Chapter 15 The Outbreak of Conflict at the Market Stall

When Jiang Yuan heard that some thugs were causing trouble, he was instantly enraged.

"Xiao Tong, today I'm coming with you to the market stall. I want to see who dares make trouble—I'll beat them to death if they try anything today."

Jiang Butong knew Jiang Yuan's temperament: deep down, he was brave and combative, and when he lost his head, he feared no one.

"Yuan, we're out here to make a living. If we can back down, we should."

"But they're already shoving it in our faces—should we still endure it?" Jiang Yuan disagreed.

Jiang Butong felt it necessary to remind him, so he spoke seriously: "I'm bringing you here to help you earn money, not to get into fights. Have you thought about the consequences if someone really gets killed? Right now there's a major crackdown. If you actually killed someone, do you want to spend your next life in prison?"

Jiang Yuan fell silent, realizing Jiang Butong was thinking of his best interests.

"Of course, I'm not saying you should always give in. Just that before you act, think about the outcome—then decide."

Jiang Yuan nodded in agreement. He patted Jiang Butong's shoulder. "Don't worry, Xiao Tong. I understand."

Seeing that Jiang Yuan had listened, Jiang Butong led him through the wholesale market.

Chen Pan'er thought the earrings and bracelets she bought last time sold well, so she planned to get more today, adding some necklaces and rings as well.

At a booth selling decorative knives and swords, Jiang Yuan stopped.

"Brother, interested in these swords? They're great sellers. If you're out making a living these days, they're essential," the vendor began to pitch when he saw Jiang Yuan lingering.

Jiang Yuan picked up a sword, liking it immediately.

Jiang Butong shook his head. These swords were mere toys—fine for the occasional sale, but hardly reliable for regular business. Even with the current boom in martial arts novels, who would actually walk around carrying a sword?

"Xiao Tong, what do you think?" Jiang Yuan asked.

"If you like them, buy a few and try selling them," Jiang Butong said. After all, this was what Jiang Yuan liked. It wouldn't help to always crush his confidence; letting him take a few losses now would help him grow in the long run.

"Boss, give me ten of these."

Jiang Yuan picked out some of the more novel designs, and the vendor, delighted to have such an early sale, tossed in a bag for free.

Meanwhile, Chen Pan'er had finished choosing her goods, though she bought only half as many earrings as last time.

"Is that enough?" Jiang Butong asked. He remembered she'd bought more yesterday.

Chen Pan'er brushed her hair aside and replied, "People here are mostly regulars. Once they've bought, they rarely buy again, so we need to understand our customer base."

Jiang Yuan listened, half-understanding.

Jiang Butong looked at Chen Pan'er with newfound respect—the girl understood the art of "harvesting": once you cut a patch, you move on for new customers.

Just as they were about to leave, yesterday's thugs, Eagle and Wolf, spotted them.

"Wolf, they're back again," Eagle said, blowing his fringe aside.

The tall, thin man called Wolf stared at Jiang Butong, then let his gaze linger on Chen Pan'er. "That girl isn't bad," he muttered.

"You've got your eye on her, Wolf?" Eagle noticed his gaze.

"Go, get the boys. Let's follow and see what's up," Wolf replied, taking a long drag from his cigarette.

Jiang Butong and his companions returned to the spot where they'd set up their stall the previous time. Chen Pan'er cleaned the area, then spread out her sheet. Jiang Yuan noticed she had a sheet for her stall, while he hadn't prepared anything, so he simply laid his bag on the ground and set the swords on it.

This being his first time doing business, Jiang Yuan felt both excited and nervous.

By the time they finished setting up, it was already noon. They bought a bit of food for lunch.

"Xiao Tong, when will people start showing up?" Jiang Yuan asked, seeing how empty the street still was.

"People come out after work. Don't worry," Jiang Butong reassured him.

"Then why did we come so early? We could've come in the afternoon," Jiang Yuan said, feeling restless as business hadn't started yet.

"If you show up in the afternoon, someone else will have taken your spot. You'd have to go set up by the public toilets then," Jiang Butong explained.

