Chapter 45 Hostage
At this time, Lin Anyuan led his seventh and eighth brothers up Snake Mountain, or rather, they were tied up there.
"Come on, let's drink!"
"Boss, we've kidnapped a few hostages."
In the snake stronghold, the leader, Black Python, was drinking with his brothers when he looked up and saw that his men had brought seven men with their heads covered. He immediately cursed, "Are you blind? All those men can't even put together a decent piece of clothing. Is this what you call hostages?"
They're all dressed in rags, what good things could they possibly scrape together to ransom someone?
"Drag him away and chop him up to feed the dogs!"
"Brother Lin?"
At this moment, the man next to Hei Mang, dressed in a scholar's long robe, suddenly stood up and spoke uncertainly.
"Take off all these people's hoods!"
Lin Anyuan looked in the direction of the voice, and asked uncertainly, "Brother Zuo Yuan?"
Zuo Yuan, who now sported a mustache, stepped forward excitedly. "Brother Lin, I never expected it to really be you! When I first came out, I was going to look for you, but I got injured and was taken in by the chief. How did this happen to you..."
Lin Anyuan also looked "excited," saying, "A few brothers I know and I were desperate, so we stole from a rich family and wanted to come up the mountain to seek refuge with the chief of Snake Mountain. I wonder if the chief would take us in."
Upon hearing this, Zuo Yuan patted Lin Anyuan happily, then turned to the black python and said, "Boss, this Lin Anyuan is the ruthless character I told you about, he..."
Zuo Yuan excitedly said a lot, only to find that the black python was staring straight at Lin Anyuan, its eyes practically popping out of its head.
"Boss, boss!"
Black Python then came to his senses and laughed, "You do have a handsome appearance. How could I doubt that you're lying to me? What kind of ruthless character are you? You're clearly just a scholar."
Zuo Yuan hurriedly explained, "What I said, Chief, is the truth, he..."
"Alright, alright, since he's someone you know and intends to join our Snake Stronghold, then take him away and treat him to good wine and meat." After saying this, Black Python glanced at the things Lin Anyuan had brought, then his gaze fell on Lin Anyuan again.
After everyone was taken away, Zuo Yuan, recalling the look in the black python's eyes earlier, spoke up to warn, "Boss, this man is useful, but not someone to be trifled with..."
"Alright, stop talking nonsense, I know everything. I just don't like listening to your rambling." The black python, impatient, interrupted and left.
Zuo Yuan felt inexplicably uneasy. With Lin Anyuan's appearance, many people had tried to humiliate him back in prison.
But what became of those people? In the end, they didn't even survive with their bodies intact.
Would someone like that submit to the Black Python?
Zuo Yuan felt he needed to find a place to go down the mountain for a while first.
Just as he was about to go back to his room, Lin Anyuan showed up.
...
...
Ye Wan didn't wait for Lin Anyuan, nor did she go to set up her stall. She just stayed at home. She's not crazy; she knew someone was looking for trouble, yet she still went.
But Ye Hua arrived, bringing ten eggs.
"Sister, don't bring anything when you come. I have everything I need."
"Your chickens aren't grown up yet, and I don't have anything good to offer, so please don't look down on me." Ye Hua wrapped her hair in a handkerchief and tied it up. Her facial injuries had healed, and she looked pretty and delicate.
Speaking of the three Ye sisters, they are all good-looking, including Ye Yaozu, who is quite handsome, probably because he inherited his looks from their father who died young.
Ye Wan glanced at the half-grown chicken in the cage and smiled, "Then stay for dinner."
"I won't stay any longer. My younger brother is getting married tomorrow. Wang Hu has already gone over, but I thought I'd come and see you since I was thinking of you." Ye Hua looked at Ye Wan with smiles in her eyes.
My sister is doing better than before; she should be happy.
"Do you want to come along?"
Ye Wan shook her head, "You can go if you want, but I won't. I've already signed the indenture, so where do I have a family to rely on?"
Ye Hua's eyes showed sadness upon hearing this, "Fine, if I don't want to go, I won't go."
The two sisters talked for a while before Ye Hua left after finishing her meal.
The next day, a red "double happiness" character was pasted on the gate of the Ye family courtyard.
Except for the extremely poor, most farmhouses had similar courtyards. Ye Yaozu's courtyard was just like everyone else's in the village, with mud walls and mud houses, but it was kept clean and tidy.
Today, a large crowd gathered in front of Ye Yaozu's house. Everyone had heard that Ye Yaozu was marrying Xianglan, the one who was asking for a dowry of twenty taels of silver.
Those who had never seen her before joined in the fun, wanting to see what this twenty-tael new bride looked like. They figured that was about the price a landlord would pay for a concubine.
"You said that poor wretch married a beautiful woman for twenty taels of silver, is that true?"
Zhang Fuhu listened to the latest entertainment.
I remember now, that poor couple had a beautiful girl, but unfortunately they sold her to Lin Anyuan.
"I saw it for sure, he's really good-looking. I never thought that poor wretch would be so lucky." The lackey grinned lewdly.
"Let's go see. If the master finds out which fool stole my things, he'll skin him alive!" Zhang Fuhu was furious at the thought of his lost possessions and woman.
The courtyard of Ye Yaozu's house was filled with villagers.
To make a grand display, Ye Yaozu gritted his teeth and borrowed another five taels of silver, setting up five tables. The five tables were packed full, and the dishes were devoured as soon as they were served.
Old Mrs. Qian gritted her teeth in frustration. She had finally married him and would deal with the rest later.
She shoved Ye Hua, who was helping out, and said, "Go ahead and leave some room at the back. Otherwise, after these reincarnated starving ghosts have eaten, I'll still be hungry!"
Ye Hua went to the kitchen without saying a word, thinking to herself that it was fortunate Ye Wan hadn't come; she had been busy all day and hadn't even had a sip of water.
"Oh no! The bandits are here!"
The sudden sound silenced everyone; it was a young boy who had spoken.
"Ye Wen, what did you say?"
Ye Wen gasped for breath, “My father came back from Ping County today. He said that the town there has been completely looted by bandits, and the bandits even said that our Min County will be next.”
"Ye Wen, what nonsense are you spouting? How could bandits from Ping County possibly come to our area?"
The villagers, who were eating, ignored him and continued grabbing food.
"Really, my dad..." Ye Wen was so angry that he turned around and left when he saw that these people wouldn't listen to a word.
Squeak—
The wooden door was pushed open, and Ye Yaozu came in carrying a bowl overflowing with fatty meat.
"Xianglan, are you hungry? This is a bowl of meat and vegetables that I asked my mother to specially save for you. Eat it quickly."
"Why is it so noisy outside?" The woman sitting on the kang lifted her veil and frowned as she listened to the noise outside.
“The villagers are talking. That kid Ye Wen is joking that bandits are coming. How could bandits possibly come here?” Ye Yaozu said, already moving closer to Xianglan. “Hurry up and eat Xianglan.”
"Ugh... What's that smell? Take it out of here right now." Xianglan gagged and moved far away from the bowl of fatty meat.
Seeing that she wasn't eating, Ye Yaozu put the meat on the table and hugged her tightly, saying urgently, "Xianglan, I've finally married you. You're so beautiful."
"You bastard, in broad daylight..."
"Ye Yaozu, come out quickly! Zhang Fuhu is here!"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com