Immortality: Starts with seeking good fortune and avoiding disaster!

**Chapter 18: Buy Your Wife**

"Luo Chang?!"

Upon hearing this name, Xiao Fan narrowed his eyes. He didn't know this person personally, but Luo Chang's reputation had become quite notorious lately.

As the saying goes, good things don't go unnoticed, but bad news spreads like wildfire.

This person's reputation was as foul as a stinky toilet.

As he examined the scene closely, he noted that Luo Chang appeared to be around twenty-seven or thirty years old. With a sharp mouth and gaunt cheeks, he looked rather disheveled and was of medium height. He seemed perpetually drunk, and it would not be surprising if he met an untimely end.

"It turns out to be Mr. Luo. I have long admired your name. May I ask why you've come to see me?" Xiao Fan said, maintaining a neutral tone.

However, Luo Chang displayed an air of arrogance, his nostrils flaring as he seemed disinterested in engaging with Xiao Fan. He merely winked at Guo Mazi, who understood immediately.

Like a sycophant, Guo Mazi scurried up and whispered to Xiao Fan, "Xiao Fan, don't you have a child bride? I've heard she's very beautiful. Hurry up and show her to Mr. Luo. If he likes her, Master Luo will give you ten taels of silver to buy her outright."

"This is a golden opportunity to make a fortune. If you miss this chance, you won't find another."

What?!

At Guo Mazi's words, a wave of murderous rage surged within Xiao Fan, and he nearly lost control, wanting to lash out and smack Guo Mazi to death.

Previously, Guo Mazi had shown a covetous eye on Xiao Fan's awning boat and concocted various schemes against him. Xiao Fan had hoped that Guo Mazi had reconsidered and backed off.

Who would have thought that this fool would find a way to ingratiate himself with the infamous Luo Chang from the Dragon King Gang?

It seemed that good-natured people were bullied, and fine steeds were ridden by lesser jockeys.

Guo Mazi clearly thought he could provoke Xiao Fan without consequence.

Xiao Fan had marked Guo Mazi as a dead man in his mind, yet he maintained his composure on the surface.

"What's the matter, Xiao Fan? Don't want to do business?" Guo Mazi taunted.

"Do you understand who Mr. Luo is?"

"Master Luo is offering you money to buy your child bride; he's giving you face."

"If you refuse, don't blame us for being rude."

"In that case, you'll be left with no money and no women."

"Weigh it for yourself."

Guo Mazi spoke sternly, embodying the role of an arrogant lackey.

With Luo Chang's support backing him, he felt empowered to crush this little fisherman underfoot.

If Xiao Fan didn't sell him the awning boat, Guo Mazi intended to teach him a painful lesson.

These threats were mere trifles to Xiao Fan.

"And what if I refuse? Will you kill me?" Xiao Fan replied calmly, meeting their gazes without fear.

He met their intimidation head-on, fully prepared to retaliate and annihilate them. 

Should they dare to provoke him, he was ready for a confrontation, even if it meant going up against the Dragon King Gang; the world was vast enough for him to disappear into if need be.

Even if the worst happened, he could always turn to banditry, rallying rebels to eradicate the entire Dragon King Gang and slay every member of their family.

These threats were child's play to him.

"What?!" Guo Mazi exclaimed, shocked and angered. He hadn't expected his words to backfire; instead, Xiao Fan spoke resolutely against him, causing Guo Mazi to lose face in front of Luo Chang.

If he couldn't even intimidate a humble fisherman, how would he maintain any standing before Mr. Luo in the future?

"Alright." 

At this moment, Luo Chang intervened, "I, Luo Chang, am a good citizen. I never engage in forcing girls into prostitution; it's always a matter of will. If she's unwilling, I won't press the issue."

"However, this transaction is still valid. If you ever change your mind, you can come to me for business again."

He feigned kindness, as though harboring no ill will towards Xiao Fan.

"This." 

