His eyes rested on the thinnest of the group. He walked over, climbed onto his shoulder, and said with a half-smile on his face:
"Da Li, you've been in our 'Love and Brotherhood Society' for about half a month now. As for your performance, everyone can see that you haven't made any contribution."
"How can we go on like this? You can't always rely on your brothers to protect you. You have to show some support, right?"
Dali's name and he himself are two extremes. It is said that his mother gave birth to him seven months prematurely. He has been short and thin since he was a child. His family gave him this name specifically to make it easier to raise him. Little did they know that he has been laughed at since he was a child because of this name.
Dali seemed to be pressed down two inches by the weight of Li Yuan. His frail body barely supported itself as he forced a smile from his face.
"Brother Li, you know I'm timid. I really don't dare to do those things before. Going there would only cause you trouble, but I will definitely find a way to make up for the money I owe..."
Before he could finish his words, Li Yuan interrupted him:
"We're all brothers, money doesn't matter. Taking you out to play means I respect you. Isn't that right, everyone?"
"right!"
The other people had been with Li Yuan for a long time, and when they saw his behavior, they knew that something bad was waiting for Dali, and they all waited to watch the fun with a gloating look on their faces.
Dali had a forced smile on his face. He did not join Li Yuan's "Loyalty Society" voluntarily.
It was because Anfeng Town was so small, and Li Yuan was determined to expand the scale of the "Loyalty Society". If he didn't join this group of people, he would become the target of their bullying. In order to make his life easier, he had no choice but to bite the bullet and join them. He followed them through the streets and alleys like a gangster, shouting slogans and flattering Li Yuan.
But no one, no matter how small or powerful, would dare to do the illegal things they did. Li Yuan had disliked him for a long time, and today he was determined to take action against him.
"Look, we've been starving for so many days. Shouldn't you find a way to get some meat so we can have something to eat?"
Dali's face turned pale with fright when he heard this. Just now, when he followed a group of people to "discuss" with Director Zheng, he didn't dare to stand up and say a word. Now, from what Li Yuan said... did he want him to take action tonight?
"Brother Li, Brother Yuan, you are my real brother, you know me best, I am nothing, I have never even killed a chicken since I was a child, I really don't dare to kill a pig!"
As he spoke, his legs began to tremble, and his cowardly look made the people around him laugh so hard that they fell over.
Li Yuan patted his shoulders twice and said in a considerate manner:
"Don't worry. I treat you like a brother. How could I let you do something so risky? With so many soldiers watching, wouldn't that be 'seeking death'?"
Just as Dali was about to thank him with tears of gratitude, he heard Li Yuan continue to say:
"I've figured it all out for you. I know where to get the meat. All you have to do is put in the work and run some errands."
Dali was bewildered after hearing this, wondering where Li Yuan could get the meat in this remote place.
Li Yuan grinned, grabbed his shoulders, twisted him around like a chicken, pointed in the direction of the foot of the mountain and said:
"See? Those floating in the water are all pigs, sheep, and chickens that have drowned since being washed down from upstream... Go to the shore and pick up a couple. We'll have a barbecue tonight!"
When the others heard this, their eyes lit up. This was a good idea. They wouldn't have to conflict with others and they could still get to eat meat.
They immediately echoed:
"Yeah, Dali, look how much Brother Li takes care of you, it's time you show some appreciation!"
"If you don't even want to do this, then you don't consider me brothers. Since you don't give me face, don't blame me for not giving you face either!"
Several people used both coaxing and threatening to force Dali to go down the mountain to get some meat for them. He hadn't eaten meat for a few days and was feeling very hungry.
Dali's legs went weak and he almost knelt down before Li Yuan, his voice filled with tears:
"Brother Li, there are black bears in this forest. If I meet one, I'll be dead!"
Li Yuan smiled and seemed to be saying something casual:
"This forest is so vast, it's not easy to encounter a black bear. Besides, the black bear must have been chased away by the PLA troops long ago. Just go ahead and don't worry. We'll be waiting for your good news."
Dali wanted to beg again, but suddenly he saw Li Yuan smiling and taking out a folding knife from his pocket. He played with it quickly in his hand, and the sharp blade reflected a terrifying cold light.
He only heard him grinning and waving the knife at Dali's lower back:
"Okay, it's settled. You're just whining like a bitch. You'll be there after midnight. Hurry up and be back within three hours."
The flood at the foot of the mountain has flooded halfway up the mountain. If you run quickly from the temporary shelter to the shore, it will take more than three hours to go back and forth.
Why did Li Yuan emphasize that he should come back within three hours?
Because the discipline in the refuge area was strict and a head count was required every three hours, Li Yuan ordered Dali to return within three hours, otherwise he would be exposed.
Dali's lower back suddenly tightened, and his entire back became stiff. He didn't dare to say another word. He could only nod reluctantly with a sad face.
Seeing that he did not dare to resist, Li Yuan was naturally pleased. After all, he did not need to make a trip in person, and it was much easier than snatching the pig from Old Man Zheng.
Several people discussed waiting until three o'clock in the morning after the count was completed before setting off, because that was the time when people were the most sleepy. Except for the soldiers on patrol, other soldiers would close their eyes and rest for a while after counting. After all, most of the night had passed and the people were all asleep, so generally there would be no problems. They were just waiting for the count again at six o'clock in the morning.
They wanted to seize that opportunity and find a way to help Dali escape.
At three o'clock in the morning, as the signalman blew the horn, the number of people in the shelter was counted as usual.
"Company, row, squad, line up!"
"First company, first platoon, second squad, assembled!"
......
"Second Company, Second Platoon, Third Squad, assembled!"
…
After hearing the report from the third squad of the second platoon of the second company where they were, Li Yuan winked at them, sandwiched Dali in the middle, and they moved towards the soldier responsible for their safety.
Li Yuan approached and said with a cheeky smile:
"Brother, we want to go to the bathroom."
The soldier hadn't slept well for several nights. His eyes were bloodshot and he frowned.
"Are all of you going? Is it convenient and possible for you to go together?"
Li Yuan said shamelessly with a wink:
"Well... isn't there a black bear in the woods? Shouldn't we go with a few more people to give us more courage?"
What he said made sense. The soldier didn't think too much about it and waved at him:
"Go ahead, but don't go too far. If you encounter danger, shout loudly!"
Li Yuan nodded frequently:
"Okay, thanks, big brother. Got it!"
Dali, with a deathly pale face, was sandwiched between several people and walked into the dark forest.
After walking about fifty meters, Li Yuan stopped, and the other people who were holding Dali also let go.
I only heard Li Yuan say:
"Hurry up and come back! Whether we can have barbecue tonight depends entirely on you!"
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