In the dark of night, Yang Yunfan stuck close to the wall as he snuck his way towards his parents’ bedroom. He was afraid of his father’s anger but also what was plaguing him. His father rarely appeared this exhausted nor did he skip out on meals with the family. So, why tonight? Why after coming from Lianyi town? With these questions weighing down on his mind, he snuck under the window of his parent's bedroom. Paper windows did not soundproof the room, so, even without opening the window, Yang Yunfan could hear what was happening.

“-something on your mind?” his mother’s voice reached his ears.

“Haah~” Yang Kai sighed, “I fear our days are about to get worse.”

“Is the business meeting losses?”

“No, it’s something else.”

“Is it that sneaky Li Cheng?”

“Hah!” Yang Kai's tone was one of disdain, “Anything that bastard did wouldn’t make me so worried!” He paused, “It seems our business has caught the Zu clan’s eye…”

“Zu clan?” It was natural Luo Mengmeng wouldn’t know them. She was never one who paid a lot of interest to news about other tclans.

“Hmm. They’re the biggest clan in Lianyi town; they deal in salt and seafood.”

Luo Mengmeng gasped, “How did a small merchant like you get their attention?!”

“I…” somehow it felt as though his wife was insulting him. But he threw the matter to the back of his mind, “You remember my father, right?”

“…yes! Why bring father-in-law up?”

“Well, I’ve told you how father built Yang Traders from scratch. Shitou village developed because of it.”

“Yes, you have!” Luo Mengmeng nodded as she reminisced, “I still remember how it looked; the roads weren’t even paved with cobblestone!”

“Well, after I took the reins, Yang Traders’ influence grew. We have some dealings with Huangye town to the east and Lianyi town to the south.” Yang Kai paused before saying, “All groups try to expand and the Zu clan is no different. They never explicitly said why but it doesn’t take a genius to figure out, the Zu clan wants to expand. They already have 65% of Lianyi under their control, now they want to expand north. And to do so, they have to enter Shitou village’s market.”

“And then?”

“Then what? They asked me to go under them.”

“But why even ask you? You know what those big clans are like; why didn’t they just force you guys?”

“It’s because of our long-standing reputation. The people in this village are quite indebted to our Yang family and the Shi family. It’s because of us that the village developed and it’s because of the Shi family that the village is relatively safe. The village trusts us, they trust our products.” Yang Kai looked at his wife and asked, “Do you know why father never focused on selling one item?”

“Is it because-?”

“Because father started Yang Traders with this village in mind. And it’s also why I continue to do so as well. Meng’er, you know that I’m not an overly ambitious man. At that time, if I listened to your father and tried to expand; given our capabilities, we could’ve soared. But as the adage goes, the wind destroys the tallest tree. I fear our family would be under constant threat. Not getting your family's blessing is my biggest regret till date.”

“W-Why bring my father up?” Luo Mengmeng’s father was the clan head of the Luo clan in Hongmu city to the northwest. It was bigger than the Zu clan but not as big as those in the Capital of the Xi Kingdom of which all of them were citizens.

“I’m saying even though I’m not an ambitious person; sometimes you have no choice but to take a step forward. Once I understood that we hit our limit in Shitou village, I had no choice but to expand our influence to the nearby towns. And this expansion got us in this mess.”

“But you didn’t answer why the Zu clan set their eyes on your merchant group?”

“Our merchant group, as well as Shitou village, is a sort of hub. Lianyi town, being to the south, doesn’t have any neighboring towns or villages except for our village. Taking over Shitou village’s market will open up even more opportunities for them.”

“So, if it truly bothers you that much, why not submit?”

“Absolutely not!” Yang Kai stubbornly refused.

“Is this about-?” Luo Mengmeng raised an eyebrow.

“No, pride won’t feed my family. It’s just that…” Yang Kai shuddered, “The things I’ve heard about the Zu clan and their shady dealings are enough to keep me up for weeks!”

“Is it really that bad?” Luo Mengmeng asked worriedly.

“No,” Yang Kai dismissed the topic with a smile, “I’ll just deal with it.” Yang Kai’s eyes changed as he looked at his wife.

Oblivious to her husband’s gaze, Luo Mengmeng heaved a sigh, “Don’t worry, I’ll support you in- Anh~ w-what are you doing?”

