Seeing that more and more people were gathering around, the man didn't dare to confront her directly. He could only glare at her and turn back.
Song Ning warned everyone to be careful, saying that although the people over there looked respectable, they were very wicked and might be up to some dirty tricks.
One should always be wary of others; the people over there are no good.
People who had arrived earlier than them were already heading up the mountain.
Village Chief Luo sent Gao Tiedan and a few others up the mountain to check the situation first.
The group of people over there kept glancing in their direction, and each time they saw Song Ning, they would glare at them.
She grew up in modern society and has no concept of class. She thinks she can bully the people just because of her status. If she's so capable, why doesn't she drive the rebels away?
This is the first time Song Ning has ever truly hated someone from the bottom of her heart.
The high-speed train crew member who went up the mountain to inquire about the situation has returned, but the news he brought back is anything but funny.
I heard there is indeed water on the mountain, but it's not easy to bring it back.
Not only are there robbers on the road, but there are also bandits in the mountains. Bringing the water back will not be an easy task.
I heard you have to exchange it for silver.
Song Ning believed the earlier part, but the later part was less credible.
There's wasteland all around here, not even a village. What would we need money for?
If she were one of those bandits, she would have run away long ago. What if the water on the mountain had dried up?
If he went up there, he would probably run into bandits, but if he didn't go up there, Song Ning never wanted to go through what happened that day again; it was just too exhausting.
Song Ning discussed what to do with the two village chiefs, and both of them agreed that they should go up there.
The water Song Ning brought out last time was almost gone. The weather was hot and water consumption was high, so the livestock drank a lot, and many households had run out of water.
Song Ning did not refuse. If it really came down to money, he would give it even if it meant emptying his pockets. Water was the most important thing.
After agreeing on the plan, everyone got ready to go.
Song Ning noticed that only one person remained at the carriage, while the rest had gone up the mountain.
Song Ning scoffed. She thought she was so great, but she still had to go up the mountain to find water.
They left many young and strong people behind, and most of those who went up the mountain were teenagers, along with Gao Tiedan and Song Dahai.
Both of them had knives in their hands. If anyone dared to steal from them, they would have to see if the knives in their hands would allow it.
The rest stayed behind to watch over the grain, fearing that they might also be targeted by those below.
The group carried buckets up the mountain, where the scene was even more chaotic than they had imagined.
For a sip of water, villagers turned against each other, families killed one another, and some even left their wives and children behind just to be able to go up the mountain.
The mountain was filled with cries and screams, but it did nothing to stop the bandits from collecting their money.
After going up the mountain, Song Ning took a look at the bandits guarding the area from afar. To be honest, they looked much like ordinary villagers, except that they had knives in their hands.
After observing for a while, I indeed discovered the problem.
Song Ning whispered something in Li Xingwang's ear, and Li Xingwang nodded: "Okay, I'll go right now."
Li Xingwang walked over and said something to those people, and then the two sides started shoving each other. Li Xingwang fell down on his backside, got up, and walked towards Song Ning.
"I've checked, nothing." Then he asked, "Er Ya, what are you trying to do?"
Song Ning smiled and said, "Let's go to the back of the mountain."
There was hardly anyone on the back mountain, and when Song Ning and the others went there, they indeed saw a path behind it.
Once we reached the back of the mountain, we climbed straight up, then turned back and followed the path until we found the bandits' hideout.
Li Xingwang and Gao Tiedan were startled and quickly pulled Song Ning aside, saying, "Er Ya, this is a bandit's den! Are you out of your mind?"
Song Ning craned his neck and looked down, where he could see the village below. After a while, he said, "Look down."
The people in the village below are lining up, as if they are about to go down the mountain.
There were women and children in the village; it didn't look like a bandit's den at all.
"Xingwang, follow them and see where they're going."
"Okay." Li Xingwang quickly went down the slope and quietly followed.
Gao Tiedan asked in surprise, "Er Ya, how did you know their hideout was here?"
"The water source is right here, so their hideout can't be too far away." The men guarding the water outlet kept glancing in one direction; something was definitely wrong.
Gao Tiedan slapped his forehead: "That's right, otherwise how could they keep watch over them every day?"
After waiting for a while, Li Xingwang returned and said that they were carrying weapons and heading down the mountain.
"Down the mountain? What are they doing down the mountain?" Gao Tiedan asked, puzzled.
What for? Naturally, it's for food.
Once the money is received, it's useless unless you leave this mountain.
But how do these bandits survive after living here for so many years?
Those who have fled now have little money left. Rather than live one day at a time, they might as well spend some money to fetch water from the mountains.
However, the water on the mountain was just a pretext; their real target was the grain stored down below.
The mountain road is difficult to travel; livestock and vehicles cannot make it up. Moreover, most people send young and strong people up, leaving only the elderly and children at the foot of the mountain.
It was just the right time for them to go down.
Song Ning had given them instructions before they went up the mountain, saying that things weren't safe down there either, and that they should all carry some self-defense items just in case.
Song Ning looked unwell and led Gao Tiedan and Li Xingwang down the mountain.
Back at the water outlet, four or five people were still guarding it, and quite a few people were causing trouble nearby. Song Ning could see clearly that one of the men holding a knife was trembling.
She just had Li Xingwang check, and those people's hands didn't have calluses; they weren't the hands of people who wield knives all year round.
When Song Dahai saw his daughter return, he quickly led his men forward and asked, "Er Ya, how did it go?"
Song Ning whispered, "Dad, we need to take down those guys over there."
The group glanced over there. Although there weren't many people, they were all carrying knives, which could easily lead to a fatal situation.
Although Song Dahai wasn't sure, he still asked, "So, what do you suggest we do?"
Song Ning remembered what he had seen on TV before, gave Song Dahai and the others a few instructions, and then walked towards them.
Song Ning smiled, but as soon as she walked over, her path was blocked.
"If you want to go up, pay first!"
"I have no money."
"No money?" As he spoke, someone handed over some silver and walked past Song Ning.
"See? You can only come in if you have money, otherwise get out." He said this while brandishing a knife.
Song Ning smiled and said, "Don't worry, I may not have money, but I have other ways. You brothers live on the mountain year-round. Isn't food better than silver?"
As soon as Song Ning finished speaking, the expressions of the people in front of her changed; she had made the right bet.
“I know where I can get food.”
The group looked at each other, considering the veracity of what was said.
Song Ning continued, "Brothers, how about we make a deal?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
