Huliang went to find his cronies, but instead of heading to the Zhang family in the same village, he went to the Gou family in the neighboring village.

Gou Sheng was also at home nursing his injuries. Although his face wasn’t swollen, he had been beaten several times by Shao Qingyuan the day before and was in a lot of pain.

When Huliang arrived, Gou Sheng was sitting in the yard, staring blankly at the sky.

“Gou Sheng, come with me. I didn’t expect our chance for revenge to come so soon.”

“What revenge?”

“The Gu family’s brat has offended the Peng family. The Peng family won’t allow them to build their house and said they will destroy it. Let’s go and destroy it now. We can even go to the Peng family afterwards and claim credit, maybe get some reward money.”

He repeated the story he heard from Jin Yuexiang, and Gou Sheng was stunned for a moment before being pulled up from his stool by Huliang.

“Hurry up, let’s go and call Dacai. The three of us will go together.”

“Dacai isn’t at home, he went out to find work.” Gou Sheng said. Dacai’s family only had him and his mother. His mother was old, and the five taels of silver owed to Gu Yundong could only be solved by him alone.

Huliang frowned, “Then let’s go just the two of us.”

Gou Sheng was puzzled, “Why don’t you go find Zhuangzi?”

“Ah, don’t mention that turtle’s grandson to me. He didn’t help me yesterday, and he even advised me not to cause trouble for that stinky brat. What’s the difference between him and his cowardly parents? I won’t take him with me in the future. Let’s go, hurry up.”

Just as Huliang was about to pull him along, Gou Sheng’s father, Zhao Zhu, returned.

He was a burly man, and Huliang was actually somewhat afraid of him.

Zhao Zhu looked at Gou Sheng, “Where are you going? Stay at home and nurse your injuries.”

Huliang sneered inwardly, disregarding the authority of a father. What’s the use of being a father if your son doesn’t listen to you?

But just as he thought this, Gou Sheng, surprisingly, lowered his head and replied, “Got it, Dad. I won’t go out.”

Huliang widened his eyes in disbelief. Had Gou Sheng been possessed?

The relationship between Gou Sheng and his father was as deep as the sea. When Gou Sheng’s mother died, his father remarried. It was too easy for a stepmother to abuse a child who was only a few years old.

Moreover, Zhao Zhu was not good with words and believed in the principle of raising a filial son under the stick. The two of them didn’t communicate, and when Zhao Zhu found out about this, their relationship had already irreparably broken down. Even though the stepmother had been divorced, Gou Sheng still regarded his father as an enemy and preferred to steal and cause trouble outside rather than return home.

Today, when his father ordered him with a stern face, he didn’t confront him.

Not only that, he even advised Huliang, “These are all rumors. Just listen and forget about it. That brat from the Gu family is tough. You’d better not get involved.”

Huliang shook off his hand in anger. “You’re a coward too. Fine, if you won’t go, I will.”

He turned and left, returning to the village and heading straight to Gu Yundong’s homestead.

But when he saw so many laborers working there, he suddenly felt timid as he was alone.

After walking around the homestead, Huliang didn’t find an opportunity to act.

Suddenly, a bright idea struck him. He could go find Master Peng. He happened to know a servant from the Peng family who did chores. He could tell Master Peng that Gu Yundong not only didn’t stop building the house, but also threatened the Peng family, saying that they would regret it. He even claimed to have the county magistrate as his backer.

He was very good at exaggerating, and he was sure to make Master Peng furious and get Gu Yundong killed.

He couldn’t do it himself, but he could use someone else to do it. Maybe Master Peng would be pleased and even reward him with some silver. Killing two birds with one stone.

Excited by the idea, Huliang turned around and walked towards the village.

But just as he reached the village entrance, he saw someone ahead also hurrying towards the county town.

Upon closer inspection, wasn’t that… the wolf cub?