After spitting out the threat, the man with the mole pushed through the crowd and bolted.
Widow Xie and Hu Liang were deeply worried. They feared they had run into serious trouble, as the man clearly wasn't someone to be trifled with.
A few inquiries confirmed it: he was the local bully of South Street.
The old man selling wontons advised them, "You should just move. His sworn brother is supposedly from some big shot's family in the county seat—very powerful. He's claimed this spot for years. Even if he doesn't show up often, he won't let anyone else use it. A newcomer before didn't know the rules and stood up to him, so he had him beaten up."
No wonder everyone had given them such strange looks when they first set up their stall.
'The man with the mole must have come by before and heard his spot was taken. That must be why the old man tried to warn us yesterday, only to be stopped by someone else.'
