“You’re here again!”
The men ignored her. Seeing her tear-streaked face, one smirked. “Oh, crying already? Did the village head come about the tax? If you can’t pay, you’ll have even more to cry about soon.”
The man with bulging eyes said, “Just sell us those three acres east of the village like we said. That’ll cover your debts and the tax.”
Zhao’s mother clenched her teeth. “Those three acres face the sun, they yield at least two dan of grain per mu every year! They’re prime land! You think I’ll sell them for ten taels? Never! My husband cleared that land himself when he was healthy. I won’t sell!”
[1 dan approximately equal to 100 liters; 1 mu approximately equal to 667 square meters]
“Oh, you won’t?”
The bulging-eyed man sneered and kicked over a basket nearby. “What does a widow like you need so much land for? You won’t need it for your grave!”
His companion, taking the cue, picked up a low stool and hurled it.
Zhao’s mother screamed and ducked. The stool flew toward the main door, but instead of hitting it, a hand intercepted it midair.
The two men froze as a tall figure emerged from the house. They had to crane their necks to meet his cold, murderous gaze.
Instinctively, they stilled, even holding their breath.
The man said nothing, simply walking toward them.
The overwhelming pressure made the two exchange uneasy glances.
The bulging-eyed man retreated a step. “Oh, you have a guest? You should’ve said so. We’ll come back another time.”
He turned to leave.
But before he could take a step, a hand clamped around the back of his neck, lifting him off the ground.
“Did I say you could leave?”
The man dangled helplessly, unable to see the expression of the person behind him. But the icy tone sent chills down his spine.
As someone who often picked fights, he knew the quieter the threat, the deadlier.
Panicking, he flailed his legs, but the grip only tightened, as if his skull might be crushed.
Terrified, he begged, “Misunderstanding! A misunderstanding! Brother, spare me!”
Huo Shu remained silent, unmoved by the pleas.
Seeing the man’s neck locked in place, Zhao’s mother knew Huo Shu - a veteran who had killed countless times could easily snap it without thinking.
Though these troublemakers deserved death, she couldn’t let Huo Shu bear the consequences.
She hurried forward. “Huo Shu, just drive them away.”
The moment she spoke, a dull thud sounded as Huo Shu released the man, dropping him like the stool he had thrown.
The bulging-eyed man, shaken to the core, scrambled to escape, but a foot pinned his neck to the ground.
“You want to buy land?”
Lying on his side, the man didn’t dare move. Forced to meet those merciless eyes, he stammered, “N-no! We won’t come bother her again!”
Huo Shu’s voice was flat. “If I see you here again, your head will leave your neck.”
“Y-yes, yes!”
The man nearly wept, the pressure on his throat making it clear this was no idle threat.
Huo Shu didn’t lift his foot. Instead, he glanced at the broken fence gate.
The man quickly added, “I’ll fix it right now!”
His companion, trembling, picked up the stool he had thrown. “I-I’ll bring a new stool and basket soon!”
Huo Shu said nothing, turning to Zhao’s mother. “Auntie, is this acceptable?”
Zhao’s mother nodded hastily. “Yes, yes.”
Only then did Huo Shu lift his foot. The man scrambled up and rushed to fix the gate.
The two scurried around, repairing the damage while stealing fearful glances at Huo Shu. After profusely apologizing to Zhao’s mother and bowing repeatedly to Huo Shu, they fled like rats.
“Who were they?”
Zhao’s mother said, “Local thugs. They prey on struggling families, pressuring them to sell land cheaply so they can resell it for profit.”
“They’ve had their eyes on us for years. If we refuse to sell, they harass us.”
“The village head doesn’t stop them?”
“He tries. But they’re slippery, intimidating the weak but playing innocent when confronted. It’s hard to control them.”
Then she added, “But after today, they won’t dare come back.”
Huo Shu said, “If they do, they won’t leave intact.”
Zhao’s mother stiffened slightly. Though grateful for his help, as a simple farmer, the mention of violence unsettled her. She couldn’t help but shudder at the aura of a battlefield veteran.
“It’s over. Let’s go back inside.”
Back in the house, Zhao’s mother hugged the knee pads again.
Huo Shu took out a large pouch from his bag and pushed it toward her. “I hadn’t yet given you these.”
Zhao’s mother opened it and gasped - inside were gleaming silver ingots.
“Changsui saved this money. He always said he wanted to take care of his parents after returning home, to let them enjoy their later years after a lifetime of hardship.”
“He’d saved even more, but over the years, he sent what he could back. Some never made it.”
Zhao’s mother cradled the pouch, her sorrow deepening.
“Life in the army was hard, yet he still thought of home. His father was unlucky, he never lived to see his filial son.”
Wiping her red, sore eyes—years of crying had left them sensitive, she forced back her grief.
“Child, thank you for looking after Changsui all these years, and for bringing his things back from the north. I don’t know how to repay you.”
The court provided compensation to families of fallen soldiers, but corruption siphoned off most of it. Without trustworthy comrades, few belongings ever made it home.
Seeing the substantial sum - over a hundred taels, Zhao’s mother realized Huo Shu was a man of integrity, cold-faced but warm-hearted. Her initial fear of him faded.
Huo Shu said, “We fought side by side for years, brothers in all but blood. If I had died, he would’ve done the same for me. There’s no need for thanks.”
Zhao’s mother sniffled. “Good, good…”
“You must be tired from your journey. Rest in Changsui’s room. I’ll prepare a meal for you.”
Huo Shu meant to decline, but her next words stopped him:
“I’ll make some of Changsui’s favorite dishes. See if you like them. My cooking isn’t the best, but the village often asks me to help with banquet preparations.”
Watching her busy herself, Huo Shu wondered, if his own parents were alive, would they have joyfully cooked a feast for his return?
Perhaps not.
So he’d take this meal in Changsui’s stead.
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