Chapter 132: The Showdown

Not long after, Master Zhang Shunde arrived with two young assistants who looked honest and reliable, all three carrying a variety of tools. Xiao Weiguo hurried forward to greet them.

As Zhang Shunde entered the courtyard, he sniffed the air and slowed his pace slightly, wondering why it smelled so foul. Seeing Xiao Weiguo, he waved his hand and said, "Just go about your business, Master Xiao. Just make sure we’re fed, and don't worry about anything else."

Xiao Weiguo watched as the three men entered the two rooms facing the street. Zhang Shunde immediately shifted into work mode, directing his two apprentices to begin.

"Dad, keep an eye on things here and help out if you can. I’m going out to buy the ingredients we need and will have Aunt Gui-xiang prepare the meals."

Xiao Pingle nodded, changed into some old clothes, and joined the others to work as a laborer.

After riding off on his bicycle, Xiao Weiguo circled the area, intending to kill enough time before returning with the supplies. Suddenly, he spotted the Yang brothers—Yang Hu and Yang Bao—mingling among a group of young men, speaking loudly.

Xiao Weiguo crept closer and heard someone who appeared to be the leader saying, "Everyone must show up for this fight against the compound youths. If you don’t go, don't expect to be part of our crew anymore. Do you hear me?"

The Yang brothers were the most enthusiastic, leading the chant: "Don't worry, Boss! This time, we’ll knock the heads right off those pampered brats!"

The leader covered his nose and said to the Yang brothers, "Hu and Bao, how long has it been since you two bathed? You smell like you just crawled out of a latrine. Whatever, just keep your eyes on their leader and rush them—if you just grab hold of them, you’ve done your job."

The brothers exchanged a look of delight. They hadn't expected such a simple task, and they felt like they had just invented a brilliant new tactical maneuver.

Xiao Weiguo was surprised; he had thought the brothers were big shots in the group, but they were clearly just low-level thugs. After eavesdropping a while longer, he learned the fight was scheduled for ten o'clock that morning at Houhai Park. He decided he should attend; perhaps there would be an opportunity to deal with the brothers once and for all.

Seeing no further useful information, he returned to the courtyard. Passing a secluded spot, he focused his mind, and in a flash, his bicycle’s handlebars and back seat were laden with all sorts of supplies. He pushed the heavy bike to Tian Gui-xiang’s home in the middle courtyard.

"Aunt Gui-xiang, I’ve brought the supplies. Where should I put them?"

Hearing his voice, Tian Gui-xiang hurried out. Seeing the haul, she gasped, "Weiguo, you bought way too much! It’s only four people for four meals, isn't it?"

"It’s not too much, Aunt. They’re all big eaters, and I might eat with them too. Besides, make sure to set aside a portion for yourself."

Xiao Weiguo left the supplies in the room. Together they took inventory: four plump chickens, four rabbits, ten catties of flour, a bag of potatoes, mushrooms, green beans, cabbage, radishes, and seasonings like onions, ginger, and garlic.

"Aunt Gui-xiang, please steam all ten catties of flour into buns. That should make about eighty—enough for everyone. Just divide the rest of the ingredients into four meals as you see fit."

Tian Gui-xiang was stunned by his generosity. If he provided such lavish meals for simple house repairs, how would the other neighbors manage? It set a bar that no one else could reach. "Weiguo, this is too much. Why don't you take the chickens back and sell them? The rest is plenty. You have to learn how to manage a household."

Xiao Weiguo just laughed and rode off. How much could food really cost? If the masters were well-fed and did a great job, he’d live in comfort for years to come—that was the real bargain.

When he reached the back courtyard, he saw the First Master looking as if he’d lost a hundred dollars while helping Old Lady Yang tidy her room. Liu Erli was also there, looking miserable as he hauled water, along with another young man who looked remarkably like him—likely his brother, Liu Daili. The First Master saw Xiao Weiguo and beckoned him over, but Xiao Weiguo called out from a distance, "I’m busy, First Master! I have things to do at the factory and have to head out again immediately."

The First Master’s face fell, and he waved him away.

Back home, Xiao Weiguo saw the master builder starting to remove the window frames, while his father was working diligently as an assistant. "Dad, don't pay any mind to whatever the First Master asks of you."

"He already tried to call me over," Xiao Pingle replied while working. "I’m not a fool. I’m certainly not going. Besides, they’re our rivals; they think they can make me work for them? Think again."

Xiao Weiguo boiled a large pot of tea, delivered it to the workers, and then hurried off with his bike. He had to be quick; Houhai was several kilometers away, and he didn't want to miss the fight. Since arriving in this era, he hadn't seen one in person and was curious to see if it was like the movies.

Upon arriving, he saw two groups of youths gathered in different parts of the park. One group wore ordinary, worn-out clothing, and the Yang brothers were among them. The other group was dressed in high-quality attire; they were taller and possessed a more confident air. Some were even wearing beige military uniforms.

This was significant. There was a saying in those days: "Want to know who’s arrogant? Look for the beige." Those who wore such uniforms were almost exclusively the children of high-ranking military cadres. This fabric wasn't sold; it was issued by the military. In that era of honoring the armed forces, wearing such a uniform was a major status symbol.

Xiao Weiguo didn't understand how these two groups had come to clash, but as he watched from afar, they began to converge. He pretended to be a casual tourist. He had never been to Houhai before and thought he might explore it later to see how it differed from his memories.

The two sides began hurling insults at each other, though the cause remained unclear. Suddenly, the leader of the tenement youths pulled a sharp knife from his waistband and charged toward the compound youths with a roar.

No one had expected this. Usually, small conflicts were settled with fists, or at most, clubs. Only in cases of deep-seated hatred did people draw blades. The compound youths were stunned, then incensed. Their leader, Hao Zhenhua, was so enraged by the cowardice of the move that he charged forward without hesitation. His followers immediately followed suit.

The two groups collided in a chaotic brawl. Kicks and punches flew. Hao Zhenhua clearly knew how to fight, holding his own against the knife-wielding leader.

Seeing their chance, Yang Hu and Yang Bao lunged at two youths in beige uniforms, clinging to them like octopuses. The two compound youths shouted in fury, "Damn it! You have no shame! You bring a knife, and then you pull this biological attack? Damn it, you stink!"