The Fifth Ba certainly understood this principle as well: the population in Guanzhong was growing, the land and water were limited, and the disputes between neighboring villages were fierce, with tangled and complicated interests. Grandson said the other day that trying to unite the families within a ten-mile radius to work together for self-preservation in these chaotic times was an almost impossible task.

But he still forced himself to be patient, continuing to persuade the two families to cease fighting and wait for Grandson to return. After the incidents with the school and the autumn plowing, Robert Benson had begun to see Grandson in a new light. Although he still mocked his wild ideas, deep down the old man believed that Henry Benson would surely handle today’s matter well and win reputation and benefit for their family.

Because of Robert Benson’s intervention, the two sides had been locked in a standoff by the canal for nearly an hour, neither willing to give in. Calf Miller licked his cracked lips and looked up at the sun, while Leo Cooper still looked like a fighting cock before entering the ring, sharpening his blade on a whetstone and glaring death at Robert Benson.

“If we keep deadlocked like this, it won’t solve anything. I actually have an idea.”

As the sun climbed higher, Calf Miller stood up and suggested, “Let’s find a rope, use the canal as the midpoint, and have each side send ten men to pull. Whoever wins gets to divide the water their way. How about it?”

Robert Benson thought this was a good idea, but The Cooper Family flatly refused.

“No way!”

Bill Cooper understood that although his family was brave and fierce, if it came down to a contest of strength on solid ground, they might not be a match for the farmers.

Robert Benson glanced at the The Cooper Family brothers. “Is The Cooper Family perhaps afraid?”

It was useless; the one in charge was Bill Cooper, and he remained unmoved by this clumsy provocation.

But Leo Cooper was once again enraged. While his elder brother was negotiating with Robert Benson, he slowly stood up, glanced at the knife in his hand, gently set it down, clenched his empty fists, and began to walk step by step toward Robert Benson!

As long as he struck first, just like when he ambushed him earlier—one blow to the neck to knock the old man out—then forced back the The Benson Family men, the The Miller Family would be powerless alone.

Thinking this, Leo Cooper clenched his fists tighter and tighter. When he judged the distance was right, he pushed off with his feet, leaped forward, and chopped his palm toward Robert Benson!

No one had time to cry out. In that split second, Robert Benson, who had been sitting on the ground, seemed to have eyes in the back of his head. He dodged the sneak attack in a flash and countered with a punch, landing squarely on Leo Cooper’s bulbous nose. Blood spurted everywhere, and Leo Cooper saw stars, his vision going black.

When he staggered and shook his head to recover, he opened his eyes just in time to see Robert Benson’s big foot kicking toward him, landing right in his chest!

With just one kick, the tall and burly Leo Cooper was sent tumbling into the ditch, landing face-first in the mud, transformed from a fighting cock into a drowned rat.

Bill Cooper was shocked and hurried to help his brother up, finding that only his nose was broken and perhaps a rib, but his life was not in danger. He realized Robert Benson had held back. His expression changed at once; he gently kicked his brother and scolded him, then bowed to Robert Benson.

“My younger brother was ignorant and offended our clan uncle!”

“Your brothers lost their father young, so it’s no wonder they lack discipline. I can teach him on behalf of your late father.”

Robert Benson wiped the blood from his hand and looked at the intimidated The Cooper Family crowd, his eyes full of impatience. “That’s it for today. Listen to me: both clans will return to the old water usage quotas. If anyone stirs up trouble again or dares to draw a blade in front of me, The Benson Family will help the other side!”

The The Benson Family clansmen stepped forward with their makeshift spears. Facing them, the young bravos raised by The Cooper Family were at a disadvantage.

Now Bill Cooper had to face two clans at once, and the pressure was immense. But he knew well the secret to his family’s dominance in the countryside for over a decade.

They weren’t as wealthy as the The Walker Family, nor as rich as the The Harris Family, and in a fight, they couldn’t even beat the The Benson Family. They could only rely on their ferocity and fearlessness to fake their strength.

That kind of ruffian spirit—clearly outmatched, but still able to bash their own heads and bleed all over their faces!

If they backed down today, the The Cooper Family’s fierce reputation would collapse. People would see through their weakness, and the terror they’d built up in the neighborhood through years of violence would crumble in an instant. It would be much harder to compete for power in the village in the future.

But if they kept fighting here, two against one, they’d surely lose. Bill Cooper thought of an idea.

Find reinforcements.

“Fine! Since you insist on interfering… why don’t we all go to Linqu village and ask the overseer and the three elders to judge!”

Supporting his brother, Bill Cooper said, “Let’s see whether the overseer rules this village, or the The Benson Family does!”

Calf Miller looked a bit anxious. He knew that the head of the The Walker Family was the official overseer, holding all the power in the village and having a good relationship with the The Cooper Family. If he sided with them, even the combined forces of Benson and Miller would get nowhere.

Robert Benson saw that the other side was being unreasonable and flew into a rage. “You brat, are you trying to turn black into white?”

Just as things were deadlocked again, the sound of hoofbeats approached from afar. Someone dismounted, pushed through the crowd, and walked over, a hearty laugh ringing out by the Chengguo Canal.

“Haha! What’s the point of arguing in the village? In my opinion, why not take the matter straight to the county and alarm the magistrate himself!”

Everyone turned to look, and it was Henry Benson, who had earlier rushed to the county seat, now returning travel-worn. He was still riding alone, having brought no reinforcements.