Chapter 472 - 396: Gulp
Zhao Guofeng felt a wave of fear after hearing the story. If they had mistaken Zhang Laibao for a Black Bear and shot him, it would have caused a huge incident. As the Village Chief and Director of Security, he would have been implicated to some degree. Even if it wasn’t serious, the entire Yong’an Village would have become the talk of all the surrounding villages for ages.
After a long sigh of relief, Zhao Guofeng pulled Zhao Youcai aside and asked, "Youcai, what are you thinking of doing about this?"
Zhao Youcai met Zhao Guofeng’s gaze and asked in return, "What do you mean, ’what am I thinking’?"
With a helpless sigh, Zhao Guofeng gestured toward the Zhao Family Courtyard. "Zhang Laibao... you can’t just keep him tied up like this, can you?"
"Of course not." Zhao Youcai smiled faintly. Just as Zhao Guofeng breathed a sigh of relief, he added, "I plan on stripping him naked, tying him up just like this, and parading him around the village a few times!"
Zhao Guofeng’s eyelids twitched when he heard that. Parading Zhang Laibao through the streets was one thing, but to do it naked, trussed up like a pig, and carried through the village by others...
If they did that, the Zhang Family would be completely humiliated, and Zhang Laibao’s life would be ruined.
Zhao Guofeng considered this, opened his mouth to speak, but ultimately said nothing.
In truth, Zhao Guofeng wanted to talk Zhao Youcai out of it. But he and Zhao Youcai were on very good terms, and he didn’t want to damage their friendship over Zhang Zhanshan’s son.
Standing nearby, Zhao Jun took in Zhao Guofeng’s entire expression and found it amusing. ’Dad’s probably waiting for Zhao Guofeng to talk him down, but Guofeng is too worried about the consequences to say anything.’
Just then, Zhao Youcai said to Zhao Guofeng, "Guofeng, if you have something to say, just say it. There’s nothing we can’t talk about between us."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Guofeng quickly grabbed Zhao Youcai’s arm and led him aside before speaking. "Youcai, since you’re asking me to speak my mind, I will."
"Go on," Zhao Youcai said, looking completely unconcerned.
"What you’re planning isn’t right," Zhao Guofeng said earnestly. "After all, Zhang Laibao is a junior to you. If you do this..."
Here, Zhao Guofeng paused before continuing, "The villagers will say you’ve taken things too far."
"What’s there to be afraid of?" Zhao Youcai retorted. "Who in this village doesn’t know what my relationship with Zhang Wangba is like? I caught his son. If he caught my son, he’d probably do something even more ruthless!"
"Now, what are you talking about? Our Zhao Jun isn’t that kind of kid," Zhao Guofeng said, smoothly steering the conversation toward Zhao Jun. "A lot of people in our village are Forest Farm employees. If word of this gets out, won’t it reflect badly on us? And think about Farm Director Zhou. Those who know the story will say Zhang Zhanshan’s son was in the wrong, but those who don’t will say you’re bullying people with your power."
"Aiya..." Zhao Youcai pretended to think, hesitating for a moment before instantly retorting, "What does that have to do with my family? Or my in-laws? I’m not the one who tied him up. He was ruining the Li Family’s corn. Stripping him and tying him up, that’s Dayong’s business."
Seeing Zhao Youcai completely distance his family from the matter in just a few words, Zhao Guofeng felt helpless once again.
But then, Zhao Youcai continued, "Let me tell you, this matter can’t just be dropped. How much of Dayong’s corn did they ruin? And what about that kid, Baoyu? If it weren’t for that little bastard Zhang Laibao, would Baoyu have gotten hurt? The boy just got a permanent position, and now he can’t even go to work tomorrow. Won’t that affect his job?"
Hearing this, Zhao Guofeng quickly said to Zhao Youcai, "Well then, how about you talk to Dayong?" As he spoke, Zhao Guofeng glanced toward the Li Family Courtyard. Li Dayong had come out of his house earlier but hadn’t come out of the courtyard. It had been Zhao Youcai negotiating with Zhao Guofeng the whole time.
"Talk about what?" Zhao Youcai asked, raising an eyebrow with a displeased look. "Just talk? With empty words?"
When Zhao Youcai said this, Zhao Guofeng smiled. He understood Zhao Youcai’s meaning now. "Of course not," he said immediately. "We have to get some compensation from Zhang Zhanshan."