Yang Kai who was kissing her neck, replied with passion in his eyes, “I’ve been gone for too long. I miss my wife~”

“Y-You beast! No more than s-six rounds, understand?”

Yang Kai chuckled as he pounced on her, “We’ll see!”

Outside their window, Yang Yunfan who was listening in with a frown, found himself blushing up to his ears at this sudden turn of events.

He hastened his speed as he snuck out of there. Goddamn it! Is sex really that good? We have bigger problems than going more than six rounds!

That night, Yang Yunfan slept very late as his imagination went wild.

A Few Days Later.

Yang Yunfan was roaming around the village with a blade of grass in his mouth. He swirled it with his tongue as the blade moved on his lips. As always, the villagers kept stealing glances at him while others just blatantly stared at him. He paid no heed to them as he continued on his walk. After turning a few corners, he came across a dark alley. Yang Yunfan paused and pricked his ears up.

Noises of grunting, quiet thumps, and whimpering sounds came from inside there. His gaze shifted towards the ground and searched around. His eyes finally stopped on a brick lying on the side of the road. He picked it up and felt its weight before nodding in satisfaction. Brick in hand, he went inside the alley. After walking for a few breaths, he found three boys and a girl. The girl was on the ground as one of the boys straddled and rained punches on her. The two boys looked at the sight with mischievous smiles on their smiles.

Looking at the situation, Yang Yunfan’s eyes turned cold. He looked at the brick in his hand before chucking it at the assaulting bully.

Thunk!

The brick hit the bully on the shoulder and he yelped out in pain before falling off of the girl.

“Who-?” the other bullies turned around to see Yang Yunfan rushing at them and punching the bully on the left of his face.

Pow!

The second bully stumbled backward before falling; he touched his cheek as it swiftly turned red and looked at Yang Yunfan who had just launched a kick at the last bully standing.

“Nngh!” The last bully got hit in the stomach and bent over. The bullies looked at Yang Yunfan in disbelief as their minds processed what happened. Yang Yunfan pushed his leg against the bully who got hit first. Under the weight, he laid flat on the ground as he tried to shift the leg from his chest. Picking the brick back up, he looked at the bully under his feet.

“This is the nth time I’ve seen dumbos like you picking on Qiqi,” he pointed at the girl who was just getting pummeled and was now looking at Yang Yunfan. “And I’ll treat you just like I treat them. Keep your eyes peeled!” Saying so, Yang Yunfan held the brick 3 feet above the boy’s face.

“W-What are you going to do?” the bully asked with fear in his eyes.

“Nothing much!” Yang Yunfan let the brick fall. The bully’s pupils constricted in fear as he saw the brick get closer and closer. He closed his eyes just as he was about to get hit. He waited and waited but the brick never hit him. He slowly opened his eyes and saw the brick an inch away from his face. He broke out in a cold sweat as he heard Yang Yunfan say, “Next time you do something like this, I’ll smash your head open.”

Yang Yunfan took his foot off the bully and tossed the brick away. He walked to where the girl was before taking her hand and leaving the alley. The bullies watched as they left the alley. Only once Yang Yunfan left the alley did they heave sighs of relief and saw their backs covered with sweat. The look in his eyes truly made them feel as though he was speaking the truth!

On the road, Yang Yunfan led the girl stopped in front of an herb shop. He looked at the girl, Lu Qiqi. She was his age and he met her when she was going through a similar ordeal as well. Back then, he had beaten up the bullies(not the ones from before) far worse than he had today. Since then, he stayed by her and they became close friends.

He inspected her face; she had red swelling everywhere and white patches on her skin. Yes, they beat her up because she looked different- because she had a disease called White Eclipse[1]. It was an inborn disease where white patches would grow on the skin. That was it! It would only develop white patches on the skin and nothing else; it wasn’t even contagious! But people were horrified by it. They believed that the afflicted were the bearer of misfortune.

When Lu Qiqi was born, people would somehow blame their bad luck on her. The first time when Yang Yunfan chased the bullies away, they were beating her up for their families’ problems.

Yang Yunfan gnashed his teeth. Making her life hell just because of hearsay?! Bastards!

