Recovery, Conspiracy

Early the next morning.

Li Nian limped out of the breakfast shop, looked at the sun steadily rising, and could not stop sighing.

Compared to the bustling shops beside them, his own could be described as so deserted that birds could perch at the door.

"If this keeps up, even A-Chuan's one tael monthly basic food allowance will be in jeopardy, never mind that blasted Gate-Knocking needing even more silver..."

Li Nian turned back.

Qin Sanfeng and Wang Xiumei, both wearing aprons, were staring eagerly at the passing pedestrians until their eyes nearly wore through.

Li Qing wiped the tables over and over.

Yet no matter how brightly he polished them, it was of no use.

"Xiumei, don't make any more steamed buns if they haven't been prepared. We'll eat them ourselves, then everyone can go back and rest."

Weariness filled Li Nian's voice.

Wang Xiumei's gaze drifted uncertainly.

"Father, are we closing the breakfast shop? Then where will A-Chuan's martial arts money come from?"

Li Nian let out another long sigh.

"Even if we wanted to stay open, we couldn't. Preparing ingredients costs money too, and we can't sell them. What else can we do?"

Grandmother Lin Shi silently kneaded the dough, but she no longer had the strength she usually did.

"Old Li, give me two steamed buns. It's been ages since I had breakfast from your place—I've been craving it terribly!"

A middle-aged man strode in from outside and called out loudly.

"Liu Zi? You're not afraid of Liu Hu..." Li Nian froze slightly.

Thinking of how cowardly Liu Zi had always been, yet was now disregarding Liu Hu's threats to support their business, emotion welled uncontrollably in Li Nian's heart.

What was neighborly affection? This was it!

"What are you thinking, Old Li? Our friendship hasn't reached that level. If Liu Hu were still around, I guarantee I wouldn't even spare this place a glance!"

Li Nian's face darkened. He glared at him and was about to curse.

"You little... Wait, what happened to Liu Hu?"

Liu Zi grabbed a steamed bun and stuffed it into his mouth, speaking indistinctly.

"Liu Hu's dead. Last night, he and his wife were burned to death in their house!"

"Tsk, tsk, you have no idea how miserable it was. They say that after the fire was put out, they didn't even look human anymore!"

Li Nian went blank for a moment and muttered.

"Liu Hu is dead... Who did it?"

Liu Zi rolled his eyes at him.

"How would I know? Maybe the Iron Tiger Gang came to retaliate, maybe someone came seeking revenge. Either way, he had plenty of enemies!"

Liu Zi left soon afterward.

His place was quickly filled by someone else.

Liu Hu often came through these streets to extort petty gains, and bullying men and abusing women was commonplace for him.

Now that news of his death had spread, it quickly flew through the neighborhood!

"Old Li, three sesame flatbreads!"

"Xiumei, it's been so long since I've had the noodles you make!"

"San Feng, get me a cup of water. I haven't had steamed buns in days—I'm getting a little choked up!"

One familiar voice after another rang out as many neighbors came to their door one after another.

Every one of them bought more than usual.

First, the Li Family Shop used generous ingredients for its breakfast and never cut corners, earning itself a good reputation.

Second, everyone wanted to help them get back on their feet.

The bond among neighbors might not have been enough to support them in standing against Liu Hu, but everyone was more than willing to do whatever good they could within their power.

The smile on Wang Xiumei's face had not faded once since the beginning.

Li Qing had been lifting stones at home for several days, and now his strength finally came in handy.

The noodles he carried over were quick and steady; by himself, he could match three assistants!

Grandmother Lin Shi wiped away her tears with the back of her hand, then slammed the dough heavily onto the board and kneaded it with all her might.

"Today, I guarantee you'll have the chewiest noodles!"

Li Nian sat on a bamboo stool, no longer able to suppress the smile at the corners of his mouth, and burst into hearty laughter.

He hurriedly called over Li Chuan, who had approached.

"A-Chuan, come here. I have good news for you!"

Li Chuan acted as if he knew nothing.

"What good news?"

Li Nian beamed, then paused.

"Guess."

Li Chuan: "..."

Grandpa, you were already so old, yet you still played these little games!

Li Nian stroked his beard and smiled smugly.

"Couldn't guess, could you? Liu Hu is dead!"

"Liu Hu is dead? Who did it?!" Li Chuan let an appropriately shocked expression appear on his face.

