Chapter 4

The second boss, upon hearing this, glanced at Chen Jiu and then said with a calm expression, "Why did the boss suddenly change his mind? Didn't he refuse to budge a few days ago?"

Chen Jiu laughed heartily in response, "I'm also puzzled. A few days ago, the bosses were arguing fiercely with the boss. Now, the boss's mind has suddenly changed, which is really making us feel a bit at a loss."

The second boss, after giving Chen Jiu a look, continued, "For such a big matter, why didn't the boss come to talk about it himself? Instead, he sent you, a little slick, to discuss it with us."

After all this rambling, it was because the second boss was naturally cautious. For such a big matter, if it wasn't the boss who gave the order personally, the second boss would be the first to die if anything went wrong. So even though he had lived with this little guy for eight years, the second boss still kept testing him.

Chen Jiu had a clear conscience, and most importantly, after living in the bandit den for so many years, if he couldn't even put on a facade, Chen Jiu would have been set up and killed long ago. He wouldn't have lived so comfortably.

However, Chen Jiu didn't dare to leak the boss's plan to escape alone. If it were to leak, he would probably be the first to die, and the charge would undoubtedly be sowing discord and undermining the unity of the bandit gang.

Therefore, even though Chen Jiu and the second boss had a good relationship in private, he didn't dare to mention this matter, let alone talk about it.

The second boss nodded, "Alright, I understand. I'll go and discuss this with the other bosses tomorrow. You come with me and explain everything in front of everyone."

The tension between the second boss and the boss wasn't a recent development. As the New Year approached, the second boss had used this batch of goods to make a lot of moves. Now, hearing the boss suddenly order him to distribute the goods, the second boss couldn't help but be cautious. If he weren't cautious, he would have been eaten alive long ago.

Going with the other bosses to distribute the goods, even if the boss tried to use this batch of goods to frame him or accuse him of breaking the rules, and denied giving Chen Jiu the order, Chen Jiu would have to deny it to protect himself. Without his testimony, he would be at the mercy of others.

In this short moment, the second boss had already gone through a thousand thoughts, showing his experience.

Chen Jiu, the little fox, of course knew what the old man was thinking and smiled lightly, "Alright, it's getting late. The second boss should get some rest. I won't disturb you anymore."

After saying this, Chen Jiu glanced at the delicate curves wrapped in the blanket and gave the second boss a knowing smile.

The second boss kicked Chen Jiu, "You little brat, you're getting bolder, daring to tease me, huh?"

Of course, the kick didn't hit, and Chen Jiu nimbly escaped out the door.

Watching the door slam shut, Chen Jiu sighed softly. It wasn't easy for the second boss in this bandit den. Although their years of friendship were important, it wasn't worth risking his life.

In this bandit den, everyone was ruthless. The only way to live a long and good life was to be cautious in everything and not trust anyone. When you truly trusted someone and opened your heart to them, you were probably not far from death.

Chen Jiu looked at the sky, not expecting it to snow again as the New Year approached.

He tucked his hands into his sleeves and looked at the lazy bandit on guard. Chen Jiu walked over quietly, "It's almost the New Year."

The bandit smiled honestly upon seeing Chen Jiu, "Greetings, little boss. It's almost the New Year."

Chen Jiu was momentarily stunned. The big man's smile at this moment gave him a sense of purity. He shook his head; these were all ruthless killers, how could there be a pure smile?

"When did you join the bandits?" Chen Jiu asked softly.

The big man took out a wineskin and took a sip, "Seventeen years."

Seeing the wineskin the big man offered, Chen Jiu didn't hesitate to take it and drink. A spicy sensation rose from his lungs, and the cold seemed to be dispelled in an instant.

He returned the wineskin to the big man, "Seventeen years, you're one of the old-timers in the bandit den."

The big man nodded without a word.

Chen Jiu exhaled, "Have you settled down in the bandit den?"

The big man's eyes moistened, "There are three forms of filial impiety, and the greatest is to have no descendants. Sigh, who would want to marry a bandit these days? The girls we capture are limited and are all given to those who have made contributions. How could we, the little soldiers, have a chance?"

Chen Jiu was silent for a moment, "How old are you this year?"

The big man stroked the wine flask, "Thirty-nine."

"Why did you join the bandits?"

"Murder. I killed all seventy-three men, women, and children in the county office in one go, and then my family was destroyed. I joined the bandits," the big man said with a distant look in his eyes, his voice indifferent.

Chen Jiu's hair stood on end at this moment. Who would have thought that such a honest man could be so ruthless? People are not to be judged by their appearance, and this man was a prime example.

Chen Jiu didn't ask the reason, but by the light of the fire, he could see that this man had a story.

He touched the sleeve and asked, "Have you eaten?"

"Um," the big man nodded.

Chen Jiu looked at the big man and suddenly felt an impulse, "You come down the mountain with me tomorrow."

To be honest, Chen Jiu didn't know how to evaluate this man who had been in the bandit den for nineteen years and hadn't even become a headman.

He patted the big man's shoulder and smiled lightly, "Guard well, don't be careless. It's a time of many events recently."

After saying this, Chen Jiu turned and left, walking slowly towards his room. But just before the door, he suddenly paused and waved to a little bandit in the distance, signaling him to come over.

"Little boss, what do you need?" the little bandit ran over with a fawning smile.

"Go to the back and see if the chef is still there. Ask him to boil a pot of water for me; I want to take a bath," Chen Jiu said with a stern face.

When it's time to build relationships, build relationships; when it's time to establish authority, establish authority.

The little bandit bowed, "Don't worry, little boss. Even if the chef is asleep, he will bring the water to you."

Chen Jiu waved for the little bandit to leave, pushed open the door, and saw the charcoal fire almost extinguished. He threw some new charcoal into it.

After a while, a knock on the door, and a big man carried a wooden basin into the room, followed by a few more big men carrying buckets of hot water.

After everyone left, Chen Jiu closed the door, picked up a towel, and entered the bucket, slowly wiping his body.

To be honest, Chen Jiu was very dissatisfied with this body. It was too thin, almost skin and bones. Although this body usually ate better than everyone else, it was due to illness.

He dried his body lightly, took out his best clothes, and dressed meticulously. He took a wooden comb and combed his hair back.

He took a deep breath, lit three incense sticks, and sat cross-legged on his wooden bed. All the lights in the room were extinguished, and only the moonlight faintly illuminated the room.

The creation of heaven and earth, the transformation of heaven and earth. The great way is fifty, and heaven has forty-nine, leaving one. The way gives birth to one, one gives birth to two, two give birth to three, and three give birth to all things. All things have life and death, either living or dying, either dying or living, all are transformations.

Heaven is the nature of man, so by riding on the subtle movements and preceding the primordial energy, one can vie with the transformations of heaven and earth, virtue can vie with the transformations of heaven and earth, and virtue can be as great as the two instruments. It appears and disappears, and the transformations have their origin.

The transformations have two meanings: creation and transformation. Creation can be understood as the appearance and disappearance of things. Transformation is the change and development of things.

The transformations are the will of heaven, destiny, and the supreme everything, governing the rise and fall of all things.

Chen Jiu's thoughts sank into the transformations of heaven and earth, and a thread of energy was generated in his chest. The myriad things in the universe seemed to undergo some indescribable changes, mysterious and unfathomable.

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