After three rounds of drinks, the atmosphere grew increasingly lively.

Liu Wende chose this moment to bring up the real reason for their meeting. "Brother Yiqian, this nephew of mine lives in Lingxi Village and wishes to purchase some farmland. I heard that three hundred mu of land in Lingxi are about to be sold, and I was hoping you could help things go smoothly."

"Of course, of course," Qian Yiqian said, the alcohol clearly getting to him. He stroked his short beard, his smile beaming. "Since you’re the one asking, Wende, it’s a small matter. I will certainly make it happen. I just don’t know how many mu the young man wants?"

"Three hundred mu," Chen Li replied.

"How many?"

Qian Yiqian’s drunken eyes suddenly shot open, and he seemed to sober up quite a bit.

Even Liu Wende looked surprised.

He had looked into Chen Li’s family affairs. Based on their situation, he figured they could afford one hundred mu at most. That was why he’d offered to mediate, hoping to help Chen Li buy a plot at a low price and, in doing so, repay some of his debt of gratitude.

Chen Li smiled. "I’ll buy all three hundred mu in one go. That’ll save you the trouble, won’t it, Uncle?"

The drunken haze in Qian Yiqian’s eyes vanished, replaced by a shrewd gleam. "Young man, three hundred mu is no small amount. Especially since this is a single, contiguous plot of first-rate farmland in Lingxi. Plenty of other families have their eyes on it. Even if I agree to this, the County Magistrate might not give his approval."

Liu Wende shot Chen Li a meaningful glance and cut in, "Brother Yiqian, don’t try to pull a fast one on my nephew. Didn’t you go see that land yourself? It’s all just scattered plots of third-rate, inferior soil."

Chen Li took the hint. With a smile, he produced a carefully wrapped old ginseng. "I heard that you exhausted yourself on your trip to Lingxi the other day and had to rest for a few days upon your return. I happen to have some medicinal herbs that are excellent for warming and nourishing one’s vitality. Please, Uncle, take this back and give it a try."

Qian Yiqian let out a hearty laugh and slapped his forehead. "Ah, look at my memory! I must have gotten things mixed up. I had a splitting headache after coming back from Lingxi that day. You’re right, that land in Lingxi is indeed just scattered plots of third-rate, inferior soil. It seems I really should try this medicine of yours, nephew."

"Please, Uncle, take it. If it works, I can send you more," Chen Li said with a light laugh.

Qian Yiqian discreetly accepted the gift and smiled. "Nephew, your medical Skill is impressive. I’m sure this medicine will be of great use."

Chen Li felt a wave of relief. He raised his cup. "Then I wish you a speedy recovery, Uncle. Allow this junior to offer you another toast."

The three of them looked at each other and smiled, raising their cups to drink together.

During the banquet, Qian Yiqian rose to use the lavatory, and Chen Li walked with him.

Suddenly, a figure appeared before his eyes.

Chen Zhengping!

’What is he doing here?’

Chen Li’s expression flickered. He watched closely as the man, carrying a fine jar of wine, entered one of the private dining rooms.

Chen Li focused his Inner Qi into his ears, listening intently.

From the room came a cacophony of noise: boisterous, vulgar laughter and curses, a woman’s breathless gasps, and the slick sound of flattery.

"You can really hold your liquor, Young Master! Allow this humble one to toast you again."

"Young Master, let me, Tu Sandao, lay it on the line. From this day forward, here in Jingshan County, your business is my business! Anyone who dares to cause you trouble is making an enemy of my San Dao Bang, and I’ll make sure they live to regret it!"

The voice was coarse and loud, thick with the crude air of the Jianghu and a sycophantic, deliberate fawning.

The Gang Leader of the San Dao Bang, Tu Sandao.

Chen Li’s expression flickered, and his gaze sharpened instantly.

Just then, Qian Yiqian emerged from the latrine, and Chen Li returned with him to their private room.

The banquet ended.

Chen Li and the other two left the private room and went to the counter to settle the bill.

At that moment, a familiar, sycophantic voice called out, "Watch your step, Young Master."

