Chapter 32: The Demons’ Revenge

Tuo Tuo stood at the courtyard gate, craning his neck and peeking around. Seeing Hua Qi return with a dark expression, he did not dare ask anything and obediently ran back under the tree to watch Yun Shan. When he saw Xiao Cong and Dou Ming walk into the courtyard, Tuo Tuo trotted over and asked, “How did it go?”

Dou Ming curled his lip. Looking at Hua Qi’s back, he said angrily, “How could it go? They left, that’s all. We couldn’t hit them. If not for... I definitely would’ve given them a good beating.”

Tuo Tuo glanced at Hua Qi, then pulled Xiao Cong aside and asked in a low voice, “How is Dou Ming so bold? He actually dares say that about Hua Qi right in front of him? What exactly happened?”

“Boss Wan from the tile place isn’t a good person. He mixed bad tiles in with the good ones and sold them to us. He even said we were the ones who broke the tiles ourselves. Dou Ming couldn’t swallow his anger and wanted to hit them, but Hua Qi said we had to outsmart them,” Xiao Cong whispered by Tuo Tuo’s ear. “Daoist Master Lingyin said demons can’t casually hit people.”

Tuo Tuo nodded his head. Daoist Master Lingyin had indeed said that. They could not casually harm humans. That was a rule on Yunling Mountain.

“Aren’t they just bullying outsiders? I have some cousins at home too. I’ll call my brothers over, and we’ll go make a scene at his front gate.” Dou Ming was his, Liu Dali’s, lifesaver, so no matter what, he had to do his part for Dou Ming.

“I think that works.” For the first time, Dou Ming looked Liu Dali properly in the eye. He had not expected this human, who usually troubled demons so much, to be so straightforward.

“We definitely have to make a scene. But not that kind of scene,” Hua Qi said in a low voice. “We don’t need several people. Dou Ming and Xi Jue can go. If they make the first move, then Xi Jue and Dou Ming don’t need to be polite anymore. Just don’t kill anyone.”

That phrase, “don’t kill anyone,” scared Liu Dali and Qiu Sheng until their legs went weak. Other people might not know what kind of fighting strength Dou Ming had, but they did. One punch could knock out an ox. In one move, he had subdued a wolf. Add Xi Jue to that, and if they really started fighting and someone died, they really would have to go eat prison food.

Dali stammered, “How about I take my brothers over there to make trouble instead? Huaniang, however you say to make a scene, that’s how we’ll do it.”

Qiu Sheng also tried to persuade her. “I’ll go look for some of my brothers too. Look, Dou Ming is still young. Let him stay at home. It’s enough for Xi Jue to go.” In Qiu Sheng’s heart, Xi Jue had always been silent, calm, and reliable.

“I’m going!” Dou Ming’s face was full of indignation. “Since I can’t hit people, I’ll go smash up his courtyard!”

“Smash what? If you smash it, you’ll have to pay compensation. We haven’t even scraped together enough money to build the house yet.” Hua Qi raised his hand and smacked Dou Ming hard on the head. “Dou Ming, don’t you dare cause trouble for me, or I won’t let you off!”

“Aiya, Huaniang, what are you doing?” Xiu Niang grabbed Hua Qi’s hand and said, “Talk properly with the child.” She turned her face to Dou Ming and smiled. “Your mother got angered today. You’re still young, so don’t get mixed up in this. Let the adults handle it.”

Hua Qi’s smack had not been light. Dou Ming rubbed his head, kept far away, and squeezed together with Xiao Cong and Tuo Tuo. Now he knew fear. There was no rule on the mountain saying demons could not hit demons. Hua Qi had never been a demon who cared about formalities.

“Boss Wan should be afraid of us saying they bullied outsiders. I noticed that when it was brought up several times today, his expression changed every time. We’ll go to his courtyard gate and expose everything properly. Xi Jue and Dou Ming,” Hua Qi swept a glance under the tree, “Tuo Tuo can go too. As soon as anyone goes there to buy tiles, you immediately shout about Boss Wan bullying outsiders and selling bad tiles. I’d like to see how he keeps his doors open for business after that!”

