Chapter 12: Conflict
The man was in his forties or fifties, and handsome enough, but he had a greasy, almost traitorous look about him. Drunk and slumped on the sofa like a puddle of mud, his narrowed eyes were filled with malice; he looked utterly obnoxious.
He sneered, slurring his words, “The little bastard’s back.”
Mu Jiashu walked over, pulling his grandmother and cousin behind him. Seeing this scene, he smirked, a vague smile playing on his lips as he scanned the man. “What’s the occasion? Did you hire a singer?”
Before anyone could respond, the man grabbed something and threw it at him. “You goddamn thing, you dare insult me? I’ll kill you today!”
Wang Xiu Fang trembled with rage. Shen Ze, supporting his grandmother, cried out, “Brother, watch out!”
Mu Jiashu had intended to dodge, but remembering the others behind him, he raised his arm to block the blow. The iron ornament bounced off his wrist, grazed his temple, and fell to the floor.
Wang Xiu Fang immediately flew into a rage, pushing Shen Ze aside and grabbing a broom from the corner. She beat the man mercilessly. “Li Zhiguo, you heartless bastard! You cruel beast! You dare hit my grandson? I’ll beat you to death today!”
Li Zhiguo dodged a few times, then seized the broom. “Old woman, you think I wouldn’t dare hit you, huh? What, you think you can get away with anything because you’re old?”
Mu Jiashu’s eyes darkened. He pushed Li Zhiguo away, snatched the broom from both of their hands, and threw it into the corner, kicking up a cloud of dust.
He had never seen such a blatant brawl before and was quite annoyed. However, used to suppressing his emotions, he frowned and calmed himself.
Shen Ze helped Wang Xiu Fang sit down, furious. “I’ll fight you!” He rolled up his sleeves and was about to charge.
Before he could move, his cousin grabbed him by the back of his neck and tossed him back. “Don’t bother, I haven’t finished speaking yet.”
Wang Xiu Fang had called the man “Li Zhiguo,” and Mu Jiashu recognized him as Li Qing’s scoundrel father.
He had imagined him to be shameless, but reality surpassed his imagination.
The man’s face was contorted in a vicious smile, his eyes filled with contempt and malice. Mu Jiashu said calmly, “Want to kill me? With your skills, that’s going to be difficult. Li Zhiguo, what are you doing here? Trespassing is illegal.”
Li Zhiguo cursed, “Half-dead, just like your runaway father, you worthless thing! Give me all the money you have. You’ve owed my family money for years, and you still haven’t paid it back! Are you shameless…?”
Amidst his cursing, Shen Ze explained in a suppressed, angry voice, “Mom and Dad went to sell things. Grandma was originally at our house, but she came back when she heard the commotion. He broke the door down, and he’s ransacked the whole place… He said that Uncle Song owed him money and came to collect it.”
Mu Jiashu: “How much…?”
Wang Xiu Fang spat, “Don’t listen to his nonsense! Li Zhiguo, when your wife was setting up the loan, she wasn’t being honest! Your father borrowed that money ages ago, and my daughter paid it back with interest! We even tore up the IOU! When did we ever owe you money?!”
She used the term “setting up the loan,” which Mu Jiashu understood as Li Zhiguo’s wife arranging a high-interest loan, skimming some money off their family, and Li Zhiguo returning to harass them.
The room reeked of conflict, yet Mu Jiashu remained calm. “Good. Even if it wasn’t paid back, it was Song Quan’s debt; it has nothing to do with us Shens. Go ask him.”
Li Zhiguo sneered, “A son inherits his father’s debts. Since he’s your father, it’s related to you! What paid back? I increased the interest, so you owe me money now. Why are you glaring at me? In this world, powerful people make money, my rules are the rules, what do you have to say?”
Mu Jiashu noncommittally hummed, “No opinion, no money.”
Shen Ze: “…”
He felt his brother was deliberately provoking him.
Li Zhiguo said, “No money? You must have some valuable things at home! Go find them for me! I remember your mother had a jade bracelet, where did you put it?!”
