It was still some time before noon. Scattered customers waited at the Tang family shop for red bean pancakes, while the bread and stuffed pancakes had already sold out. Tang Xianling began tidying up the stuffed pancake stove and the pots on the counter.

Jiang Yun put the money jar away in the back room while sweeping the counter beside the oven. These were routine chores, quite leisurely with little heavy lifting.

The Zhao family matriarch had been standing all morning, and her legs were tired. She came in on her own, found a stool to sit down, and decided this was a good moment to strike up a conversation with Jiang Yun.

“My, my, your business is booming!”

Jiang Yun stiffened slightly. She glanced furtively at her Wu-ger, who continued working without interruption. She then cautiously looked at the Zhao family matriarch, her face conveying a sincere “Please leave now” expression. She even managed a smile as she humbly replied, “Business is the same everywhere. Ours is only open half a day. “

Meaning everyone makes money, and my family only earns for half a day, so it’s not much.

The Tang family now consisted only of her and Wu-ger. Jiang Yun’s words were meant to be humble, fearing envy might lead to trouble for her family. Yet she hadn’t considered that the thriving business of Tang Wu-ger’s breakfast shop was visible to both neighborhoods along the entire street. Her cautious, apologetic demeanor only invited those with ill intent to size her up, thinking her easy to bully and manipulate.

People always pick on the weak and fear the strong.

The moment the Zhao family matriarch heard Jiang Yun’s words and saw her submissive demeanor, her resolve hardened. Ignoring Jiang Yun’s “hurry up and leave” expression, she chuckled, “What nonsense! Your half-day’s work is worth a full day for others. It’s just that you and Wu-ger can’t manage it yourselves.”

“We had help before, and Tieniu will return in a few days,” Jiang Yun replied.

“Why hire help? No matter how good they are, they’re outsiders you have to pay. You can always trust your own people best,” the Zhao matriarch said cheerfully.

Jiang Yun didn’t know how to respond. She could sense the underlying meaning in the sugar-oil pancake shop matriarch’s words, but since the other party wasn’t being direct and was instead beating around the bush, it wouldn’t be appropriate for her to speak plainly either, because Wu-ger and Tieniu were already nearly engaged.

She couldn’t be the one to spill the beans. If something went wrong, Wu-ger would become the neighborhood laughingstock.

So Jiang Yun gave an awkward smile and tried to change the subject by asking the old lady if she wanted some tea.

“Oh, yes! This old woman has been standing all morning—my legs ache, and my throat is parched. Let’s have some tea and talk at length.” The Zhao family matriarch was quite pleased with Jiang Yun’s demeanor, sitting in the Tang family shop as if she were in her own home.

Tang Xianling tossed aside his rag, rolled up his sleeves, and came over with a smile. He gave Jiang Yun’s arm a pat. ”Why the hell would I pour tea for this old woman?!”

“What do you mean by ‘our own people’? My family consists only of my mother. Are you referring to my father, Auntie? But my father is gravely ill and needs bed rest. He mustn’t be troubled, or I’d be unfilial.” Tang Xianling fixed his gaze on the old woman’s eyes.

The old woman, her eyes dim with age, failed to see Tang Xianling’s changed demeanor. Her smiling face hid a knife, and oblivious, she licked her lips cheerfully. “But it’s such wonderful news! I know Wu-ger is a dutiful son. Of course, it won’t tire your father. He’s worked hard his whole life—resting now is only fitting…”

She sure knows how to sugarcoat things, but her intentions are anything but pure.

The old woman rambled on about this and that, but Tang Xianling showed no sign of impatience. Smiling, he instructed Jiang Yun, “Mother, go serve the guests some pot stickers. I’ll chat with the old lady for a bit.”

“Alright, Wu-ger. You… don’t get too worked up either.” Jiang Yun looked troubled, whispering the last part to Wu-ger.

She was the type to avoid conflict, especially in broad daylight with passersby at the door and customers lingering in front of the shop.

“Mhm.” Tang Xianling’s response was neither supportive nor critical.

The Zhao family matriarch was already parched. Sitting here chatting for ages without the Tang family offering her a cup of tea to moisten her throat only made her thirst worse. She had to get to the point. “…Wu-ger, try Grandma’s sugar-oil pancakes. I brought them especially to sweeten your mouth.”

