Hearing of his sworn brother's plight, Yan Shouyi was also furious.
Villains were everywhere, but Chenjia Village had been peaceful for many years. To his surprise, just after his grandfather died and he had left for a short while, a bully had entered the village to wreak havoc.
Jiang Shuang's small supermarket and guesthouse held considerable status in town. Jiang Shuang's father, being a native of Chenjia Village, also knew many local leaders.
If even his father was bullied like this by villains, the ordinary villagers of Chenjia Village could only imagine how much worse they were being treated.
After Jiang Shuang finished speaking briefly, he lowered his head sadly. He hated that he was incapable and still relied on his father for support at his age. In the end, he watched his father die unjustly without being able to avenge him.
Yan Shouyi also shook his head and sighed. He knew that the smaller the place, the more likely officials were to cover for each other, leaving no recourse for justice.
He patted Jiang Shuang's shoulder and said in a low voice, "Ah Shuang, this won't just pass. Since I'm back, I'll definitely find a way to help you get justice!"
Jiang Shuang didn't yet know Yan Shouyi's true capabilities. He only knew that Yan Shouyi dabbled in some "unorthodox methods." Upon hearing his sworn brother wanted to seek justice, he quickly shook his head.
"Shouyi, I've already tried to fight them, but there's no chance. Don't get involved in this mess!"
"Can you really swallow this insult?"
"Whether I can swallow it or not, what difference does it make..."
As the two were talking, a commotion suddenly erupted outside the mourning hall.
Yan Shouyi and Jiang Shuang rushed out at the sound. They saw several vans parked outside the small supermarket, and many tattooed hoodlums alighted.
These hoodlums, for some reason, had started arguing with the old men sitting outside playing cards. Several beer bottles had been smashed. The old man who had first recognized Yan Shouyi lay on the ground, his head bleeding profusely, looking utterly pitiable.
"What are you doing!"
Jiang Shuang quickly stepped in to mediate and called all his people back.
Someone stammered, "Ah Shuang, we were just playing cards peacefully outside. These people got out of their cars and started smashing people on the head with beer bottles!"
Jiang Shuang didn't want to implicate the elders, so he told them all to go upstairs to their rooms.
As the old men went upstairs, Long Feicheng and Lin Zhitong were drawn downstairs by the commotion.
Upon seeing the imposing demeanor of the newcomers, Lin Zhitong questioned Long Feicheng, "Did you cause trouble again?"
Long Feicheng looked bewildered, "Did... did I cause it??"
Given Long Feicheng's usual behavior, causing trouble was commonplace. Thus, Lin Zhitong instinctively assumed these people were looking for Long Feicheng.
Long Feicheng himself understood his own character. Even though he hadn't done anything, it didn't stop him from wondering if he had offended someone...
Yan Shouyi turned back and said, "These people aren't here for you. Stay inside for now."
"Oh."
Long Feicheng breathed a sigh of relief and stood with Lin Zhitong inside the small supermarket.
They weren't worried about Yan Shouyi's safety at all. These petty thugs and hoodlums were no match for Yan Shouyi.
The leader of the hoodlums had a buzz cut and a large scar on his head, looking quite formidable.
He glanced at Jiang Shuang, sneered, and dropped the half-empty beer bottle in his hand. Then, he beckoned, and a subordinate lit a cigarette for him.
"My name is Wang Bo, remember it!"
The hoodlum leader, with the cigarette in his mouth, pointed at himself with his thumb. Then he said, "You're Jiang Shuang, right? Jiang Minyou's son?"
Yan Shouyi frowned. This hoodlum named Wang Bo was clearly targeting Jiang Shuang.
Jiang Shuang clearly knew who Wang Bo was. He sighed and said,
"My father is already dead. What more do you want?"
Wang Bo was the head thug under the boss who caused Jiang Shuang's father's death. He was notorious for fighting in Zhicheng back in the day, and now these unsavory tasks were handled by Wang Bo.
Wang Bo sneered, "Our Boss Zhou is a man of rules. Your father is dead, and we'll pay the compensation. But our business must go on. In total, we'll give you fifty thousand yuan. Take this money, keep quiet, and stop making trouble by reporting us. You know our background. While we're not afraid of your reports, receiving complaints every other day is quite annoying, understand?"
