Chapter 88: Master is So Sharp-Tongued

Chapter 88: Chapter 88: Master is So Sharp-Tongued

The villagers of Gao Village had farm tools on hand, but whether they held shovels or hoes, none dared to start digging anywhere near Gao Tie’s head!

Fortunately, with so many people helping, they managed to pull him out quickly by digging and pulling with their bare hands.

In just that short time, Gao Tie had nearly suffocated. He was coughing and retching, his ears, nose, and mouth packed with sand. Even though he had squeezed his eyes shut, sand had still managed to get in.

Tears streamed down his face, mixing with snot. He looked like a child who had been beaten to tears...

Gao Jun recalled his earlier comment about showing mercy—that it would be enough to just make them cry instead of injuring them... He couldn’t help but feel a complex mix of emotions. Now, it was Gao Tie who was scared out of his wits and crying like a baby.

He couldn’t help but wonder if this had been intentional.

"Boss Zhang! What is the meaning of this?" Gao Jun stopped addressing Zhang Yun and directed his anger at Zhang Youcai. "We heard an explosion and rushed over to help put out the fire, yet you arranged for some thug to beat us up?"

"Exactly! We came out of the goodness of our hearts! This is like a dog biting Lü Dongbin—you’re biting the hand that feeds us!"

"What right does he have to hit people?! If he blinded him or made him eat sand, we’re going to make him pay!"

Zhang Youcai had been bullied by them several times, so seeing this had actually been a massive release of frustration for him. Hearing their accusations, he hesitated, wondering how to respond without escalating the conflict.

Zhang Yun, however, swiftly stepped right in front of Gao Jun. "Did you just call me a thug?"

Ma Yuming and the other apprentices immediately surrounded Gao Jun.

"You dared to insult my master?"

"I can tolerate you insulting me, but I absolutely will not tolerate you insulting my master!"

"Do you want a one-on-one, or should we all beat you up together?!"

Gao Jun was speechless.

He was completely dumbfounded. He had only said that to claim the moral high ground against Zhang Youcai. He never expected Zhang Yun and his apprentices to fixate on the word "thug."

"You launched a personal attack against me! It’s completely reasonable and justified for me to strike back in anger!"

Zhang Yun’s words stunned everyone for a moment. What did he mean? Just because Gao Jun called him a thug, he was going to attack him?

Sure enough! Before anyone could process the situation, Zhang Yun grabbed Gao Jun. This time, he didn’t hoist his victim into the air; he just chucked him straight into the sand pile!

"AHH—AH! AHHH!"

Gao Jun thought he would be much calmer, but in reality, the moment he was hurled through the air, all reason vanished. Only fear and instinctual screaming remained. He arguably looked even more undignified than Gao Tie...

The eighteen thugs lingering in the back continued to shiver in fear. It was true! This Zhang Yun really did just throw people around for fun over the slightest disagreement!

The villagers of Gao Village now had experience. Without waiting for Boss Zhang’s orders, they hurriedly rushed over and dug Gao Jun out.

Gao Jun experienced exactly what Gao Tie had gone through. Even though he was no longer flying through the air, his rational desire to maintain his image was no match for his body’s instinctual reactions. When your nose, mouth, and eyes are filled with sand, it’s impossible to control the tearing and dry-heaving.

Now that the two troublemakers, Gao Jun and Gao Tie, had been dealt with, Zhang Yun immediately set about brainwashing these blindly obedient villagers.

"You fools! Gao Weimin and his cronies stir up trouble so they can climb the ranks and get rich, but what do you get out of it? There’s a factory here! You could make money just by setting up a stall at the gate to sell pickled radishes! If you drive this factory away, are you going to introduce another big boss to take over the mess? Or will you actually get any benefits from it?

"Boss Zhang pays rent every year! If you haven’t seen a cut of that money, you need to go find Gao Weimin—he probably embezzled it! Boss Zhang has specially hired many people from your village. If you act as someone else’s pawns and ruin this factory, what will happen to them? Did those employees ever offend you?"

