Zhou Yang frowned and walked over to the tiger’s carcass with a sullen face. He took one look and realized that the best part, the meat from the belly, was missing.
"Dad! Mom!"
Zhou Yang’s heart tightened as he hurried into the house.
Hearing his son’s call, Zhou Daniu shook the water off his freshly washed hands and walked out.
"Son, what’s wrong?" A trace of confusion appeared on Zhou Daniu’s dark, weather-beaten face.
"Where did the tiger meat go? The best piece—why is it gone?" Zhou Yang asked anxiously.
Zhou Daniu looked up at the sky, squinted his eyes, and smacked his lips a few times before letting out a long sigh and speaking slowly.
"Well, your second uncle took it. He doesn't have it easy, so I just gave him a little bit..."
"You call this 'a little bit'!?"
Upon hearing this, Zhou Yang was instantly livid. His eyes widened, and he stared at his father in disbelief. How could his dad be so muddled? He just handed over the tiger meat without a second thought. No wonder Zhou Zhiguo had been so brazen, taking advantage of them time and time again!
"Son, this..." Zhou Daniu seemed to want to say something more, but Zhou Yang wasn't listening. He turned around and headed out of the yard.
"Hey! Where are you going?" Zhou Daniu reached out to grab him, but Zhou Yang was too fast; his fingertips only brushed the edge of Zhou Yang's shirt. Watching his son speed away, Zhou Daniu could only hang his head, sighing repeatedly as he retreated back into the house.
Zhou Yang didn't hesitate for a moment as he marched directly toward Zhou Zhiguo’s house. The route was etched into his mind. With fury burning in his eyes, he arrived at Zhou Zhiguo’s doorstep in no time.
Just as Zhou Yang stood firm at the door, he heard a commotion inside the courtyard.
"You spineless parasite, coming here to gamble without a cent to your name! Now that you’ve lost, how do you intend to pay up?" A rough, harsh voice was scolding Zhou Zhiguo without mercy.
Zhou Zhiguo’s voice trembled. "Hey, brothers, please cut me some slack. Look, I just got my hands on something fresh—it’s tiger meat. See if you can take this as collateral..."
Before Zhou Zhiguo could finish, he was interrupted again by the rough voice.
"Oh? A pathetic leach like you managed to get tiger meat? Are you trying to make fools of us?"
With that, the man cracked his knuckles, preparing to teach Zhou Zhiguo a lesson. Zhou Zhiguo recoiled in terror, his face turning pale.
"Brothers, I’m not lying to you! If you don’t believe me, come and see for yourselves!"
Just as Zhou Zhiguo was about to lead the debt collectors to see the tiger meat he had swindled from Zhou Daniu, the courtyard gate was kicked open with a thunderous *bang* by Zhou Yang.
"Wait!"
"Who are you?" The leader, holding a cleaver and slapping it against his palm, looked at Zhou Yang, his face full of fat and malice.
Zhou Yang opened his mouth to speak, but before he could get a word out, Zhou Zhiguo grew agitated.
"Big Brother, brothers! You can go after him! The tiger meat came from his house! His father is my older brother; he owes me plenty of things, just settle the debt with him!" Zhou Zhiguo gestured frantically at Zhou Yang, his emotions running high.
Zhou Yang ignored the leader's question and turned his cold gaze toward Zhou Zhiguo. Under that stare, Zhou Zhiguo couldn't help but shudder.
"Do you have any shame at all, Zhou Zhiguo?" Zhou Yang’s voice was icy.
"Hey? Little nephew, you can't just ignore your second uncle like this! Even your father wouldn't dare talk to me like that!"
Hearing Zhou Zhiguo’s arrogant tone, Zhou Yang finally snapped. He grabbed a bamboo chair from the side and slammed it down in front of Zhou Zhiguo.
"Want to find out if your bones are harder, or this bamboo?"
"You, you, you!!" Zhou Zhiguo’s expression shifted to panic. In the past, whenever he asked the Zhou Daniu household for help, things had never gone this way. They might have been dissatisfied, but they never refused to help in a pinch!
"Gentlemen, this man is a professional parasite who takes advantage of my parents' kindness. The tiger meat is ours, and I am taking it back. As for his life or death..." Zhou Yang’s lips curled into a wicked smile. "You can cripple him or beat him to death; debts must be repaid. That’s only fair."
