Chapter Seven: Banishing the Plague God

"Zhou Dagen, I know exactly what you’re up to. If you want to extort others, I can’t stop you, but if you think you can cheat my niece, you’re underestimating the Luo family," Luo Fugui said in a deep voice.

"The Zhang family won’t stand by either," Zhang Lian added, thumping his staff against the ground. Luo’s mother was from the Zhang family.

Zhou Dagen’s eyelids twitched. The Luo family was numerous, and only Luo’s grandfather’s branch had arrived—none of the other branches had heard the news yet. If everyone came, each giving him a single punch would be enough to finish him. He’d always been a bully to the weak and fearful of the strong; he dared not provoke the Luo family. The Zhangs were also many, but since they didn’t live in Jingtang Village, he wasn’t worried about them. He shot Zhang Lian a vicious glare, cursing him inwardly. If not for this wretched boy’s interference, he would have taken the money and left. Now he could only leave empty-handed.

Villagers crowding the doorway for the spectacle shrank aside when Zhou Dagen, scowling darkly, strode toward them. His notorious reputation made none brave enough to block his path; they stepped aside to make way.

Luo Fugui’s eldest son, Luo Dongsheng, blocked Zhou Dagen’s way with his staff and asked coldly, "Zhou Dagen, you don’t think this matter is settled, do you?"

Zhou Dagen licked his lips and thumped his chest, trying to sound fierce though his heart quaked. "What, you think you can bully me just because you have numbers? I’m not afraid! My life is worthless—take it if you have the guts!"

Luo Dongsheng snorted, "Slaughtering a pig or a dog, you can at least sell the meat for a few coins. Killing you would just leave a pile of rotten flesh, not worth a thing, and more trouble than it’s worth."

The villagers, hearing Luo Dongsheng compare Zhou Dagen to less than a pig or a dog, burst into laughter. Zhou Dagen eyed the staff in Luo Dongsheng’s hands and dared not retaliate. His cold, venomous gaze swept over the crowd, silencing the laughter instantly.

"Big Brother, let him go," Luo said.

"Qiumei?" The Luo family looked at her in surprise.

She tossed aside the broken stool and said solemnly, "Zhou Dagen, my family’s Zhuzi didn’t steal your business. He only promised Steward Zhang to deliver one extra day of firewood. Tomorrow, we won’t be sending any more, and in the future, we won’t sell firewood to Ju Wei House at all. Let’s make things clear—let this be the end of it."

Luo wished to swallow her anger for a moment’s peace, but Zhou Dagen’s beady eyes rolled cunningly. "If you didn’t steal my business, then return the money you made from selling wood these past two days—"

Zhou Dagen’s shamelessness enraged Luo Dongsheng, who brandished his staff and shouted, "Zhou Dagen, don’t push your luck!"

Luo frowned. "Brother, don’t—"

"Mother, mother!" An Yi, afraid that Luo would give money to Zhou Dagen just to settle things when their family was so poor, cried out in a sharp voice. She clutched her neck, her eyes fluttering closed, and slowly collapsed to the ground.

"Xier!" Luo was startled, rushing forward to catch her.

Zhang Lian, recalling what he’d seen upon entering, quickly told the crowd, "Just now, Zhou Dagen nearly strangled Xier to death!"

At these words, Luo Dongsheng immediately pressed his staff against Zhou Dagen’s throat, and the rest of the Luo family surged forward, all talking at once, "How’s Xier?"

"Qiumei, take Xier inside quickly—it’s freezing out here, she mustn’t get chilled."

"Qiuping, hurry and fetch Doctor Lu!"

The onlookers, righteously indignant, shouted, "How cruel! How could he lay hands on such a small child?"

"All this over a trivial matter! Breaking things is one thing, but to deliberately hurt someone—he’s gone too far."

"People like him don’t deserve talking to—drag him to the authorities and have him flogged!"

Zhou Dagen’s eyes widened, searching for the speakers, his expression as venomous as a snake poised to strike.

Luo Dongsheng, seeing this, struck Zhou Dagen’s calf with his staff—much harder than An Yi had before. The pain forced Zhou Dagen to one knee, unable to bear it.

"Brother, watch this scoundrel—don’t let him escape. I’ll fetch Doctor Lu for Xier. If she’s unharmed, fine; but if anything happens, we’ll see him hanged," said Luo Fugui’s third son, Luo Qiuping.

Luo Dongsheng fixed Zhou Dagen with a piercing glare. "Don’t worry. With me here, he won’t get away."

Zhou Dagen kept his head bowed, his face dark and full of resentment.

Luo Qiuping soon returned with Doctor Lu, carrying the physician’s medicine box.

Doctor Lu, a man nearing sixty, was slightly plump and beardless, with a pale face. He’d been dragged hurriedly by the anxious Luo Qiuping and was a bit out of breath, a sheen of sweat on his brow.

An Yi’s fair skin made the red and purple marks on her neck stand out shockingly, after all this time. Doctor Lu was startled, swiftly examined her, and breathed a sigh of relief. "It’s all right, nothing’s broken."

But Luo, still worried, said, "Doctor Lu, just now my Xier called me twice and then fainted. She hasn’t woken up yet—is she really all right?"

Doctor Lu took An Yi’s pulse. "She fainted from fright. Give her a bowl of calming soup and let her sleep. She’ll be fine when she wakes."

"Thank you, Doctor Lu." Luo took out her purse and fished for a few coins.

"No need. Save your money to buy something good for the child," Doctor Lu said, picking up his medicine box to leave.

"Doctor Lu, that won’t do. How can we not pay you?" Luo insisted on giving him his fee.

"I won’t take your money. Tomorrow, have Zhuzi come to my house and copy medical texts for half a day," Doctor Lu replied.

"Qiumei, do as Doctor Lu says," Luo Fugui said.

With her uncle’s word, Luo could only agree, courteously seeing Doctor Lu out before turning to deal with Zhou Dagen.

"Uncle, Third Uncle, since Xier’s all right, let him go," Luo said, hoping to send Zhou Dagen away without making a big affair of it.

Understanding her concerns, Luo Fugui said no more and told Luo Dongsheng to release him.

Luo Dongsheng, dissatisfied but unable to defy his father, vented his anger by yanking Zhou Dagen’s collar and dragging him out of the courtyard, then throwing him to the ground. "Zhou Dagen, this time we’ll let it go. If you dare cause trouble again, I’ll break your legs."

Zhou Dagen said nothing, head bowed, dragging his aching leg as he limped toward the village entrance. The villagers dispersed as well. Luo’s aunt, Madam Yang, took Luo by the hand and said, "Qiumei, this isn’t Zhuzi’s fault—it’s Zhou Dagen who’s unreasonable. When Zhuzi comes back, don’t scold him."

"I understand," Luo nodded.

Luo Fugui had his second son, Luo Qiulin, who did carpentry, stay behind to help Luo repair the door. The rest of the Luo family bid farewell to Zhang Lian and left. Thus, the commotion over the firewood came to a close.