?63: Chapter 63: Dead Dog 63: Chapter 63: Dead Dog Watching Liu Hun beat down ten people, the surrounding villagers grew bold, crowding around to settle scores—those with grievances shared them, and those without simply snuck in a few cheap shots.

    “Get up!” Liu Hun kicked Huang Qing’s rear and yelled.

    Slippery as an eel, Huang Qing had only taken three hits before, but those had been enough to knock the wind out of him.

    He struggled to his feet, only to have someone spit a thick glob of phlegm on his face.

    “Huang Qing, do you think your mutt was worth any money?” Liu Hun asked, staring down at him.

    Shivering, Huang Qing wiped his face and stammered, “No...

    it’s worthless.”

    “How could that be?

    A dog of rare breed can’t be worthless!

    I killed your dog, shouldn’t I compensate you for that?” Liu Hun continued, his tone deadly serious.

    The more Huang Qing heard, the colder he felt, as if Liu Hun in front of him was a temple demon.

    Once unable to handle ten men, now it was they who had been dealt with by him.

    No longer daring to ask for money, he just wanted to take his life home safely.

    “Big brother!

    My Lord!

    Ancestor!

    Please, I beg you, it was all my fault.

    I was blind, calculating against you.

    I will never dare again.”

    Liu Hun bought a long hemp rope from a villager and threw it in front of Huang Qing, saying, “We need to make compensation!

    Listen to me, you’ll earn your money back!

    Take this and tie up your brothers and the dogs you brought, leaving one section out.”

    By now, Huang Qing understood the status, honestly doing as Liu Hun instructed, tying up all his cohorts at the column where Liu Hun had sold oranges, and then handing the remaining rope to Liu Hun.

    Liu Hun took the rope and twisted Huang Qing’s arm behind his back, immediately binding his hands.

    Huang Qing yelped in pain, his cries causing the others to also struggle and pull on the rope, creating a tug-of-war, much to the amusement of the onlookers.

    Then, Liu Hun kicked the dead dog in front of Huang Qing and said, “Your rare dog is worth only a small knife.

    You and your brother yell out here and sell it, anyone who wants to buy it and gives you a knife can save you.

    What do you think of my idea?”

    Dare Huang Qing say “no”?

    He quickly nodded and bowed in gratitude, acting as if Liu Hun had saved his ancestors.

    “Brilliant!

    Brilliant!

    Today I’ve seen something new; these two fools finally got what they deserved!

    I’ll stay right here and watch to see who wants to buy!”

    “Don’t joke!

    I’d actually give him a chopstick!

    Let him poke around with it and see how long he lasts!”

    “That man selling oranges really is something!

    Don’t know which village or shop he’s from?

    Today, he really helped us vent our anger!”

    “Liu Hun from Wanbao Village!

    Did you know that?

    If you didn’t know before, now you do!

    And in the future, he will do even bigger things!

    Keep your eyes peeled!”

    Qin Yue, carrying an empty bamboo basket, chatted and laughed as she followed Liu Hun away.

    “Wanbao Village?

    Isn’t there a local opera being performed soon?

    Hey!

    We should check it out, it’s the highlight of the year and a chance to learn more about this talented man!”

    “...”

    After Liu Hun and the others left, Huang Qing and his people caused another spectacle, fighting over the rope like dogs, until Lin Degui sent someone to rescue them.

    Since then, the two local thugs gained a new nickname—”Dead Dog Huang.”

    Back in Wanbao Village, several women thought Liu Hun’s method of selling oranges was absolutely brilliant and planned to continue using it.

    However, Liu Hun disagreed.

    “What?

    You disagree?

    Why not, wasn’t it selling well?” Qin Yue was quite puzzled by his thoughts, thinking it was a great method.

    Liu Hun smiled at the women and said, “That method can be used only once.

    Think about it, if people find out we’re together, won’t the illusion be shattered?

    Although many people come to the market, after dealing with the Huang brothers like that, everyone knows about us, everyone knows about our oranges from Wanbao Village.

    That method won’t work anymore.”

    The women thought it over and realized he was right, but they definitely wouldn’t be able to sell all the oranges this one time, which now posed a dilemma.

    Liu Hun continued, “There are two things right?

    First, these tangerines must be sold, sold out completely, and make sure the villagers see!” Indeed, that was exactly what Liu Hun meant, and he paused before adding, “Second is this village play.”

    Fen Ran asked Liu Hun, “Are you planning on taking this on yourself?” She really felt that what Ye Canghai did was inconsiderate, simply dumping everything onto Liu Hun.

    “Yes!

