?42: Chapter 42 Scoundrel 42: Chapter 42 Scoundrel “Wang Dajiao, for the two acres of white radish, here’s 1584 for you!” Liu Hun said as he counted out 1584 and handed it to her, but as the money was presented before Wang Dajiao, it was as if she had been smeared all over with cement, fixating her gaze on Liu Hun without taking it.

    “Aunt Qi, why don’t you want it?” Liu Hun asked, slightly puzzled.

    Wang Dajiao twisted her withered lips dismissively as if she was opening the door to an outhouse, and nasty words spilled out, “Look here, rascal, are you trying to cheat an old woman?

    Do you think I’m blind, deaf, or dumb?”

    “Aunt Qi, what do you mean by that?” Liu Hun looked at Wang Dajiao and asked, knowing well that none of the old ladies in the village were easy to deal with.

    Hearing Liu Hun’s words, Wang Dajiao immediately started bellowing, “Rascal, tell me, isn’t it true that both my land and Qin Yue’s land were planted with white radish?

    My family has two acres, Qin Yue has one acre, so why do I only get 1584?

    Why does Qin Yue get 1800?”

    “Hey!

    That does seem odd.

    Why does Wang Dajiao only get so little?

    Qin Yue gets over 200 more for just one acre?

    Could it be that the rascal messed something up?”

    “You can knock it off!

    What mischief could the rascal be up to?

    He’s the most honest person.

    If I were him, I wouldn’t give Wang Dajiao a dime.

    Do you realize, Wang Dajiao hasn’t properly tended to the land for even a day?

    Tying up a dog there would probably do better than her, and now she’s trying to snub us too.”

    “I heard that the rascal didn’t even use any fertilizers or pesticides.

    With so much land, he barely put in any effort.

    Anyone else would have been exhausted by now.

    How come his harvest is so good?”

    “...”

    The surrounding people each started murmuring, and Liu Hun let them talk without intervening.

    Today, he had deliberately had the crier make a loud announcement calling everyone in the village just to promote and popularize the matter.

    The more they gossiped, the better his purpose would be achieved.

    Displaying over sixty thousand yuan on the table also served this intention.

    “Everyone, look at this!” Liu Hun said as he took out a written agreement that he had set up early with these old ladies, “I made it clear before that I could farm their land, but I would take seventy percent.

    These are your fingerprints, you recognize them, right?”

    Although it was previously agreed upon, watching the money diminish in their hands made everyone uncomfortable and unhappy.

    Aunt Jin then stepped in to speak, “Rascal, aren’t you a bit too greedy?

    Even landlords before the liberation didn’t take as much!

    Besides, we are neighbors and kin.

    You’ve already got so much, why not let some out?”

    “Listen to this!

    Listen!

    What kind of talk is that?

    Isn’t it clear that she’s being unreasonable?

    According to you, if I bought grain and it didn’t taste right, should I spit it back at you?”

    Qin Yue, with a proud expression, looked as resolute as a plum blossom standing against frost, “Why go back on your words?

    Previously, you all were begging the rascal to farm your land.

    Think about it, did you spend a cent or lift a finger?

    Aunt Jin, I, Qin Yue, must say, your land is no better than a hillside—only fit for growing stones.

    Ask anyone in the village who doesn’t know what’s going on?

    Consider yourselves lucky to have this money; don’t be ungrateful.

    Pies don’t just fall from the sky—you still need to bend over and be careful not to be killed by them.”

    “Pfft” Du Yueling couldn’t help but cover her mouth and laugh, finding Qin Yue’s sharp tongue quite satisfying and immensely relieving.

    Aunt Jin’s face turned as red as a March tomato, and seeing Du Yueling giggling, she promptly shut her mouth and dared not say more.

    “Let’s stick to what was agreed, if there’s less or more produce from one acre of land, white radish, I’ve calculated as twelve thousand jin per acre.

    Those truly at a loss are the young wives toiling on the land daily, not you.

    The white radish at two yuan per jin, cabbage at two yuan as well, all meticulously recorded here by Teacher Du.

    According to the agreement, I haven’t taken a cent more.

    Today, I Liu Hun lay it out straight!

    If you trust me, from now on, we’ll work together, eat meat, and drink heartily!

    If you don’t, after you walk out this door, don’t come back.

    We’ll each go our separate ways!” Liu Hun spoke sternly, slamming his notebook on the table with authority that was as oppressive as dark clouds over mountains.

    Everyone underneath, whether they admitted it or not, had to acknowledge his resolve.

    Although Wang Dajiao and others still had their doubts, they eventually took the money, albeit shamefacedly.

    “Wow!

    Talking about eating meat and drinking heartily!

    Looks like some people might end up eating shit and drinking piss!” A piercing voice rang out from the back of the crowd.

    The people in the temple turned around, curious to see who had emerged daring enough to disrupt Liu Hun’s arrangements.

    They saw a man with greasy, side-parted hair, wearing gold-rimmed glasses and chewing on a cigarette, followed by six others shoving their way through.

