"No, I absolutely won't let you go!" Qin Yuxiang insisted.
Lin Xiao Tian had no choice but to patiently explain that the group led by Huang Mao wouldn't dare to do anything to him.
But Qin Yuxiang couldn't be reassured. Lin Xiao Tian had just fought with them a few days ago; would they truly be placated now? Furthermore, Lin Xiao Tian was injured. If Huang Mao and his gang took this opportunity to cause trouble, Lin Xiao Tian would be in grave danger.
Fortunately, just then, Li Erguai's voice could be heard.
"What are you all gathered around here for?"
"Oh, it's Brother Erguai! Good evening, Brother Erguai. We were looking for Brother Tian."
"Get up, all of you!" Li Erguai reprimanded them.
"Yes, Brother Erguai. I'll go open the door." Seizing the moment when Qin Yuxiang wasn't paying attention, Lin Xiao Tian hurried away.
"You little rascal!" Qin Yuxiang quickly chased after him.
However, Qin Yuxiang was a step too slow. Lin Xiao Tian had already opened the door.
Huang Mao and his group's faces immediately appeared at the entrance. Qin Yuxiang's face turned pale.
"Xiao Tian, be careful!" Qin Yuxiang shouted.
But before her words could finish, she was stunned by a chorus of synchronized greetings.
"Brother Tian!" Huang Mao and his men bowed respectfully to Lin Xiao Tian.
"Brother Tian? Is... are they calling Xiao Tian?" Qin Yuxiang was bewildered.
"All of you, go back. I'll see you tomorrow at noon, at the usual time, by the pond," Lin Xiao Tian instructed Huang Mao and his men.
"Understood, Brother Tian! See you tomorrow, Brother Tian. Please take care and rest!" Huang Mao and the others nodded obsequiously, acting like subordinates.
Qin Yuxiang, standing behind, was dumbfounded. Were these the same people who usually bullied and harassed others?
"Sister-in-law Yuxiang, Brother Tian is in your care," Huang Mao said, not forgetting to bid farewell to Qin Yuxiang before leaving.
Qin Yuxiang nodded, unsure of what to do.
After Huang Mao and his group departed, Lin Xiao Tian brought Li Erguai inside.
"Brother Erguai, coming over at this hour, is there something important?" Lin Xiao Tian gestured for Li Erguai to sit.
"Oh, Xiao Tian, be careful! Don't aggravate your wound!" Li Erguai anxiously helped Lin Xiao Tian. "I've only come to tell you one thing, and then I'll be leaving."
Seeing Li Erguai's serious expression, Lin Xiao Tian was taken aback.
"Brother Erguai, what's wrong?"
"Xiao Tian, you need to be careful with that group from now on. I was afraid they might cause trouble for you even after taking the money, so I followed them to the village entrance. Guess what I overheard?"
"What did you hear, Brother Erguai?"
Li Erguai gazed deeply at Lin Xiao Tian and then relayed the conversation he had overheard the tattooed man having at the village entrance.
"I've heard of that Brother Tian. He's an illegal moneylender in town and has quite a few men under him. You need to be very cautious from now on."
"Brother Erguai, I understand. I will be careful," Lin Xiao Tian nodded.
They chatted for a few more minutes, and then Lin Xiao Tian saw Li Erguai off.
Inside the house, Qin Yuxiang was still puzzled by the unusual behavior of Huang Mao and his group. However, Lin Xiao Tian simply said they were his newly hired workers and that their politeness was due to him being their boss.
Qin Yuxiang, being somewhat naive, believed him without further suspicion.
After dinner, the sky grew darker. Due to his injuries, Lin Xiao Tian couldn't continue the acupuncture treatment for Li Erguai today.
Fortunately, Li Erguai was recovering well. Perhaps due to the frequent labor of rural life, his body was quite resilient, and missing a few days of acupuncture wouldn't hinder his treatment.
However, unable to go to Li Erguai's house, Lin Xiao Tian couldn't refine the "Solidifying Yuan Pill" at his own home and had to go to bed honestly.
The rain outside intensified, and water began leaking into the house from various places. Lin Xiao Tian had no choice but to sleep in Qin Yuxiang's bedroom again.
An unmarried man and woman sharing a room, Qin Yuxiang was initially a bit embarrassed. It wasn't until she saw Lin Xiao Tian stammering again when he spoke that she finally relaxed. She even thoughtfully left the inner side of the bed for Lin Xiao Tian.
Lin Xiao Tian had no choice but to continue playing the fool.
That night, Lin Xiao Tian was sleepless again!
The next day, Lin Xiao Tian woke up with dark circles under his eyes. Because his original vital energy was damaged, he couldn't afford to stay up late.
After breakfast, Lin Xiao Tian returned to the pond.
According to the bet he had made with Old Man Liu, he had to repay the fifty thousand yuan today.
Thinking of Old Man Liu, Lin Xiao Tian couldn't help but clench his fists.
That old bachelor had been persistently bothering Qin Yuxiang. Not only had he colluded with Li Hu and others to pressure Qin Yuxiang, but when the tattooed man was pressuring Lin Xiao Tian for debt, he had even kicked him while he was down, threatening Lin Xiao Tian with one hundred thousand yuan.
And then there was Li Deping. Ever since Lin Xiao Tian had caught him in the act of infidelity, Li Deping had been making things difficult for him. Even when Lin Xiao Tian had acted like an idiot, Li Deping hadn't let him off the hook.
Lin Xiao Tian wouldn't let either of these two men get away with it!
After composing himself, Lin Xiao Tian saw Huang Mao and his group arrive and began preparing for the fishing.
"Brother Tian! What do we need to do today?" Huang Mao and his men were very enthusiastic, whether it was genuine or feigned.
"Today, you'll be responsible for netting the fish. I've already prepared the fishing nets. You and Brother Erguai will carry the small boat later," Lin Xiao Tian told them.
Due to his injuries, he couldn't go into the water today. However, the venomous snakes that posed the greatest threat in the pond had already been removed. Catching fish here only required the right tools.
As for the fish in the deeper parts of the pond, Lin Xiao Tian had also devised a plan. He had prepared a potion that would reduce the oxygen concentration in the water. The fish, desperate for oxygen, would inevitably swim to the surface, greatly reducing the difficulty of catching them.
"Oh, right, there's something I forgot to give you," Lin Xiao Tian called out to them.
"What is it?"
Lin Xiao Tian didn't answer but pulled out a large stack of banknotes.
"Yesterday, you pulled five carts. Two people per cart. This is your wages for yesterday. You can split this evenly!"
"Today's transport work will be calculated based on the actual price of the goods you haul."
Then, Lin Xiao Tian handed the money to Huang Mao.
"Five... five thousand yuan?" Huang Mao was completely stunned upon receiving the money.
Five thousand yuan meant each of them would earn five hundred yuan!
Five hundred yuan was equivalent to half a month's income for a farmer in Jinsha Village!
When they followed Li Hu before, they hadn't earned this much in a month.
And now, they had earned it in less than half a day?
"Brother Tian, is this... for us?" Huang Mao couldn't believe it.
"Of course!" Lin Xiao Tian nodded. "Hurry up and divide the money. I'll give you acupuncture shortly."
"Understood, Brother Tian!" Huang Mao and the others said in unison.
After administering the acupuncture, Li Erguai also arrived. Lin Xiao Tian asked Li Erguai to lead them to move the boat while he stayed by the pond, preparing to put in the potion he had made.
Just then, someone suspiciously crept towards Lin Xiao Tian.
Lin Xiao Tian squinted to get a better look. Wasn't that Li Hu?