Seeing her dramatic display, Chen Xiaobei could no longer bear to tease her. He put his sister down and pulled her into his arms. "You're my good sister, how could I bear to bully you? I was just playing with you."
Chen Qiao'er's face immediately brightened, and she squirmed out of his embrace.
"Sister-in-law, sister-in-law, let's go inside, or brother will bully you."
With that, she grabbed Cui Hongyu's hand and turned to go inside.
Chen Xiaobei was left dumbfounded. It wasn't him teasing her; it was Chen Qiao'er teasing him.
...
The next morning, Chen Xiaobei's home became lively.
First, several carriages arrived, bringing brick and tile materials. Then, Li Dong led the artisans and laborers. The laborers and masons laid bricks, and everyone worked in an orderly fashion, busy and content.
According to Chen Xiaobei's arrangement, Cui Hongyu was responsible for boiling water. Chen Xiaobei had already told Li Dong that this was a job with materials provided. He wasn't providing food, but in the heat of summer, people needed something to drink.
Chen Xiaobei was also busy that day. After settling things at home and seeing the artisans start their work, he drove a donkey cart to the county town.
He had promised Jia Wannian to get him a century-old ginseng, and he hadn't expected to fulfill it so quickly.
However, as he thought about it, he felt a bit displeased.
This century-old ginseng was for the Liu family. Thinking about the rebuff he received when he went to the Liu family, he sighed.
"Forget it, in front of others, behind their backs. All promises are just fleeting clouds."
Little did he know that on Centipede Ridge, without the Liu family's help, ten Chen Xiaobeis wouldn't have been able to get the person out.
At Huahao Hall.
When Jia Wannian saw the ginseng, he was overjoyed and almost jumped up.
"Oh, brother Xiaobei, I didn't expect you to get a century-old ginseng so quickly! Heaven has opened its eyes, heaven has opened its eyes!"
Chen Xiaobei thought to himself, what kind of words are these? I find a century-old ginseng, and it's considered heaven opening its eyes.
But no matter what, this ginseng was exchanged for twenty taels of silver, which was tangible.
With the silver in hand, Chen Xiaobei turned and headed home.
After all, he had matters at home and couldn't stay away for too long. By the time he rushed back to Hetou Village.
Cui Hongyu had already taken Chen Qiao'er to the fields to plant vegetables.
Seeing him return, Li Dong, Da Yong, and the others gave him thumbs up repeatedly.
"Brother Xiaobei, you've really hit the jackpot and found a good wife! Capable in every way, she just finished boiling water and is now planting vegetables. She's truly a master at managing a household."
Chen Xiaobei just smiled without saying a word. Honestly, he still couldn't understand why, even if Cui Hongyu was considered a jinx for husbands, she would marry him, a poor nobody.
Just as he was pondering this, urgent footsteps approached. Chen Xiaowen ran over in a hurry from a distance, shouting as he ran.
"Captain, it's bad, it's bad!"
His shout clearly attracted everyone's attention.
Chen Xiaobei was also bewildered. He looked at Chen Xiaowen and couldn't help but ask, "Xiaowen, don't panic. Tell us what happened slowly."
Chen Xiaobei walked up to him. Panting heavily, Chen Xiaowen said loudly, "Captain, at the village entrance, mountain bandits have arrived again! Da Lao Hei from Centipede Ridge is here, and he says he's looking for you."
An immediate commotion erupted. The timid ones simply dropped their tools and fled.
Chen Xiaobei, however, was not as panicked as expected. He calmed his mind and recalled a sentence spoken by the mountain bandit Yang Chun when he escorted Cui Hongyu down the mountain: "I'll come to apologize another day." He thought it was just polite talk, so why did they take it seriously?
But then again, good or bad fortune, you can't avoid what's coming.
Since they've come to his door, he'll just have to face them.
"It's alright. Since they're looking for me, you all continue working. I'll go and see."
Before he finished speaking, he saw a flurry of hurried footsteps on the street ahead. More than ten villagers, with the elderly and children, were rushing westward.
Seeing this, Chen Xiaowen slapped his thigh in frustration. "Oh no, the mountain bandits must have entered the village! It's all my fault for rushing to report and forgetting to stop them."
Chen Xiaobei thought to himself, let alone him, even the entire village tied together couldn't stop them.
In the next moment, the sound of horses' hooves echoed, and four or five fast horses galloped towards them.
The leader was Yang Chun, the one who had escorted Cui Hongyu down the mountain that day. Following him was a burly middle-aged man who looked fierce and menacing. At first glance, he reminded Chen Xiaobei of the image of Zhang Fei in TV dramas.
As soon as they saw the mountain bandits appear, Li Dong's legs started to tremble, and his voice quavered. "Brother Xiaobei, what... what are they here for?"
Chen Xiaobei thought, what are they here for? I don't know either. But he couldn't say that now, or everyone would scatter.
"Everyone, don't be afraid. They're here for me, and it has nothing to do with you. Just keep working."
Still a good distance away, Yang Chun called out, "Brother Xiaobei, brother Xiaobei, our Great Chieftain wants to see you."
The crowd, who were about to disperse, stopped when they heard this shout.
If he's calling Chen Xiaobei "brother," then it's not a fight. In that case, there's no need to run.
Still about ten feet away from Chen Xiaobei, Yang Chun and the others jumped off their horses.
"Brother Xiaobei, I, Old Hei, have come to see you," Da Lao Hei said with a smile, waving at Chen Xiaobei.
This display left Li Dong, Da Yong, and the other artisans and laborers in a daze. These mountain bandits were so respectful to Chen Xiaobei.
Chen Xiaobei was also confused. What merit did he have to earn such respect from these mountain bandits?
But at this moment, he could only quickly cup his hands in return, "Xiaobei greets the Great Chieftain, and brother Yang Chun."
Da Lao Hei glanced at the busy crowd in the courtyard. "Are these all from Hetou Village? Everyone, please continue your work. I have a few words to say with brother Xiaobei."
He then looked around.
Chen Xiaobei understood that this was a hint that he wanted to talk business.
There was a ready place now: Chen Dachun's house, which was empty.
"Great Chieftain, please follow me."
Chen Xiaobei led Da Lao Hei, Yang Chun, and the others into Dachun's courtyard.
Fortunately, there was still boiled water left in the pot by Cui Hongyu.
Chen Dachun's house was much better equipped than Chen Xiaobei's. The courtyard had a stone table and stone benches. While not intricately carved, they were presentable.
Unlike Chen Xiaobei's home, where the tables and benches in the courtyard were made of natural stones.
After inviting Da Lao Hei to sit down and pouring him a bowl of water, Chen Xiaobei finally asked.
"I didn't expect the Great Chieftain to grace us with his presence. What advice do you have?"
Da Lao Hei waved his hand. "Alas, what advice? I just passed by today and thought I'd come to see you. And I happen to need brother Xiaobei's help with something."
Chen Xiaobei remained silent. Honestly, he didn't want any further dealings with these mountain bandits.
But since they had found him at his home, could he refuse?