"Put your back into it. We're almost there. Stop being so squeamish about holding it, you're putting all the weight on me," grumbled Chang Mao.
"I know, I know, you big old man, such a whiner," Wang Quezi said, hobbling along with one leg that couldn't bear much weight.
Chang Mao paid him no mind, his constant rambling a source of great annoyance.
In the faint moonlight, the two men glimpsed Lin Fan's new house, a dark silhouette standing not far ahead. Their spirits lifted, and they quickened their pace.
"Is this a bit of a dirty trick we're playing?"
"You're the one who came up with the idea, and now you think it's dirty?" Wang Quezi retorted angrily when he heard the voice behind him.
Chang Mao froze. "I... I didn't say anything!"
"Get lost, you bastard! If you didn't say it, did a ghost say it?" Wang Quezi shot back impatiently.
He then turned his head, his body instantly stiffening as if struck by lightning, and froze on the spot.
"Don't try to scare me." Chang Mao felt a chill run down his spine, his body trembling uncontrollably. He stiffly turned his head to look.
In the dim moonlight, a tall figure stood beside them, a cold smile playing on his lips.
"Lin... Lin Fan?!"
Wang Quezi and Chang Mao's lips quivered, their faces ashen as if they had seen a ghost.
"Good evening, gentlemen."
Lin Fan looked at Wang Quezi and Chang Mao with a forced smile, "What brings you here so late at night?"
"Nothing, nothing, we're not doing anything," Wang Quezi stammered, his whole body trembling, then ducked his head like an ostrich.
Chang Mao dared not even breathe.
This was Luofeng Village, not the territory of Wangjia Village.
If Lin Fan were to shout, they could be beaten to death as thieves in the middle of the night with no recourse.
"It stinks!" Lin Fan pinched his nose. "Are you two going to fertilize the fields?"
"Yes, yes, yes!" Wang Quezi nodded repeatedly.
Chang Mao looked at him with suspicion, wondering if this kid was pretending to be weak and didn't intend to pursue the matter.
With that thought, he regained most of his courage.
"My brother and I are going to fertilize the fields. It's a bit smelly, so you'd best not get too close. Go do whatever you need to do," Chang Mao said dismissively, waving him away.
"I'll help you," Lin Fan stepped forward, saw a long-handled scoop in the dung bucket, and picked it up.
"You two have hearts of stone, probably lacking in nutrition. I'll help you irrigate yourselves so you can grow better hearts and lungs," Lin Fan said, scooping up a full ladle of dung, his voice chilling.
"Run!" Wang Quezi shouted, and bolted without looking back.
Chang Mao immediately dropped his carrying pole and fled in another direction.
"Think you can get away that easily?" Lin Fan kicked the dung bucket, setting it down steadily.
Then, he yanked his hand free, pulled out the carrying pole, and with a flick of his arm, the hook at the end of the pole swung in a semicircle, snagging onto Wang Quezi's clothes.
"Come back here!" Lin Fan pulled backward.
"Ouch!" Wang Quezi cried out and fell to the ground.
*Whoosh!*
A sound of air being sliced through rang out.
Chang Mao, who had already run more than ten meters, felt a sharp pain in his back, as if struck by a hammer. His throat tasted of blood, stars danced before his eyes, and he crumpled to the ground.
Soon, Lin Fan returned to his original spot, dragging the two groaning, wailing men, one in each hand.
"You refused a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit!"
Lin Fan picked up the long-handled scoop, filled it again. "Are you going to eat it yourselves, or shall I feed you?"
Wang Quezi's face was ashen. Just by smelling the foul odor, his stomach churned violently, and he gagged repeatedly.
"Brother Lin, it wasn't my idea. Chang Mao told me to do it."
Betraying his companion was the swift choice!
Chang Mao cursed in fury, "Why don't you eat shit when I tell you to? You were the one who suggested it first, I'm just an accomplice!"
Perhaps from spending too much time in the local constabulary, he knew that the principal offender received a harsher sentence, while the accomplice got off lighter.
Lin Fan's face was etched with mockery.
At this point, it didn't matter who had come up with the idea.
He wouldn't let either of them go!
"Brother Wang, we've known each other for a long time. You set a good example."
Lin Fan raised the carrying pole in his hand. "Otherwise, I'll break your other leg today."
"Don't doubt my sincerity. I have money, I can compensate you if necessary."
Wang Quezi's face was ashen.
"If you don't speak, I'll take it as your consent." Lin Fan reached out and placed the carrying pole across Chang Mao's neck, warning him not to move.
Then, he grabbed Wang Quezi by the back of his neck with one hand and shoved his head towards the dung bucket on the ground.
"Spare me!" Wang Quezi struggled desperately, using all his might, but he couldn't stop his head from lowering, getting closer and closer to the dung bucket.
"Grandpa Lin, I'll never oppose you again." Wang Quezi cried out, every cell in his body recoiling.
Lin Fan sneered inwardly. It was too late to call him grandpa now!
"Ancestor Lin..." Wang Quezi was making a final plea, but a strong force suddenly came from the back of his head.
*Plop!*
He plunged headfirst into the dung bucket, his body thrashing violently.
Lin Fan's single hand held him down, preventing him from lifting his head. After a full minute, he released his grip.
"Hoo..." Wang Quezi gasped for air. His current state was indescribable.
"It's a full bucket. You two can have half each. I won't shortchange anyone," Lin Fan said with a cold smile.
Chang Mao was petrified.
Seeing Wang Quezi's miserable state and thinking of his own impending fate, he wished he could find a rock and bash his head against it, but he lacked the courage.
"It's your turn. Shall I feed you, or will you do it yourself?" Lin Fan taunted.
"I don't want to!" Chang Mao reacted with extreme vehemence, scrambling backward on all fours.
"With my good intentions, why aren't you grateful?"
"How can you improve your wicked heart without eating enough of this supplement?"
Lin Fan flicked his hand, and the hook on the carrying pole, as if having eyes, flew into Chang Mao's collar and yanked hard, sending him sprawling on his back.
Then, Lin Fan followed suit, pushing him into the dung bucket.
A minute later.
"Ugh!" As soon as Chang Mao lifted his head, he immediately began to vomit profusely.
"Whatever you throw up, you'll have to eat back,"
Lin Fan's cold voice came from behind him, scaring Chang Mao into clamping his mouth shut immediately.
However, the urge to vomit was not something he could control at will. His cheeks bulged, and his eyes threatened to pop out.
"Just one more bite, eat until you're full." Lin Fan showed no mercy and unhesitatingly pushed him down again.
"Brother Wang, the two of you together."
"No, no, Ancestor Lin, I'll give you all my money, my house, my pig farm, I beg you, let me go!"
*Bang, bang, bang!*
Wang Quezi was terrified out of his wits. Crying and sobbing, he kowtowed.
If he had to eat half a bucket of dung, he'd rather die!