Chapter 64: Mountain Bandits Visit

Seeing her dramatic performance, Chen Xiaobei couldn't bear to tease her any longer. He let go of his sister, pulling her into his embrace. "You are my good little sister. How could I ever bully you? I was just joking with you."

Chen Qiaoer immediately swapped to a smiling face, struggling out of his arms.

"Sister-in-law, sister-in-law, let's go inside, or brother will bully you."

With that, she grabbed Cui Hongyu's hand and turned to go inside.

Leaving Chen Xiaobei standing there, dumbfounded. It wasn't him teasing her—clearly, it was Qiaoer teasing him!

…

The next morning, there was a flurry of activity in front of Chen Xiaobei's house.

First, several carts arrived with bricks and roofing materials, followed by Lidong, leading the workers and laborers. The bricklayers and masons were busy at work, everyone efficiently and joyfully working together.

According to Chen Xiaobei's arrangement, Cui Hongyu was in charge of boiling water. He had already informed Lidong that this was a job with materials and labor provided; he wasn't responsible for the meals, but on such a hot day, at least some water needed to be provided to the workers.

Chen Xiaobei was also very busy that day. After making sure everything was set up at home and the workers started their work, he rushed to the county town with his donkey cart.

He had promised Jia Wannian to bring him a hundred-year-old ginseng, and it seemed that promise was being fulfilled sooner than expected.

But as he thought about it, a small sense of discomfort filled his mind.

This hundred-year-old ginseng was meant for the Liu family. Thinking back to the cold reception he had received when he went to the Liu family's house...

Sigh, forget it. Public and private matters are different.

All promises are fleeting.

Little did he know, if it weren't for the Liu family's help on Wugong Ridge, even ten of him wouldn't have been able to get the people back.

In Huá Hào Táng...

Jia Wannian saw the ginseng and was immediately overjoyed, nearly jumping up in excitement.

"Aha, Xiaobei, I didn't expect you'd get the hundred-year-old ginseng so quickly! Truly, a gift from heaven!"

Chen Xiaobei thought to himself, what the hell is this expression? I just got a hundred-year-old ginseng, and it's like it's a gift from heaven?

But, in any case, this ginseng had earned him twenty taels of silver, and that was solid.

With the silver in hand, Chen Xiaobei turned around and headed back home.

After all, there were matters at home, and he couldn't stay out too long. When he finally returned to Heitou Village...

Cui Hongyu had already taken Chen Qiaoer to the fields to plant vegetables.

Seeing him return, Lidong, Dayong, and the others gave him a thumbs up.

"Xiaobei, you really got lucky. You found a great wife, someone who can do everything—just finished boiling water and now off to plant vegetables. Truly a great woman who knows how to manage the household."

Chen Xiaobei only smiled and didn't respond. Honestly, even now, he couldn't understand why, if Cui Hongyu had a history of bad luck with husbands, she would choose to marry him, a poor man.

As he was thinking about this, he heard hurried footsteps, and Chen Xiaowen rushed toward him, shouting as he ran.

"Captain, something's wrong! Something's wrong!"

Clearly, his shout had successfully attracted the attention of everyone present.

Chen Xiaobei was also a bit confused and asked, "Xiaowen, don't panic. What's going on? Take your time and tell me."

Chen Xiaobei approached him, and Xiaowen, out of breath, shouted, "Captain, at the village entrance, the bandits from Wugong Ridge are here, led by Daolao Hei. They say they're here to see you."

A sudden commotion broke out among the group, with some of the more timid people dropping their tools and running off.

However, Chen Xiaobei didn't panic as he had expected. He took a deep breath and recalled the words of the mountain bandit Yang Chun, who had escorted Cui Hongyu down the mountain—he had mentioned that they would come to apologize one day. Chen Xiaobei had thought it was just a polite gesture, but now it seemed they were serious.

Still, as the saying goes, if it's fate, you can't avoid it.

Since they had come, he would have to face them head-on.

"It's okay. Since they're looking for me, you all continue with your work. I'll go take a look."

Before he finished speaking, he saw several villagers rushing past in the street, some elderly, others with children in tow, hurrying toward the west.

Seeing this, Chen Xiaowen slapped his leg, frustrated. "Ah, the bandits must have entered the village. It's all my fault for rushing to deliver the message, and forgetting to stop them."

Chen Xiaobei thought to himself that even if everyone in the village had tried to stop them, it would have been impossible to do so.

At that moment, the sound of horse hooves approached, and four or five fast horses galloped toward them.

Leading the group was the same Yang Chun who had escorted Cui Hongyu down the mountain. Behind him was a burly middle-aged man, looking fierce and intimidating. The first glance reminded Chen Xiaobei of the character Zhang Fei from the TV shows.

When the bandits appeared, Lidong also trembled, his voice shaking as he spoke, "Xiaobei, what do they want?"

Chen Xiaobei thought, what do they want? I don't know either, but I can't say that now. If I do, everyone will surely panic and run.

"Everyone, don't be afraid. They're here for me, it has nothing to do with you. Just keep working."

Even from a distance, Yang Chun was already calling out, "Xiaobei, Xiaobei, our big boss is waiting for you."

The crowd, who had originally been ready to scatter in fear, stopped in their tracks when they heard this call.

Since they considered Chen Xiaobei a brother, there was no need for a fight. If that was the case, there was no reason to run.

When they were about a yard away from Chen Xiaobei, Yang Chun and the others dismounted.

"Xiaobei, our boss is happy to see you," said Daolao Hei, with a big smile as he waved at Chen Xiaobei.

This action made Lidong, Dayong, and the other workers freeze in shock. Even the mountain bandits were showing respect to Chen Xiaobei.

Chen Xiaobei was equally puzzled. Why would these bandits treat him like this? What had he done to deserve such respect?

But at this moment, he could only hastily return the greeting, "Xiaobei greets the big boss, and greets Brother Yang Chun."

Daolao Hei glanced around at the workers in the yard, "These are all from Heitou Village, right? Everyone continue with your work, I'll have a word with Xiaobei."

After saying that, he looked around.

Chen Xiaobei understood; this was a hint that Daolao Hei wanted to talk privately.

There was an available place right nearby—Chen Dachun's house, which was empty.

"Please, big boss, follow me."

Chen Xiaobei led Daolao Hei, Yang Chun, and the others into Dachun's yard.

There was still hot water that Cui Hongyu had boiled in the pot.

Dachun's house was much better than Chen Xiaobei's. The yard had stone tables and benches. It wasn't exquisitely carved, but it looked decent.

It wasn't like Chen Xiaobei's house, where the tables and benches were made from raw stone.

He gestured for Daolao Hei to sit down and poured him a bowl of water before speaking.

"I didn't expect you to come today. What can I do for you, big boss?"

Daolao Hei waved his hand, "Ah, nothing much. I just passed by and came to see you. But there is something I'd like to ask you to help with."

Chen Xiaobei didn't respond. Honestly, he didn't want any further dealings with these bandits.

But now that they had come to his home, could he really turn them away?