That leader, Mr. Wang, was probably quite patient with Chang Le because she was a young girl.

Leader Wang said, "Young lady, the fabric you want to buy isn't cheap, and the red one is even more expensive."

Chang Le asked with a smile, "Uncle Wang, you can just call me Chang Le. How much does a horse cost?"

Leader Wang smiled and said, "Okay, Chang Le, that piece of cloth will cost 160 yuan."

Chang Le was also startled, but she remained calm and smiled as she said:

"Uncle Wang, it is indeed a bit expensive, but the girls in our area have never worn such fine fabric before. I want to take this opportunity to buy a few bolts to make clothes."

Leader Wang asked, "How many horses would Chang Le like to buy?"

Chang Le first extended four fingers, then retracted two fingers, and said cautiously:

"Uncle Wang, I'd like to buy four horses, or two if that's not possible. I wonder if that would be convenient for you?"

Leader Wang laughed heartily: "Then I'll make the decision, and sell four horses to Chang Le."

Chang Le was overjoyed and happily followed Leader Wang to move the cloth.

Yan Ci followed behind the two to help, while Bai Wenyi cried out plaintively, "Yan Ci, are you really not going to help me?" Yan Ci didn't even turn his head.

Lin Xiao followed along, saying to Bai Wenyi as they walked, "Brother Wen, I'm going to help Chang Le negotiate the price, I'll be right back!"

Cui Yu wanted to go too, but Bai Wenyi glared at him and roared, "Cui Yu, you dare to run away? Believe me, when we get home, I'll make you work in the fields!"

Cui Yu had no choice but to resign himself to his fate and load the cloth onto the cart. Bai Wenyi muttered to himself as he carried it, "They're all ancestors."

A short while later, Yan Ci returned carrying two bolts of cloth, and Lin Xiao also carried one.

Chang Le, carrying the cloth, walked at the front with a radiant expression.

Bai Wenyi said happily, "Yan Ci, so fast! Come help us move it so we can go back sooner."

First, they put away the cloth that Chang Le had bought. Then, a few people quickly helped Bai Wenyi load the cloth onto the cart and covered it with an oilcloth.

Before getting into the car, Lin Xiao and Bai Wenyi made a point of greeting Leader Wang. Once everyone was seated, they prepared to depart.

Chang Le jumped out of the car again and handed a small bottle wrapped in cloth to Leader Wang:

"Uncle Wang, this is just a small gift, nothing more. Thank you for your help!"

Then she waved her hand, quickly got back into her car, and Lin Xiao started the car and drove away.

Leader Wang opened the cloth and looked inside; his eyes narrowed into slits with laughter.

Lin Xiao drove to a state-run restaurant, where everyone ordered a bowl of noodles. After eating, they immediately drove back.

Chang Le even asked the waiter for hot water to put in the IV bottle, which she held in her arms to keep it warm.

Lin Xiao said to the group, "I'm not taking the same route as last time. I'll take a different route back. Don't worry." Then he drove off, humming a cheerful tune.

Bai Wenyi was still very nervous. Last time, there were five grown men, and Lin Xiao suffered a loss.

He was traveling with the young girl Chang Le and the boy Cui Yu. What if they encountered robbers? He prayed in his heart that they would arrive home safely.

Perhaps God was too busy and didn't hear his prayers; they still encountered obstacles in their path.

After traveling about two-thirds of the distance, Bai Wenyi finally relaxed, when Lin Xiao suddenly stopped the car.

Bai Wenyi was shocked and hurriedly asked, "Lin Xiao, what's wrong?"

Lin Xiao said with a long face, "Brother Wen, this is really bad luck. We've run into someone blocking our way again."

Yan Ci glanced at it and instructed Chang Le, "Stay in the carriage and don't move."

Chang Le knew they had encountered robbers and immediately said, "Uncle Yan, I'll go with you. You have to trust me; I can protect myself."

Cui Yu was about to get out of the car when Yan Ci frowned and asked, "Are you sure you can manage?"

Cui Yu said, "Uncle, I can protect Chang Le."

Bai Wenyi asked, completely at a loss, "Yan Ci, what should we do?"

Lin Xiao swallowed hard and said, "We've met a tough opponent this time."

Bai Wenyi asked, "What do you mean?"

Lin Xiao said, "Judging from their clothes and appearance, they don't look like farmers."

Yan Ci nodded. This group of people were all wearing overcoats or sheepskin coats without a single patch, and they were all young and strong. They were definitely not ordinary farmers.

Those men were carrying steel pipes and wooden sticks; they were clearly repeat offenders.

Lin Xiao was also a little scared. He looked around, wondering if he could reverse and find a place to turn around.

Yan Ci said, "It's no use. We can't turn around here. Others have observed this terrain before making their move."

Bai Wenyi asked in a panic, "What should we do then?"

Lin Xiao said, "There are two paths: either deliver the goods or risk your life."

Bai Wenyi quickly said, "This truckload of goods is the factory's lifeline; we can't give it to them."

Lin Xiao said, "Then we have no choice but to fight with all our might."

Lin Xiao then took out a steel pipe and handed it to everyone: "Here, take this for self-defense."

He then said to Chang Le, "Chang Le, come with me, I will protect you."

Yan Ci glanced at him sideways: "Take care of yourself first!"

Chang Le also said, "No need, I don't need your protection."

The group got off the carriage. Yan Ci glanced at Chang Le, who followed closely behind him.

Cui Yu followed closely behind Chang Le.

As soon as the group of people got off the bus, they surrounded them. There were eight of them.

Someone came out and said, "Put the goods down, and we'll let you all leave."

Lin Xiao asked, "Big brother, can we discuss this?"

The group laughed loudly: "Let's discuss it, and leave the car behind too."

Yan Ci said to Bai Wenyi, "Be careful not to get hurt."

Bai Wenyi nodded: "Let Chang Le come with me. It'll be safer for the two of us to be behind."

Chang Le: "Second Uncle, take care of yourself and don't worry about me."

Hearing Chang Le's voice, the man turned to the group behind him and said, "There's a young lady here. We're in luck today."

He immediately said with a grin, "How about you leave the goods and the girl here, and you can drive the car away?"

Yan Ci said to Chang Le, "Calm down, don't get angry right now."

Chang Le nodded obediently: "I know."

Lin Xiao learned his lesson last time and didn't act impulsively this time.

Seeing that the others remained silent, the man angrily said, "Damn it, you won't listen to reason, so you'll have to suffer the consequences. Give me a good beating."

The group started to make their move, and Yan Ci and Chang Le immediately followed suit. They recognized the group as repeat offenders and knew there was no need to show them any mercy.

Chang Le took off her hat to avoid obstructing her view.

Immediately someone over there said, "Hey, this girl is pretty hot. Everyone, give it your all and enjoy yourself tonight."

Before he could finish speaking, Yan Ci kicked him to the ground. Chang Le darted forward and stomped on his arm with a crack. Chang Le asked, "Enjoying it?"

Yan Ci was full of murderous intent, and his blows never missed. Chang Le quickly moved closer to Yan Ci, afraid that someone would hurt her Uncle Yan.

Cui Yu also leaned against the two of them, looking fierce like a wolf cub.

Before long, the three men beat the group of people to their knees and begged for mercy.

Lin Xiao took away all the steel pipes from the group.

Yan Ci looked at the seven people kowtowing and bowing, and his hand stopped; one person was missing.

Suddenly, a sinister voice came from behind: "Do you want him dead?"

Chang Le turned around and was shocked to see that Bai Wenyi had been taken hostage, with a small knife pressed against Bai Wenyi's neck.