Chapter Seventy: Conflict

Huang Dalang’s face was grim and overcast.

The cloth trade was one of the main sources of income for the Huang family.

Qin Zhen’s actions were tantamount to snatching money from them!

How could a mere fishmonger like Qin Zhen suddenly start selling cloth—and, more bafflingly, with goods of much higher quality than his own? Huang Dalang’s brow furrowed even deeper as he recalled the unusual relationship between Qin Zhen and Huang Jue.

A chill ran through his heart.

Could it be that Huang Jue was orchestrating this from behind the scenes?

“Is he trying to show me who’s boss?”

Hearing Huang Dalang’s cold laugh, the family steward understood at once and quickly withdrew.

On the other side of the market, Qin Zhen’s sales plan was proceeding smoothly, and he was so busy collecting money that his hands were growing tired.

But then a group of men, faces full of hostility, hurried over.

“The Huang family’s people are here!” someone cried out in the crowd.

“Who gave you permission to set up your stall here? Get lost!” the lead servant barked impatiently as he drove away the crowd.

“Everyone else is allowed to sell here, why not us?” Zhao Ming retorted.

The servant sneered, “Who doesn’t know that, in Coastal City, only the Huang family can sell cloth? Without paying respects and offering tea to our young master, you think you can do business here? Do you know the rules?”

Li Han, hot-tempered as ever, could hardly contain himself.

This marketplace was established by the city lord to make life easier for the common folk. Now it had become a tool for these local tyrants to exploit and rob!

Qin Zhen held Li Han back and asked patiently, “May I ask where your young master is?”

After all, this was the city, not a county town. If he could avoid it, Qin Zhen would never willingly make trouble, especially with local powers like the Huang family. If you didn’t handle things properly, there would be endless trouble in the future.

“Who do you think you are? You want to see our young master?” the servant said arrogantly, his contempt plain.

Now, Qin Zhen’s anger was rising rapidly.

At that moment, the Huang family steward strolled over, disdainfully approached Qin Zhen’s stall, casually kneaded a bolt of cloth, and then flung it to the ground before the watching crowd.

“With this kind of trash cloth, you dare try to sell it? Clothes made from this are a mess—who could wear them? Peasants will always be peasants, they can’t even make a half-decent garment!” he jeered.

“Upend their stall!”

With that, he moved to take action.

“What’s the word?” Chen Shu looked to Qin Zhen, his eyes full of inquiry.

Qin Zhen’s expression was dark. Even a clay Buddha would have some temper left!

“No knives,” he said.

For the sake of their livelihood, Qin Zhen could endure many things.

But he absolutely would not allow anyone to trample so wantonly on the hard-earned work of the women from the little fishing village.

With Qin Zhen’s signal, the village militia, who had long been itching for a fight, immediately jumped into action.

A brawl broke out right then and there.

“You think you can overturn our stall? Who do you think you are?” Li Han charged forward, knocking the steward to the ground, pinning him down and pummeling the old wretch until stars danced before his eyes.

These bullies never expected Qin Zhen’s group would actually dare fight back.

Caught off guard, they were swiftly overpowered by the wolfish village militia.

Accustomed to terrorizing ordinary people, the Huang family’s thugs were no match for trained fighters. In no time, they lay sprawled in all directions, wailing in pain, unable to rise.

“Well fought! Beat these bullies senseless!”

“That’s what they get for pushing people around all the time—now they’ve met their match! Serves them right!”

Some in the crowd cheered, clearly having suffered under these men before.

Others, though, looked worried.

“The Huang family has long arms. Who knows if folks from the fishing village will get away with this.”

Just then, the constables burst through the crowd in a rush.

The lead officer shouted fiercely, trying to project authority.

“Everyone, stop at once!”

Qin Zhen found it laughable.

When the Huang family’s men started trouble, the officials turned a blind eye; but now that they’d been beaten, the officers rushed out, eager to show their faces!

Corrupt! Utterly corrupt!

The Huang family steward, his face bruised and swollen, rushed to the officers to complain.

“Officers, thank goodness you’re here! If you’d been a moment later, I’d have been beaten to death by these ruffians!”

“Inciting a brawl in public! That’s a serious crime!” the officer declared officially, standing protectively before the Huang family’s men and pointing at Qin Zhen and his group. “Men, arrest these troublemakers at once!”

“Are you blind?” Li Han exploded. “It was them who started it, but now it’s our fault?”

“Oh, you dare insult an officer? That’s another charge!” the officer sneered, not taking Qin Zhen’s group seriously at all. “Shackle them all—I want to see who dares defy the law!”

It was long rumored that the Huang family’s influence in the county ran deep.

Now it was plain to see.

Even Magistrate Zhang Miao had to give the Huang family some face; the officials in Coastal City were clearly in league with them as well.

What a family, the Huangs!

“Corrupt dogs!” Chen Shu ground his teeth in fury.

It was precisely because the court was so rotten that he had lost all hope, hidden his name, and come to the fishing village to live as an anonymous hunter.

Now, suffering injustice and bullying once more, he could barely restrain himself from cutting down these corrupt officials on the spot!

Even the reserved Chen Shu was so enraged—how much more so the others?

If not for Qin Zhen holding them back, they would have acted by now.

Qin Zhen knew clearly at this moment: they could not act rashly.

Fighting the Huang family’s men was just a street brawl—throw some silver at it, and it would be over.

But if they drew swords against the officers, that was a different matter entirely!

Those official robes held real power, and Qin Zhen dared not risk it.

The Huang family steward spat viciously at Qin Zhen’s feet.

“Officer, you mustn’t let these ruffians off! If they dare cause trouble today, who knows what they’ll do tomorrow? They’re clearly skilled and ruthless—perhaps even mountain bandits! You must investigate them thoroughly!”

“Don’t worry! I’ll see that not a single criminal escapes!” the officer boasted shamelessly.

They could not allow themselves to be captured without a fight.

Who knew what these officers would do to them in custody? Once thrown into jail, there was no telling what dirty tricks might await.

At that thought, Qin Zhen’s gaze sharpened.

His mind was made up.

“Draw swords!” he ordered.

The village militia drew their blades in unison—the cold, gleaming steel flashing ominously in the sunlight, stunning the officers who had been acting as the Huang family’s lackeys.

“You dare carry hidden weapons?” the officers shouted, shocked but trying to maintain their facade of authority. “You’re not just troublemakers—you must be rebels!”

“Open your eyes and look!” Qin Zhen climbed up and called out loudly.

“My name is Qin Zhen, hero of the anti-pirate campaign from the fishing village of Coastal County! These men behind me are all local militia who fought the pirates! And you dare slander us? Who do you think you are?”

“I’ll give you the time it takes for a stick of incense to burn—bring out your superior! I want to see if the officials of Coastal City dare, in broad daylight, to persecute loyal and upright men!”