    I really do plan to take it on!

    But, I want to solve both issues at once,” Liu Hun addressed the women around him, then began explaining his thoughts, “The ancestral play in Wanbao Village isn’t just loved by the people of Wanbao Village; folks from the surrounding villages also want to join the excitement.”

    “People want to take advantage of this free event,” Qin Yue continued Liu Hun’s thought, her words revealing the pride of a Wanbao Village native, “But according to our village’s tradition, the stage area is so limited that once we fit our own villagers, there’s hardly any space left, and many can’t even catch a glimpse.”

    “This means money arrives when people arrive.

    This year let’s change the old ways,” Liu Hun said as he began to explain, “We’ll move the stage from the entrance of the village to the temple gate court.

    That way, more people can come to watch.”

    “My head’s all muddled as if it’s filled with paste, I totally didn’t get what you mean, Hunzi,” Bai Lian confessed, utterly confused about Liu Hun’s intentions.

    “You’ll understand when the time comes.

    For now, we need to work together on this,” Liu Hun’s face held a mysterious smile, as if he knew where treasure was hidden.

    “Just tell us what to do!” Fen Ran quickly said.

    “First, this matter must be kept a secret, known only among us here.

    Next, Sister Yue, go tell the village chief I’ll take care of the village play, and I’ll cover the expenses.

    We still have some time before the play starts, so we need to keep selling tangerines in town.

    This time, let’s sell them for one and a half each, as many as we can.

    The most important part is not the selling, but the promotion!” Liu Hun told the surrounding women, his words becoming murkier as he spoke.

    “Promotion?

    Promote what?” Qin Yue asked with a furrowed brow, unsure of what he was up to.

    “While you’re in town selling tangerines, you need to spread the word about our village’s stage this year.

    Although people always know about it from previous years, due to limited space not everyone who wants to come is able to.

    So, when you go to town this time, just say that this year our Wanbao Village’s stage will be big enough to accommodate everyone who comes.

    Just say this sentence, and nothing else,” Liu Hun instructed the women, feeling that if they followed his directions step by step, he could resolve this big worry.

    The women might not have fully understood what Liu Hun wanted to do, but they still had to listen to him; however, Fen Ran now had another question, “Hunzi, when we initially invited the Lin Family troupe to perform, they chose this spot.

    They have many traditions, where to set up the stage, when to burn incense; all are dictated by them.

    If we arbitrarily change the location, what if the Lin Family troupe disagrees?

    What do we do then?”

    Had Fen Ran not reminded him, Liu Hun would’ve indeed forgotten this issue.

    The troupe had many rules, and sometimes money alone couldn’t smooth things over.

    After thinking, Liu Hun decided, “Just do as I said, and I’ll personally pay a visit to the Lin Family troupe!”

    The next day, early morning, Liu Hun rode a tractor provided by Shi Bingyu to the nearby East Town.

    The town had a quaint charm, reportedly with a long history and home to some notable people.

    However, now it was most famous for the town’s troupe—the Lin Family troupe.

    Liu Hun asked around and found the Lin Family troupe, which was located in a grand mansion, a landlord’s residence from many years ago.

    “Bend lower!

    Lower!

    What, do you have donkey ears?

    Can’t you understand what I’m saying?” A square-faced young man sternly pressed down on a teenager.

    “What are you doing?

    Let go!

    You’re going to hurt him, he only just arrived a few days ago.

    Is this necessary?” A young woman with braided hair snatched the teenager from the man’s hands, comforting him softly in her arms until his sobs ceased.

    “Look, little junior sister, a crooked tree needs straightening.

    I’m just looking out for him!” the man said proudly to the woman, his words followed by a chorus of agreement from the surrounding disciples.

    “Everything needs a process, you have to take it slowly.

    What if you actually hurt the boy?” The woman was visibly dissatisfied, already weary of her senior brother’s attitude.

    “Oh!

    Are you trying to teach me a lesson now?

    Little junior sister, it’s not your place to lecture me.

    We in the troupe value strength.

    Either show your strength and beat me, then I’ll listen to whatever you say, or else... you really shouldn’t meddle,” the man said arrogantly, his head tilted up like a turtle just emerging from water, his eyes gazing at the sky.

    “What do you want to compete in?” The woman was instantly angered.

    “Hey!

    Feeling riled up?

    If we are to compete, let’s test our strength!

    Strength is essential on the stage for handling weapons; arm wrestling is the best test of arm strength.

    Are you game?” The man challenged the woman.

    “You...” The woman’s face turned bright red, clearly aware she was no match for the man in that area.