Finest Servant - Chapter 218

Chapter 218 The Mobilization of All Servants

“What’s going on? Where did it happen? Brother Xiao, you need to stay calm, learn from me. If the sky falls, the madam and the Eldest Miss will hold it up. There’s no need for us to panic,” Lin Wanrong consoled Xiao Feng.

Swallowing hard, Xiao Feng said, “There was trouble at our perfume workshop. Si De led our brothers to fight back. The Eldest Miss and the Madam rushed there, leaving me to wait for you, Brother Lin.”

“Trouble at the perfume workshop?” Lin Wanrong exclaimed. “Good heavens, I was only away for a day, and all this has happened? The perfume workshop has been running smoothly until now. What happened today? The perfume business is the lifeblood of the Xiao family, who dares to mess with us? I am a godfather in the underworld.”

“Which gang was it? How many of them were there? What weapons did they have? Did you alert the authorities?” Lin Wanrong asked anxiously. “The Eldest Miss and the Madam are ladies. What could they possibly do there? Isn’t that just adding chaos?”

He paced in agitation while Xiao Feng struggled to understand his questions. “Brother Lin, what does ‘gang’ mean?”

Lin Wanrong grabbed his arm and said, “Come, let’s walk and talk. ‘Gang’ is a slang term we use on the streets to refer to which group they belong to.”

Xiao Feng responded, “The Eldest Miss has already reported to the authorities. We still don’t know which group they are. There are dozens of them, armed with iron rods, some even with knives…”

“Dozens of them?” Lin Wanrong paused. “This is a large scale conflict. Go quickly and gather all the male servants in the mansion. Regardless of their age, rank, or what they are doing, even if they are in their wedding chamber, get them all. Tell them that I, Brother San, have given the order to assemble within the time it takes to burn half an incense stick. Whoever doesn’t make it can go straight to the accounting room to collect their wages and leave.”

“Understood.” Xiao Feng, unusually resolute, was about to run off when Lin Wanrong called out again, “Come back.”

Xiao Feng turned back, looking at him puzzled. Lin Wanrong said, “Make sure everyone comes armed, with whatever they can find. Swords, spears, clubs, axes, halberds, anything that can be used to fight. We are not going there to play; we’re going to fight. Let everyone remember, to defend the Xiao family is every man’s duty.”

“To defend the Xiao family is every man’s duty,” Xiao Feng shouted the rallying cry, then dashed off towards the inner courtyard.

Brother San’s status in the Xiao family was no small matter. He was the banner of the Xiao family, somewhat like a patriarch, and a point of pride in the world of Jinling’s domestic servants.

At his command, the Xiao mansion sprang into action. In less than half the time it takes to burn an incense stick, all the servants had assembled, amounting to a force over a hundred strong.

Lin Wanrong had never counted the number of servants in the Xiao family. Seeing so many now, he was indeed taken aback. ‘Good heavens, what a bloated organization,’ he thought.

Most of the assembled servants were hastily dressed, obviously having been roused from their beds. They held a variety of weapons, from clubs to brooms. The household items used for heating were all present, from iron pots to cleavers and ladles, all brought without omission.

Xiao Feng, however, held a chamber pot in his hand. Lin Wanrong shivered at the sight, then gave a thumbs-up, “Brother Xiao Feng, you’re truly talented.”

Xiao Feng sheepishly said, “I was so focused on gathering everyone that I forgot to grab a weapon. This was all that was left.” The servants erupted in laughter.

Lin Wanrong too chuckled briefly. As his gaze swept over them, silence fell. As the saying goes, ‘Man is known by reputation, trees by their shadow.’ Brother San’s reputation in the Xiao family and among Jinling’s servants was unsurpassed. His deeds had been turned into stories and circulated everywhere by storytellers. Tales of his adventures – his confrontation with the cunning Tao Dongcheng in the Sunshine and Rain Restaurant, his encounter with the illustrious Master Wenchang on the banks of Qiantang River, his couplets battle at the noble banquet, and his discourse on the passing years at the Jinling Literature Association – were all celebrated.

In the past, the Xiao family was ruled by women, and the servants couldn’t even lift their heads in public for fear of ridicule. But since the arrival of Brother San, the tables had turned completely, and the servants now strutted down the street with their heads held high. Moreover, Brother San’s fame was derived entirely from his external battles against the likes of the Tao family and Young Prince Ning, and his association with Xu Wei, a grand scholar renowned throughout the land. He wasn’t one to curry favor with the master and mistress for his status. He was genuinely strong and amiable, a role model for the Xiao family’s servants.

