Xu Family's Fangs

Xu Mao's eyes slanted sideways as he swept Bai Jing up and down.

Seeing her skin plump and fresh as newly peeled lychee flesh, her waist swaying like a willow in the wind, a surge of heat stirred in his Dantian, and vulgar street talk was already dancing on the tip of his tongue.

But the middle-aged steward had sharp eyes, catching his intentions at a glance. He cupped his hands and said, "Forgive me, Lady Xu. My young master speaks bluntly; he was merely curious about that white cat."

Xu Mao glanced at his steward, caught the wink, and pursed his lips, letting it go.

"For someone from a prominent clan, you've got no discernment at all." A hint of mockery curled at the corner of Xu Mingxian's mouth.

"What did you say, brat!"

Hearing even a child dare to mock him, Xu Mao barked in fury and abruptly stood up.

"Are you, a grown man, going to argue with a six-year-old like me?"

By the time Xu Mingxian and Xu Mingshu were born, the Xu family's circumstances were no longer the poverty of their early days.

Xu Chuan, his wife, and the elder brothers all doted on them, leaving the children a bit mischievous and always speaking their minds.

The middle-aged steward smiled and asked, "Young master, you said earlier we have no discernment. What makes you say that?"

"What my sister's holding is a Fierce Tiger cub. Calling it a white cat—that's having eyes but no vision."

The middle-aged steward froze.

Xu Mao burst into loud laughter. "A Fierce Tiger cub? As if I've never seen one. Where's there a tiger with white fur?"

"Mistaking a white cat for a Fierce Tiger—no wonder you're Xu Chuan's kid."

Xu Mingshu grew angry too. She pointed at Xu Mao and said, "Little White, bite him."

Little White seemed to understand Xu Mingshu's words. Its crimson-gold eyes fixed on Xu Mao, glinting with menace.

It opened its mouth, revealing its not-yet-grown tiger fangs.

"Xue Ji, who are you going to bite!"

"I told you not to let Little White bite people whenever it wants!"

A casual voice came from outside the door.

Then Xu Chuan, Xu Mingwei, Sun Fugui, and Qian Youcai walked into the yard.

Outside the gate, seven or eight burly men in simple clothes stood by several flatbed carts.

On the carts were baskets piled high with Green Jade Pears.

"Father, you're back."

Xu Mingxian and Xu Mingshu shouted and ran toward Xu Chuan.

Bai Jing breathed a sigh of relief and broke into a smile. "Husband, you're back. Young Master Xu and his people have been waiting a while."

Xu Chuan nodded, looked at Xu Mao, and said with a smile, "Brother Xu, long time no see."

"Father, this man was just insulting you."

Xu Mingshu bared her little tiger fangs and tattled to Xu Chuan.

"You little girl." Xu Mao glared at Xu Mingshu, his face full of anger.

"Family Head Xu, my young master was only joking. Please don't take it to heart."

The middle-aged steward smiled apologetically, trying to smooth things over.

"Out of respect for Third Master, I naturally won't dwell on it. But today, my Xu family has much to attend to, so I won't be entertaining you."

The middle-aged steward's brow furrowed slightly.

Xu Mao, as if not catching the hint, sneered arrogantly, "As if you'd dare do otherwise!"

"Those are this year's Green Jade Pears outside, aren't they? Hand the pears over, and I'll overlook your daughter offending me. My Xu family isn't stingy—we won't short you on silver."

"Brother Xu, are you talking nonsense?" Xu Chuan chuckled, stroking Xu Mingshu's head. "Why would I give my pears to you?"

"My family runs a fruit shop in the county town. These Green Jade Pears are all going there for tomorrow's opening."

The middle-aged steward understood.

He knew they'd be leaving empty-handed today.

In years past, the Xu family had handed over their Green Jade Pears to the Xu clan only because they were biding their time under the clan's pressure.

"Xu Chuan, you dare refuse me? Are you trying to offend my Xu clan?!"

"That's a strange way to put it. If not selling you my goods counts as an offense, then would your Xu clan be willing to sell me the twenty acres of Medicinal Herbs you've cultivated at thirty percent below market price?"

