At night, when everything was quiet, Luo Yang had thought of playing a losing game with the Lin Family.
But then he reconsidered. If he were gone, there would be no one to protect Hong Jiaxin.
After much thought, he decided to take it one step at a time and overcome the difficulties.
When the pressure became too much, Luo Yang craved a cigarette.
Since Tang Guihua didn't want to inhale secondhand smoke, Luo Yang had to temporarily suppress his craving.
Seeing Luo Yang deep in thought, Tang Guihua gently nudged his ribs with her elbow.
When he looked at her, she whispered, "Will your plan work? What if there are too many of them?"
The plan Luo Yang spoke of was still unknown to Tang Dexing.
Now that his sister mentioned the plan, Tang Dexing vaguely felt it was of great significance to him.
"Brother-in-law, do you need me for your plan?" Tang Dexing inquired.
"Yes," Luo Yang responded with a smile.
He didn't want to tell Tang Dexing in advance, lest his brother-in-law get cold feet.
Although Tang Guihua was worried about her brother getting into trouble, she felt relatively calm with Luo Yang nearby.
Upon reaching the county town, Luo Yang asked Tang Dexing to get out of the car.
"Am I supposed to walk from here?" Tang Dexing asked, puzzled.
"Take a cab," Luo Yang suggested.
The spot where Tang Dexing got out was at least two miles away from the tea shop.
"Aren't you coming with me?" Tang Dexing exclaimed in surprise.
Back at the Tang Family home, Luo Yang had advised Tang Guihua not to tell Tang Dexing about the plan in advance to prevent him from refusing to come.
"You go ahead. Your sister and I will follow soon," Luo Yang said.
"I'll wait and go with you. A little delay won't hurt," Tang Dexing insisted as he tried to get back into the car.
He was genuinely afraid of being beaten.
In the county town, the Lin Family's influence persisted.
Luo Yang laughed and said, "Don't worry, I'll cover you. Go ahead."
Yet Tang Dexing simply did not have the courage and pleaded, "Brother-in-law, please come with me."
Seeing her brother so scared, Tang Guihua could not bear it and said, "Niu Zai, don't let him risk it."
If her brother were beaten, she would feel uneasy as a sister.
Luo Yang's plan was simple: to have Tang Dexing go to the tea shop first.
This way, it was highly likely that someone would cause trouble at the tea shop.
When trouble arose, Luo Yang would rush over.
If they could capture the troublemakers, they could find out who was directing them from behind the scenes.
It could potentially be Lin Guofa directly sending people to vandalize the tea shop or one of the remaining four henchmen of the Lin Family.
If they failed to catch the troublemakers on the spot, it would take time to investigate and find the suspects.
Using Tang Dexing as bait was the simplest and quickest way.
"What's there to fear? I will protect you. Just go with confidence," Luo Yang encouraged.
Tang Dexing was not a bold person to begin with, especially when he had offended the Lin Family.
"Brother-in-law, I'm not in a hurry. It's the same if I go later with you," Tang Dexing said.
"We'll be nearby," Luo Yang replied.
After sitting down in the back seat of the car, Tang Dexing refused to get out again.
Tang Guihua said, "Niu Zai, don't force him."
If they didn't follow the plan, their trip to the county town would be in vain.
Luo Yang had no choice but to get out of the driver's seat, open the back door, and drag Tang Dexing out of the car.
"Brother-in-law, I really don't dare to go alone," Tang Dexing said with a grimace.
"Courage is developed through practice," Luo Yang replied with a smile.
Seeing Luo Yang insisting on forcing Tang Dexing to go to the tea shop, Tang Guihua mildly objected.
"Niu Zai, he's not like you; he doesn't know martial arts. What if someone really beats him?" Tang Guihua asked.
"Sister Guihua, I will protect him," Luo Yang said with a bitter smile.
Since he had come, he couldn't just leave without achieving anything.
He at least wanted Tang Dexing to go alone to the tea shop to assess the damages. If no more trouble arose, they would make further plans from there.
