Chapter 213: Old Fourth Insect

Zhe Huaqiang’s face darkened slightly: “It’s fine, we’ll proceed even if the person didn’t show up. Director Wu, what do you suggest we do now?”

Wu Zhen, ever the peacemaker, signaled for the dishes to be served. The Zhe family had actually brought over thirty people, filling the tables around us.

I sat with Zhe Huaqiang, Ma Yan, and the bald Wu Zhen at what was supposed to be the negotiation table—now sparsely occupied.

Zhe Huaqiang kicked aside two chairs: “So, Xiao Qi, huh? A feng shui master, they say. Do you know what you did wrong?” Wu Zhen nudged me: “Just pour Brother Zhe a cup of tea, and let it go.”

I looked at Zhe Huaqiang and said, “Do you really think this woman is worth all this trouble?”

Zhe Huaqiang barked, “Stop your nonsense. Kneel down and hand me that tea.”

The bald man spoke up: “No need. Let me, Chong Lao-Si, offer him a drink first.” *Chong Lao-Si? Could he be Chong Lao-Wu’s brother?* Logically, after the bronze jar was taken by the Guo family’s insect clan, there shouldn’t have been any lingering grudges between us. So why was this Lao-Si suddenly appearing now?

Zhe Huaqiang snapped his fingers. A server quickly brought a green plastic thermos and poured a steaming cup of tea. Chong Lao-Si handed it to me—the steam rising from it was enough to scald my mouth if I drank it.

Zhe Huaqiang sneered, “What, not thirsty?”

I had watched Chong Lao-Si pour and serve the tea. If there was poison or insects in it, I would have seen it.

Then, Chong Lao-Si’s hand twitched—a subtle movement, but enough to signal something was afoot.

I smirked and took the cup. “Do you know how Chong Lao-Wu died?”

Chong Lao-Si replied, “No.”

I said, “He died after offering me tea—ended up getting eaten alive by insects.” At the mention of insects, Ma Yan suddenly gagged. Zhe Huaqiang quickly handed her water to calm her.

I glanced at Wu Zhen—he looked nervous.

*So Ma Yan’s pregnant. Zhe Huaqiang’s officially a cuckold now.*

Chong Lao-Si snapped, “You’re not disrespecting me, are you?”

I subtly adjusted my grip on the cup, spinning it to cool the tea.

Zhe Huaqiang slammed the table. “Drink it or not?”

I said, “Relax. If someone offers me tea, of course I’ll drink it.” I took a testing sip, then downed the rest.

Then I grabbed another cup, filled it with boiling water, and topped it off with cold water before sliding it to Chong Lao-Si. “Lao-Si, I’ll return the favor. Tell me—do you dare drink this? If not, get the hell out.”

Zhe Huaqiang watched, waiting for Chong Lao-Si’s response.

Chong Lao-Si rubbed his bald head. “I’m not thirsty.”

I scoffed, “Too scared to drink my tea? Then why the hell are you even here? Just leave.”

Chong Lao-Si picked up the cup, found the temperature acceptable, and gulped it down—then turned pale as he stared at me.

His tea *had* contained something. I only drank it because I had my five little protectors inside me.

Mine, however, was just water. If Chong Lao-Si was paranoid, he’d be wondering why it tasted like nothing.

Zhe Huaqiang cursed, “Useless.”

Ma Yan coughed twice, clearly displeased—Chong Lao-Si hadn’t been cheap to hire.

Wu Zhen chuckled nervously. “Old grudges are best settled, not kept. Xiao Qi, just offer Brother Zhe a cup, and let’s move on.”

Zhe Huaqiang growled, “*On your knees.*”

Wu Zhen’s hands shook as he poured another scalding cup.

Zhe Huaqiang cleared his throat. “Listen up, everyone. Let’s watch the famous feng shui master, Grandmaster Xiao Qi, offer me a toast. You might not know, but his late grandfather was called—what was it again?”

Ma Yan chimed in, “Long Youshui. But he’s dead.”

Zhe Huaqiang laughed. “Oh, right—dead! Everyone, take a good look. This trash dared to offend my wife.”

I lifted the cup. “Zhe Huaqiang, Ma Yan—my grandfather’s already dead. Must you keep humiliating him?”

Zhe Huaqiang sneered, “You still don’t know who runs this town? If you knew this would happen, why mess with my wife?”

Ma Yan finally spoke up: “Xiao Qi. Now you see who’s in charge. And you had the nerve to act righteous, saying ‘three strikes’—this is the *fourth* time.”

The crowd, all Zhe family members, closed in as I hesitated.

