"What are you all standing around for? Go start the fire and make dinner!"
By now, Hong Zheng had also come to his senses. He set his aunt's matter aside and gave the order.
"Yes, yes, yes!"
The older and younger aunt hurriedly answered, then pulled his aunt along to the kitchen to get busy.
In the little courtyard, the evening glow spread a radiance like the rising sun.
Watching his family return to harmony, Hong Ming couldn't help smiling.
He hadn't forgotten the important matter, though. Turning to Hong Zheng, he asked, "Grandpa, what happened just now?"
Hong Ming's question was like a lifeline to the old man. Hong Zheng immediately launched into every detail.
As he described Qian Biao's wicked deeds, he piled accusation upon accusation, barely stopping short of burning incense for the man.
Hong Ming listened silently, making no comment and letting the old man vent.
When Hong Zheng had explained everything, Hong Ming asked, "How much did Ah Qiang pay back for our family?"
"Ten taels!" Hong Zheng said softly, his tone full of emotion. "A Ming, Ah Qiang really helped us out this time. You must never forget such a kindness."
"Don't worry, Grandpa. I know."
Hong Zheng didn't need to remind him. Hong Ming would never forget.
He glanced at the sky and considered for a moment. "Grandpa, I'm going to Ah Qiang's house. I'll be right back."
By then, Su Qiang had arrived home.
His younger brother, Su Sheng, and younger sister, Su Lan, had already prepared a feast and were waiting for him.
When the two saw Su Qiang, they hurried to their feet to welcome him. "Big brother, you're back! Come sit down. The food's ready—it's all your favorites. We made it especially to celebrate you joining the martial arts school!"
As they spoke, they led Su Qiang to the seat of honor.
Su Qiang's body was a little stiff, and his expression suggested he wanted to say something but couldn't.
"Big brother, what's wrong? It's such a happy day. Why the long face?"
Su Sheng poured Su Qiang a cup of wine. Seeing his expression, he paused mid-motion.
"Did something go wrong with your apprenticeship?"
At that, Su Lan froze with her chopsticks poised, then turned to look at Su Qiang.
Under his younger siblings' gaze, Su Qiang inexplicably felt a little pressure. His Adam's apple bobbed with difficulty as he forced out the words, "Nothing went wrong. I just didn't get to join."
"How could you not get in?" They both looked bewildered.
Su Qiang said quietly, "I spent all the money."
"The money's gone?"
The two of them froze. It was ten taels of silver! How could Su Qiang have spent it all at once?
Su Sheng pressed him, "Big brother, what did you spend it on?"
"I used it all to pay back Ah Ming's family's debt."
"What?!"
The two of them were shocked.
Su Lan asked in a tense voice, "When did Brother Ah Ming get into such a huge debt?"
"He got into debt when that shipment was lost. Later, he borrowed money at lamb interest to pay it back, and Qian Biao came to collect. I saw what was happening, so..." Su Qiang explained.
Su Sheng was furious. "You couldn't use the money to pay off his debt! You scraped together every last bit of that money for martial arts training, and now you've given it all to Ah Ming. How long will it take you to save it up again? You think his family will help? Dream on! By the time you're too old, even if you manage to scrape the money together, it'll be too late to join a martial arts school!"
His tone was thick with frustration at Su Qiang for failing to live up to expectations.
He'd done the same thing last time, and now he'd done it again. Su Qiang only ever thought about Hong Ming, never about himself.
The money for martial arts training was one thing. The chance to join a martial arts school was precious beyond measure. It wasn't enough to have money; age and aptitude mattered, too.
Su Qiang had only just managed to catch the tail end of the age limit and find a school willing to take him. And now the money was gone!
Ten taels of silver couldn't be scraped together in a day.
Once he was past the age limit, even if Su Qiang saved up enough, the school might not take him!
"Big brother, you fool!"
Su Sheng was so angry at Su Qiang's actions that he was at a loss for words.
Su Lan opened her mouth, but for a moment she didn't know what to say.
Su Qiang knew that Su Sheng was right. But he simply couldn't stand by and watch something happen to the Hong family.