Zhou Yang’s straightforward stance earned the leader’s favor. He grinned, revealing a row of yellow teeth, and nodded. "Fine. Go ahead, little brother."
The leader didn't really want to conflict with Zhou Yang, either. Since his family could get their hands on tiger meat, they weren't people to be trifled with.
Zhou Yang stood up, walked over to Zhou Zhiguo, and with a swift motion, grabbed him by the collar and hoisted him up. "Hurry up. Lead the way."
Zhou Zhiguo started to mutter something, but Zhou Yang, growing impatient, raised his hand and struck Zhou Zhiguo across the face with a loud *slap*.
"Ah!" Zhou Zhiguo clutched his face, shrieking in pain. "Nephew! Why are you hitting me!? Your dad gave me this meat, you can't take it back!"
"I can't take it back?" Zhou Yang’s pupils constricted. The next second, he lifted his leg and delivered a sharp, whip-like kick to Zhou Zhiguo’s body.
Zhou Yang’s strength was considerable; Zhou Zhiguo flew sideways and crashed to the ground. The intense pain made him cough violently, his throat turning sour as he nearly retched.
"Are you going to lead the way to get it or not?" Zhou Yang walked up to Zhou Zhiguo and stepped on the side of his face.
With his cheek pressed into the dirt against the sole of Zhou Yang’s shoe, Zhou Zhiguo’s mouth was squashed, and he could only mumble, "Okay, okay, get your foot off me!"
"Still talking back?" Zhou Yang stepped back, crouched down, and began punching Zhou Zhiguo in the abdomen, one blow after another.
He only lasted for three or four hits before Zhou Zhiguo couldn't hold it anymore and vomited everything in his stomach with a loud *wretch*.
"Now, are you taking me to get it?" Zhou Yang tilted his head slightly, his voice cold.
Zhou Zhiguo gasped for air, and just as he recovered enough to speak, he saw the murderous look in Zhou Yang's eyes and kept his mouth shut. He wanted to live a few more years!
Back inside the house, Zhou Yang saw the tiger’s belly lying quietly on the table.
"Hmph." Zhou Yang let out a cold laugh, picked up the meat, and prepared to leave.
"Little nephew, do you really have the heart to..." Zhou Zhiguo seemed to want to plead, but one cold glare from Zhou Yang made him swallow his words. He hung his head in despair as Zhou Yang slammed the door shut.
Watching Zhou Yang emerge with the tiger meat and Zhou Zhiguo quietly trailing behind, the gang of men couldn't help but jeer at Zhou Zhiguo.
"Well, well, you parasite! Your gambling addiction really is incurable, isn't it? Still trying to swindle others!" The men broke into raucous laughter.
"Brothers, have mercy on me! I’ll pay back the debt soon, please give me one more chance!" Zhou Zhiguo knelt on the ground, wailing.
The leader flipped his cleaver, using the cold tip of the blade to press against Zhou Zhiguo’s chin. Zhou Zhiguo was a mess of snot and tears, shaking like a leaf.
"Keep this up and you'll probably wet yourself!" the leader mocked.
Zhou Zhiguo stayed on his knees, his face a mask of misery, not daring to move a muscle.
Zhou Yang was in no hurry to leave; he stayed to watch Zhou Zhiguo’s humiliation. In his previous life, Zhou Zhiguo had ruined his family. In this life, even if it meant using the hands of others, Zhou Yang was determined to have his revenge. The evil in Zhou Zhiguo’s bones was too deep; he could not be allowed to remain.
Zhou Yang’s face was expressionless, but these were his thoughts.
Seeing Zhou Zhiguo still crying, the leader suddenly raised his blade. Zhou Zhiguo flinched, trying to cover his head and flee, but another man kicked him to the ground. Simultaneously, the leader brought the blade down, wounding Zhou Zhiguo’s right leg.
Blood gushed out, instantly soaking through Zhou Zhiguo’s grey-brown trousers, turning them a deep, dark crimson. Zhou Zhiguo screamed in agony, his face contorted. The men didn't stop there; they proceeded to give him a brutal beating.
Watching this, Zhou Yang felt nothing but pure, unadulterated satisfaction.