“I’ve been working all morning. I can’t eat anything now,” Tang Xianling said.

The old lady, eager to get to her point, didn’t seem to mind. “You can eat it later,” she said, placing the basket on the table and pushing it toward Tang Xianling. She continued, “I went to the countryside the other day. There’s a nephew there, just the right age for you—”

“How old?” Tang Xianling asked.

“Twenty-eight or twenty-nine,” the old lady underestimated, then added cheerfully, “He’s from a farming family. Two honest brothers, a spacious courtyard with plenty of rooms, good farmland, and his parents are still alive. They’re very capable.”

Tang Xianling nodded with interest. “With such a solid foundation, I doubt they’d come to my place as servants.”

The old woman froze. What servant?

“Isn’t it a servant?” Tang Xianling gave her a chance.

Zhao Family Matriarch: “No, you must have misunderstood. I was thinking of arranging a marriage for you. Your husband passed away nearly a year ago, and your father has fallen ill. Finding a happy occasion to dispel the gloom would be good. They come from a respectable family and wouldn’t mind that your late husband was a merchant. There is one thing, though—no one is perfect. You have your difficulties, and so do they. Their son is well-built and handsome, capable of hard work. He’s excellent in the fields, but… but he’s a bit simple-minded.”

“A bit simple-minded?” Tang Xianling raised an eyebrow.

“Don’t dwell on that. The benefits are many. Once married, he can live here in town with you and help care for your parents. His parents and brothers all live nearby and could bring you grain to help out. Besides, he’s my little nephew. His family lives in the Baxing District, Fengyuan City—we’re old neighbors, practically next door. You’ll be eating water and hawthorn-flower sugar oil cakes from them soon enough—”

Tang Xianling abruptly stood up, fixing his gaze on the old woman who’d been arranging the match.

Jiang Yun had been discreetly watching from afar. Seeing Wu-ger rise made her heart skip a beat, but just then a customer called out: “Auntie, my red bean pot cake—”

“Coming right up! Just a moment.” Jiang Yun answered while serving the customer first.

The customer waited patiently, though service at the Tang family shop was slower than usual today. Suddenly, they heard Master Tang’s angry voice from inside: “You old devil! You’ve lived so long, yet your heart is full of venom! My father isn’t even dead yet, and you’re already trying to harm me and my mother! What kind of sugar-oil pancakes are you serving? You’re trying to kill me, Tang Xianling!” “

Jiang Yun and the customers were stunned, frozen in place.

Tang Xianling emerged from the shop, one hand clutching the basket of sugar-oil cakes, the other gripping a fire poker. His eyes burned crimson with rage, his face a mask of fury.

“We’re all neighbors here. I’ve endured time and again. Our Tang family has always been honest folk. Yes, I’m a widow. My father fell ill. But that doesn’t mean anyone can come dragging a basket of junk to sell to my family!”

“My entire family is from the Quan County Regiment. Today, they’ve pushed me to the brink, forcing me to lose my temper.”

“You think your age gives you the right to spew filth? Listen up, everyone! The old woman from the sugar-oil pancake shop tried to set me up with a thirty-something simpleton! She even said all the merchants on this street are lowly commoners, not as pure as her nephew, a noble farmer! She wants me to marry a fool and be grateful to her family for eight generations!”

“This is outrageous!!!“

Tang Xianling grew angrier by the second. ”I saw she was old, so I politely invited her to sit. This is how she treats me! Fine, fine, I won’t bully her—so no one can say Tang Xianling picks on the weak. Today, as a widower, I’ll go settle accounts with her son. His mother bullies neighbors like this!”

With that, he grabbed his fire poker and headed for the street.

The main street was already bustling with people coming and going. Tang Xianling’s outburst made everyone stop in their tracks. Shopkeepers from both sides of the street emerged from their stalls.

Jiang Yun was terrified. Forgetting to collect payment, she shoved the pot lid into the customer’s hands and ran to stop Wu-ger, her voice trembling as she spoke, tears streaming down her face. “Wu-ger, Wu-ger, you’ve been wronged! You mustn’t go! How could a husband possibly fight a man?”

