Chapter Twelve: Settling Scores

  When going out, fresh clothes and proud horses; when coming back, however, they are covered in mud and look disheveled. The butterfly-like flower (a nickname for someone) wailed miserably as she rushed back home, throwing herself into the arms of Zhang Lao Yuan Wai, who was shocked and at a loss, and burst into loud sobs.

  As soon as he saw his grandson's appearance, Zhang Lao Yuanwai was shocked and lost color. For a moment, he was so heartbroken that the sky and earth were dark, and he hugged his grandson tightly to comfort him. Then, he pushed him away half a step and quickly examined him from head to toe to see if he was injured. The old woman who rushed over upon hearing the news also wailed loudly, her heart aching with no way to express it. As a result, the entire Zhang family's old mansion was in an uproar for a while. After confirming that his grandson was not hurt at all, Zhang Lao Yuanwai stood up straight, glared with his eyes wide open, and scolded the house slaves who followed him out: "What are you people eating? You were told to protect the young master well, is this how you protect him?"

  Don't let those insolent slaves explain, shout loudly, "Come on, take these useless dogs out and beat them severely, after beating, throw them into the backyard water dungeon for three days to serve as a warning."

  Those originally disheveled house slaves, upon hearing such punishment, were so frightened that they nearly lost their souls. Not to mention the severe beating that would inflict further injury, even three days in a water dungeon would be enough to take their lives. At that moment, each of them fell to the ground, tightly embracing Old Master Zhang's legs, wailing and begging for mercy, knocking their heads against the marble floor until they bled. Some clever ones quickly added details to explain what had happened with Lv Shi and Zhao Dahai. However, Old Master Zhang was too enraged to listen carefully, only catching a general idea. He was so furious that his seven apertures were smoking, and he immediately kicked those wailing house slaves to the ground, shouting: "You really have eaten the heart of a bear and the gallbladder of a leopard! How dare you disturb the peace on my roof? Isn't this turning the heavens upside down?"

  He snatched up the teacup on the table and slammed it down, jumped up in anger, shaking his whole body with rage, shouting: "I'll take care of you, monk Yicheng, come on, hurry up and get the village brave to start a fight, don't need to report to the officials, settle the score with that little brat right here and now, avenge my grandson!"

  Outside the gate, the Zhang family's servants responded loudly, and immediately the entire Zhangjiabao was in an uproar, with chickens flying and dogs barking, shouting and killing.

  "Slow down, slow down, sir, please calm your anger." The three stewards rushed forward to stop the enraged master and hastily said, "Sir, please calm down and listen to my explanation."

  Zhang Lao Yuan Wai was like a furious lioness, waving her arms and staring with bloodshot eyes: "Your brother is useless, what's the point of this? Come with me, catch that stinky goods and take revenge on my grandson."

  "Master, master, please don't be rash, listen to my words." The steward who received the news also rushed in, embracing Zhang Lao's arm and begging him to calm down for the time being.

  The steward, after all, is a close relative of the Zhang family and has been working hard for the Zhang family for many years, so his words still carry some weight. Old employee couldn't help but give him some face. So, panting heavily and stomping his feet, he said: "Alright, what's on your mind? Hurry up and speak!"

  The young master returned in disarray, and Zhang, the head steward, witnessed it with his own eyes. He was shocked and wondered who this bold person was that dared to offend the precious son of the Zhang family. He hastily approached to ask what had happened, but the young master was already too busy crying and throwing a tantrum to speak clearly. The head steward quickly grabbed one of the servants who followed him, whose nose was blue and face swollen, and asked about the cause and effect of the situation. At that moment, he was also furious in his heart - how could this be? A monk from outside dared to shout like this, did he not have eyes to see the mighty Zhang family? This wind cannot continue to blow, and at that time, he wanted to kill or beat someone, but the third steward who followed him pulled him back and whispered something in his ear. At that moment, the head steward stopped jumping up and down and shouting. If it were true what the third steward said, then the monk would really bring about a disaster, destroying the windmill. Although Zhang Lao Yuan Wai didn't care about the output of this land, the Zhang family's fields in this area would truly have no hope if things went on like this. His own family relied on these fields to make a living, so this wouldn't do. Taking care of the Zhang family's affairs was one thing, but when it involved his own interests, that was another matter altogether. This couldn't be allowed to happen, or Zhang Lao Yuan Wai would end up losing everything.

  Thinking of this, what else can be done? Hurriedly rushed over to see the master. As soon as I entered the house, I saw the master in a thunderous rage, and it was just in time, otherwise it would have been an irreparable mistake.

  After saying that, with a stern expression, he expressed his own thoughts, of course, on the premise that everything was for the sake of Master Zhang's consideration. Then, with a humble and obedient attitude, he asked Old Master Zhang: "Master, wouldn't you reconsider?"

  Those village braves are already waiting outside the door with knives and guns, just waiting for Lao Yuanwai's thunderbolt to rush out and capture people.

  But after a heavy gasp, there was no thunder and lightning as expected by Ding. Sneaking a peek, Zhang was actually holding his beard with his eyes closed and not speaking.