It was none other than Chen Yongquan’s eldest son, Chen Zhengping.

All the arrogance he once displayed back in Lingxi Village was gone. Now, he was hunched over like a common servant, carefully attending to someone as they came out.

Soon, a young master of about seventeen or eighteen, dressed in opulent clothes, emerged with his arm around a stunningly beautiful woman.

His face had the pallor of overindulgence, but his eyes were arrogant and cold, and a cynical, devil-may-care smile played on his lips.

Following closely behind was an unusually burly man.

His face was a mass of coarse, chiseled features. A hideous scar ran diagonally from the corner of his left eye to his mouth, making him look even more ferocious. His eyes, wide as bronze bells, normally shot daggers, but now they were filled with undisguised, fawning humility.

"Young Master, I’ve prepared the small courtyard and had Seventh Mistress’s husband sent over," the burly man said with a sinister chuckle.

"Good, good, Tubang Master, you’ve done well."

Hearing this, the young master in opulent clothes grew visibly excited, prompting a series of coquettish protests from the beautiful woman.

In that instant, the hunched-over Chen Zhengping also followed the young master’s gaze and caught sight of Chen Li leaving the restaurant.

The sycophantic look on Chen Zhengping’s face froze. He never in his wildest dreams expected to run into Chen Li here. In an instant, an uncontrollable wave of jealousy and hatred filled his eyes.

"Let’s go, Zhengping. What are you just standing there for?" The young master, his arm around the beautiful woman, was impatient to leave.

"In response to your question, Young Master, I saw a sworn enemy from my clan."

The young master’s gaze followed Chen Zhengping’s and fell upon Chen Li’s party of three. "Those two... they look like they’re from the Government Office."

"Young Master, that man opposes my family at every turn," Chen Zhengping replied cautiously. "Last Mid-Autumn Festival, his eldest son badly injured my younger brother, leaving him bedridden for months. Now he’s here cozying up to people from the Government Office. He must be plotting to steal my grandfather’s position as clan patriarch."

"Oh?" The cynical smile on the young master’s face widened. "Is that so? In that case, Tubang Master, I’ll have to trouble you to handle this. Zhengping has been with me for a long time and hasn’t been able to look after his family. I can’t let my men feel abandoned. There’s no need to make a big scene. Just make him pay some compensation and give him a little warning. A person shouldn’t have ambitions beyond their station."

"Don’t worry, Young Master. I’ll take care of it cleanly."

Tu Sandao gave a fawning smile, his fierce gaze sweeping toward Chen Li, the scar on his face looking even more hideous in the candlelight.

He bared a set of ghastly white teeth, flashing a silent, vicious grin in Chen Li’s direction.

...

With more than ten days still to go before the County Magistrate’s Office sold the farmland, Chen Li had nothing pressing to do, so he returned home.

The day after he arrived, Chen Yongquan sent someone to inform him that he had something to discuss and invited Chen Li to his home.

Chen Li frowned. ’What kind of trouble is he trying to stir up now?’

When he arrived at Chen Yongquan’s home, he found the man sitting in the head seat of the main hall, his face a mask of sorrow, sighing dramatically.

Seeing Chen Li arrive, he wiped at his eyes, his voice thick with unshed tears. "Oh, Nephew Li! Your cousin Zhengtong’s injury... *sigh*. I hired the best bone-setter in the county seat and he’s taken endless medicines, but his hand... I’m afraid it’s crippled! Forget practicing martial arts, in the future he might not even be able to hold chopsticks!"

As he spoke, he furtively watched Chen Li’s reaction from the corner of his eye.

Chen Li calmly took a seat, not even bothering to look up. "Cousin Zhengtong is in the prime of his life. The injury didn’t seem that serious to me. He’ll recover."

"Recover?"

Chen Yongquan’s voice suddenly rose an octave. "Easier said than done! At the martial arts banquet, if Shouheng hadn’t suddenly struck such a vicious blow, would Zhengtong be in this state? He is the future hope of our Chen Family! Now it’s all ruined! All ruined!"

He slammed his fist on the table, making the teacups rattle with a CLATTER.