Chapter Five: A Disturbance at the Door

After dinner, Ankang took out the copper coins he’d earned from selling firewood. “Mother, we were really lucky today. We met Steward Zhang from Juwei Restaurant—he bought all our firewood, gave us a total of one hundred and sixteen coins, and even asked us to deliver two more loads tomorrow.”

Madam Luo took the coins, but instead of looking pleased, her expression grew serious. “Juwei Restaurant has always had their firewood delivered by Zhou Dageng from Letang Village. If you deliver firewood there, he’ll accuse you of stealing his business and come here to make trouble.”

“If he dares come and cause trouble, I’ll chop him with my hatchet,” blurted Anjian, bold as a calf, unafraid of tigers.

“So you think you’re grown now, showing off your strength and talking tough?” Madam Luo glared at him and scolded sharply.

Seeing her anger, Anjian shrank behind Anyi for protection.

Anyi pressed her lips to stifle a laugh, straightened her small frame, and shielded him from Madam Luo’s wrathful gaze.

Ankang, being older, had heard of Zhou Dageng’s character and knew his mother’s worries were not unfounded. Though he wasn’t afraid of Zhou Dageng, he saw no point in quarreling with a thug. Still, he frowned. “Mother, I already promised Steward Zhang we’d deliver two loads tomorrow, and he gave us a ten-coin deposit. What should we do?”

Madam Luo counted out fifteen coins and handed them to Ankang. “Tomorrow, go apologize to Steward Zhang, return the fifteen coins, and explain the situation. He’ll understand.”

Anyi frowned slightly. If Zhou Dageng had always supplied firewood to Juwei Restaurant, why was Steward Zhang buying firewood on the street? There must be a reason. If they could seize this opportunity and establish a connection, they might become regular suppliers, sparing her brothers from hard labor and bringing steady income. With her mind made up, she tried to persuade Madam Luo. “Mother, Steward Zhang was the one who wanted to buy the firewood—it’s not as if my brothers deliberately took Zhou Dageng’s business. If he comes to make trouble, he’s in the wrong, not us. Besides, since Big Brother already promised and took a deposit, failing to deliver would be breaking our word. People would talk, and it would inconvenience the restaurant. That’s not right.”

“Mother, Sister’s right. When Big Brother and I delivered firewood to Juwei Restaurant today, we saw they didn’t have much left. If we don’t bring more tomorrow, their business will be affected,” Anjian chimed in urgently from behind Anyi, unwilling to lose such a good earning opportunity.

Madam Luo glanced at her two children, then lowered her head in thought. After a long moment, she looked up at Ankang. “Very well, Zhuzi, tomorrow you and Shuanzi deliver two more loads to Juwei Restaurant, but make sure to explain the situation to Steward Zhang.”

“Alright,” Ankang agreed readily.

With things settled, Anyi was secretly delighted. When Madam Luo went to the outhouse, she tugged at Ankang’s sleeve. “Big Brother, talk to Steward Zhang tomorrow. If you can secure the firewood delivery job, you won’t have to hawk it on the street, and our income will be stable.”

“It’s a good idea, but we can’t manage it,” Ankang replied.

Anyi glanced toward the door and lowered her voice. “Don’t tell Mother the truth—just say we sold it on the street.”

“Silly girl, you forgot—I attend the academy in town and only come home every half month. When I’m not around, Shuanzi can’t carry two loads alone, and he has school too. We can’t keep troubling our uncles for help. Without firewood, what would we deliver?” Ankang chuckled.

Anyi kept her expression calm, though she tensed inwardly. Seeing he didn’t suspect anything, she pouted. “I just recovered from illness; my mind’s still fuzzy. I forgot.”

Ankang patted her head. “Don’t go playing by the pond with Daya and the others anymore. If Aunt Liu hadn’t saved you, you would’ve drowned.”

A glint of understanding flashed in Anyi’s eyes. Now she knew how her predecessor had died.

Early the next morning, Ankang and his brother carried firewood into town. Madam Luo was in the kitchen washing dishes, and Anyi helped clean the house.

Suddenly, there was a loud crashing sound. Anyi rushed out to see the front door kicked wide open by a burly man with a face full of scars.

The man strode inside, cursing loudly. “You little brats, get out here! Damn it, kids like you trying to steal my business? If I don’t yank out every last hair on your heads, I’ll take your surname!”

Hearing these words, Anyi immediately knew who it was. She hadn’t expected him to arrive so quickly. With both her brothers gone, how should she deal with him?

Madam Luo ran out from the kitchen and stood protectively in front of Anyi, anxiously explaining, “Zhou Dageng, my son Zhuzi isn’t trying to steal your business, it’s—”

“Shut up, woman! I don’t talk to women,” Zhou Dageng snarled, ignoring her. He marched inside, his eyes darting about, then headed straight for the inner room. “You little brats, get out here! Damn it, you think you can steal my business and hide in your mother’s skirts? I’ll find you wherever you’re hiding!”

“Zhou Dageng, watch your mouth!” Madam Luo flushed with anger and blocked his path. “My son isn’t stealing your business. Juwei Restaurant’s been busy these days and ran out of firewood, so Steward Zhang—”

Zhou Dageng raised his foot and kicked Madam Luo to the ground. “You wretched woman, how dare you get in my way!”

Seeing him not content with kicking Madam Luo and about to kick her again, Anyi feared for her mother’s safety. She snatched up a wooden stick from under the eaves and swung it at Zhou Dageng.

Though Anyi was small and not very strong, unable to knock Zhou Dageng out with one blow, her determined strike landed hard on his right leg.

Zhou Dageng was, after all, made of flesh and blood, and unprepared for the attack, he nearly dropped to his knees. Enraged by the pain, he spun around, reaching to grab Anyi.

Anyi nimbly stepped back, brandishing the stick to keep him at bay, swinging wildly to prevent him from getting close.

Zhou Dageng blocked several blows with his arm, grimacing in pain. With a furious kick, he knocked the stick from her hands.

Unable to hold on, Anyi lost her weapon. Zhou Dageng seized her by the throat, lifting her off the ground.

“I’ll strangle you, you little bastard!” Zhou Dageng sneered.

“You murderer!” Madam Luo scrambled up and rushed at him, pounding and scratching in an attempt to save her daughter.

Zhou Dageng flung Madam Luo aside with such force that her head struck a wooden pillar, leaving her dizzy and dazed. He was used to hard labor and easily choked Anyi with one hand. Her vision went black as she struggled to breathe. Not wanting to be strangled to death, Anyi fought desperately, but being small, her efforts were in vain. Just as she was about to pass out from lack of air, a furious shout rang out, “Zhou Dageng, what do you think you’re doing?”