Chapter 17 The Robber [New] I'll take charge, release them! (Erkang...)
No one responded.
The rain intensified.
With her eyes closed, You Mingjiang quickly leaned against the wet tree trunk, her shoulders trembling slightly, and let out a few low groans.
After eating nothing but dry fried noodles for days, without a single bite of meat, I felt a bit weak. Just now, a sudden surge of anger rose in my heart, and I immediately felt dizzy, my legs went weak, and I almost fell into the mud.
I can't say whether the past two weeks of travel have been good or bad.
When they first set out, You Mingjiang helped every disaster victim he saw, always sharing some water and food from his bamboo medicine basket to stave off hunger.
How could they possibly be saved in one go?
The bamboo medicine basket was only so big, and it was used up more than replenished along the way, so it was really tight. Although the medicine gourd was a treasure, it could not replicate Chinese medicinal herbs. As for the medicines that could be replicated as alms, there was not only a limit to the quantity, but the efficacy would also decrease with each use.
She was unwilling to give up any of them.
But the countless disaster victims scattered everywhere, right in front of her, were telling her what it meant to be "forced into a corner."
.
Having lived most of his life, what kind of human relationships hadn't he seen? He knew that Doctor You was about to collapse.
She was exhausted.
They could no longer endure the agony of being beyond saving.
But Dr. You is a respectable person.
He never showed anyone his painful side.
Once, Doctor You encountered a child who was on the verge of death. His parents had both starved to death, leaving only him. His ribs bulged, but his little head remained upright, his eyes refusing to close. He clung to life with only a wisp of breath, a truly pitiful sight. She took a pot of tofu soup and fed the child spoonful by spoonful. But the child still cooled down in her arms, his two little hands stiffly curled up.
She didn't cry or say anything, she just stared at the child for a while, then whispered to Hai Si's father, "Bury him deeper, so that wild dogs won't harm him."
Hai Si's father wanted to say a few words of comfort to her, but she spoke first: "There are so many disaster victims. We can save one, but not all of them, right?"
As she said this, she forced a smile at Hai Si Die, her expression filled with bitterness.
From that moment on, she instructed Hai Si's father to take a detour. Whenever possible, they would take a longer route to avoid the disaster-stricken areas, rather than venture any further. Whenever people looked at her, she would force a smile, but it would fade before it reached her eyes. After the smile, she would fall silent again. She smiled to reassure everyone, to let them know that she, their pillar of support, hadn't collapsed.
Hai Si's father saw everything, but he couldn't bear to say it out loud.
At first, he was afraid that Dr. You would think they were useless, so he was eager to lend a hand; but now he genuinely cares for her and sincerely wants to share her burdens, not wanting to cause her any more trouble.
Several times, he felt really bad and wanted to say to her, "My daughter and I will leave now, so we won't bother you anymore. You should get some rest."
But then I thought again and couldn't move my feet...
Firstly, she was reluctant to leave; the future was uncertain, and she didn't know where to go. Secondly, she was genuinely afraid that if they left, no one would be by Dr. You's side anymore. If she lost even this little bit of attachment, what would happen if she couldn't hold on?
At this critical moment, what Dr. You needs most is to stop thinking about anything and calm down.
That's why he was so anxious, forcing himself to stay focused for a moment, not even allowing himself a moment to catch his breath, and not letting Hongzhu bother Doctor You.
But once people get older, all they do is cause trouble.
Even something as ordinary as driving a carriage could be ruined by a tripwire breaking the wheel...
Hai Sidie couldn't help but blame himself. After blaming himself, he remembered Lu Xiaojia, whom he had met in the mountain god temple.
Sigh, if only Lu Xiaojia were here right now.
At the very least, he's much more useful than my old, frail body.
·
Why think about someone who's not even in front of you?
If You Mingjiang knew what Hai Si Die was thinking right now, he would definitely sigh and shake his head.
The old man is overthinking things.
She was just very tired and had low blood sugar.
