“Miss Mulian, no one bullied them!” Tie Niu said, looking aggrieved. “The master said anyone who bothers them gets a beating. Who’d dare?”
“If no one bullied them, why are they crying?” Qing Mulian demanded.
“I don’t know,” Tie Niu said, sounding wronged. “They were fine just a moment ago, then suddenly started crying.”
“Master, Brother Liang, we really didn’t bully them,” Zheng Fang added, stepping forward. “I was watching the whole time. The men didn’t even say a harsh word.”
“Wanniang, you tell me what’s going on,” Qing Mulian said, spotting a woman in her early twenties among the crowd. “Master Jin isn’t a bandit. He’s a scholar, the most reasonable man. If these men bullied you, just say so, and the master will make it right.”
Wanniang, being older and used to caring for her younger siblings at home, had taken to looking after the other girls since being sold to Iron Tank Mountain. She was well-liked and seen as the unspoken leader of both groups of girls.
“The brothers didn’t bully us. They kept asking if we were full,” Wanniang said, wiping her tears. “We… we’ve never had a full meal since coming to the mountain. The sisters saw some hope and remembered their sorrows.”
“Sister, I understand how you feel. Before I met the boss, I thought I couldn’t go on, even considered ending it more than once,” Guan Xiaorou said softly, holding Wanniang’s hand and sharing her own story.
Guan Xiaorou was far better at comforting than the hot-tempered Qing Mulian. The girls gradually stopped crying, gathering around her as if listening to a story.
Being praised so openly made even Jin Feng, thick-skinned as he was, a bit embarrassed. He touched his nose and went back to eat.
Tang Dongdong and Qing Mulian exchanged a glance, covering their mouths to stifle giggles.
With Guan Xiaorou’s comforting words, the girls calmed down. Qing Mulian arranged for female soldiers to guard the bathhouse door, and the girls went in to bathe, then changed into clean clothes and moved into the bandits’ former thatched huts.
Though the huts weren’t great, they were a vast improvement over the cramped wooden shacks.
That night, Jin Feng stayed in Liu Jiang’s courtyard. After bathing, he lay on a rattan chair in the yard, waiting for Guan Xiaorou.
He waited and waited, nearly falling asleep, before she returned.
“Finished?” Jin Feng sat up, pouring her a cup of cool boiled water.
“Sorry, boss, I got caught up and lost track of time. I came back late,” Guan Xiaorou said, head lowered like a child who’d done wrong.
“It’s fine. It’s a good thing you came today, or I wouldn’t have known how to handle those girls,” Jin Feng said, pulling her into his arms. “You worked hard.”
“Not hard,” Guan Xiaorou said, resting on his shoulder, her words a bit disjointed. “Those girls are so pitiful, even worse off than I was. Boss, you’re so good.”
“What’s got you talking nonsense?” Jin Feng teased, lifting her up with a smile.
Guan Xiaorou didn’t answer but kissed him主动ly, a rare move for her usual shy self. Jin Feng, not one to miss such an opportunity, carried her to the bedroom.
The next morning, Jin Feng was woken early by the veterans’ drill chants. Guan Xiaorou was already gone from his side.
After breakfast, he called for Zhang Liang and Zheng Fang.
“Brother Liang, are the goods loaded?” he asked.
“All packed, ready to go anytime,” Zhang Liang said, pointing to the carts at the courtyard entrance.
“Old Zheng, how about you?” Jin Feng turned to Zheng Fang. “Iron Tank Mountain’s terrain is steep and not too far from Jinchuan. I have plans for this place, so nothing can go wrong.”
“As you ordered, the heavy crossbows and catapults are set up. I’ll leave five squads to guard the gate. Even if hundreds come, they won’t get in easily,” Zheng Fang said confidently.
“Keep an eye inside too. Don’t let anyone stab us in the back,” Jin Feng warned.
“You think those girls might be trouble?” Zheng Fang asked.
“I don’t know, but we can’t be too trusting. We don’t know them well, so stay vigilant for now,” Jin Feng said. Though he pitied the girls, he wasn’t naive enough to assume they were all entirely good.
“You’re right, Master. I’ll be careful,” Zheng Fang nodded quickly.
Jin Feng inspected the crossbows and catapults Zheng Fang had set up, confirmed everything was in order, and led the cart team back.
They’d come in a hurry on horseback, but the return was much slower. The carts, laden with copper coins, creaked under the weight, needing five or six men to push them along.
The captured bandits from Iron Tank Mountain proved useful as labour for the carts.
They set out after breakfast and didn’t reach Xihe Bay’s borders until mid-afternoon.
Before entering the village, they saw a crowd at the open space by the entrance, with faint sounds of arguing.
“Everyone, prepare for battle!” Zhang Liang shouted. The veterans drew their long knives, assuming attack positions.
Jin Feng frowned slightly. Most of the veterans were with him. If other bandits attacked now, the remaining soldiers and female guards might not hold them off.
“Iron Hammer, take your men and check it out,” Zhang Liang called. Six veterans rushed out on horseback.
Soon, one returned. “Master, Brother Liang, it’s county officials with a coroner, examining bodies.”
“Examining bodies is one thing. Why the arguing?” Zhang Liang asked.
“The coroner’s complaining our methods were too brutal, making his job hard. He called us murderous devils. Brother Iron couldn’t stand it and argued back,” the soldier said. “But when he heard the master was back, he stopped.”
As he spoke, Liu Iron stomped over, looking furious.
But instead of mentioning the coroner, he whispered to Jin Feng, “Brother Feng, my dad sent me to tell you a county official’s here, looking for trouble. He’s waiting for you in the village.”
“A troublemaking official? What’s his name?” Jin Feng asked.
“I don’t know. Didn’t dare ask,” Liu Iron said. “But I heard the coroner call him Master Zhou.”
“Master Zhou?” Jin Feng sneered. “He’s quick, isn’t he? Did you let their people into the textile factory?”
“No worries, I’ve got men guarding the textile factory and the iron smelting workshop. Not even a mosquito’s getting in,” Liu Iron said, patting his chest. “That official threw a fit, but I ignored him, kept the gate shut, and he couldn’t do anything.”
“Good job,” Jin Feng said, patting Liu Iron’s shoulder, then turned to Zhang Liang. “Brother Liang, take the goods to the treasury for storage. I’ll go check things out.”
