A man with a mocking expression appeared from one side of the pavilion. The man was Zhen Mi's third brother, Zhen Yao.

"Third Brother, were you eavesdropping on our conversation?"

Zhen Mi was taken aback when she saw Zhen Yao appear.

She had long felt that the gentleman in front of her had an extraordinary demeanor and talent. Upon closer inspection, although Liu Wei was dressed in plain clothes and had some dirt on his face, she still noticed that he was quite remarkable.

However, the air of nobility that comes with being in a superior position cannot be concealed.

Based on her woman's intuition, she felt that Liu Wei was definitely not an ordinary person, but rather a scion of a powerful and influential family.

The conversation was very pleasant, and it felt like meeting an old friend in a foreign land.

Just as Zhen Mi was about to ask Liu Wei about the origin of his surname, she was interrupted by Zhen Yao.

"If I hadn't shown up soon, you would have been kidnapped by him!" Zhen Yao sneered, looking at Liu Wei with hostility.

"Third Brother, what are you saying! What this gentleman said makes a lot of sense."

"Fine! So you're already siding with outsiders, aren't you?"

Zhen Yao strode forward and stood between Liu Wei and Zhen Mi, saying, "I heard everything you said to my little sister!"

“The man who can marry my little sister must be rich and noble. How could he marry a commoner like you?”

"You've said your piece, haven't you? Now, finish this bowl of tea and go make your mark in Youzhou! The Zhen family doesn't welcome you!"

He never expected Zhen Yao to be so hostile towards him.

But that's understandable!

Aside from Zhen Yi, the head of the family, only Zhen Yao remained as a man. The rest of the family consisted of five sisters and two widowed sisters-in-law.

This person in front of me is probably not only after the Zhen family, but also after their wealth!

"Third Brother, this gentleman is truly talented! He says he can help the Zhen family!"

Zhen Mi was still defending Liu Wei, saying, "It's getting late, why don't we let him stay the night and make a good connection?"

"Really? Then why hasn't he told us his name or where he's from?"

Zhen Yao said coldly, "We, the Zhen family, do not entertain people of unknown origin."

Seeing this, Liu Wei smiled calmly: "You haven't asked yet, have you? In that case, I see no need to stay any longer. Farewell!"

"However, I hope your Zhen family will never regret what happened today."

Zhen Mi tried to persuade him to stay, but Zhen Yao waved his hand dismissively: "In all my years, I, Zhen Yao, have never done anything I don't regret!"

You'd better leave now!

Liu Wei smiled faintly and strode away.

He appeared as a commoner, and Zhen Mi did not reject him, but Zhen Yao looked down on him.

However, it was enough that Zhen Mi already had feelings for him!

So he went to the door, and sure enough, Zhen Mi followed him out:

“My third brother was rude, please forgive him, sir. Since you are leaving, I cannot force you to stay. I hope you will tell me your name, so that I may come to your manor for a chat when I return from my meritorious service in Youzhou.”

Seeing Zhen Mi chase after him, Liu Wei felt a warmth in his heart.

"Yang Wei of Zhuojun!"

He did indeed grow up in Zhuojun.

Zhen Mi nodded to indicate that she had remembered, but stood there, unsure of what to say.

Suddenly, a thunderous sound of hooves came from outside the village, followed by shouts of men and neighing of horses, and cries of pain.

"What's going on?"

Zhen Yao hurriedly went out to see what was going on.

A servant rushed in, looking flustered.

"Third Young Master, Fifth Miss, something terrible has happened!"

“Countless thieves have come from outside the village and have surrounded our Zhen Family Village, demanding that we hand over all the grain stored in the village!”

“Our porridge distribution stall was overturned by them, and the refugees scattered.”

“There were forty or fifty refugees who, upon hearing that they could be given food, immediately joined the thieves and became their accomplices.”

“Alai and the others angrily shouted at the refugees for being heartless and ungrateful, but they were slashed by the thieves and held captive on the spot.”

What!

Just moments ago, Zhen Yao was arrogant and haughty, but his expression changed drastically.

"Where did these thieves come from? Aren't the authorities going to do anything about it?"

"And these heartless refugees, they just received our kindness, how come they turn around and help these thieves to fight against us?"

Upon hearing this, Zhen Mi couldn't help but give Liu Wei a deep look.

His words to the refugees just now seemed to confirm his deduction; indeed, some of them were ungrateful wretches.

He kindly offered porridge, but it ended up being fed to dogs.

"Third Young Master, I'm afraid the government won't be sending anyone! This time, there are no fewer than two thousand bandits, and they've surrounded the county town!"

"I'm in a panic," the farmhand said.

"What did you say? The county town is besieged too? Quick, quickly organize the men in the village, pick up weapons and crossbows, and defend the village!"

"Third Young Master, we have less than a hundred men in our manor, while the enemy has no less than a thousand. What should we do?"

The farmhand was so scared he was about to cry!

How could a hundred or so farmers possibly defend against vicious thieves?

Zhen Yao was immediately at a loss, his face turned pale, and he didn't know what to do.

At this moment, inside the Zhen family mansion, an old woman hurriedly came out, surrounded by five or six beautiful women.

"Yao'er, we heard a commotion outside the manor while we were at home. We wonder what happened?"

"Mother! Eldest sister-in-law, second sister-in-law, eldest sister, second sister, third sister, fourth sister!"

Zhen Yao and Zhen Mi are addressed together.

Goodness, so many brothers and sisters, just calling them names would make my mouth water.

Liu Wei listened quietly from the side.

This group of thieves who suddenly appeared, and whose size allowed them to be so large, must undoubtedly be the Black Mountain Army from Changshan and Zhongshan.

Liu Wei had already planned to subdue this force.

The Black Mountain Army, numbering in the millions, was entrenched in the Taihang Mountains, and most of them were starving civilians.

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!