  After a while, Zhang Lao Yuan Wai suddenly clapped his hands on the armrest and applauded loudly. "What a great monk, what a wonderful technique! In just one short moment, he has displayed all sorts of tactics, from intimidation to temptation, and even showed off his martial arts skills. I've really never seen anyone like this before, I truly admire him with all my heart!"

  The three stewards hastily bowed their heads and flattered: "A small trick can't escape your old man's law eyes, it's just a rough man."

  Zhang Lao Yuan waved his hand and stopped the flattering words that were pouring in like a tide. He slowly began to walk on the ground, lowering his head without speaking.

  After calming down, Mr. Zhang naturally began to consider the pros and cons of this matter. As an old man who had become wise with age, he was able to think out Lu Shi's various tricks and tactics after some deliberation.

  First, he grasped the unique skill to blackmail, and then let you see that he was very capable of fighting. With just a hundred village warriors, he could kill his way out of encirclement and escape easily. Everyone would disperse after a brief confrontation. Moreover, there was also that scoundrel official Zhao Dahai meddling in the affair, making him somewhat concerned about himself. Most importantly, his family had several thousand acres of land to irrigate, and without this windmill, it would be impossible. This was indeed grasping at his own lifeline. For a moment's anger, he would let himself lose tens of thousands of stones of grain, which truly pained him.

  Think of another way? Not impossible, relying on the power of his son, this kid is like a monk running away from the temple, but no matter what, as long as this monk is missing, the windmill really can't be turned by these people. For such a slippery character, Old Man Zhang really had no solution at all.

  After some deliberation, he stomped his foot and said, "Fine, enduring temporary humiliation is a long-term consideration. Let him have his way for now, and we'll see how I deal with you in the fall."

  At this point, Zhang Lao Ye suppressed the resentment of being bullied by his grandson and restored his original demeanor, saying in a low voice: "Lao Erjia's family, go organize the tenants to start digging the canal, at the price of 10 cents per mu."

  Then he turned to his crying grandson, who was still wailing and demanding that his grandfather avenge him: "Good grandson, don't be humiliated anymore. It's those family slaves who are being beaten, but they still gave us face. Look, isn't this good? Okay, stop crying. Another day I'll take you to Yan'an Prefecture to find your mother, and let your father find some clever and nimble ones to take you to play in the Yan'an flower world, okay?"

  That young master heard that he could go to Yan'an, and at the time he burst into tears of joy, happily saying: "Then can I go to Yan'an's Xiangxiang Pavilion to drink wine?"

  "Alright, this time Grandpa is in charge, and even your father can't control you."

  "Then can I still go to the Jade Treasure Temple and play a couple of tricks?"

  "Who knows, maybe one day my dear grandson will really bring back a lot of money for me."

  "Alright, how about going there tomorrow?"

  "Go, and it will be clear tomorrow." Then he looked at his grandson, who was tearful but already overjoyed, running out.

  This is a big surprise for the master of the house, when did his own old man become so easy to talk to? He didn't want to mess things up, but he didn't expect it to end with such a light and easy result, how did his family's old man change his temper?

  At this time, Zhang Lao Ye, who had thought it through, lay on the chair and said calmly: "This windmill, we can't build it without that monk, but he's also very stubborn. He'd rather burn everything to ashes than let us get what we want. Hmph, it's better not to push people to desperation. When that happens, they'll just clap their hands and scatter, leaving us with nothing. We have thousands of acres of land, if we agree to his demands and irrigate day and night, the autumn harvest will be a good one, yielding tens of thousands of stones of grain. That's real gold and silver! Be patient, after the autumn harvest, everything will still be in our hands." Then he closed his eyes and fell asleep peacefully on the chair.

  Several servants saw this and slowly exited in silence.

  It was only San Guanjia who noticed that the old master's hands were tightly grasping the armrests of his recliner, clenched so hard they turned white. This was also the first time the Zhang family had been cornered like this. It seemed that this matter wasn't over yet. Thinking of this, San Guanjia couldn't help but shake his head and silently sigh in his heart, hoping that the monk could live a bit longer, and he himself would be able to rest easy.

  Just as San Guanjia had expected, Zhang Lao Yuanwai was actually more angry in his heart under the calm appearance, only to complete what he thought in his mind, pretending to be generous.

  After everyone left, he suddenly stood up, his face flushed with anger, standing in front of the window, his two hands tightly grasping the windowsill, his eyes gazing in the direction of the windmill. With a hateful tone in his heart, he said: "You outsider, bullying my dear grandson like this, and with such great audacity, using your windmill to threaten me, the Zhang family! Don't you know that the hundred-year foundation of the Zhang family can be offended by just a small ant like you? Wait and see how my water prison will serve you in autumn. And you, Zhao Da Hai, thinking that with just a little fame as a hundred-household name, knowing a few sticks, you can use your influence to bully me on this land of mine! If you're sensible, just stand by and watch. But if you still don't know what's good for you, I'll make sure you disappear in an instant."

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