Chapter 119 Driven Out of the Village

After Qin Haifeng led the man away, a cold glint flashed in Lin Baozhu's eyes. She quickly walked to the accountant's wife, lowered her voice, and said with an undeniable urgency, "Sister-in-law, something urgent has happened! It's a done deal that Bi Yuntao is a bandit! But he's an 'outsider' who moved to our village later! We can't let this rotten apple spoil the whole bunch of good things in our village! If his reputation is ruined, what will happen to the girls and boys in the village when they get married? Who would dare to marry into a village associated with bandits? This is a matter of life and death for everyone in the village!"

Lin Baozhu's words were laced with barbs, each one piercing to the heart and hitting the nail on the head.

The accountant's wife, initially stunned, turned deathly pale upon hearing this! Forgetting even her basket of wild vegetables, she slapped her thigh and exclaimed, "This is terrible! I'm going to find the brigade leader right now!" Before she finished speaking, she was already running towards the village. The other quick-thinking women also realized what was happening, their faces changing drastically, and they grabbed their baskets and gave chase.

Watching the figures rushing towards the village, Lin Baozhu's lips curled into a cold smile. With the amplification of these "loudspeakers," the Bi family's "glorious deeds" and Bi Yuntao's "bandit identity" would soon spread like wildfire throughout the surrounding villages! She deliberately spoke vaguely about Zhao Xiaoyu's experiences, leaving endless room for imagination. Even if Zhao Xiaoyu managed to escape punishment, amidst the spittle and gossip, she would never be able to hold her head high again! Her reputation, along with the Bi family's, was destined to be forever nailed to the pillar of shame.

Her gaze swept coldly over the three, You Yongsheng and his companions, who remained listless and like walking corpses. The "Soul-Separating Powder" she had specially added before descending the mountain was still effective, enough to ensure that their minds would be blank for the next few hours, preventing them from conspiring against each other.

“Alright, sisters, come back to the village with me.” Lin Baozhu turned to the rescued women, her tone regaining its gentleness, but still carrying an undeniable protectiveness. “Wash your faces and change into clean clothes. Remember, before we leave, no matter who asks where you live, don’t say a word!” She knew that although there were many good people in Da Ge Ba Village, there were also those who couldn’t keep their mouths shut. Once their hometown address was revealed, it could mean a new round of disaster for these women who had just escaped.

On a small road outside the village.

One of the young soldiers couldn't resist any longer. As Qin Haifeng walked to the front of the column, he quickly caught up and muttered a complaint, "Boss, that Lin Baozhu... I think she's just good at preparing medicine, a bit quick-witted, and a bit stronger than the average girl... For that, you're giving her half of such a huge credit? This..." He didn't finish his sentence, but the meaning was clear: Is it worth it? Are you blinded by her beauty?

Qin Haifeng abruptly stopped. He slowly turned his head, his gaze like a blade tempered with ice, coldly sweeping across the soldier's face, carrying the undeniable pressure of a superior and a hint of offended anger. His voice was low, yet each word carried the weight of a thousand pounds:

"Never judge others by your own shallowness. Her abilities are beyond compare; ten of you tied together wouldn't be enough to match hers! This credit," Qin Haifeng's sharp gaze swept over the several soldiers who also wore puzzled expressions, his tone resolute, "is because of her!"

He paused, his mind flashing back to Lin Baozhu's manipulative power in the mountain stronghold, her endless array of methods, and her audacious courage and wisdom. His tone carried an undeniable reverence:

"Without her medicine, even if the regimental commander led us to launch a full-scale attack today, those heavily armed desperados would have made us pay a heavy price! It was she who allowed us to wipe out the bandit den without shedding a drop of blood or harming a single person! I, Qin Haifeng, was carried by her!"

His words were forceful and resounding, serving both as a reprimand to his subordinates and a statement of fact. Putting aside his unspoken feelings for Lin Baozhu, her demonstrated abilities and contributions in this battle alone deserved the utmost respect.

"Boss... is she really that amazing?" Another soldier was still a little incredulous.

Qin Haifeng's lips curled into a meaningful smile, his eyes sharp: "Don't believe me? Fine. After the mission is over, when we get back to the training ground, I'll give you a chance to personally test Comrade Lin's skills." He then changed the subject, a hint of "watching the show" in his voice, "Don't blame me for not warning you beforehand—in the face of absolute strength, your arrogance might not even be worthy of being a dish."

The soldiers looked at each other, stunned by their captain's unprecedented praise. Their initial dissatisfaction vanished, replaced by intense curiosity and a sense of impending doom.

At this moment, the atmosphere on the second floor of the county public security bureau was so heavy it was almost palpable.

In the director's office, Director Zhuang's brow was furrowed, and beads of sweat glistened on his forehead. Opposite him sat several police leaders from the municipal bureau and even the provincial department, all with somber expressions. One of them, a middle-aged man over forty with high-ranking shoulder insignia, pointed to a document on the table stamped with a bright red seal, his voice cold and imposing:

"Director Zhuang! The Beijing authorities issued a top-level official document yesterday! They demand to see those two comrades alive or dead! You said your bureau's Comrade Lin Baozhu is exceptionally capable; she caught spies and cracked a child trafficking case... She's excellent! Now, immediately transfer her to the city bureau's special task force! Have her put aside all her work and fully cooperate in solving this case! We must find those two abducted comrades from Beijing as soon as possible, at all costs!"

He leaned forward slightly, his gaze fixed on Director Zhuang like a searchlight, each word carrying a chilling weight:

"Their identities are extremely special! If they fall into the hands of enemy agents... the consequences are something neither of us can afford! This is no longer a simple human trafficking case; it's a major incident concerning national security!"