Chapter 319

The other men fell silent for a moment.

“They can all tell these aren’t the same people. Wouldn’t those constables figure it out?”

Looks like they’re planning to extract a confession by torture.

“But these people deserve it anyway. Who cares!”

“Just catch them, that’s enough. Then we won’t have to worry about them causing trouble in the neighborhood.”

“That’s good too. If they’re locked up, maybe they won’t come out again. We won’t have to worry about them threatening our village!”

…

Thinking about successfully dealing with the villains who had targeted them, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

Fan Erzhu and his two companions, knowing no one would be plotting against the village, felt a huge weight lift off their shoulders and relaxed instantly.

“Let’s go, let’s go. Hurry back to the village. When I get home, I’m definitely going to pick some leaves and take a good bath to cleanse myself of bad luck!”

“Today was really unlucky. We didn’t gain anything, just scared ourselves!”

The three of them complained incessantly as they carried a bamboo basket on their backs, which held nothing inside. When they stood up, they walked at the front of the group.

Fan Jin had arranged a cart early on, placing the injured man with the leg injury to sit on it, and assigned men to take turns pulling the cart.

Hu Wenhua, with injuries to his hands and back, and others did not sit but quietly followed behind the cart.

They didn’t feel unlucky. They just felt that the world was like this nowadays. When faced with ineffective officials and trying to carve out a way to survive in adversity, they knew they were risking their lives.

This was something they had anticipated long ago.

Thanks to Uncle Ding’s early discovery, he saved them the money for medicine. Without needing to spend that money, their injuries were minor, and they only suffered a bit from the pain.

This was already considered fortunate in their misfortune.

As for what they would gain, they dared not think about it, nor was it likely.

The Hong brothers pulled the cart at the back, taking advantage of the moment when no one was paying attention. Hong Mancang quietly left the group, and soon returned to stuff something into the cart, covering it tightly with oilcloth.

Upon returning to the village, just as they entered the village gate, Fan and the other two quickly walked back as if something unclean was chasing them from behind.

Li Wen grunted angrily, and all the men in the group couldn’t help but curse aloud.

Once the three were out of sight, Li Wen signaled to the rest of the group, “Come to my house first, I have something to say!” The injured men wanted to suggest discussing it another day, but when they heard Li Wen mention the money for medicine, they immediately shut their mouths and followed.

The goods couldn’t fit in the courtyard, so the cart was parked at the gate of the old village chief’s courtyard.

After everyone entered, Li Wen stood guard at the courtyard gate, with Fan Xiaoliu and Wu Gousheng now in the front.

Except for Fan Jin, Ding Heli Hu Wenhua, the others looked confusedly at the two under the eaves.

What’s going on?

Fan Xiaoliu grinned and pulled out a cloth bundle from his chest. Wu Gousheng did the same. The two lowered their voices and recounted the cause and effect, finally saying, “We only spent a few taels on medicine. I estimated that there are still fifty or sixty taels left!”

There was a collective gasp!

Fifty or sixty taels? Those bandits must have stolen a lot of money, how come they have so much!

“There are nearly fifty of us. Each person can at least get one or two taels. But what about the rest? Should we divide it or use it for something else?”

After Fan Xiaoliu asked, everyone in the courtyard looked puzzled.

What’s the meaning of this?

What should we do with the remaining money? What can we do with it? They all looked at Fan Xiaoliu together, some of the men eager to ask, “Sixth Brother, just say what you’re thinking. Otherwise, we won’t know what you mean.”

Fan Xiaoliu did indeed have an idea. It was something he had always wanted to do before, but without money or opportunity, he couldn’t even mention it.

But today was different. This money was unexpected wealth, and the people in the village were not so poor that they couldn’t eat or dress warmly. After basic needs were met, he thought it was time to put his idea into action.

He looked at the men in the courtyard and spoke, “We’re getting better and better now, and basic needs are no longer a problem. Today’s windfall is unexpected. It’s already good for each person to get one or two taels.

As for the remaining ten or so taels, why don’t we use it to host a feast for everyone in the village? Whether it’s for New Year, festivals, ancestral worship, or a good harvest, let’s have a hearty meal. What do you think?”

“Good! I agree!”

“I agree too!”

The echoing approvals took Fan Xiaoliu by surprise. A slightly elderly voice chimed in, “I agree as well.”

Fan Xiaoliu turned abruptly and saw the old village chief walking out of the hall, filled with excitement. “Old village chief, you also agree with my idea?”

The old village chief nodded affirmatively.

Pork belly was thirty-some wen per jin, lean meat over twenty wen per jin, and pig bones and offal even cheaper. Calculating it all, a whole pig would cost around four or five taels of silver. Vegetables didn’t cost much either, coarse grains were around ** wen per jin, and with ten or so taels of silver, they could host two or three feasts!

Fan Xiaoliu pleaded, “Old village chief, can you take charge of the extra silver? When we pick a good day for the feast, we’ll come to you for the money. I trust you the most when it comes to keeping it safe!” “I trust you the most too.”

“Old village chief, please take care of this for us.”

Ding Heli watched the scene unfold before them and whispered to each other, “Look how united Shanshui Village has become.”

Unity was good. They were safer together than fighting alone. After all, facing the dangers on the road back to the city, even the most skilled couldn’t take on thirty-odd men armed with sticks and knives!

Fan Jin’s eyes softened as he lightly agreed.

He hoped the people in the village would unite, or else, even without refugees invading, they would fall apart on their own, just like his elder brother and two nephews.

Under the eaves, the old village chief began distributing the silver, giving each person one or two taels.

When it came to Fan Jin, Ding Heli, and Hu Wenhua, the three men declined and instead added their shares to the fund for the feast.

The men in the courtyard were moved to tears.

Feng Da, Feng Er, Hong Mancang, and Hong Manku each received one or two taels as well. When the old village chief called their names, the four instinctively looked towards Fan Jin.

Li Wen and others hurriedly said, “You worked hard and got injured. This is what you deserve!”

The four still looked at Fan Jin, not moving. Fan Jin smiled lightly and nodded. Only then did the four men show happiness on their faces, stepping forward to receive the silver from the old village chief with joy and gratitude.

They never expected to earn one or two taels just by going out for a trip!

Feng Da, injured, now felt that the pain was worth it, otherwise he wouldn’t have felt secure with this silver.

Hong Mancang remembered the knife and quickly walked to where he stood, opening the large bundle from the oilcloth package and happily telling Li Wen, “Brother Li, look, I’ve done it!”

Wang Laoba: … Please call me Wang Laoba, there’s no need for formalities.

The men in the village thought it was good enough that they didn’t have to spend money on medicine on the way back, only to find out in the courtyard that they could also receive silver, enough for each person to get one or two taels!

And there was still leftover silver to celebrate with the whole village.

They thought things couldn’t get any better, but now they had more than a dozen big knives waiting for them?

Heavens, what kind of luck had they stumbled upon? It seemed like good fortune was following good fortune!