“Just because I can’t win, should I let them twist the truth and bully me? I don’t care if I lose my life today—I’ll fight for what’s right! Our family runs an honest business. Does that mean anyone can kick us around?”

“They call me a lowly merchant, say my dead husband brings bad luck, yet praise her thirty-something fool of a husband as the best thing ever? I refuse to accept this! They even dare call me ungrateful and threaten to smear me with filth!”

The Zhao family matriarch was flustered. She hadn’t spoken these words aloud! Though she’d thought them and prepared this line of argument—intending to persuade Wu-ger if he refused—she hadn’t uttered a word. Yet he’d flown into a rage, hurling insults right at her face, pointing his finger at her. She was stunned.

The Lu family, the customers, and the onlookers all murmured and pointed fingers at the sugar-oil pancake vendor. Some muttered in disbelief. The dumpling vendor spat and said, “I suspected something before, but I never imagined she’d introduce a complete fool to the whole family. That old woman has no good intentions; she’s plotting something sinister.”

It was truly outrageous.

Jiang Yun’s Wu-ger had long been known for his meek, docile nature. Now that Tang Xianling was lashing out in public, bystanders could only think: even a cornered rabbit will bite. The sugar-oil pancake family had pushed him to this breaking point.

A widower, so frail and thin, now he’s off to fight Zhao Dalang to the death—Zhao Dalang’s mother must have hurled such cruel words, humiliating Fifth Brother Tang to the extreme.

And even in his rage, Fifth Brother Tang didn’t lay a finger on the old woman. He went straight to confront Zhao Dalang and demand justice. It’s just… it’s just—

“It’s outrageous!” shouted a customer holding a pot cake, his hand trembling with fury. “We’re neighbors! Old Tang fell ill, and his son finally managed to keep the shop running smoothly for a few days. Now they’re targeting him!”

“Mr. Tang, don’t be afraid. I’ll go with you.”

“Right, we’ll go together! This is outrageous!”

“Even if they were setting Wu-ger up with a match, they should have found a decent person! What did Zhao Dalang’s mother introduce? A simpleton! Who’s supposed to care for whom once he comes to the Tang family shop?”

“Exactly! Mr. Tang has to run the business and care for his father already. Now they bring him a simpleton? What kind of scheme is this?”

Jiang Yun, who had been scared and tearful, now heard her neighbors speaking up for her family and defending Wu-ger. All the pent-up resentment and pain poured out. Unable to speak eloquently, her body trembled with rage as she wept uncontrollably, her sobs escalating into wails. Clutching Wu-ger’s arm, she cried out his name.

This scene made it clear to any outsider that this mother and son had suffered great injustice, victimized by cruel neighbors.

“Mother, stand behind me.” Tang Xianling wouldn’t let this go easily. He intended to make a scene, to curse and fight, even if it meant getting hurt. He wanted the entire Baxing District and Zheng Street to witness it. If anyone dared to cross him again, they’d better be prepared for a fight to the death, for both families to be torn apart, and for the streets to run red with blood.

Tang Xianling stormed toward the sugar-oil cake shop, clutching his belongings fiercely.

No one could stop him!

Everyone followed, fearing Brother Tang Wu would be wronged.

Lu Sanniang jumped up in panic, dashing to the backyard to grab a stick. Lu Dalang saw her and cried out, “What are you doing? Why are you grabbing a stick like that? Who’s picking on you?”

“Brother, it’s not me! It’s Wu-ger! Someone’s picking on him! He’s just a husband—how could he fight a man? I’m going to help him!” “ Lu Sanniang grabbed her stick and dashed out, too.

Lu Dalang feared his sister might get hurt, so he hurried to the shop and caught up with her. He first disarmed her of the stick. Seeing her stomping her feet in frustration, he pressed, ”Where’s Mother?”

“Mother went to help, too. She told me to watch the shop. I was worried and wanted to lend a hand. Auntie delivered milk to our house, and Wu-ger even slipped me some peach cookies to eat. I have to help him.” Lu Sanniang explained.

Lu Dalang: “You stay home and watch the shop. I’ll go.”

“Otherwise, you’ll get scolded when Mother comes back.”

