Chapter 19.4

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The cleaver in Fan Changyu’s hand was heavy and cold, carrying a permanent scent of blood from years of chopping meat and bone. When she slapped Wang’s heir across the face with it, half his face went numb. He trembled uncontrollably, like a sieve shaking out grain. “W-Wang’s lost its braised meat contract with Yixiang Lou. I-I heard… heard it was because Cook Li recommended your braised meat instead…”

Fan Changyu’s sneer deepened. “That’s all? And you started spreading lies about me because of that?”

The women in the crowd, who had been listening closely, now stared at Wang’s heir with a mix of anger and disgust. They couldn’t believe that all the foul accusations he’d thrown at Fan Changyu were based on such a trivial matter.

A woman spat on the ground in disdain. “Shameless! Ruining a young woman’s reputation just because her business is doing well? This is nothing short of trying to drive her to despair!”

Another muttered angrily, “I was wondering why Cook Li hadn’t been buying meat from Fan’s lately. Turns out it’s because this black-hearted wretch spread lies about them. Poor man was avoiding her to avoid further rumors!”

“And Wang’s, with its wealth and status, bullying an orphaned girl like this? They’ve got no sense of shame!” another chimed in, her voice brimming with indignation.

The crowd’s scornful murmurs grew louder, each comment a verbal blow to the Wang family’s dignity.

“He spends all day in brothels, so of course his head is filled with nothing but filth!” one woman snapped.

“And let’s be honest,” another chimed in, “Wang’s Braised Goods is just a bully hiding behind its big name. The flavor’s gotten worse over the years, and one time, I even bought spoiled meat from them! No wonder Yixiang Lou doesn’t want their braised goods anymore!”

Hearing the crowd’s growing indignation, the Wang shopkeeper’s face flushed red with embarrassment and fury. Stomping his foot in frustration, he shouted, “You unfilial brat! You disgrace!”

Meanwhile, the Wang family heir, now crying so hard snot bubbles formed on his face, wailed, “Please, spare me! I’ll pay you! I’ll give you lots and lots of money! I know your family needs money…”

Fan Changyu remained silent, her eyes cold and unrelenting. Without warning, she raised her cleaver and slammed it forcefully into the ground.

The surrounding crowd gasped audibly, cries of alarm and shock rippling through them. The Wang shopkeeper staggered backward, nearly fainting on the spot, while his son let out a shrill scream, his voice cracking from terror.

Crack!

The cleaver sank into the ground, leaving a clean split in the sturdy floorboards. The weight of Fan Changyu’s silent, menacing presence loomed over the entire scene, silencing even the crowd’s murmurs.

The cleaver didn’t strike the Wang family heir but instead sheared off his hairpin and a full swath of his hair, leaving the blade embedded deep into the bluestone floor beneath him. The knife trembled slightly as it settled, its edge gleaming ominously.

For a long moment, the Wang family heir was frozen in place, unable to process what had just happened. When he finally regained his senses, his face was as pale as a corpse, and the sharp stench of urine filled the air as a yellow puddle spread from under the cutting board.

The Wang shopkeeper, supported by his servants, was gasping for breath, his face a mix of terror and despair.

The cold sensation on his scalp finally registered with the heir, and whatever courage he had left completely crumbled. He burst into loud, uncontrollable sobs, his face a mess of snot and tears. “Don’t kill me! Please don’t kill me!”

The Wang shopkeeper, despite his frustration with his useless son, only had this one heir. Nearly in tears himself, he pleaded with Fan Changyu, “Miss Fan, my son spoke without thinking and tarnished your reputation. I promise to discipline him properly. I’ll personally prepare gifts and come to your home to offer my apologies. In ancient times, cutting off hair symbolized a punishment in place of execution. You’ve already taken his hair—please, be merciful and spare him!”

The desperation in his voice was palpable, a stark contrast to his earlier confidence.

Fan Changyu withdrew her cleaver and glared coldly at the Wang family heir. “Don’t let me see you again!” she spat.

With that, she turned and walked away, cleaver in hand, not sparing the Wang father and son another glance.

The Wang family heir’s long-standing reputation for bullying men and harassing women was well-known in town. For many, Fan Changyu’s public reprimand was nothing short of justice served. The gathered townsfolk erupted into cheers and applause, shouting their approval.

“Well done! He deserved it!”

“Good thing she’s the daughter of Old Tiger Fan! Anyone else would have been helpless, with nowhere to turn for help after being bullied like this!”

“Exactly! Remember that poor girl from Liu Village? She was such a beauty, but that scoundrel from Wang’s got her pregnant, and when his family wouldn’t acknowledge it, the poor girl ended up drowning herself in the river!”

“And that’s just one case we know about because it became public. Who knows how many wicked things he’s done behind closed doors? And honestly, Wang’s braised meat isn’t even as good as Fan’s. At least Fan’s shop uses fresh, same-day meat. Who knows what kind of meat they’re using over there?”

The murmurs and gossip swirled as Fan Changyu strode away, the townsfolk’s ire toward the Wang family burning hotter with every shared grievance.

The Wang shopkeeper listened to the murmurs and gossip from the onlookers, his old face practically dragging on the ground in shame.

Meanwhile, the wooden board pinning the Wang family heir was finally lifted off by two grunting servants. The heir, a grown man, clung to his father, sobbing and sniffling pitifully. “Father…”

Instead of comfort, he received two swift kicks from the furious Wang shopkeeper. “You worthless fool! It’s bad enough you spend all your time in brothels, but now this? You’ve completely disgraced the Wang family name today!”

Fan Changyu, satisfied with her vengeance, didn’t bother to look back at the commotion in the Wang shop. She had vented her anger and was preparing to head home when someone suddenly called out behind her, “Miss Fan, please wait.”

She turned, puzzled, to see a man with a small mustache walking toward her.

“Miss Fan, such remarkable skill! I am the steward of Huixian Moneylender’s Bureau. Would you have any interest in working for us?”

“Moneylender?” Fan Changyu frowned. “What could I possibly do there?”

The steward smiled broadly. “Debt collection.”

Fan Changyu: “…”

Behind her, Master Jin and his gang perked up eagerly. “Miss Fan, if you take on debt collection work, we’ll follow you and work for you!”

Fan Changyu shot them a sharp glare. “Didn’t you all say you wanted to find honest jobs?”

They immediately shrank back, tucking their necks like scolded geese, and didn’t dare make another sound.

Fan Changyu turned down the steward’s offer outright. The steward didn’t seem offended, simply leaving her with a slip of paper detailing the benefits of working as a debt collector for Huixian Moneylender’s Bureau. “Miss Fan, there’s no rush to reply. Please take some time to consider it,” he said before departing.

Holding the paper, Fan Changyu felt a wave of complicated emotions. What exactly do people in this town think of me?

She sighed, tucking the paper into her sleeve as she turned to head home. But as she rounded the corner, she saw a figure standing at the edge of the street. Snow swirled around him, and his broad robes billowed in the cold wind. The lively street market behind him was a stark contrast to his composed demeanor and aloof gaze, which was fixed on her with a curious, faintly amused expression.

Fan Changyu glanced down at the paper in her hand, with its bold “debt collection” heading, and blurted defensively, “I wasn’t out robbing anyone.”

Master Jin and his crew, upon seeing Xie Zheng, immediately straightened, their faces tight with fear. They chimed in unison, “Greetings, sir!”

Xie Zheng: “…”

Fan Changyu: “…”

Now it really looks like I was out robbing someone.