Fang Yuan pocketed the two yuan stones he had earned from selling leaves, abandoned the handcart, and left the small market with Bai Ningbing.
"As I see it, it's better to just capture her directly. If you want to get close to her, don't forget our current identities," Bai Ningbing said in a low voice.
The Fang-Bai duo were now hired hands for the Chen family. They had used this status to infiltrate the merchant caravan, but now it had become an obstacle for Fang Yuan to approach Shang Xinci.
However, Fang Yuan already had a plan. He looked at Bai Ningbing and smiled slightly. "You're right. So, I'm going to go beat someone up now."
Bai Ningbing was taken aback. "Beat someone up?"
The night sky was clear, dotted with stars.
Inside a spacious tent, a few family servants sat in a circle. In the center, a coal stove had a pot boiling.
The tent had an open top, and some ash from the burning coal drifted out through the opening.
There was meat in the pot. The servants stared at it, the faint aroma of meat wafting over, and they couldn't help swallowing from time to time.
"Brother Qiang, I've made inquiries. I know all about those two newcomers," said Skinny Monkey.
"Oh? Tell me," said the burly servant called Brother Qiang, raising an eyebrow.
"The two of them were recommended by the old village chief of Ziyou Mountain Village," Skinny Monkey replied.
"Is that so."
"I recall that old village chief was originally a mortal; the deputy leader wanted a base and casually enlightened him."
"So that's the background…"
The group suddenly understood.
"Even though they have a Gu master behind them, so what? Brother Qiang's sister is Concubine Chen Xin's concubine!" someone shouted.
"These two newcomers are too arrogant; if we don't straighten them out, they'll cause trouble later."
"Quiet down, we'll follow Brother Qiang's lead!" someone yelled.
The tent fell silent, and everyone turned their gazes to Brother Qiang.
Brother Qiang seemed hesitant. After all, there was a Gu master behind Fang Yuan and Bai Ningbing. Even if that Gu master was not a Chen family member, even if that Gu master was an old man with one foot in the grave, he was still a Gu master…
"Did you find out exactly? What's the relationship between those two and that old village chief?"
Skinny Monkey showed a troubled expression. "This… Brother Qiang, you know our status. It's been quite an effort to find out this much."
Brother Qiang fell into thought.
"Boss, these two newcomers are too impertinent. What was their attitude toward Skinny Monkey this morning? They clearly look down on us. We must teach them a lesson."
"Right. That old village chief, in his original status, was not even as good as us. He just hit the jackpot and became a Gu master."
"What kind of Gu master is he? If our deputy leader didn't need him, could he have become a Gu master? He's just a senior servant."
"Besides, on a merchant caravan, life is uncertain. Even if those two die, that old village chief wouldn't dare settle accounts with our Chen family!"
Everyone chimed in, and Brother Qiang's brows were tightly knit.
Skinny Monkey had been observing for a while. He wanted to trouble Fang Yuan and Bai Ningbing; he was still fuming from the morning's humiliation, which filled him with hatred for Fang Yuan.
But he knew he had no background, and to take revenge, he had to rely on Brother Qiang.
Seeing the time was right, he spoke up. "I just heard that they did a deal at the small market. A whole cart of purple maple leaves sold for two yuan stones."
Brother Qiang's eyes lit up.
"What? Two yuan stones?"
"How is that possible? They didn't get the price slashed?"
"Such good luck! Which fool bought them?"
Skinny Monkey sneered, his tone full of disdain and envy. "Who else? It's that Miss Zhang from the Zhang family. Just a mortal, but she was born into a good family."
"Damn it! When I used to smuggle goods, I got undercut badly. Why can't I have that kind of luck!" Brother Qiang said enviously.
He continued indignantly, "Tomorrow we'll take them down. As newcomers, they should show respect to us old-timers. If they don't know the rules, we'll kindly teach them."
"Yes, Brother Qiang."
"We'll do whatever Brother Qiang says."
"Brother Qiang is wise and mighty!" Skinny Monkey flattered, then took out a ladle to scoop the soup. "The meat soup is ready. Brother Qiang, please have a taste."
The aroma of meat was strong; many swallowed hard.
Brother Qiang licked his lips, took the ladle, blew on the soup, and was about to drink.
Suddenly, the tent flap was pushed open.
Fang Yuan strode in.
"You!" Everyone was shocked. The person they had been plotting against had arrived directly.
This made them feel flustered and alarmed.
Skinny Monkey jumped to his feet and said with a sneer, "Newcomer, now you're scared? Came to apologize? I'm telling you, it's too late!"
Before he could finish, Fang Yuan raised his foot expressionlessly.
Thump.
Skinny Monkey was kicked directly, his back hitting the coal stove. The hot soup splashed all over him, scalding him as he screamed loudly.
"My soup!"
"It's all spilled! We pooled money to buy that meat! We barely got to have a meal, damn it!"
"Bastard, you're asking for it!"
In an instant, everyone was furious. They stood up and charged at Fang Yuan with shouts.
Fang Yuan held two yuan stones in his hand and threw them at them.
"Ouch!"
Two people were hit, one covering his eye, the other clutching his stomach, groaning in pain.
"Vile, using hidden weapons!"
"Wait, this is… yuan stones?!"
The crowd was about to rush when they heard this, and their momentum suddenly stalled.