpa Hong somewhat angry. He struck his cane hard against the ground and turned to leave.

Zhang Zhengyan reached out, wanting to speak to keep Grandpa Hong, but unexpectedly, the next moment, everyone swarmed up together.

"Either you move away, or you sell all these beasts!"

"Right, right, right, you pick one!"

Seeing this, Wang Hou prepared to step forward. After all, Yangguangzhai needed this Pigeon House; if he really sold it, that would be no good!

Unexpectedly, before Wang Hou could step forward, several burly men appeared at the street corner, shouting loudly, "You little bastard, we finally caught you today! When are you going to pay back the silver you owe?"

Seeing the people who had arrived, Zhang Zhengyan's face turned pale with fright. He prepared to hide back inside the house, but the next moment, a pair of large hands pressed against the door, and even though Zhang Zhengyan used all his strength, he could not move.

"Paying debts is only right and proper!" The burly man then turned his head and said to the crowd, "This little bastard borrowed five taels of silver from us, but when it was due, he didn't pay it back. We came to find him several times, but he kept the door shut. Today, we finally managed to catch him."

This group of people looked like they were not to be trifled with. The neighbors already had opinions about Zhang Zhengyan, and now it was even more impossible for them to stand up for him; they all wore the appearance of watching a show.

The burly man turned his head and grabbed Zhang Zhengyan by the collar, questioning him fiercely, "When are you paying the money back?"

Zhang Zhengyan was so scared he trembled like a quail, "I... I have no money!"

"No money? You'd better think clearly!" The burly man's threatening words popped out from between his teeth.

"B-but I really have no money! Good man, please grant me some more time!" Zhang Zhengyan was so anxious that tears were about to fall.

The burly man suddenly let go of Zhang Zhengyan's collar, letting him fall to the ground, "Since that's the case, then don't blame me!"

"What are you going to do?" Zhang Zhengyan was very panicked.

"Although this house of yours has been around for some years, it must still be worth some silver. Although it's far from enough, if we add those pigeons, perhaps it will be just about right!"

Zhang Zhengyan couldn't care about the pain in his backside; he hurriedly stood up and shouted, "No, this house was left to me by my father. You cannot snatch it away."

"Snatch? You mother-fucker, you owe me money. Even if I report this to the government, I'm in the right!" The burly man couldn't be bothered to bicker with Zhang Zhengyan and nodded to the two men behind him, "Drag this little bastard out for me."

Hearing this, the two men immediately stepped forward, one on the left and one on the right, grabbing Zhang Zhengyan and dragging him out.

Zhang Zhengyan was thin and weak; in front of the two, he was like a little chick, left to be manipulated.

"Wait!" Seeing this, Wang Hou finally spoke up and walked forward with long strides.

The burly man looked displeased, "What are you doing?"

"How much money does he owe you?" Wang Hou didn't respond, pointing at Zhang Zhengyan and asking.

"Borrowed five taels, repay seven! We have an IOU as proof!" Although the burly man couldn't figure out Wang Hou's background, seeing that the other party was also short and thin, he should be easy to bully.

Wang Hou took out silver from his pocket and said, "Here is the money for you, leave the IOU!"

The burly man looked at the silver hesitantly, then turned his head to look at Zhang Zhengyan, sneered, and said, "This seven taels of silver was the price five days ago; now it is eight!"

"Oh? And how is this different from robbery?" Wang Hou was calm, the corners of his mouth gradually curling into a mocking arc.