Whether they go north with her or not, she will keep moving forward. No matter how much or how little effort this group puts in, they have no choice; it's just a matter of sharing food.
As for not liking to smile...
In this situation, who could still laugh? If someone could still laugh heartily in front of disaster victims, they would truly be a living beast.
Yu Mingjiang leaned against the tree for a while to recover, then took out a 250ml plastic bottle from the bamboo medicine basket. Inside was 5% glucose injection solution. He unscrewed the cap and tilted his head back to drink a few mouthfuls.
After pausing for a while, feeling some strength returning to my chest and abdomen, and my mind becoming clearer, I finally let out a long sigh.
Thinking she couldn't waste it, she forced herself to drink half a bottle more, but she really couldn't swallow anymore. She frowned, smacked her lips, and thought: Next time I should keep some maltose in the bamboo medicine basket; this glucose injection doesn't taste very good...
Just as You Mingjiang put the remaining half bottle of glucose back into the bamboo medicine basket, he heard a rustling sound from the bushes.
Her heart skipped a beat. She straightened up, wiped her mouth with her hand, stretched out her arm to protect Hai Si Die warily, and slowly retreated until she reached the mule cart.
The next moment, seven figures suddenly sprang out, each dressed in rags and carrying a short axe and a broadsword.
It's good that these bandits showed themselves; it's better than them hiding in the shadows and using those underhanded tricks.
She has two children in her car.
You Mingjiang glanced at them and already had a plan in mind.
These men were emaciated, with sunken eyes and bulging veins on the backs of their hands gripping knives, yet they trembled slightly. Their tattered clothes couldn't conceal their bony frames, and their trouser legs were covered in half-dried mud. They didn't look like seasoned bandits; they looked more like starving people with bloodshot eyes.
She took a deep breath and spoke in a calm and clear voice, neither too loud nor too soft, just enough to penetrate the patter of the rain.
"We were just passing through, we didn't have anything valuable in the car, and we didn't want to cause any trouble..."
Trying to dispel the other party's most likely malicious intentions, she paused briefly, her gaze falling on the bandit leader with a ferocious expression, and continued, "There's not much food left, only a small half-bag of coarse rice. Take it if you want, consider it a toll."
She deliberately exaggerated the "toll fee" to both show weakness and save them some face. Her right hand, seemingly hanging casually, was actually gripping the tiger brace, ready to strike at any moment.
·
Raindrops pattered on the leaves and the car roof, creating a rustling sound. The scene of confrontation on the mountain road was so stifling that it was hard to breathe.
"Gulp." Hai Si's father nervously swallowed.
The bandit leader sneered and spat, "Do you think I'm a three-year-old child, easy to fool?"
Seeing the lanterns of the post station hanging high on the cart, the bandit leader had no more doubts and swung his broadsword straight down with a whoosh!
"Brothers, let's go! Rob the corrupt official's stolen goods!"
·
Hai Si's father was shocked.
Unexpectedly, these people hated them to the core. Hai Si's father cried out in panic, "It's a misunderstanding! We're refugees..."
The broadsword came slashing down, but You Mingjiang pulled Hai Sidie away. The blade grazed Hai Sidie's face, and Hai Sidie broke out in a cold sweat.
"Misunderstanding my foot!" the bandit leader roared. "Hand over the stolen goods and you won't be killed!"
"Brother, why waste your breath on these lackeys!" A man with a short axe rushed forward menacingly.
With quick reflexes, You Mingjiang shoved Hai Sidie back into the car, then sidestepped, using his tiger-shaped brace to hook the robber's elbow. Taking advantage of the slippery ground, he gently hooked the man, sending him sprawling into the mud with a "plop," his axe flying away.
Inside the carriage, Hai Hongzhu tightly embraced the unconscious Tie Pinggu, and pulled a broadsword from under the rattan mat. Seeing Hai Sidie stumble in, she cried out urgently, "Father! I'll protect you!"