Lu Sanniang could only stamp her foot in frustration. “Then you better help Wu-ger properly, Big Brother.” She couldn’t bear to stay in the shop. She dashed to the street outside the shop entrance, craning her neck to look toward the street corner. The area was packed tight with people, making it impossible to spot Wu-ger’s figure.

Wu-ger, please don’t get taken advantage of.

That sugar-oil cake shop was so annoying! She’d never eat their cakes again!

Zhao Dalang ran the shop with his wife as usual—one handling money and errands, the other frying sugar-oil cakes. It was nearly noon, and few customers had come. His wife remarked, “Mother’s been gone all morning. Why hasn’t she returned yet?”

Then she added, “They’ve been talking so long, the matter must be settled. Second Brother really has it made—a farmer with all that land. Now Mother’s even worried he doesn’t have enough silver to spend. She’s scheming to have that dim-witted distant nephew marry Fifth Brother Tang. Second Brother doesn’t lift a finger, yet he’ll get silver when the time comes. Not like us, toiling dawn to dusk around the stove, smoked by the fire and fried by the oil—” 

“Enough,” Zhao Dalang snapped, cutting her off. “He’s still my brother.”

Hearing this, Dalang’s wife flared up, her pent-up anger boiling over. “Even now, while Second Brother is still in the village, Mother is already scheming to give away our sweet oil cakes. If Second Brother actually comes, she’ll just hand over the entire sweet oil cake shop to your brother!”

“Why should I bother?” he muttered, dropping his tools in refusal.

Just then, shouts erupted outside: “Your old lady’s caused a huge mess!” “Brother Tang Wu’s here looking for you!” “Zhao Dalang, come out this instant!”

The neighbors outside were chattering wildly. The couple couldn’t make out the details, only catching bits like “Brother Tang Wu is here,” and “You need to come out immediately.” Zhao Dalang pondered: His mother had arranged a match for Brother Tang Wu. Could it be settled so quickly? And Brother Tang Wu had actually come to the door?

Had his mother perhaps lied to Brother Tang Wu, making him think that the simpleton cousin was a good match?

The couple exchanged a glance, their emotions tangled—a mix of guilt, envy, and greed. Finally, they stepped out of the shop to see what was happening. Not far away, Wu-ger rushed toward them, carrying something. Before Zhao Dalang could speak, Wu-ger slammed the basket he was holding down at Zhao Dalang’s feet. The basket spilled its contents—sugar-coated pancakes—all over the ground.

“What are you—” Zhao Dalang’s wife protested first.

“You scoundrel, Zhao Dalang! You’re a grown man! Not content with your own shop, now you’ve set your sights on mine! You’ve got your mother scheming to swindle others out of their goods! You heartless bastard! Preying on my Tang family—a widower and a weak mother! I, Tang Xianling, will settle this with you once and for all today!”

“Everyone, come see!”

“Zhao Dalang and his mother tried to swindle my Tang family shop! They brought a basket of sugar-coated doughnuts, trying to set up me with some dim-witted fool of a husband! When I refused, they called me unlucky, saying, ‘What right does a lowly merchant’s ger have to be picky?’”

The Zhao matriarch was blocked outside the crowd, unable to push her way in. Frustrated, she glared helplessly. She hadn’t said a word—it was all in her mind! Why was Fifth Brother Tang twisting everything she said? And instead of arguing with her, he was picking on and attacking her eldest son!

If he’d argued with her, she could’ve flopped down on the ground—would Wu-ger really lay a hand on her?

“We’re all merchants, running shops to make a living, putting down roots in the city. Every bite we eat, every breath we take costs money. We pay our taxes honestly. We’re not wealthy merchants clad in silk brocade, living in grand houses with servants and carriages at our beck and call. Yet now, in your mother’s eyes, I’m nothing but an ungrateful, lowly family.”

“Where can I seek justice?”

“Can’t you just force me to marry that simpleton? Must you humiliate and berate me like this?”

Tang Xianling gripped his staff. “What schemes does your family harbor? Come out in the open before the neighbors and explain yourselves! Lay it all out! Speak up!”

