The village was bustling with activity on the day Xie Yongnian's elder brother got married. Although they were a rural family, they didn't have the elaborate dowry of a ten-mile-long procession, but they still had all the traditional betrothal and marriage customs.
The villagers gathered at Xie's house to help with bookkeeping, counting, cooking, and serving dishes. The procession, accompanied by gongs and drums, sent the bride from the village entrance to the village exit.
Taking advantage of this opportunity, the children broke free from the adults' restraints and weaved through the crowd. Several mischievous children even peeked through the gaps in the sedan curtain, trying to catch a glimpse of the bride's beautiful face in advance.
Wanwan had already arrived at the Xie family's house and was sitting on a low stool, leisurely swinging her legs and eating hawthorns. A tall stack of wine jars stood beside her.
The aroma of the liquor wafted through the red cloth wrapped around it, and Wanwan already felt somewhat intoxicated just from smelling it.
As night fell, the wine jars were brought to the tables one by one. The people at the tables toasted each other, and everyone drank until they were tipsy. Many of those who couldn't hold their liquor had already passed out on the tables.
Just as the banquet was drawing to a close, a series of rapid hoofbeats suddenly came from outside the Xie family's residence.
The guests, engrossed in their revelry, were oblivious to the approaching sound of horses' hooves.
Wan Kongshan had already finished eating and was enjoying the cool air at the entrance when he suddenly heard a noise. Just as he was about to get up to check, the door was suddenly forced open.
Wan Kongshan, who was sitting in front of the door, was pushed several feet away by this strange force and rolled several times on the ground before stopping.
He fell badly and couldn't get up despite his efforts.
The loud noise drew everyone's attention. The dazed crowd turned around and saw the door, which had been smashed open, lying in pieces at the entrance. A group of burly men on black horses emerged from the unprotected doorway.
The leader had a black cloth covering his mouth and nose and was holding an extremely long machete.
The black horse he rode was sleek and shiny, with a red bell tied around its neck. Its clear, tinkling sound, under the cover of darkness, sounded like a deadly siren.
Before anyone could react, the burly man at the head of the group spurred his horse and charged in with his sword raised, followed closely by the rest of his men.
The guests were thrown into chaos in an instant, and the once joyous wedding scene instantly turned into a hell of wailing and lamentation.
When the bandits entered, chaos ensued. Wan Kongshan, lying on the ground, clutched his ribs in pain. All he could hear was a cacophony of noise, the sound of horses' hooves, cries, and the shattering of wine jars and bowls, creating a climate of fear and unease.
In the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the bandits had smashed everything they could. Before the dust they kicked up had even settled, the bandits on their tall horses had sped away again.
At this moment, Wan Kongshan was finally able to stand up with great difficulty.
His mind was still foggy from the fall, but he had seen the whole scene of the bandits forcibly breaking in and smashing things, especially the big black horse with bells and the big man with his mouth and nose covered, which instantly brought back long-forgotten memories.
Such a scene...
Wan Kongshan stood up, leaning against the wall. He coughed for a long time and was about to go to his father to tell him his conjecture when another person rushed into the courtyard.
"Oh no! Oh no!"
The newcomer's wailing and lamenting startled the mud-covered, still-terrified guests, who trembled and were ready to flee at any moment.
"Oh no! The bride has been kidnapped by those bandits!"
"What?!"
Everyone was stunned. The Xie family members were so anxious that they were sweating and stamping their feet. The scene became chaotic again, and some people even started hurling insults at each other.
Wan Kongshan, clutching his stomach, found Wan Suizhou in the crowd, who was comforting the Xie family.
The two walked to the side.
"Kongshan?" Wan Suizhou's heart tightened when he saw his son covered in yellow mud and with blood at the corner of his mouth.
"I'm fine, Dad."
Wan Kongshan raised his hand and wiped his mouth haphazardly. "I think the bandits who came today are the same ones who kidnapped my mother back then!"
Wan Suizhou's aged eyes widened, and his wrinkled face tensed up.
He knew his son's temper; if he didn't try to persuade him, his son would definitely go and fight those bandits to the death, which would be like a mantis trying to stop a chariot.
"Are you sure you saw it clearly? Is it really that group of people?" Wan Suizhou's cloudy eyes gradually filled with tears.
"Father, I remember the lead horse, and it used the same trick to kidnap my mother last time! I will definitely not let them get away with this!"
Wan Kongshan was already excited, his body trembling slightly, and he couldn't help but cough twice after he finished speaking.
“I know you’re worried, but you must not act impulsively this time. Taking action before you understand the situation will only cause you trouble. Right now, you’re feeling hot-blooded and emotional, which makes you easy for others to manipulate.”
Wan Suizhou gripped his son's shoulders tightly, his earnest advice tinged with a hidden sorrow.
He longed to avenge the theft of his wife...
"father!"
Wan Kongshan felt a sharp pain in his heart. All his pleas were reduced to a single address. His chest heaved violently, and a bright red flush rose to his face.
Wan Suizhou said firmly, "Tell the authorities only after you've confirmed it. Don't spread the word yet, and absolutely do not act alone. Listen to your father."
Wan Kongshan lowered his head angrily, tears welling up in his eyes.
With a cry of "Ouch!", Wanwan suddenly fell into their line of sight, interrupting the father and son's secret conversation.
The father and son exchanged a glance and quickly went to help her up.
Wan Suizhou squatted down and carefully removed the grass blades that had gotten on her when she fell. "Wanwan, are you alright?"
"No."
Wanwan obediently shook her head, but immediately put on a bright smile, just like the mischievous grin of someone who knows a secret. "But Wanwan accidentally overheard what Grandpa and Uncle were talking about."
With her head tilted to the side, she smiled innocently, her two round, black eyes full of cunning. No one would believe that she had overheard it "accidentally."
The two paused for a moment, then exchanged a glance.
Wan Kongshan squatted down, held Wanwan's small shoulders, and said earnestly, "If Wanwan knows, you have to keep this a secret for me. You can't tell anyone else right now. From now on, only the three of us will know about this, okay?"
Wanwan met Wan Kongshan's gaze, seemingly somewhat embarrassed, "Wanwan also wants to keep the secret, but when Wanwan came over just now, there were already other people listening..."
The two men's hearts jumped into their throats. Just as they were about to ask a question, they saw Wanwan pull out the other friends from behind.
They are Xiao Qi, Xie Yongnian, Wan Yuekui, and Wan Yuechi.
Several children stood in a row without any hesitation.
It turns out the two had a secret meeting that lasted for half a day, which was practically an announcement in public!
The father and son exchanged a helpless glance, while the other children who had been forcibly pulled out also looked at each other awkwardly, not daring to look up.
"Let's act now!"
Xiao Qi's guards suddenly appeared in the middle of the crowd.
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