209: Chapter 205: Temporarily Retreat 209: Chapter 205: Temporarily Retreat Among the tenants in the courtyard, Butcher Zhang was definitely the one responsible for showing brute force, without a doubt.
This property still belonged to Wang Meili and had not been sold to Chen Hai yet.
Those people Wang Meili had called over, who wanted to drive away the tenants, were almost all defeated under Butcher Zhang’s slaughtering knife and ultimately returned defeated.
This fellow was inherently burly and strong, and even without his slaughtering knife, he could easily handle two or three ordinary people.
However, at this moment, in front of Bai Xiaohang, a born fierce warrior, Butcher Zhang’s strength seemed rather insufficient.
As Bai Xiaohang charged towards him, he merely froze for a moment, not even having the time to react.
His slaughtering knife had already been knocked to the ground, and he himself was fiercely kicked to the ground by Bai Xiaohang, unable to get up for a long time.
“Holding a slaughtering knife, think you’re very badass, huh?”
“Who gave you the courage to point a knife at our boss?”
“What did you just say?
Want to make us move, first ask this slaughtering knife in your hand?”
“Come on, say it louder, I didn’t hear clearly just now…”
Bai Xiaohang was frightening, and as he looked at the slaughtering knife that had fallen next to his feet, he lightly tapped it with his toe.
The next moment, the entire knife had flown up, and he caught it by the handle effortlessly.
Holding the slaughtering knife, he slowly walked towards Butcher Zhang, who was sitting on the ground a few steps away.
The kick he had landed on his abdomen was still causing Butcher Zhang stomach to churn violently.
Holding his stomach and temporarily unable to stand due to the severe pain, he obviously began to feel fear seeing Bai Xiaohang’s fierce face and the slaughtering knife in his hand.
With each step Bai Xiaohang took, Butcher Zhang moved back in fear.
In front of ordinary people, he might be fierce, but compared to a true desperado like Bai Xiaohang, he was far from a match.
He was completely overwhelmed by the opponent’s aura alone.
A few men who came with Chen Hai were already getting impatient and had started to make a move.
Xiang Dong and Tian Mingjian, one on the left and one on the right, still stood quietly beside Chen Hai.
Xiang Dong had spent a lot of time with Bai Xiaohang, and he certainly knew how formidable Bai Xiaohang’s force was!
Since Bai Xiaohang had already made a move, he had nothing to worry about, just quietly standing aside to watch.
As for Tian Mingjian, as long as Chen Hai’s safety wasn’t threatened, he didn’t care about the situation.
Plus, he wasn’t exactly proficient in hand-to-hand combat or melee weapons.
His real strength lay in his gun alone.
Without a gun in his hands, he was significantly weaker compared to Bai Xiaohang.
On the tenants’ side, Butcher Zhang had already been completely subdued.
Others like Aunt Liu and Old Man Li were momentarily stunned but had finally come to their senses.
“Murder, they are killing people, neighbors, come and see, judge for yourselves!”
“We’ve all lived in this area for over a decade, we live well here, and we are not refusing to pay the rent.”
“That damned kid surnamed Chen is forcibly making us move.”
“Old Zhang was just arguing reasonably, and those thugs took out knives, even preparing to slash us!”
“Is there no justice in this place?
Is there no law?
Is this still the era governed by the party…”
Aunt Liu threw herself to the ground, and while she wailed and screamed loudly, she also started rolling around.
Her wailing was full of misery and sorrow.
Uninformed onlookers seeing this scene might really believe this woman had undergone severe grievances to behave like this.
Following Aunt Liu’s lead, the two elderly women among the tenants also followed suit, collapsing to the ground and starting to create a scene.
This display made even Bai Xiaohang frown, feeling somewhat at a loss.
He stopped in his tracks, hesitated for a moment, then gritted his teeth and threw the slaughtering knife to the ground, rolled up his sleeves, and walked towards Aunt Liu.
Judging from his demeanor, it seemed that once he lost his temper, he did not discriminate between men and women in unleashing his anger.
“Bai Xiaohang, let it be, come back!” Chen Hai waved at Bai Xiaohang from the side, instructing him.
On the ground, Aunt Liu and the two elderly women were making a scene, which also infuriated Chen Hai.
Letting Bai Xiaohang beat them up without a second word might relieve some anger, but the aftermath would definitely be troublesome.
At the gate of the courtyard and around the surrounding walls, numerous heads had already appeared, looking around the inside of the courtyard.
This area was densely populated, nothing like the secluded tranquility of West Mountain Villa.
The neighborhood locals and some passersby nearby were attracted by the wailing and cursing of Aunt Liu and the others.
Watching the excitement is human nature, and if they waited a bit longer, the crowd gathering around this courtyard would only increase.