The crowd was left utterly speechless by his interrogation. Although they vaguely felt there might be some holes in his logic, they didn’t know how to refute him in the moment.

"Gao Weimin told you to come make trouble, but why didn’t he come himself?" Zhang Yun continued. "Why didn’t his son come? Because if something goes wrong, you’re the ones who will get arrested!

"Do you think just because Gao Jun and Gao Tie are related to him, they represent him? Those two idiots are getting sold out and still helping him count the money! If Boss Zhang really offered up a vice factory manager position, do you honestly think Gao Weimin wouldn’t give it to his own son? You act as his guns and blades on the front lines. He takes the benefits, but if things go south, you’re the ones going to prison!

"If I were you, I’d kick Gao Weimin out and replace him with a director who actually cares about your village!

"Originally, I was going to detain all of you, call the police, and get a lawyer! You barged in here, which is called breaking and entering. Whether it’s home invasion robbery or burglary, the penalty is heavier! You’re holding weapons, which makes it an armed offense! That’s another added penalty! Dozens of you came here, which constitutes forming a mob! An even heavier penalty!"

To eliminate any future trouble for Zhang Youcai, Zhang Yun rattled off a whole bunch of threats. He sternly frightened them with legal jargon, then shook his head as if deeply disappointed in their foolishness. "Considering you were deceived and used as pawns, I’ll let it slide. Otherwise, you all would have packed the detention center to the brim today!"

He sighed and shook his head again. "Go back! Go back and listen to your village chief’s incitement. We will contact our lawyers and wait! When our patience runs out, we will definitely send you all in to experience a jail cell for yourselves!"

When it came to fighting, they couldn’t win. When it came to the law... they understood even less; it just sounded terrifying. There seemed to be a saying that the law doesn’t punish the masses, but gathering a mob to cause trouble also sounded like a genuinely massive problem...

The thirty or so villagers from Gao Village hurriedly retreated in disgrace. Although Gao Jun and Gao Tie were covered in snot and tears, dry-coughing and retching while needing to be supported by others, they had heard him loud and clear.

Rationally, they felt that Zhang Yun was intentionally sowing discord and trying to divide them, but emotionally, they felt he made a lot of sense. Why didn’t Gao Weimin or his son show up? Why were they forced to lead the charge?

Was it really to share the benefits? Would a nephew be closer than a son?

If Zhang Youcai really did offer a vice factory manager position, would Gao Weimin give it to them? Maybe Zhang Youcai had already handed over some benefits, and Gao Weimin had just pocketed them!

The people of Gao Village retreated as swiftly as receding floodwaters, allowing Zhang Youcai to tightly grasp Zhang Yun’s hand.

"Yun! Uncle truly admires you! Your eloquence is incredible!"

Fu Yudie smiled, her eyes crinkling as she clapped gently from the side. "Master has such an amazing way with words!"

"A silver tongue!"

"He debated the whole crowd down!"

"Haha, what crowd of scholars? In front of Master, they were just pure trash!"

While they excitedly praised Zhang Yun, a representative was pushed forward from the group of thugs. It was the one Li Bing had previously hired to go to Zhang Yun’s house. He cautiously mustered his courage and approached.

"Brother Zhang, the fire has been put out. Can we leave now too?"

Zhang Yun glanced over. With over a dozen people working together, the fire had been extinguished promptly. It hadn’t led to further explosions, nor had it spread to the factory building. He was fairly satisfied.

"Your motorcycles are ruined. As for the losses..."

The man hurriedly waved his hands. "It was our own fault for racing carelessly. This is our problem, and we’ll bear the cost ourselves!"

Zhang Yun frowned. "Even though it’s your problem and I won’t take responsibility, it seems someone hired you to come here. Every wrong has its cause, and every debt has its debtor. You should be seeking compensation for these losses from them!"

"Right, right, every wrong has its cause, and every debt has its debtor. We understand!"

Seeing that Zhang Yun was easy to talk to, the other seventeen thugs approached and quickly chimed in their agreement.

"So you’re still dissatisfied with me?!" Zhang Yun suddenly shouted sternly.

The eighteen men practically jumped out of their skin in fright!