Chapter 21: Fighting with the Brats
Chapter 21: Fighting with the Brats
At the foot of the hill, a spring bubbled up from the cracks in the rocks. By inserting a sharpened bamboo tube, they could channel the water into buckets.
Others would carry their water with a yoke and two buckets, filling them up and walking swiftly back.
However, Hu Ma and Zhou Datong, the two oddballs, only filled two buckets and carried them with a yoke, swaying unsteadily as they made their way back to the village.
Upon their arrival, Cui Xie'er, who was supervising the chores, glanced at the water they had brought. It barely filled a third of the barrel. His face darkened, and he barked at them to go fetch more water.
"Only when this barrel is full can you rest."
As the two left the village with heavy hearts, he called over a nearby youth. "The vegetable garden in front of the village needs watering."
"Use this water to water the vegetables."
"..."
The youths exchanged glances. Watering the winter radishes was usually a task for everyone to do together.
Seeing Cui Xie'er's intent to make things difficult for the two, one of them hesitantly said, "Xie'er, why are you picking on them?"
"One is from the chief's family, and the other is from the old lady's family..."
"..."
"Ha..."
Cui Xie'er sneered, "So what? In the eyes of the Second Master, it's all about ability."
"I just can't stand their lazy attitudes. They eat well and use good things but don't put in the effort. If that's the case, the blood offerings should be saved for us."
The youths fell silent at this.
When Hu Ma and Zhou Datong returned with their second load of water, they found the barrel empty. They understood what was happening.
Zhou Datong, too afraid to speak up in the village, muttered as they left, "This is too much!"
"Maybe we should pee in the bucket and make him drink it!"
"..."
Hu Ma was taken aback and quickly said, "Don't you drink from this barrel? Don't do this to yourself!"
"Then what should we do?"
Zhou Datong, seething with frustration, said, "We can't beat him..."
"He's got solid skills. Last time, even with a weapon, I still ended up kneeling and calling him 'Xie'er Brother'..."
"..."
"I definitely won't..."
Hu Ma looked at the dim-witted Zhou Datong, thinking to himself. After some consideration, he realized he had no confidence in his ability to fight back. He had barely practiced any martial arts, and while his fire pit skills were improving, they were meant for exorcism, not combat.
As he pondered, a red flash caught his eye, and he had an idea.
He set down the yoke and told Zhou Datong, "Go fill the buckets with water. I have something to do."
Zhou Datong nodded and went to fetch the water.
Hu Ma turned to the nearby overgrown grass and called out, "Come out, Little Hongtang."
A gust of cold wind parted the grass, and from behind a crooked stone marker, Little Hongtang peeked out, holding a basket covered with a red cloth.
She had been responsible for delivering Hu Ma's meals. To avoid drawing attention, he had gotten used to eating outside the village. He sat down on the hill and opened the basket, eating the meat inside.
"What's the old lady up to?"
As he ate, he asked curiously, "I haven't seen her around lately."
"Looking for someone..."
Little Hongtang, playing by the stone marker, replied, "She found someone, but they ran away. So she's looking again."
"At her age, she's helping me harvest the evil deity's flesh and doing all this..."
Hu Ma felt a mix of emotions.
He sighed and then asked, "Do you know Cui E, the daughter of the Cui family?"
"Little Hongtang knows. She was taken by the Mountain God!"
"..."
Hu Ma's interest was piqued, and he pursued, "Really taken by the Mountain God? I heard the Cui family wasn't happy about it."
"That's not the old lady's fault!"
Little Hongtang, puffed up with anger, sat on the stone marker and said, "The Cui family went into the forest to cut trees and found a piece of gold. It was the dowry from the Mountain God. Whoever found it had to marry their daughter. The old lady told the Cui family to return anything they found, but they hid a small piece. So, Cui E was taken by the Mountain God at night."
"But the old lady said the Cui family didn't return everything, and they denied it, calling her a liar."
"..."
"Is that true?"
Hu Ma frowned, "What about the Mountain God?"
"He was driven away by the old lady."
Little Hongtang explained, "He was an outsider, a malevolent presence. When the old lady saw him causing harm, she didn't let him stay. Later, she regretted not dealing with him more harshly from the start, so Cui E wouldn't have been harmed..."
"No wonder no one in the village has heard about it..."
Hu Ma's eating slowed, feeling a sense of injustice for the old lady.
Thinking about Cui Xie'er's disdainful attitude, his anger grew.
The old lady already suffers enough at your hands, and you keep pushing me around?
Suddenly, an idea struck him, and he whispered to Little Hongtang, "Little Hongtang, are you afraid of the Second Master?"
Little Hongtang hesitated, then nodded vigorously, "Yes!"
Hu Ma thought for a moment and then asked, "Are you afraid of anyone else, like the people in the village?"
"No."
Little Hongtang seemed to consider her answer carefully, "They're too warm, and Little Hongtang doesn't like being close to them."