"Don't make things worse, you'll be a huge help!" Hai Si's father snatched the broadsword, shielded the two girls behind him, and looked outside again, where he saw another bandit rushing towards You Mingjiang!
The robber's face was also etched with the same hatred.
It's so strange! Why do these people hate Dr. You for no reason when they've just met her?!
·
"clang!"
Tiger brace blocked the broadsword, the shock making the opponent's tiger's mouth go numb.
Taking advantage of the situation, You Mingjiang kicked the man in the back of the knee, then grabbed his clothes and flung him aside, knocking over another man.
Hai Si's father leaned forward anxiously and shouted, "Stop hitting us! We really don't have any stolen goods, and we're not some lackeys... Who brings a group of old, weak, sick, and disabled people to transport stolen goods?"
These people were in a bloodthirsty frenzy. Even though You Mingjiang was willing to give way, they still got angry and used his tiger-shaped brace to knock down several of them.
Just as things were getting chaotic, a shout suddenly rang out: "Stop fighting!"
Sister-in-law Sha rushed out of the bushes, holding a small child in her arms, "If you hit him again... the child will really die!"
It was a thin child, about two or three years old, pale and emaciated, crying with his mouth open and waving his little hands restlessly.
Upon seeing his wife and children, Boss Sha's eyes immediately reddened, and his hands fell limply: "Who told you to bring him here?!"
The veins on his forehead bulged, not from anger, but from impatience.
"If you don't bring him, will you stop?" Sister-in-law Sha asked, tears streaming down her face.
Great opportunity!
Taking advantage of the opportunity, You Mingjiang knocked down several people, and then used the tripwire on the spot to tie them up tightly.
Seeing this, Sister-in-law Sha was startled and hurriedly turned to You Mingjiang, pleading, "I'm so sorry... we really have no other choice... that corrupt official Tan Dao is forcing us to quarry stone, each person is required to chisel three bushels a day, or they'll be beheaded..."
The bandit leader, also known as Boss Sha, stared intently at his wife, his face flushed red, tears streaming down his face and into his beard.
The brothers next to him also turned their faces away, their shoulders twitching.
·
The seven brothers of the Sha family in Luanshigang were originally stone quarrymen.
They were all tough men who made their living through their physical strength. It was only because of the exploitation by Tan Dao, a corrupt official in Daming Prefecture, that they had ended up in this emaciated state.
A while ago, the stone mine collapsed, and Sha Laowu was buried for half a day. He was finally rescued, but he was left with a limp. The government ignored the matter and instead accused them of damaging the mine, cutting off their livelihood.
Forced into a corner, the seven brothers had no choice but to take a risk and start a business with no capital in this rocky hill.
This time, I only stayed here day and night in this desolate wilderness after hearing some news. When I was starving, I would gnaw on some tree bark, and when I was thirsty, I would collect some rainwater to drink. I suffered terribly.
They're working so hard just to wait for some news!
I heard that that damned corrupt official Tan Dao has curried favor with the Frightened General and is planning to smuggle a batch of pearls the size of longan as a birthday gift!
A total of seventy-two pearls!
This is no pearl, it's just fat squeezed from the bones of ordinary people!
They were also apprehensive, worried that the information was inaccurate and they would have wasted their time. But even if there was only a sliver of hope, they had to give it a try, right?
Therefore, they kept an eye on both large groups of镖车 (armed caravans) and small official-style carriages like these.
Today has finally come!
The mule cart looked unremarkable, but the driver, You Mingjiang, had the air of an official, and the cart was decorated with lanterns from a post station…
What legitimate government official would take such a desolate route?
Upon seeing this, Boss Sha spat on the ground in anger and cursed, "That bastard Tan Dao, what a cunning son of a bitch! Still thinking of getting away with it? Brothers, don't let him get away with this!"
That's why the farcical incident mentioned above happened.
·
Sister-in-law Sha was still sobbing softly.
The little one in her arms had her pupils half-open, looking at Sister-in-law Sha with a blank expression. She reached out her little hand and grabbed a strand of hair. When her mother ignored her, she suddenly burst into even louder crying, her little face turning red.