“I think this idea is good. It’s much better than fighting. If Boss Wan calls people to drive you away, then run quickly and don’t let him catch you. Shouting at his gate for a few days will be enough for him to suffer.” Xiu Niang approved.

Qiu Sheng laughed and said, “Then Dou Ming definitely has to go.”

“Why?” Xiu Niang blinked and asked her man.

“Dou Ming’s voice is loud. With one shout, everyone on the whole street will turn their heads.” Qiu Sheng laughed loudly. “Back then, it was Dou Ming who shouted Old Pei over with one yell.”

Xiu Niang knew Old Pei. Qiu Sheng had mentioned him to her before. All the game Xi Jue and Dou Ming hunted was sent to Old Pei’s Fragrant Tower.

Qiu Sheng helped unload the things from the ox cart. When he saw the rice and flour on the cart, he smiled a little sheepishly. “You bought this much rice and flour?”

“We eat a lot,” Hua Qi replied, then dragged Xiu Niang into the kitchen to cook.

After lunch, Xi Jue, Dou Ming, Tuo Tuo, and Xiao Cong went to Shanghe Village. Shanghe Village was ten li away from Dongwang Village. Qiu Sheng originally wanted to hire an ox cart, but Xi Jue refused. “Qiu Sheng, you just ride the ox. We’ll walk.” They had just been cheated out of two taels of silver today, and Xi Jue’s heart ached. He could not bear to spend three copper coins on an ox cart.

“Tuo Tuo and Xiao Cong can ride the ox. I’ll walk with you.” Qiu Sheng lifted Xiao Cong and Tuo Tuo onto the ox’s back, then led the ox himself and walked together with Xi Jue and the others.

“Peaches.” Xiao Cong looked at the back basket set under the tree and said to Dou Ming, “Dou Ming, bring the peaches. We can still sell peaches later.”

At the village entrance, they ran into Dali. He was carrying a stick and waiting under a tree. Seeing Xi Jue and the others, Dali hurried over and said, “I’ll go with you.” He squeezed up beside Dou Ming and comforted him in his loud voice. “Dou Ming, we’ll definitely get justice back.”

Dou Ming glanced at him but said nothing.

After walking about seven li, Dou Ming took peaches out of the back basket and gave one to each person.

The old man who had been selling peaches before was still sitting under the tree, with two baskets of peaches set in front of him. Seeing Xi Jue and the others pass by while chewing on peaches, he did not call out again. Xiao Cong was the same as before, staring at the old man for a while.

“Selling peaches, selling peaches, two wen per jin.” The old man’s hawking voice rang out, and Xiao Cong turned his head to look. He saw several villagers carrying iron shovels hurry past the peach-selling old man.

From afar, when they saw Boss Wan’s courtyard, Dou Ming’s anger flared up. They walked forward a bit more and stopped at a place less than half a li from the courtyard.

Unable to wait, Dou Ming cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted the slogan they had discussed at home. “Blackhearted Boss Wan who sells tiles, he specializes in bullying outsiders. He sells bad tiles as good tiles, won’t refund deposits, and brings thugs!”

Liu Dali was caught off guard and jolted by the blast. He immediately covered both ears with his hands and jumped several steps away. With that voice, even if they were another li away, that blackhearted Boss Wan would probably still be able to hear him. There was no need for anyone else to help shout at all.

The water buffalo paced uneasily in place. Qiu Sheng covered one ear with one hand and pulled the ox farther away with the other. This ox was already afraid of Dou Ming, so it was better to lead it farther off.

Xiao Cong jumped down from the water buffalo, ran over to Dou Ming’s side to ask for the back basket, and set up a peach-selling stall under the tree together with Tuo Tuo. Dou Ming turned his head and glanced at them. After shouting one slogan, he added another line. “Selling peaches, selling peaches, two wen per jin of peaches.”

Boss Wan heard the commotion in the back courtyard. The matter had only happened that morning, and people had already come to make trouble that afternoon. Without needing to guess, he knew it had to be Xi Jue’s family from Dongwang Village.

There happened to be a middle-aged couple in the shop looking at tiles. After hearing the shouts outside, the middle-aged couple hesitated for a moment, then apologetically said to Boss Wan, “We’ll go look at some other places.”

