Wang Goudan needed something from Zhang Xiaoshan, so his attitude suddenly became much more humble. He stood up from the ground, walked over to the motorcycle, wrapped his arm around Zhang Xiaoshan’s arm, and said with a smile.
"Brother Goudan has been a bit tight on cash lately, and you’re rolling in it now. How about giving me some?"
"Don’t worry, I’m borrowing it, and I’ll definitely pay you back."
Luo Meili didn’t mince her words as she scoffed from the side.
"Little Shan, you’d better not believe his nonsense. Everyone in the village knows he’s notorious for not paying back his debts. If you really lend him money, it’ll be like throwing meat buns to a dog — gone without a return."
"You, you’re talking nonsense. I, I’m just dragging it out a bit, but once I have money, I will definitely pay it back," Wang Goudan’s face turned red.
Zhang Xiaoshan chuckled under his breath.
"Lending money, huh? It’s not out of the question. How much do you want to borrow?"
"Not much, just two thousand," Wang Goudan said, immediately beaming when he heard Zhang Xiaoshan was willing to lend him money.
"Little Shan, you..."
Luo Meili wanted to persuade Zhang Xiaoshan, but she stopped herself at the last moment. A woman should give her man face in public.
Now Zhang Xiaoshan was her only man.
"Two thousand is not a lot."
"So you’re really willing to lend me the money?" Wang Goudan was practically drooling.
Zhang Xiaoshan pondered for a moment before saying to Wang Goudan.
"I can lend it to you, but you have to agree to two conditions."
"Oh, my good brother, as long as you’re willing to lend me the money, forget two conditions—I’d agree to two hundred." Wang Goudan howled with excitement. After all, he had no intention of paying back the loan; fooling one was as good as fooling another.
"First, start the boat now and take us across."
"Ha, what a trivial matter! You’re my brother, and we’re from the same village, we know each other well. I’ll take you right away. And the second?" Just a moment ago Wang Erdan was all about village rules, but now everything changed.
However, it was indeed because Zhang Xiaoshan and Luo Meili were from the same village. If it had been an outsider woman, she couldn’t even dream of breaking the rules to start the boat.
Wang Goudan was greedy, not brainless.
"The second condition is even simpler."
"You’ve probably lost money playing cards with Wei Bao and the others, huh? Next time you go gambling, I want you to take me with you."
Upon hearing this, both Wang Goudan and the nearby Luo Meili were taken aback.
Luo Meili held back from speaking, but Wang Goudan, less concerned, said with a confused look,
"I did lose money to them, but when have I ever heard that you, Little Shan, enjoy gambling? This is a bit abnormal, isn’t it?"
Zhang Xiaoshan had his excuse ready.
"I have a score to settle with them, and you know it. I just want to teach them a lesson at the card table, to let them know who they’re dealing with." ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ꜰʀᴏᴍ 𝔫𝔬𝔳𝔢𝔩⟡𝘧𝙞𝙧𝙚⟡𝘯𝘦𝘵
Wang Goudan immediately nodded in agreement.
"Right, right, right, those bastards are too much. They cheated me out of my money and even beat me up. Little Shan, you were too soft on them before."
"Fine, if you want revenge, leave it to me. Next time they gather, I’ll let you know right away."
"Good, that’s settled then. Start the boat."
Wang Goudan immediately started the ferry with great enthusiasm.
After about ten minutes, they had successfully crossed the White Dragon River.
Zhang Xiaoshan was pushing his motorcycle, ready to disembark.
"Little Shan, you, this..."
Wang Goudan looked at Zhang Xiaoshan with the same eagerness as a stray dog eyeing a bone.
"Hmph, don’t worry, I won’t run off."
Zhang Xiaoshan said to Luo Meili,
"Meili, did you bring any cash? Give him two thousand."
Although Luo Meili was reluctant, she still counted out two thousand yuan from her handbag and handed it to Wang Goudan.
Upon taking the money, Wang Goudan was overjoyed and immediately assured Zhang Xiaoshan with great enthusiasm,
"Little Shan, with these two thousand yuan, our brotherhood is solid as iron. Rest assured, if you ever need to cross the river urgently, I’ll definitely help you."
"Good, let’s agree on that. Remember what you’ve promised."
Zhang Xiaoshan didn’t want to waste words with Wang Goudan. Now that his objective was achieved, he rode off on his little motorcycle with Luo Meili zipping away.
Wang Goudan returned to the village entrance, then locked the ferry and hastily ran toward Wei Bao’s house.
He was off to tip them off.
Clearly, he deserved to be beaten.
Zhang Xiaoshan had lent him money, yet he was still plotting with Wei Bao and the others to cheat Zhang Xiaoshan.
The healed scar had been forgotten, truly despicable.
Wu Biao’s arm was bitten by a dog, and he hadn’t been able to do any farm work lately. At the moment, he was at Wei Bao’s house with a few others, playing Mahjong.
"What? Little Shan wants to join the gambling?"
After hearing Wang Goudan’s report, everyone was astonished.
Zhang Xiaoshan was the most educated and cultured person in the village, always straightforward—how could he have such a nasty habit?
"Wang Goudan, you’re not screwing us over, are you?" Wei Bao said with disbelief.
Wang Goudan became anxious.
"I swear to heaven, Zhang Xiaoshan was very clear. He’s got a grudge against you and wants to take revenge at the card table. If I’m lying, may lightning strike me."
"Look, this is the money he just lent me."
He showed off the two thousand yuan in front of Wei Bao, Wu Biao, and the others.
This made the others have no choice but to believe. If what Wang Goudan was saying were lies, where did the two thousand yuan come from?
"Hmph, Little Shan is really naive. I’ve been in the gambling scene for so many years. With his greenhorn attitude, I can make him lose everything in minutes."
"He beat me up twice in a row, damn it, I’ve been wanting to pay him back. I can’t beat him, but now he’s come to me on his own. I can’t let this go," Wei Bao said, revealing a sinister smile.
Wasn’t this a perfect opportunity handed to them on a silver platter?