SNT Chapter 20: Turmoil

Early morning, dawn was just breaking.

Chen Qing had just finished his simple washing and was preparing to head to Zhou's courtyard.

"Ah Qing, terrible news!" Lady Han hurried over, her face deathly pale, "Your uncle-in-law has been beaten!"

Chen Qing was slightly startled, "What happened?"

Yang Tiezhu had always been honest and dutiful, never quarreling with anyone. How could he suffer such misfortune for no reason?

Lady Han said urgently, "This morning when I went to Dawn Market, I heard from Aunt Wang of Hundred Flowers Lane that your eldest aunt brought your uncle-in-law to your grandfather's house."

"I'll go take a look now."

Chen Qing quickly stepped off the boat, his pace unconsciously quickening.

When he turned into Firewood Fish Market, he could already hear suppressed sobbing from the old courtyard in the distance.

The courtyard gate was wide open. Yang Tiezhu sat hunched on the stone steps, his left eye so swollen he couldn't open it, blood scabs at the corner of his mouth. Eldest aunt Chen Jinhua clutched a handkerchief, constantly wiping away tears.

Second Aunt was applying medicine to uncle-in-law's forehead, muttering "what a sin" under her breath.

Old Master Chen crouched by the millstone, puffing on his pipe with "puff, puff" sounds, his face wrinkled like old tree bark in the smoke.

"Grandfather, eldest aunt, second aunt..."

Chen Qing stepped forward to greet them.

Old Master Chen glanced at Chen Qing without speaking.

Chen Qing walked up to Yang Tiezhu, "Uncle-in-law, what exactly happened?"

Yang Tiezhu's eyes were somewhat evasive, "The Black Water Gang people took a fancy to Huiniang, saying they'd pay silver for her to go learn skills at some Warm Jade Workshop in the prefecture city... saying she could earn big money after learning."

He spoke hesitantly, unconsciously touching the wounds on his face, "Her mother and I... didn't agree, so they... they got physical..."

"Is this just because you didn't agree this time?"

Chen Qing remembered seeing Yang Tiezhu injured before, and pressed, "Uncle-in-law, did they cause trouble before?"

Yang Tiezhu's body stiffened, his lips trembling several times before he finally hung his head in dejection, "Some days ago at Dawn Market, Huiniang went to help me collect fish money. Black Water Gang's Wang Ying walked over and said some improper things. I got angry and shoved one of them... I was kicked several times on the spot. With all the neighbors around, there were many people, so Wang Ying and his men left some harsh words... I thought if I just avoided them it would be fine... I didn't expect they would..."

He couldn't continue, his voice growing smaller and smaller.

In a flash of understanding, Chen Qing's heart became crystal clear.

If this had happened before, uncle-in-law Yang Tiezhu would definitely have chosen to swallow his anger and not dare say a word.

But ever since Chen Heng began studying martial arts, eldest aunt Chen Jinhua and uncle-in-law had quietly developed some confidence. In their words and actions, that long-suppressed cowering from being bullied had unconsciously faded, replaced by a hint of unwillingness to be manipulated by others.

And this had precisely stung the Black Water Gang's sensitive nerves.

Their attack this time was hardly just revenge for Yang Tiezhu's previous shoving.

They had clearly sensed this faint sign of resistance from the Yang family and wanted to use thunderous methods to make an example in front of everyone in Firewood Fish Market, brutally "establishing their authority!"

To completely stomp this budding backbone of the Yang family back into the mud.

"Learn what skills? They clearly want to sell her into a brothel!" Chen Jinhua suddenly screamed out, then covered her mouth and broke down crying.

"Where's cousin?" Chen Qing looked around but didn't see Yang Huiniang.

Second Aunt lowered her voice, "She's hiding at the cloth shop. Since yesterday she hasn't eaten or drunk anything, her eyes are swollen from crying like peaches..."

Just then, a commotion came from outside the courtyard.

"Father, Xiao Heng and I are back."

Second uncle Chen Wen hurried over with Chen Heng.

"Ah Heng."

Chen Jinhua pounced over like grasping a life-saving straw, gripping Chen Heng's sleeve tightly, "You know many people, can you think of a way? If Huiniang is taken away by them, her life will be ruined!"

"Eldest sister, please get up first..."

Second Aunt quickly helped up the tottering Chen Jinhua.

Second uncle straightened his back, "Xiao Heng has been studying martial arts at the martial hall for so long, he still has connections."

Chen Heng felt everyone's burning gazes, his Adam's apple bobbing several times, "This matter... let me think of a way. Many of my martial hall senior brothers work in big gangs, I'll ask around more..."

His voice grew lower as he spoke, cold sweat already seeping from his back.

Those senior brothers who usually drank flower wine with him would probably avoid this kind of trouble.

As for himself... those desperate criminals of the Black Water Gang weren't something that could be handled with the restrained sparring matches in the martial hall.

Old Master Chen finally spoke, knocking his pipe heavily on the millstone, "Ah Heng, this isn't child's play, those Black Water Gang people..."

"Don't worry, grandfather."

Chen Heng forced himself to remain calm, his voice unconsciously rising, "The eldest senior brother of Guangchang Martial Hall is a great master who has attempted breakthrough three times. They'll definitely give him that much face!"

He stood up as he spoke, "I'll go find people now."

As he turned, Chen Qing noticed that Chen Heng's hands in his sleeves were trembling uncontrollably.

After Chen Heng left, the courtyard fell silent.

