The passage of time saw Xie Sui become increasingly adept as a father. His sons doted on him even more, to the point that Lin Wanwan felt a twinge of jealousy.
Unfortunately, this pleasant atmosphere was shattered by a commotion outside their door.
"Xie Sui, you bastard, get out here! How dare you bully my old man? I'll beat you to death today!"
Xie Sui's expression darkened. He handed a comic book to Dou Dou. "Go find your mother, go back inside. Don't come out. If you get hurt, Dad will be heartbroken."
"Dad, are you going to fight?"
Dou Dou and Ding Ding were worried. What if someone got hurt?
"No, Dad will win them over with virtue. Usually, these rabid dogs barking don't amount to much. Remember this, son: a biting dog doesn't bark."
Lin Wanwan was extremely worried. He was still in the mood to teach their son such things.
"Why don't you hide? I'll handle it."
Xie Sui felt insulted. "Wife, what are you saying? I'm a grown man. To face trouble and have my wife step in while I hide away – am I even human?"
Lin Wanwan said indifferently, "Haven't you done that enough in the past?"
Xie Sui: "..."
It seemed he actually had!
Every time he owed money or caused trouble, he would hide until his parents or Lin Wanwan had sorted it out before he would show his face. His nickname was Xie Duoduo (Xie the Hider).
"Heh heh, can we not bring up the past? That wasn't me, I don't admit to it. This time, I'm serious, I'm really going for it!"
Lin Wanwan tilted her head. "Go ahead, give yourself a chance to show off. After all, it's not the first time you've been beaten, you're experienced."
"That wasn't me getting beaten, I hit people even harder. Wife, you look down on me, I'm very angry!"
"Xie Sui, you dog, are you coming out or not?"
Zhao Youfang's curses echoed from outside. The villagers, leaving their cooking unattended, rushed over to watch the spectacle.
"What are you yelling about? Have you had your rabies shots?"
Xie Sui walked out with his arms crossed, a devilish grin on his face. "I have no shame, and your son comes knocking on my door again asking for a scolding? Zhao Youfang, didn't your father tell you that he was so fed up with scolding you that his head was swollen? You're offering your face again. If I don't hit you, you won't know how powerful Brother Xie is!"
"Ptooey!"
Zhao Youfang spat, but Xie Sui dodged it with a tilt of his head, his expression turning grim. "Did you grow your butt on your face? Can't you even find a place to defecate properly? If you're a person, please turn right, the toilet is that way!"
"Hahaha..."
The villagers erupted in laughter. Zhao Youfang's scalp was about to explode from anger. Xie Sui's mouth was just too venomous.
"You talk too much!"
Unable to win with words, he resorted to action. Xie Sui adopted a standard boxing stance, tilted his head, and threw a rapid punch, hitting Zhao Youfang's chin. He followed up with a flurry of blows. By the time Zhao Youfang came to his senses, he was on the ground, stars circling his vision, his mind a muddled mess, unable to think.
In his previous life, Xie Sui had specifically studied with a Sanda champion, partly for self-defense and partly for physical training. He was already a black belt master. Even after rebirth, though his strength was diminished, his techniques and combat awareness remained. Dealing with a brute like Zhao Youfang was like using a cannon to swat a fly – overkill.
"Ew!"
He hadn't expected Zhao Youfang to be so easily defeated. Had he come looking for a beating?
When had Xie Sui become so formidable? He used to be chased around quite a bit. Why hadn't he fought back then?
"Ptooey!"
Xie Sui spat directly onto his face. Zhao Youfang didn't dodge, the phlegm landing squarely on his cheek. He instinctively wiped it, his eyes rolling back in disgust, nearly passing out.
"You dare to steal my business and then come to my door looking for trouble? Do you think you're entitled to that? Get lost!"
"Xie Sui, you're asking for death!"
Zhao Youfang's brother, Zhao Youliang, along with several cousins, couldn't stand it any longer. They rushed forward to help him up, instantly surrounding Xie Sui.
Xie Sui wasn't afraid. "Can't beat me one-on-one, so you resort to a group fight? The men of your Zhao family are really something. Fine, come at me all at once. Brother Xie will teach you how to behave today."
"Your fathers don't know how to teach you, so kneel down and call me Dad. I'll teach you!"
"You stubborn duck-billed old fool! Beat him!"
"Who dares to hit my Brother Xie!"
Wang Tie Zhu, pulling his elder brother Wang Tie Gang, and Zhao Wen Feng also arrived, standing beside Xie Sui and confronting the Zhao family members.
