Since the task was not completed, and the person came to ask for payment, Zhao Yongze naturally refused.
"You haven't let me work for nothing these past few days, have you? Now you want payment? What are you thinking? Do you really think I'm a pushover?" Zhao Yongze's tone became arrogant.
He didn't believe these bandits would dare to do anything to him. If they really dared to harm him, his father would surely report to the emperor that there were ruthless bandits robbing and plundering in this area, and the emperor would send troops to assist the government in suppressing the bandits.
As the only legitimate son in the family, even if his father knew about his relationship with this ruthless bandit, his father would cover it up for him.
"Oh, Young Master Zhao is quite arrogant. Aren't you afraid I'll kill you right now?" The other party was being unreasonable, which put Mo Mu in a difficult position.
After all, his primary goal is still to make money.
Zhao Yongze's father, Zhao Guangtai, was a sixth-rank official. Although he was in charge of Baishi Town, it was also an important place because the border town of Dawuguan was located just beyond Baishi Town.
A sixth-rank official in Baishi Town is practically the local tyrant, and the lucrative opportunities for an official in such a town are no less than those in other prefectures or cities.
Moreover, being far from the capital, this sixth-rank official lived a more comfortable life here than officials in the capital.
Zhao Guangtai has a close relationship with the person in Dawuguan. If he were to offend him, that person might actually send troops to suppress the bandits.
Upon hearing that the other party was going to kill him, Zhao Yongze smiled indifferently; "I'm really not afraid. If I were afraid, I wouldn't have come looking for you in the first place."
Do you really think that there are only ordinary servants outside my place?
Also, even if you're very powerful and can kill me, you'd better do it cleanly and thoroughly, slaughtering all my men without leaving any behind, otherwise…”
Zhao Yongze didn't finish his sentence, but Mu Mu understood the blatant threat.
"Alright, Young Master Zhao, now that I'm here tonight, I certainly can't leave empty-handed. From the day I took this job from you, my brothers have been waiting on the road."
Young Master Zhao, have you calculated how many days it's been? You were so certain back then that the young lady and her party were going to Dawuguan, but what happened? We haven't seen a trace of them since.
It's winter now, and it's snowing. My men have suffered a lot in the freezing cold, which is why we've come to ask for our payment.
If the matter isn't settled yet, Young Master Zhao, just give us half first. Otherwise, if that young lady and her party don't go to Dawu Pass, or if they go somewhere else instead, wouldn't we have wasted our time?
I know that your father is a high-ranking official, but the higher the rank, the more afraid one is of losing one's official hat, right? And what is your relationship with that guy from Da Wuguan? You must have offended quite a few people, haven't you?
"Speaking of bandit suppression, I am afraid, but I've been doing this for years, and I wouldn't have come here tonight if I wasn't confident," Mu Mu sneered.
His words and attitude annoyed Zhao Yongze, who had long heard that dealing with the underworld was unreliable.
I thought I could control it, but now I realize it's troublesome.
He was confident that even if his father found out, he wouldn't do anything to him and would still protect him.
But what I didn't expect was Mo Mu's threat.
Even if Zhao Yongze was a complete scoundrel, he wouldn't disregard the words of this bandit leader.
The good life that my family and clan are living now is all because of my father's official position. If my father loses his official post, everything will be for naught.
He wasn't that noble, thinking of the whole family. He was just used to getting whatever he wanted, and that's why he was more afraid of losing everything he had.
"You're right, it's really not easy in this freezing weather. Fine, I'll give you half the reward. Just remember, you absolutely must get this done for me." Zhao Yongze thought for a moment; it was just silver, he could easily afford it.
He quickly ordered his servant to fetch the silver from his mother.
Half of the reward was not a small amount, and she didn't dare to ask her father for it. After all, her mother controlled the family finances and always doted on her.
Before long, half of the payment was delivered.
"Young Master Zhao is a straightforward man, but if that young lady and her party change their itinerary before the New Year, then don't blame us for breaking our promise. This business deal will then be over." Mu Mu emphasized before leaving.
If no one comes, are we just supposed to keep waiting? That's impossible.
Besides, the terms were clearly stated when we were negotiating: intercept her on the road ahead, not hunt her down everywhere.
"Okay," Zhao Yongze immediately agreed.
Seeing Mo Mu and her men leave through the back window, Zhao Yongze's expression relaxed. Could it be that the arrogant and vicious little maid really didn't come this way?
He didn't care whether the money he gave to Mo Mu's group was wasted.
What bothered him was that he hadn't been able to deal with that little maid as he had hoped!
With the Lunar New Year just around the corner, if I don't vent this anger, I won't be able to have a good holiday.
However, he and his men analyzed that the young maid and her party would not easily change their itinerary!
Having received half of the payment, Mo Mu felt much more at ease. With less than twenty days until the New Year, he and his brothers could work hard and wait until the New Year, at which point the deal would be called off.
At that time, he naturally wouldn't come to ask for his partner's payment anymore.
The money he just received is enough for him and his brothers to live a good life for a long time!
After passing through the five passes, Tang Xihua and her group finally set off to return home, and because the car was empty, they drove faster.
Every day, Tang Xihua rode his horse at the very front. Whenever he saw a figure appear ahead, his heart would race. But as the distance grew closer and he realized it wasn't the person he wanted to see, disappointment would wash over him like a tidal wave, making him feel suffocated and miserable.
As the days passed after leaving Dawuguan, Tang Xihua couldn't help but think the worst. Could it be that something had happened to her and the seven children?
No matter how capable she is, she is still a young woman with seven children to care for. If she encounters a ruthless person, how can she escape unscathed?
The bodyguards traveling with him were not at ease either, not because of their third senior brother's mood, but because they had thought of the same things Tang Xihua had thought of.
Although they spent very little time with Lady Hong, they all grew to like her and her seven adorable children.
Their affection for her wasn't romantic; it was simply because she had such a wonderful personality.
If the young woman and her seven children changed their destination at the last minute, that would be fine, but if something really happened to them, it would be such a pity.
When the group from the escort agency arrived near Baishi Town, it was already evening.
"Boss, they look like a group of镖师 (bodyguards/escorts). Should we rob them?" the man lying in ambush in the woods asked Mo Mu in a low voice.
Mo Mu peeked out and hissed in a harsh tone, "Have you all been frozen senseless? Can't you tell they're all trained fighters? And are you all bad at counting? Can't you even count how many of them there are?"
The subordinates, having been scolded, dared not refute and retreated back into their straw-lined nest.
On Tang Xihua's side, someone also noticed something was wrong: "Third Senior Brother, something's not right, there's an ambush..."
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