Chapter 8

Wang Tiezhu chuckled, “Of course, I even remember that Xiangxiang-jie has a mole there!”

“Aiya, Tiezhu, you…”

Liu Axiang stomped her foot, blushing furiously. “You’re terrible! I’m not talking to you anymore!” With that, she hurried ahead in a fluster, while Wang Tiezhu smiled, adjusted the bamboo basket on his back, and followed her.

—

Early the next morning, Wang Tiezhu rode his old bicycle to the county town. The village was about 30 to 40 kilometers away, and the roads weren’t paved, just uneven dirt paths used for farming. It took him nearly two hours to get there.

By the time he arrived, it was past eight in the morning. Without stopping elsewhere, he went straight to the market. At this hour, many people were there buying groceries. He parked his bike, unfastened the bamboo basket from the rear seat, placed it on the ground, and started calling out to attract customers.

“Hey, come take a look!

Bear paws, bear heart, bear gallbladder, bear treasure—

Men who eat it will have a radiant glow and unstoppable vigor! Women who eat it will regain their youthful beauty, looking as fresh as ever!

Come, handsome men and beautiful ladies, don’t miss out! You won’t find this anywhere else!”

Bear paws and bear gallbladders were rare delicacies, so curious passersby gathered around to see.

“Whoa, look at those claws! Must weigh at least fifteen or sixteen jin!”

“This black thing is the bear treasure? Damn!

Looks like something from an African giant—over twenty centimeters long! If only I had that kind of size…”

People pointed and whispered, creating a lively scene, but none actually bought anything.

Instead of customers, a few troublemakers showed up.

“Hey, hey! Move aside! What are you all crowding here for? Don’t block traffic!”

A group of four or five young men in their twenties swaggered over, dressed in flashy clothes with cigarettes dangling from their mouths. They had a hooligan air about them, and each wore a red armband labeled “Security Officer.”

The leader, a skinny guy with dyed yellow hair, about 1.75 meters tall and as thin as a bamboo pole, swept his contemptuous gaze over Wang Tiezhu and sneered, “Kid, what do you think you’re doing?”

Wang Tiezhu replied calmly, “What else? Selling goods.”

“Hah!”

Yellow Hair snorted. “You’ve got some nerve. This area is under my control. Who the hell gave you permission to set up shop here?”

Wang Tiezhu glanced around. “Plenty of other vendors are here. Why are you only picking on me? If you want everyone to leave, fine, I’ll go too.”

“Hey, you little punk!”

Yellow Hair flicked away his cigarette, his eyes narrowing. “Are you deaf? This place belongs to me. If I say you have to leave, then you have to leave!

Do I need to ask your permission? Fuck off!”

Wang Tiezhu didn’t want to waste time arguing with thugs. He just wanted to make money and pay off his family’s debts. Without another word, he reached for his basket to put it back on his bike.

“Oh? Trying to leave just like that?”

Yellow Hair stepped forward, smirking. “Coming and going as you please—do you think this place is a public toilet?

Do you even respect me?”

“What do you want?” Wang Tiezhu asked coldly.

“Heh, what do I want?”

Yellow Hair sneered. “Leave the basket as a fine for disturbing public order. Since it’s your first offense, I’ll let you go this time.”

“Hah…”

Wang Tiezhu let out a cold laugh.

“What the hell are you laughing at?!”

Wang Tiezhu looked at Yellow Hair with disdain. “Are you a cop? Or a city officer? Fining me for ‘disturbing public order’—did you even see me causing trouble?

Even if I were, it wouldn’t be up to some street thugs pretending to be officials to enforce the law. Who the hell do you think you are?”

“You son of a—!”

Yellow Hair exploded in rage. “Alright, kid! You’re the first person who’s dared to talk back to me. You must have a death wish! If I don’t beat the shit out of you today, don’t call me ‘Big Rooster’—call me ‘Little Chick’ instead!

Boys, get him! Teach this punk a lesson!”

The four or five thugs cracked their knuckles and rushed forward.

“I dare any of you to try!”

Wang Tiezhu grabbed a large machete from his basket and roared, “I took down a goddamn bear, and you think I can’t handle a few useless nobodies?

Come on! If you’re not afraid to die, step up!”

His face was fierce, his aura intimidating, like a battle-hardened warrior. The thugs hesitated, shrinking back in fear.

Yellow Hair, furious and embarrassed, yelled, “What the hell are you afraid of?! There’s only one of him, and there are five of us! If we let him off, how will we run this place?

Whoever takes him down gets 5,000 yuan!”

Money makes the world go round.

The thugs hesitated but were tempted by the “huge sum.” Greed overcame fear, and they lunged at Wang Tiezhu with sticks and knives.

“Hmph, courting death!”

With icy determination, Wang Tiezhu didn’t back down—instead, he charged forward like a tiger into a flock of sheep.

In just a few moves, the four thugs were down on the ground, groaning in pain.

“Thud!”

Yellow Hair’s face turned ghostly pale. His men had been taken down in mere seconds.

He wasn’t stupid—he knew he wasn’t a match for this guy. Seeing the situation turn sour, he turned to run.

But Wang Tiezhu wasn’t about to let him escape.

“Stay right there!”

Yellow Hair froze in fear, gulping. Trying to keep his composure, he stammered, “W-What do you want?”

Wang Tiezhu toyed with his machete and said casually, “Didn’t you say you were gonna ‘deal with me’? Why are you leaving so suddenly?

That’s not very fair, is it?”

“You… You…” Yellow Hair stuttered, shaking. “This time… I’ll let you go! But next time, I won’t be so easy on you!

Now… just leave!”

“Hahaha…”

Wang Tiezhu laughed loudly. “What a joke! First, you won’t let me leave. Now, you’re telling me to go? Am I your servant, taking orders from you?

How about this—you let me slash you once, and we’ll call it even.”

Before Yellow Hair could respond, Wang Tiezhu raised his machete and swung it down.

“Ahhh!” The crowd gasped in shock.

Smack!

Yellow Hair felt a cold sensation on his neck. His legs gave out, and he collapsed to the ground. A warm, wet sensation spread beneath him.

His mind went blank.

“I’m gonna die!!!”