Bully 015

He limped along the street, unable to comprehend what was wrong with the world.

How could the West Suburbs, a place no better than a stinking ditch, suddenly become such a coveted prize? How could a bully like Fang Zhiyi become such a big shot? The key problem was that he, Lin Kunyuan, now had no way out. That Fang Zhiyi was truly a scoundrel, pushing him toward a dead end.

Lin Kunyuan never expected Fang Zhiyi could stoop even lower.

He finally made it home, only to find a pack of wolf-like bailiffs guarding his main gate. The servants had all been driven out. Seeing him, Lin Yanqing, terrified, rushed over.

"Father! They... they say Fang Zhiyi has taken a fancy to our house!"

Lin Kunyuan roared, "Stop this! I, Lin, am a man of standing! You... you are forcibly seizing my property! Is there no law left?"

A bailiff who noticed him walked over with a grin. "Boss Lin."

Lin Kunyuan recognized him; this man had pocketed plenty of his silver coins in the past.

"What is the meaning of this?"

The bailiff smiled. "Master Fang says your house has good feng shui, so he intends to buy it."

"But I never said I was willing to sell!" Lin Kunyuan fumed.

The bailiff narrowed his eyes. "Boss Lin, whether it's sold or not isn't for you to decide."

Lin Kunyuan was stunned. The bailiff's expression turned severe. "Men! Arrest the criminal Lin Kunyuan!"

Several bailiffs stepped forward and pinned him down.

"Let go!! What are you doing?" Lin Kunyuan struggled.

The lead bailiff said coldly, "Lin Kunyuan, you have colluded with rebel forces. The evidence is conclusive. How dare you deny it?"

Lin Kunyuan was dumbfounded. Rebel forces? Yes, he had heard about rebellions breaking out in a few remote areas when he left the capital—mobs occupying government offices and defying the court.

But what did that have to do with him?

Seeing his defiant look, the bailiff sneered. "Your servant, Nian'an, has reported you. He says you, Lin Kunyuan, have dealings with the rebels. We even have letters as proof!"

Lin Kunyuan stared at the utterly unfamiliar papers in the bailiff's hand. The bailiff merely waved them before stuffing them into his robe.

He understood now. This was a blatant frame-up! He had done similar things himself in the past, but never imagined he would one day be treated this way!

"Where is that little bastard Nian'an? Bring him out!"

The bailiff looked around, but Nian'an was nowhere to be seen in the crowd. After a while, someone ran over. "Boss, that kid slipped away sometime ago!"

The bailiff slapped his thigh in frustration, but looking at Lin Kunyuan, he didn't dwell on it. "Take him away!"

The Lin family collapsed overnight.

Liu Acai found Fang Zhiyi somewhat annoyed. "Big brother, that kid ran off."

Fang Zhiyi waved a dismissive hand. "He was clever for once."

After enduring a series of beatings, Nian'an had come to deeply hate the Lin family in his heart. So when Liu Acai's men found him and proposed he testify against Lin Kunyuan, Nian'an only thought for a moment before agreeing.

He was the one who planted those letters. The deal was that he would get a sum of money after the job was done. But Nian'an was shrewd. His primary reason for agreeing was almost solely revenge. On the day the authorities came to confiscate the Lin property, Nian'an used his special skills, secretly making off with many valuable trinkets from the Lin house and slipping out through a side gate.

A joke! He wasn't stupid. Someone like Fang Zhiyi, who operated this way—if he really went foolishly to claim his reward, he'd probably end up in jail with Lin Kunyuan that very day!

"See that? That's what you call a real bully," Fang Zhiyi laughed after Liu Acai left.

Little Hei nodded. "Pretty ruthless. A bit lawless."

Fang Zhiyi glanced meaningfully in the direction of the Mianyue Brothel. "It's passable. Gotta live up to the honorary title, after all."

Lin Kunyuan fell ill and died in prison. No one had to do anything underhanded; he was already doomed.

Lin Yanqing truly fell from grace. Without the protection of the Lin family, she moved into a dilapidated wooden shack. Even her personal maid took advantage of her deep sleep to steal her own deed of indenture and Lin Yanqing's gold hairpin and ran away.

Lin Yanqing had no particular skills, but her pride remained. However, when hunger struck, that pride shattered piece by piece. Especially on the night when the food she had begged for with great difficulty was snatched by others, Lin Yanqing finally abandoned the lofty principles in her heart.

She picked up a brick and cracked the old beggar's head open.

At that moment, her heart was filled with fierce resolve. She must have her revenge. First, against the bully Fang Zhiyi. Second, against the villain Nian'an.

Facing her forceful rise, Fang Zhiyi paid no attention. He was very busy, and he also didn't dare gamble now. He was an ordinary person. What if directly targeting the protagonist provoked a thunderbolt from heaven? He couldn't handle that. The risk was too high.

The business that started in the West Suburbs gradually spread its roots and branches to various prefectures. Fang Zhiyi introduced more ways to play the lottery tickets. In this era lacking entertainment, the lottery attracted many people. Vast sums of money flowed into Fang Zhiyi's pockets, which he then reasonably distributed among officials at all levels.

The Mianyue Brothel also opened many branches, attracting numerous nobles and further consolidating Fang Zhiyi's network of connections.

Lin Yanqing always couldn't find an opportunity to deal with Fang Zhiyi. She also realized that the bully had now become a behemoth, living a secluded life. She simply couldn't find a chance.

It was around this time that news of the new top scholar in the imperial examinations spread throughout the Wei-Wu Kingdom.

A young talent named Nian'an had taken first place and, by chance, gained the crown prince's favor, becoming a favorite in front of the emperor now.

This news gave Fang Zhiyi a start, but he soon laughed. Got to hand it to the male lead.

Back then, Nian'an had made off with a good amount of the Lin family's wealth. He actually used the money to study and take the exams. Regardless, he was a talent.

The same news reached Lin Yanqing, who was now holed up in a ruined temple in the eastern suburbs. Leading a gang of beggars, she acted arrogantly and domineeringly. The innocence and righteousness from her past were long gone from her face, replaced by a look of sheer ruthlessness.

"Nian'an, heh heh heh..." Lin Yanqing's eyes flickered uncertainly. He betrayed the Lin family, and then achieved scholarly honors? And what about her? She looked down at her ragged clothes. Her once fair and delicate fingers were now covered in calluses. Several shocking scars, like centipedes, coiled around her wrists.

Lately, the beggars kept bringing up Nian'an's name.

"I heard he used to be from around here."

"Oh?"

"I think I heard that too. Seems he sold out his master's family for a lot of silver?"

"Which family?"

"Uh, right, right. Seems it was the Lin family. You know, the old Kunyuan Dye Works, remember?"

"The Lin family? Same surname as our big sister."

The beggars laughed. How could the Lin family's young lady possibly become a beggar?

Only a few beggars exchanged knowing glances.

“That Lin family was really unlucky. This top scholar soars to great heights, while old Master Lin came to such a tragic end...”