Guo Mazi was taken aback. It was the first time he had seen Luo Chang exhibit such benevolence. It was unlike the Luo Chang he had known—had Mr. Luo somehow changed?

However, Guo Mazi felt certain that Luo Chang must have a reason for his new demeanor.

As someone used to submitting for years, he knew he couldn't refute his master openly. Whatever the master said was correct and above questioning.

Looking around, he saw a gathering of fishermen witnessing the confrontation and likely whispering about it.

At that moment, it dawned on him that Luo Chang perhaps wanted to avoid causing a scene in public.

"No need; I still won't sell her." Xiao Fan stated firmly, looking at Luo Chang without backing down.

"Hmph." Luo Chang hadn't anticipated such blatant disrespect. His previously warm smile faded.

Yet, he assessed the fishermen surrounding them and chose not to escalate the situation any further.

With a wave of his hand, he quickly departed with his men.

"Thank you, uncles, for your help," Xiao Fan expressed his gratitude to the fishermen who had surrounded him.

He recognized that if it weren't for them, Luo Chang might not have backed down so easily.

"You're welcome; we can't do much."

"Yeah, we're just here to watch."

"However, we've heard that Luo Chang tends to retaliate against those he sees as enemies, so you should take care."

Many fishermen voiced their concerns.

Though their faces were etched with worry, they felt powerless to intervene further.

"Thank you, uncles; I'll take care of it," Xiao Fan replied, his eyes betraying a glint of cold ferocity. Let them think they could retaliate; there was no future for such reckless individuals, and he had no reason to fear their revenge.

...…

Not long after, Luo Chang and his entourage left Osmanthus Village.

"Master Luo, I'm sorry, I truly apologize," Guo Mazi pleaded, kneeling on the ground and sobbing, begging for forgiveness.

"I didn't expect Xiao Fan to be so disrespectful and disregard Mr. Luo's authority."

"I truly am deserving of death."

"Get up; I can't hold you accountable for this," Luo Chang replied dismissively. 

"He is just a lowly fisherman, and it's disgraceful that he treated me in such a way."

"Originally, I had no interest in that woman—"

"But now I want to destroy that boy's family."

Luo Chang's expression morphed into one of fury, reminiscent of an enraged specter.

"But Mr. Luo, why didn't you act against him just now? Why let him go?" Guo Mazi asked, suddenly rising to his feet, perplexed by Luo Chang's behavior moments before.

"Foolishness! I've already caused my father too much trouble lately; I can't keep making waves."

"Although my father is an elder in the Dragon King Gang, he isn't the only elder there."

"If I continue to cause disturbance, I fear my father could be impeached and removed from his position."

"When that happens, I won't be able to live comfortably without my support, so I must bide my time."

Luo Chang explained coolly.

"I see now."

Guo Mazi's eyes widened as understanding dawned. No wonder Mr. Luo seemed altered in his temperament.

"However, while we can't act openly, we can certainly plot secretly."

"Isn't that boy arrogant?"

"Tomorrow, I'll send a crew over to Yunmeng Lake to beat him until he's barely breathing."

"When they do, I'll have him kneel before me, apologize, and hand over his woman directly."

"I can guarantee that no one else in Osmanthus Village will dare oppose me."

Luo Chang spoke with palpable malice.

Hearing these words, Guo Mazi trembled. The extent of Master Luo's ruthlessness was more intense than he had anticipated. He felt grateful to be aligned with Luo Chang; otherwise, he could have easily been the target.

"Enough. Let's not bore each other with idle chatter."

"Let's head back to the fish farm and have some fun."

Luo Chang waved dismissively.

The so-called fish farm was more than just a marketplace; it served as a small social hub.

It sold various fish, as well as firewood, rice, oil, salt, and vegetables.

Moreover, it functioned as the Dragon King Gang's residence.

The fish farm had been constructed with yards where members of the Dragon King Gang could stay.

So, in instances where members could not return to Tonghe County, they would gather at the fish farm to amuse themselves. 

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