Now, at Brother San’s call, everyone was quick to respond.

Lin Wanrong let out a hearty laugh, “I suppose everyone knows by now. Someone’s causing trouble at our perfume workshop. Perfume is the foundation of our Xiao family. With perfume, the Xiao family thrives and everyone has money to spend and food to eat. Without it, we’re nothing, and everyone is left destitute. So those who make trouble for the Xiao family are essentially making trouble for us all, challenging our livelihood. If someone tries to ruin our livelihood, what do we do?”

“Beat them!” came the resounding response, accompanied by the clatter of various household items. Lin Wanrong waved his hand and everyone fell silent. He shouted, “Alright, enough talk. Everyone, follow my lead. When I say fight, we all fight. We’ll beat those scoundrels to a pulp. No one better hold back. I, Lin San, assure you that I won’t let my brothers suffer. Anyone who dares to stab us in the back or hold us back, don’t say I didn’t warn you. Remember, to defend the Xiao family is every man’s duty.”

“To defend the Xiao family is every man’s duty,” over a hundred voices echoed in unison.

With a wave of his hand, Lin Wanrong, along with Xiao Feng, led the group of more than a hundred servants. Armed with a wide variety of weapons, they headed straight for the perfume workshop. Passersby on the road were startled to see the force of over a hundred servants in their green clothing and small hats marching past them. Times had indeed changed when even servants could parade on the streets.

The site of the perfume factory was personally selected by Lin Wanrong, an old residence of the Xiao family in the city, just a few lanes away, not too far from the Xiao residence. The perfume and soap factories were located in the same courtyard. When he first established the soap factory, Lin Wanrong had considered security and had even asked Si De to select about ten sturdy men from the Xiao family’s servants to live in the perfume factory as a security team, in case of trouble.

When he arrived at the perfume factory with his men, he found the factory door tightly closed. Around forty or fifty men dressed in black surrounded the entrance, shouting loudly at the door and a few even tried to break in using a large piece of tree trunk.

“Damn, it’s like a damn siege,” Lin Wanrong thought angrily. “The gangsters are pushing me too far. Do they really think they can rob me?”

These men in black were armed with iron bars and wooden sticks, their attire unified, clearly prepared for this. The factory’s main gate remained tightly closed. Lin Wanrong’s heart filled with anxiety. Where were the Eldest Miss and the Madam?

“Brother San, I fear the Eldest Miss and the Madam are trapped inside. We reported this to the authorities already, but no one has shown up yet,” Xiao Feng said nervously to Lin Wanrong. As a decent young man, he had some sense of justice, but it was still unnerving to face a professional team of about fifty henchmen.

‘Reported it to the authorities? Trusting in the police is like expecting pigs to climb trees,’ Lin Wanrong thought, scoffing. He turned to his men and said, “Don’t be afraid. We outnumber them two to one. Two against one, they can’t beat us. Tonight, anyone who performs well, I will recommend to the Eldest Miss for promotion and a raise. To defend the Xiao family is every man’s duty.”

“To defend the Xiao family is every man’s duty!” the crowd echoed in unison.

With a wave of his hand, Lin Wanrong charged into the crowd. His skill and strength were far beyond that of these gangsters. A few punches and kicks took down several men. With their larger numbers and diverse arsenal, the Xiao family’s servants followed him, their momentum intimidating. They broke the line of the men in black, who were too shocked to react. In an instant, over a hundred Xiao family servants were standing in front of the door.

This was the effect Lin Wanrong wanted. Once they took back the main gate, they stood on invincible ground. What was left was just mopping up these mongrels.

“Who are you?” a man in black shouted angrily.

“Who am I? Who the hell are you?” Lin Wanrong retorted, kicking a stone at the front door. A man in black shrieked and fell to the ground.

“Lin… Lin San… Is that you?” came the anxious voice of the Eldest Miss from inside.

“It’s me,” Lin Wanrong shouted back, “Are you alright, Miss? Is the Madam with you? Are you both safe?”

“We’re both fine,” the Eldest Miss’s voice was a mix of anxiety and excitement. “But Si De was beaten by them—”

“Brother San, avenge me,” came Si De’s painful cry from inside.

