8mi Chapter 59 Xie family old dog, may you die a good death!
Chapter 59 Xie family old dog, may you die a good death!
"Hey, Boss Han, I'll give you a heads-up today!"
"Now that we're here, we absolutely cannot leave empty-handed without collecting all the money and grain owed. Borrow from your relatives, borrow from your neighbors, or even pawnshops if you can't find any! Whatever method you use, this debt must be settled today!"
The woman looked up, her cries piercingly mournful: "My family doesn't even own a single plot of land. The pawnshop's interest rates are so high, how are we going to pay it back? How will this family survive?"
"Why haven't you paid yet? I've shown you all the way. You sold yourself, and you sold your two sons too. Wouldn't that fill the gap? Not only will you be able to pay off the Xie family, but you can also settle the debt to the Cui family."
The Xie family servant had already prepared the indenture and slammed it on the table, saying, "Aunt Han, I advise you to make a decision soon. You're not the only one running away today; we don't have time to waste here."
Don't be fooled by how polite Manager Li is to you now. He's a legitimate martial arts master. If he really wanted to fight, killing your man would be as easy as crushing an ant. If you anger him, who knows what kind of trouble he might cause.
Han Erniu's face drained of color, and he slumped his head, saying dejectedly, "Sign it...sign it!"
Upon hearing this, the woman from the Han family suddenly rushed forward, grabbed his collar tightly, and choked back tears with red eyes, saying, "Han Erniu! We are both parents, how could you be so heartless! My two children and I have served you day and night, and this is how you treat us?"
Han Erniu coughed violently a few times, his breath weak, and said, "What else can we do if we don't sign... If you are sold to a good family, maybe... you can live a few good days instead, which is better than waiting to die here with me."
Upon hearing this, the woman's face turned ashen. All her strength seemed to drain away instantly, and she collapsed to the ground, too weak to even get up.
"That's right, Master Han is the most reasonable one." Xie's attendant grinned and pushed the contract forward: "There are two copies of the contract. Just put your fingerprint here."
After saying that, he grabbed Han Erniu's hand, dipped it heavily in the ink, and then pressed it firmly onto the indenture.
Seeing that the matter was settled, Li Anye felt relieved and turned to walk out the door.
"Brother Cheng, I'll also accept the Cui family's share. Let's go, next one."
He was about to step away.
Suddenly, a whooshing sound came rushing in.
Li Anye reacted quickly and dodged to the side.
boom!
A fist-sized rock flew past his head and slammed into the mud wall behind him, sending dust flying.
Li Anye suddenly turned his head.
He saw two boys staring intently at him, their eyes bloodshot.
The older one picked up another stone, ready to throw it again!
"You little beast!" Li Anye was instantly enraged, and with a leap, he pounced on the two brothers.
Snapped!
The boy who threw the stone was slapped across the face and sent flying, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. He lay on the ground, struggling to get up.
"You bastard! If your parents hadn't already sold you out, I would have beaten you to death today!"
Hearing the commotion, the Han family woman inside scrambled onto the child, pleading in a trembling voice, "We've sold all three of us. Please, have mercy on us..."
"Hmph!" Li Anye glanced at it coldly: "Since you've sold it, keep the contracts safe and take them all with you!"
Hongling, unable to bear it any longer, rushed forward and choked out, "Manager Li! Since the person sold himself, half of him belongs to the Cui family. Why should the Xie family take him all away?"
Cheng Defu then stopped Li Anye, saying, "I don't care about the Xie family's share, but this household still owes the Cui family rent, and the Cui family should keep a copy of the contract. Since Steward Li said it was 'collected on behalf of' them, please return it now!"
"Brother Cheng," Li Anye said with a forced smile, "this family hasn't been put up for sale yet, and there's only one indenture. How can I give it to you? I'll personally deliver it to your residence after the money is settled."
Having traveled extensively, Cheng Defu was well aware of the implication in those words; it was clear they intended to embezzle the Cui family's rent.