If Bai Xiaohang, this formidable and imposing man, were to use violence on Aunt Liu and the others, regardless of whether he was justified or not, it would appear to the onlookers that they were unjustified.
He had already given ample time for the tenants in his purchased property to move out, but they were stubbornly occupying his place and simply refused to leave.
Originally, Chen Hai and his group were the justified party, but if they really hit Aunt Liu and the others in public, even the justified would become unjustified.
Explaining such matters is never easy.
“Aunt Liu, Old Man Li, I spent hundreds of thousands to buy this house, wanting to renovate it for my own dwelling, and not rent it to you anymore—isn’t that permissible?
Under heaven, where is there such reasoning?”
“I notified you guys early last month, asking you to vacate this courtyard home.
You acknowledge that, right?”
“I came here today simply to inquire about your moving out.”
“Nobody even touched you, yet you all dropped to the ground, rolling around and feigning misery to gain sympathy.
Do you think that does any good?”
“Since you are determined to stay here and not leave, fine, I just hope you won’t regret it in a few days!”
Chen Hai’s gaze swept sternly across the tenants inside the courtyard.
He spoke very loudly,
because his real intention was for the bystanders outside the courtyard to hear.
After all, everything can’t escape reason; he simply wanted to show those onlookers that his side was the truly justified one.
Having said that, Chen Hai waved his hand, summoning his followers and walked straight toward the outside of the courtyard.
Considering the reaction of these tenants, he knew it would be virtually impossible to have them peacefully vacate.
Since staying here no longer held any meaning, why would Chen Hai and his group linger unless they were waiting for others to enjoy their debacle?
One hand can’t clap alone; as soon as Chen Hai and his group left, the nearby onlookers began dispersing gradually.
Aunt Liu and the two older women who had been rolling on the ground dramatically, smiling triumphantly as if nothing had happened, got up.
“Let him scheme like a ghost; he still has to drink my foot-washing water.
With my cleaver out, no matter who it is, they have to flee in complete defeat,” Aunt Liu boasted.
“Butcher Zhang, just a couple of days ago, you were pounding on your chest, vowing how invincible you are with your butcher knife, but today your performance was quite subpar!”
“If it weren’t for me stepping in, today you really might have been forced by that Chen to move out.”
Aunt Liu dusted herself off, deliberately straightened her chest, and shot a disdainful look towards Butcher Zhang, who had barely recovered.
“I just butcher meat for a living, and compared to those professionals who make a living through fighting and brawling, I’m obviously a bit lacking.”
“That Chen has no martial honor, coming to our place and he actually brought thugs with him!”
“Before there was any movement, that guy kicked without even a warning, and I was caught off guard and got a solid kick.”
“If it were a one-on-one fight, I might not necessarily lose to him…”
Rolling his eyes, Butcher Zhang explained in a disgruntled manner.
“It’s clearly your own incompetence, don’t make up excuses for yourself.”
“Anyway, today’s event, it’s your luck to be under my wing—you owe me one!”
“In my opinion, treating me to a meal is the least you could do!”
Aunt Liu scoffed dismissively and chuckled.
“Aunt Liu, my mom is nearly seventy and was rolling on the ground crying just like you!”
“I still have pain in my stomach from that tall guy’s kick.”
“In terms of effort, our family hasn’t done less than yours, why should we be the ones treating you?”
Butcher Zhang complained with dissatisfaction.
“Everyone, let me speak a word of justice.”
“In this match of wits and bravery against that new landlord Chen, today marks our first victory, providing us a successful start, definitely worth a celebration by all of us.”
“Speaking of effort, which family hasn’t contributed?”
“Instead of highlighting individual contributions, why don’t each family contribute some money, buy a few fine dishes, some good wine, and let’s all celebrate together!”
“What do you think of my suggestion?”
Old Man Li, who had been standing at the entrance all this time, had, unnoticed, walked up near Aunt Liu and Butcher Zhang.
He took a few drags from his dry tobacco, then smilingly observed the faces in front of him and spoke.
“I wholly endorse Old Man Li’s suggestion.”
“This month’s rent which Chen waived can just help us save; it’s merely sharing a meal and it’ll be absolutely sufficient with each family contributing a few yuan.”
“Compared to the saved rent, this little money is nothing, I definitely have no objections.”
“Thinking about that young Chen, I find it amusing; knowing he had no leverage over us, he still blurted out some harsh words before leaving?”
“No matter how harsh his words, what use are they?
If it were me, I wouldn’t care and would insist on collecting this month’s rent first.”
“Each family fifty, from our four families, that makes two hundred yuan!”
“But he didn’t even mention collecting rent; in my opinion, that kid is truly a bit foolish…”
…
Old Man Li’s suggestion quickly gained unanimous approval from everyone.
All in upbeat moods and bustling with discussion, they cooperated in the tasks—some buying wine, others lighting the fire, and some cooking—as they busily commenced their preparations.