With a creak, the factory door opened, and the Eldest Miss stepped out. The Xiao family’s servants let out a cheer of relief, shouting, “Miss—”

Xiao Yuruo gave a slight nod, saying, “Thank you all—” She moved next to Lin Wanrong and whispered, “Don’t go too hard on them and don’t take any lives. If you get arrested, who’s going to bring you food?”

Lin Wanrong chuckled, “With so many people in the Xiao family, it shouldn’t be hard to find someone to bring me food. But what about you and the Madam? You risked your lives to rush into such a dangerous situation. Are you courting death?”

The Eldest Miss sighed, “At that moment, there was no time to think about all that. This factory is our lifeblood, even if it costs us our lives, we need to protect it. Otherwise, we can’t face our Xiao family ancestors, and I couldn’t face you. I’ve already reported to the authorities, but no one has shown up. Thankfully, you came back early. If you’d been any later, who knows what might have happened.”

Lin Wanrong felt a pang of guilt. He had lingered a bit with Luo Ning. If not for that, he would have returned earlier and the Eldest Miss and the Madam wouldn’t have had to worry.

Lin Wanrong nodded, “I’m here now, you should go inside. The situation may get violent later, it’s best if you don’t watch.”

Xiao Yuruo gave him a reproachful look, saying softly, “Now that we’ve been pushed this far, it would be overly sentimental of me to stop you. Just be careful, don’t act tough, and be wary of the wicked.”

Seeing the Eldest Miss return to the house, Lin Wanrong let out a sigh of relief. Xiao Feng and Si De were good friends. Hearing Si De’s pained scream, he gritted his teeth and said, “Brother Lin, what should we do?”

Without answering, Lin Wanrong stepped forward and sneered at the black-clad leader, “Did you do this?”

Lin Wanrong, known as the godfather of the Hung Hing gang in Jinling City, had connections with both high officials and commoners. He spoke with a smirk, exuding an impressive aura. The leader of the men in black retreated a few steps, saying, “What if I did? You dare to oppose my Black Dragon Society?”

‘The Black Dragon Society?’ Lin Wanrong’s eyebrows raised slightly. ‘Very well, very well, I hadn’t even targeted you, yet you came knocking. Earlier today, your boss, Cheng De, targeted Luo Min, and now you target the Xiao family. It’s obvious who’s pulling the strings.’

“The Black Dragon Society, eh? Is Wu Zhenghu your boss?” Lin Wanrong’s smile carried a trace of darkness.

“What if he is? Who are you? Do you dare to oppose my Black Dragon Society?” The man in black, taken aback by Lin Wanrong’s imposing manner, unconsciously softened his tone.

“My name is Lin San, didn’t your boss tell you?” Lin Wanrong gave a chilling grin.

“Lin San, you are Lin San?” The man in black gasped in surprise.

Lin Wanrong delivered a hard slap to his face, “Is Lin San a name you can call?”

The Black Dragon Society’s men collectively gasped, closing in, while the Xiao family’s servants also pushed forward. The two factions faced off, neither daring to make the first move.

The man in black was stunned. This Lin San was even more arrogant than the rumors suggested.

Lin Wanrong seemed oblivious to the tense standoff between the two sides. With a smack, he delivered another slap, “Those who were beating my Xiao family brothers just now, step forward.”

The man in black, having failed to dodge two slaps in a row, quickly realized that his skills were leagues behind Lin Wanrong’s.

“You, you, Lin San, if you oppose our Black Dragon Society, we won’t let—”

“Smack—” Lin Wanrong interrupted with another slap, “I’ll ask again, who was bullying my Xiao family brothers?”

The Black Dragon Society members were dumbfounded. Despite being the underworld, how was this Lin San more ruthless than they were?

Si De, inside the workshop, hearing Brother Lin standing up for him, was moved to tears, “Brother Lin, it’s this bastard who brought people to beat me—”

“You, you—the incident today wasn’t initiated by us, but by your men—” the man in black hurriedly said.

“Oh, tell me about it,” Lin Wanrong said with a sardonic smile.

The leader of the Black Dragon Society hurriedly said, “Today, one of our brothers went missing nearby, and we were ordered to conduct a search. When we arrived here, your people wouldn’t let us in, which led to a conflict. Our intention was only to conduct a search—”

‘To enter—to search?’ Hearing this phrase, Lin Wanrong felt a surge of anger. ‘Dammit, of all the things to imitate, why mimic the little devils?’ [A derogatory term for Japanese soldiers during the Sino-Japanese War and World War II] Unable to contain his fury any longer, he picked up a stone and hurled it at the man’s face.