Chapter 11 Can it be redressed?
"How could my young lady marry a bandit!" Lian Xin retorted in a trembling voice. She stepped forward and protected Xiao Jiuyue behind her, saying, "Young lady, hurry up and leave."
"Let's go? This is your home!" The boss raised the sharp knife in his hand and smiled proudly. It would be very face-saving to tell others that he had a daughter of an official family as his sister-in-law!
"Alas." Xiao Jiuyue sighed and shook his head, "Boss, I can't let you break the rules of the underworld and become a laughing stock."
"What do you mean?" The boss's eyes were as big as copper bells.
"You bandits also have three rules you don't rob," Xiao Jiuyue said in a cold voice. "First, don't rob scholars taking exams. Second, don't rob translators delivering messages. Third, don't rob the elderly, the weak, women, and children."
"The Xiao family has suffered a great disaster. My grandmother and I, along with other female relatives, have returned to our old home. My grandmother is elderly, and I have young brothers. Not to mention our home was ransacked, leaving us with only some worthless bedding. If the head of the family had robbed us, wouldn't we be ridiculed by the world? Not to mention getting any money, it would have been a complete loss."
Xiao Jiuyue was betting that these bandits were not the kind of vicious and cruel ones.
"What's the three things not to rob? I've never heard of that." The big boss's eyes rolled. He was already a bandit, so he had no shame anyway. He waved his hand and said, "I heard that the Xiao family embezzled 800,000 yuan in disaster relief funds. A lean camel is bigger than a horse. I don't believe it. How can the Xiao family be without money?"
"Big brother." The second in command quietly tugged at the big brother's sleeve.
The eldest boss scolded him fiercely: "Do you still want a wife? If you miss such a beautiful wife, you will lose her."
Second in command: “…”
Xiao Jiuyue's eyes turned, this way was blocked, so she looked at the second in command. He had a handsome appearance like a scholar, and he looked out of place among the bandits around him. She said, "Second in command is a scholar, right?"
"Yes, I can recognize some words." The second in command's face turned even redder.
"I said that the second in command is Qingjun, a scholar. My father has been honest all his life and has devoted himself to the people. Unfortunately, he was harmed by a villain and his property was confiscated and he was exiled." Xiao Jiuyue was moved by this and a tear hung in the corner of his eye.
"Yes, it will be fine." The second in command couldn't even speak clearly.
"Thank you. I also believe that things will get better. My father was once a top scholar in the imperial examination. Our family has the most books. I want to give you one." Xiao Jiuyue said, turning around and talking to Lianxin for a few words. Lianxin ran back to get the book. She murmured in her heart, could it be that if she took the book, the other party would let her go?
"Second brother, wait until we take them back. There are no books left." The eldest brother said impatiently, and was about to attack with a knife. The second brother stopped him and said, "Brother, I think she is right."
"What's right? I think you've been bewitched by the beauty." The big boss raised his hand and hit the second in command with a chestnut.
The second in command covered his forehead, which was hurt by the blow, and said expectantly, "Brother, Lord Xiao must be a good official. I want his book."
"I tell you you're stupid but you don't believe me. So what others say is true? Which official is good? They only think about how to make money for their families. None of them would think about doing things for the people." The big boss said with gritted teeth. It was that bastard county magistrate who took other people's money and put the blame on him.
"Brother, you can't generalize." The second-in-command looked at him with clear eyes and said, "We were forced to become bandits in the beginning. We can't bully the elderly, the weak, women and children now, can we?"
"You..." The boss covered his mouth. If it weren't for this silly brother who rescued him from the fire, he would have died eight hundred times.
"Second Master is wise. He became a bandit out of necessity. If he continues to bully the weak, wouldn't he be no different from those corrupt officials who treat human lives with disregard?"
Xiao Jiuyue took the opportunity to speak, "Meeting is fate, Second-in-command. I, Xiao Jiuyue, admire you. You have emerged from the muddy and untainted. Even after becoming a bandit, you still maintain your kind heart. You are a role model for bandits. You will surely be praised by the world in the future."
Xiao Jiuyue's compliments flowed out like they were free. She asked, "May I ask, Second-in-command, if you can be self-sufficient and fill your stomachs, do you still want to be bandits?"
The second in command shook his head vigorously and said, "If you can fill your stomach, who would want to risk their life?"
Xiao Jiuyue's eyes lit up, and she said, "I know how to improve crops. I guarantee that your harvest will double next year."
"Are you serious?" The second in command looked at Xiao Jiuyue in shock.
"Of course it's true. My father is the Minister of Revenue. The annual taxes are too high, and the people have too little left over grain. It just so happens that my father recently heard someone talk about a method to improve crops. Unfortunately, something went wrong before it could be implemented." Xiao Jiuyue's words were filled with regret.
"Second in command, what's your last name? It sounds a bit awkward to me to keep calling you Second in command, Second in command." Xiao Jiuyue changed the topic.
The second-in-command replied: "My surname is Xu, and my given name is Yang."
"Since you're two years older than me, I'll call you Brother Xu. Let me tell you, there are many techniques for increasing crop yields." Xiao Jiuyue smiled at him and said, "As long as you let us go safely, I'll teach you all these secret techniques."
"Seriously?" The second in command's eyes lit up instantly. Seeing that clear and innocent look, Xiao Jiuyue couldn't help but sigh. He didn't know how he survived in the bandit camp. He didn't learn any bandit spirit at all.
"Second brother, don't listen to her nonsense. She's lying to you." The eldest boss pulled the second boss away. Xu Yang struggled to stand still and looked at the eldest boss and said, "Brother, if we can really grow so much food, why would we risk our lives to steal from others?"
"Miss Xiao, are you lying to me?" Xu Yang looked at Xiao Jiuyue.
Xiao Jiuyue raised her hand and swore, "If I, Xiao Jiuyue, deceive Brother Xu, then I will be struck by lightning and never get married in this life."
"Okay, I believe you." Seeing Xu Yang's clear eyes, Xiao Jiuyue silently took a step back.
"As long as you teach me how to grow more crops, and double the output without tripling it, I will let you go." As soon as Xu Yang said this, Xiao Jiuyue's eyes lit up with joy. It would be best if they could leave safely without fighting.
"No." The eldest boss retorted. Xu Yang pulled him aside and whispered, "Brother, food is the most important thing. Besides, if the government really touches the Xiao family during the bandit suppression, who knows if they will hold a grudge against them?"
"All the members of the Xiao family have been exiled, so what are you afraid of?" The eldest boss looked as if you were being too cautious.
"What if the Xiao family is rehabilitated?" Xu Yang asked.
The boss hesitated: "Can it be redressed?"
"Who can say for sure?" Xu Yang pursed his lips and said, "Brother, I think Miss Xiao is different from ordinary people. If the method she said can really produce crops, we can live our lives in peace in the mountains. The brothers won't have to risk their lives, and the tragedy of Da Hu and Xiao Hu won't happen again."
Xu Yang persuaded: "Brother, just listen to me!"
There was anticipation in Xiao Jiuyue's eyes. If it could succeed, their crisis would be resolved.
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