Yan Shouyi understood. This so-called Boss Zhou wanted a permanent solution.
Using fifty thousand yuan to silence Jiang Shuang completely.
In other words, the mountain belonging to their family from now on would no longer be theirs but would be freely exploited by Boss Zhou.
Actually, the ownership of the mountain was merely usage rights. The land belonged to the state, and private individuals could not buy or sell it.
Jiang Shuang looked at the fifty thousand yuan Wang Bo threw on the ground, then glanced back at his father's body in the coffin.
That was his father, a living human life!
Was he only worth this small stack of bills?
Jiang Shuang's forehead veins bulged in anger, but his reason told him he couldn't continue to fight these people, as he would be the one to suffer.
So, Jiang Shuang gritted his teeth and picked up the money from the ground.
"I understand. You can do whatever you want with that mountain. From now on, don't disturb me again."
"Sensible!"
Wang Bo grinned widely. In fact, Boss Zhou had given him thirty thousand, but he felt fifty thousand was enough to shut this kid Jiang Shuang up.
Seeing Jiang Shuang submit, Wang Bo couldn't be happier.
Just as he was about to leave, he happened to catch sight of Lin Zhitong standing inside the small supermarket.
Lin Zhitong came from a prestigious family and was from a big city. Her appearance and temperament were unlike anything to be found in this town.
Wang Bo had never seen such a beautiful woman before, and his eyes were glued to her.
He wiped his mouth, thinking that this town was his territory now, and no one would question his actions.
So he turned back and said to Jiang Shuang with a sinister smile, "Who is that beautiful woman standing in your supermarket? Have her come accompany me tonight, and I'll add another twenty thousand to your compensation."
Jiang Shuang's expression changed.
Jiang Shuang could endure such humiliation himself, but now Wang Bo was eyeing his sworn brother's wife!
How could he tolerate this?!
So Jiang Shuang's face darkened, and he said sternly, "Wang Bo, I advise you to know when to stop. Don't push your luck."
"What did you say?"
Wang Bo's eyes suddenly widened, his face showing ferocity. His subordinates also quickly reached for their weapons.
Jiang Shuang, who had been so sensible and obedient moments ago, now dared to threaten him. Wang Bo, accustomed to his bullying ways, could not tolerate Jiang Shuang's defiance!
Jiang Shuang couldn't back down now either. He braced himself and stood firm against Wang Bo, "I said, you damn well better not push your luck! Even a cornered rabbit will bite! If you dare touch my brother's woman, we'll fight to the death!"
Saying this, Jiang Shuang turned and grabbed a cleaver from the supermarket, looking ready to fight Wang Bo to the death.
The bully fears the meek, the meek fears the stubborn, and the stubborn fears the desperate!
Jiang Shuang was now completely enraged. To protect Yan Shouyi and Lin Zhitong, Jiang Shuang no longer cared about his own life!
Seeing Jiang Shuang looking wild and ready to pounce like a beast, Wang Bo felt a little intimidated.
He took two steps back and said, feigning kindness, "I was just asking! Since she's a married woman, I, Wang Bo, won't force it. Put the knife down."
Jiang Shuang was too naive. Seeing Wang Bo back down, he put down the cleaver.
To his surprise, the next second, Wang Bo rushed forward, kicked Jiang Shuang to the ground, and snatched his cleaver!
"Damn it, did you really think I, Wang Bo, was afraid of you? When I was stabbing people with knives back then, you were still in your mother's womb!"
Wang Bo pressed the cleaver against Jiang Shuang's stomach and sneered, "Have that woman accompany me tonight, or tomorrow I'll kill your whole family!"
Jiang Shuang was so angry he almost gnashed his teeth to pieces.
He couldn't protect his father, and now he couldn't even protect his sworn brother's wife!
He felt like the most useless person in the world!
"Sigh."
Suddenly, a sigh sounded near Wang Bo's ear.
Wang Bo turned his head and saw Yan Shouyi standing not far away, his face dark and grim.
"What the hell are you looking at?" Wang Bo pointed the cleaver at Yan Shouyi.
Yan Shouyi said indifferently, "I rarely make a move against ordinary people, but today I'll make an exception. Wang Bo, you should feel lucky. I don't like killing, but today, one of your arms must be left here."
"Consider it: do you want to leave your left arm, your right arm, or—neither arm at all!?"