Chapter 58

The partners at Heshengquan were seething with anger, but everyone knew that Baling Hall was the number one den of ruffians in Qingliu City, especially the Eight Great Warriors of Baling Hall, including the fourth elder with the green face, who were all notorious troublemakers in Qingliu City and extremely skilled in fighting and brawling.

These people wreaked havoc in Qingliu City, but the authorities turned a blind eye, neither hearing nor asking about it. As a result, although the citizens of Qingliu City detested them, they dared to be angry but not to speak.

At this moment, the fourth elder with the green face was provocatively challenging, but none of the Heshengquan partners dared to respond. The gang of ruffians from Baling Hall immediately burst into laughter.

Fan Yishang swaggered to the large chair in the courtyard, plopped down, and asked Liang Fangzhu, "When will he arrive? Don't let this young master wait too long. By the way, when is the cellar opening?"

Liang Fangzhu's face was somewhat grim, but he still managed a smile, "Second Young Master, please wait a moment, the head of the house will be here soon!" He gave the fourth elder with the green face a meaningful look, who saw it and got up to follow Liang Fangzhu to a secluded spot by the wall. Liang Fangzhu then said with a troubled expression, "Fourth Master, what... what is this all about? The silver we pay you, Heshengquan hasn't shortchanged you a bit. Why... why did you come with him today?"

The fourth elder with the green face stroked his rough-bearded chin and said with a light laugh, "Old Liang, one thing at a time. Today's matter has nothing to do with you. It's just that Second Young Master Fan considers us friends and asked us to help him with a small favor."

"Fourth Master, today is the day Heshengquan opens the cellar, and the head of the house is here in person. If you do this, blocking the guests at the street corner and not letting them in, when the head of the house arrives, I... I won't be able to explain!" Liang Fangzhu's forehead was drenched in cold sweat.

"Old Liang, to be honest, if it weren't for Heshengquan opening the cellar today, we wouldn't have come!" The fourth elder with the green face said with a malicious smile. "Forget it, this has nothing to do with you, so don't ask too many questions. When the head of the house arrives, everything will be clear."

While Liang Fangzhu was talking to the fourth elder with the green face, in the crowd of Heshengquan, Niu Jin also lowered his voice to Chu Huan, "These guys are no good. Brother Chu, did you see that guy with the green face? He's the fourth elder of Baling Hall. He comes to Heshengquan every month, saying he's here to support us, but in reality, he's here to squeeze silver out of us."

Chu Huan remained calm and whispered, "Squeeze silver?"

"Yes!" Niu Jin said with a bitter smile. "To put it simply, I've been at Heshengquan for almost ten years, and I now earn two taels of silver a month, but what I actually receive is... hehe, only one tael and three mace!"

Chu Huan frowned. This meant a reduction of one-third of the salary. He whispered, "Is... is the winery withholding the salary?"

Niu Jin saw that many of the partners were whispering to each other and no one was paying attention to him, so he leaned close to Chu Huan's ear and whispered, "The winery pays silver to Baling Hall every month for peace... The master said that Heshengquan is a community where we all share the same fate, so from top to bottom, we must share the same hardships. Therefore... Baling Hall collects silver, and we must also contribute a share every month. The seven mace of silver that is withheld is given to the people of Baling Hall by the master!"

Chu Huan narrowed his eyes. Heshengquan winery had nearly 150 people, which meant that every month, about 150 taels of silver were withheld from these partners. Over a year, that would be 1,800 taels, which was certainly not a small amount.

...

Just then, a voice from outside the gate called out, "The head of the house has arrived!"

Everyone immediately turned their gaze to the gate, and Liang Fangzhu and Yuan Guan, among others, hurried out to greet the head of the house of Heshengquan.

Fan Yishang, who had been sitting comfortably in the large chair, suddenly became uneasy, his face showing a strange expression, appearing somewhat flustered. The thin Third Elder, who was sitting next to him, coughed, and Fan Yishang looked at him. Seeing the Third Elder nod imperceptibly, Fan Yishang calmed down and sat steadily in the chair, but his eyes still showed a hint of unease.

Chu Huan had heard people mention the head of the house from time to time, and it seemed that everyone held the head of the house in high regard. He was also curious to see what kind of person this head of the house was.

As footsteps sounded, a group of people escorted someone into the gate. The person wore a purple embroidered silk jacket and a white jacket over it, the purple and white contrasting vividly. Below was a blue and black skirt, and on the head was a bamboo hat with a black veil, making her appear graceful and plump. Her steps were light, yet carried a sense of authority.

Chu Huan was slightly taken aback when he saw her.

