Xu Jian returned to Qingzhou Village carrying a body full of exhaustion and a chest full of rage. As soon as he entered the village, he saw villagers gathered in little groups here and there, chattering away as if something had happened.
Being naturally meddlesome, he wanted to plunge right into the crowd to see what was going on, but suddenly remembering the disheveled, wretched reflection he had seen in the waters of Silver Lake, he hastily fled from the populated area, sneaking home like a thief along the narrow back alleys.
The house Xu Jian now lived in was the former home of Huizi, Xu Linfeng, and Fang Yi. Ever since Huizi’s family was forcibly driven out of their home by Xu Linhai and his wife that winter, their house had been usurped by Boss Xu. Later, Xu Jian moved in and occupied the courtyard all by himself. He lived here footloose and fancy-free, often wining and dining with his cronies, hatching countless malicious plots and wicked ideas right here over the drinking table.
Chapter 501