Chapter 11: Oppression
"Hmm? What, are you unwilling?"
Seeing Chen Yuan remain silent, Zhang Hong's expression turned cold, and his tone became unfriendly.
The lackey behind him, along with the young man who had brought Chen Yuan to the Lin family, also stepped closer toward Chen Yuan.
"Brother Hong, there's no need for this..." Lin Cheng hurriedly stood up to intervene.
"Not your business!" Zhang Hong glared at him.
Turning his gaze back to Chen Yuan, he said, "Kid, judging by your look, are you thinking about having your father, Clerk Chen, step in for you?"
Chen Yuan's expression shifted slightly.
Indeed, he had just considered the idea.
In order to gain temporary peace before growing stronger, he wouldn't mind seeking Chen Ye's help.
Even though Chen Ye didn't regard him fondly.
As a transmigrator, Chen Yuan understood all too well that practical benefits outweighed pride.
However, he quickly realized something.
Zhang Hong knew he was Chen Ye's son, yet dared to openly seize the meat shop business without any intention of negotiation. Clearly, there was more to this matter.
Still, he asked, "What does Big Brother Zhang mean by this?"
"Though I left home, the blood ties remain. The meat shop business was given to me by my father. If I sought his help, while it's uncertain how much he would intervene, he surely wouldn't stand idly by as an outsider bullied his son like this."
"Heh!" Zhang Hong sneered, "Outsider? To your siblings and stepmother, I'm afraid you're the outsider."
"Forget it. You're just a naive fledgling. I won't bother arguing with you."
Without further explanation, Zhang Hong waved his hand and left the house with his men. "I've already paid a visit to the Chen family. If you really don't know what's good for you, you can go home and ask about it."
"I don't care what you're thinking, but don't stir up trouble with the meat shop business in the Western Market. If you suffer a big loss, don't say I didn't warn you."
As he spoke, Zhang Hong and his two lackeys brushed past Chen Yuan and left the Lin family estate.
Chen Yuan turned to watch their retreating figures, his expression darkening slightly.
He was currently preparing to purchase Tongxue Pills for cultivation.
These pills, sourced through Zhao He, cost one tael each. If he wanted to acquire them from other formal disciples, the price would likely be even higher.
Money was urgently needed.
The meat shop brought in seven to eight taels a month.
After giving Lin Cheng his share, Chen Yuan could still pocket five or six taels.
Factoring in the ten days without operational costs, his current savings combined with future income would have been enough to support his martial arts training.
But now, Zhang Hong's seizure of the business had completely derailed his plans.
This was not an outcome he could accept.
Yet, based on Zhang Hong's remarks, it seemed the Chen family had already been swayed by him.
If he sought help from Chen Ye, the outcome might not be favorable.
Unless Chen Yuan could solve this problem on his own.
But given his current strength and circumstances, that seemed highly unlikely.
With this thought, Chen Yuan instinctively clenched the strands of hair he had swiped from Zhang Hong as he passed.
In the next instant, information about Zhang Hong's physical attributes surfaced in his consciousness:
[Zhang Hong—Strength: 1.4 (approx.), Constitution: 1.4 (approx.), Agility: 1.2 (approx.)]
It was clear that Zhang Hong had undergone martial training. While his physical attributes weren't extraordinarily strong, they far surpassed Chen Yuan's current capabilities.
Even if Zhang Hong hadn't fully mastered the foundational Strength Training, or had yet to reach the entry-level stage of it, his strength was still formidable.
Moreover, Chen Yuan hadn't even started the foundational training himself, and his physical attributes were significantly weaker.
Not to mention Zhang Hong's gang affiliation, which added another layer of complexity.
"Unless Chen Yuan can silently eliminate him, even if he has the strength to contend with Zhang Hong, making a rash move would only attract greater trouble."
"Brother Yuan, I owe you an apology," Lin Cheng said as he walked up to Chen Yuan's side, his voice filled with shame.
"If it weren't for Zhang Hong noticing me when I was repaying the debt, he wouldn't have found out about your situation, and the meat shop business wouldn't have been taken from you."
Chen Yuan reined in his thoughts, turned back, and looked at Lin Cheng. He shook his head and said, "It's not your fault, Brother Lin. Even without you, as long as the slaughterhouse workers go to the Chen family to settle the monthly payment, they would have learned I came from home."
