“The impression left by the bandits in everyone’s hearts is too deep… Let the arrows fly a little longer…”
Qing Muluan repeated Jin Feng’s words, but she couldn’t figure out what they meant.
Since she couldn’t understand, she didn’t bother to rack her brains further, directly pulling Jin Feng to ask, “Sir, stop beating around the bush. Just tell me straight. We clearly have the ability to wipe out the bandits but don’t do it. What exactly do you want?”
“People’s hearts.”
Jin Feng looked up at the sky, speaking calmly.
“People’s hearts?” Qing Muluan was even more confused. “What does that mean?”
“You’ll understand later.”
Jin Feng smiled and returned to the iron smelting workshop.
Though he knew the chances of the bandits attacking directly were slim, matters of life and death required absolute certainty.
There was still work to be done. Where was the time to chat idly with Qing Muluan?
Soon, the workshop echoed with the clanging of metal.
Qing Muluan wanted to slip into the iron smelting workshop to see what Jin Feng was busy with, but she was stopped by Tie Niu and could only leave reluctantly, taking the female soldiers to continue their training.
Zhang Liang, leading the veteran soldiers, was about to head back to the rear mountain when he saw Man Cang coming out.
“Man Cang, do you need something?”
Zhang Liang asked, “Go help Xiao Feng inside. If you need anything, tell me, and I’ll get it from the warehouse.”
“No, my stomach’s a bit upset. Sir told me to go rest,” Man Cang said.
Everyone in Xihewan village knew Man Cang had learned great skills from Jin Feng, and the Zhang family saw him as the hope for their prosperity.
Hearing Man Cang was unwell, Zhang Liang immediately grew anxious.
“Unwell? Then hurry back and rest. Tell your sister-in-law what you want to eat, and she’ll make it for you.”
“Alright.”
Man Cang agreed and left the smelting plant.
After the bandits left, the villagers emerged from their houses, gathering in small groups, discussing what the bandits wanted with Jin Feng.
Few were involved, and the veteran soldiers ignored their questions. The village head said nothing, and they couldn’t enter the iron smelting workshop to ask Jin Feng, leaving them frustrated.
But soon, they found a breakthrough with Man Cang’s mother.
At first, she refused to talk, but she couldn’t withstand the persistent pestering from Third Aunt and others, eventually revealing the bandits’ demands.
This set the whole village ablaze with outrage.
“The spinning wheel was clearly made by Brother Feng. They want to steal it, fine, but to forbid Brother Feng from using it? Is there any justice?”
“If the textile factory shuts down, and the brick kiln and iron furnace are dismantled, where will we earn wages? How will we live? The bandits are driving us to our deaths!”
“You’re still thinking about wages? Think about how to stay alive first!”
“Wei Lao’er, what do you mean?”
“What do I mean? Brother Feng and the veterans just beat the bandits bloody. With their temper, they won’t let this go. They might come for us tomorrow!”
“It was Brother Feng who beat them. Why would they come for us?”
“Do bandits reason with you?”
“Yeah, Brother Feng was too reckless. If he didn’t agree, fine, but why beat the bandits? Isn’t this dragging us into it?”
“Brother Feng is capable, earning plenty these past months. If the bandits attack, he’s got those men on the rear mountain to protect him. He can escape and set up a factory elsewhere, living like a rich man.”
“Ugh, hasn’t Brother Feng screwed us over?”
“Who says he hasn’t?”
At first, the villagers cursed the bandits, but gradually, they began blaming Jin Feng for being too impulsive, stirring up trouble and provoking the bandits.
Within half an hour, an atmosphere of fear spread through the village, even reaching the neighbouring Guanjiawan.
All the villagers instinctively avoided Jin Feng and Guan Xiaorou, fearing that when the bandits came for Jin Feng, they’d be caught in the crossfire.
Villagers who had been flocking to Jin Feng’s house and the textile factory suddenly vanished.
When Qing Muluan returned with the female soldiers for a meal, she found the textile factory eerily quiet. Puzzled, she pulled Tang Dongdong aside to ask what had happened.
After learning the villagers’ reactions, Qing Muluan recalled Jin Feng’s earlier words.
“Perhaps this is the ‘people’s hearts’ he meant…”
Qing Muluan began to understand faintly. “I hope the people of Xihewan make the right choice, or Sir will likely be heartbroken.”
In fact, Jin Feng had deliberately let Man Cang spread the news to gauge the villagers’ reactions.
If they were only willing to enjoy the benefits of the textile factory and kiln without sharing the risks, or even betrayed Jin Feng, he would take his family and leave Xihewan after dealing with the bandits.
But if the villagers stood with him against the bandits, he would stay and develop Xihewan further.
People’s hearts don’t withstand testing, especially when survival is at stake. The results can often disappoint.
But Jin Feng had to do this.
Xihewan was his base. Whatever he did in the future, his rear had to be secure.
He didn’t want to pour his heart and soul into raising a pack of ungrateful wolves.
A large ship is hard to turn. Everything was just beginning. If Xihewan didn’t work out, Jin Feng could cut his losses and move elsewhere.
If he waited until things grew bigger, change would be much harder.
Meanwhile, the bandit leader, Shuanzi, returned to Tieguan Mountain with a few bandits.
As they entered the stronghold, the gatekeeping bandit stopped them. “Brother Shuanzi, the boss said to go to the meeting hall when you’re back.”
“Got it.”
Shuanzi didn’t dare delay, handed his knife to a companion, and hurried to the stronghold’s centre.
In the meeting hall, Tieguan Mountain’s boss, Liu Jiang, and the second-in-command were discussing matters. Seeing Shuanzi enter, both frowned at the wounds on his face.
“Shuanzi, what happened?”
Liu Jiang asked, narrowing his eyes.
Fearing loss of face but not daring to lie to the boss, Shuanzi recounted the Xihewan trip in full detail.
“This Jin Feng is too arrogant, throwing our goodwill in our face!”
The second-in-command slammed the table, roaring, “Big Brother, give me fifty men. I’ll go to Xihewan, grab this kid, and see how much backbone he’s got to challenge Tieguan Mountain!”
“Second Brother, don’t be rash!”
Liu Jiang turned to Shuanzi. “I know you’re frustrated, but this is serious. If I find out you’re stirring things up or lying, you know the consequences!”
“Boss, you could kill me, and I wouldn’t dare deceive you!”
Shuanzi dropped to his knees. “I swear every word is true!”
“Fine, go on then.”
Liu Jiang tossed a wooden token. “Get a string of coins from Old Yan as your errand fee, and pick two women from Old Turtle. They’re yours for half a month.”
