Chapter Ninety-Seven: The Arrival

“I refuse to accept this! I’m going to report you to the authorities! On what grounds are you arresting us?”

Inside the cell, Fang Song clung to the doorpost, shouting in rage.

“I am the authority here. If you have any issues, talk to me!”

Chen Kuai crossed his legs leisurely, looking at Fang Song as if he were a fool.

“Boss Fang, no offense, but this shopping festival is something even the city lord has his eyes on. Why on earth are you stirring up trouble? There are only a few shops. If they’re closed for a month, do you really think your Fang family will collapse? Who are you trying to fool?”

It was obvious he had been sent by someone to cause a ruckus.

“Lord Chen! You’re being completely unreasonable!” Fang Song’s face darkened with anger.

“I didn’t put shackles on you—that’s already being reasonable,” Chen Kuai chuckled lightly. “Back when I was just a captain of the watch, do you think you could have spoken to me this politely? Luckily, I’ve been promoted and now have to handle things with some finesse. Otherwise, with Fang Song gathering people to cause trouble, I’d have plenty of ways to deal with him.”

“I truly can’t understand it. The Huang family should be your mortal enemies, yet here you are, an elder of your family, cozying up with them,” Chen Kuai sighed. “If the shopping festival fails, Qin Town may just pack up and return to the village. But what about your Fang family?”

“The Huang family won’t wipe us out!” Fang Song gritted his teeth stubbornly. Whether out of foolishness or naivety, he still harbored illusions about the Huang family. “I’ve already spoken with Huang Dalang. Once Qin Town is settled, they’ll protect the Fang family’s wealth and honor.”

Chen Kuai’s gaze was a strange mix of pity and incredulity.

This old fool really had lost his mind.

Without wasting more words, he waved to his men, warning them not to be slack, then turned and left.

Elsewhere, Qin Town was contemplating the schedule for the shopping festival.

Unconsciously, dusk had fallen, and most people had already left.

Only Qin Town and a few others were left tidying up the site.

“Do you think the Fang family might sneak over tonight to sabotage the event?” Li Han muttered anxiously.

His words reminded Qin Town.

The marketplace was a battlefield where every trick was used.

Even if the Fang family didn’t come, others might try to interfere.

“I’ll have some people stay overnight in the shops to keep watch,” Qin Town said.

Seeing Qin Town nod, Chen Shu immediately ran toward the inn to gather reinforcements.

Not long after Chen Shu left, Qin Town also rose, instructing the remaining guards to stay vigilant, then left with Li Han.

Although there was no curfew in the capital, the streets were mostly deserted after dark.

On one hand, night life in these times was scarce—once night fell, there was little to do; on the other, oil for lamps was expensive. Aside from wealthy households, ordinary people couldn’t afford it. When night came, everything was shrouded in darkness, forcing people to stay quietly by their heated kang beds.

“If only we could make candles,” Qin Town mused.

He had thought about this many times since his arrival in this world. Unfortunately, he wasn’t all-knowing; his knowledge was limited.

He knew roughly what candles were, but making them was not so simple.

It required careful planning.

Far off, the Baiyang Pavilion was still lit, filled with scholars and poets embracing courtesans and dancers, composing verses.

Common folk leaned at their doorways, listening to the soft Wu dialect, chatting about daily life.

A few streets away lay the bitter kiln; in that silent darkness, countless scarred eyes gazed out into the night.

“Damn it!”

Qin Town suddenly cursed.

“Zhen’er, why are you swearing?” Li Han was puzzled.

Qin Town continued, quoting bitterly, “The rich feast while the roads are littered with frozen corpses! Songs of peace fill the scrolls, but the people’s suffering goes unheard! This damned world!”

Qin Town wished to build countless mansions to shelter all the cold and destitute under heaven, to see them all smile with warmth. But how to acquire such mansions? It depended on money.

And how easy was it to wrest money from the aristocrats and landowners?

Qin Town had just begun to make a name for himself. Before he could even take the field, the coastal landowners led by the Huang family had banded together—first trying to coax him, then threatening, and finally pressuring. Even the Fang family had turned into traitors, fearing Qin Town might take a share of their wealth.

He only wanted to earn some money to help the poor like himself.

He sought neither power nor status, so why was it all so difficult?

“I don’t understand,” Li Han scratched his head. “But this world really is rotten to the core.”

Their sparse conversation ended as they turned into a narrow alley.

At the end stood the inn.

The pitch-black alley flickered with a few shadowy figures, making Qin Town uneasy.

He’d walked this path many times in recent days; at this hour, it was always deserted. Why were there people tonight?

Behind them, the sound of rapid footsteps grew.

Qin Town glanced back. Suddenly, a few figures blocked their retreat, closing in with ill intent.

This wasn’t right!

Qin Town’s instincts flared: these people were trouble.

He reached to draw his sword but found his hand empty—he had left his wakizashi and crossbow at the inn, considering them a hassle during these busy days.

Not only him, Li Han’s hands were also empty.

“Are you Qin Town?” a dry voice called from the shadows.

The man’s face was covered; only the glint of a knife in the moonlight was visible.

Li Han instinctively shielded Qin Town and demanded, “What do you want?”

The man sneered, “Someone’s bought your hand. Cooperate and don’t make things hard for my brothers.”

At the sight of the blade, Qin Town knew he was in serious trouble.

These men were no ordinary thugs.

“How much is he paying?” Qin Town asked calmly. “I’ll pay double.”

Estimating roughly, there were a dozen men—half blocking the alley’s end, half in front.

The inn was only about two hundred meters away; if they could break through, they could escape.

With that thought, Qin Town lightly squeezed Li Han’s hand, who nodded in understanding.

“This isn’t about money,” the man said coldly. “Taking money for trouble is the rule. Don’t blame me; blame yourself for messing with the wrong people.”

He raised his knife and spat two words coldly:

“Attack!”

“Damn you!” Li Han cursed and lunged first.

His fist, as big as a sandbag, slammed fiercely into the attacker’s face.

A howl sounded as a black-clad man fell, convulsing on the ground.

“Run!”

No one expected Li Han to be so fierce, daring to fight back against several armed men.

Seizing their moment of shock, Qin Town and Li Han grabbed the fallen man, using him as a shield, and charged toward the attackers.

Amid the flashing blades, Qin Town’s roar pierced the night:

“Chen Shu! I’m being ambushed! Come help!”