Chapter 95: Zhang Xianzhong, the Unforgiving Avenger

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A fire of anger burned in Li Yi’s heart. “Eighth Lord, I respect you as a man of honor. The price of salt blocks is negotiable; there’s no need to make things difficult for everyone.”

“Heh, Li Yi, my word is as solid as iron. If I say I won’t sell, then I won’t sell.”

“Eighth Lord, this is a win-win situation for both of us. Must you oppose me just out of a moment’s anger?” Li Yi patiently reasoned.

Zhang Xianzhong stroked his beard, his eyes glancing sideways at Li Yi.

“You’re right, I could make silver by selling the salt blocks. But I just can’t swallow this grievance. I want to make you suffer a little. What can you do to me? Li Yi, I lost out to you and lost face. This time, I’m going to get even.”

Li Yi stared coldly at Zhang Xianzhong.

He understood that Zhang Xianzhong now hated him so much that he was willing to forgo profit just to make trouble for him.

“In that case, we’ll see about that.”

Li Yi uttered these harsh words without a trace of emotion and strode out.

The fierce bandits in the courtyard gripped their weapons, their faces fierce as they watched Li Yi.

At that moment, Liu Wenxiu hurried over to Zhang Xianzhong’s side and advised, “Foster father, Li Yi defeated the Tatars and has great renown in Mizhi County. Moreover, his subordinates Gao Jie and Li Zi Cheng are not to be underestimated. Don’t act rashly and create an enemy for life.”

Zhang Xianzhong stroked his beard, his large eyes fixed on Li Yi as he pondered, then waved his hand.

“Let him go. I, Zhang Xianzhong, wouldn’t stoop to taking advantage of someone and invite ridicule.”

The bandits stepped aside one after another.

Li Yi looked back at the towering Zhang Xianzhong, casually cupped his fists in salute, and then left.

Zhang Xianzhong turned and returned to the house. After sitting down, he drank a bowl of wine and laughed heartily.

“No matter how formidable Li Yi is, if he wants to refine private salt, he’ll have to come begging me. I just won’t sell to him. Let’s see if he still dares to act tough in front of me.”

“Foster father, Li Yi is no ordinary man. Since he can refine salt, why not just sell him the salt blocks? We could share in the profits.” Liu Wenxiu advised.

Zhang Xianzhong’s eyes flashed coldly, and he snorted.

“He pressed me for two thousand taels’ worth of goods, causing me to lose face and become a laughingstock. I must avenge this grievance.”

Liu Wenxiu looked at his foster father’s angry expression with worry.

Her foster father was heroic and magnanimous in many ways but was also vindictive and prone to losing himself in pride.

Elsewhere.

Li Yi stepped out of the courtyard, where Sun Kewang and Bu Yan approached him.

Seeing Li Yi’s sullen expression, Sun Kewang knew the outcome.

He understood his own foster father’s temperament and knew that no agreement was possible.

“Benefactor, my foster father is blinded by anger. Don’t worry, I’ll persuade him.”

Li Yi waved his hand and looked back at the courtyard.

“Kewang, you and I have known each other for some time. These are hard times. I wish to build strength to face the coming upheaval. The private salt business is tremendously profitable, and I certainly won’t give it up easily. Tell Zhang Xianzhong that I’m willing to share thirty percent of the profits with him. If he agrees, then we can both win. If not, don’t blame me for being ruthless.”

With that, he took Bu Yan, mounted his horse, and left the valley.

Sun Kewang watched Li Yi’s back, feeling deeply troubled.

Li Yi returned to Mizhi County, intending to find Gao Yigong for a drink.

During his recent time in prison, Gao Yigong had helped him many times, and Li Yi had not forgotten.

The two led their horses into the county town and sought out someone at the county office to make a report.

The usually listless clerk immediately brought a stool for Li Yi to sit on and ran off to notify others.

Soon Gao Yigong emerged. After exchanging greetings, Li Yi introduced Bu Yan to him.

