Chapter 69 Confrontation
Those seven or eight burly Great Hans, faced with the surging emotions of the villagers of Jiuli Village, remained unfazed, looking completely relaxed.
It seemed they didn't take this group of country folk seriously at all.
Upon hearing Grandpa Zhang's scolding, a man with a large black mole on his face glared.
"I remember you, old man. Last time we were here, it was you who led the plea for us to spare Lu Ming's two little brats, right?"
"But we were so kind-hearted, sparing those two little pups, only to find that you lowlifes dared to deceive the Black Wolf Gang!"
Grandpa Zhang was taken aback. "When have we ever deceived you?"
"Still denying it?" the man with the black mole sneered. "You said, back then, that you had sold off all of Lu Family's land and property to pay off the debt of Lu Ming and his wife, right?"
"Indeed, had it not been so, would you jackals have been willing to leave?" Grandpa Zhang said angrily.
"Still daring to deny it!" the man with the black mole shouted. "We had clearly agreed that the money from selling the Lu Family's land was to be handed over without a cent missing. But what happened? You actually dared to withhold some of it. You've really got some nerve!"
"You're slandering us without proof! When have we ever held back the money?!"
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Grandpa Zhang was extremely angry.
Back then, they didn't just not hold back the money. Fearing that these villains would find the amount insufficient and decide not to spare Lu Qing and her brother, every household had even scraped together a little money to give them.
Now, hearing these men actually trying to turn the tables, Grandpa Zhang was so angry he felt like his lungs would explode.
"I think you lot spent all that money and are now trying to come back and extort more!"
"Grandpa Zhang, why bother talking so much with them? If push comes to shove, we'll fight it out. We mustn't let them take Little Yan away!"
Da An's face turned red with anger as he raised his hoe and shouted loudly.
This shout sparked enthusiasm in the other young villagers who yelled, "Right, let's fight them! There's no way they can beat all of us!"
Watching dozens of villagers brandishing their poles and hoes, appearing ready to charge at any moment.
The so-called members of the Black Wolf Gang suddenly looked a bit uneasy.
Even though they were strong and knew a bit of martial arts, they weren't sure they could withstand an attack by so many villagers.
Those with weaker nerves were already panicking inside.
Even the most vociferous man with the black mole started to have doubts.
He was used to being domineering, and with the backing of the Black Wolf Gang, nobody in any village dared to even look him in the eye.
But he had never imagined that in this small Jiuli Village, his usual tactics would prove ineffective.
As a major conflict seemed unavoidable, a man from the Black Wolf Gang, who had been silent until now, with a rather sullen look in his eyes,
finally spoke slowly, "Elder, you claim that all the silver from selling the Lu Family's land was handed over. Could you answer a few questions for me then?"
"Ask away!"
Grandpa Zhang didn't want to have a real conflict with the other side.
The Black Wolf Gang had always had a terrible reputation. Even if they could drive these men away this time, who's to say the gang wouldn't return with more people tomorrow?
They were just ordinary villagers; how could they truly stand up to such ruthless and wicked men?
"My questions are simple. If you say that all the silver from selling the Lu Family's land was handed over, why then did Lu Ming's two children still have so much money?
Recently, I personally saw Lu Ming's eldest son throwing money around like dirt at the big market, spending who knows how much, extravagantly making purchases. That kind of generosity, even I, Master, looked on with envy."
"And that little girl behind you, she's wearing new clothes, isn't she? How do you explain that?"
"This..." Grandpa Zhang at first stuttered, then quickly replied, "That was silver given to him by Lu Qing's master."
"Do you take me for a fool?" the brooding man's expression instantly turned frosty, "I have only ever heard of disciples showing filial respect to their masters, never a master giving silver to a disciple to spend. I think that money is exactly what you withheld at the beginning to give to these two brats!"
"You're talking nonsense, that's completely untrue!"
However, the brooding man was no longer interested in talking idle words with Grandpa Zhang and the others.
He directly commanded, "Lao Qi, go over there and grab that little girl for me, and then go find the other brat!"
"Yes, Master!"
The man with a birthmark strode out and walked towards the other side.
"What are you trying to do?!"
Grandpa Zhang hurriedly shielded Little Yan as they retreated, and Da An raised his hoe, yelling loudly.
"What are we doing?" the man with a birthmark sneered coldly, "Lu Ming and his wife still owe us money, and it's not been paid off yet. Since these two brats still have money, then hand it all over to me!"
"If there's no money, this little girl seems to look quite nice. Selling her to a trafficker should be worth some silver, enough to cover a part of her parents' debt!"
"You dare!"
Da An's eyes were wide with anger, the hoe in his hand pointed directly at the man with a birthmark.
"You better think carefully," the brooding man said coldly, "if you don't hand over this little girl to us, do you really think you can get away unscathed by provoking the Black Wolf Gang!"
"Don't say I didn't warn you, no one who has crossed the Black Wolf Gang has ever come out without consequence. Whoever dares to obstruct, believe it or not, I'll ruin their family!"
Upon hearing this, the villagers of Jiuli Village all shuddered.
Han Lao and his group were infamous in the nearby area.
Relying on their membership in the Black Wolf Gang, they were always brutal and inhumane.
No one doubted whether he would dare to do so.
Because in the nearby villages, there had been people who had offended him and ended up completely devastated, with their families broken and scattered.
Seeing that the villagers were frightened by Master's few words, the man with a birthmark smirked viciously.
He strode forward, and this time, the villagers did not dare to stop him.
Only Da An still stood his ground, not taking a step back.
"Damn it, you really think too highly of yourself, huh?!"
Suddenly, the man with a birthmark grabbed the hoe from Da An's hand, then stepped forward to press close to Da An, raising his arm, his hand open and ready to slap him across the face.
The man with a birthmark had mustered all his strength for this slap, and Da An, who knew no martial arts, didn't know how to dodge.
If this slap had landed, his face would surely swell up, teeth flying, and half of his face would be wrecked.
Just as the slap was about to hit Da An's face, some of the villagers in the back couldn't help closing their eyes.
Yet, in the next moment, the man with a birthmark's arm was suddenly grasped by another hand.
"My friend, you seem to have quite a temper."
At the same time, a voice sounded.
"Brother!" Little Yan shouted immediately.
"Ah Qing?!!"
Upon recognizing the newcomer, all the villagers couldn't help but cry out in surprise.