    “Who’s this now?

    Look at him; doesn’t seem like a good sort, does he?

    Could he be here for the rascal’s money on that table—that’s quite a few...”

    The onlookers, pushed and jostled away, felt disgruntled, yet not one dared to say a thing upon seeing Bai Dajun approach with his lackeys, Liu Hun included, who didn’t speak or lift a finger against them.

    “Bai boss?

    What’s the meaning of this?” Liu Hun wondered to himself, as it seemed Bai Dajun was here to start trouble.

    “Ptui!” Bai Dajun spat the cigarette butt from his mouth onto the ground.

    His shifty eyes scanned over a few women before landing on a stack of money, saying, “Look at you, kid, already splitting the spoils, huh?” Bai Dajun continued, pointing at a few people who still held money in their hands, and then he banged on the table hard, “I want to make one thing clear upfront.

    Whoever took my money had better hand it over now, hmph!

    Otherwise, you’ll learn what regret really means!”

    “Wow, do you think you’re some big deal causing trouble here when you weigh next to nothing?

    Didn’t you ask around?

    Who has ever caused trouble in Wanbao Village and come out better for it?” Qin Yue glanced at Bai Dajun disdainfully.

    She was worried that he couldn’t withstand a hit from Liu Huyi.

    “Bai boss, how exactly have I offended you?

    And this money, we all dug deep in the fields to earn it.

    How is it yours suddenly?” Liu Hun asked Bai Dajun.

    He really didn’t know why Bai Dajun was picking a fight.

    “Slap!” Bai Dajun slapped a contract Liu Hun had fingerprinted right onto the table and said, “This contract clearly states, if any produce you sell me turns bad, you have to compensate for it at the same rate!”

    Bai Dajun had hardly finished speaking when one of his goons threw a bundle of rotten cabbage onto the ground.

    Bai Dajun continued, “See this?

    One hundred thousand pounds of cabbage, at fifty cents a pound.

    Do the math, how much is that?”

    “Bai Dajun!

    Are you out of your mind, or did you get your head caught in a door?

    Wanting money so badly, why don’t you just rob someone?

    When we loaded the vegetables onto the tractor, each one was inspected carefully.

    What are you talking about, claiming one bad piece and demanding we compensate for one hundred thousand pounds at fifty cents a pound?

    Who would agree to that?” Fen Ran was livid; if Ye Canghai were there, she really wanted to grab him and find out where he found such a man.

    “Enough of that nonsense.

    The contract is here; either you hand over the money willingly today, or I’ll make sure you do!” Bai Dajun declared and waved his hand behind him.

    “Shing, Shing, Shing!”

    The thugs Bai Dajun had brought along drew their knives from their belts.

    The gleaming blades shone menacingly, making anyone shudder at the sight.

    Du Yueling was shocked that these people would so blatantly brandish knives, deeply concerned, she suddenly felt warmth in her palm — it was Liu Hun holding her hand.

    “Stay behind me, and keep your distance with the others,” Liu Hun whispered to Du Yueling, pulling her behind him.

    Du Yueling obediently hid behind Liu Hun’s back and tilted her head to look at his profile.

    She suddenly remembered their first meeting in similar circumstances.

    “What’s it going to be, kid?

    Planning on behaving or do you need me to teach you a lesson?” Bai Dajun said arrogantly, his face the epitome of pompousness.

    Liu Hun nodded and responded, “Of course, I’ll behave myself.

    How could I possibly trouble Bai boss to lift a finger?

    Maybe we should step outside since it’s too crowded here and the light isn’t good for counting money.

    Let’s settle it at the temple gate.

    It’s spacious and bright there.

    You count the money and see how much I owe, how about that?”

    “Oh my!

    It’s like finding a long-lost son!

    It’s settled then!

    Let’s go outside and have my grandson count it for me!” Bai Dajun yelled, instructing his men to carry the table and money out of the temple.

    “Hunzi...” Qin Yue was about to speak but was stopped by Liu Hun.

    “Qin Yue sister, look after Teacher Du for me.

    I’ll handle these dung balls.

    You all just watch, no need to dirty your hands,” Liu Hun said to Qin Yue before following the others out of the temple.

    Some villagers inside the temple sighed in relief, worried about getting hurt if trouble started while others, concerned for Liu Hun, followed them out.

    Liu Hun stood at the temple gate, surveyed the surroundings, and thought this was a good spot to handle a fight.

    If it had happened inside, it could have hurt the villagers.

    “Son!

    Count out the money loudly; I want to hear it!” Bai Dajun swaggered over to the table, staring down Liu Hun.

    Liu Hun gave a small smile and glanced at the tens of thousands of yuan on the table, then asked Bai Dajun, “Bai boss, aren’t you afraid of overeating with all this money?”

    “Look at you; it’s like we’ve been apart for years now.

    You can’t even remember how big your father’s appetite is.

    I could eat ten times more,” Bai Dajun laughed heartily, his eyes gleaming as he gazed at the money on the table, feeling a deep sense of satisfaction.