Chapter 4 Creditors Gather at the Door
Chapter 4 Creditors Gather at the Door
"Dad, don't smoke when you're angry. It will choke your lungs."
Zhou You kicked Mou Xiaoli away, without even looking at him as if he were trash, and gently stroked his father's back.
When Father Zhou saw his son coming back, he was relieved, "You'er, you're back."
"Are you hungry? Ask your mother to cook for you later."
Mou Laoyao, who was standing by, couldn't stand it anymore. He felt sorry for his son and pointed at Zhou's father and son and started cursing.
"Zhou You, you dare to hit my son?"
Mou Xiaoli curled up into a ball, rolled on the ground holding his stomach, feeling like his internal organs were about to burst.
He kept moaning, "I'm dying, it hurts so much."
Zhou You said coldly, "He just attacked my father. He asked for it. If he does it again, I will kill him directly."
"You old fool, no one invited you here, but you came here to ask for a beating? I'll help you."
The youngest Mou was so angry that his face turned red, "Old Zhou, is this how you discipline your son?"
"Didn't you just say that I don't know how to discipline my son?"
Old Man Zhou's words choked him.
"Just wait. If anything happens to my son, I will sue you."
Mou Laoyao left a few harsh words and walked out of the door in shame, supporting his son.
After they went out, they did not go home immediately, but shouted and cursed at the door.
"Neighbors all came to see that Zhou's son had beaten someone up."
"I told you, a kid from a good family, how could he possibly mess with the Wild Fox Gang?"
"Just wait and see, they will cry one day."
The shrill sound echoed all around, and many people leaned their heads out of their windows to watch the excitement.
"Don't go out, they are all neighbors."
Old Man Zhou grabbed Zhou You and he was also disheartened.
A friend in need is a friend indeed. In recent times, Dad has seen all kinds of things.
Just as he was about to close the door, Mou Laoyao's voice suddenly rose in pitch, "The debt collector is here."
"The debt collectors are here. Old Zhou family, don't hide behind closed doors. Pay your debts and keep your family honest."
Father Zhou sighed and asked Zhou You, "How much money do you have on you?"
"Only 25 taels left."
The registration fee was 5 taels, and the tuition for the first month was 20 taels, so half of it was spent directly.
Father Zhou did not ask where the money went, "Let's go, the creditor is here."
Mou Laoyao, who was outside the door, had a smug look on his face. If he hadn't spread the news everywhere, these creditors would not have come to his house that night.
Originally, if Zhou You had followed the arrangement and kowtowed and apologized, the matter would have been resolved.
Afterwards, Old Man Zhou worked to save money to pay off his debts, and he would be able to recover after ten or eight years.
But Zhou You did not come today. After offending the gang, not only did he lose his job, but even his normal life was difficult to maintain.
As a result, the creditors naturally worry about not being able to get their money back.
The creditors swarmed in and almost broke the door down, and finally they just stood together at the door.
An old man in a long gown, who is the accountant of the company, is a colleague of Old Man Zhou.
He borrowed ten taels of silver, which was the largest amount he had ever borrowed.
"Brother Zhou, I'm sorry to come out so late at night. It's because my wife is seriously ill and needs money."
The old accountant was very polite and didn't get angry.
The others were even more excited and wanted to eat Zhou You's family.
"No need for interest, just return the principal to me."
"I'm telling you, I know someone in the government office, and if you don't pay me back, I'll ask the police to arrest you."
"Mr. Zhou, if you want to die, don't drag us down."
The crowd was in an uproar, and the noisy noise almost broke the doors and windows.
The neighbors came out and stood around Lao Zhou's house, talking in low voices and watching.
Among the crowd, the voices of Mou Laoyao and his son were the most piercing, explaining the origin of the incident. "Lao Zhou's son is useless. He took the money but didn't apologize. Instead, he went out to eat and drink, and came back drunk."
"With Tu Lao San's temper, I'll set fire to his house tomorrow."
"We can't let them live here anymore, or they'll cause trouble to the neighbors."
Old Man Zhou looked at the strange neighbors and angry creditors and felt like the world was collapsing.
But he cannot fall down, he still needs to support this family.
A pair of strong hands supported Zhou Lao's back, "Dad, don't worry, I'm here."
Zhou You took out the silver from his arms and held it high in the air.
"Everyone, I am Zhou You, the son of the Zhou family. You all know me."
"All your money is here, and I spent half of it."
As soon as these words were spoken, the crowd became agitated, which meant that half of them did not want their money back.
But Zhou You went on to say, “I spent the money, but not on eating, drinking and having fun.”
"Who believes it?"
Mou Laoyao and his son in the crowd snorted disdainfully, their voices particularly loud.
"I bought a wooden sign. It was really expensive. It cost 25 taels of silver."
"What a coincidence, you are here, can you help me see if I made a profit or a loss?"
The neighbors and creditors thought Zhou You was crazy. How could a piece of broken wood be worth 25 taels of silver?
This amount of money is enough to buy food for one person to eat for ten years.
The old accountant spoke on behalf of the creditors, "Old Zhou, there are still 25 taels left. You can pay back half of it first."
"We trust your character, but your son is still young, so don't let him get into trouble again."
As he spoke, Zhou You said to his mother, "Mom, hang this wooden sign at the door."
My mother was illiterate, so she carefully wiped the surface of the wooden sign with her sleeve and hung it on the gate according to Zhou You's instructions.
"Old accountant, what's written on the wooden sign?"
Most of the people present were illiterate and could not understand what was written on it.
Only the old accountant, Zhou You's family, and Mou Xiaoli, a waiter at the restaurant, could read.
The old accountant squinted at the wooden sign and read out each word.
"A student of Jianxiong Martial Arts School."
As soon as these words were spoken, the crowd suddenly became excited.
The boy from the Zhou family joined a martial arts school, which is the famous Jianxiong Martial Arts School in the city.
Master Jianxiong is a famous martial artist in the city and a frequent guest of wealthy families.
What virtue and ability did Zhou You have to deserve to become his disciple?
The youngest son of Mou didn't believe it and asked his son, "Xiao Li, look carefully, are these the words?"
Mou Xiaoli learned all the characters from the menu. After trying for a long time to recognize them, he was sure that what the old accountant said was correct, and nodded slowly.
"It must be fake, a broken wooden sign..."
Mou Laoyao wanted to say something, but his son covered his mouth with his hand.
After all, Mou Xiaoli works in a restaurant and has much more experience than his father.
It is easy to forge the wooden certificate of a martial arts school, but it cannot withstand inspection. Once something goes wrong, the trouble caused will be much more serious than offending a gang.
Moreover, the 25 taels mentioned by Zhou You were actually the registration fee of 5 taels for the martial arts school, plus one month's tuition of 20 taels.
After hearing his explanation, Mou Laoyao collapsed to the ground.
I had been expecting to see the Zhou family decline, but unexpectedly they turned things around and became even more prosperous.
Zhou You joined the martial arts school and had the protection of Master Jianxiong, so Tu Lao San was nothing!
Once they return from their studies, various trading companies and freight stations will rush to hire them, with monthly salaries starting at 10 taels.
Jealousy was like a poisonous snake gnawing at Mou Laoyao's heart, making him feel dizzy.
How did things turn out like this?
(End of this chapter)