Upon returning to the mine, Huang Xiaoyan relayed the events at Hongshu Slope to Supervisor Jiang (Mine Boss Jiang), omitting the matter of privately forging weapons.
He wasn't sure if Supervisor Jiang knew about it, but regardless, he planned to play ignorant.
Moreover, he needed to reconsider his future employment at the mine. If the matter of forging weapons were to be exposed, his head would surely be forfeit.
"Boss, we can't afford to provoke Hongshu Slope. They actually know who our backer is and that we're illegally mining iron ore. They said if we cause trouble for Hongshu Slope again, she'll reveal all these actions of our backer to the entire Great Xia Kingdom."
Supervisor Jiang was somewhat surprised. "Weren't they saying the mistress of that place was a former slave? How could she be such a tough nut to crack?"
Huang Xiaoyan wiped the sweat from his forehead. "Boss, that woman is nothing like a slave. She's fierce. The moment she glares, my legs tremble. Plus, she's exceptionally skilled with poisons and keeps a large venomous snake and a great white wolf at home, both also extremely ferocious. Look, that white wolf almost bit my neck off."
Huang Xiaoyan showed Supervisor Jiang the deep wolf fang marks on his neck.
Supervisor Jiang's gaze was grim as he glanced at the marks on his neck, then berated him sternly, "You are utterly foolish! To be so manipulated by that bumpkin from Huangsha Village! You found such a flimsy excuse to go to Hongshu Slope. If they report us to the authorities, if someone comes to our mine to inspect the ore, won't we be exposed?"
"Yes, yes, yes! It was my foolishness." Huang Xiaoyan nodded repeatedly. "But, Boss, remember, absolutely do not provoke that demoness again. She has the support of Prince Yu, otherwise, we'll all suffer consequences."
Supervisor Jiang sneered, "If we don't provoke them, how will our shortage of miners be solved? Huang Xiaoyan, remember this: if the miner issue isn't resolved, you can clear out early!"
If he was to be kicked out, Huang Xiaoyan would gladly leave early. He dared not be involved in the matter of forging weapons.
However, these were his private thoughts, which he dared not voice.
After Huang Xiaoyan left, Supervisor Jiang fell into deep thought.
Since the woman at Hongshu Slope knew who their backer was and was so close to Prince Yu, it meant their backer was already exposed.
However, Supervisor Jiang had no intention of reporting it. He was merely a distant, low-ranking illegitimate son from the Jiang family in the capital. If he reported it, his head would be chopped off. He could only preserve his life by pretending to know nothing.
After reporting to Supervisor Jiang, Huang Xiaoyan, along with over a dozen thugs, stormed over to the Zhang family in Huangsha Village.
The Zhang family hadn't even understood what was happening before they were subjected to a barrage of destruction.
Huang Xiaoyan pointed at Zhang Jiawang's nose and cursed, "What the hell do you think you are? You dare to use me, your master? Don't you want to stay in Huangsha Village anymore!"
With that, he slapped Zhang Jiawang several times and kicked him a few times.
Zhang Jiawang's wife, Madam Xue, with reddened eyes, shrieked, "You are bullying us too much! My... my cousin works as a clerk in the town yamen! He... he won't let you off!"
Huang Xiaoyan sneered, "Is that Clerk Xue? He's merely a town yamen clerk, and he bows and scrapes before our mine boss, groveling more than a dog. Do you think I'd be afraid of him? Smash it!"
His subordinates smashed with even more vigor.
Zhang Lanlan, who had been hiding in her room, was also dragged out. The thugs, seeing that Zhang Lanlan had some looks, groped her all over, causing Zhang Lanlan to scream in terror.
Madam Xue and Zhang Jiawang were pinned to the ground. Seeing their daughter being bullied, they could only desperately beg the perpetrators to stop.
One impatient thug began tearing Zhang Lanlan's clothes, intending to have his way with her completely.
