Chapter 233: An Evildoer Has Their Own Tormentor

Chapter 233: Chapter 233: An Evildoer Has Their Own Tormentor

Cao Fugui took a beating and spent a considerable amount on medical fees. The pots, bowls, stools, and chairs they had purchased were all smashed to bits.

However, the Cao Family demanded no small amount of compensation from the Hu Family, more than enough to buy a whole new set.

Most importantly, this beating had secured the Cao Family the only business of its kind in the entire town. It was worth it!

Everyone in the Cao Family was overjoyed, except for Cao Yunyun.

Even Granny Cao had a change of heart.

She originally thought that after a few days, Hu Liang’s anger would cool and he would change his mind. Unexpectedly, she waited and waited, but he never showed up.

Cao Yunyun went on a hunger strike at home over this. Left with no choice, Granny Cao swallowed her pride and asked someone to pass a message to Hu Liang, but he never even replied.

Otherwise, Cao Yunyun wouldn’t have nearly done something foolish.

After the message was sent, Hu Liang did show up, but the words he spoke were utterly inhuman.

Granny Cao came to hate the Hu Family completely.

Seeing that the time was right, Mrs. Wang revealed that Cao Fugui had already learned how to make the "Golden Combo."

For Granny Cao, this was a delightful surprise.

Before, she had wanted Hu Liang to change his mind simply because she coveted his family’s lucrative business. If they could get that business into their own hands, who would care about calling off the engagement?

Calling it off would be even better!

Once the Cao Family became wealthy, they could just find Yunyun a better match—one a thousand, no, ten thousand times better than the Hu Family!

Besides, Cao Yunyun had truly been heartbroken by Hu Liang. After being comforted by her mother and sister-in-law, she had come to terms with it and tacitly agreed.

Once the family had a plan, they immediately bought the necessary equipment, went into town, took over the Hu Family’s old spot, and brazenly set up their stall.

You wouldn’t know unless you experienced it yourself—business was truly booming!

The customers were the same as before. Although they were puzzled by the change in vendors, the food tasted the same, so they had nothing to complain about.

How could it be any different? They followed the Hu Family’s methods for every single step, not daring to deviate in the slightest.

Now that the agreement was signed, the future trouble from the Hu Family was completely eliminated. Granny Cao was determined: the family would roll up their sleeves and work hard, save up money, buy a house and settle down in town. The whole family would move there, and then they wouldn’t have to listen to the village gossip anymore.

But who would have thought that after just a few days of happiness, their joy would turn to sorrow?

The Cao Family’s stall had been smashed up by someone!

Just two days after signing the agreement with the Hu Family, they went to set up their stall as usual, only to find their spot had been taken by someone else.

The person occupying the spot looked fierce and menacing, clearly not someone to be trifled with. When Cao Fugui went up to reason with him, he was immediately shoved and sent sprawling on his back.

After learning he was a local tyrant, the Cao Family didn’t dare to confront him head-on. Unable to find another empty spot in that area, they had no choice but to set up their stall on another street.

With the remote location, business dropped by more than half.

So, early the next morning, under the direction of Mrs. Wang and Granny Cao, they arrived in town more than two hours earlier. This time, they finally managed to set up their stall back in its original spot.

The sky brightened completely, but there was still no sign of the tyrant. The Cao Family breathed a sigh of relief.

But clearly, they had sighed in relief too soon.

During the peak rush of customers, the tyrant reappeared.

And this time he brought several helpers, each carrying a club. Without a word, they stormed in, flipping tables and smashing stools.

The new things the Cao Family had just bought were once again smashed to smithereens.

The heartache was so great that Mrs. Wang forgot her fear and lunged forward to fight the tyrant to the death.

The tyrant was accidentally scratched, which infuriated him. He didn’t hit Mrs. Wang, but instead turned and broke Cao Fugui’s leg.

This was like a death blow to Granny Cao and Old Man Cao!

They didn’t dare to rush forward. They just sat on the ground, crying and shouting, even threatening to report it to the authorities.

Someone in the crowd then enlightened them about the tyrant’s connection to the Bai Family.

When the Cao Family heard the tyrant had a powerful backer in the county seat, they didn’t dare make another peep. They loaded the leg-broken Cao Fugui onto a handcart and fled with their tails between their legs, as fast as they could.

"We’ve scouted all the suitable spots in town, and South Town is the best, whether it’s the location or the customers’ spending power... The Cao Family definitely won’t dare to set up their stall there again. Besides, I’m afraid Cao Fugui’s leg won’t be healing anytime soon."

