Chapter 7: Resolution

In fact, the situation in Datong, Shanxi is relatively good, whereas in Shaanxi, it is truly dire. The adverse consequences will emerge after about ten years. Given the endurance of Chinese farmers, it is conceivable how severe the situation has become, reaching the point of large-scale rebellion.

The northern "lahu" and the southern "dahang" are similar in that they both exist on the fringes of societal rules. Engaging in fights and brawls is trivial; they have also committed acts that involve bloodshed. Extortion, deception, and trickery are commonplace. In the south, they are known as "dahang," while in the north, the "lahu" typically serve as leaders or heads of groups. The head of a large gathering may be a clerk or a constable from a certain government office, possessing an official identity for protection. They may command hundreds or even thousands of followers, or as few as dozens, employing various means to make money. If they commit too many crimes, local authorities may conduct a purge, and there are instances where dozens or even hundreds have been killed. However, once one engages in the life of a "lahu," one must possess the ruthless determination to risk everything; otherwise, one might as well return to farming or begging.

Both the master and the servant wore puzzled expressions, while the fear evident on Zhang Chun's face was somewhat concealed.

When Master Zhang Yuntai was still around, the business of the trading house was thriving. At that time, Li Yuchun was a third-tier clerk, earning a hundred or so taels of silver each year, which he saved up. Following Master Zhang, he purchased quite a bit of land along the Yanghe River in Tianchengwei and Zhenluwei. Although it could not compare to the Zhang family's vast estate of several thousand acres, he had nonetheless acquired some ancestral land, feeling that he had lived up to his ancestors. His own life was also quite prosperous.

It is unnecessary to elaborate on this matter; what Liang Hong values in Li Yuchun is the connection to the Fan family. The Fan family is a super-rich family with a fortune of several million. With abundant wealth, there are more officials nurtured in the local area, and their influence grows. By aligning with the Fan family, one's future prospects are undoubtedly bright.

The Jin merchant families indeed have a family tradition of training their descendants in martial arts. In this era, large merchants not only employed martial arts masters for guarding their premises and escorting goods but also taught their own family members martial arts. During the Jiajing period, due to the rampant activities of Japanese pirates, the Jin merchants even organized a troop of five hundred martial artists to march south to combat the pirates. In the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, legitimate escort companies began to emerge, and by the mid-Qing dynasty, these escort companies flourished. More than half of the martial arts practices in the north can be attributed to the efforts of the Jin merchants.

The room was brightly lit, and from a distance, an old woman saw Zhang Han returning. She had already lifted the door curtain early. As soon as Zhang Han entered the room, he felt a wave of warmth hit his face, and a sense of comfort enveloped his entire body

This matter has gone awry

Liang Hong took a sip of wine and sighed, "I never expected that Brother Li, you are living so frugally now"

Li Yuchun glanced at him and said, "You seem to be living well, enjoying lavish meals every day. Have you managed to establish any business?"

"I cannot accept the wine, I will not drink anymore." Liang Xing, also known as the young Lahu, who is the leader of this operation, stood at the door with a face full of shame and said in a low voice: "The task was not accomplished well"

How could this be possible

Zhang Chun did not consider himself to be part of that "one"; he was merely a filler...

Zhang Hanyi smiled, fiddling with the dagger, and said: "If you take another step forward, there will be bloodshed, but I do not know whether it will be your blood or mine. To speak frankly, I have also studied with martial arts masters for a few days since I was young; I am not so weak that you can easily manipulate me."

It is a pity to encounter the current Zhang Han, nothing else, but this spirit of being a bachelor is still quite strong

Liang Hong smiled and said, "Sister-in-law, come up and have a drink, and let the nephews and nieces come and have a bite as well"

How is that possible

Zhang Shaodong, it is merely a matter of a few dozen taels of silver, why bring up life and death? The young Lahu smiled sinisterly, stepped forward, and advised: "Put down the weapon, let us speak amicably"

... ...

