23 Chapter 20: Young Gang Leader Lei Zhen

Hu Ye was berated by the deputy gang leader for a long time, who repeatedly emphasized not to cause trouble recently, but to accumulate strength first, and wait until the opportunity is ripe to eradicate the gang leader and other stubborn members, to seize power.

Hu Ye wanted to explain that he hadn't laid a hand on Fatty Li, but the deputy gang leader did not listen.

"Whether or not you did it is no longer important. Your informer, Wang Dachui, has just been arrested, and right after that Fatty Li died. Now everyone thinks you did it, but they have not outright accused you yet."

Hu Ye finally nodded helplessly, promising that he will keep a low profile and not provoke anyone in the gang for the time being.

The deputy gang leader finally left, feeling a bit more at ease.

...

In the afternoon, after finishing his martial arts practice, Chen Yi brought a Ling Lake fish home, preparing to clean the fish and make fish soup.

Little miss Chen Ran, with bright eyes, was deftly helping Chen Yi gather firewood, start the fire, and heat water,

In recent times, the intelligent child has come to realize that their fish are not the same as those in the lake.

The fish that her brother brings home every now and then, are all particularly delicious, and after eating them, they feel energized for several days.

Now, her small body is no longer like a bony cucumber, but red and plump, the type that chases and hits boys among her peers.

Chen Yi intentionally wants Chen Ran to boost her health and lay a good foundation, so he can teach her martial arts when the time is ripe.

At this moment, Chen Yi's mother came running back from outside anxiously.

Upon opening the door, she saw her two children preparing to cook fish by the pot,

She let out a long sigh of relief.

Then, her face became serious as she looked at Chen Yi and said:

"Xiao Yi, did you know Manager Li is dead?"

"What?!!" Chen Yi looked shocked, wide-mouthed: "Li Ye is dead?"

Chen Yi's mother looked somewhat doubtful: "You really didn't know?"

"Mother, I've been practicing martial arts, fishing, and coming home to cook. How would I know what happened to Li Ye in the gang?"

Chen Yi's mother thought for a while, then sighed in relief: "That's true, my son is timid and well-behaved, how can he get involved with the gang activities?

Alright, as long as it has nothing to do with you. Make the meal properly. Use less salt in the soup today, the price of salt has gone up again!

Also, you should avoid the market for a while, with the gang leader changing, who knows if there will be trouble. We still have some food stored, it should last us for two months if we are frugal."

Chen Yi watched his chattering mother, continuously nodding in agreement, but he did not skimp on the preparation. He used a reasonable amount of salt, and even steamed a few more buns than usual.

He was in a crucial period of growth and would not compromise on his needs. Regarding food, he would find a way.

If it's not feasible to go to the market here, can't he go to another one?

Not long after dinner, there was another burst of gong sounds from outside the village:

"Everyone, come out!"

The leader of the three men who came to West Lake Village was a tall and muscular young man.

"Our young gang leader is personally here to investigate; whoever dares to withhold information will be executed on the spot!"

A middle-aged manager ordered loudly.

The fishermen of West Lake Village dared not breathe loudly. Chen Yi hid in the crowd, shrinking his shoulders, keeping his head down, and not saying a word.

The young gang leader Lei Zhen is at least at the level of Mingjin Great Success. He is likely a martial artist who has mastered Anjin.

Chen Yi had no intention of provoking him.

Lei Zhen probably knows very well what happened to Fatty Li's death. His visit to West Lake Village was just a formality.

After asking a few questions about what happened yesterday, he nodded and let it go, without causing difficulties for anyone.

However, a manager named Zhao, after the young gang leader asked his questions, loudly ordered:

"Starting today, I am the new manager of the agricultural and trade market. Is there anyone who went to the market to sell goods today?

Step forward and pay your taxes!"

Manager Zhao looked around and saw all the villagers lowered their heads and remained silent.

"Here's your last chance, I'll count to three!"

"Three"

"Two"

"One!"

"No one coming forward, huh?"

"Who is Widow Sun, step forward!"

At the man's loud shout, the crowd immediately parted into a line. The villagers around Widow Sun scattered as if they were suddenly informed of a plague nearby.

Widow Sun's pale face was revealed!

"Go, search her home and bring out her goods!"

Immediately, the followers went to Widow Sun's home guided by the villagers and dragged out two bags of bran,

This is a food even cheaper than sorghum flour, barely enough to stave off hunger, and devoid of any nutrition.

After Widow Sun's sources of assistance fell through, she took advantage of tax-free market day to quickly exchange most of a bag of sorghum flour for two large bags of bran,

Little did she expect to be apprehended that night.

Slap! Slap!

Manager Zhao knocked Widow Sun to the ground with two smacks,

Then, in front of everyone, he dumped one bag of bran into the lake. The bran floated on the surface of the water and was quickly washed away by the ripples.

Manager Zhao declared:

"This half is the tax for today's grain trade, if anyone dares to offend again, decapitate!"

After saying that, he threw the other half of the bran onto the fallen Widow Sun, scattering half a bag of bran, which was mixed with a lot of mud water.

Widow Sun, with red eyes, slowly scooped the bran into the bag with her hands,

The neighbors watched, none dare to help.

After Manager Zhao finished this business, he bowed to Lei Zhen and said:

"Young Master, what do you think?"

The young man scanned the crowd with his hands behind his back, his eyes met with Chen Yi's for a moment, before continuing down, and finally saying:

"Since you all accept the protection of our Fish and Dragon Gang, you must abide by our rules. Although I know that Manager Li's death could not have been caused by someone in your village,

I still have to emphasize that I don't care whether you harbor ill-intentions towards the Fish and Dragon Gang, anyone who dares to lay a hand will have their claws cut off!"

"Let's go!"

Lei Zhen, hands behind his back, was the first to leave, and Manager Zhao, his sidekick, hurried to follow:

"Young Master, are you sure they're no longer suspects?"

"Humph, I've had my suspicions about who the murderer is since the beginning. I came here just for show.

The only one among these bumpkins who's learned martial arts at the school isn't worth a lick—he can't even afford to buy a decoction. It's a waste of time being here.

When we get back, restrain your subordinates more. Be careful. Sometimes the enemy isn't necessarily outside, but within!"

....

After collecting the grain soaked in mud, Widow Sun returned to the lakeside hoping to pick up the floating bran, but she couldn't swim and didn't dare to enter the water.

She turned around and looked pleadingly in a circle, and eventually, a 40-year-old bachelor, Old Wu, stripped off his clothes and help her retrieve some wet grain from the water.

Then, Old Wu kindly helped Widow Sun carry the bran back home,

And didn't come out the rest of the night.

These deeds soon became the talk of the square by the village women,

Chen Yi didn't care, nor did he mind, he hadn't mentioned to anyone January being market day. On a whim, he'd chatted with the grain shopkeeper about Widow Sun selling her sorghum flour for bran.

At that time, it was just a probing move by Chen Yi. Now it seems, the grain store must be in cahoots with the Fish and Dragon Gang.

Similarly,

The person who bought fish, Li Baitiao, was probably the same.

Thinking of this, Chen Yi remembered the gaze that the Young Master had purposely lingered on his face for a moment,

Probably, the fish shop's Li Baitiao had mentioned his name to the gang,

Luckily, he had never sold a fish larger than 30 jins here,

And he hadn't been too flashy in the martial arts school, so he hadn't been targeted today.

Yeah, he must be even more careful in the future,

In this Lakeside Town, there's nothing that the Fish and Dragon Gang doesn't control.

.....