Chapter 966: Serving Tea and Seeing the Guest Out

That is just how people are: when it comes to things that benefit them, they will do everything in their power to push and facilitate them, while simultaneously showing absolutely no regard for the interests of others.

Often, let alone the interests of others, they don't even care whether others live or die.

If someone refuses, all sorts of tactics will follow in quick succession.

Talking about "the bigger picture," talking about "the greater good," sacrificing the small family for the sake of the collective, moral kidnapping, and so on—the methods are endless.

Wang An had long since seen through all of this.

That was why Wang An had chosen, without hesitation, to fight fire with fire. However, Wang An used "hard" violence, while Li Youcai and the two brothers surnamed Niu used "soft" violence.

As for Wang An's act of handing out cigarettes, it was merely to dial back the arrogance he had displayed moments ago.

After all, Wang An's family still had to live in Kaoshan Village; it really wasn't worth offending everyone.

When Wang An walked up to Niu Dayou and Niu Dawei and handed them cigarettes as well, he patted both of their faces with his hand and said in a sarcastic tone

"I've realized that you two are truly experts at scheming. Every day it's either scheming against this or scheming against that. What's the point?"

Giving the two brothers a sidelong glance, Wang An turned to Sun Dafu and the crowd, saying with a smile

"So, how about we all go inside and have some water? If there's anything else to discuss, we can chat inside, alright?"

Anyone listening could tell that these words weren't a sincere invitation, but rather a polite way of showing the guests the door.

Thus, after a few polite exchanges, the crowd bid their farewells and departed. They didn't even take that useless piece of bear hide.

Watching their retreating backs, Wang An smiled and turned back into the house.

However, the group of people walking out of Wang An's courtyard began to chatter amongst themselves.

"What's he so arrogant about? Look at how he's posing. Hunting the leopard is everyone's business; why the hell shouldn't he do it?"

"Exactly. If all those dogs of his went into the mountains, they could've skinned that leopard too."

Once these ignorant people finished complaining, Sun Dafu said irritably

"Are you all suddenly so capable now? Why didn't you dare let out a single fart just now?"

It had to be said that Sun Dafu's words were a direct hit to the heart; more importantly, it was a massive slap in the face.

After a moment, someone spoke up

"Uncle Sun, you have to admit he's too *zhangba*. I think Kaoshan Village can't even put up with him anymore."

"*Zhangba*" was local dialect, meaning arrogant.

Just as Sun Dafu was about to speak, the militia captain, Sun Xiangfeng, said crossly

"When did you see him being *zhangba* in the village? If you lot hadn't been scheming against his dogs, would he have gotten so worked up?"

Sun Xiangfeng's words brought the problem straight back to its essence.

Because as Sun Xiangfeng said, although Wang An's reputation as a "rogue" preceded him, when he was actually in the village, he truly had never bullied anyone, nor had he ever interacted with the villagers using his "rogue" persona.

As soon as Sun Xiangfeng finished speaking, someone else chimed in

"You can't really call it scheming. He keeps all those dogs for hunting in the mountains, right? If he doesn't lead the dogs into the mountains, who will?"

For some reason, many people's minds were filled with a certain line of thinking

"You have money, why don't you take it out and spend it with everyone?"

"You have grain, why don't you take it out and eat it with everyone?"

In Wang An's case, it became: "You, Wang An, have guns and dogs, why don't you go into the mountains to face the golden leopard?"

It had to be admitted that this way of thinking was truly disgusting.

After that person finished, an older man said

"Exactly. If this were back in those years, someone like him would definitely have been purged."

What this man referred to was a specific period of time; those who weren't older might not understand it well.

However, the people in the militia had mostly experienced it firsthand.

As soon as the man spoke, he was immediately mocked by Sun Xiangwen

"You're really something. If this were back in those years, he would've been the one cleaning you out. He has a whole gang of thugs under him; why would he be afraid of you?"

Sun Xiangwen's words left the man stunned and speechless, his mouth hanging open.

Without missing a beat, Sun Xiangwen turned his target toward the person who had spoken previously

"What you said is even more ridiculous. Just because he raises dogs, he has to go into the mountains to hunt leopards? Does he owe you anything? Besides, didn't your family also raise three dogs at the beginning of the year? Isn't your marksmanship supposedly so damn great? Then why didn't you go hunt that leopard?"

The man seemed to want to speak again, but was interrupted by Sun Dafu

"Enough, all of you shut it. I'm telling you, we all live in the same village. Stop scheming against each other every damn day. If you're so good at scheming, don't come looking for me when something goes wrong."

As he spoke, Sun Dafu gave Niu Dawei and Niu Dayou a sharp look.

Wang An was unaware of the group's discussion; mainly because he didn't give a damn about people who loved to scheme.

At this moment, Wang An was filtering honey.

Mainly, after breakfast this morning, Mu Xueli had suddenly changed her mind, insisting that her share of the honey be left for her eldest sister, and then she had led the horse carrying the meat back home.

Just as Wang An was pouring honey into the tofu cloth, he heard Wang Yi complaining aggrievedly beside him

"Big brother, I heard you guys arguing just now. I wanted to go out, but Sister-in-law wouldn't let me."

"Tofu cloth" was the local term; in other places, it seemed to be called a bean-cloth; regardless, it was the thing used to drain water when making tofu.

It was clear that Wang Yi was very dissatisfied that Mu Xueqing had prevented him from going out to face the villagers alongside Wang An.

After all, there was a local saying: "Brothers in war, fathers and sons on the battlefield."

Thus, while Wang An was arguing with a group of people in the yard, Wang Yi's inability to go out and help was truly frustrating.

Wang An smiled and was about to speak when he heard Mu Xueqing say to Wang Yi

"How old are you? Why are you meddling in adult affairs? Besides, it wasn't a war; it was adults talking business. What use would you have been out there?"

In this era, there was a saying that "the eldest brother is like a father, and the eldest sister-in-law is like a mother." Therefore, whether it was Wang Yi or the two sisters, Wang Xiaomei and Wang Xiaoli, they all listened to Mu Xueqing.

After Mu Xueqing finished, Wang Yi only stole a glance at her but didn't dare talk back.

Wang An glanced at the pair and said to Wang Yi with a smile

"Your sister-in-law is right. If I were actually fighting, it would be fine for you to go out. These trivial matters aren't for you to worry about yet. If you had gone out just now, people would have laughed at our family."

Wang Yi looked at Wang An, then at Mu Xueqing, and lowered his head in silence.

(End of Chapter)