However, Huang Xiaoyan stopped him. Though Huang Xiaoyan wasn't a good person, he wouldn't casually bully men and women unless it was for survival. Moreover, he had a young daughter whom he doted on greatly.
After the Zhang residence was smashed to smithereens, Huang Xiaoyan and the thugs left, taking all of the Zhang family's money with them.
Madam Xue sat on the ground, beating her thighs and wailing, "Oh heavens, how will we live from now on? Zhang Jiawang, it's all your fault! Who did you provoke outside?! Sob..."
Zhang Lanlan, with disheveled hair and clothes, huddled in a corner, sobbing continuously.
Zhang Jiawang, bruised and swollen, sat dazedly on the ground.
Looking at the messy and dilapidated state of his home, he found it hard to believe it was all real.
Once, their Zhang family held great status in Huangsha Village and even the surrounding villages. Everyone had to look at their faces, bow and scrape, and wish they could kowtow and call them master. But now?
The villagers treated them like mice, and even young children dared to spit at them.
When did their Zhang family's status begin to decline so rapidly?
Zhang Jiawang pondered in his mind. It seemed to be since they drove Lu Ye's family out of Huangsha Village. Lu Ye's family seemed to have been blessed by Buddha, prospering all the way. On the other hand, his Zhang family, having crossed paths with Lu Ye's family multiple times, had never gained any advantage.
Thinking back now, he was a fool. Why did he keep harassing Lu Ye's family?
Zhang Jiawang, with tears streaming down his face, began to slap himself repeatedly.
This startled Madam Xue and Zhang Lanlan, who looked up at him in surprise.
At this moment, there was a commotion outside the courtyard gate, and a group of people entered.
It was Patriarch Zhang, returning with his second son's family. They had gone to a banquet for the second daughter-in-law's family.
Seeing the scene before them, the returning group was stunned.
"What... what is all this?! Zhang Jiawang!" Patriarch Zhang struck the ground repeatedly with his cane.
Zhang Jiawang crawled up from the ground and, with a thud, knelt before Patriarch Zhang, wailing, "Father, our Zhang family is completely ruined—"
Patriarch Zhang was furious. "What are you crying for? What happened? Speak!"
Zhang Jiawang, crying, told Patriarch Zhang the entire cause and effect of the matter.
Patriarch Zhang was so enraged that he stumbled, almost falling. He raised his cane and rained blows upon Zhang Jiawang. "Idiot, didn't I tell you they had Prince Yu backing them and not to act rashly for the time being? Did you take my words as a fart?!"
The other brothers and their wives, upon hearing that all the family's money had been plundered, were so angry that they scolded Zhang Jiawang like he was nothing.
Just as the family was in disarray, several youths on horseback suddenly stormed into the courtyard.
The leading youth was Yang Ming. He loudly and sternly shouted to those inside, "Zhang family! Listen clearly! My mistress has a few words to convey. You sowed discord at the mine and used the mine to bully my Hongshu Slope. Fortunately, no significant losses were incurred this time. httpδ:/m.kuAisugg.nět
From now on, if your Zhang family continues to be stubborn and recklessly provokes our Hongshu Slope, we will show no mercy!"
Zhang Lanlan felt that her current miserable plight was all caused by that wretched slave from Hongshu Slope. She feared the people from the mine, but she did not fear that wretched slave.
Thus, she suddenly jumped up from the corner and rushed towards Yang Ming, ready to curse him loudly. However, Patriarch Zhang stepped forward and slapped her several times.
"Wretched girl, get back! If not for you and your parents constantly causing trouble, our old Zhang family would not have become stray dogs!"
Patriarch Zhang regretted that, in the past, when Lu Ye refused to become a son-in-law to the Zhang family, and Zhang Jiawang bullied Lu Dajiang's family, he had been overly protective of his own.
But now, regret was too late. He could only think of a way to preserve the Zhang family.