Zhao Jiaqi sneered, "An exorbitant demand. I haven't even asked you to compensate for the things your son broke in my house, and now you're trying to extort me. One hundred taels? Dream on."
"Fine... fine, then I'll report you to the officials. We'll see!"
Zhao Dagou spat out these words, then picked up his son, who was crying his heart out, and left.
Zhao Ergou, who had appeared from nowhere behind him, followed, and the two of them ran out of the courtyard one after another. Finally, there was some peace.
Closing the courtyard gate, they shut out the gazes of the people outside.
Entering her mother-in-law's room, she saw her lying on the bed with a twisted waist, while her father was giving her a massage. Despite this, her mother's forehead was beaded with sweat, which streamed down her cheeks from the pain.
"Mother, let Zehao drive the horse carriage to take you to town to see a doctor."
"No need, it's an old injury, a massage will do. Your elder brother's son..." the mother-in-law asked her daughter-in-law with great concern.
She was afraid that if the child was bitten to death, and this matter escalated, it would be troublesome if it went to the authorities, even if a monetary settlement was reached.
Zhao Jiaqi comforted her, "Don't worry, Mother. I'll go with Zehao to find Xie Kun later. I'll have him talk to the town magistrate and the county magistrate. It won't be a big deal, at most, we'll just compensate for medical expenses."
The mother-in-law was easily pacified, believing whatever she was told. Fan He, however, felt that the situation was not so easily resolved.
But other than worry, he could do nothing!
Outside the house, her elder brother and sister-in-law were cleaning. Fan Zehao drove the horse carriage with Zhao Jiaqi to town, visiting Xie Kun's home for the first time.
Upon hearing that his sworn brother had arrived, Xie Kun happily patted his belly and walked out of the house.
His face, already round, became even more so with his smile. "My brother is here! Why didn't you notify me beforehand? We could have had a drink!"
"Brother, something has happened at my home, and I need your help!"
The moment they met, without entering the house or offering any New Year's greetings, the opening was so alarming!
Xie Kun was stunned on the spot and asked belatedly, "What happened?"
"No rush, come inside and tell me slowly. Brother is here for you!" Xie Kun quickly invited him into the house.
Fan Zehao didn't know many details, but he explained the general situation. Xie Kun fiddled with a walnut in his hand, a faint cold smile on his face.
"Villains breed in poor mountains and waters. They just want to take advantage. Not only did they smash things in someone's house, but they also attacked the aunt. The dog was defending its owner, and it didn't kill him, showing mercy. Yet, they still demand a hundred taels? Why don't they try to ascend to heaven!"
This was Xie Kun's first encounter with such shameless men from the countryside. He waved his hand and said, "Leave this matter to me, brother. Don't you worry about it. Whether it's the town magistrate or the county magistrate, even if they report it to the prefect, we're not afraid. I have plenty of connections!"
Zhao Jiaqi knew the way these people handled matters. Entrusting it to him, she was sure it would be handled properly, and her anxious heart gradually relaxed.
Time flew by, and half a month passed.
There was no news from Zhao Dagou's family. Neither the officials came looking for them, nor did they come to cause trouble.
Zhao Jiaqi once suspected if this family had turned over a new leaf!
After the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, the family's sausage workshop resumed production.
Meanwhile, Fan Zehao, leading the two wolves from his home, went into the mountains with a dagger and a bow.
In the deep mountains and old forests, the snow had not yet melted. Stepping into it, the snow reached his ankles, and the white snow underfoot made a crunching sound.
The wolves entered the mountain as if returning home, their four paws flying, disappearing from sight. Before long, they were chasing deer all over the mountainside.
Man and beast cooperated quite tacitly. The wolves chased, and he captured.
One man and two wolves, thriving in the deep mountains, only realized it was past noon after catching a deer and a roe deer.
His stomach was rumbling with hunger.
Fan Zehao gathered materials on the spot, caught two chickens, and prepared to roast them in a cave. He would then pick up some more game on the way down the mountain.
About a hundred meters outside the cave, the white snow was stained with blood. Human footprints of varying depths led to the other side of the cave.
A sense of unease surged through Fan Zehao. He quickly went to the cave. This was his usual shelter for hunting, where he would rest and spend the night when not going down the mountain.
Villagers from nearby would not come here. Now that there were human footprints, he assumed it was someone from another village who had been injured while hunting!
Reaching the cave entrance, two people suddenly rushed out, their swords flashing with cold light, aimed directly at him. Fortunately, he was agile and narrowly dodged.
"Who are you? You've occupied my cave and are trying to kill me?"
Fan Zehao's face changed dramatically. The sword strike carried a murderous intent; a direct hit to the heart would have been fatal.
The people inside the cave were startled to hear it was his cave. Immediately, someone exclaimed in alarm, "Wolves! It's wolves! Kill them quickly!"
Not only did they want to kill him, but they also wanted to kill his helpful companions. Fan Zehao's displeasure with this group grew. "I don't care who you are, but get out of my cave immediately, or I'll summon all the wolves in this mountain to bite you to death!"
His words were arrogant. He was bluffing. In the current situation, fighting against a group of people, his chances of winning were slim.
So, he decided to scare them, making them think he wasn't someone to be trifled with.
This was, in his wife's words, "All warfare is based on deception!"
When the group heard that he could summon wolves, they were instantly choked with fear.
They had just escaped after being attacked by two tigers, and then they encountered a black bear. After finally finding a moment of safety, if a pack of wolves appeared now, they would be completely finished.
"Young man, my subordinates meant no offense. Please don't take it amiss. We need to stay in this cave temporarily. We'll leave after we've rested!"
The old man spoke with a slight gasp, his tone very calm.
This made Fan Zehao feel a little more at ease. But as he raised his eyelids, he shook his head. "I disagree!"
Standing at the entrance, Xiao Ce, radiating killing intent, pointed his sword at him with a stern gaze. "Don't be presumptuous!"
Fan Zehao blocked his sword with his dagger, frowning. "Not only am I presumptuous, but I'm also utterly unrestrained. What business is it of yours?"
The old man inside chuckled, then walked out of the cave, clutching his bleeding arm. Only then did Fan Zehao see the man's true appearance.
He was in his fifties, with a heroic spirit in his eyebrows. His attire was more refined than Wang Yuanwai's. This was the first time Fan Zehao had seen such a large jade pendant worn at someone's waist.
He exuded an aura of wealth and nobility.
Huangfu Jintao studied him for a moment. He looked a bit rough around the edges, and his speech was somewhat naive. If he had only heard his voice and not seen him, he would have mistaken him for a child speaking.
Knowing that he had used threats to scare away the group, Huangfu Jintao realized he was "acting foolish to be wise."
He smiled and asked, "Can you tell me why we can't rest here? If it's a matter of money, then that's not a problem. Name your price!"
Fan Zehao squinted at the group, rolled his eyes at them, and then said to Huangfu Jintao, "I can earn money myself; I don't need you to give it to me!"
"If it weren't for you speaking so politely just now, I wouldn't bother with you and would just let you fend for yourself!"
Fan Zehao let out a cold snort from his nostrils and continued, "Old man, I advise you to take your idiotic subordinates and leave quickly. Your blood smell is too strong, and in winter, it can attract large predatory animals that are foraging. They've been hungry all winter. I've said what I needed to say. Whether you leave or not is up to you. I'm leaving first."