Chapter Seventeen: Inviting the Guest into the Trap

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Biting the hand that feeds you, failing to recognize true kindness.

Jiang Xiaodao never imagined that his good intentions in rescuing them would be met with such treatment from these children.

By now, it was too late to run.

Hook sidled into the room without a word and lifted his leg, delivering a sharp kick to Jiang Xiaodao’s chest.

Caught off guard, Jiang Xiaodao couldn’t catch his breath and fell to the ground. As he tried to get up, Hook immediately swung his arm, slapping him hard across the face, making stars burst before his eyes.

“Old Cui! Old Cui!”

How much strength could Jiang Xiaodao possibly have?

After only a couple of calls, Hook pinned him beneath his weight, pressing a knee into his back. With a swift movement, he pulled out some hemp rope and quickly bound Jiang Xiaodao’s hands behind his back.

A commotion rose from the west wing.

Old Madam Feng sneered viciously, “Fine, you little brats! Your fur’s barely grown and you dare snatch my people? Hook! Drag him to the courtyard and hang him up!”

Not satisfied, Old Madam Feng narrowed her eyes, coldly glaring at the children in the room. Without discrimination, she whipped out a whip and began striking them mercilessly.

The whip sliced through the air with a sharp “whoosh,” cracking against the children’s bodies.

“You ungrateful little wolves! I raised you well, and this is how you repay me? Ungrateful, ungrateful!”

The children huddled together, clutching their heads in terror, crying out and begging.

“Mom, I was wrong! Mom, I was wrong!”

Jiang Xiaodao watched in disbelief, the scene before him nothing short of horrifying.

“They’ve gone mad, completely mad.” That was the only explanation he could muster.

“Mad?” Old Madam Feng snorted coldly. “I’ve fed and cared for them, and yet they don’t honor me. Should they honor you instead?”

Before Jiang Xiaodao could argue or even know how to, Hook dragged him outside and hung him from a crooked jujube tree.

Old Madam Feng followed, locked the door behind her, then handed the whip back to Hook with an order, “Hook, beat this bastard till he’s dead!”

Hook complied without hesitation, raising the whip and striking.

“Smack!”

A bloodied stripe appeared across Jiang Xiaodao’s face.

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Only then did Old Cui rush into the courtyard, flustered and clutching his cotton trousers.

“Hey, hey, hey, Madam Feng, what’s the meaning of this?” Old Cui hurried forward, grabbing Hook’s arm. “Brother, let’s talk this through, no need for violence!”

Old Madam Feng yanked Old Cui’s ear, pulling him aside. She spat fiercely in his face and cursed, “Cui, you can’t control your disciple, so I’ll do the disciplining for you! It’s the middle of the night, and he’s stealing my seedlings—how dare you ask what this means?”

Old Cui stomped his foot in anger.

“Xiaodao, what’s wrong with you? I told you, the underworld has its own rules. Why won’t you listen? Who do you think you are, playing hero here?”

Hearing this, Old Madam Feng’s displeasure only grew. “Old Cui, what nonsense are you spouting? What do you mean ‘playing hero’? Are you implying I’m the worthless one in this world?”

“No, no!” Old Cui hurried to explain. “Madam Feng, this kid just got started in the trade—he’s barely opened his eyes. Since it’s his first offense, please, for my sake, spare him this once!”

Old Cui was not one to dawdle; once he finished speaking, he immediately knelt and kowtowed.

Jiang Chenghai had entrusted his son to Old Cui’s care. If anything happened to him, Old Cui would surely face dire consequences.

Given Jiang Chenghai’s reputation in the underworld, if this relationship were revealed, the current situation wouldn’t be a problem at all.

But Gong Baonan had specifically instructed him not to mention “Old Owl Hai.” Why, Old Cui didn’t know, but he dared not act without permission.

With his strength failing, Old Cui had no choice but to plead for Jiang Xiaodao on his knees.

Old Madam Feng was ruthless. She cursed on the spot, “A filthy beggar—what face do you have? Old Cui, do you really think you’re something special? Hook, keep beating him!”

Seeing the situation deteriorate, Old Cui stood up quickly and risked everything to shield Jiang Xiaodao.

“Wait! This kid has a wealthy relative. If you let him go, his family will surely reward you.”

Old Madam Feng curled her lip. “Enough! If his relatives were rich, would he be out begging with you?”

“That’s not how it works. We’re all in the business of begging for a living. No matter how much money they have, when doing business outside, they still have to act poor. Look at you—dressed in gold and silver!”

Upon hearing this, Old Madam Feng’s eyes shifted suspiciously. Could this be a rival from nearby?

“Old Cui, words won’t do. If we’re letting this kid go, how much can his family pay?”

“Madam Feng, knowing his relatives as I do, they won’t haggle if you make a request.”

“You think I’m a fool?”

“If I lie even once, have Hook chop me up. From now on, I’ll never do business in your territory again.”

“Then go inform them. Bring back thirty taels of silver before you return with the kid.”

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Old Cui looked troubled. “If I go alone, they might not believe me. How about we go together?”

Old Madam Feng frowned. “Old Cui, you’re not trying to set me up, are you?”

“Madam Feng, what are you saying? In Liaoyang City, you call the shots. I’m just an outsider—how could I set a trap for you?”

Old Madam Feng pondered for a moment and thought, that’s true.

Years ago, she ran a black matchmaker business and befriended many officials, wealthy families, and prominent figures in the city. Later, she became a “helper” for unsavory trades, further cementing her network.

With official clients and underworld influence, although she wasn’t the biggest name locally, she could talk to anyone. Setting a trap for her wasn’t so easy.

“Fine! I’ll go with you. But if you mess around, I’ll have you beaten too when we get back!”

With that, Old Madam Feng shot a glare at the dazed performers lingering by the west wing door and shouted, “What are you staring at? Get back inside!”

Everyone quickly shut the doors behind them.

Old Madam Feng pulled a lock from her waist and locked the west wing. Then she turned to Hook and said, “Go to the backyard, bring the donkey cart, tie this kid up, and let’s get going!”

Old Cui seized the moment to quietly ask Jiang Xiaodao, “Do you know where your father and the others are staying?”

Enduring the pain all over his body, Jiang Xiaodao gave Old Cui the address.

The four of them set off toward the west side of the city.

Twisting and turning through alleys, they arrived at the entrance of a humble farmhouse courtyard.

Hook got off, knocked hard on the door, and after a long pause, there was finally movement inside.

Guan Wei, neatly dressed, opened the door. “Who’s looking for someone?”

Old Cui stepped forward and briefly explained what had happened.

Guan Wei smirked slightly and stepped aside. “Madam Feng, right? Come in.”

These brothers were all involved in ruthless business and were usually very alert. When someone pounded on the door in the dead of night, the six brothers were already standing in formation in the yard, surrounding Jiang Chenghai, who was seated on a long bench.