Zhao Dalang was usually quick-witted—a merchant, not some dumbstruck fool. Yet today, in this very moment, facing Tang Wu-ger’s fierce interrogation, he stood speechless, his mouth as silent as a mute’s.

“It’s not my family! My husband has nothing to do with it! It’s my mother-in-law who wants to set that up for my second brother.” Zhao Dalang’s wife panicked and rushed to defend him. The stares from the surrounding crowd felt like knives, but the moment she uttered those words, she knew she’d made a mistake.

Better left unsaid. Though introducing the simpleton to Fifth Brother Tang wasn’t ideal, she could have stubbornly claimed it wasn’t intentional, that she truly had his best interests at heart, that despite his disability, his family was wealthy, and so on. Now, her slip of the tongue confirmed her family’s ulterior motives—that they coveted the Tang household’s possessions.

Zhao Dalang’s wife cursed her own loose tongue, but it was also because all the benefits went to her second brother, leaving her family to bear this stain.

“So that’s how it is.”

“What a poisonous mind that Zhao family matriarch has.”

“Bullying the Tang family—a weak widow and her son with no one to support them—they’ve practically stuck their hands into the Tang family’s money.”

“How despicable, how despicable.”

“We’re neighbors in Baxing District—how could they act this way?”

“Just like Old Lady Zhao said, today they forced Fifth Brother Tang into marriage. When he refused, they called him a lowly commoner. What if she later fancies something from some family on the street? Will they call them ‘lowly commoners’ too?”

“The Zhao family trades too—how could they think like this?”

Neighbors gathered, chattering in a jumble. Some urged Wu-ger not to act rashly or lose his temper. Chen Qiaolian tugged at him, saying, “If the ward officials see a fight breaking out here, we’ll each get three lashes. Wu-ger—”

“Take them! Even if I’m beaten half to death today, this must be cleared up. I won’t let them say Tang Xianling is young, reckless, and ignorant of his place, coming here to stir trouble. Right and wrong must be made clear.”

Tang Xianling’s gaze was accusatory as he declared fiercely: “My surname is Tang, yours is Zhao. What my Tang family is—good or bad—I never begged the Zhao family for help before, and I won’t need your supervision in the future. Today, I stand right in front of the Zhao family shop and curse your entire family. If you don’t like it, let’s fight it out. Even if we both end up in the magistrate’s office getting beaten, I couldn’t care less.”

“To be humiliated like this for no reason—it’s outrageous.”

Zhao Dalang’s face flushed crimson with fury and resentment. He was itching for a fight—a mere young husband pointing his finger and cursing him, even insulting his mother! But now he saw the neighbors and regular customers all pointing at him.

“Your family’s conduct is truly disgraceful.”

“Apologize to Mr. Tang this instant!”

“We’re neighbors. How could you do this?”

“Zhao Dalang, rein in your mother! Master Tang has had it rough—look what they’ve driven him to.”

“Exactly! Exactly!”

“If anyone dares set up my ger with some fool, I’ll slap them right in the face! Master Tang’s the vulnerable one here—look how they’ve tormented him.”

“Auntie Tang, stop crying! Oh, it’s truly pitiful.”

The Zhao family matriarch forced her way through the crowd, pointing at Tang Xianling and wailing with curses. She’d meant well, arranging a marriage for Tang Xianling—a widow who’d outlived his husband. What kind of match could he possibly find? Was he supposed to snatch an unmarried young man? Yet Tang Xianling didn’t understand—

“I was the ungrateful one! We merchants are lowly, but my son and I have nothing but honest hearts. Unlike your Zhao family and your son’s vicious schemes, we should’ve just followed your arrangements. You wanted to drain our shop’s silver, didn’t you?” Tang Xianling lunged forward, each word sharp and forceful as he raged: Who could be as heartless and shameless as your family? Now that the mask is off, who’s afraid!“

”You old hag! You’re heartless in your old age, and your little cowardly son lurks behind you, scheming and plotting. Not a single decent soul in your family! Eating your sweet oil cakes makes my mouth rot, and my stomach ache.”

Tang Xianling spat contemptuously.

The Zhao matriarch hadn’t expected Tang Xianling to hurl such insults at her in front of so many people. At her advanced age, with her son present, being berated point-blank—

“I’ll fight you!”

