Chapter 21: Then I’ll Give It My Best Shot
“Ah! Ah! Ah!”
At this moment, Yuan Jiang was beaten and rolling on the ground, just like a wild child being thrashed by his own father. At first, he kept spouting tough words, but gradually they were replaced by wails.
The onlookers were dumbfounded. That was Fierce Tiger Gang Hall Master Yuan Jiang, yet he was beaten so miserably.
Bang!
The wooden stick broke.
Yuan Jiang also fainted headfirst, lying motionless on the ground.
Lin Fan threw away the half wooden stick in his hand, didn’t even glance at Yuan Jiang, but instead looked at Zhao Er who was stunned silly, and said: “Little Fatty, go find a cart, bring your mother and come with me.”
Little Fatty, holding dual cleavers, came back to his senses, “Ah, oh oh oh…”
He had long been awestruck by Brother Lin’s majestic and domineering figure, staring dumbfoundedly. Once he recovered, he immediately went to find a cart.
He knew Brother Lin was going to take him away.
Not long after, Little Fatty carried his ailing mother onto the cart, thoughtfully placing a pillow behind her head, then pushed the cart to Lin Fan’s side.
“Bro, it’s ready.”
“Let’s go.”
Lin Fan ignored Butler Li who was pestering him, took Little Fatty and left. No matter how Butler Li shouted from behind, he didn’t respond at all.
Until Lin Fan’s figure disappeared from sight, Butler Li regretfully slapped his thigh, pointed at the fainted Yuan Jiang and cursed angrily, “Yuan Jiang, Yuan Jiang, you really deserve to die.”
Back to the courtyard.
Zhao Er’s mouth was agape, just like Grandma Liu entering the Grand View Garden, completely captivated by the surroundings.
“Bro, my mother and I will live here from now on?”
“Mm, from now on you’ll be bro’s butler. Don’t mix with the gang anymore. Tomorrow morning, go to the medical hall and invite a doctor back to properly treat your mother. Don’t worry about silver, I’ve got everything.” Lin Fan said.
Hearing this, Zhao Er’s eyes reddened, and he couldn’t help crying out, “Bro, thank you so much.”
“What thanks? We’re all brothers.”
Lin Fan waved his hand with a smile. When his own life improved, he definitely wouldn’t forget his poor brothers. Moreover, he knew Zhao Er’s character; he was suitable to be his butler.
“Mm.”
Zhao Er nodded heavily, vowing in his heart that from now on his life belonged to bro. Up mountains of blades or down seas of fire, he absolutely wouldn’t even flinch an eyebrow. Even if someone wanted to harm bro, they’d have to step over his two hundred jin body first.
……
Sun Mansion.
In the hall, the atmosphere was very heavy.
Butler Li sat there, waiting for the gang leader to ask questions. Sun Yaozu frowned, seeming to have many words to say but not knowing how to start for the moment.
Sun Xiao said: “Is there any way to salvage this matter?”
Butler Li sighed: “Difficult, extremely difficult. That idiot Yuan Jiang’s behavior ruined all my previous efforts. Even at the time, if not for our decent relations recently, I suspect he would have beaten me too.”
Sun Yaozu at the side said: “Dad, no matter what, Yuan Jiang is our Fierce Tiger Gang’s hall master. If he’s beaten like this and we do nothing, won’t people think our Fierce Tiger Gang members are easy to bully?”
He was quite close to Yuan Jiang.
After all, if he wanted to become gang leader, he definitely needed support from some gang veterans, and Yuan Jiang was one of the hall masters supporting him. Now that he was beaten, he definitely had to say something.
Slap!
Sun Xiao angrily slapped the table, looking at Sun Yaozu, “Easy to bully? That’s his own fault. Remember this: what dad gives you is yours. What dad doesn’t give, you can’t covet. Some things, don’t think no one knows. Dad just doesn’t want to argue with you. Understand?”
Facing such an imposing father, Sun Yaozu immediately lowered his head, “Got it, Dad.”
“Butler Li, try harder on this matter, see if there’s still a chance to salvage it. Talent is rare. No matter the cost, it’s worth pulling this kid over.” Sun Xiao said.
“Yes, Master. I’ll try my best.”