This is no longer about having a lot of money or a little money.
It's a matter of face among powerful families!
If word gets out, wouldn't the other prominent families in the capital think that the Cui family is afraid of the Xie family?
Hongling rushed to the door, spreading her arms to block the way with her slender body, and said to Li Anye, "No one is leaving the contract here today, and no one is taking anyone away!"
Li Anye finally lost his patience: "A mere maid from the Cui family dares to obstruct the Xie family's business? Don't push your luck! I have important matters to attend to, get out of my way!"
With a flick of his arm, he shoved Hongling to the ground.
Li Anye lifted his foot to leave, when suddenly a knife was held against his neck, the blade brushing against his skin, and he felt a chill.
"Manager Li! Hongling is the Third Miss's personal maid. If you harm her, you are slapping the Cui family in the face! I advise you to apologize and leave the indenture."
"How dare you!"
Upon seeing this, Xie family followers drew their swords and charged forward.
Chen Ye glanced at him out of the corner of his eye and slashed out with his backhand.
puff!
The blade struck the opponent squarely in the chest.
The man screamed and fell backward, the knife in his hand still not above his head.
Cheng Defu reacted swiftly, pulling Hongling out of the courtyard and shouting, "Quickly back to the manor! Tell Miss that the Xie family is enraged and wants to silence us!"
Hongling's face turned deathly pale. Almost instinctively, she rushed towards the horse tied outside the door, seized the horse, and galloped away.
Seeing that things had escalated, a ruthless glint flashed in Li Anye's eyes. He decided to go all the way and shouted, "Kill them all!"
Even if they win, at most it will be considered that they used excessive methods to save face for the Xie family; the dead won't defend themselves.
If you lose, you're not right no matter what!
Cheng Defu did not expect the other party to turn on him so quickly.
He knew that Li Anye was a seasoned martial arts master who had undergone four transformations and had served as the manager of the Xie family for over ten years, having seen bloodshed on his hands.
Although Chen Ye is capable of fighting, he is too young after all, and he may not be a match for an old man like him.
He likes this guy a lot because he's generous, and he doesn't want anything to happen to him.
"Boy, step back! You're no match for him, let me handle this!" Cheng Defu drew his sword and was about to step forward.
Li Anye had already decided to kill him, a sinister smile spreading across his lips: "Old man, what's the rush? I'll kill him, and you'll be next."
Suddenly, a silver light flashed across the courtyard!
Bitterly cold, blindingly bright!
Chen Ye held the knife in both hands, standing silently in front of Li Anye with the blade pointing downwards.
A drop of crimson blood was slowly dripping from the tip of the blade.
At the same time, Li Anye's arm also fell.
The courtyard fell silent for a moment.
Immediately, the courtyard was filled with Li Anye's miserable screams.
"what!"
Li Anye staggered back several steps, his face filled with horror.
He didn't even see how Chen Ye drew his knife before his left arm was severed at the root.
Not only him, but even Cheng Defu, who was standing to the side, was clearly shocked by what he saw.
He knew Li Anye well; even he had to be quite careful when facing him.
Can Chen Ye sever an opponent's hand with a single strike?
How is that possible?
"You're asking for it!!"
Li Anye was completely enraged. With his one arm, he suddenly drew the long sword from his waist. His true energy surged, and his momentum increased dramatically. He swung the sword down with a backhand!
boom!
Chen Ye neither dodged nor yielded, but met the attack head-on, the blade colliding heavily with the sword!
Indestructible.
He raised his arms high, his blade flashing like a waterfall, unleashing three consecutive slashes.
Amidst the deafening clash, Li Anye's inner energy completely dissipated under the overwhelming force.
Without giving him a chance to react, Chen Ye grabbed his hair, pressed the knife down with his right hand, gripped the hilt tightly, and plunged the long knife into his throat from below.
"That old dog from the Xie family, may you die a good death!"