Ming Dynasty Mongolia was not scarce; many noble families employed Mongol servants, and the border army had many Yiding cavalrymen. Even Ming generals like Man Gui and Meng Ru Hu were Mongol commanders.

The three chatted and laughed, heading toward a tavern.

“Li Yi.”

Just as they reached the tavern’s entrance, a carriage curtain was pulled back, and someone called out.

Li Yi turned to see Hong Yuying’s pretty face.

Having not seen her for several days, Hong Yuying looked somewhat weary, but her eyes sparkled with joyful surprise at seeing Li Yi.

Gao Yigong and Bu Yan exchanged smiles and entered the tavern first.

Li Yi approached the carriage and cupped his fists in greeting.

“Miss Yuying, what a coincidence.”

A sly smile flickered across Hong Yuying’s face.

“Of course it’s a coincidence. I arranged for someone to keep watch at the city gate. As long as you’re in Mizhi County, I’ll know.”

Li Yi was momentarily stunned. If he remembered correctly, it was the same last time.

Could this young lady have actually arranged to have someone watch over him at the city gate?

“Li Yi, I heard your wedding wasn’t completed? That’s truly unfortunate,” Hong Yuying said gleefully.

Li Yi smiled wryly.

“Miss Yuying, your expression hardly shows any regret.”

Hong Yuying laughed.

“I also heard you distinguished yourself by defeating the Tatar soldiers. I plan to speak with my father to have you appointed to the Commissariat office.”

Li Yi looked at this willful young lady with helplessness and shook his head.

“No need to trouble you, Miss Yuying. Let things take their natural course.”

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Hong Yuying frowned.

“You don’t want to serve under my father?”

It seemed she did not know that he had already fallen out with her father.

“Hong, the Provincial Administrator holds great power and has the Ai family’s support; he doesn’t need Shi Kefa or me. No need for you to worry about this.”

Hearing the distancing tone in Li Yi’s words, Hong Yuying was slightly taken aback.

“Well then, I have friends to accompany me here. Miss Yuying, please make yourself comfortable.”

Li Yi cupped his fists and turned to enter the tavern.

Hong Yuying watched Li Yi’s retreating figure, her gaze cold as ice.

She spoke coldly to her maid, “Let’s return home.”

Back at the Hong residence, Hong Yuying stormed directly into Hong Chengchou’s study.

Hong Chengchou was concentrating on writing a memorial when the door’s abrupt opening startled him.

Looking up, he saw his beloved daughter with a hint of displeasure.

“Impudent. Yuying, your recklessness is unbecoming.”

Hong Yuying replied coldly, “Father, what exactly is going on between you and Li Yi?”

Hong Chengchou was startled and set down his brush.

“Why do you bring him up?”

“I met Li Yi today and tried to persuade him to serve under you, but he refused.”

Hong Yuying was visibly annoyed.

“Father, you’ve always regarded Li Yi highly. Why has it come to this?”

Seeing her saddened expression, Hong Chengchou suppressed his anger and explained.

“We have different paths and cannot work together. Though I respect Li Yi, I cannot employ him. But you needn’t worry; he has caught the eye of the Governor of the Three Borders, Yang He.”

Hearing that Li Yi had parted ways with her father, Hong Yuying felt deeply disappointed.

She had hoped to have Li Yi serve under her father, which would have made persuading him to promote Li Yi much easier.

She hadn’t expected that Li Yi would be favored by Yang He instead.

“Father, how could you give up on Li Yi and Shi Kefa just for the Ai family? They are truly talented men,” Hong Yuying sighed.

Hong Chengchou’s expression darkened.

He too had to act this way for the sake of his career.

Hong Yuying sighed again.

“Father, Li Yi is brave and exceptional. Having just achieved great merit, his future is limitless. Though he’s left you, please continue to support him. Li Yi is pure of heart and will surely remember your kindness.”