After a moment of silence, You Mingjiang took off his bag of fried noodles and gently handed it to Sister-in-law Sha: "Don't let the child suffer, take this fried noodle first..."
Hai Hongzhu's eyes lit up, and she immediately pulled herself out of the carriage, handed over her bag of fried noodles, and said crisply, "Mine is for you too!"
Sister-in-law Sha stood there, staring at the two bags of fried noodles in front of her, as if she couldn't believe it was real.
After a long while, she trembled as she reached out her hand, and as soon as she touched the bag of fried noodles, she burst into tears.
I wish I could cry out all the grievances I've suffered these past few days.
·
"Th-thank you...you are such kind people..."
As she bowed and thanked them, tears mingled with the rain, soaking her clothes.
"You spineless coward! Who told you to take that!" Boss Sha's eyes were bloodshot and his voice was hoarse with anxiety. He would rather die than eat anything his lackeys gave him; he wouldn't even touch a single bite!
"I am not an official, and there is no stolen goods in the vehicle."
You Mingjiang gently lifted a corner of the carriage curtain, revealing the elderly, weak, and sick inside. "The lanterns at the post station were hung up to avoid the refugees."
Boss Sha opened his mouth, but his anger gradually subsided.
Upon closer inspection, the vehicle and the people inside did not appear to be transporting valuables.
Seeing this, the seven Sha brothers finally lost their spirits.
They became outlaws just to find a way for their families to survive.
You Mingjiang sighed softly, "Our car broke down thanks to your tripwire..."
"We didn't set the tripwire!" Sha Laowu struggled to lift his head and said urgently, "A hero takes responsibility for his actions! Although we Sha brothers have become outlaws, we dare to take responsibility for our deeds! We definitely didn't set this tripwire!"
Not them?
Who could it be?
You Mingjiang's heart tightened: there was another group of people hiding in this desolate wilderness!
·
Thinking of this, she hesitated for a moment and slowly said, "Although I don't know what exactly this 'stolen goods' you're talking about, I guess it's most likely a trap set by someone."
"What makes you say that?" Boss Sha suddenly looked up, a hint of doubt flashing in his eyes.
You Mingjiang asked him, "And you? Where did you hear about this?"
Sha Laoda's voice was hoarse: "It's all over the place... Some people say that Deng Dinghou's escort agency took on a smuggling mission; others say that Tan Dao doesn't trust escort agencies and wants people from the post station to impersonate government officials to secretly transport goods... We have no choice but to try our luck here."
Sha Lao Er excitedly interjected, "No matter how he transports it, as long as it belongs to Tan Dao, it's not wrong to rob it!"
You Mingjiang retorted, "Since Tan Dao is a corrupt official, how could he have transported such stolen goods that the news would have spread to everyone?"
Boss Sha opened his mouth, but ultimately remained silent.
Did they not have their doubts?
When pushed to the brink, one will desperately grasp at even the smallest straw.
You Mingjiang repeated, "Either they're using someone else to do their dirty work, or they're deliberately trying to mislead people... Yes, it's a trap."
·
The eldest brother was stung by the most sensitive nerve, and his neck stiffened abruptly: "A trap? We're already at our wits' end, all we have left is our worthless lives, what is there for others to bother scheming against?"
"The person who leaked the information has their own enemies to deal with. You just stumbled into the trap by accident. Because you are desperate, you are the easiest to incite; at the slightest sound, you will rush in without hesitation..."
You Mingjiang said in a low voice, "Anyway, you have nothing else to offer besides your lives, don't you?"
The Sha brothers' faces turned completely white in an instant.
The last vestige of tragic heroism from her becoming an outlaw was completely erased by a few casual words.
All that's left is blatant embarrassment.
They not only failed, but from the very beginning they were insignificant pieces on someone else's chessboard.
Sha Laoda couldn't help but shiver.
You Mingjiang sighed softly, "You are not suited to be bandits."