"If so, we might just have a deal."

"Ridiculous!" Xu Mao laughed in fury.

The middle-aged steward, not wanting the relationship between the two families to sour further, quickly cupped his hands to Xu Chuan. "Since Family Head Xu already has plans for those Green Jade Pears, we won't impose any longer."

With that, he forcibly dragged Xu Mao away.

Xu Mao still wore a reluctant expression.

"Steward Wang, why are you pulling me away? That Xu Chuan doesn't know what's good for him—I was just about to teach him a lesson."

"With just the men we brought?" the middle-aged steward countered. "Even if we could teach him a lesson, if he won't sell, are we going to snatch them by force? Aren't you afraid he'll file a complaint at the county office, accusing us of stealing his Green Jade Pears?"

"If that happens, our Xu Family won't just suffer a heavy loss—we'll lose our good reputation across the entire region."

"This matter should be reported back to Third Master. Let Third Master, Second Master, and the Patriarch decide."

"Hmph!"

Spoken down by the middle-aged steward, Xu Mao could only return home reluctantly.

Xu Family Courtyard.

"That Xu Chuan really said that?"

Third Master Xu sat at the head of the hall. After hearing the steward's report, he stroked his beard and said, "Forget it. Since it's come to this, there's no use hoping anymore."

"I underestimated Xu Chuan. I thought he was just an honest, timid farmer."

"But as long as our Xu Family manages our other ventures well, we can still thrive."

He paused, then added, "By the way, Steward Wang, you said the Xu Family's fruit shop in the county town opens tomorrow?"

"Yes."

"Go find out more. Tomorrow, when it opens, deliver a congratulatory gift."

"We're both from Dongxi Village. We have to keep up appearances."

"Yes, Third Master." The middle-aged steward acknowledged and withdrew.

"As for you, stay home these days. Don't go out causing trouble. Sigh, our branch still has to rely on Gan'er."

"Yes, Father."

Xu Mao was still seething inside.

Xu Chuan used to bow before him like a bending reed, fold like rotten silk. And now, just a few years later, he dared to treat him like this?!

That foul air stuck in his throat, burning hotter than swallowing charcoal!

"Hmph, I can't deal with you, but I raised a good son."

"Gan'er is training at the Black Wind Martial Arts Hall with his Second Uncle. He's the most promising candidate in our Xu Family to become a First-class Martial Artist."

"Xu Chuan, your shop opens tomorrow, doesn't it? Let's see how you run it if trouble stirs."

Xu Mao didn't heed his father's words at all. He turned and rode off to Qingjiang County Town.

When the middle-aged steward learned Xu Mao had left the Xu estate, he immediately reported it to Third Master Xu.

Third Master Xu waved his hand and said, "Let him go to the county town to clear his head. As long as he doesn't provoke the Xu Family."

"I only hope the two families keep to themselves—well water and river water don't mix."

Xu Family.

"Shitou, you, Sun Fugui, and Qian Youcai take the Green Jade Pears to A Yuan. Go now."

"Okay, Father." Xu Mingwei nodded.

Xu Mingxian looked at Xu Chuan and asked curiously, "Father, why didn't you teach that Xu guy a lesson just now?"

"Yeah, Xue Ji hates him too. So does Little White."

"Awoo~" The little white tiger, patted on the head, chimed in.

"A man like him is just a termite in the Xu Family. If we let him hollow them out from the inside, collapse them, wouldn't that be more useful?"

Xu Chuan's lips curled with three parts of confident amusement. "Besides, Father has a use for him. Tomorrow, I'll take you to the county town to watch a good show. If possible, we might even vent this anger."

Xu Chuan patted both their heads and added, "It's not noon yet. Go practice your punches a bit more."

"Father, didn't we practice this morning?" Xu Mingshu pouted unhappily.

Xu Chuan put on a stern face and said nothing.

Seeing that, the two could only obediently start throwing punches in the courtyard.

The little white tiger escaped Xu Mingshu's clutches.

It lay down on the corridor, yawned, and basked lazily in the sun.

Half a month had passed, and it had grown used to its new life, listening well to Xu Mingshu's commands.