Chapter 26: Someone Comes to Make Trouble

Li Jingsui was also waiting for news. He had his own reasons for sending Zhang Defu to deliver gifts to Yang Lian. No sooner had he returned to the Prince Qi's residence than Zhang Defu received word and hurried over.

"Your Highness," Zhang Defu greeted him, then described everything that had happened in detail, down to the minutest particulars. Li Jingsui stroked his beard, nodding repeatedly. From what Zhang Defu relayed, it seemed Yang Lian indeed had weaknesses. After pondering for a moment, Li Jingsui said, "Defu, prepare the carriage. I am going to the Laifu Inn."

The Princess of Huairou appeared from somewhere, and upon hearing her father’s intention to go to the inn, she hastily said, "Father, I wish to go as well."

"You know very well you are a lady—how improper for you to show yourself everywhere!" Li Jingsui’s face fell, clearly displeased.

But the Princess of Huairou was not intimidated by him. She blinked her eyes and played her trump card, "Father, I..."

Li Jingsui was instantly vexed, knowing exactly what his daughter intended. If he refused, he would never make it out of the residence, and might be nagged the whole day. He surrendered at once, raising his hands, "Alright, you may go, but you mustn't speak too much."

The princess nodded obediently, gave a couple of reminders, and ran off to change clothes. Li Jingsui shook his head, resigned to let her have her way. His thoughts drifted to what his imperial brother had said; perhaps it was worth considering. Yet he wondered—who would be the one destined for her?

Li Shu felt utterly miserable. Not only had he lost his last few coins, he was now being pressed for debts. Given his family’s current circumstances, he had no means to repay twenty strings of cash. He wandered the street, dazed, when suddenly a large hand seized him firmly.

Li Shu’s scalp tingled and his face turned ashen. He never imagined that after running into Ba Ge, he would now encounter Zhou Tong. Zhou Tong, known as the "Little Tyrant," was leagues above Ba Ge. Ba Ge’s name merely carried the character for "tyrant," Wang Ba. Who knew what his father was thinking, giving him such a misleading name? But that was beside the point. The point was, Wang Ba was just a name.

Zhou Tong was different. He had relatives serving as officials in the capital, and reportedly quite prominent ones. Relying on those connections, Zhou Tong wielded considerable influence in the area. He made his living off high-interest loans and had squeezed much money from gamblers. There were tales of a few foolish men who tried to resist him, only to have their legs broken.

Such a man was not someone Li Shu dared provoke. He put on a forced smile, "Brother Zhou, what a coincidence, are you out strolling too?"

"Damn your luck! Who’s coincidentally strolling with you? I’m not in the mood. Let’s be honest, I came here for you." Zhou Tong slapped Li Shu hard across the face.

Li Shu reeled from the blow, needing a moment to recover. Still, he smiled obsequiously, "Brother Zhou, don’t worry, the five strings I owe you, I’ll repay in a few days."

"Five strings? It’s fifty strings now!" Zhou Tong bulged his eyes, the lumps on his face seeming to swell.

"What!" Li Shu shrieked. He had only borrowed five strings the day before; how could it have become fifty?

"What, you want to renege?" Zhou Tong, the Little Tyrant, glared, his eyes as large as a bull's, making Li Shu break out in cold sweat.

"No, I won’t renege," Li Shu replied, struggling under Zhou Tong’s intimidation.

"So when will you pay up?" Zhou Tong pressed.

"I—I’ll pay in a few days, I promise," Li Shu said, though his voice lacked conviction.

"And how will you pay? Do you think I don’t know you owe money to that Wang Ba as well?" Zhou Tong sneered. Seeing Li Shu’s startled face, he laughed, "Is there anything about the gambling den I don’t know? You can’t even pay him a few strings—how will you pay me fifty?" He tightened his grip on Li Shu’s hand.

Li Shu could hardly breathe, tears nearly squeezed out by the pressure.

"If you can’t pay me, then use the Laifu Inn as collateral," Zhou Tong barked. "That old man in your family only has you as a son. Sooner or later, the inn will be yours."

Li Shu was no fool. He quickly said, "Brother Zhou, I’m afraid that won’t do."

"Why not? Trying to renege again?" Zhou Tong shouted.

Li Shu grabbed Zhou Tong’s hand, "Ease up, let me explain."

Zhou Tong wasn’t afraid of tricks. He loosened his grip, "Go on."

"It’s like this," Li Shu panted, unaware that Prince Qi had visited Yang Lian—if he had known, he’d never have brought Zhou Tong here. In his mind, with Zhou Tong’s bullying ways, driving away Yang Lian from the inn was the best solution. At least Zhou Tong would stop hounding him for money.

Li Shu exaggerated Yang Lian’s misdeeds, depicting him as having seized the Laifu Inn by force. To make it convincing, he revealed the bruises from being thrown to the ground. His angry expression convinced Zhou Tong.

