The person lying at Jin Feng’s feet was none other than his brother-in-law, Guan Zhuzi.
Ever since Jin Feng had driven him away from Xihe Bay over the spinning machine incident, Guan Zhuzi had never dared to visit his home again.
The two had not spoken since.
“Brother… Mr., where is Xiaorou? Is she alright?”
Guan Zhuzi felt nervous upon seeing Jin Feng. He had intended to call him brother-in-law, but in the end, he changed it to “Mr.” like the other villagers.
“Xiaorou is fine. I had her rest at the small tower in Heishui Gou.”
Jin Feng ladled a bowl of water. “You are my brother-in-law. Calling me Mr. would only make people laugh, wouldn’t it? From now on, call me brother-in-law again. In a few days when things calm down, bring your wife over to visit. Xiaorou and little E have been missing you both.”
During the last bandit attack on Xihe Bay from Tieguan Mountain, Third Master Guan had led men from Guanjia Village to help, and Guan Zhuzi had joined. This time, facing danger again, he had come once more.
In truth, Jin Feng had only been angry because Guan Zhuzi treated the textile factory like his own home and bossed Tang Dongdong, the factory manager, around. There was no real insurmountable grudge between them.
Guan Zhuzi was, after all, Guan Xiaorou’s own brother. If the two of them fell out, it would put Xiaorou in a difficult position.
Jin Feng believed that through this incident, Guan Zhuzi would learn his lesson. This was the perfect chance to clear the air.
“Yes, yes!”
Guan Zhuzi grinned happily.
He knew that Jin Feng’s words meant he had fully forgiven his past nonsense.
“Big brother, you’ve worked hard!”
Jin Feng patted Guan Zhuzi’s shoulder and handed him the water bowl.
“It’s what I should do, what I should do…”
Guan Zhuzi took the bowl and drank it all in one go.
Jin Feng nodded and continued pouring water for the next villager.
When he reached the end of the line, his heart suddenly tightened. He hesitated to step forward.
At the back were an old man and his grandson. The elder was over fifty, the boy only thirteen or fourteen. Lacking the stamina of younger men, they had fallen behind.
They were Shuanzi’s father and son. Shuanzi had died in the earlier battle.
What had to be faced could not be avoided. Jin Feng took a deep breath, then ladled a bowl of water.
He had passed bowls to others with one hand, but now he used both, solemnly offering the bowl to the old man.
“Seventh Uncle Guan, you’ve worked hard!”
The old man froze, then his eyes reddened instantly.
He had guessed.
But he said nothing at first. With trembling hands, he took the bowl and drank it down, tears mixing with the water.
“Niwaizi, you’ve worked hard!”
Jin Feng took the bowl back and offered another to Shuanzi’s son with both hands.
The boy clearly had not realised. He took the bowl casually, drank it, wiped his mouth with his sleeve, and asked:
“Mr. Jin, where is my dad? I haven’t seen him.”
He had been looking for Shuanzi in the crowd but could not find him.
“Niwaizi, I…”
Jin Feng did not know how to tell the boy that his father had died in battle.
“Mr., was my son brave in combat?”
The old man suddenly asked.
“Brave! He always charged first into every fight!”
Jin Feng replied.
“Did my son ever retreat in battle?”
The old man asked again.
“Never! He fought to the death without taking a single step back!”
Jin Feng answered once more.
“Good. He was a true son of the Guan family. He did not disgrace our ancestors!”
The old man laughed through his tears. “To follow Mr. and slay bandits, ridding the people of evil, my son died with honour. Mr., you need not feel burdened. This was the best end for a Guan family son!”
Jin Feng said nothing. Following Dakang etiquette, he clasped his hands before him and bowed deeply to the old man.
The veteran soldiers like Zhang Liang following behind also bowed.
This was respect for the family of a fallen comrade.
The men who had been cheerful moments ago now fell silent.
The old man did not refuse the gesture. He accepted it calmly.
“My dad is dead?”
Niwaizi finally understood and burst into tears.
“Why are you crying?!”
The old man kicked him. “Your dad is gone. From now on, you are the pillar of our family. If I see you cry again, I’ll beat you to death!”
Niwaizi sat on the ground, forcing back his sobs.
But he could not stop the tears. The more he wiped, the more they flowed.
After the ritual, Jin Feng pulled the boy to his feet and turned to the old man. “Seventh Uncle, I’m sorry…”
“Mr. Jin, you owe me nothing, nor do you owe Niwaizi.”
The old man said, “I may be uneducated and have seen little of the world, but I understand reason.
To be honest, when Shuanzi joined the veterans, our family had been without grain for nearly half a month. We ate wild herbs every day. The boy was so hungry he could barely walk. Shuanzi discussed with me that, if worse came to worst, he would become a bandit to rob some food so the child would not starve.
I feared dying without facing our ancestors, so I stopped him. A few days later, Liangzi came to call him to Xihe Bay.
Since joining the veterans, the money Shuanzi brought home in these few months was more than I earned in a lifetime. We never worried about food again.
Having taken Mr.’s money, when trouble comes, we should fight for Mr.
Besides, fighting bandits rids evil for the people. To die is glorious. From now on, no one will dare look down on me or Niwaizi!
I truly hold no grudge against Mr. Serving as your personal guard was Shuanzi’s good fortune. It was a million times better than becoming a bandit!”
“I hold no grudge either. When I grow up, I want to be Mr.’s personal guard like my dad and fight bandits!”
Niwaizi declared, head held high.
“Good. I’ll wait for you to grow up!”
Jin Feng patted the boy’s shoulder. “But in future, my guards must not only fight well but also read and write. You cannot neglect your studies!”
“I definitely won’t!”
Niwaizi nodded firmly.
…
With so many people arriving at once, they finally had enough hands.
Jin Feng first had Zhang Liang cook meals nearby so the men could eat. Then he divided them into three groups.
The smallest group would escort the wounded and the bodies of the fallen veterans and women soldiers back to Xihe Bay.
The largest group would take the waking bandits to Maomao Mountain.
The last group would follow Jin Feng to the county seat.
By the time they reached outside the county seat, dawn was breaking.
Jin Feng met Tiechui in a grove outside the west gate.
“Mr. truly has divine foresight. We had only just arrived when someone went to the gate shouting to be let in.”
Tiechui pointed excitedly at a blood-covered man. “We didn’t wait for the garrison to open the gate. We knocked this fellow out and brought him back.”
“Did you get anything out of him?”
Jin Feng glanced at the man and asked.
Those who have never experienced it can never know how terrifying feudal-era torture truly is.
Most people cannot endure it, which is why the heroic predecessors in textbooks who held firm deserve such respect.
“Mr., saying that really underestimates me, Tiechui. Once he’s in my hands, how could I fail to get answers?”
Tiechui said, “This fellow confessed. The bandits who ambushed Mr. were directed by County Lieutenant Zhao, Master Peng, and Master Zhu through a man called Mr. Feng!”
“It really was them!”
Jin Feng narrowed his eyes slightly, murder thick in his gaze!