Before Liang Hong could finish speaking, someone pushed open the door and stepped in with one foot.

As the two reached this point in their conversation, the topic was nearly exhausted. Li Yuchun hardly touched the food, only drinking cup after cup of alcohol.

In Zhang Han's eyes, this matter was merely a trivial issue, and he did not harbor any strong feelings of resentment. However, the current situation appeared rather strange to him, leaving him somewhat perplexed.

The two individuals gazed at each other, both perceiving the bitterness in the other's eyes. Zhang Han was undeterred and did not continue to manipulate the matters below without reason. Zhou Fengji would certainly not involve himself with them either. The plan for the three of them to purchase the shop and start their own venture was thus completely dashed

In fact, this move by Zhang Han seems to be quite precise. Originally, Zhang Han was timid and weak, and Mrs. Chang, being a woman, would likely be more easily frightened. After the scare, both mother and daughter were afraid, and several shopkeepers suggested taking over the business. It is feared that Mrs. Chang would agree more than oppose, and since the owner would withdraw their capital, outsiders would have little to say about it. Thus, this matter would be settled.

It can be said that Zhang Han has practiced martial arts, but he is inconsistent, only putting in effort for three days and then slacking off for two. His skills are mediocre, and even in a one-on-one situation, he may not necessarily be a match for his opponent, let alone in a one-on-four scenario

Zhang Han's stance also indicated that he had practiced martial arts; his legs were slightly apart, his lower body was very stable, and he held the dagger tightly in his hand, without any tremor or panic. The four men, known as the 'Lahu', all showed signs of hesitation. It was not that they were cowardly, but rather that the events of today had escalated to the point of causing a loss of life, which was truly not worth the risk.

I have seen the person, yet the matter has not been resolved. Your young master, though not a wanderer, possesses a boldness that is quite remarkable...

Less than 2 li away, in an alley on the south street of Xinping Fort, Li Yuchun and Liang Hongzheng were sitting in the east side room of the Li family, drinking wine

Upon hearing this, Li Yuchun suddenly stood up and exclaimed, "You had a confrontation with him?"

It is indeed strange that, with just one hat, those few ruffians left so politely. Later, Zhang Han smiled and explained: "They saw that I was young and that my mother doted on me. With just a scare, nothing happened, and they didn't dare to easily let me go out. Then, heh heh, the matters below became easier to handle... But if I were to wear this hat, could they really dare to harm me? If word got out, how would those three live with themselves in the future? Not to mention that they did it, no owner would want such a steward, so they must have repeatedly cautioned and advised each other that they absolutely could not lay a hand on me."

The courtyard is adorned with numerous lanterns, from the entrance of the double doors to the corridor of the main house, with about ten lanterns lit in succession on both sides of the side rooms, illuminating the courtyard brightly and cheerfully, creating a truly festive atmosphere

What happened? Liang Hong asked: Haven't seen anyone?

Liang Hong put down his chopsticks and said with a smile, "I would like to, but the shop has not shown any improvement in recent years, and there are no dividends. What do I have to invest in property? I am not like Brother Li; you followed the old master early on and acquired quite a bit of land early in the game."

The night had darkened completely, and two bright candles were lit in the room. The vegetable oil lamp, which was usually lit, was not this time, as the smoke was deemed too heavy. On the table were arranged strips of radish and peanuts. After the two had drunk three cups, the wife of the Li family brought in a plate of boiled tender chicken, steam swirling around, the aroma of the meat causing the several children playing nearby to swallow hard.

Those few individuals did not take any action, nor did they even utter any harsh words. The leader, a sinister young man, even exchanged a few pleasantries before turning around and leaving

Liang Xing has arrived

Uncle

Just now in the alley, the young master displayed a resolute demeanor, holding a dagger in hand, its cold gleam dazzling.