"But Little Red doesn't fear it."
"They can't touch it; it burns their hands, but... they don't burn mine."
"..."
"In that case, I understand..."
Hu Ma thought to himself, picking up a piece of meat with his chopsticks. He suddenly said, "If that's the case, could you help me with something later?"
Little Red looked up, puzzled, not knowing what he meant.
Hu Ma waved the meat in his chopsticks and said, "If you do it, I'll give you this piece to eat!"
Little Red's eyes lit up, ready to do anything, even if it meant climbing a mountain of knives or descending into a sea of fire.
...
...
"Three trips and six buckets of water, can we rest now?"
Back at the compound, Hu Ma and Zhou Datong poured the water into the barrel, but it barely filled half.
Normally, six buckets should have filled the barrel, but today the water was used to water the radishes, leaving only a small amount for cooking at noon.
Cui Xie'er, seeing Hu Ma put down the yoke and head back to the house, was furious. He slammed his axe and glared at Hu Ma, "I just told you to fill the barrel. Didn't you hear me?"
"Usually, it would be full by now."
Hu Ma replied, "Today, six buckets didn't fill it. Maybe the barrel is leaking. Should we turn it over and check?"
The other children around quietly lifted their heads, wondering if turning over the barrel made any sense.
Cui Xie'er was so angry he laughed, rolling up his sleeves and stepping forward. "Before, you said you were injured and couldn't practice. Now that you can carry water, you must be better. Since Second Master isn't here today, let's see how well you've learned."
Hu Ma took a deep breath and said, "Come on, then!"
"Are you really going to fight?"
The surrounding boys were excited, gathering around, while Zhou Datong quietly slipped to the side.
Cui Xie'er, seeing Hu Ma not backing down, was surprised but quickly hardened his resolve. "This is on you. Don't cry to Second Master if you lose..."
Before he finished his sentence, he lunged forward with a sudden, powerful punch.
Like a rabbit springing and a hawk swooping, he covered three to four meters in an instant, his punch heavy and forceful.
The boys around them were startled. "Hu Ma is in trouble. Xie'er is going to hit hard..."
"He just beat the clan leader's son and now the old lady's grandson. He's really something..."
"..."
"Thud!"
Just as everyone's hearts leaped to their throats, a sudden chill swept through the courtyard. Cui Xie'er, about to punch Hu Ma in the face, tripped and fell flat on his face.
Only Hu Ma could see that Little Red had suddenly appeared and grabbed Cui Xie'er's legs.
"Good job!"
Hu Ma praised Little Red in his mind, then rushed forward, signaling Little Red to spread Cui Xie'er's legs, exposing his groin. Hu Ma kicked him there.
... After all, Second Master said the black ointment can heal any wound, right?
... I don't usually practice, but I remember all the moves Second Master taught me!
And since we're fighting, there's no point in holding back. You look at me with disdain because I'm the grandson of Old Lady Zou, right?
You always say we Hu family raise ghosts?
Let me tell you, you're right!
Having lived a previous life, Hu Ma knew that one shouldn't provoke trouble, but when it's unavoidable, it's better to take the initiative.
The more proactive you are, the more solutions you can find.
It's like for that piece of salted meat in the morning porridge, or... for the grievances of Old Lady Zou?
"I'll kill you..."
Cui Xie'er, dazed from the fall, felt a sharp pain in his groin. Despite the initial pleasure, he was furious and desperate. He let out a muffled roar and struggled to his feet, raising his fist high.
Hu Ma quickly stepped back, but Cui Xie'er's fist didn't land.
Hu Ma, puzzled, saw Little Red riding Cui Xie'er's neck, covering his eyes with her small hands.
None of the boys could see Little Red, and the courtyard suddenly felt eerie. Their hair stood on end, wondering why Cui Xie'er, after falling, was now circling like a confused fly.
"Is this possible?"
Hu Ma was pleasantly surprised. Little Red was more useful than he thought!
Taking advantage of Cui Xie'er's confusion, Hu Ma ran over and punched him in the stomach.
Cui Xie'er was no pushover; he seemed unaffected by the kick to the groin. Hu Ma didn't hold back, using all his strength. But unexpectedly, the punch somehow ignited the inner furnace in his abdomen, increasing his strength.
There was a loud "thud," and Cui Xie'er spat out a mouthful of blood, flying out like a sack of rags. He crashed into the courtyard wall, breaking it, and fell outside.
"Wow..."
The boys around Hu Ma all gasped, as if the courtyard had been emptied of all its cool air.
Little Red, flying a few meters with the impact, saw the trouble and quickly ran off with her basket.
"Whoa..."
Hu Ma was a bit surprised, standing there for a few seconds before reacting. He hurried toward the wall, calling out, "How could you be so weak?"
"Please don't die, Xie'er..."
(End of Chapter)
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