Chapter 37: Li Huo Pays a Visit
After scaring off Jiang Zhaoming, Xu Mo returned to the courtyard with the firewood knife in hand. Chen Miaoyi had already been waiting at the doorway to the main hall. As soon as she saw Xu Mo come back, she hurried out to meet him.
“Husband, who was that person?”
Chen Miaoyi had already heard Xu Mo’s voice earlier and knew that the man throwing filth had fled.
Xu Mo shut the door and tossed the firewood knife aside, shaking his head. “I don’t know. His face was covered, so I couldn’t see what he looked like, but he definitely wasn’t Xu Tong. Xu Tong is much bigger than that guy. I suppose he’s one of Xu Tong’s men.”
He paused, a little regretful. “It’s a pity I couldn’t catch him!”
Xu Mo’s intention had been to apprehend the culprit, but when he discovered Jiang Zhaoming, the man was already raising his hand to throw the jar. Xu Mo panicked; he didn’t want his courtyard to end up like it had last night, covered in filth. If that happened, another night would be ruined. So he immediately shouted, startling the man and stopping the next disaster.
“Husband, you did well enough to scare him off,” Chen Miaoyi said.
Xu Mo sighed lightly. “Let’s sleep, Miaoyi. Those people shouldn’t come again tonight.”
Chen Miaoyi nodded gently and turned to walk inside with Xu Mo.
“Knock, knock, knock...”
Suddenly, someone knocked on the gate of the courtyard.
Then a voice called out, “Mr. Xu... Mr. Xu?”
The voice was slow and mysterious.
Startled, Chen Miaoyi grabbed Xu Mo’s arm and whispered fearfully, “Husband, could it be them again?”
Xu Mo shook his head. “No. If someone meant to cause trouble, they wouldn’t knock.”
Chen Miaoyi thought so too, and her nerves eased a bit.
Xu Mo whispered, “Miaoyi, you go inside first. I’ll see who it is.”
She urged him to be careful, then retreated into the hall, hiding behind the door and watching the courtyard entrance.
“Knock, knock, knock...”
“Mr. Xu, are you there?”
The voice outside persisted.
Xu Mo picked up the firewood knife, then walked to the courtyard gate and asked, “Who is it?”
“Mr. Xu, it’s good you’re at home. I... I have something to discuss with you face-to-face,” the person replied politely.
Xu Mo peered through the crack in the door, then said, “It’s late. Whatever it is, let’s talk tomorrow. I need to sleep.”
---
The person outside grew anxious and quickly said, “Mr. Xu, I really need to speak with you. I promise it won’t take much of your time!”
Xu Mo considered for a moment, then slipped the firewood knife behind his waist and opened the gate.
The visitor was Li Huo, the steward who worked for Wang Shunyang.
Xu Mo lifted his chin slightly, sizing up the visitor, and asked coldly, “Who are you? Why come so late?”
Li Huo was very courteous, bowing with clasped hands. “Mr. Xu, I am Li Huo. I’ve long admired your reputation.”
“Just say what you want,” Xu Mo replied impatiently.
“Mr. Xu, this matter... it’s inconvenient to discuss here. Why don’t we talk inside?” Li Huo said with a smile.
Xu Mo was in no mood for lengthy talks and raised his hand as if to close the door. “If it’s inconvenient, don’t say it.”
Li Huo, startled, immediately reached out to block the door. “Mr. Xu, my young master sent me...”
“Your young master? Who is that?” Though Xu Mo asked, he already guessed.
Li Huo replied, “The eldest son of the Wang family, Wang Shunyang.”
Xu Mo laughed to himself—it was just as he thought.
He didn’t want to waste time, so he said bluntly, “Go back and tell your young master I’m not interested in helping him. Goodbye.”
He moved to close the door, but Li Huo hurriedly blocked it with both hands. “Mr. Xu, please hear me out! My young master said, as long as you’re willing to help, you can name any terms you like—he’ll make sure you’re satisfied!”
Xu Mo considered, then asked, “Really?”
“Absolutely!” Li Huo thought he’d made progress and nodded vigorously.
Secretly he mused: What’s so special about him? He acts arrogant, but in the end he’s just a greedy gambler.
The next moment, Xu Mo said, “Fine! Then tell your young master, if he gives me half the Wang family’s fortune, I’ll help him!”
“What?” Li Huo was dumbstruck.
While he was stunned, Xu Mo took the opportunity to close the gate.
Li Huo’s fury ignited and he cursed, “You rotten gambler, don’t push your luck!”
As soon as he finished, the gate opened again.
Xu Mo strode out, drawing the firewood knife from his waist, his presence intimidating. “Say that again if you dare!”
Li Huo was terrified, turned around, and ran.
Xu Mo couldn’t help but snicker, shaking his head disdainfully.
Just as he was closing the gate, he heard an angry voice outside the wall.
“Who the hell is so shameless! Who left crap in the middle of the road!”
---
No need to look: Li Huo had obviously fled in a panic and stepped right into that pile of excrement.
Hearing the commotion, Xu Mo couldn’t hold back and burst out laughing, “Ha ha ha...”
Li Huo, thoroughly frustrated after stepping in filth, hurried off to report to Wang Shunyang.
Wang Shunyang was disgusted by the stench from Li Huo’s feet and ordered him to stand far away.
Li Huo embellished his story. “Young master, that Xu Mo is truly despicable and ungrateful! I treated him politely the whole time, but he was cold and rude, and even threatened me with a knife. That’s not the worst—he said even more outrageous things...”
He suddenly paused.
Wang Shunyang shouted, “What outrageous things? Speak up!”
Li Huo deliberately hesitated before replying, “He said, even if you gave him all your fortune, he wouldn’t help you. He also said...”
“What else did he say?” Wang Shunyang was already angry.
“He said, for people like you, he... he doesn’t think much of you at all!”
Wang Shunyang exploded, kicking over a stool and roaring, “How dare he! Who does he think he is!”
Li Huo quickly stepped forward, fanning the flames. “Young master, someone as arrogant as Xu Mo needs to be taught a lesson, so he’ll learn why the moon is so round and the flowers so red!”
Wang Shunyang found this entirely reasonable and declared loudly, “Good! I’ll leave this to you!”
Li Huo was delighted and quickly replied, “Yes, young master!”
---
The next morning.
Before leaving home, Xu Mo spent some money to have the area outside the courtyard wall cleaned up.
As he'd done the day before, to ensure Chen Miaoyi’s safety, he took her to his uncle’s house.
As soon as he saw Xu Mo, Xu Tieshu asked, “Xu Mo, in a few days we’ll be going to Gushan Village. Are you and your wife really coming along?”
“We are! We haven’t been out in a long while,” Xu Mo replied.
“Alright, I’ll let you know the date as soon as it’s decided!” Xu Tieshu nodded, pleased.
He then pulled Xu Mo aside and whispered, “Xu Mo, there are still two hundred bars of soap at home. Before we go to Gushan Village, should we sell them? I don’t feel comfortable leaving them here with no one around.”
Xu Mo thought for a moment and nodded, “Alright, I’ll find some time in the next couple of days and get them packaged first.”
“Good!” Xu Tieshu agreed.