Chapter 95

It is uncertain whether it was the setbacks that hastened maturity or some other reason. In any case, this time Chao Gai did not linger until after dark before fleeing in a panic, nearly getting caught by Lei Heng and Zhu Tong, who were willing to let him go.

After persuading the old man, they agreed to set out in half an hour. Chao Gai then hurried back to the manor with Wu Yong. Everyone gathered around to ask how things went, and Wu Yong laughed loudly, "If the bailiff speaks, how could he fail to persuade that old man?" The old man scolded Wu Yong on the spot, and the master of many strategies couldn't react at the time. Now, ignoring this person, he didn't care anymore.

Han Bolong and Liu Tang were overjoyed, while Gong Sunsheng had a thoughtful look on his face. He glanced at Wu Yong and then at Chao Gai, who also looked surprised at Wu Yong's smug expression but held his tongue, only sighing, "Brother Han, go to the back yard and lead out a strong mule. Here is a hundred taels of gold; take it and quickly arrange a fishing boat that can seat a dozen people and a few fishermen. Wait for us at the stream's entrance to the lake; it's safer to go by water!"

Han Bolong took the gold, bowed to Chao Gai, and left. Chao Gai then said to Gong Sunsheng, "Please, Daoist, go to the village entrance to keep watch. If the government troops come, return quickly with the news!"

Gong Sunsheng nodded and strode toward the village entrance. At this moment, Wu Yong offered, "Bailiff and Brother Liu Tang, go and pack up. I'll go talk to Li Kui!"

Chao Gai nodded without a word, only nodding to Liu Tang, and the two went to retrieve the capital from the buried spot. Seeing this, Wu Yong, full of thoughts, went to find Li Kui.

Chao Gai, with Liu Tang and a few trusted manor servants, worked hard to dig out all their buried possessions, dividing them into several bundles for everyone to carry. Then he called the steward and instructed, "Don't ask anything! After I leave, the manor's belongings are for the servants to take as they please. If you see anything you like, take it too!"

The old steward was stunned. He knew what his master was involved in and had long expected this day to come. However, he never thought that after so many years of peace, it would happen today, making it hard for him to accept. At a loss for words to comfort his master, he could only silently wipe away his tears.

Seeing the old steward's genuine emotion, Chao Gai patted his shoulder and sighed deeply. He then turned and left with the few trusted servants who were willing to go with him. Wu Yong, smiling, was talking to Li Kui. Seeing Chao Gai and the others come out, Wu Yong called out loudly, "Brother Li Kui is a man of great righteousness and is willing to lead us to the mountain for temporary refuge!"

Chao Gai bowed to Li Kui, who grunted coldly without a word. Chao Gai didn't mind, only bowing again. Estimating the time, he feared the old man might have trouble walking, so he asked Liu Tang to lead a donkey cart from the back yard.

When Liu Tang brought the donkey cart, everyone didn't delay, stepping out and heading for the village entrance. There, they met Gong Sunsheng and headed straight for the agreed location with the old man. As they walked down the path, they saw the old man waiting, supported by two middle-aged men. Chao Gai hurried over, feeling ashamed, "To have you wait in the sun for so long, I am at fault!"

The old man sighed, "Saving lives is like putting out a fire. Now that everyone is here, let's go!"

Chao Gai quickly had Liu Tang bring the donkey cart and invited the old man and the two middle-aged men to sit. Everyone then rushed toward the lake.

Han Bolong, who had lived in Chao Gai's manor for half a year, was familiar with the area. After bidding farewell to Chao Gai, he rushed to a fishing village, rented a large boat and two sailors with a large sum of money, and waited by the lake. Seeing everyone arrive, he hurriedly welcomed them. Chao Gai abandoned the donkey cart and led everyone onto the boat. The two sailors rowed, and the boat headed toward Liangshan.

Chao Gai looked back at Dongxi Village, lost in thought. Gong Sunsheng, seeing this, consoled him, "The old must go for the new to come! Don't worry, Bailiff. Perhaps one day you'll return to your ancestral home!"

"The pot won't break unless it's near the well, and generals can't avoid death in battle. This is all fate..." the old man sighed. Although the villagers were uneducated, they often used street slang in their conversations.

Chao Gai, hearing this, withdrew his thoughts and bowed to the old man, wanting to say something but unable to. The old man, seeing this, didn't speak further, only gazing at the lake, reflecting on life.