If you really had the ruthlessness required for this line of work, you wouldn't have driven yourself and your family to such a miserable state.
These harsh words were even more hurtful than being doused with cold water.
The Sha brothers were drenched to the bone.
·
The woman standing to the side had red eyes, and the child in her arms was crying uncontrollably.
She looked at You Mingjiang's face timidly for a moment, then looked at her bound husband.
Having just accepted the food rations, she found it incredibly difficult to ask for help again.
But that was her family's livelihood...
Seeing this, You Mingjiang silently took out the half bottle of glucose she hadn't finished drinking from the bamboo medicine basket, poured it into a bamboo tube filled with warm water, shook it well, and then walked towards Sister-in-law Sha: "Let me see the child."
Sister-in-law Sha paused, instinctively clutching the child tightly. Looking up, she met You Mingjiang's gentle gaze. She hesitated for a moment, then carefully handed the child over.
You Mingjiang took the child; the child's small body was frighteningly light. She adjusted her position, letting the child lean against her arm, and brought the bamboo tube with the hollow reed stalk inserted to the child's mouth.
The child tasted a hint of sweetness and instinctively began to suckle. His thin neck trembled slightly, and a small hand rested weakly on You Mingjiang's wrist. The heart-wrenching cries finally subsided.
You Mingjiang patiently fed the child slowly, patting the child's back gently until the child's eyelids began to droop. Then she returned the child to the woman, saying, "Since it was a misunderstanding, let's turn hostility into friendship."
The seven Sha brothers looked up abruptly, the tough guys exchanging bewildered glances.
The ruthlessness that had driven him to the brink of despair vanished instantly.
Sister-in-law Sha was both crying and laughing.
It was as if I had seen a ray of light in the darkness.
You Mingjiang instructed Hai Sidie, "Help these people untie."
Hai Si Die did as he was told and stepped forward to untie the ropes.
Sha Laoda stood up hesitantly, moving his numb hands and feet. Seeing that You Mingjiang really wasn't going to pursue the matter, he didn't know what to do.
The others also lost their momentum.
Sha Laoqi scratched his head and muttered, "Sigh... We weren't born wanting to be bandits, it's that corrupt official Tan Dao who blocked all our paths to survival..."
"No one is born wanting to be a robber. Who doesn't want to live a peaceful life? But Tan Dao blocked your path, and if you go and block others, won't you become like him?"
You Mingjiang paused, looked up at the gradually weakening rain, and said gently, "If you know how to fix cars, please lend a hand."
Boss Sha hurriedly replied, "When we used to quarry stones, we often used stone-carrying carts. Those cart wheels were all reinforced with iron hoops for durability! Repairing your cart is no problem at all!"
The Sha brothers exchanged glances and then gathered around.
·
In the drizzling rain, the bandits who had just been at each other's throats were now squatting down, repairing her vehicle.
Boss Sha carefully inspected the deformed parts of the wheels, and his past experience in pushing and pulling stone carts came in handy.
The rain fell on people, leaving only a slight chill.
Wiping the rain from his face, Boss Sha solemnly said, "Once we get through this famine, I'll take my family somewhere else and start over... I'll never be a bandit again!"
·
This promise moved the Holy Mother System, and You Mingjiang's reward for her kindness came so quickly for the first time.
[Ding! Respected young hero, your chivalrous act at Luanshi Ridge successfully rescued a group of lost and vulnerable children. The reward has been sent to your bamboo medicine basket.]
The reward is as follows:
Compound Mannitol Injection * 250ml/bottle * 5 bottles
[Lactated Ringer's Solution * 1000ml/bottle * 10 bottles]
Special Rewards:
[Infrared ear thermometer *1]
This gift is specially issued as encouragement. We hope that young hero will remain humble and diligent, and continue his efforts.
·
The mule cart was repaired, and You Mingjiang received a reward for her good deeds, putting her in a great mood. She took out a few strings of cash and a small half-bag of coarse rice from her bamboo medicine basket, handed them to Boss Sha, and said with a smile, "This is the toll I was talking about earlier."