“You should compare a few shops,” Boss Wan said with a smile on his face, while his heart dripped blood. Money delivered right to his door had flown away! He said, “Our family’s tiles are the best made in this whole area.”

Just then, Dou Ming happened to shout, “He sells bad tiles as good tiles!”

The middle-aged couple heard it clearly, and Boss Wan heard it too. His face turned green on the spot, but he still forced himself to go on. “The prices are also very fair.”

The shouting outside carried over. “Won’t refund deposits and brings thugs!”

The middle-aged couple smiled awkwardly. “Boss Wan, no need to see us out. We know the way back.”

“Haha, then this Wan won’t send you two off.” Boss Wan barely forced out a smile.

He had just seen the two of them out of the courtyard when Dou Ming shouted the slogan again. “Blackhearted Boss Wan who sells tiles!”

Boss Wan clenched his back teeth and said viciously, “Go drive those people away for me!”

The thin shop assistant immediately went to the rear courtyard to call the thugs. Ten bare-chested strong men walked out from the back courtyard. All of them were workers who fired tiles in the rear courtyard, and they also served as Boss Wan’s thugs.

Boss Wan stretched out his hand and pointed at the people under the shade of the tree, saying to the thugs, “Drive them away! Beat them away if you have to!”

“Wait!”

Boss Wan saw that the middle-aged couple who had just gone out had stopped in front of Xi Jue. From the look of it, they were asking about what had happened.

Qiu Sheng told the whole story from beginning to end. The middle-aged couple nodded and said Boss Wan should not do business like this.

After the middle-aged couple left, Boss Wan was so angry his head hurt. “Hurry up and chase them away! I don’t want to see them.”

The thin shop assistant led ten big men and rushed quickly toward Xi Jue’s group. Qiu Sheng shouted nervously, “Don’t come over.”

“If you know what’s good for you, leave already. What are you making a fuss here for?” The thin shop assistant looked at Xi Jue and the others irritably. “What are you shouting for? Even if you scream your throat raw, those tiles were still broken by you. What are you making trouble for? Hurry up and go home to farm. Careful you don’t end up unable to eat.”

Dou Ming gave a mocking laugh and continued shouting, “Blackhearted Boss Wan who sells tiles, he specializes in bullying outsiders. He sells bad tiles as good tiles, won’t refund deposits, and brings thugs!”

The thin shop assistant covered his ears and glared resentfully at Dou Ming. He was just about to open his mouth when Dou Ming provocatively continued shouting the slogan. “Blackhearted Boss Wan who sells tiles, he specializes in bullying outsiders. He sells bad tiles as good tiles, won’t refund deposits, and brings thugs!”

“You...” The thin shop assistant was furious. “Beat them!”

Dou Ming stepped in front of the crowd. As long as these humans hit him, he would have a reason to fight.

With a bitter expression, Qiu Sheng blocked the very front and advised the thin shop assistant, “Don’t fight, don’t fight. You’ll suffer a loss.”

“What?” The assistant looked at Qiu Sheng in disbelief, the corner of his mouth twisting into a crooked smile. He dug at his ear, his face full of disdain. “Did I hear that right? We’ll suffer a loss? Haha. How many of you are there?”

The assistant stretched out a finger and counted them off one by one. “One, two, three. Add this half-grown kid, and that makes four. Even if we count the bare-butt little kids under the tree, there are only six of you. We have ten people here. Two little kids can’t fight. Hahaha.”

Seeing the faint excitement on Dou Ming’s face, Qiu Sheng stamped his foot. “How can you only count people when fighting? One person on our side can beat several of you. Hurry up and go back. Don’t ask for suffering.”

Tuo Tuo and Xiao Cong ran over. Hearing the assistant call him a bare-butt little kid, Tuo Tuo immediately grew unhappy. Shaking his little topknot and pouting, he fanned the flames. “Uncle Qiu Sheng, why are you trying to persuade them? Let them make a move. In a little while, Dou Ming will break their legs.”