The journey was silent. Chao Gai was lost in thought, Gong Sunsheng was gazing at the horizon, and Han Bolong was anxious and restless, unsure of his fate on the mountain. Only Li Kui slept soundly, and Wu Yong, seeing this, sighed inwardly, thinking that despite his meticulous planning, his current situation was worse than that of a simpleton. This stark contrast left him restless.

The boat sailed smoothly for over an hour, gradually approaching Liangshan's waters. Suddenly, four fast boats surrounded them, startling everyone. Just then, a large boat appeared from the front, with a spirited man standing at the bow. He said, "What wind has blown the heroes of Dongxi Village to our small stronghold today?"

Wu Yong, seeing this man, didn't want to speak to him, only shaking Li Kui awake. Li Kui, startled from his sleep, was in a bad mood, shouting, "What is it!?"

Wu Yong whispered a few words to him, and the simpleton reluctantly got up. Seeing the man on the large boat, he was delighted, shouting, "Newlywed, it's me! You haven't forgotten me, have you?"

The man on the boat, recognizing him, laughed, "Brother Li Kui, I've been waiting for you on the mountain. Why did you come so late?"

Li Kui, hearing this, shouted, "I was afraid of looking too eager and being laughed at!"

The man laughed, "We are brothers; who would laugh at you? Besides, if you're a brother, being laughed at a bit is nothing!"

Li Kui, pleased, felt this man was to his liking, much more straightforward than the people at Chao Gai's manor. He laughed, "Why not? Being laughed at is nothing, just don't forget my seat!"

The man laughed, "My brother's word is his bond. If I promise you a seat, I won't go back on it! But why are these people with you? Are they here to see you off? The scoundrels of Dongxi Village aren't that loyal!"

Li Kui, deeply agreeing, glanced at Han Bolong and shouted, "They aren't that loyal. Now that their private business has failed, they've come to seek the scholar's protection on the mountain!"

Everyone, hearing this, blushed and lowered their heads. Wu Yong thought Li Kui was a bumbling fool, and relying on him would be a mistake. Fortunately, he had a backup plan. He quietly asked the old man, who sighed and stood up, "Does this great king remember this old man?"

The man on the boat, recognizing him, laughed, "The old man from Xixi Village! I met you at the village entrance. I am Ruan Xiaqi. How could I not recognize you?"

The old man, seeing the respect, bowed, "These villagers want to speak to the leader on the mountain. I, though unworthy, have come with them. Please, great king, help us!"

Ruan Xiaqi thought for a moment, "My brother can predict the future. He predicted that these scoundrels would come to the mountain when their crimes were exposed. They didn't have the face to come alone, knowing my brother cares for the people, so they even brought the village elder. Clever indeed!"

He then bowed to the old man, "Very well, old man, come with me to the mountain!" He then ordered his men to return to the stronghold first and told Li Kui, "Brother Li Kui, come to my boat. Let's have a drink first!"

Li Kui, delighted, forgot about the others, shouting, "Only the newlywed brother understands me! I'm thirsty, and having a drink is great!" With that, he jumped into the water and swam toward the large boat. Ruan Xiaqi, seeing this, laughed and jumped in after him. Seeing Li Kui's poor swimming skills, he dragged him toward the boat.

Li Kui, impressed by Ruan Xiaqi's swimming, stopped and let him drag him. The sailors on the large boat saw their leader dragging a big, clumsy man and laughed. Ruan Xiaqi, seeing this, laughed and scolded, "You lazy fellow!" Li Kui laughed, "In the water, you drag me; on land, I'll carry you. No one loses out!" Ruan Xiaqi, finding him amusing, didn't say more, only dragging him to the boat. The sailors threw down a rope, and they both climbed aboard.

The heroes of Dongxi Village, seeing this, were embarrassed. Wu Yong cursed Li Kui in his heart. Chao Gai sighed and told the fishermen, "Follow their boat. Please wait for us. If we don't return in half an hour, you can leave."

The fishermen, knowing the heroes of Liangshan respected the people and wouldn't harm them, and having received much silver from Chao Gai, agreed and followed the large boat.

The two boats sailed for a while, approaching the shore. Suddenly, two more fast boats appeared, with a tall, thin man and a sturdy, large man on them. Seeing the situation, the thin man shouted angrily, "Han Bolong, you traitor! I didn't come down the mountain to seek revenge, but you, the ungrateful, friend-betraying scoundrel, dare to come to the mountain! Brother Xiaqi, stop him! If I don't flay him today, I won't be Zhu Gui!" (To be continued)