"Someone would have targeted the meat shop sooner or later, whether it was Zhang Hong or someone else."
"The real problem lies with my stepmother. My father probably didn't discuss with her the matter of giving the meat shop business to me. Now that she knows, she's likely seizing this opportunity to make things difficult for me."
"Your stepmother…" Lin Cheng sighed at those words.
He didn't know how to respond.
Chen Yuan continued, "As for the business, Brother Lin, you don't need to worry too much. I've joined a martial arts school to train. If I become a formal disciple, I might find a way to solve this problem."
"As for you, without the income from the meat shop, I fear I won't be able to help you much for now."
Lin Cheng quickly shook his head. "The earnings from these past ten days have already helped me pay off the debt from the last two months. I have a bit of breathing room now, so I'm not in a rush. I just feel bad for you."
"Unfortunately, I don't have much skill, and I have no support in the Slaughterhouse Guild. Otherwise…"
At this point, Chen Yuan noticed a pair of eyes peering at him from the crack of the door to the inner room, looking anxious.
He decided not to press the matter any further.
"Brother, don't overthink it. The main thing is, no one is hurt, right? Your wife and Xiao He'er should be in the room, I assume? They must have been frightened. I won't stay long, I'll leave for now. We can meet up again when I have time."
Lin Cheng noticed Chen Yuan's gaze and realized that his wife, Lin Xu, and Xiao He'er were indeed hiding inside, likely worried about causing trouble.
He sighed again, not knowing what else to say.
"Brother Yuan, I may not have much ability, but if you need anything from me in the future, I'll certainly do my best."
Chen Yuan nodded, then left the Lin family's home.
It didn't take long before he arrived at the place he was renting.
However, he didn't open the door to go inside just yet.
A familiar figure suddenly entered Chen Yuan's sight.
"Father?"
The newcomer, dressed in scholarly robes and with a slender build, was unmistakably his father, Chen Ye.
At this moment, Chen Ye looked somewhat awkward. Seeing Chen Yuan, his tone had a hesitating quality as he spoke: "A-Yuan, I…"
Before Chen Ye could finish his sentence, Chen Yuan already guessed the reason for his visit.
"You're here about the meat shop business, aren't you?"
Chen Ye's face stiffened slightly. After a brief pause, he nodded.
"Father owes you an apology. This morning, the Slaughterhouse Guild came to settle the payment. Your stepmother found out that I gave you the meat shop business and caused a big scene. She said that unless I gave her an explanation, she would take your younger siblings and return to her family."
"I didn't want to get involved, but I couldn't ignore her. I had no choice but to watch her directly cooperate with the Slaughterhouse Guild."
"I'm here now, one to explain things to you, so you don't get into conflict with the Slaughterhouse Guild and get hurt. The second reason is to bring you some money as compensation…"
With that, Chen Ye pulled out a money pouch from his sleeve and handed it over.
"You know, the family's finances are managed by your stepmother. I don't have much savings on hand. This pouch contains over ten taels of small silver. You can take it and use it…"
Chen Yuan looked at his father's actions and suddenly smiled.
The actions of his stepmother, while troubling, might not be all bad for Chen Yuan.
With this incident, the Chen family was truly severed from him.
"There's no need for that."
He said calmly, "Since I've already left home, I should no longer be entangled with the Chen family in my troubles."
"You have your duties at the yamen, and I wouldn't want to delay you, so I won't keep you any longer."
After saying that, without waiting for Chen Ye's response, Chen Yuan pushed the door open and entered the room, closing the door behind him.
He left Chen Ye standing there holding the money pouch, frozen in place.
Inside the room, Chen Yuan looked through the crack in the door and saw his father standing motionless for a while, before finally lowering his head and leaving. Only then did Chen Yuan retract his gaze.
His expression remained unchanged.
His gaze shifted and fell on the strands of hair from Zhang Hong that he still held in his hand.
"Zhang Hong... Slaughterhouse Guild... body training... This world is no longer the harmonious society of my past life. In the end, everything depends on strength."
"Since that's the case, then... let's see whose skills are superior."
He flicked his hand, sending the strand of hair flying.
Walking to the center of the room, he assumed the stance for the Little Swallow Wing Fist, preparing to practice.