"Serves them right!" Widow Xie cursed hatefully after hearing the story.

An indescribable satisfaction also filled Hu Liang’s anxious heart.

The gloom that had previously hung over the entire Hu Family was swept away.

However, after the initial joy came an even greater sense of loss.

"Once Cao Fugui’s leg heals, they can still go somewhere else. Even if the location isn’t as good as South Town, they’re the only ones in town selling it. No matter how bad business gets, I imagine it won’t be *that* bad..."

Hu Liang looked at Ji Huan. "Should we go find that Bao Puzi again...?"

Ji Huan shook her head. "No."

Hu Liang was confused. Then why had she sent him to find Bao Puzi before?

"How were you so sure before that Bao Puzi would help us?"

At the mention of this, Ji Huan couldn’t help but laugh.

"You remember, right? Before the new year, he lost to us when he tried to take our stall spot. Afterward, even his little thugs didn’t dare come collect protection fees. I thought it was strange, so I made a point to ask around. It turns out Bao Puzi heard something from Wang Shun and mistakenly thought we had a powerful backer."

That Wang Shun was an interesting one, too. He would take a detour every time he saw her.

Once or twice would have been nothing, but it happened every time. After some thought, Ji Huan realized it must be because she was basking in Zhen Jili’s reflected glory.

If Zhen Jili was the fox borrowing the tiger’s might, then she was the little sparrow hiding behind the fox.

As for who the tiger was, was there any need to guess? It had to be General Kou, of course.

Ji Huan was happy to let this misunderstanding continue. Having a backer and no trouble—only a fool wouldn’t like that.

"Why did he help us? First, he thought we had a backer, so he didn’t dare refuse. Second, you made it clear to him that the Hu Family wouldn’t be in the hot and spicy soup business anymore. By getting rid of someone for us, he could also get a good stall spot and curry favor with our ’powerful backer.’ Why wouldn’t he do it?"

"But... we don’t actually have a backer, do we?"

Widow Xie was a little uneasy.

’Isn’t this deceiving people? What if we’re exposed? That tyrant might come back and cause trouble.’

"From start to finish, I never once told him we had a backer. He assumed it all on his own. Who’s to blame for that?"

Ji Huan’s attitude was completely shameless.

Besides, while she didn’t know General Kou, she had his private token. Zhen Jili had even said it could be used as a backer in a critical moment.

’I just don’t know what General Kou’s situation is in the Capital City right now. Has he been overthrown?’

’If he has, then the private token is useless, and I can’t be a sparrow borrowing a tiger’s might anymore.’

"Since he mistakenly thinks we have a backer, why don’t we just go along with the mistake and find him again..."

In Hu Liang’s view, there was no difference between cooperating once and cooperating twice.

But Ji Huan was firm on this, her words sharp and decisive.

"Using him to deal with the Cao Family was a matter of each party getting what they needed. It takes a villain to deal with a villain. But once the goal is achieved, it’s best we go our separate ways and withdraw in time."

"Even a lifelong falconer can get his eyes pecked out by a falcon. By the same token, a vicious dog can be useful, but you must not run with its pack."

"Otherwise, the final outcome will be one of two things: either you become a vicious dog yourself, or you end up as a meal on its plate."

Ji Huan looked at Hu Liang and said seriously:

"What I did this time was a dirty trick. I had you go and watch the whole thing because I wanted you to understand something: you can’t be so weak that people can bully you, but you also can’t be all reckless impulse. It’s okay to get physical, but you have to pick your moments.

One situation is when you strike second, but with just cause. Take the Cao Family this time. You could have occupied the moral high ground and won everyone’s sympathy, but you threw one punch and lost everything.

Then there’s Bao Puzi’s situation. He can act unscrupulously because he has a backer. Regardless of how reliable that backer is, or whether his actions are right or wrong, at least he knows when to act tough and when to back down."

As understanding dawned on Hu Liang, his face filled with shame.

Widow Xie pointed at him and said, "You listen carefully! Don’t just eat without growing a brain! Next time you hit someone, pick the right moment. If you can hit them, hit them to..."

"Aunt Xie, Aunt Xie..." Ji Huan quickly stopped her. "Um, we can’t always rely on using violence to stop violence. Otherwise, wouldn’t we become tyrants just like Bao Puzi?"

Widow Xie was confused. "So, are we supposed to fight or not?"

Ji Huan smiled mysteriously. "The fighting is already over. Next, we’ll do something a little more civilized."