Fan Guangping secretly wiped the sweat from his brow and quickly chimed in, trying to pry his fingers open.
"Husband, if you kill him, what will happen to Mother and me? Please let go, I'm really fine. Don't you believe me? Look."
Zhao Jiaqi shouted at him with a choked voice, finally pulling Fan Zehao back from his rage to reality. He glanced at his wife and then slowly released his grip.
With a thud, Xie Kun fell heavily to the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust. He didn't care about that, gasping for fresh air, his eyes bloodshot, looking quite terrifying.
Seeing that he could still breathe, Zhao Jiaqi felt a wave of fear and her legs went weak. If he had been killed, her husband would have paid with his life. This was not a society of laws where one could get a suspended sentence or life imprisonment.
She looked at Xie Kun on the ground and the thugs around them, her mind racing with how to resolve the situation.
A powerful dragon cannot suppress a local snake, especially when that snake is a bully.
If they offended such a scoundrel, not only would they be unable to set up their stall and earn money, but they might not even be able to live in peace.
Her mind raced for a solution, and she quickly patted Fan Zehao's sleeve: "Carry him on your back, let's go home."
Fan Zehao frowned and shook his head, "Your feet hurt, I'll carry you."
"My feet don't hurt, really. You carry him, and we'll go home right away. Quickly," Zhao Jiaqi urged him, not daring to say more.
Wang Zhaodi and Fan Guangping were also bewildered. If they took this person home, wouldn't they reveal their address even faster?
Fan Zehao was quite obedient to his wife. He grabbed the man on the ground, slung him over his shoulder, and pulled his wife along as they ran. The two behind them hurried to follow.
Behind them, a large group of seven or eight people, staggering and bruised, followed at a moderate distance.
Fan Zehao, carrying a person, ran with great strides, his breath steady and his legs strong. The man on his shoulder, however, felt dizzy and his vision blurred.
He began to plead with Fan Zehao, "My lord, big brother, can you put me down? I... I really feel too unwell."
His stomach churned violently!
The simpleton didn't heed him without his wife's permission and continued to carry him, even deliberately bouncing him a little.
Xie Kun pleaded all the way, his throat dry. Just as he was about to faint, they reached their destination.
With a thud, he was thrown to the ground again. He didn't know if his backside hurt, but judging by his labored breathing, Fan Zehao thought Xie Kun needed to lose weight.
Fan Guangping was the last to enter the courtyard. He nervously closed the courtyard gate and squatted by the door to keep watch.
Zhao Jiaqi handed a stool to Xie Kun and sat down beside him, catching her breath. She then turned to her stunned mother-in-law and said, "Mother, we have an honored guest. Please boil some water. We'll chat here for a while."
When Zhang Cuihua heard that there was an honored guest, she immediately went to boil water and cook.
A man in his forties followed her into the kitchen, and Zhao Jiaqi couldn't help but glance at him.
This must be Fan Guangping's father. He hadn't been there when they set up their stall in town, and because they had to leave in a hurry, Wang Zhaodi hadn't notified him, so this was her first time seeing him in person.
Xie Kun, having rested, also overheard her conversation with the old woman. The embarrassment on his face eased slightly.
"What do you mean by bringing me to your house, little lady? Trying to threaten my family? Aren't you afraid to know that my brother-in-law is the county magistrate!"
Hmph, quite influential, aren't you!
Zhao Jiaqi shook her head, looking him straight in the eye, "Threatening you would be too boring. We had no choice but to invite you here by these means, and it was out of desperation! Whether you understand or not is irrelevant, you can't escape this courtyard anyway."
She said it wasn't a threat, but the words clearly were.
Xie Kun was helpless against this strong, rough man who was pretending to be uncouth. He could only sit down and quietly bide his time, hoping his incompetent subordinates would quickly find someone to rescue him.
As if sensing his intentions, Zhao Jiaqi chatted with him unhurriedly, "I know you have influence in town and strong backing, but you can't stand against someone who is stubborn, strong, and fearless."
Xie Kun glanced at Fan Zehao, secretly shaking his head. He wasn't just stubborn; he was an idiot.
Zhao Jiaqi continued, "To put it bluntly, the barefoot man is not afraid of the one wearing shoes. At worst, we'll have a fight to the death, but I'm sure you'll die before me. As for what happens to us after you're gone, you won't know."
"You tell me, how do you want to resolve this matter today?" He wasn't an idiot; they had brought him here because they were afraid he would seek revenge.
However, seeking revenge was inevitable, but only after he left this place.
"I have a great idea that will not only save you face in town today but also let you earn money. How about it, are you interested!"
At this point, Xie Kun understood what the little lady meant. She intended to do business with him. But then again, who would dislike making money?
Xie Kun's expression improved. He was willing to sit down and listen carefully to her. They exchanged words back and forth, and Zhao Jiaqi, without making a fuss, thoroughly analyzed the pros and cons. Xie Kun now felt that what she said made sense.
"Then let's do as you say. In the future, in town, if anyone bullies you, mention my name, and you'll be fine. If any ignorant fool bothers you, just tell me, and your big brother will help you vent your anger."
In such a short time, even the way he addressed them had changed, leaving Wang Zhaodi and her husband dumbfounded.
At noon, Xie Kun stayed for a unique lunch – braised meat, roast chicken, ox tripe in chili sauce, and freshly made liangpi by Wang Zhaodi. He was incredibly pleased.
With a cup of wine in hand and a drink, what couldn't be resolved?
Fan Guangping accompanied him, and they downed cup after cup. In the previous hour, he had been displeased that they weren't family, but now, with the wine flowing, they were like family again.
When the people who had come to rescue him saw this situation, who would dare to interrupt their boss's enjoyment of drinking?
And so: Xie Kun, who had been carried in, was carried out, his feet never touching the ground the entire time!
Everything was smashed to pieces, and they had to prepare new bowls, chopsticks, and a handcart. They spent three days at home preparing things and did not go to town.
This made Xie Kun quite anxious. He sent people to urge them four times in three days. Upon hearing that the handcart was still being made, he generously provided a ox-cart.
The subordinates who were sent were no longer as arrogant as when they first met.
They bowed and scraped to Fan Zehao, saying pleasantries, "This ox-cart is from our boss. He said that after you earn money, you can return the cost of the ox-cart to him. Does Master Fan have any other instructions for me?"
Fan Zehao became "Master" in an instant. He waved his hand and said, "You may go!"
The subordinate didn't say a word and turned and ran away as fast as lightning. He had experienced the power of Fan Zehao's fists and genuinely feared this ruthless man.