Chapter 4
I swear I will never be on the same side as Chao Jianan.
Wei Donghe and I attended private lessons at Shengchuan Academy. Cao Dapang, who had always been at odds with me, laughed so hard that his flesh quivered: “Sun Yunchun, I heard you went to the yamen and recognized a new father, and that person is Chao San? Impressive, impressive. I, Fatty Cao, failed to recognize greatness. From now on, I wouldn’t dare offend you again.”
I lunged at him and started wrestling: “That’s what you get for spouting nonsense!”
Wei Donghe immediately joined in: “That’s what you get for talking nonsense to Xiao Chun!”
Cao Dapang’s skinny page also jumped in: “My young master just loves to spout nonsense!”
In the end, Wei Donghe and I went to the street to buy candied hawthorn skewers.
Wei Donghe worried, “Do you think Cao Dapang will tell his father when he gets home? Will his father come after us?”
Cao Dapang’s father was Squire Cao, the wealthy and influential man in town.
“Don’t worry, it’s not the first time we’ve fought. He didn’t complain last time either,” I said, unconcerned.
“But this time you hit him pretty hard. He cried terribly.”
“…If soldiers come, we’ll block them; if water comes, we’ll use earth to stop it. Worst case, my father will give me a beating.”
“Your father’s beatings don’t hurt, but my father’s do.” Wei Donghe pulled a long face.
His family sold pork in Guizi Lane. His father was a butcher, burly but honest and strict with him.
I looked at him sympathetically and handed him one of my candied hawthorn skewers. “If he beats you, can’t you just run? What are your legs for? Here, eat.”
I took a bite of the candied hawthorn and was about to pay when I realized, dumbfounded, that I’d forgotten to bring any money.
Wei Donghe saw me looking at him and was dumbfounded too: “I didn’t bring any money either.”
The candied hawthorn vendor, Xu Mazi, was a notoriously stingy man who stuttered. Seeing this, he immediately said, “S-s-small business, n-n-no credit, I-I-I’ve been cheated b-b-before…”
“What, did I say I wouldn’t pay you?”
I shot him a glare and was about to discuss with Wei Donghe that he should stay while I went home for money, when suddenly a shout came from somewhere-
“Xu Mazi, our Third Master’s daughter wants candied hawthorn. Let her eat as much as she wants, put it on Third Master Chao’s tab.”
I looked toward the voice. It was from the teahouse across the street.
On the second floor by the window stood Chao Jianan, looking lazy and idle, the corners of his mouth curled up as he watched us.
The one who shouted was Ma Qishan, another local ruffian in Qingshi Town and a mid-level gang leader, most often seen at Chao Jianan’s side.
As soon as Xu Mazi heard this, he immediately handed me two more skewers: “Th-th-third Master’s daughter, as m-m-much as you want.”
I was so angry my face turned green. I looked up at Chao Jianan and shouted at him from the street: “Chao San, who’s your daughter! I’m your father!”
“Hey, this little girl’s got guts, daring to call our Third Master by name.”
“She’s just a child, let it go,” Chao Jianan said lazily, unconcerned.