The mountain path was rugged and difficult to traverse, so Ye Wenxue slowed her pace.
The mountains near the town were inhabited, so the thugs who followed dared not make a move in public.
As Ye Wenxue walked further and further into the remote and desolate area, one of the hooligans couldn't help but start muttering:
"Could it be that they've discovered we're following them and are planning to turn the tables on us?"
Otherwise, what young girl could push such a big cart of things and go into the mountains all by herself?
Let alone famine and chaos, even before droughts, few girls dared to walk alone on mountain paths.
The leader of the thugs slapped him on the head: "There are so many of us, why are we afraid of just one? Let's make our move after we turn the corner and walk a few steps ahead, so we don't get seen and cause trouble for nothing."
The thugs nodded emphatically.
He Laoda, secretly despising the brains of these thugs, thought they weren't very smart.
His eyes darted around, not wanting to miss such a golden opportunity, so he swaggered out and whispered:
"This woman is no simpleton. Did she bring a knife? We'd better be quick..."
He Laoda made a slash across the neck, his face cold.
He had said all the right things, but since Widow Cheng was so ungrateful, he shouldn't blame him for being ruthless.
Blame Cheng Xiucai for dying too young, and blame the hard-hearted Widow Cheng for being unwilling to help her fellow villagers!
The thugs were stunned for a moment, and instinctively reached for their knives.
Old He hurriedly begged for mercy, his face fawning, and he lowered his voice to say flattering things: "Brothers, I just want to scavenge some food to survive, I will never disturb you from doing your important work."
The thugs were getting uneasy, fearing that what the man said might actually be true, and that there was a trap ahead where they could turn the tables and kill each other.
Upon hearing what Boss He said, the leader of the thugs' eyes flickered, and as he cautiously followed, he said, "I just saw you talking to her..."
Old He knew that if he didn't answer well, he would lose his life, so he immediately told the whole story of Widow Cheng, and finally he stated his conclusion:
"She's just strong and reckless. If she really runs into a knife, she won't be any help. We're all strong and healthy, why would we be afraid of a delicate woman?"
That time in Shanqing Village was before they had seen a dead person or witnessed the cruelty of a famine.
But after being beaten by refugees, robbed by bandits, and living a life of hardship and hunger, Boss He believed he had hardened his heart and become ruthless enough.
If killing people could earn him silver and grain, he could slaughter the entire village!
The thugs looked at each other, and after a while, the leader nodded: "Come on, we'll split the silver and grain together later!"
More people means more safety... If they really can't win and have to escape, this woman in front will definitely kill some shifty-eyed guy first, giving them enough time to run away.
Old He was overjoyed and tiptoed after them.
On the path ahead, Ye Wenxue pondered finding a decent place to send the thugs who had followed her on their way.
She's neither deaf nor blind, so how could she not hear the footsteps not far away?
As for hiding or concealing?
These people hid so poorly that several could be spotted with just a glance. Ye Wenxue even felt that they were there to entertain her.
Just as she was looking around for a place, a dozen or so people suddenly appeared in front of her on the path.
Ye Wenxue instantly became alert, squinted for a moment, and was surprised to find that the person walking at the front was the bald man from the bandit stronghold.
Didn't Baldy leave the bandit stronghold behind his mother's back?
Why is he followed by a group of fierce mountain bandits?
As Ye Wenxue was deep in thought and hurried along, the bald man led his brothers in a grand procession. They only saw the cart full of things, but did not see Ye Wenxue behind the towering pile of goods.
The bald man stroked his chin, examined the food, and chuckled a few times: "Tsk, my hands are itching and my heart is itching too."
The bandit henchman responded, "Boss, how about we..."
The bald man slapped him on the back of the head: "No way, your big brother said we can't do bad things. How dare you disobey your big brother?"
The wheelbarrow suddenly stopped.
Ye Wenxue asked, "Who is your older brother?"
The bald man thought it was his underlings talking and cursed, "What's it to you? Besides, you don't even know your boss? Wait till we get back, I'll teach you a lesson!"
The bald man glanced regretfully at the various items, about to step over the cart and continue walking, when he suddenly saw Ye Wenxue's face. His expression changed slightly, as if he had seen a ghost:
"Brother Ye... it's been a long time."
Ye Wenxue glanced at him and calmly ordered, "Arrest the people following me."
The bald man smiled obsequiously and replied, "Okay, I'll go right away."
He turned his head and gave his men a look.
The bandits drew their knives and rushed to grab the thugs and Boss He, who had sensed something was wrong and turned to flee.
The bald man stood obediently in place, carefully observing Ye Wenxue's expression, trembling with fear and not daring to move.
"Didn't your older brother die? A new older brother? Who is he? He won't bring anyone to cause me trouble, will he?" Ye Wenxue took out her water pouch, took a sip, and asked casually.
The bald man swallowed hard and moved aside to shield Ye Wenxue from the scorching sun with his muscular body.
"Hehe, Big Brother is indeed Big Brother... Don't worry, Boss Ye, how could I dare to cause you any trouble? I was even thinking of offering you some grain."
However, judging from the looks of it, it seems unnecessary.
Ye Wenxue's eyes flickered slightly, and she suddenly remembered the injuries Sui Ye always had when he returned from leaving the valley:
"The new chieftain is Gou Dan?"
The bald man didn't dare admit it, and after stammering for a while, he couldn't find the words. Seeing that his men had brought everyone here, he simply changed the subject:
"Boss Ye, what do you want to do with these people? If you ask me, just kill them and use them as fertilizer in the latrine."
Ye Wenxue glanced at the thugs who kept begging for mercy, then swept her gaze over Boss He's face, and said casually, "Break their legs first."
Old He felt a chill run down his spine and cursed, "Widow Cheng, you have such a vicious mind! I even considered divorcing my wife and marrying you back then. Luckily, I didn't, or I would have been cursed to death by you like Scholar Cheng!"
The bald man broke out in a cold sweat and kicked Boss He in the mouth, forcing him to shut up.
This bastard is courting death! He still needs to stay alive to take care of his mother and repay his elder brother!
Ye Wenxue raised an eyebrow and smiled: "Me, poisonous? I'm nowhere near as poisonous as you."
A group of thugs following and stalking a woman—could they be trying to help her because she looks frail?
Following Ye Wenxue's instructions, the bandits broke the legs of several thugs.
Baldy took special care of Boss He, breaking all three of his legs.
Ye Wenxue glanced at Boss He, who was wailing and cursing, and felt a little restless.
Why don't we just kill them and see how the story continues?
It seems... it's not impossible.
The bald man felt it wasn't enough; letting them leave would cause endless trouble.
Baldy recalled his elder brother's earnest instructions before leaving: to take care of Boss Ye's family discreetly, quietly, and without revealing his strength. Yet, he almost caused Boss Ye to be bothered by thugs...
He gave his subordinate a wink.
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