The three siblings fell silent.
A perfectly good celebration had turned cold in the blink of an eye.
Then a brisk set of footsteps broke the stalemate. "Ah Qiang."
"That's Ah Ming!" Su Qiang recognized Hong Ming's voice.
He glanced at Su Sheng and hesitated briefly before rising to greet him.
Su Lan followed right behind. Seeing them, Su Sheng gave a cold snort and went outside as well.
When Hong Ming arrived, Su Qiang greeted him first. "Ah Ming, when did you get back?"
"Just now," Hong Ming replied with a smile, remembering to greet Su Sheng and Su Lan as well.
Su Lan gave a slight nod in response, but Su Sheng turned his head away.
Seeing this, Su Qiang couldn't help glaring at him.
Hong Ming noticed but didn't take it to heart. He got straight to the point. "Ah Qiang, I came to pay you back."
"Pay me back?" Su Qiang was taken aback.
Hong Ming nodded, took ten taels of silver from his clothes, and pressed them into Su Qiang's hand.
"Ah Ming, where did you get so much silver?" Su Qiang asked with a frown.
"Where else? I earned it!" Hong Ming replied matter-of-factly.
At that, Su Qiang's lips moved.
He wanted to ask how Hong Ming had found the time to earn so much money. But remembering what Qian Biao had said earlier, he swallowed the question.
"Fine, then I'll take the money."
Su Qiang didn't refuse. He really needed it. After putting the money away, he invited Hong Ming, "Ah Ming, have you eaten? If not, stay and eat at our place."
Hong Ming politely declined. After telling him that Hong Zheng and the others were already preparing a meal, he took his leave.
Watching Hong Ming go, Su Qiang glanced at Su Sheng and said evenly, "Come on. Let's go back and eat."
The tension between the brothers from just moments ago seemed never to have happened at all as they returned to the celebration.
Just like at the Hong family's home, warmth filled every corner, inside and out.
Laughter and cheerful voices rose into the night, as if they might pierce a corner of the darkness overhead.
The night hung heavy, like an iron weight pressing down on half the sky. Ink-black darkness swallowed most of the starlight.
Inside a house, a lamp flickered, straining to cast its glow over a table strewn with mess.
Qian Biao and his two men were enjoying the spoils of the ten-tael debt.
The clink of wine cups mingled with coarse laughter and curses, especially jarring in the silent night.
One of his lackeys asked anxiously, "Brother Biao, will Hong Ming really be driven out of the Water Army?"
Another lackey also looked worried. "That's right. What if he succeeds? After the way we treated him, then..."
"Hmph! Look at the pair of you, cowering like mice!"
Qian Biao put down his wine cup and snorted.
"Would I have dared go after the Hong family if I weren't absolutely certain?"
"Don't worry. I've already looked into it. Hong Ming's three-month deadline is less than ten days away. If he could've made it, he'd have done so already. The fact that he still hasn't means his hopes are completely dashed!"
He wiped the grease from the corner of his mouth, his gaze turning vicious. "Hong Ming is nothing to fear. In a couple of days, we'll gather our men and go collect the debt again. If they don't pay, the Hong family will regret it!"
After a pause, he picked up a chunk of fatty meat and smacked his lips before adding, "If anything, I'm more worried about Su Qiang."
"Su Qiang?" The two men were taken aback.
"That's right. I heard he's been trying to scrape together the money to join a martial arts school! If he succeeds, will there be any room for us to survive in Mudstone Alley?"
The two lackeys panicked. "Then what do we do, Brother Biao?"
"Relax. Didn't he hand over his martial arts money to us?" Qian Biao gave a sinister smile, a gleam flashing in his eyes.
With that money, maybe he could join a martial arts school himself!
Then he wouldn't just be a minor boss in Mudstone Alley. He could even take the Tiger Gang leader's seat for himself!
"Hm?"
As he indulged in his fantasies, Qian Biao suddenly noticed a figure standing before him.
Was it a double image?
No, that figure was standing upright!
In an instant, the drunken haze vanished from Qian Biao's mind. He jolted to his senses. "Who's there?!"
Bang!
Before you continue