Yang Yunfan was not one to curse but seeing her plight would instantly bring forth profanities he would never say otherwise. His mother forbade expletives, saying that it was ungentlemanly. The same mother debunked many superstitions; what bearer of bad luck? Lu Qiqi just had a problem with her skin. At times like these, Yang Yunfan felt thankful for a mother who hailed from a noble clan.

After he was done inspecting, Yang Yunfan said, “Qiqi, stay here. I’ll go buy some herbs.”

“No!” Lu Qiqi grabbed his arm. She lowered her head, not meeting his eyes, and said, “You’ve already helped me plenty. A-Anymore and I’ll bring you bad luck…”

Lu Qiqi had her eyes pinned to the ground not daring to meet his eyes. A while passed but Yang Yunfan didn’t say a word, the silence suffocated her. Just as she was about to look up, he shook her arm from her grasp and called, “Qiqi, look at me.”

She froze before slowly raising her hand, only to see him with an impassive expression. Just as she was about to say something, he raised her hand and flicked her forehead!

“Ah?!” Lu Qiqi rubbed her forehead, trying to ease the pain. She looked at him with a confused look, and he replied, “I don’t care,” before leaving her there and entering the herb shop. Lu Qiqi kept on rubbing her forehead as he saw him ask the clerk something and the clerk getting an herb from a jar and giving it to him. Yang Yunfan reached into his pocket and paid the clerk before leaving the shop. Herb in hand, he took Lu Qiqi’s to a nearby pond in the outskirts of the village.

He sat down on the shore and made her do the same, “I’ve got some Three-Leafed Cooling Fern, so stay still and let me put it on you.”

“How much does it cost? I’ll pay you,” she asked as she saw him submerge the herb in water before using his hands to mash it into a paste.

Yang Yunfan smiled and said, “Five Copper Taels.”

“T-That much?” her eye’s widened.

“No need to worry about paying now. Do it when you grow up,” he soothed her. Taking a bit of the paste on his fingers, he applied it on the bruised areas near her cheek.

She gasped as a cool stinging feeling spread across her cheek. It was painful and made her eyes water. Seeing her like these, Yang Yunfan gnashed his teeth. He stood up and searched her head for bumps. Running his hand through her hair, he felt her scalp.

“Ouch!” Lu Qiqi winced when he touched a bump.

“Sorry,” he apologized and got some more paste on his fingers before applying it on the bump.

“Wuuu~” she whimpered. And like this time went by, with Yang Yunfan applying medicine and Lu Qiqi withstanding the pain.

After an incense stick worth of time[2], Yang Yunfan was done dabbing the medicine and her swellings had noticeably decreased.

“T-Thank you,” Lu Qiqi didn’t promise to pay him back because all he’ll say is to do it once they grew up.

“Come, let me walk you back home,” Yang Yunfan grabbed her hand and led the way. Lu Qiqi smiled as she watched him. In her life, moments with him were respite. He’s really handsome!

After a bit of walking, they came in front of a rundown thatch hut. Yes, Lu Qiqi was from an impoverished family. Yang Yunfan let go of her and she went inside. At the door, she turned around and bowed, “Thank you for today.”

“Hey!” he quickly helped her up. Looking at her eyes, “What’s the point of doing this? If I didn’t help you, then I’d be really inept as a friend.”

She smiled. Yang Yunfan let her go, “Since Aunt Wang still hasn’t come back, I’ll leave for now.” He put a finger to his lips, “Don’t tell her about this.”

Just as she was wondering what he meant, Yang Yunfan took her hand and put something in them. Closing them, he started walking away. She opened her hands and her eyes widened. It was five copper taels!

“I-I can’t take this!” she protested.

“Use it!” he ordered with a stern look. “It’s my money and I gave it to you so you can use it.”

“I…”

“If you want to pay me back, do it after we grow up!” he started walking away. Lu Qiqi looked at him before looking at the money in her hands. She smiled as gratitude filled her eyes. If you continue this, how am I ever supposed to repay you?

Yang Yunfan walked back to his home as he thought about Lu Qiqi. Her father died when she was very young. Now, only she and her mother were left. Aunt Wang, her mother worked as a maid for the Shi family. The Shi family was benevolent enough to take pity on her and paid her a bit more than maids in the village usually get. The Shi family head was a sergeant and having experienced a lot, he didn’t believe in superstitions like the other villagers which only served to make Aunt Wang feel more gratitude towards them.

