Chapter 161:
Make her remember the consequences of offending him Li Wei for the rest of her life!
“Oh no, Li Wei is back looking for Luo Zhi’er to avenge his mother!”
Zhao Anquan’s wife was preparing to go to the field to pull weeds. As soon as she went out the door, she spotted Li Wei returning aggressively with a group of people.
She called out to him but he didn’t respond.
Seeing the clubs in their hands, she knew what had happened and spread the news everywhere among the villagers.
“This is probably going to end in bloodshed today. Even if no one dies, someone will be crippled. San Mao is in prison and not home—this is bullying! His wife and Miaomiao are in big trouble!”
Even Old Lady Zhao had heard about it. “What are we going to do?” She was so anxious that she didn’t even lock the door, grabbed her cane, and ran over.
Halfway there, she worried that she might trip and fall while walking, causing trouble for her.
She turned back, ran to find Hu Zi along with Li Zhengxin, Li Fuquan, and Zhao Zuzu’s group. She stumbled and fell several times along the way, even losing her shoes!
Meanwhile, Luo Zhi’er smiled faintly and cupped her fists toward the several men behind Li Wei, politely saying, “These oldest brothers, I don’t know what path you’re on, but how much is he Li Wei paying you to work for him?”
“What?”
Those people were stunned. Li Wei sighed inwardly—oh no!
“Hehe, I can also pay silver to hire you to work for me. Whatever he pays you, I’ll double it. How about that?”
Luo Zhi’er said confidently.
They exchanged glances. Li Wei quickly said, “Brothers, don’t listen to this little whore’s nonsense. What silver could she have? Her whole family is in prison. Look at her poor miserable appearance—smash everything for me! Smash whatever you see! Take whatever you see!”
These people were ones he had pulled strings to hire cheaply, and they weren’t close to him. He was just afraid they would turn on him!
They were all thugs from the town, but they had principles in doing business. Although her offer of more silver made them waver, they still had to follow the rules if they wanted to keep working in the town. Li Wei worked at the town’s most popular restaurant Hongyun Tower—they couldn’t ruin their reputation!
Besides, seeing that she had a mule in her yard, a mule cart, and also pigs and chickens and ducks, they figured they could sell them for ten taels or so of silver.
“Hehe, you fatty, you’re pretty good at winning people over. Unfortunately… you’ve miscalculated. Us brothers are old acquaintances with Li Wei of Hongyun Tower. How could we turn on him for your measly pittance? You’re looking down on this young master too much!”
“Exactly!”
How could a countryside poor old woman compare to the appealing employees of Hongyun Tower?
This person seemed to be the one whose words carried weight among them, probably a little leader.
Luo Zhi’er snorted coldly. “Li Wei, you’re an employee of Hongyun Tower, yet you go around making trouble under the Hongyun Tower signboard. Does your steward know? Does your owner know?”
Li Wei’s heart tightened. This time, he had indeed gone to them in the name of Hongyun Tower’s steward, using Hongyun Tower’s resounding reputation to get that main steward to send people to help him.
“Shut up! You’re at death’s door and still talking tough, spouting nonsense to disturb people’s hearts. Brothers, charge together! If I don’t beat her until she cries for her father and shouts for her mother today, my name isn’t Li Wei!”
The leader curled his lip—who was brothers with him? They had high standards for brothers; they were just taking silver to do a job and following the rules.
Luo Zhi’er’s eyes flickered. If it came to a fight, she actually felt she could completely beat them down.
But as a woman, in the eyes of rural people, she was powerless. If she beat down so many thugs, wouldn’t that expose her?
And what about Miaomiao—wouldn’t she be scared to death? What if she got hurt?
Li Zhengsen had also arrived, supporting Zhao Xiaomei who was missing her right ear. He felt so proud seeing his son Li Wei bring so many people back to avenge her—it was immensely satisfying and gave him great face.
Her son had come back to back her up. Luo Zhi’er, just wait to meet the King of Hell today.
No, don’t kill her. Make her suffer, subject her to all kinds of torture, best if she has no face to live in this world afterward.
That little bitch Miaomiao too.
Still thinking of going to the town to make a living? No way!
The viciousness in Zhao Xiaomei’s eyes nearly scared Li Zhengsen.
“Hehe, gentlemen oldest brothers, although I Luo Zhi’er don’t know which path you’re on, let me give you a heads-up: I know Young Master Wang Jiji, the son of the county magistrate in town.”
“Cough, or rather acquaintances.”
“Bullshit! Luo Fatty, who are you trying to fool?”
Zhao Xiaomei shrieked in her sharp voice. A dead fatty who farms, daring to claim she knows the county magistrate’s young master? Her man was squatting in prison—why didn’t she say she could fly?
“What?”
Doubt appeared in the leader’s eyes. Wang Jiji was no joke. The other little followers too, immediately stepping forward: “Boss, what about this? What if she really knows him?”
“How should I address this oldest brother?”
“They call me Fourth Brother in the rivers and lakes!” Ding Lao Si cleared his throat. He also had a superior; at most he was just a little leader, so he got the job of beating up a rural fat woman.
“Fourth Brother, if you don’t believe me, you can send a brother to the yamen to ask, or go to the county magistrate’s mansion to find Wang Jiji and ask. Then you’ll know if I’m lying!”
“I just saw him yesterday and made him delicious cake!”
Go to the yamen? That would be walking into a trap. Ding Lao Si looked at the confident fat woman in front of him with hesitation. What means did she have to know such a figure?
Making food?
Looking at her build, it seemed plausible.
But go? How long would that take? Don’t go? What if it’s true and they beat up the county magistrate’s young master’s friend—what then? Could they still mix in Taoyuan Town?
Would that county magistrate smash their lair?
He turned his head and said, “Li Wei, this matter probably needs to be considered carefully!”
“No, Fourth Brother, don’t listen to her.”
Li Wei hurriedly said.
“Not listening—if something happens, can you take responsibility?”
It was all this Li Wei’s fault—not checking things properly and making them come all this way. Next time in town, they had to go to Hongyun Tower and demand triple the travel fee from him!
For today, they’d call it off to avoid damaging their reputation.
“This…”
“Hmph! This is the county magistrate’s young master’s friend!”
Li Wei was getting furious. That Ding Lao Si turned back and viciously said to Luo Zhi’er, “Don’t get too happy too soon. If I go back and find out you’re lying to me, just wait and see—the consequences then will be ten times worse than today!”
“Brothers, let’s go!”
Those ten people came and went just like that!
“Hey, don’t go! I beg you!”
Li Wei shouted and begged.
Li Zhengxin and the others also rushed over hurriedly. Zhao Hu and his group had prepared some belongings just in case things escalated—they could use them for self-defense or whatever to hold off for a while.
Who would have thought it was already over? Looking at San Mao’s wife and Miaomiao, unscathed—these people were leaving?
As they passed Li Zhengxin and his group, they gave provocative looks and cursed under their breath, kicking away the bamboo sieve blocking their path.
Zhao Xiaomei saw her son Li Wei nodding and bowing in front of that group, even getting scolded. Now the villagers had all seen it—it was a bit embarrassing.
Weren’t those her son’s subordinates?
Luo Zhi’er felt a bit uneasy inside but decided to take the gamble. What if they really went and Wang Jiji’s conscience kicked in and he admitted knowing her?
Plus, his father was the county magistrate—this was under his jurisdiction. She was betting that as a member of Taoyuan Town, faced with such thugs, would he intervene or pretend it didn’t happen?
