Chapter 618 - 620: The Perfect Throw
The smile on Li Mazi’s face disappeared all at once, he glared at Tu Bai in displeasure, "What do you, a cub, know about this? If you don’t understand, keep your mouth shut. The fields here are handed down from father to son. My father passed it down to me, so why can’t I sell it?"
Tu Bai sneered, "Do you think I’m a three-year-old kid? If the field deed bears your father’s name, you should have signed your own name. Why the alias? Are you afraid there’s something fishy here?"
Sui Zhongren also chimed in sternly, "I can vouch for Li’s claim, the land is indeed his. You guys have been dealing for some time, and even agreed to the contract, why don’t you trust him now?"
Ignoring Sui, Tu Bai turned his attention to Bai Yihong, "Uncle Bai, something isn’t right about this. Better safe than sorry, I suggest we give it up for today, or have them accompany us to the Government Office to check the records and directly transfer the land, only if it checks out."
Upon hearing Tu Bai’s suggestion, Sui’s face fell. He flung up his sleeve and said, "Fine, you guys can go to the Government Office by yourselves. I’m not needed anymore, excuse my absence!" And then he left in a huff.
Bai Ruozhu found Tu Bai’s argument very reasonable. In a soft voice, she said, "Father, Big Brother Tu makes sense. Either, let us all go to the Government Office and complete the formalities together, or let’s call it off. Better safe than sorry."
Hearing Bai Ruozhu agree with him, Tu Bai couldn’t help but give her an extra glance.
Li Mazi’s face turned red with anger. Ignoring the others, he spoke to Bai Yihong, "Brother Bai, this is not the first time we’ve done business together. You trust a young lad more than me? That’s quite disheartening. I don’t have time to visit the Government Office with you. If you really don’t trust me, I am willing to forgo the down payment. You can pay in full once the land has been transferred."
Everyone present was stunned by Li Mazi’s words, even Tu Bai who began to second-guess his judgment. If Li Mazi were dishonest, he’d try to pocket the down payment. But now he was ready to forgo it completely, it made everything seem less suspicious.
Bai Yihong thought for a moment, then responded, "Brother Li, if you really do not wish to accompany us to the Government Office, then we’ll have to settle it this way. We’ll treat this as settled and I’ll transfer your down payment as agreed."
He then turned to address the rest of the party, "Let’s head back. Sorry for making you come all the way here for nothing."
The smile on Li Mazi’s face morphed into a fierce scowl as he suddenly raised his voice, "You’ve signed the contract, you can’t back out now!"
Bai Ruozhu turned around when she heard the sound of approaching footsteps behind her. She saw Sui Zhongren leading a group of people wielding scythes and hoes towards them.
"It turns out Sui Zhongren left with the intent to gather reinforcements. All these delaying tactics were simply to buy time. You two are clearly in cahoots." Bai Ruozhu said with a cold smirk.
"You little wench, once we catch you, we’ll see if you can still talk big!" Li Mazi’s usual amiable expression was replaced with the fierce visage of a local thug.
"Who do you think you’re messing with? Watch me beat you to death!" With an abrupt shout, Tu Ying kicked Li Mazi. Caught off guard, Li Mazi screamed as he flew backwards like a kite with its string cut off.
Tu Ying, who had been bored throughout the entire dull transaction, now brimmed with excitement. People dared to be arrogant in front of her? The kick she gave was only at 30% of her full strength. Had she used all her might, it could have killed Li Mazi on the spot.
Bai Ruozhu was simultaneously shocked and amazed. She knew Tu Ying was powerful, all the kids in the Tu Family were skilled fighters. Tu Ying being the best among the young generation of the Tu family meant her martial arts skills were exceptional. But this was the first time Bai Ruozhu had actually seen her fight, and she found Tu Ying’s fighting style incredibly stylish and cool, almost akin to a lightning strike. It was a refreshing sight.
She couldn’t help but glance at her second brother. Seeing him flinch and his face turn pale, she wondered if he was startled by Tu Ying’s violent side.
All of a sudden, the group Sui had rallied rushed them, forming a circle around them. Sui shouted loudly, "Nobody leaves today! Everyone, ATTACK!"
Bai Ruozhu kept her mother behind her while retreating, she furtively studied the men. It was impossible for this many people to be gathered at such short notice. They were likely rounded up beforehand and had been hiding nearby.
Besides, although these people held farm tools, judging by their demeanor, ruthlessness and expressions, they were more of local riff-raffs than simple farmers.
From the looks of it, Li Mazi was indeed suspicious. After glancing at the battling Tu siblings, Bai Ruozhu felt relieved that they had come along. Even if the Bai family could expose Li Mazi’s deceit, they would not have been able to escape from the mob safely.
Lin Ping’er, Bai Ruozhu’s mother, was so scared her face turned pale. Bai Ruozhu quickly squeezed her mother’s trembling hand, and said, "Mother, don’t be scared, Tu Ying and her brother are really good at this."
While she was reassuring her mother, Tu Bai managed to knock someone down with a punch, and Tu Ying dispatched a lewd-looking rogue with a slap.
The attackers kept falling one after another, filling the air with continuous screams.
In the midst of the chaos, one of the attackers quietly moved towards Bai Ruozhu and her mother. Noticing an opportunity, he suddenly swung his hoe at Lin Ping’er when Tu Ying and her brother were engaged with others.
Bai Yihong saw the man take a swing at Lin Ping’er. He shouted out of fright but didn’t have time to rush over.
Bai Zepei also noticed and yelled out, "Mother! Look out!"
Tu Bai and Tu Ying heard the commotion, they tried to rush over, could it be they won’t make it in time?
Just as everyone’s heart leapt into their throat, Bai Ruozhu quickly raised her foot and kicked the attacker. The pitiful cry that followed silenced everyone.
For a moment everyone stopped in their tracks, standing still and watching the pathetic scene unfold. The attacker who was holding his groin and howling in pain. Bai Ruozhu grabbed his hair, pulling him up. She raised her free hand and began to slap his face, one smack after another.
After a few moments, the stunned man stopped crying. Bai Ruozhu, satisfied, shook her hand slightly. The man’s cheekbones were high, and smacking him had hurt her hand.
She let go of his hair only to grab the collar of his shirt. She turned around, braced herself and, in one smooth motion, performed a flawless back throw. The man was slammed onto the ground and the impact left him moaning in agony.
Lin Ping’er was flabbergasted. At first, she was scared stiff by the hoe that was about to fall on her, but then she was startled by Bai Ruozhu’s audacious action.
Bai Ruozhu dusted off her hands with satisfaction. The self-defense techniques she’d learned in her previous life hadn’t gone to waste. Back then, she could throw off burly foreign men with ease. After her transmigration, she had hesitated to use these moves while being pregnant and when dealing with martial artists. But when confronting a thug with no martial arts skills, did she not have a way to deal with him?