Li Yuchun and Liang Hong exclaimed together

Zhang Chun was puzzled, wondering how this young master had become so bold now

Zhang Chun also looked puzzled and said, "I don't know, this has never happened before, unless it's the Lantern Festival"

Zhang Han looked at Zhang Chun and asked, "When did our family change the rules? Why are so many lights on for no reason?"

"After your nephew scared the young master, he no longer dares to come to the shop. You should speak to the mistress about this matter. At this point, we can only have the three of us take over. To be honest, I do not have much silver on hand. I am planning to sell all the farmland. Old Zhou has quite a bit of silver, but you should think of a solution early on."

Liang Hong knew that Li Yuchun had other plans besides seeking the Fan family. Collecting grain on his own was also a viable option, but it would be arduous and would require dealing with the local wolves. Some matters cannot be resolved merely by holding silver.

Unfortunately, the good times did not last long. Business in the store is difficult now, and to make matters worse, the weather has not been favorable. The annual yield from the fields has been decreasing year after year. Li Yuchun is not a heartless person; he cannot bear to force the tenants to sell their children or themselves. Thus, he can only reduce the rent. As a result, the estate he purchased yields no profit and instead requires a considerable amount of effort.

The young tiger's expression darkened as soon as he saw the dagger

The Li family matron certainly does not drink alcohol, but she still has the intention to call her children over to eat some chicken. Noticing that Li Yuchun's complexion is not very good, she quickly declines and takes the children to the kitchen to soak rice in chicken broth

Liang Hongmei's eyes flickered, and she smiled, saying, "Although my hands are somewhat careless, I have actually saved up some silver."

Zhang Han was not frightened by the few loud tigers, but upon returning home, he was startled by his own mother

Liang Hong understood his thoughts and advised, "Old Li, you need not be this way. Although what we are doing is inappropriate, we truly do not have any ill intentions. The young master is too inexperienced, and the mistress is just a woman; without a capable person to take charge, how can this business be conducted? Just taking your plans as an example, clarifying each matter with the main family would be quite troublesome, not to mention..."

Li Yuchun nodded slightly and said, "We will pool our money to acquire both the store and the goods. Next, I will seek out my old uncle to buy grain; after all, there is profit to be made. Furthermore, I need to travel to more places so that I can collect some grain each year, which is truly important."

No," Liang Xing quickly shook his head and said: "Uncle has repeatedly instructed that we must not take action against Dong. If he pulls out a weapon and fights desperately, we will have no choice but to leave quickly. I thought I should report to Uncle, so I hurried over here.

Zhang Han's dagger does not intimidate the La Hu, but what worries them is Zhang Han's resolute attitude. The La Hu are people of the martial world who engage in fights daily, and they can easily discern whether their opponent is merely bluffing or truly possesses the determination to fight. In front of them, Zhang Han appears calm, yet the underlying ferocity within him is palpable to all the La Hu present.

He took off his thick sweater and coat, revealing a sky-blue long robe underneath. At the age of fifteen or sixteen, he had not yet grown a beard. His appearance was quite acceptable, and with the heat rising, he exuded a certain charm reminiscent of a handsome young man with red lips and white teeth.

Li Yuchun shook his head and said, "It is true that a manor has been established, but the harvests in recent years are better left unmentioned"

Liang Hong's eyes sparkled with a glimmer as he pointed to the seat beside him and said with a smile, "Sit down, let us drink and talk."

Li Yuchun was certainly unaware of these significant matters; what he desired was to extricate himself from his family's predicament

They have all watched Zhang Han grow up. It is well known that this young master is a bookworm, yet he surprisingly carries a dagger with him and dares to fight fiercely, even forcing back someone as formidable as Liang Xing. Without a bit of ruthlessness, it would be utterly impossible.

Liang Hong felt a wave of relief in his heart, thankful that he had exchanged a few words with the young master before coming here. He thought that even if this matter did not succeed, he still had a bit of leeway in front of the young master.