"Heh heh, Tian Ge, I'm here," Li Hu said, approaching Lin Xiao Tian with a sneaky grin.
"I've done what you asked last time," he said, handing his phone to Lin Xiao Tian.
Lin Xiao Tian opened the phone, and a video popped up. It showed a man and a woman entangled, at a specific location on Black Mountain, the video lasting exactly one minute.
"Tian Ge, I did as you told me and used a trick to get Li Gui Hua away. I didn't expect Li De Ping to be so impatient and seek out Zhang Xue Fen again."
"I staked out Zhang Xue Fen's house for a long time to get this. Tian Ge, I suffered quite a bit for the task you gave me," Li Hu said, looking obsequiously at Lin Xiao Tian.
Lin Xiao Tian knew Li Hu was here to claim credit.
"You did very well. However, I can fix your leg right away, but concerning the method that made you impotent..."
"Tian Ge, just name your terms!" Li Hu said nervously.
"This won't be resolved quickly. You'll need acupuncture once a week for a month to be completely cured," Lin Xiao Tian told him.
Lin Xiao Tian was lying. In fact, he could remove the condition afflicting Li Hu immediately if he wished. But considering Li Hu's past actions, letting him off so easily might lead him to seek trouble again if an opportunity arose. Moreover, Li Hu was Li De Ping's right-hand man, and letting him go would be like letting a tiger return to the mountains.
"This..." Li Hu hesitated.
"Is there a problem?" Lin Xiao Tian asked.
"No... Tian Ge, you have the final say," Li Hu quickly conceded. With his future happiness now in Lin Xiao Tian's hands, he dared not make any demands.
After Lin Xiao Tian transferred the video to his own phone, he removed the method affecting Li Hu's legs. Li Hu was overwhelmed with gratitude, repeatedly pledging his loyalty to Lin Xiao Tian. Lin Xiao Tian wasn't sure if it was genuine, but he knew not to fully trust the words of a thug like Li Hu.
After seeing Li Hu off, Lin Xiao Tian had finished scattering the medicine. At this point, Li Er Guai and others brought over the small boat, while others carried the cart and plastic barrels. Lin Xiao Tian sent a WeChat message to Xue Zi Yan, asking her to prepare for receiving the goods, and then instructed Huang Mao and the others to catch fish from the pond.
Motivated by Lin Xiao Tian's earlier financial incentives, Huang Mao and his crew were working with great enthusiasm this time. Being a lackey for others meant only getting enough food to eat each month, with no hope of saving any money. While they might appear to be doing well on the surface, they were actually looked down upon by everyone. However, following Lin Xiao Tian offered high wages and good social standing. For the same work, the difference was clear.
Soon, cartloads of fish were being transported out. Lin Xiao Tian estimated that at this rate, the pond would be cleared in half a day tomorrow, after which he could start preparing to introduce new fish fry. Given the environment of Bishui Lake, the flesh of these fish, once mature, would undoubtedly be as good as any other fish in the lake.
"Er Guai Ge, I'll leave the task of collecting the money to you this time," Lin Xiao Tian said to Li Er Guai. "Also, take the money from the restaurant settlement and buy some fish fry for me."
"Heh heh, Xiao Tian, aren't you afraid I'll embezzle your money?" Li Er Guai joked.
"No, I trust you," Lin Xiao Tian replied.
Lin Xiao Tian's trust brought a warmth to Li Er Guai's heart. Lin Xiao Tian had cured his leg, and now he was entrusting him with such an important task, clearly considering him one of his own.
"Xiao Tian, don't worry, I'll handle it," Li Er Guai said, patting his chest.
After sending Li Er Guai off, Lin Xiao Tian returned home to continue recuperating. In the afternoon, Old Man Liu, accompanied by Li De Ping and a group of villagers, arrived in front of Lin Xiao Tian's house, shouting for Qin Yu Xiang to repay the debt.
"Qin Yu Xiang, come out!"
"The five days are up. We agreed that if the fifty thousand yuan isn't returned, your house will be used as collateral. I'm here to claim your house now," Old Man Liu shouted.
"Old Man Liu, calm down. Yu Xiang has already arranged to repay the money. You've waited five days, can't you wait a little longer?" Li De Ping said, feigning fairness and justice. If he hadn't previously persuaded the villagers to refrain from helping, Lin Xiao Tian would have almost believed him.
The villagers of Jinsha Village were generally honest and simple, and few realized Li De Ping was faking. Instead, they thought Li De Ping was being fair.
"The village head is right, Old Man Liu. It's not even five full days yet, why are you in such a hurry?"
"Yu Xiang's family had a group of debt collectors come yesterday, and they allegedly took away a hundred thousand yuan. She'll need time to prepare the money today. We're neighbors, can't you be a bit more understanding?"
"Heh!" Old Man Liu scoffed. "If they really had fifty thousand yuan, then we can talk. But what if they don't have the money?"
"This..." The villagers who had just spoken up for Qin Yu Xiang were now speechless.
"A debt is a debt, and repayment is only natural. If Yu Xiang can't afford to repay the money, her house will be used as collateral first. This was agreed upon," Li De Ping said at this point, adopting the tone of a righteous judge.
"Alas, Yu Xiang is truly unfortunate," the villagers murmured sympathetically for Qin Yu Xiang.
"I heard those people even resorted to violence yesterday and beat up Lin Xiao Tian. I saw him leave this morning, and he had knife wounds on his back."
"Yes! I saw it too. If it's come to this, they must have been pushed to their limits. If they really had money, why would they suffer like this?"
The villagers chatted amongst themselves. Old Man Liu, listening nearby, couldn't help but show a triumphant smile. He had been keeping tabs on Qin Yu Xiang these past few days and naturally knew about Lin Xiao Tian going into town to sell fish. Seeing Lin Xiao Tian's carts of fish being transported out, and returning empty each time, clearly indicated good sales. Old Man Liu calculated that at this rate, fifty thousand yuan could indeed be gathered within five days. How then could he force Qin Yu Xiang to yield?
To push Qin Yu Xiang to the brink, Old Man Liu had gone to town and incited Brother Tian to come and demand repayment, all to drain the money Lin Xiao Tian had earned. After being extorted for a hundred thousand yuan and sustaining injuries, he didn't believe Lin Xiao Tian would have any money left! Unless he could earn fifteen thousand in five days? Old Man Liu found it impossible to imagine! He had spent most of his life saving only a little over a hundred thousand. How could Lin Xiao Tian, after just a few days of selling fish, earn that much?
"Qin Yu Xiang, Lin Xiao Tian, get out here! This house is mine now!" Old Man Liu shouted triumphantly.
Creak!
Just then, the door opened, and Qin Yu Xiang, dressed in a black dress, walked out. The moment Old Man Liu saw Qin Yu Xiang, his eyes widened. Even though she was dressed so modestly today, it couldn't hide her beauty.
"And Lin Xiao Tian, this house is mine, why isn't he quick to..." Old Man Liu was about to tell Lin Xiao Tian to get out. But before he could finish, he saw Qin Yu Xiang take out several stacks of cash.
"Fifty thousand yuan. Where's your IOU?" Qin Yu Xiang asked him coldly.
Old Man Liu was stunned. Impossible! Absolutely impossible! How could she possibly have the money?