He has met Aunt Wang before, she was a kind woman. She didn’t blame all her troubles on Lu Qiqi; rather she loved her daughter with all her heart.

Yang Yunfan shook his head, pushing these thoughts to the back of his head. The sun had already gone down. He walked up the cobblestone stairs leading to his home. His father loved peace and quiet; so much so that he built his house away from the village and on a small hill. It was a chore to climb the stairs but the secluded nature of his home gave him peace. Step by step, he climbed and soon reached the front door to his home.

Straightening his shirt and dusting his pants, he opened the door.

Kachak!

He entered the living room only to see that a guest had arrived. His father was talking to a middle-aged man with a goatee. He had brown hair and beady black eyes.

Yang Yunfan bowed and greeted, “Father.” He then turned to the middle-aged man, “And this is…?”

“This is Zu Tian, a member of the Zu clan,” his father introduced. “And this is my son, Yang Yunfan.”

Yang Yunfan cupped his fist, “Elder.”

Zu Tian nodded before looking at his father again. Yang Yunfan excused himself and went inside another room. He didn’t head to his room but chose to stay near the living room and eavesdrop.

“-was saying, name a price!” Zu Tian’s haughty voice reached his ears.

“Please, think this through. If I sell, how would I provide for my family, and what would happen to my employees?” Yang Kai’s voice sounded a bit strained.

“That’s fine then. You can always choose to come under us. That way, you and your employees can remain in charge. But you’ll have to pay us a portion of the profits.”

“And always have a blade on my neck, no thanks!”

“Mr. Yang, what do you mean by this?!” Zu Tian spoke angrily.

“You know very well what I mean! I’ve heard of the deeds that the Zu clan does in the dark. Coming under you bunch is as good as a death sentence!” Yang Kai sneered.

Zu Tian stood up abruptly and shouted, “This is slander! We’re upright businessmen. How can you speak so presumptuously?”

“You and I both know what I mean,” Yang Kai gestured to the door, “Please leave!”

“Are you sure you can handle the consequences?” Zu Tian’s face darkened. “Think about your family!” There was a hint of threat in his voice.

“With the Shi family here, you won’t be able to do anything!”

“Very well,” Zu Tian calmed down. With mockery filling his tone, he spoke, “We’ll see about that!”

Kachak!

Zu Tian left the house. Yang Kai slumped down on his chair and massaged his temples.

Behind the doorway, Yang Yunfan sighed heavily and walked away. He entered his room and lay down on his bed. Closing his eyes, he thought about the future.

Father handled this somewhat... They might not have left him any way out if he reacted like this.But now the Zu clan will surely employ underhanded means to cause problems for father. Most probably, they might try to aim for us. But the Shi clan is here. So, at least, our safety is mostly ensured. They wouldn’t dare to cause problems under the eye of a sergeant of the Xi Kingdom. So, the only remaining path for them to take is through business means. They’ll cause problems for the trading group.

Yang Yunfan sighed.

I’m not in a position to offer help! I barely know my way around the merchant group. I don’t know what to do…

Knock! Knock!

His lamentations were interrupted by weak knocks on the door. He got up from his bed and opened the door. Yang Ju was standing in front of the door with a wooden box!

She looked at him with her big round eyes and pushed the box to him, “Play with Ju!”

“Haha!” Yang Yunfan chuckled and picked her up, “Fine, let’s play!” He placed her on his bed and opened the wooden box. Inside were crudely made dolls made of cloth and cotton. There were dolls of both genders inside, the girls had their hairs in pigtails and ponytails, and wore exquisite dresses.

He took two dolls of each gender and started moving them around. As he moved the dolls, he spoke grandly, “Once upon a time in the Xi Kingdom, there was a princess called Xi Ruo. She had three older siblings, each extraordinary in their own right. The first brother was a genius tactician who won war after war. The second sister was a…”

Yang Yunfan told stories and played with Yang Ju until she felt drowsy. At one time, she curled up on Yang Yunfan’s lap and went to sleep. Yang Yunfan smiled and waited until she was in deep sleep. After which, he placed her on a pillow and went to sleep next to her, putting an end to this long day.