Chapter Sixty-Four: Escalating Hostility

It turns out that there are still many good people in this world. Although there are plenty like the Shi family, they do not make up the whole. Looking at the silk banner placed in the living room, Yan Yuanqing couldn’t help but reveal a faint smile. For someone to have tracked down his address, it must have taken considerable effort.

“Where’s Yan Yuanqing? Tell him to get out here immediately—the master wants to see him!” Suddenly, loud voices rang out from outside, accompanied by sounds of pushing and shoving. Hearing this, Yan Yuanqing went to the entrance and saw several people blocked by those he had hired to guard his home.

“Sir, these men tried to force their way in to find you. We stopped them,” his guards explained.

Yan Yuanqing nodded gently and approached the group. He recognized them vaguely; they were some of the Shi family’s regular internal affairs handlers. With such a sprawling clan and countless relatives, various issues inevitably arose. These men were the ones dispatched to resolve those problems.

Seeing Yan Yuanqing finally appear, one of them spoke with arrogant authority. “Yan Yuanqing, the master orders you to see him at once. Come with us now.”

This was no invitation—it was a command. Yan Yuanqing had no intention of indulging their insolence. “Why should I go just because he says so? The clan has already cut off many of our family’s benefits, and now they want me to fulfill my obligations as a member? How shameless can they be!”

For some time, Yan Yuanqing had been suppressing his anger. Ever since he had publicly torn up that commission letter, the hostility toward him and Shi Yurou had intensified. At first, they simply cut off the family’s daily kitchen and meal supplies; later, even the guards assigned to every household were withdrawn. This forced Yan Yuanqing to hire two outsiders to help guard the gates; otherwise, anyone could have barged in and caused havoc. If things continued like this, he wouldn’t even rule out the possibility of them cutting off his water and electricity.

But if it came to that, Yan Yuanqing would certainly not let the matter rest.

“How dare you! The master’s orders are not for someone like you to defy!” one of them shouted.

“This is your last chance. Leave with us now to see the master, or the consequences will be more than you can bear!”

No sooner had the words left his mouth than he felt a sharp pain in his abdomen. He was sent flying, emitting a miserable scream as he landed on the ground, his body convulsing with intense agony.

“You—you actually dared to strike me! You must not want to stay here any longer!” the other threatened. “Just you wait. I’ll go report to the master right now. Let’s see how long your arrogance lasts!”

With that, he fled, not even pausing to help his companion.

Yan Yuanqing dusted off his hands and turned to his two hired men. He said calmly, “What weapons do you prefer? Tell me what you want, and I’ll get it for you. Next time someone comes looking for trouble, just deal with them directly!”

“Yes, boss!” The two men were thoroughly impressed by Yan Yuanqing’s domineering attitude, and their respect for him grew. They had been here a few days now, so they understood well how things worked within the clan. Even in this day and age, hierarchy remained strict, and many customs and behaviors left outsiders like them shocked.

“You, over there—how long are you going to pretend you’re dead? Do you need me to finish the job?” Yan Yuanqing called out.

Hearing this, the man who had been lying on the ground feigning death immediately sprang up and bolted away.