Jiang Yun, summoning courage from somewhere, stepped in to block her, wrestling with the old woman. Zhao Dalang, seeing this, raised his hand to aid his mother. Tang Xianling’s stick struck swiftly, viciously, and precisely—landing blows on Zhao Dalang’s arm and back.

He had a weapon; Zhao Dalang did not.

Who was beating whom? Ha.

The crowd turned into utter chaos. Some shouted to stop the fight, while others yelled that he deserved a good beating—how could Zhao Dalang, a grown man, fight a ger without shame?

Chen Qiaolian also joined in trying to break up the fight.

As luck would have it, Zhou Xiangping was carrying a lunch box to feed her husband at noon when she spotted the commotion outside the Zhao family’s street-side sugar-oil pancake stall. She recognized Wu-ger’s voice. Before she could catch the whole exchange, she charged into the crowd, lunch box in hand.

Zhou Xiangping saw the Zhao family’s old matriarch and eldest daughter-in-law ganging up on Jiang Yun alone. The Lu family’s attempts to pull them apart were futile, and she herself got grabbed and pulled a few times in the commotion. Furious, she shoved the lunchbox into Lu Dalang’s hands. What good was this honest fellow standing there, dumbfounded with a stick, too scared to help?

“You two are bullying one person—it’s not right! Stop fighting!” Zhou Xiangping shouted, her hands already reaching for the old woman’s hair and then pinching Zhao Dalang’s wife’s waist.

Finally, they were pulled apart.

Tang Xianling held his stick, his hair slightly disheveled but otherwise unscathed. Jiang Yun’s hair was messy, with fingernail scratches on her face and hands, but the opposing mother-in-law and daughter-in-law weren’t much better off—both were a disheveled mess.

This fight cemented the feud between the two families.

Tang Xianling had no interest in their apology. Earlier, a neighbor had suggested a compromise: Zhao Dalang could offer his apologies, and the matter would be considered settled. It was a face-saving exit for Zhao Dalang, a time-honored peacemaking tactic among common folk.

Each side gives a little, and it’s all water under the bridge.

But Tang Xianling poured fuel on the fire, unleashing a fierce, open-and-shut tirade right in front of Zhao Dalang and his mother.

Zhao Dalang just offers a simple apology, and that’s supposed to settle it?

Is an “I’m sorry” from the Zhao family that precious?

Pfft! He wouldn’t accept that. This calls for action. This calls for a beating!

“The Tang and Zhao families sever ties. Mother, let’s go.” Tang Xianling supported Jiang Yun, glaring fiercely at the opposing family. “If you’re so outraged, come find me at the shop to file your lawsuit! I’ll be waiting for your complaint!”

Some murmured, “The Zhao family should just drop it. You were in the wrong to begin with—what, you want to take it to the magistrate’s office?” “Zhao Dalang is shameless, picking a fight with a lowly shop assistant.” “Pfft.”

“That whole family is full of malice.”

“Mr. Tang, go home. Don’t let it get to you.”

“It’s not worth getting worked up over such people.”

On his way back, Tang Xianling’s eyes were red. He looked around at the neighbors and customers who had gathered to walk him home. “Thank you all for speaking up for me today. If I hadn’t fought back, I wouldn’t be able to run my shop properly on this street anymore.”

Jiang Yun started crying again, her heart aching for her Wu-ger.

Everyone understood the situation clearly. Even those who had earlier thought Fifth Brother Tang was unreasonable and overbearing now realized he had a point. If they hadn’t fought back, who knew how the Zhao family and other envious parties would find new ways to scheme against the Tang family in the future?

Were they supposed to abandon their trade and spend every day dealing with such troubles?

Who dared enter the Tang family shop to speak ill of Master Tang and his son?

“That’s refreshing,” a customer nodded in agreement.

“Exactly. Master Tang is straightforward and honest—he speaks his mind without underhanded tricks. Today’s beating vented our anger, and since the Zhao family is in the wrong, they won’t dare take this to court. If they do, Master Tang can come straight to me—I’ll testify.”

“Me too.”

“Me too.”

“This kind of bullying won’t fly.”

“Exactly.”

Tang Xianling: Still, most people are decent.