Zhou Xuan grabbed the young man and hastily asked him what had happened. He then understood that it was a case of a cruel wife bullying her husband and concubine.

  "The owner of the insect shop said angrily: Girl, you want to force me to sell her, but at least let her give birth to the child before selling her, its not too late."

  The shrew was indeed a shrew, with a face full of anger and a rolling pin in hand. She shouted loudly: "Who knows whose wild seed is in that little sluts belly? You old slave still want to raise children for others? Ive been married to you for over 20 years, why cant you make my belly big? Im healthy and strong, where does it look like Im infertile? Everyone come and help me, beat her up, catch that little slut and punch her in the belly!"

  Her two brothers from her mothers family and seven or eight male and female servants shouted loudly: "Fight!" and were about to rush up and smash the store.

  Zhou Xuan suddenly appeared in front of the insect store owner, loudly saying: "Who dares to smash my store, Ill fight whoever!" With a loud clap of his hands, he assumed a Nanquan Bridge hand stance. He had figured it out - these men and women were all village framework, not one of them could be fought. To take the lead, they had to consider the comparison of strength between the two sides first, and not fight without being sure of winning.

  The group of people were all stunned, the shrewd woman glared with her yellowish eyeballs and asked: "Who are you? This is my familys store, how can you say its yours?"

  Zhou Xuan said viciously: "Ive already bought this store, its my private property. You can smash it if you dare, but for every one thing you break, youll have to pay for ten."

  The shrew turned her head and asked the insect store owner: "Old cheap slave, did you really sell this store? Do you want to escape with that little cheap person?"

  The boss of the insect store hesitated for a moment and suddenly stiffened his neck: "Its been sold, you want to smash it, it has nothing to do with me."

  The shrew couldnt bear to retreat so readily, and shouted: "You old scoundrel, youre cheating me! Who sells things that quickly? Smash it for me!" With a flick of her skirt, she strode up the three stone steps, brandishing her rolling pin as she charged towards the half-person-high blue porcelain vase used as a sign in front of the shop.

  Zhou Xuan snatched the rolling pin, holding one end in each hand, bent his right leg and slammed the rolling pin against his knee with great force. With a "crack" sound, the over two-foot-long rolling pin was snapped in half at its thickest part.

  The shrew was fierce, but she only showed her skills to her own husband. Seeing Zhou Xuans ferocity, she was startled and quickly retreated behind her two younger brothers, shouting: "Who is this violent thug, daring to interfere with the Wu familys affairs?"

  Zhou Xuan gripped a wooden stick in each hand, the sharp ends pointing at the group of people. Gnashing his teeth, he said: "Which one of you is from the Wu family? Even if its the son of Wu Gongcao from Jiangzhou City who owes me gambling debts, he wouldnt dare not to pay back! You guys actually dare to come and smash my shop? Lets see whose bones are harder, yours or this stick?" As he spoke, "Hoho", he swung his dual sticks twice.

  One of Xiang Yus brothers-in-law heard Zhou Xuan say this and changed color in his face. He asked: "Are you not Zhou Xuan?"

  Zhou Xuan snorted and refused to respond.

  Lai Fu jumped out in time and said loudly: "Can you call my brother-in-laws great name? Stand steady, dont fall down, let me tell you, my brother-in-law is the son-in-law of Qin Doctor of the Provincial Medical Bureau, who is proficient in all aspects of music, chess, books, and paintings, and is well-versed in military tactics and martial arts. The fifth-grade guard and my brother-in-law are sworn brothers, and the swordsmen will surrender their treasure swords to my brother-in-law at first sight——"

  If Zhou Xuan himself came from a boastful and self-aggrandizing background, it would be hard to avoid appearing somewhat low-class, so at this time he needed a rough and tumble, street-smart spokesperson, and Jia Dings Lai Fu perfectly filled this role.

  Mrs. Wu was surnamed Wu, and she was a distant relative of Wu Gongcaos family. The news that Wu Gongcaos son had lost three thousand taels of silver in a cricket fight two days ago had already spread throughout the streets and alleys of Jiangzhou City, and as it spread, it became more and more exaggerated, saying that Wu Gongcao and his son, who were usually arrogant, had to kowtow repeatedly when they gave silver to Zhou Xuan.