Second Aunt forced a smile, "Eldest sister, don't worry, Xiao Heng will definitely be able to..."

Chen Jinhua nodded numbly, tears rolling down silently.

Chen Qing frowned darkly, he had a feeling that Chen Heng might not be reliable.

...

Guangchang Martial Hall.

Chen Heng dragged his heavy steps back to the martial hall, his face full of worry.

"Junior Brother Chen!"

A sturdy young man in brown practice clothes walked toward him, warmly putting his arm around his shoulder, "Tonight the flower boats on South River got some new girls, those figures..."

Senior Brother Mao winked suggestively, drawing ambiguous curves in the air with his finger, "I heard they can even dance the whirling dance."

Chen Heng forced a smile.

On any other day, he would have joined in the laughter, but now those laughs pierced his eardrums like knives, his throat dry, "Senior Brother Mao... do you know about the Black Water Gang?"

"Black Water Gang? That name sounds unfamiliar, probably some newly emerged mud loach gang?" Senior Brother Mao scratched his full beard and spat, "New gangs pop up every day in Gaolin County, who knows if they'll sink to the bottom to feed turtles tomorrow."

Chen Heng's Adam's apple bobbed as he explained his troubles.

"This matter..."

Senior Brother Mao suddenly lowered his voice, looked around, then pulled him under an old locust tree, "Isn't Senior Brother Lin working for the Blood River Gang? I'll ask for you."

"Really?"

Chen Heng's eyes lit up.

Senior Brother Lin was an elite disciple of the martial hall, with great achievement in hidden strength cultivation.

With Chen Heng's abilities, he could hardly integrate into such circles, so he couldn't even strike up a conversation.

Senior Brother Mao patted his shoulder and went to find Senior Brother Lin.

About half an incense stick's time later, Senior Brother Mao returned.

"Junior Brother Chen."

Senior Brother Mao rubbed his hands, his brow furrowed into a "川" character, "Senior Brother Lin said that although the Black Water Gang is newly established, it's backed by a big tree..."

A big tree!?

Cold sweat seeped from Chen Heng's back.

"However..." Senior Brother Mao changed his tone, "Since we're martial brothers, Senior Brother Lin is willing to make a trip with you. You just need to give some tea money."

He gently rubbed his thumb and index finger together.

"How much?" Chen Heng's voice was tight.

Senior Brother Mao held up two fingers, "Twenty taels. A master like Senior Brother Lin, ordinary people can't even hire him with money!"

"Twen... twenty taels?" Chen Heng almost bit his tongue.

Senior Brother Mao's smile faded somewhat, "Reluctant to part with the silver? The threshold of Warm Jade Workshop costs more than that."

"I... I need to go home and discuss it." Chen Heng said dryly.

Senior Brother Mao snorted lightly, "Senior Brother Lin is very busy. Give me an answer by noon tomorrow, no waiting after that."

He then turned and left.

Chen Heng watched his figure completely disappear, then collapsed to the ground like a deflated ball.

How could he explain this to grandfather and eldest aunt!?

Chen Heng looked dejected, "I won't go home tonight, delay as long as possible."

...

In the afternoon, Chen Qing found Xu Chengfeng of the Tiger Gang.

Xu Chengfeng said warmly, "Brother Chen, what brings you to me today?"

The Chen Qing before him was a master who had reached obvious strength, someone who could be a leader even in small gangs like theirs.

Chen Qing got straight to the point, "I want to inquire about the background of several nearby gangs."

Xu Chengfeng's hand pouring tea paused slightly, the tea creating ripples in the cup, "Oh? Which gangs is Brother Chen interested in?"

Chen Qing casually mentioned several names, "Black Water Gang, Giant Bear Gang..."

Xu Chengfeng introduced them like listing family treasures. When he mentioned the Black Water Gang, Chen Qing's face showed nothing, but he secretly paid close attention.

"This Black Water Gang is newly emerged in Hundred Flowers Lane, about twenty people, with three obvious strength masters in charge. Gang leader Jiang Hui has great achievement in obvious strength, reportedly not far from hidden strength."

Xu Chengfeng spoke with a complex expression of both disdain and wariness, "These people, newly established but putting on big airs, and their methods are too domineering."

"I heard they made some connections in the inner city, now doing this lowly business of forcibly taking women and selling them to the prefecture city? And they've 'done several jobs'? If they really had big backing, would they need to make this dirty money? This background can't be that deep!"

Xu Chengfeng suddenly lowered his voice, "Could it be that Brother Chen wants to find a gang to work for?"

He rubbed his fingers together, showing a knowing smile.

It was too common these days for martial masters and gangs to take what they needed from each other.

Chen Qing waved his hand, "Brother Xu is overthinking, just casual inquiry."

Xu Chengfeng clearly didn't believe Chen Qing's words, whispering, "If Brother Chen wants to find a gang to work for, why not come to our Tiger Gang? The offerings are definitely more generous than theirs."

Chen Qing nodded, saying perfunctorily, "I'll consider it."

Xu Chengfeng chuckled and said no more, some things were best left unsaid.

After a few more pleasantries, Chen Qing rose to take his leave.

From Xu Chengfeng's mouth, Chen Qing had figured out the ways of the outer city gangs.

More than twenty gangs were deeply intertwined, all backed by inner city power holders.

Among them, Blood River Gang and Iron Hand Gang were undisputed leaders, while newly established and unstable ones like Black Water Gang, even with backing, had very shallow foundations.

It seemed he needed to be careful this time, not revealing any traces.

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