With his sister's support, Tang Dexing asked, "Why must I go alone?"
So, Luo Yang had no choice but to share the plan with Tang Dexing.
After hearing it, Tang Dexing repeatedly shook his head and said, "Brother-in-law, isn't this a bad idea? If they come and beat me up, you won't make it in time."
He had seen people afraid of dying, but never someone this afraid.
Luo Yang smiled and said, "If they come, just tell them you are willing to repay Lin Guofa. Just stall them for two minutes, and I'll be there."
The adversary was the Lin Family, and Tang Dexing was truly frightened at heart.
If it were any other thugs, Tang Dexing might have remained calm.
"Brother-in-law, what if they start hitting people as soon as they come in?" Tang Dexing asked.
This scenario was indeed possible.
"As soon as you see the thugs coming in, just send me a message right away, and that will do. Talking to them for a bit, and you've already stalled for two minutes," Luo Yang said with a bitter smile.
"Niu Zai, you might think it's you. My brother doesn't know martial arts; if he gets beaten up, I will only have you to blame," Tang Guihua said coyly.
"Sister Guihua, I'll explain it to you later," Luo Yang said.
As he spoke, Luo Yang flagged down a taxi by the roadside and pushed Tang Dexing into it.
"Don't disappoint me. You are a man, be brave. Being able to think is crucial; even with all the martial arts skills, without a brain, it's useless," Luo Yang said earnestly.
"Brother-in-law, once you receive my message, rush over immediately. Wouldn't it be better to park across the street and watch the tea shop entrance, and come over the moment you see suspicious people enter?" Tang Dexing suggested.
"Rest assured, as soon as I get your message, I will be there within two minutes. Use your brains to stall for a few minutes, that's a small matter. All right, don't worry too much," Luo Yang told the driver, "Master, please drive."
Watching the taxi drive away, Luo Yang then walked over to comfort Tang Guihua.
She had also gotten out of the vehicle and stood by the car, casting Luo Yang a fleeting glance.
"Sister Guihua, please get in the car," Luo Yang said.
"You don't care about him at all!" Tang Guihua pouted her red lips.
Luo Yang stepped closer and took Tang Guihua's hand.
"Sister Guihua, we can wait nearby for news. Please get in the car,"
he said, opening the car door and helping Tang Guihua sit inside.
"Sister Guihua, be careful, don't hit your head," Luo Yang said considerately.
"Niu Zai! Where is your hand touching?" Tang Guihua's cheeks suddenly turned red.
At that moment, Luo Yang's right hand was on Tang Guihua's left shoulder, and his left hand was placed near her chest.
"Sister Guihua, I was just preventing you from bumping the seatback as you bent down. I didn't press hard," Luo Yang said, demonstrating, "This isn't taking advantage, right?"
"You dare to pinch?" Tang Guihua raised an eyebrow.
Seeing Luo Yang's smile that looked like a pig not fearing scalding water, she swung her little fist and hit him.
Luo Yang grabbed Tang Guihua's wrist and pecked her red lips several times.
"Sister Guihua, please sit tight, I'm going to drive now," Luo Yang laughed.
"I can't not hit you," Tang Guihua laughed as she tried to kick Luo Yang.
The two were very close; for her to kick Luo Yang, she had to first turn around.
But as she just turned to face Luo Yang and raised her foot, she saw Luo Yang collapsing down.
In an instant, they ended up one on top of the other in the backseat of the car.
"What are you doing!" Tang Guihua scolded playfully.
"Sister Guihua, I fell," Luo Yang grinned.
Tang Guihua, shaking her delicate body, couldn't push Luo Yang away.
"If you don't get up, we're never going to end this. Tonight, when we sleep, see how I'll deal with you… hmm mm," she said but soon found herself unable to speak, her voice turning into a series of hums.
Luo Yang's mouth had sealed hers.
It took a while before she could speak again.
"You're dead tonight," Tang Guihua said with a flushed, resentful face.