“What are you saying, child?” Qiu Sheng covered Tuo Tuo’s mouth and warned him, “You and Xiao Cong go sell peaches. The adults are talking, children shouldn’t cut in. Xiao Cong, take Tuo Tuo away.”

Xiao Cong came over and pulled Tuo Tuo, whispering, “Don’t worry. As long as they make a move, Dou Ming will definitely beat them up.”

“He has to beat them up properly.” Tuo Tuo was still angry that the assistant had called him a bare-butt little kid. He was clearly wearing a dudou. This person did not look at the red bellyband on his front and insisted on staring at his bottom. He was not a good person!

The thin shop assistant grew even angrier. “Are you people putting on a show here?” With a wave of his hand, he shouted, “Beat them!”

“You can’t fight!” Liu Dali stepped out carrying his stick and shouted. “If this goes badly, someone could die.”

“What do you mean, someone could die?” the thin shop assistant shouted impatiently. “We still have that much control. Who wants to make a fuss until someone dies? Go eat prison food for no reason?”

“I wasn’t talking about you.” Liu Dali pulled Dou Ming and earnestly advised him, “Dou Ming, when the fight starts later, you have to go easy. These people aren’t water buffalo or wolves. If your hand slips, you’ll have to squat in prison. For two taels of silver, it’s not worth it. How about I find my brothers to come help fight? A meal with meat will be enough.”

Dou Ming said calmly, “No need. No one will die. At most, I’ll break their legs.”

“Yo, kid, you’re not big, but your tone sure is. Let your grandpa give you a taste of his iron fist.” A burly man clenched his fist and charged over. Dou Ming grabbed Liu Dali and flung him to the side.

Dou Ming stretched out his right hand and easily caught the strong man’s incoming fist. With slight force in his hand, he wrapped the strong man’s fist and twisted it outward.

At first, the strong man tried his hardest to endure it, but in the end, he really could not hold back. Terror appeared on his face, and he screamed miserably, “It hurts! It hurts! My arm, my arm! Save me, hurry and save me!”

The strong men looked at one another. The thin shop assistant shoved one of them and said, “What are you standing there for? All of you, go together!”

The strong men rushed over. Before Liu Dali had even raised his stick, two strong men were already clutching their stomachs, screaming as they collapsed to the ground. Xi Jue flashed to the front of the thin shop assistant, expressionless, his eyes also without much emotion, staring at the thin shop assistant so icily.

Cold sweat instantly broke out on the thin shop assistant’s forehead. He stammered, “M-master, master, spare my life!”

“Dou Ming! Xi Jue!” Qiu Sheng shouted anxiously. “Broken arms won’t do either! You’ll have to pay compensation! Hua Qi said not to kill anyone!”

“Hmph.” Dou Ming flung the big man away and muttered unhappily, “Why does everything need compensation?”

Boss Wan stood in the distance. Though he did not know exactly what had happened, he could see that his thugs had been easily dealt with by Xi Jue’s group.

His face darkened, and in his heart, he cursed his rotten luck. He had only done this one bad thing, so how had he just happened to run into tough opponents?

The thin shop assistant now understood. It turned out Qiu Sheng and Liu Dali really had been kindly advising them at the start, not putting on a show. But it was too late to know that now. They had already offended these people thoroughly.

He scrambled and crawled back, with several strong men following close behind. They were afraid that if they stayed any longer, they would have to call that young man grandpa!

“Boss, that family can’t be beaten.” The thin shop assistant’s face was full of panic. “How about we, we just compensate...”

“What did you say!” Boss Wan glared at the thin shop assistant as if he wanted to eat him alive, and said angrily, “I already said those words, and so many people heard them at the time. Now you want me to compensate them... How is that possible!” He lowered his voice extremely low for the last sentence as he said to the thin shop assistant, “If I compensate them, do I still get to keep my face?”

The thin shop assistant also looked troubled. “Then we just let them keep shouting?”

Boss Wan kept smacking the assistant on the head. “Can we just let them go on? Huh? What’s in that brain of yours? If we let them go on, how are we supposed to do business? Close up for today. Tomorrow, bring people with you. If they shout that we’re bad, you bring people to shout that we’re good. Find more people and drown out that boy’s voice!”

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