Then, Xie Yu Gui's sons, Xie Cheng Ping and Xie Cheng Yun, also stepped forward. "Xie Sui is our elder nephew. Do you think the Xie family has no one if you want to hit him?"
Xie Sui's efforts over the past period had paid off. His two loyal followers and even some members of the Xie family clan had changed their opinion of him and were willing to stand up for him.
Now, Xie Sui had more people on his side than the Zhao family. The Zhao family was in a difficult position.
"Stop! Everyone, stop fighting. Do you want to go to jail?"
Zhao Tie Gang's heart was about to burst with anger. What was his elder brother thinking? He had told them not to cause trouble, and yet here they were again, causing trouble. How was he supposed to act as village chief?
"Village Chief, you've come at the perfect time. Zhao Youfang came to my doorstep spouting nonsense, shouting about fighting and killing. You give me an explanation."
Xie Sui threw the accusation back. It wasn't entirely unfounded; he was stating facts. It was just that Zhao Youfang had failed to accomplish anything and had ended up beaten instead. Xie Sui was not one to let go easily, and with the right on his side, he wouldn't let them off lightly.
"You're talking nonsense! Look at how you beat my brother. You still want an explanation? You pay my brother's medical expenses!"
Xie Sui ran a hand through his hair, chuckling. "Did I invite him to my house? He cursed at me, and I still offered him hospitality. Do I look like an idiot to you?"
"Getting beaten is a result of his inferiority. The Zhao family is truly impressive. Not only do they steal other people's business, but they've also learned to stage accidents and extort money!"
Zhao Tie Gang was embarrassed. The entire Zhao family had lost face.
"Enough! You came to someone's house to cause trouble, and you think you're in the right? All of you, shut up!"
Zhao You Liang was unconvinced. Xie Sui also looked at him sternly, as if challenging him to try again and discover why flowers were so red.
"All of you, go back. If you still recognize me as your village chief, then behave yourselves."
Zhao Tie Gang was genuinely angry. There was no need for such unreasonable behavior; he was losing face.
Zhao You Liang reluctantly helped his elder brother leave. "You just wait for me!"
"Wait for you to have offspring?"
Xie Sui provoked him relentlessly. It was good that he had dared to make a move; he had deserved to be beaten.
Unfortunately, Zhao You Liang was also a shrewd individual and managed to suppress his anger, mentally vowing that revenge would be sweet, even if it took ten years.
Zhao Tie Gang sighed and apologized to Xie Sui. "Xiao Sui, I'm sorry I didn't manage my nephew properly. Don't worry, this kind of thing won't happen again."
"No, Uncle Zhao, you won't be able to control them in the future either. If they want to make enemies, I, Xie Sui, will not back down. I'll see it through to the end!"
Despite Xie Sui's usual carefree and jocular demeanor, when he truly acted like a man, even young women and wives' eyes would light up. "Xie Sui is so imposing!"
Xie Sui felt as if he was radiating brilliance, the epitome of a dominant CEO.
Although the dominant CEO was currently just a rascal without his own commercial empire to show off, he still had to maintain the persona.
Zhao Tie Gang dispersed the crowd, feeling exhausted.
Xie Sui chuckled, his imposing aura receding. He slung his arms around Zhang Wen Feng and Wang Tie Zhu. "Thanks, guys. From now on, you're my brothers. If I have a mouthful of food, you won't starve."
"You said that before too. Be careful, that Zhao You Liang is a sly one."
"Ha, playing sly tricks? I'm the ancestor of slyness. What's there to be afraid of!"
"Xie Sui, please invite them inside. Don't just stand outside. Join us for a meal."
Lin Wanwan invited them into the house to eat, as they had helped out.
"No, we've already prepared food at home. No need to trouble you. We're leaving."
Xie Cheng Ping and the others didn't stay. Their father had instructed them to only help, not to accept meals.
Xie Sui understood and waved. "I'll treat you uncles to a meal at a state-run restaurant another day."
"Alright, we'll wait for you!"
Zhang Wen Feng also didn't stay for dinner. Their camaraderie didn't require a meal to maintain.
Xie Sui hummed a tune, looking at his children's bright eyes, a wide grin splitting his face. "Dad was amazing, right?"
"Amazing! Dad, how did you punch like that? So fast!"
Ding Ding mimicked his movements, quite convincingly.
"No more learning to fight. Xie Sui, don't corrupt the children. You shouldn't have resorted to violence."
Lin Wanwan was a bit worried. After all, she was a girl and detested physical altercations the most.