  The two brothers of the shrew supported her and whispered: "Sister, this man doesnt even dare to provoke Uncle Wu, lets go back."

  The shrew was still unwilling, but was forcibly taken away by her two brothers.

  Zhou Xuan finally twisted his mouth and cried out in pain: "Quickly, bring a chair for me to sit on."

  The owner of the insect shop dodged a disaster and let out a sigh of relief, quickly pulling over a bamboo chair for Zhou Xuan to sit on, while repeatedly expressing gratitude.

  Zhou Xuan lifted his long gown and slowly rolled up the legs of his western-style pants to his knees. Wow, a big lump had swollen up on the connection between his knee bone and shinbone. He had been so eager to show off just now that he didnt feel the pain, but now he did.

  Lai Fu said: "Brother-in-law, go back and let Miss give you acupuncture, then apply some wound medicine, youll recover quickly."

  Zhou Xuan listened and immediately turned his sorrow into joy, shouting: "Right, right, hurry back!" He said to the insect store owner: "Boss, dont thank me either. Im still at that price, 400 taels of silver. Will you sell or not? If you dont sell, your store will be smashed to pieces sooner or later, and then you can only sell the land."

  The owner of the insect shop felt that selling the store for 400 taels of silver was a real heartache, but thinking about it also made sense. If Zhou Xuan hadnt helped him block the way earlier, not only would the store have been smashed, but his concubine living in the backyard would have also suffered. He gritted his teeth and said, "Four hundred taels is four hundred taels."

  Zhou Xuan said, "Alright, Ill head back first. Bring the contract and list of items to Jiulianfang Qin Manor to find me. Be quick about it, dont get blocked by your wife in the store again."

  Zhou Xuan rubbed his knees for a while, then mounted the old horse he had rented yesterday and spent nine taels of silver to buy. Lai Fu, Tang Xiaosan, and Hu Tong walked on foot, but it wasnt a long way, less than ten miles, and they returned to the Qin Manor in half an hour.

  On the way, Zhou Xuan let Lai Fu go to the state medical office to inform Qin Doctor and Miss Qin that his brother-in-law had been beaten and urgently needed medical treatment, or else his life would be in danger.

  Dr. Qin was shocked upon hearing the news and entrusted the affairs of the medical office to Assistant Jiang before hurrying with Qin Que in a horse-drawn carriage to the government office.

  Qin Que heard Lai Fu say that seven or eight people were beating Zhou Xuan, and the thick clubs as big as rolling pins were all broken. She was frightened, her heart racing wildly, and she was very worried about Zhou Xuan. Having lived under the same roof for several days, Zhou Xuan had become like a member of her own family to her, making her feel close, and she didnt want Zhou Xuan to get hurt.

  The Qin father and daughter rushed back to the mansion, went straight to the inner courtyard, and entered Zhou Xuans bedroom. They saw Zhou Xuan half-reclining on the couch, with Xiao Di and Xiao Huixiang talking to him.

  "Son-in-law, where are you hurt? Let me take a look." Dr. Qin felt slightly relieved seeing that Zhou Xuan seemed to be alright.

  Zhou Xuans eyes darted towards Qin Que, his mouth making a "hissing" sound as he inhaled, seemingly trying to endure intense pain. He said: "My right knee was heavily struck by a club, I estimate its a comminuted fracture, its terrible, and Im afraid Ill be left with a disability."

  Dr. Qin reached out and gently pinched Zhou Xuans right knee twice, counting in his heart, but showing no expression on his face. He said to Qin Que, "Que, you come and treat him, I still have to hurry back to the hospital to deal with urgent matters." Without saying more, he lifted his leg and left.

  Qin Que was puzzled that her father had just shown great concern for "Xianxu Xianxu", but suddenly left. Hearing Zhou Xuan crying out in pain again, she stepped forward and said softly: "Master Zhou, dont worry, even if its a fracture, Qin Que can cure your injury, I guarantee you wont be left with any disability."

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