Happy Little Farmer
Chapter 184: Old Zhou Who Became Withdrawn

Chapter 184: Chapter 184: Old Zhou Who Became Withdrawn

Yang Fan stumbled out of the hotel and hid in the greenbelt to make a call to Old Zhou.

"Fanzi, where did you run off to? It’s just starting, kid. Don’t tell me you’re already spent?"

As soon as the call connected, Old Zhou shouted eagerly, his voice full of excitement, with women’s moans in the background.

Yang Fan’s hand trembled slightly as he lit a cigarette. After composing himself, he spoke in a deep voice, "Old Zhou, listen to me first, I ran into Tian Gaofei."

"Ah? What Fei?"

The noise on Old Zhou’s end was too loud, and he hadn’t caught Yang Fan’s words clearly.

"Tian Gaofei!"

"Damn!" Old Zhou exclaimed abruptly, "Then what?"

Yang Fan took a fierce drag on his cigarette, "I beat him up again, nearly half to death."

Old Zhou fell silent.

After a while, he spoke gloomily, "How can you say ’again’? Last time he was beaten and hospitalized, and it wasn’t by you. Where are you now?"

"In the hotel courtyard," Yang Fan said.

"No worries, come back, and we’ll continue having our fun. A beating is just a beating, no big deal," Old Zhou regained his composure.

"There’s another guy called Brother Leopard," Yang Fan said.

Old Zhou fell silent again.

After a long while, he asked with some surprise, "Are you talking about Wang Tianbao?"

"I don’t know his real name, but Tian Gaofei seemed to respect him quite a bit; he called him Brother Leopard," Yang Fan said.

Old Zhou fell silent again.

"Fanzi, this is getting complicated," Old Zhou finally spoke, this time without the background noise, seemingly finding a quieter spot.

"Wang Tianbao is no good. He primarily lends money at usury and then engages in extortion. If it involves a young girl, he forces them to work in his clubs. But no matter what, he has some connections. If he really goes after you, you could face serious trouble," he said.

Yang Fan’s eyelids drooped as he stayed alert to his surroundings, "I know, how could someone so brazen not have connections? My plan is to beat them up again once they’re out of the hospital."

"Though he has some connections, he’s just a man, and surely no more precious than me. A beating hurts all the same, and death is death."

Having unwittingly tangled with such scoundrels, all Yang Fan thought about now were harsh measures.

Although Wang Tianbao had connections, unlike Shen Lin, who held minor power, their activities weren’t exactly legal.

There wasn’t anything Yang Fan needed to hold back on; confronting him head-on wasn’t out of the question.

"What are you talking about, be sensible. Fighting is one thing, but you absolutely cannot get involved in murder," Old Zhou warned sternly, "You don’t need to ruin your future over such scum. Come back, and we’ll figure something out."

"Old Zhou, don’t get involved. I just wanted to let you know. I’m heading back now," Yang Fan stated.

Old Zhou suddenly became irritated, "Fanzi, that’s not fair, man. Do you still acknowledge me as your big brother? If so, get back here quick, and we’ll sort it out, just put him behind bars."

"The owner of this place just showed his face, and he almost got a beating from me too..." Yang Fan said dimly.

Old Zhou fell silent again.

After a long while, he spoke somewhat speechlessly, "Fanzi, violence isn’t the only way to solve problems. If you almost hit him too, then you really can’t come back. I’m not sure of this store owner’s background, but I suspect his influence might be no less than Wang Tianbao’s."

"She wanted me to work for him, and I refused. Then she threatened me, and I definitely had to take action, or else I worried I wouldn’t be able to get away," Yang Fan said.

"Let’s go, let’s go. We’ll talk more about it at the shop tomorrow; we need to think it over thoroughly. This is really getting complicated, very complicated." Old Zhou was overwhelmed by Yang Fan.

"Okay, then have fun by yourself," responded Yang Fan.

Old Zhou suddenly cursed speechlessly, "Do you think I’m still in the mood to play? My ten thousand silver dollars, just spent like that, it breaks my heart. Let’s head back early, be careful on the road."

Hearing the number ten thousand, Yang Fan couldn’t help but click his tongue in awe.

This place was really not for someone as broke as him.

He had worked himself to death today and had earned fifteen thousand, which was the highest income he had ever made.

Yet after visiting this place, Old Zhou had actually spent ten thousand.

Although it was truly thrilling, it was also true that he couldn’t afford such thrills.

After hanging up the phone with Old Zhou, Yang Fan hailed a taxi by the roadside and went back to the village.

The night was already deep, and it wasn’t a good time to go back to Old Zhou’s shop to retrieve his car.

If he happened to bump into Zhu Shanshan, Old Zhou would definitely explode.

Although Zhu Shanshan knew Old Zhou was up to no good behind her back, the two of them were not yet exposed in the open.

The taxi sped along the pitch-black road, and the chatty female driver, while discussing trivial matters around her, stomped on the accelerator so hard that it took less than ten minutes to drop Yang Fan off at his doorstep.

Usually, even if he ran quickly, this journey would take him about half an hour.

The taxi drivers in Xin’an seemed like they were trained under a master, even the women were fierce beyond description.

After getting out of the taxi, Yang Fan checked himself to make sure there was no blood or anything of the sort on him before he entered the house.

The lights were bright in the small courtyard, and a few women were chatting about household matters in the evening breeze.

Ever since Fourth Aunt and her daughter suddenly visited, Yang Family’s ancient house had become extremely unbalanced, heavily favoring the female side.

Yang Fan had thought by this time they would have definitely gone to sleep already.

But when he entered, he saw them enjoying tea in the night breeze, talking fiercely about Yang Family’s ancient gossips from decades ago.

"Fanzi, why are you so late today?" Zhou Wenhui asked somewhat displeasingly.

"I was having a little drink with Old Zhou," Yang Fan said, glancing at his cousin.

The girl was playing with her phone, head lowered, paying no attention to Yang Fan.

Their skins were quite thick, causing such a scene in the morning, yet they didn’t leave in a huff.

"Fanzi, about this morning, your aunt needs to apologize to you," Fourth Aunt, glittering with jewelry, suddenly stood up. "I said those harsh words to you without knowing the facts. I’m sorry."

At least she seemed reasonable and knew to apologize.

"It’s fine, Aunt. As long as some people stop making baseless accusations against me, I’m still very happy to acknowledge my relatives," Yang Fan said, sweeping a glance at the cousin, speaking with slight irritation.

He had faced too much today, and between the fatigue and irritability, a surge of anger was somewhat inevitable.

"Xiao Yuan, hurry, apologize to your Brother Fanzi!" Fourth Aunt shook her daughter’s arm, urging her.