"Xiang Prefecture's Han Mo! You just wait!"
The location of the injury was too awkward to speak of, and his cronies were proving utterly useless.
This made Cai Shu's teeth itch with hatred, but for now, he could only retreat.
"Wait! You're not just going to leave, are you?"
Just as he was preparing to slip away, Han Mo grabbed him by the scruff of his neck.
"Brother Er, perhaps we should let it go..."
Seeing the growing crowd of onlookers, Chun Tao whispered.
"Let it go? How could it be that simple? If you don't compensate me with a thousand or eight hundred *guan*, I won't let you off!"
Han Mo lowered his voice, then stepped forward and lifted Cai Shu up.
His strength was immense, and Cai Shu, being from the south and of shorter stature, was instantly lifted off the ground.
Cai Shu flailed in the air but could do nothing against the long-limbed Han Mo.
"You, what else do you want?"
Seeing Han Mo's strange grin, Cai Shu felt an inexplicable fear.
"This robe I'm wearing, you've made it like this. You're not just going to walk away, are you?"
As Han Mo spoke, he dragged Cai Shu to the willow tree, which was now reduced to a half-broken branch.
He applied a little force with his right foot, and with a "crack," the remaining half of the tree stump flew into the Bian River.
At this point, Cai Shu finally understood. This brat was planning to rob him...
"A tattered robe, I, I'll pay!"
Looking at his subordinates still struggling on the ground, he could only endure it, as he was under someone else's roof.
"A tattered robe? This garment was personally sewn by my mother before she passed. Every stitch, every thread, holds her love. I only wear it on New Year's Day each year. You must compensate me with an identical one. If there is even the slightest difference, I will have you spill your blood five steps, even if it means banishment!"
Damn it!
Cai Shu was about to curse, but this tattered robe was already washed until it was almost white. Now he was claiming it was made by his mother.
His deceased mother...
How was he supposed to get an identical one?
Go underground and find his mother to sew another one?
Cai Shu knew he didn't have that capability, so he could only look at Han Mo with a crestfallen face: "Just tell me how much silver it will take for you to let this go?"
Cai Shu's face contorted with pain, but then a flash of ruthlessness flickered in his eyes.
He wasn't afraid of the demand for money. If he missed this opportunity today, wouldn't he find someone to take revenge for him later?
After all, it was happening in broad daylight, with so many people witnessing him accepting his money. Once the Kaifeng Prefecture reopened after the fifteenth, he could find someone to lodge a complaint!
As long as this brat ended up in the Kaifeng Prefecture, he had plenty of ways to deal with him!
"How much silver? How much do you think a memento left by my deceased mother is worth? Are you insulting me? Are you insulting my Han family of Xiang Prefecture?"
Cai Shu, who had been rather arrogant, instantly deflated. What a joke! Insulting a mere scholar might be overlooked, but who would dare provoke the Han family of Xiang Prefecture...
Just the dozens of banners proclaiming "Jinshi and Highest Honors" standing before their manor, along with the inscription personally written by Emperor Shenzong, "Pillar of State for Two Dynasties, Architect of Strategy."
Even his grandfather, Cai Jing, would have to dismount his sedan chair and walk to register upon arriving at the Han residence. How could he possibly respond to that?
"This young gentleman is quite interesting. With just a casual remark, he's cornered that Cai fellow!"
In the crowd, a woman wearing a veiled hat murmured softly.
"Sister rarely praises people. I wonder what good fortune this young gentleman has. Sister, won't you invite him for a chat?"
The young maid standing beside her giggled as she spoke.
"Invite him for a chat? I think that's a good idea. Xiao Ya, you've been with me for four or five years, and it's time to find you a suitable match. What do you think of this young gentleman?"
The veiled woman said with a soft smile.
"Sister, you always bully me. I'm not talking to you anymore!"
"Alright, stop fooling around. The Cai family is not to be trifled with. Let's see how he resolves this!"
After saying that, the woman looked back at the scene in the center with renewed focus. However, when a scholar watching the commotion looked in their direction, he felt that the woman looked so familiar.
But he couldn't recall where he had seen her before...
"Brother Wenji, look at that woman. Doesn't she resemble Miss Shishir from the Fan Lou?"
"Miss Shishir? Where?"
When the scholar looked again, the woman was nowhere to be seen...
"I, I didn't mean it that way. I only brought this much money today, all of it for you, all of it!"
Cai Shu was on the verge of tears. His pants behind him were already soaked with blood. All he wanted now was to go home. He quickly pulled off the money pouch from his waist and threw it at Han Mo.
"A mere trifle, and you think you can get away with it?"
As Han Mo spoke, his eyes began to appraise the accessories on Cai Shu's person.
It was a festive day, and Cai Jing wielded immense power. Although Cai Shu was not the eldest grandson of the Cai family, he was, after all, a young master of the Cai family.
The accessories he wore were naturally extremely lavish. Other items aside, the lustrous jade pendant at his waist alone made Han Mo's mouth water.
This was a truly fine item. Its verdant, glistening color was like a pool of autumn water within.
If this were taken to an auction house in later ages, wouldn't it be worth several hundred million?
"This is a jade pendant my father gifted me on my sixteenth birthday. I offer it in exchange. Is that acceptable?"
As Cai Shu spoke, he stared intently at Han Mo. He truly hated this fellow in his heart right now.
But the pain in his back was becoming unbearable, so he could only grit his teeth, remove the jade pendant, and toss it at Han Mo.
"That's more like it. Since it's a trade of sentiments for sentiments, I'll let you off this once!"
With the good item finally in his possession, Han Mo pocketed it directly.
Cai Shu's heart bled. If not for these useless brutes, he would have loved to tear Han Mo limb from limb right now.
Fortunately, it was in front of everyone. He would just be keeping this item for him for a few days. Once today passed, he would have plenty of ways to make him return it with interest!
"Hold it!"
Just as Cai Shu was preparing to leave, Han Mo called out to him again.
"What else do you want?"
Cai Shu was truly about to cry. Did this brat not know how much pain he was in?
"What do I want? Brother Cai, this is a gift of apology you voluntarily gave me. If this passes without a record, people might think I extorted you without proof."
Seeing the bright smile on Han Mo's face, Cai Shu really wanted to smash him on the head.
"Could I trouble you, Brother Cai, to write a letter of confession? That way, if this matter ever escalates to court, there will be an explanation, won't there?"
Upon hearing Han Mo's words, Cai Shu's hands began to tremble.
Could this thing be written down?
If he wrote it, he might truly be finished today.
Putting aside whether he could ever get the item back, he would likely receive a good beating upon returning home!
"You, you're pushing your luck too far!"
Cai Shu's voice suddenly rose by an octave. This was too much bullying!
He had already suffered such a great loss, and this fellow still wanted him to write some confession...
"Brother Cai, we are both civilized individuals. You wouldn't want things to get too ugly, would you?"
As Han Mo spoke, he deliberately emphasized the words "civilized individuals." While speaking, his gaze also drifted towards Cai family servants still groaning on the ground.
The threat was evident. Cai Shu was mentally cursing all of Han Mo's direct female ancestors within eighteen generations.
If this was considered being civilized, then the barbarians of the northern lands would all be great scholars!