Boss Sha hurriedly declined, saying, "Wouldn't that embarrass me? I already said I wouldn't be a robber anymore, I can't accept this..."
You Mingjiang shook her head and said firmly, "Don't try to deny it to me. This isn't for you; it's for the children. How can children suffer like adults? Besides, if you want to leave Daming Prefecture, you'll need money for food, drink, and travel. Consider it a loan."
Upon hearing this, Boss Sha finally accepted it.
He choked up for a moment, then suddenly turned around and shouted in a hoarse voice, "Brothers! Kneel before our benefactor!"
"Don't do that," You Mingjiang quickly reached out to stop him. "You chose your own path, just don't go astray again."
She lightly jumped onto the carriage shaft, waved, and said, "I'm leaving."
·
Inside the mule cart, Hai Hongzhu clung to the side panel and looked back.
The Sha brothers and their wife were seen holding their child and waving from a distance by the roadside.
She waved to them, then shrank back, her voice tinged with uncertainty: "Dad, can they really change for the better?"
Hai Sidie sighed softly: "It's all because of this cannibalistic world that we've been forced into this situation... If it weren't for those corrupt officials who treat people like dirt and block all the roads, who would be willing to risk their life to do this dangerous, life-risking business?"
He drove the mule, then couldn't help but glance back at the receding rocky hills, lowering his voice to say, "Dr. You, shouldn't you change your clothes? I'm worried..."
“Alright.” You Mingjiang nodded. “What’s meant to be will be. Let’s just keep going on our way. If they’re really after us, there’s no way to escape them.”
As they were talking, Tie Pinggu leaned against the carriage wall and coughed a few times. Her face was still sallow. Seeing this, Hai Hongzhu quickly helped her sit up straight and carefully fed her warm water: "Pinggu, drink some water. Do you feel better?"
Tie Pinggu took two sips from her hand, nodded slightly, and asked weakly, "Just now...did we encounter bandits?"
"It's all over now!" Hai Hongzhu laughed, her eyes shining. "Sister You is amazing! She subdued them in no time! We even shared our rations with them."
"Sigh, they are really pitiful. They have been driven to the brink of starvation by the government, and their children are almost starving."
Tie Pinggu asked softly, "How can you be so sure they aren't vicious people?"
“It doesn’t matter who they are,” You Mingjiang said without turning around, just smiling. “What matters is that if we keep going a little further, we’ll be able to have some hot soup and rice.”
"That's great!" Hai Hongzhu cheered immediately.
Tie Pinggu watched You Mingjiang's retreating figure, a slight smile curving her lips, but she said nothing more.
If Dr. You didn't do this, then he wouldn't be Dr. You.
That's just how she is...
In front of outsiders, she always presents an invincible sharpness, but when facing those who need help, she hides a heart full of tender kindness.
·
The mountain road became even more muddy and difficult to traverse after the rain.
The wheels rolled over puddles, splashing mud that hit the floorboards with a dull thud.
Hai Sidie turned around, looked at the two little girls cuddling together in the carriage, and then at You Mingjiang, who was standing calmly beside him. The anxiety he had felt earlier had unknowingly dissipated by more than half.
The mule trudged through puddles, its feet sinking deep into the water, and crushed the dew-laden grass.
A clear tire track was reflected in the water splashed up by the wheels, heading further and further away towards Pingding Prefecture.
·
·
A note from the author:
----------------------
[Good Luck Lotus] Ding Xi revealed that Tan Dao, a corrupt official who was good at scraping skins, had acquired seventy-two pearls, each the size of a longan and worth millions, which he intended to give as a birthday gift to his powerful backer in the capital.
[Good Luck Lianlian] The seven brothers of the Sha family: Luanshigang, the seven brothers of the Sha family, Qingfeng Mountain and the eighteen villages of Xihe, all died under the banner of the Five Dogs of Lianying Escort Agency.
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