Red Mansion: Seizing Jiangdong, starting with pirates

Chapter 24: The People's Anger

In the cold and quiet village, the aroma of stewed meat continued to waft from Fang’s house.

A pair of eyes stared at Fang Mansion, and they kept swallowing saliva.

Suddenly, a middle-aged man in a brocade robe walked out. He was the new steward of the Fang Mansion.

He and his men set up three large pots outside the side door of Fang's mansion.

Cabbage, vermicelli, and some lard were poured into the pot and stewed.

Soon, a strong aroma could not stop gushing out of the pot.

The butler looked at the pairs of eager eyes outside and sneered disdainfully.

"Listen carefully, fellow villagers. Our Master Fang is a well-known philanthropist in the surrounding area. Today is my master's big day. He specifically told me this morning not to mistreat the villagers and to share the joy with them!"

The villagers listened to the housekeeper's words and looked at the pot that was emitting fragrant aroma, and they all became very excited.

not?
The housekeeper knocked on the edge of the pot and said:
"When the stew is cooked, each household will bring a bowl. One bowl per household. No one will be served after the time is up. Do you understand?"

The villagers were overjoyed when they heard this.

Oh my god, the sun is rising from the west!
The famous Mr. Fang can actually be so generous.

Every household hurried back to get their bowls and chopsticks, waiting to eat the meat.

The children stared at the big pot and kept swallowing their saliva.

Even though it was very cold outside, they were reluctant to go back, for fear that the meat would be divided up and there would be nothing left for them.

"Grandpa, what does meat taste like?"

a child asked.

"The meat is so soft and sticky, and it's so juicy and fragrant. One bite will warm your stomach for a long time!"

The children became more excited after hearing this.

Time passes little by little.

It's almost noon.

Firecrackers were set off at the main gate of the Fang Mansion.

"The young master is back, go ahead, go ahead, don't block the young master's way!"

Fang Qingshan came back wearing a bachelor's gown and riding a tall horse.

Next to Fang Qingshan, there were two people who were also riding horses and looked like officials. They were probably minor officials in the county.

The villagers shrank back in fear, not daring to offend these people at all.

After a while, a sedan chair was carried into the Fang Mansion.

Then the banquet began.

There was the sound of clinking glasses coming from inside the Fang Mansion, but that had nothing to do with these villagers, as only important people could enter.

The housekeeper waved outside, signaling the villagers to line up at the side door.

The villagers had no complaints and lined up happily.

"Come, come, come, each household can only take one bowl, you can't take more than that. Those who have taken the bowl will have their hands painted red, and you are not allowed to come again! You can eat here, you can't go back, after you finish eating, the master will arrange a happy event for you!"

The villagers went door to door to get food, and each person was given a spoonful of cabbage vermicelli stewed with lard.

Those who received the food just squatted on the ground and started to eat it voraciously.

Since there is only one bowl per household, many families of three or even five share one bowl.

Adults feel sorry for children and often give a small amount of lard residue to them.

"Grandpa, you lied to me. You have never eaten meat. Meat is not soft, but hard. But it smells so good..."

Listening to the child's words, the old man couldn't help but shed turbid tears.

"Butler, please have mercy on my family of seven. Can you give me one more bowl? I wish you a happy new year and hope you will be prosperous and wealthy... prosperous and wealthy."

The butler said impatiently:

"No, no, I told you, one bowl per household, one bowl per household!"

The old man continued to beg.

"Look, everyone has divided their share, and there is still a lot left in this pot. Just give me some soup. Just some soup will be fine. I hope you will be rich and prosperous, rich and prosperous..."

"Damn it, old man, you are tired of living, right? If you dare to pester me again, I will knock out your old teeth!"

The butler glared with a fierce look.

Seeing this, the old man didn't dare to beg anymore.

The butler said disdainfully:

"Humph, you've lived for so many years, and you can only say the same words over and over again. You still have the nerve to beg for mercy from me? Ugh!"

The housekeeper spat into the pot. Beside him, the child was licking the bowl that had just been filled with food.

After eating the food, the villagers did not go back, but stood there in the cold wind.

Because the housekeeper said that Master Fang would have a happy event arranged for them later.

What's the good news?
The villagers don't know.

Everyone started speculating.

The most common guess is the leftovers inside!

Thinking of this, everyone couldn't help but swallow.

If it really is leftovers, there must be meat in it!

After a while, the banquet inside finally ended.

Mr. Fang did not come out himself, but called the butler in.

After a while, the butler came out with a red box, accompanied by a dozen servants.

"Those of you with red painted hands, please stand up. The master said that on this auspicious day, you should enjoy the good fortune. Each of you should give five cents as a gift!"

a bolt from the blue!

Everyone panicked.

"Butler, we, we don't have any money!"

"Don't pay?"

A sinister look appeared on the butler's face.

"Did you eat the meal just now for nothing? You ate the braised pork so much that your mouth is full of oil!"

"A bunch of ungrateful people, eating a meal without giving gifts, how can this be justified? I tell you, my young master brought the officials from the county with him. If anyone dares to cause trouble, I will arrest you and put you in jail!"

When the villagers heard that there was an official, they were extremely frightened.

An old man said with a sad face:

"Butler, we are really out of money. Please, for the sake of our common surname Fang, please give us a day or two..."

"Bullshit! You don't deserve to be named Fang! Beat me!"

A group of servants came up and beat and kicked the old man.

"Grandpa, Grandpa, don't hit my grandpa."

The people around watched this scene, clenched their fists, and were extremely angry, but no one dared to stand up and resist.

In the end, everyone was forced to pay their share of the money.

It doesn’t matter if they have no money, Mr. Fang allows them to write an IOU.

……

Soon, the housekeeper collected a stack of IOUs.

"Someone, take out the remaining rotten vegetables and feed them to the dogs!"

So, under the watchful eyes of all the villagers, the remaining half pot of cabbage, vermicelli and pork lard was poured to the five big dogs of Mr. Fang's family.

Anger, resentment!

Everyone was holding their breath.

But I didn't dare to resist.

Perhaps all it takes is one leader to step forward, and everyone will rise up in anger and revolt.

But they have been bullied for too long, and everyone has been flattened and squeezed, and there is no one who can take the lead anymore.

The butler patted his butt and prepared to go back.

Suddenly, a sound of breaking air was heard!

In the shocked eyes of everyone.

The butler screamed and was nailed to the door of Fang's house by a sharp arrow!

"kill!"

Fang Yong came on horseback, and at a command, hundreds of brothers rushed into the Fang Mansion.

There were screams, followed by a series of commotion and screams.

Soon, the situation was under complete control.

Not long after, all the villagers were called to the village square by Fang Yong.

Mr. Fang's entire family, including men, women, young and old, as well as the guests at the banquet, a total of more than 80 people, were all tied up, gagged and held in the square.

(End of this chapter)