So that's how it is, Jiang Yuan realized. He hadn't expected there would be so much to learn about running a simple street stall.

Jiang Butong lounged lazily against a tree, hands in his pockets, when his gaze caught two thugs approaching from the street corner: the same tall, thin man from yesterday, and the one with the hawk tattoo.

His expression hardened as he squatted by Jiang Yuan's stall and picked up a sword.

"Xiao Tong, you like these too?" Jiang Yuan asked.

"Two thugs coming from your right. They might be looking for trouble," Jiang Butong said calmly.

He examined the swords; they had no real lethality, mostly made of pig iron and plastic. Yet the vendor dared to charge nine yuan each—what a scam. If a fight broke out, even the bricks nearby would be more useful than these swords.

Jiang Yuan also noticed the two men.

Soon enough, Wolf and Eagle sauntered up to Jiang Yuan's stall, both with cigarettes dangling from their lips, exhaling clouds of smoke.

"How much for this sword?" Wolf picked one up, inspecting it.

"Fifteen," Jiang Yuan replied warily.

"Are you kidding me? You bought this from Fat Liu for eight or nine yuan," Wolf sneered, throwing the sword on the ground.

Jiang Yuan clenched his fists, remembering Jiang Butong's advice, then slowly let go.

"Can this sword actually hurt someone?" Eagle asked, pretending to test it.

"It's a toy, not real," Jiang Yuan replied, his gaze growing cold.

"Enough with the crap. This whole area—three streets—is my territory. If you want to set up here, pay fifty yuan for protection," Wolf said, intending to squeeze some easy cash before escalating things.

"Who said we had to pay here?" Jiang Yuan shot back. He knew about protection fees—usually no more than ten yuan.

"Listen, what I say goes. Are you deaf?" Wolf snapped, growing impatient.

"Say that again and see what happens," Jiang Yuan growled, unable to contain himself.

"Oh? Eagle, looks like we've got a tough guy today," Wolf whistled.

Five or six more thugs emerged from a nearby alley, some shirtless, showing off their tattoos, all wielding wooden sticks.

"I'm saying it one more time. Fifty yuan each, then get lost," Wolf said coldly, eyes fixed on Jiang Yuan. "And that girl stays," Eagle added, pointing at Chen Pan'er.

Jiang Yuan looked to Jiang Butong.

Jiang Butong hadn't wanted trouble and was ready to pay some money to avoid it. But when he heard they wanted Chen Pan'er to stay, his expression darkened.

He had a principle: some things could be endured, others could not.

Weighing the sword in his hand, Jiang Butong swung it hard at Eagle's head.

The sword shattered!

Eagle screamed, clutching his head as he fell.

Wolf was stunned; he hadn't expected them to strike first—and faster than him, at that.

"Let's see who walks out of this street alive today!" Jiang Butong pulled Chen Pan'er behind him and grabbed a brick from the ground.

"Get them, boys!" Wolf shouted, and the thugs surged forward.

Jiang Yuan, already impatient, grabbed two swords and smashed them into a thug's face.

That one went down before he could react, clutching his face.

Another thug swung a stick at Jiang Yuan's head.

Jiang Yuan raised his arm to block, but was kicked in the stomach and staggered back.

Jiang Butong forced one thug back with his brick, but pain shot through his shoulder as another landed a blow with a stick.

"Go!" he shouted to Chen Pan'er.

She saw the pain on his face and, worried, shook her head firmly.

There was no time for hesitation now.

Jiang Yuan was being pushed back by the thugs, cornered against a wall.

Jiang Butong shielded Chen Pan'er behind him, his face already bloodied.

Seeing Jiang Butong hurt, Jiang Yuan was enraged. He abandoned defense, letting the thugs' fists and kicks land as he swung his iron sword in a wide arc.

A thug, too slow to dodge, took a glancing blow to the face, leaving a three-inch wound.

Shaken by Jiang Yuan's ferocity, the thug retreated, clutching his face.