The moment Zhao Guofeng finished speaking, Zhao Youcai raised his hand, holding up five fingers. Zhao Guofeng froze. His first thought was that Zhao Youcai wanted five yuan. But on second thought, he remembered who Zhao Youcai was.
So, Zhao Guofeng immediately multiplied the number by ten in his head and said confidently to Zhao Youcai, "Fifty? Alright, I’ll go to the Zhang Family and ask for you."
"Fifty?" Zhao Youcai’s expression changed. He flicked his raised hand down and said irritably, "Five hundred!"
"How much?" Zhao Guofeng was shocked. Even though he was the Village Chief, he only earned a little over sixty yuan a month. Five hundred yuan was almost what he made in a whole year.
"Five hundred!" Zhao Youcai knew Zhao Guofeng had heard him clearly but just couldn’t believe it. So he raised his hand again, flashing his open palm in front of Zhao Guofeng’s face to confirm the amount.
Just as Zhao Guofeng was about to say something, a dog started barking in the Li Family Courtyard, and then he saw Li Dayong escorting an old man out.
The old man was tall and thin, carrying a cloth bag. It was Xu Guangyi.
"Master Xu." Zhao Jun hurried forward and asked the old man, "How’s Baoyu?"
"He’ll need to rest for a while," Xu Guangyi said, his attitude toward Zhao Jun very friendly. Previously, when Zhao Jun and Li Baoyu brought back a wild boar and a black bear, his family had also received a share of the meat. Otherwise, the old man might not have been willing to come out so late at night to check on Li Baoyu’s injury.
"Did you hear that?" Zhao Youcai heard Xu Guangyi’s words and gestured behind him at Zhao Guofeng. Before Zhao Guofeng could reply, he turned to Xu Guangyi and said, "Uncle Xu, you’re heading back."
"Of course I’m heading back. You all dragged me out of bed in the middle of the night." Xu Guangyi had a stubborn personality and didn’t mince words. As he passed Zhao Guofeng, he added, "Guofeng, the Zhang Family is getting a bit out of line, don’t you think? You need to handle this. You can’t let it go on."
"Yes, yes." In front of an elder who had watched him grow up, Zhao Guofeng couldn’t put on the airs of a Village Chief. He could only agree repeatedly, "I’ll handle it. I’ll go find him in a little while."
"Deal with him!" The old man shot Zhao Guofeng a look, tossed out those three words, and left.
Zhao Guofeng could only call after him, "Uncle Xu, it’s pitch black out! Be careful!"
Xu Guangyi didn’t say anything, just pulled a flashlight from his pocket, switched it on, and lit his way.
While Zhao Guofeng was turned to speak with Xu Guangyi, Zhao Youcai quietly waved Li Dayong over. Li Dayong quickly came and stood behind Zhao Guofeng.
When Zhao Guofeng turned back around, he was startled to find a tall figure looming right in front of him.
By the time he realized who it was, he heard Li Dayong say, "Brother Guofeng, what do you think we should do about this? The stock of that gun dislocated my Baoyu’s arm. His whole shoulder is swollen up real bad now. Just before he left, Uncle Xu said the boy will seriously need to rest for a while.
Tell me, what if this leaves him with a chronic problem? How is he supposed to drive then? Wouldn’t he lose his job?"
"Aiya..."
Just as Zhao Guofeng was about to speak, Zhao Youcai cut in from the side, "Dayong, say no more. I’ve already settled it with Guofeng. We’ll have Zhang Wangba pay your family five hundred yuan, and we’ll call it even."
"When did we settle that?" Zhao Guofeng didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. "Besides," he said to Zhao Youcai, "it doesn’t count even if I agree with you. Zhang Zhanshan has to agree to it."
"Then you go tell him!" Zhao Youcai waved his hand dismissively. "If he doesn’t pay up, I’ll... no, *Dayong* will strip his son naked, tie him up just like this, and carry him to the Forest Farm. Let’s see if he and his son-in-law still have the face to show up for work there."
This was even more ruthless. Both Zhang Zhanshan and Zhang Laibao’s brother-in-law worked at the Forest Farm. If Li Dayong really did as Zhao Youcai suggested, their family would be utterly disgraced.
"Alright, fine." Zhao Guofeng gave a bitter smile. "I’ll make a trip and talk to Zhang Zhanshan for you. But whether it works out or not, that’s not on me."
"Mhm," Zhao Youcai said with a smile. "But don’t go now. Wait until morning. If you go now, you won’t find any of them at home."