Butler Li showed a troubled expression but didn’t refuse.
Sun Xiao nodded quite satisfied at this.
This was what a confidant who could get things done looked like, like Butler Li.
……
Early morning.
Lin Fan went to the private school to study the law as usual. Before reaching the private school, he encountered fellow students also studying the law. They looked at him with deep awe in their eyes and respectfully called him Master Lin.
He accepted this frankly.
This title was pretty good.
Last night’s incident was a big deal and spread quickly. Yuan Jiang bringing dozens of people only to be brutally beaten by Lin Fan—how could that be hidden?
To them, they all wondered if this Lin Fan was human or monster. If truly human, who could fight like that?
When he arrived at the wharf.
He noticed that the workers at the wharf looked at him with even greater awe than yesterday, which made him involuntarily puff out his chest. Status and respect were earned through fighting.
If the previous awe was just because of his position.
Then the current awe came from his own strength.
In the end, it all came down to whether one’s own fist was hard enough.
Amidst cries of Master Lin, he arrived at the warehouse, where the brothers all turned to look at him uniformly, their eyes brimming with adoration.
“Brother Lin, I really admire you so much.” Wu Yong took the initiative to shout, “We heard about last night. You gave Yuan Jiang a thorough beating. Shame we learned too late; if I had been there, I could’ve gone on a rampage with Brother Lin.”
Lin Fan waved his hand with a smile, “No big deal.”
Wu Yong said: “Brother Lin, how is this no big deal? It’s spreading like wildfire outside. They say Brother Lin descended like a heavenly god, fighting dozens alone, beating them to wail in misery, and leaving Yuan Jiang utterly powerless. If I had been there to witness Brother Lin’s might firsthand, even death would be without regrets.”
The other brothers envied Wu Yong. Quick wits had their advantages. While they were thinking how to talk to Brother Lin, Wu Yong had already said it.
“Haha.” Lin Fan smiled, “Next time there’s a chance. Alright, get me two strong ones to help with cultivation.”
Life must go on, and cultivation can’t stop.
He actually hoped Yuan Jiang would exhaust all his connections to bring a master, even if weak. As long as the opponent had cultivated something, he was determined to have a good chat with that master.
No matter how much silver it cost, he had to learn the secrets of the martial way.
The path of the martial way was too difficult.
He only hoped Yuan Jiang would put in a little effort.
By noon, Butler Li came, but Lin Fan directly waved him off, refusing Butler Li’s invitation. Sometimes, the act had to be played convincingly.
After last night’s events, both sides knew the boundaries.
He wanted to freeload.
Butler Li not only wanted to freeload but also make the master think the matter wasn’t handled, not his fault, but Yuan Jiang’s. Clearly, he had achieved that.
Though he didn’t manage to freeload off Butler Li.
But their own hall master appeared with a beaming smile, clearly thrilled by last night’s events, feeling invigorated even in his steps.
Of course, given the hall master’s generosity, Xianwei Tower was out of reach; they’d have to settle for ordinary restaurants, but food was food—who cared about the details.
Restaurant.
“Good, well done. This battle directly established our prestige.”
Wang Changhai was delighted, downing several cups of wine and praising Lin Fan lavishly. When he first heard, he was stunned, then laughed madly at home.
Even his wife said he was crazy, but he wished for more such madness.
Didn’t expect you, Yuan Jiang, to have this day.
For coveting my Jili Wharf.
Nothing but a pipe dream.
Lin Fan smiled, not taking the matter to heart. At that moment, there was movement on the street. Two constables with knives emerged from a tavern, escorting a man.
A middle-aged man chased out in panic.
“Two sirs, release my son. My son is innocent.”
The commotion drew the common people’s attention.
But everyone seemed accustomed to it, shaking their heads and sighing helplessly.
Lin Fan watched intently, unsure what was happening. Wang Changhai glanced over and said: “Don’t watch. It’s common. The Hu Family took a fancy to that tavern’s recipe. No power, no connections, yet the liquor sells so well—guarding the recipe would be the real miracle.”
Situations like this.
Wang Changhai was long accustomed to them.
The people don’t fight officials.
Otherwise, a little scheming would be enough to make ordinary common people suffer.
