Chapter 1 Cowardice

Sun Niuzi threw his weight around the village, inciting public resentment. However, it must be said that the workers in the village only harbored resentment and endured; none of them eagerly sought to cozy up to him.

This included the two workers previously left behind by Xu Ji. They usually avoided him, not thinking of currying favor.

The reason was that over the past year, Hu Ma had been reliable in his work and kind to others, holding considerable prestige in this village.

They all subconsciously thought that Hu Ma would not suffer such a loss. This Sun Niuzi was too arrogant; perhaps in a few days, he would be driven back to the city by this Steward Hu—no, Shopkeeper Hu. They held the attitude of watching a good show.

But what they didn't expect was that Hu Ma, watching Sun Niuzi create such a disturbance, had been coldly observing all along.

Whatever the other party said, it was so; whatever he was told to do, he did.

It was as if he were still the steward he had been before, never saying a word of disagreement.

*When you were the steward, you were already doing the shopkeeper's job. Now that you have the opportunity to be the shopkeeper, you've regressed?*

They thought to themselves, feeling somewhat puzzled.

But since Hu Ma didn't take the lead in making things difficult for this Sun Niuzi, they, as workers, naturally dared not.

It wasn't until about seven or eight days had passed, and June was approaching, that Hu Ma took the initiative to enter the inner courtyard, wearing a smile on his face. He approached Sun Niuzi, who was drinking wine at a stone table with his entourage, and said with a smile, "Shopkeeper Sun, I have something to say."

Sun Niuzi had just raised his cup when he suddenly paused and laughed, "What did you call me?"

Hu Ma smiled, "Shopkeeper, of course!"

Sun Niuzi quickly put down his wine cup, waved his hand, and said, "Don't call me that. I'm just a steward."

"It's you that those big shots in the city want to promote."

"..."

Hu Ma smiled, "I've only been in the Hong Deng Society for a few days. What could I possibly know? The shopkeeper must be someone reliable."

"The reason I came in today is to discuss an important matter with Shopkeeper Sun. Now that the spring blood food business is over, and all the accounts have been settled by the old shopkeeper, there's not much work left here."

"We're eating Hong Deng Niangniang's (Red Lantern Mother's) money and food every month, and I don't feel at ease."

"So I was thinking, should I take a few brothers out for a trip to see if there's anything we can do to serve Hong Deng Niangniang?"

"Before, I was burdened by this village, and couldn't leave. Now that Shopkeeper Sun is watching over things, I can rest assured."

"..."

"You want to go out?"

Sun Niuzi was extremely comfortable in his heart, hearing Hu Ma call him "shopkeeper" repeatedly. He slowly picked up a peanut and threw it into his mouth, even imitating his brother-in-law's manner, saying, "You're thinking of serving Hong Deng Niangniang, that's the right thing to do."

"But I don't know, what do you want to do?"

"..."

Hu Ma smiled, "That's why I'm looking for someone knowledgeable to ask!"

"Then you've really come to the right person. My brother-in-law... I've always followed Incense Master Zheng in learning how to do things, so I understand this the most."

Sun Niuzi became excited for a moment, pulled Hu Ma to sit down, and explained to him one by one what the Bai Xiang (White Incense) disciples did in the Hong Deng Society, what the Qing Xiang (Green Incense) disciples did, and what the Hong Xiang (Red Incense) disciples did.

Hu Ma listened attentively, only saying that he planned to make a contribution and asked him to recommend him. Sun Niuzi took the opportunity to laugh, "There is a contribution to be made, it just depends on whether you want to do it."

Hu Ma quickly said, "Please tell me. If I don't make a contribution, I won't be able to stand firm. There's nothing I wouldn't dare to do."

Sun Niuzi laughed and immediately revealed an incident.

It turned out that there was a wealthy household about two hundred li away. Although it wasn't within the territory of Mingzhou Prefecture, it was a believer of Hong Deng Niangniang. In the past, some of the Hong Deng Society's secret blood food pills were sold through his hands, relying on his shop to sell them to wealthy families in the surrounding area.

But this wealthy household was killed last year, during the New Year, and the entire family was wiped out. The matter has remained unresolved, waiting for someone to go over.

Hu Ma, who had been listening from the side, suddenly nodded and said, "I'm willing to give it a try."

"If I can really solve this matter, it might not be smaller than Brother Yang Gong's contribution."

"Of course, the reply to the city must be written clearly. With a title, it's easier to do things."

"..."

Sun Niuzi was overjoyed when he heard this, "Very good, very good."

Hu Ma looked at him and showed a kind and sincere smile.

However, when this matter spread, it puzzled the workers in the village. Why did Hu Ma accept this task? He had enough of a stable life, so why did he have to go out and look for trouble?

Everyone couldn't understand his concession to this Sun Niuzi.

Not only did he blindly tolerate whatever the other party said, but now, at a crucial moment, he was even willing to give up the title of shopkeeper and even be manipulated by the other party.

Even a clay figure has a bit of temper; you, it seems, are not even as good as a clay figure...

Amidst the confusion, Zhou Datong suddenly stopped talking.

Hu Ma didn't explain either, only putting on an appearance of being determined to make a great contribution.

