“Burglarised?”
Guan Xiaorou panicked upon hearing this, quickly rushing into the courtyard.
The more than thirty guan from selling the tiger had been spent by Jin Feng for eight guan, the remaining twenty guan exchanged into silver ingots carried on him, what was left at home was only a few strings of spending copper coins and some worthless things, losing them was nothing to feel heartbroken about.
But Jin Feng’s mind turned, he also pretended to be anxious, handed Guan Xiao’e to Lin Yunfang, followed Guan Xiaorou.
The door lock of the main room had already been smashed, dangling on the door bolt, the small room flipped into a mess.
Entering the inner room, he saw Guan Xiaorou holding an empty box, crying heartbrokenly.
“Husband, all the money under the bed is gone….”
“Damn it!”
Jin Feng pretended to be angry, fiercely punching the door.
Wealth moves people’s hearts, especially in this era where everyone cannot eat enough, too many people are willing to take risks, today someone comes to steal, perhaps tomorrow someone will come with a knife to rob.
So the ancients said not to reveal wealth, there is reason.
But Jin Feng killing the tiger and receiving reward money was known to the whole village, could not be concealed even if wanted.
Might as well take this opportunity to solve the trouble.
“Sister-in-law, did you see who the thief was?” Jin Feng asked.
Not many people knew he and Guan Xiaorou were going out today, so the burglar was likely an acquaintance.
“Who else could it be, that damned bastard Xie Guang!”
Lin Yunfang quickly recounted the matter.
Now was the best time to dig wild vegetables, but the women were afraid there were still tigers on the back mountain, Xiaoyu and Third Aunt brought them to find Jin Feng for courage.
As a result, just entering the courtyard, they saw Xie Guang and an unfamiliar bald head, carrying cloth bags running out from the main room.
Seeing the door lock smashed, Third Aunt and the others immediately started shouting to catch the thief.
But by the time Zhang Liang heard the shout and ran over, Xie Guang and the bald head had long run far.
“Jin Feng, don’t worry, your Brother Liang will definitely chase Xie Guang back.”
Lin Yunfang’s words just fell, when Zhang Liang and the village head several people returned carrying sticks.
“Did you catch up?”
The women all surrounded them.
“No, Xie Guang that bastard runs faster than a rabbit, we chased to the back mountain, he had already drilled into the old forest.”
The village head trembled with anger. “Stealing even from the village people, I knew I should have let him starve to death.”
Back on the battlefield, the patrol team composed of Xihe Bay villagers encountered enemy ambush, Xie Guang’s father died in battle.
After the village head and others retired, all for the sake of comradeship, from time to time helped Xie Guang, who knew it let him develop idle habits, became a rogue everyone avoided.
“One person’s fate, walking to this step is all Xie Guang’s own doing.”
Zhang Liang had no sympathy for Xie Guang, looked at Jin Feng. “What was lost at home?”
“Except for the string of copper coins I carried, all the money from selling the tiger was stolen by this bastard!”
Knowing the thief was Xie Guang, Jin Feng threw the blame without any psychological burden.
Even if Xie Guang was caught later, everyone would only believe him this tiger-slaying hero, not believe a rogue, would only think he gambled the money away.
“Jin Feng, you wait, I’ll go to the back mountain now, even if chase to the ends of the earth I’ll catch that kid for you!”
Zhang Liang heard all of Jin Feng’s savings were stolen, anxiously picked up the firewood knife to go to the back mountain.
“Brother Liang, don’t be impulsive.”
Jin Feng grabbed Zhang Liang. “There might still be tigers in the old forest, not worth losing life for this bit of money.”
“This is not a bit of money, lost how will you live?”
“Money gone can still be earned again, don’t forget, I can hunt, won’t starve.”
Jin Feng said confidently.
It was only more than twenty taels of silver, not to mention not lost, even if really lost, he would not care too much.
“Sigh!”
The victim said so, Zhang Liang could not say more, heavily sighed.
“Village head, Xie Guang’s wife was caught, how to deal with her!”
Several young men pushed a woman over.
It was the girl Xie Guang selected from the marriage sending team a few days ago.
Only more miserable than a few days ago, left eye bruised, face also swollen.
At that time still had a patched outer garment, now all over only wearing simple undergarments, feet also bare.
Pushed into the courtyard, scared kneeling on the ground shivering.
“Village head, what is this?”
Jin Feng frowned and asked.
He very disliked Xie Guang, but it had nothing to do with the girl in front.
“Since ancient times, father’s debt son repays, husband’s debt wife repays is also proper.”
The village head said. “Xie Guang ran, this debt of course his wife repays, you say, send to officials or what?”
“Everyone, gentlemen, brothers, please let me go, I know nothing.”
Upon hearing send to officials, the girl’s face turned white with fear.
Ordinary people like her, once entered the yamen, either starve to death in prison, or sent to brothel.
“I really know nothing, on the wedding day Xie Guang beat me, robbed the six copper coins I brought from maternal home to gamble. The next day also robbed my clothes, then never came back…”
The girl cried saying. “Everyone, gentlemen, brothers, please let me go, I really know nothing.”
Also a pitiful person, Jin Feng sighed, looked at the village head. “Injustice has a head, debt has an owner, the wrong Xie Guang committed has what to do with her? Village head, let her go.”
“You thought it through?”
“Thought it through.”
Jin Feng originally had no intention to do anything to an innocent girl.
“Thank you village head, thank you brother!”
The girl afraid Jin Feng would regret, kowtowed, got up and ran.
“Alright, everyone disperse, go busy with what you should, Xiaoyu, these days don’t go to back mountain, go to riverside dig bitter vegetables.”
The village head waved, dispersed the villagers watching the excitement.
“Xiaofeng, go back and comfort Xiaorou, don’t cry and harm her body.”
Lin Yunfang pointed to the inner room, pulled Zhang Liang and left.
Guan Xiaorou did not know Jin Feng carried the silver ingots when going out, really thought all money lost, in the room heartbroken as if dying.
Xiao’e seeing sister cry, also cried along.
Jin Feng glanced outside, confirmed all people gone, took out silver ingots from pocket and put on table.
Silver indeed useful, Guan Xiaorou immediately stopped crying, pulled Jin Feng asking what happened.
…
More than ten li away, Xie Guang and the bald head drilled out from the woods.
Looked back, confirmed no one chasing, the two sat on the ground with a plop, gasping heavily.
“Pity, the wife just married didn’t even get to sleep.”
Xie Guang muttered opening the cloth bag, poured out a pile of copper coins.
Too many people saw him stealing, could not think of returning to Xihe Bay later.
“With money, want to sleep girls not easy? Plenty in Zhou Lan Gou.”
The bald head rummaged the copper coin pile. “Pity didn’t find that kid’s silver, otherwise we would be rich.”
“Third boss, that kid must have carried the silver on him.”
Xie Guang’s eyes flashed a trace of ferocity. “Otherwise you go back call some brothers, we go back again at night?”
“Forget it, first spend these few strings of copper coins.”
The bald head said. “Maybe my luck good, no need to trouble that kid.”
“That’s right, that’s right.”
Xie Guang nodded and bowed following the bald head into the mountain gully.
