194: I have lost my homestead, my money, and I can't survive.

Zhao Haiquan had never expected Zhao Dashan to dare hit him. He touched the corner of his mouth and found it was bleeding.

"You dare hit me? You're asking for death!" Zhao Haiquan roared, scrambling up from the ground.

"Da Hu, Er Hu, come out quickly! Your dad's been beaten!" He yelled.

Immediately, two burly men rushed out from the house. These were his two sons, tall and strong, unrivaled in the village, and his capable assistants in becoming the village head.

"You dare hit my dad? You're asking for death!"

Without a word, the two brothers immediately pounced on Zhao Dashan and started beating him.

Poor Zhao Dashan, with only a little strength, was no match for Da Hu and Er Hu. He was instantly beaten black and blue, his face covered in blood, lying on the ground like a dead dog.

Zhao Haiquan walked over, kicked him twice viciously, and said, "Tie him up, call the police, and get Chief Li here."

Chief Li was his relative; the two had a deep relationship. Whenever village matters couldn't be resolved, he would call Chief Li to bring the police to back him up. By now, virtually no one in the village dared to defy him.

Soon, Chief Li arrived with his men.

"Arrest him and send him to jail. He dared to hit me; he should at least get five years in prison," Zhao Haiquan said resentfully.

Chief Li looked at Zhao Dashan, who was lying motionless on the ground, then his eyes darted. He pulled Zhao Haiquan aside and whispered a few words. The more he spoke, the more excited Zhao Haiquan became, giving him a thumbs-up.

After they finished discussing, Chief Li gestured for Da Hu and Er Hu to help Zhao Dashan up and said sternly, "Dashan, hitting people is against the law. By rights, you should go to jail."

"Do you know what jail is?" Chief Li asked.

"Yes," Zhao Dashan responded softly. He was starting to regret his impulsiveness a little.

"Look, I just pleaded with your village head. Everyone knows you're not having an easy time, so I'm going to mediate for you. As long as the village head agrees, you won't have to go to jail. Do you understand?" Chief Li said.

"Understood."

"Alright, I just discussed it with the village head. Since you hit someone, you should pay some compensation. You know this, right?"

"I know." Zhao Dashan understood that if you hit someone, you had to pay compensation; it seemed to be an age-old principle.

"Then how about this: you pay 30,000 yuan, and this matter will be over. You won't have to go to jail. How's that?" Chief Li said magnanimously.

"How much? 30,000? I just hit him once, and it's 30,000?" Zhao Dashan exclaimed.

"Why are you yelling? Money can be earned again. If you go to jail, you won't be able to find a wife later," Chief Li said sternly.

"Think it through. Do you think this is just an ordinary assault? This is at least a minor injury, punishable by five years. Understand? Now you just have to pay 30,000 yuan and you won't go to jail. Are you still not satisfied?"

Chief Li began to mislead him. In reality, Zhao Haiquan's injury was at most a slight injury, and it was debatable whether it even constituted a criminal case, let alone five years in prison.

Zhao Dashan fell silent upon hearing this. He was a little confused; it seemed as if Chief Li was helping him, yet also harming him.

"Da Hu, Er Hu, go to his house and find that 30,000 yuan. Once it's paid, the matter is settled." Seeing Zhao Dashan fall silent, Chief Li immediately ordered Da Hu and Er Hu to get the money.

Before coming, he had heard that Zhao Dashan had earned 30,000 yuan from his latest work, which was why he quoted that amount.

"No, Chief Li, this 30,000 yuan is for me to get a wife!" Zhao Dashan panicked and quickly tried to grab Chief Li.

Chief Li's expression changed. He kicked Zhao Dashan to the ground, pulled out a police pistol from his waist, pointed it at Zhao Dashan, and reprimanded him, "You want to assault a police officer, do you? Do you know I can shoot you right here, right now?"

With the dark muzzle pointed at him, Zhao Dashan was instantly stunned and dared not move.

"Go get the money! You coward."

Chief Li looked at Zhao Dashan with disdain and directly escorted him back to get the money.

Soon, the 30,000 yuan Zhao Dashan had worked hard for all year was found by the group.

Zhao Haiquan took the money in his hand and said insincerely, "Let's just let it go this time."

Then he left with Chief Li, leaving Zhao Dashan sitting alone, dumbfounded, in his house.

It was all gone. Everything was gone.

Of the 60,000 yuan he earned from working, he only received 30,000, and now that 30,000 was also gone.

Oh, and his homestead was gone too.

What happened?

What did he do wrong?

Zhao Dashan couldn't figure it out, sitting silently at home for two hours.

The sky gradually darkened, and lights came on in every household. Because the New Year was approaching, many migrant workers had returned home. Families had laid out wine and meat and were happily eating dinner together.

Zhao Dashan sighed and silently walked into the kitchen to see what was left at home. Life had to go on.

The rice in the rice jar was moldy, and the instant noodles were expired. However, there was a pack of instant noodles. Zhao Dashan didn't mind and simply boiled water to prepare them.

On the table, there was also a bottle of liquor, which he had left before he went to work.

Perhaps he had been hungry for too long; Zhao Dashan finished the instant noodles in two or three bites, but he was still hungry, so he could only drink alcohol.

This was local moonshine from the town, 52-proof strong white liquor. Usually, he could drink half a catty, but today, after just two ounces, he felt a wave of dizziness.

And the blood in his body felt as if it were burning, making him want to move and speak. This feeling was wonderful. In this oppressive society, only alcohol could numb him.

Zhao Dashan took another big gulp.

His eyes began to bloodshot and glow, and he felt an inexhaustible strength throughout his body. It felt good.

Alcohol emboldens the timid. A few sips of white liquor also made Zhao Dashan excited, especially when he thought about what happened at the village head's house during the day, which made evil rise from his gut.

"You stole my homestead, you stole my money, you made it impossible for me to live, so none of you will live either."

He staggered to the backyard, where he remembered there was a cleaver he used to chop firewood.

Indeed, in the corner of the backyard, the cleaver lay on the ground, though it was already rusty.

Zhao Dashan didn't care if it was sharp or not. He laughed drunkenly, picked up the cleaver, and walked out, heading straight for the village head's house.

Zhao Haiquan was in a good mood today. He had taught Zhao Dashan a lesson during the day and also got 30,000 yuan. He and Chief Li split it fifty-fifty, 15,000 each.

To thank Chief Li, he specially set a table at home tonight, inviting Chief Li for dinner, and asked Da Hu and Er Hu to keep him company. After three rounds of drinks, all four were quite drunk.

Suddenly, the main door was kicked open, and a swaying figure burst in.

Zhao Haiquan looked through his drunken haze and saw that it was Zhao Dashan.