He watched Sun Niuzi write a letter overnight, accepted the task, stamped the village's seal, and decided who would stay and who would go out. Then, he summoned Little Messenger Ghost and sent it to the city.

The most crucial part was that in this letter, when Hu Ma wrote about Sun Niuzi staying behind, he simply appended the title "Shopkeeper," which made Sun Niuzi's heart blossom with joy. His impression of Hu Ma improved several notches, and he even didn't want to make things difficult for him anymore. Instead, he wanted to tell his brother-in-law that this was a good person.

Hu Ma, after making all these arrangements, immediately began to pack up and withdraw money and food. Zhou Datong, Zhou Liang, and Zhao Zhu were all taken along, and even Li Wazi was preparing to go.

But Li Wazi came over and said, "Brother Ma Zi, I'm useless now. The furnace isn't strong, and if I encounter a wandering evil spirit on the road, I'm done for. Going out with you would only be a burden."

Saying that, he lowered his voice again and said, "Besides, you're going out, and the village can't be without our own people."

"I'll stay and keep an eye on things for you."

"..."

Hearing him say this, Zhou Datong and the others hesitated.

This Li Wazi has a previous record. You're one of us now, but who knows if you'll become Sun Niuzi's person after we come back?

But Hu Ma, looking at him, felt that Li Wazi was trustworthy at this time, so he agreed and carefully instructed him.

Because he knew how difficult this trip would be for Hu Ma, Sun Niuzi not only didn't obstruct him but instead waved his hand generously, allowing them to withdraw whatever they wanted. The few of them changed their clothes, tied up their trouser legs, and strode out of the village toward the rising sun.

It wasn't until they had walked several li that Hu Ma turned his head to look at the village and a smile appeared on the corner of his mouth.

"A good person..."

"..."

"Shopkeeper, the people who come to this village are just unbelievably naive..."

After Hu Ma and the others left the village, Sun Niuzi and his entourage suddenly cheered.

They immediately ordered Li Wazi in the kitchen to prepare good wine and dishes and send them to the inner courtyard, while chatting and laughing about the matter.

Sun Niuzi imitated Incense Master Zheng's appearance, shaking his head and saying, "Hehe, you think he's naive, but I think he's quite shrewd."

"He also knows that with us here, he can't sit steadily in the position of shopkeeper, so he wants to learn from Yang Gong, make a great contribution, and smoothly secure the position of shopkeeper."

"But he doesn't think about it. The matter of the family being wiped out has been so long, why hasn't anyone gone to deal with it?"

"The Qing Yi Gang (Blue Shirt Gang) is entrenched there; how easy is it to solve?"

"..."

The entourage laughed, "So, not only will he not be able to make this contribution, but it's even questionable whether he can come back?"

Sun Niuzi laughed, "Isn't that right?"

Inwardly, he was secretly planning how to determine the ownership of this village if Hu Ma couldn't come back.

It was also heaven taking care of him; this Hu kid was too timid. In order to please him, he was willing to be a subordinate and捧 (pěng - hold up, flatter) him as the shopkeeper. However, what he said was always unreliable; it still depended on how his brother-in-law arranged things.

The more he thought about it, the happier he became, and he asked Li Wazi to stew another chicken to go with the wine.

But such a peaceful life didn't last for many days. One day, after patrolling at night, he was drinking with his entourage in the inner courtyard, and he had even picked a few people from the workers who looked pleasing to the eye to listen to him brag.

Just as they were full of wine and food, a cool breeze suddenly blew into the village from outside, and the red lanterns hanging at the gate emitted an eerie red light that was different from usual.

"Who is it?"

This gust of yin wind sobered up the people in the village from their drunkenness.

They hurriedly grabbed their knives and spears and rushed out of the village, but were so frightened that they almost fainted and hurriedly knelt on the ground.

"Burning Incense People?"

Seeing Sun Niuzi kneeling directly on the ground, trembling, the other workers hurriedly followed suit.

They didn't know the origin of these people, but they saw that each of them was riding a tall horse, wearing black clothes, and even their heads and faces were covered with black cloth, only revealing a pair of gloomy eyes.

They had knives hanging from their waists, and they also carried a red lantern on their horses. Half of their bodies were hidden in the night, looking as if they were half in the human world and half in hell.

The other workers didn't know the origins of these people. Seeing that they were carrying red lanterns, they thought they should be their own people, but they were afraid to look at them.

Only Sun Niuzi knew that these people were the most mysterious and most trusted people under Hong Deng Niangniang.

They were all from Hong Xiang (Red Incense) disciples, possessed secret techniques, and had mysterious tracks. Only when Hong Deng Niangniang personally issued some decrees would they act accordingly. Once they appeared, not to mention this village, even the Incense Master had to quickly kneel down and salute.

Not to salute them, but to salute the Hong Deng Niangniang they represented.

The leader of the people on horseback smelled the alcohol on their bodies, and the eyes under the black cloth narrowed slightly.

His voice was cold and deep, "Who is the shopkeeper in this village?"

Sun Niuzi was stunned for a moment, and hurriedly said, "I am. I don't know what instructions the esteemed sirs have?"

"Then let's go!"

The person on horseback said coldly, "Niangniang has issued a decree, summoning shopkeepers from all over to enter the city overnight. There are important matters to instruct you."

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