Li Nian smiled in satisfaction.

"I heard it was a righteous hero eight feet tall, with arms hanging past his knees. If I ever meet him, I must kowtow to him."

Why was this story becoming more outlandish the further it spread?

Li Chuan said, "That won't be necessary."

Li Nian glared at him.

"You foolish boy, he did you a huge favor. You need to kowtow too!"

Li Chuan nodded helplessly in agreement.

When he got back, he would kowtow to the mirror.

After the joke, Li Nian grew serious.

"A-Chuan, I know you were worried about the family, which is why you took leave and returned early. Now that things at home are temporarily stable, you can go back to the Martial Hall and focus on training."

"I'll take care of all the household matters. You don't need to worry."

As he spoke, Li Nian stuffed one tael of silver into Li Chuan's hand, looking somewhat guilty.

"I know you'll need quite a lot of silver to knock on that gate soon. I wanted to save more for you, but because of Liu Hu's actions these past few days, this is all I have."

"It's enough, Grandpa." Li Chuan comforted him.

Liu Hu had already helped make up the missing silver.

"Go to the Martial Hall early. Don't keep thinking about home." Li Nian waved his hand.

"Chuan, wait!"

Wang Xiumei, who had been cooking noodles, ran over and tightly grasped Li Chuan's hand.

"I heard people say that when you knock on the gate, you need meat at every meal. One tael won't be enough. Take this."

Li Chuan opened his palm and saw another gleaming tael of silver.

"Mother, where did you get this?" Li Chuan asked in surprise.

"Don't worry about that. Hurry and go. Mother still has to get back to cooking noodles!"

Wang Xiumei patted Li Chuan, then ran back.

Li Chuan saw that the bracelet on his mother's wrist had vanished at some point.

It had been a betrothal gift from his father, Li Dahai.

Now that his father and eldest uncle had gone to perform corvée labor, it was likely one of Wang Xiumei's few remaining keepsakes.

Holding the two taels of silver in his hand, Li Chuan felt as though they weighed a thousand catties.

He silently made up his mind.

"I must knock on the gate as soon as possible, break through to Bright Force, and obtain a post on my own. I can't keep relying on my family to support me!"

A hidden dark room.

A gloomy man with his right arm wrapped in bandages angrily smashed a teacup onto the floor.

Crack!

The porcelain cup shattered and fragments flew in every direction.

"Song Jin of the Iron Tiger Gang, you go too far!"

The gloomy man rose to his feet, his tall figure completely blocking the candlelight.

He was none other than Cao Yan, leader of the Black Bear Gang!

Two underlings stood to one side, pale-faced and not daring to breathe loudly!

"Relying on their numbers, they've been nibbling away at my territory step by step. They're trying to force me onto a road with no escape!"

Cao Yan swept his cold gaze over the two men.

"Fortunately, Brother Zhou will return from Prefecture City before long."

At the mention of Brother Zhou's name, one of them trembled slightly, cold sweat appearing on his forehead.

That was a Dark Force expert!

No matter how powerful the Iron Tiger Gang was, how could it compare to Dark Force?

Cao Yan smiled, suddenly grabbed the sweating man, and punched him to death.

"You dog bastard, you betrayed me. This is your end!"

Cao Yan said casually.

"Qiangzi, how did Liu Hu's matter go?"

Qiangzi raised his head but did not dare meet Cao Yan's eyes.

"Liu Hu's house was burned down. I went to take a look—he and his wife were both charred!"

"Who did it?"

"Maybe the Iron Tiger Gang?"

Cao Yan's tone remained calm.

"If they had done it, they would only have hung Liu Hu's head before their gate to make a show of force against me."

"Go investigate what enemies he still had. Liu Hu worked for me; killing him is slapping me in the face."

Qiangzi hastily acknowledged the order and was about to leave.

"Wait." Cao Yan thought for a moment. "Did Li Nian's grandson go to Pine Wind Martial Hall to train?"

"That is true, but we investigated him. He's just a useless wastrel who drinks in flower houses. He shouldn't have that ability."

Cao Yan narrowed his eyes.

"Investigate him too. Send A-Liang to that shop instead; he has broken through to Bright Force."

"Yes, Boss!"

Qiangzi was about to leave.

"Wait. Don't call A-Liang after all. We need him now, and he can't spare the time. We'll deal with the shop later."