Mu Jiashu bowed his head and smiled faintly. “I remember there was such a thing. Tell me what it looks like, and I’ll look for it.”
He paused, then said, “It’s too messy here. Xiao Ze, take Grandma to the neighbor’s place to rest.”
Wang Xiu Fang was so angry she could barely speak. Her lips trembled before she said in a shaky voice, “Even if I die here, I won’t give our things to this bastard!”
“Grandma.”
Mu Jiashu called out, his voice low but calming, easily overpowering the old woman’s anger. He gently held Wang Xiu Fang’s old hand. “Let me handle this, I’ll resolve it.”
Shen Ze looked at his brother in surprise, almost unable to believe that this was Shen Shu. Every word he uttered seemed to have a strange magic, compelling people to believe him, to rely on him.
Mu Jiashu persuaded the two to leave. Turning back, he saw Li Zhiguo slumped on the sofa, staring at him and sneering, his smile greasy and cold, reminiscent of intertwined vipers.
“Long time no see, you’re different now, huh? Who are you clinging to to give you so much confidence?”
Having tested enough, Mu Jiashu didn’t want to waste any more time with him. He strode forward, grabbed the man’s collar, pulled him up, and reached into Li Zhiguo’s pockets, throwing a wad of cash onto the floor. Bills of various denominations scattered everywhere.
He smirked. “You have so much money on you, and you’re still coming to ask for more? Your excuse is quite elaborate.”
“You… you’re crazy?!”
Li Zhiguo was taken aback, then reacted. He immediately shouted, “You little bastard, who are you talking to?”
Mu Jiashu pulled him off the sofa with a forceful yank, punching him in the face. Li Zhiguo fell backward, the scattered items around him making a chaotic noise.
Mu Jiashu half-squatted, leaning in to examine the middle-aged man’s face, raising the corner of his lips in a smile.
He had a special aura, not usually cold and frosty, but always subtly chilly. Even when smiling like this, it was quiet and calm, without any hint of genuine joy.
Mu Jiashu said calmly, “Before I came back, you had already ransacked the house. There are only a few places to hide money. This big production makes me think you’re looking for something else…”
He tapped his temple. “What is it?”
Meeting Li Zhiguo’s ghostly expression, he smiled, “Did my mother have a jade bracelet… How did you know?”
Li Zhiguo involuntarily shivered. “I… Don’t talk nonsense!”
So he was looking for the jade bracelet. But with Li Zhiguo’s character, no one with a normal mind would entrust him with such a task.
Mu Jiashu guessed that someone had promised him money if he succeeded, but the purpose of the bracelet wouldn’t be revealed to him.
Mu Jiashu sighed regretfully. “Such a useless waste.”
Li Zhiguo jumped up, wildly swinging his hands to hit him. Mu Jiashu grabbed his arm, twisted it behind his back, and kneed him in the stomach. With a cry of pain, he threw the writhing Li Zhiguo to the ground like a dead dog and kicked him to the door.
“I liked what you said earlier—’In this world, powerful people make money, my rules are the rules.’ I’m returning the favor. If you dare to come to our house to make trouble again, I’ll beat you every time I see you.”
Mu Jiashu shrugged and smiled faintly. “I charge per incident.”
Li Zhiguo looked at him in terror, still dazed, not knowing what to say. Of course, Mu Jiashu wasn’t interested in listening to him. He dragged the man to the door and threw him out.
This refined-looking person had surprisingly great strength, easily dragging an adult man back and forth. He only seemed to awaken from a dream when the door slammed shut inches from Li Zhiguo’s nose. He rushed to bang on it frantically. “You… you should throw my money out too!”
Mu Jiashu was indifferent, treating it as a song. The elderly women from the upper and lower floors, acting as vigilantes, wielded their rolling pins, driving Li Zhiguo away together.
Author’s Note: Thank you LIME and an anonymous little darling for the nutrient solution. I’ve seen all the comments, but I’ve been really busy recently, so I’ll reply later. Mwah!
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