My classmate Zhu Houzhao

Chapter 3 Gambling Debts

Dog Egg's father heated the pot for Fang Heng. After Fang Heng added oil, he added sliced ​​ginger and scallions. After sautéing the ginger and scallions until fragrant, he added the chopped lamb leg meat and two slices of angelica root. He started to stir-fry the lamb leg meat until most of the moisture was gone. Then he added water and covered the pot with the lid.

As for salt, it doesn't need to be added so early. After the mutton is stewed until tender, take the mutton out, break it into pieces, put it back into the pot, add more water, and then add some mutton fat, an appropriate amount of salt, as well as cabbage and glass noodles. Only in this way can you make enough rich and flavorful mutton soup.

To make a rich and flavorful mutton soup, lamb leg meat alone is not enough. While lamb leg meat is delicious, it is too lean. You also need to add lamb fat. The lamb fat melts in the soup, making the mutton soup rich enough.

Just as Fang Heng put the pot lid back on, a boy rushed over in a hurry.

"It's terrible, Second Brother! Zhao Huan has been ambushed!"

The boy wiped the sweat from his forehead and breathed heavily.

"Who's got the guts to do this? Don't they know Zhao Huan is my brother?"

Upon hearing this, Fang Heng's eyes widened.

After saying this, Fang Heng seemed to recall Zhao Huan's character. Like Fang Heng, Zhao Huan came from a respectable background, and therefore, unlike Gou Dan and others, he had a great reputation.

Zhao Huan's father was a merchant, and the family was originally quite well-off. However, at some point, his father became addicted to gambling, and the entire Zhang family was ruined by his father.

Under his father's influence, Zhao Huan became proficient in Pai Gow, Mahjong, Mahjong, and dice from a young age.

Zhao Huan is only twelve years old. When he has money, he goes to gambling dens. When he loses all his money, he hangs out with Fang Heng. Zhao Huan is one of Fang Heng's most loyal underlings. If Fang Heng tells him to go east, he will never go west.

"Why was it blocked?"

Fang Heng glanced at the boy in front of him and said in a low voice.

"What else could it be? Zhao Huan owes a lot of money, and the person who ambushed him is Wang Mazi, a loan shark from a gambling den in the east of the city."

After saying this, the boy picked up a gourd ladle and scooped half a ladle of cold water from the wooden bucket next to him, then gulped it down.

"That Wang Mazi is not someone to be trifled with; you can't afford to be careless."

Dog Egg's father, who was tending the stove, looked up and said something when he heard this.

"Don't worry, Third Uncle, I know what I'm doing."

As Fang Heng spoke, he glanced at the eager teenagers in the courtyard. These teenagers were like newborn calves, unafraid of tigers. Regardless of whether they could win or not, if a fight broke out, they would probably fight to the death. Teenagers never held back when they fought, and if any of them got into legal trouble because of it, how could he face their parents?

Thinking of this, Fang Heng glanced at the boy holding the water ladle.

"I need to scoop some water to wash my hands."

Upon hearing this, the boy snapped out of his daze, hurriedly scooped up another ladle of water, then picked up a basin, poured the water into it, and presented the basin to Fang Heng.

Fang Heng washed his hands, which were covered in mutton fat. Seeing that he was almost done washing, he simply rubbed his hands on his waist to dry them.

"Alright, none of you need to go. What's the point of so many people going? It's not like we're going to fight. I'll just go and take a look. Paying back debts is a matter of course. Zhao Huan is in the wrong here."

Fang Heng looked at Gou Dan's father as he spoke.

"Third Uncle, keep an eye on them and don't let them run around."

"Don't worry, but you should be careful too. Wang Mazi's men are always ruthless."

As for Fang Heng, Gou Dan's father was quite at ease. He had known the boy for two or three years. The boy had always been very steady in his actions. Although he was only twelve years old, there were very few people in Liangxiang who did not know him. Every peddler and laborer in Liangxiang would give the boy some respect.

The reason is nothing more than Fang Heng's assistance to the surrounding people over the past three years.

In Liangxiang County, if any family is starving and has nothing to eat, they can come to Fang Heng. Although he can't guarantee that everyone will have a good meal, as long as they come to Fang Heng, he will ensure that they don't starve to death.

Gou Dan's father once privately calculated Fang Heng's accounts. Although he wasn't very good at divination, he could still calculate a rough figure. In the past three years, this young man had earned at least a thousand taels of silver through his own abilities, and had spent it all.

Upon hearing this, Fang Heng no longer hesitated and headed towards the gambling dens in the east of the city.

Soon, Fang Heng saw Zhao Huan, who had been cornered in a dead end by Wang Mazi and his men. When Zhao Huan saw Fang Heng, he felt as if he had been saved.

"Second brother, save me!"

Looking at the scene before him, Fang Heng felt a sense of déjà vu. After thinking about it carefully, it seemed that in the memory of the middle-aged man in his mind, there was also a younger brother who was also gambling and being begged for money, and that man came to the rescue in time.

In an instant, Fang Heng had a flash of inspiration and came up with a solution.

"Young Master Fang, it's an honor to meet you."

Wang Mazi, who was in charge, obviously knew Fang Heng. The reason why he had blocked Zhao Huan without making a move was because Zhao Huan had mentioned Fang Heng's name. The boy earlier was someone Zhao Huan had called to fetch people.

"How much does this kid owe you?"

Fang Heng returned the greeting with clasped hands and asked.

"It's not much, just one string of cash. Normally, people would pay nine out of ten and return thirteen. But since he's your brother, Young Master Fang, I won't charge you any interest."

Although Wang Mazi looked fierce, he spoke in a very kind tone.

"Oh? I have that much influence?"

Fang Heng looked surprised.

"To be honest, Young Master Fang, some of my brothers received favors from you before they joined my ranks. They would definitely be unhappy if I were to take interest from you today. Young Master Fang is a man of great integrity, and I, Wang Mazi, have long admired your reputation."

Wang Mazi answered truthfully.

Upon hearing this, Fang Heng fell silent. In this world, many respectable young men were forced to follow people like Wang Mazi into prostitution, as this was the only way they could support their families and survive.

"Is Young Master Fang dissatisfied?"

Wang Mazi looked at Fang Heng's expression and asked.

"Satisfied, but it's only right to pay back debts. The rule of 'nine out, thirteen back' is your rule, and we can't break it. Just follow the rules. But I don't have that much money. I'll trouble you all to come with me. My Fang family is big and powerful, and we won't shortchange you. When we get to my house, if my father doesn't give you money, you can take whatever you want. Take as much as you want and that's it."

As Fang Heng spoke, he kicked Zhao Huan.

"If you gamble again, I'll break your legs."

"I won't do it again, Second Brother. I'll never gamble again."

Zhao Huan hurriedly assured him.

Zhao Huan had made such a promise countless times, but this was the first time Fang Heng had paid off his gambling debts.

"Would Master Fang be willing?"

Upon hearing this, Wang Mazi raised an eyebrow.

He knew something about the Fang family. Not only him, but the entire Liangxiang knew how unpopular this young man was in the Fang family.

"Paying back debts is a matter of course. Just say that this gambling debt is what I owe you, and he won't be able to say anything."

Fang Heng waved his hand and said.