He already knew that this woman who entered first must be the head of the house of Heshengquan, but he did not expect that the head of the house of the prestigious Heshengquan would be a woman.

Looking at the woman's figure and attire, Chu Huan's expression became somewhat呆滞, as the woman's figure was so familiar to him.

When the head of the house entered the courtyard, her eyes, hidden behind the black veil, looked at Fan Yishang and the others. She raised a jade arm and pointed outside the door, "Get out immediately, Heshengquan does not welcome you!"

Her voice was soft and melodious, but at this moment, it was full of coldness and decisiveness.

Fan Yishang was taken aback, but the thin Third Elder next to him started coughing. Fan Yishang came to his senses, stood up, and said with a smile, "Sister-in-law, we are all family. Why do you want to drive me, your little brother-in-law, out the door as soon as we meet? If this gets out, people will say you can't tolerate others!"

The head of the house coldly rebuked, "Shut up, who is your sister-in-law? Fan Yishang, take this gang of ruffians and get out of my winery!"

The fourth elder with the green face suddenly changed his expression and said in a deep voice, "Head of the house, you can eat anything, but you can't say anything. We abide by the rules and uphold righteousness, but in your mouth, we become ruffians... You are a person of status, such words should not come from your mouth."

Although the head of the house was as delicate as a willow, her presence was very strong. She laughed coldly, "Abide by the rules and uphold righteousness? Let me ask you, why do you block the customers from coming to Heshengquan? What right do you have to come into my winery in a group? This is an invasion of a private residence, do you understand? Such people still dare to call themselves law-abiding?" She took a light step to the center of the courtyard and said coldly, "I know that Baling Hall bullies the people and wreaks havoc, but in Heshengquan, we will not tolerate your mischief."

Liang Fangzhu whispered to the head of the house, "Head of the house, don't be angry, let's talk it out..."

"There is nothing to talk about with them!" the head of the house said calmly. "I have already sent someone to the government office, and they will send people over soon... If you are smart, you should leave quickly!"

The fourth elder with the green face laughed, then said viciously, "Don't try to scare us with the government office. I haven't set any fires or killed anyone. Even if the officers from the government office come, I won't be afraid." He pointed at Fan Yishang and said, "Second Young Master Fan is our friend. We heard that Second Young Master Fan was bullied and treated unfairly. As friends, we came to support Second Young Master Fan today." He looked at Fan Yishang and said with a cold laugh, "Second Young Master, is that right?"

Fan Yishang hurriedly nodded, "Yes... they... they are all my friends!"

"Indeed, a pack of scoundrels," the head of the house said coldly. "Fan Yishang, what do you want by bringing such a group of people?"

Fan Yishang seemed to be somewhat afraid of the head of the house, but seeing the large group of Baling Hall behind him, he gained some courage and said, "I'm not doing anything, just coming to take back what the Fan family should have!"

"What the Fan family should have?" The head of the house raised her hand and pointed around, "Look for yourself, not a single stone or tile here belongs to the Fan family. Where are you going to take back what the Fan family should have?"

"Sister-in-law, don't be so heartless," Fan Yishang said with a cold laugh. "This Heshengquan winery is yours, Su Linlang, every brick and tile is yours, Su Linlang, but don't forget, you, Su Linlang... are part of the Fan family. Your things are originally the Fan family's!"

...

Chu Huan, standing in the crowd, had already recognized the head of the house as Su Linlang. He had not known until now that the woman who had shared hardships with him was named Su Linlang, but when Su Linlang spoke her first words, Chu Huan was certain of her identity.

Although his expression was calm, he was inwardly extremely surprised.

He never imagined that the woman who had shared hardships with him was the head of the house of Heshengquan. He had already made up his mind never to see Su Linlang again, so when they parted under the large locust tree, he left with great determination.

He had also thought that he would never have the chance to see Su Linlang again, but fate played a big joke on him, bringing their paths together once more, and Chu Huan even became a partner in one of Su Linlang's wineries.

The woman was still the same woman, familiar to Chu Huan, but he also felt unfamiliar with her. Familiar was her figure and voice, but unfamiliar was her character.

When he first met Su Linlang on the riverboat, she was calm and cold, with a dignified and unapproachable air. After they encountered danger and spent several days together in the mountains, Chu Huan found her to be actually very gentle and in need of protection. But today, he saw that Su Linlang was decisive and had the air of a strong woman.

Fan Yishang's words, however, left Chu Huan very puzzled. From what Fan Yishang said, it seemed that Su Linlang had a deep connection with the Fan family, but he could not understand what the connection was between Su Linlang and the Fan family.