"Damn it, such a villain!" Zhou Tong declared righteously, embodying the role of a justice seeker, conveniently forgetting he had just been extorting Li Shu.

"Exactly, he’s truly despicable," Li Shu chimed in.

Zhou Tong felt Yang Lian was far too audacious—a newcomer to Jinling, yet so arrogant. As a native of the capital, he couldn't let this stand.

"Brother Zhou, if you reclaim the Laifu Inn, I’m willing to mortgage it to you," Li Shu said.

"Good, very good, let’s settle it that way. I want to see what sort of deity dares run wild in the capital," Zhou Tong snorted, waved his hand, "Lead the way."

Li Shu agreed, and Zhou Tong, followed by two henchmen, marched toward the Laifu Inn with great momentum.

Inside the Laifu Inn, Yang Lian had finished tallying Prince Qi’s congratulatory gifts. After instructing Zhao Peng and Wang Hu to store them in the rooms, Yang Lian began inspecting the inn, pointing out repairs and changes needed. Xiao Hei accompanied him, nodding continuously and noting the key points.

After half an hour of busy work, Yang Lian ordered Xiao Hei to find a carpenter and start renovations as soon as possible. As for the tavern next door, Yang Lian planned to buy it. Now that he had money, he felt like a nouveau riche, eager to buy up the whole street. But Yang Lian knew better—rapid expansion usually spelled disaster. He kept to a steady pace.

While pondering, someone outside shouted in a shrill voice, "Yang Lian, come out here!"

Wang Hu overheard and growled, "Who is so arrogant?" He strode out with vigor, motivated by the silver and cloth Yang Lian had just rewarded him. Yet he returned in haste.

"Master, trouble’s brewing," Wang Hu reported.

"Trouble? What is it? Don’t panic, tell me slowly," Yang Lian said calmly.

Zhao Peng also approached, "What’s happened?"

Wang Hu shook his head, "The Little Tyrant is here."

"The Little Tyrant? Is his name Zhou Tong?" Yang Lian smiled, remembering his studies of Water Margin.

"Oh, master, you know him? The Little Tyrant is indeed Zhou Tong," Zhao Peng replied, surprised.

"What a coincidence," Yang Lian smiled lightly. "Is there anything special about this Zhou Tong?"

Wang Hu grew nervous, "Zhou Tong is a street bully—he bullies men and women alike. All the neighbors despise him, but he has a relative who’s a high-ranking official, so no one dares cross him."

"Just like you?" Yang Lian stroked his chin, thinking. He was puzzled—he didn’t know Zhou Tong. Why had he come to make trouble? It made no sense.

Zhao Peng answered, "In some ways, yes. But he commands dozens, unlike us—we’re few and weak."

"Ah," Yang Lian understood. Zhou Tong was essentially a small-time gangster. Given Yang Lian’s temperament, if Zhou Tong sought him out, he would not be intimidated. He nodded, "Let’s go, see what he wants."

"Be careful, master. Zhou Tong knows how to fight," Wang Hu warned, walking ahead to protect Yang Lian.

Before they reached the door, Zhou Tong and his two men were cursing outside, attracting a crowd. Those who knew Zhou Tong were baffled—what was he doing at the Laifu Inn? The onlookers gathered in droves.

Stepping out, Yang Lian saw a sea of faces. He smiled inwardly; no matter the era, people loved a spectacle. Standing on the steps by the door, Yang Lian looked coldly at Zhou Tong, his tone sharp, "You are Zhou Tong?"

"That’s right, I’m the Little Tyrant Zhou Tong!" Zhou Tong declared loudly, emphasizing the title as if others didn’t know it.

Yang Lian’s expression remained unchanged. "Zhou Tong, you come to the Laifu Inn, shouting and making a scene—what is it you want?"

"What do I want?" Zhou Tong sneered, pushing Li Shu forward. "Fellow townspeople, everyone knows the Laifu Inn belongs to the Li family. Yet this man, relying on brute force, coerced old Li and seized the inn. Tell me, isn’t Yang Lian a bully?"

No sooner had Zhou Tong finished than someone in the crowd responded, "Exactly! Under the emperor’s nose, with the law so clear, someone dares seize property by force. He should be handed to the authorities and punished, see if he dares again!"

Yang Lian didn’t rush to speak. He scanned the crowd—though he couldn’t hear their whispers, he could tell their impression of him was poor.

With someone echoing his words, Zhou Tong’s momentum grew. He stepped forward and announced, "Though I lack great ability, I cannot stand by when someone commits evil in the capital. I will see to the Li family’s business!"

Yang Lian cast a contemptuous glance at him, thinking: Was Zhou Tong acting at Li Shu’s request, or did he have another motive?

Seeing Yang Lian silent, Zhou Tong assumed he was guilty and was keeping quiet out of shame. His confidence soared. "Yang Lian, will you hand over the inn’s deed willingly, or must I take it myself?"

"Come and take it, if you have the skill," Yang Lian finally replied, sharp and unwavering.