Wu Zhen, sweating, whispered, “Xiao Qi, just swallow your pride. A real man knows when to bend. Even Han Xin endured the humiliation of crawling between legs.”

Zhe Huaqiang grinned. “Who knew Director Wu could quote history? Even knows about Han Xin.”

I looked at the surrounding Zhe family—young and old—and sighed. “Seems justice is dead in this world.”

Then I flung the tea straight into Zhe Huaqiang’s face.

Wu Zhen turned beet red. Ma Yan shrieked, “You bastard! Break his legs!”

Zhe Huaqiang slammed the table—the restaurant doors slammed shut. *A classic trap: close the door to beat the dog.*

Wu Zhen yelled, “Don’t fight!”

Chong Lao-Si seized the moment. “Let me handle this. Boss Zhe, step back.” Zhe Huaqiang waved his men away.

I studied Chong Lao-Si. *Let’s see how he’s tougher than Lao-Wu.*

Zhe Huaqiang shielded Ma Yan as tables were shoved aside. Chong Lao-Si began chanting, spouting bizarre incantations while hopping around like a fool.

I asked, “Lao-Si, what *exactly* are you doing?”

He gave me a strange look. “You *did* drink the tea I gave you, right?”

I feigned ignorance. “Are you chanting to activate the bugs I supposedly swallowed?”

He nodded. “Yes. In fifteen minutes, you’ll collapse, vomit blood, and turn into an idiot. Why aren’t you affected?”

I smirked. “Ever heard of the Five Elements Insect Master?”

Chong Lao-Si paused. “There’s no such thing. Well, there *was* one—but not *you*.”

I said, “Wrong. That’s me. Now, another question—have you ever expelled the *Three Corpses Worms* from your body?”

He frowned. “Everyone has those. I’m not a monk—why would I?”

The Three Corpses Worms feed on human desires. Monks and Daoists expel them during cultivation—but insect masters don’t bother.

I sighed. “In that case, I’ll have to apologize.” Then I shouted:

“Three Corpses Worms in Lao-Si’s gut—listen up! Begin the *Seventh Set of Radio Calisthenics*! Repeat twice! One, two, three, four—”

Chong Lao-Si scoffed. “You really think—*AAAHHH!*”

Before he could finish, he crumpled to the ground, writhing as the worms inside him *actually* started doing calisthenics.

Two worms were particularly eager—squirming toward his backside, desperate to escape.

Zhe Huaqiang paled but barked, “Attack!”

I suddenly clutched my stomach and groaned theatrically.

Just then—*BANG!*—the doors burst open.

A man with a sledgehammer led the charge—followed by the town’s poverty relief director, commerce bureau officials, education department staff, and more.

Zhe Huaqiang laughed. “Perfect timing! This punk just assaulted me!”

I groaned louder.

Wu Zhen rushed to greet the incoming town head, Zhe Dabiao—the real power behind the town’s nominal figurehead secretary.

Zhe Dabiao stormed up to Zhe Huaqiang—and *slapped* him.

“You disgrace!”

Zhe Huaqiang stammered, “Uncle, why—?”

Another slap. Then Zhe Dabiao glared at Ma Yan’s freckled face.

“Whose child is that in your belly? *Tell the truth.*”

Ma Yan trembled under his rural tyrant’s aura. Wu Zhen intervened, “Mayor Zhe, please calm—”

“Shut it!” Zhe Dabiao roared. “I’ve been *suspended*!”

He then helped me up, apologizing profusely.

Zhe Huaqiang gaped. “Uncle, this bastard—”

Zhe Dabiao cut him off. “Director Wu, arrest every single one of these thugs. *Not one walks free.*”

As Zhe Huaqiang was dragged off, still hurling threats, Chong Lao-Si’s worms continued their calisthenics—his screams echoing as the police van drove away.

Zhe Huaqiang kicked him. “Shut up! You bragged like some immortal, but you’re just *weak*!”

One thug whispered, “Boss, why did the mayor hit *you* but help *him*? Something’s fishy.”

Zhe Huaqiang muttered, “My uncle’s getting old.” *Unless… he’s finally playing the righteous official? But why now?*

The young officer driving chuckled. “Boss Zhe, it’s not about righteousness. Xiao Qi invited the *municipal Party secretary* to his home. Mayor Zhe was suspended right in his courtyard. Oh, and the county discipline committee’s investigating. Even Poverty Relief Director Fu’s suspended—embezzled funds meant for starving widows’ New Year rations.”

Zhe Huaqiang’s eyes widened. “I—I can expose Zhe Dabiao’s corruption! I have *proof*!”

As I stepped out of the Zhe family’s restaurant, the hazy sun broke through the smog.

*If the sun still shines, then the world isn’t entirely dark.*