The Bandits

He was the leader of these bandits, also surnamed Lu, with the given name Shen. He had read a few books before, and his demeanor was somewhat different from the other bandits.
He was still very young, only in his early twenties, but his ruthlessness was inconsistent with his age.
Xi Cui, facing him, dared not be lazy, quickly replying: “Big Brother.”
Lu Shen watched him sit down, then smiled and pushed the wine jar in front of him closer, acting very intimately.
“I asked you to look after him, but did it make you feel wronged?”
The person he referred to was Wei Dan Sheng.
Few in the camp were willing to take on this task. When it fell to Xi Cui, Lu Shen naturally assumed Xi Cui would be displeased.
The reason he was so considerate of Xi Cui’s feelings was that, by kinship, he was Lu Fei’s older cousin.
During the famine year, Lu Fei’s father, who was also Lu Shen’s paternal uncle, risked his life fighting others to protect several youngsters, including Lu Shen.
Lu Shen remembered that his life was saved by his Third Paternal Uncle, so he was somewhat protective of Lu Fei.
Lu Fei also deeply respected this Big Brother.
Xi Cui: “What Big Brother assigns, how could it be a grievance?”
In fact, she was not only not wronged but also very grateful for this arrangement, which allowed her to interact with Wei Dan Sheng as soon as she arrived, without having to devise ways to approach him.
As Xi Cui carefully dealt with Lu Shen, she suddenly felt someone call her name. Before she could react, that person had already embraced her shoulder.
It was a tall, burly strongman, with a broad forehead and an open chest.
Xi Cui tilted her head and thought hard for a moment. This strongman seemed to be Lu Jin Chuan, who usually had a very good relationship with Lu Fei.
“Big Brother!” The strongman vigorously greeted Lu Shen, while tightly hugging Xi Cui.
A strong, sour smell of sweat, or rather, the smell of a man, assailed her nostrils. Xi Cui was almost suffocated by him.
Lu Shen paid no attention to this small interlude, smiled, and continued: “I see you have some capability. Since that wretched brat was captured, he hadn’t eaten a single meal for three consecutive days. But I didn’t expect him to eat today, under your watch.”
Lu Jin Chuan, sitting beside Xi Cui, heard this and angrily spat on the ground: “He was as stubborn as a donkey a few days ago. Didn’t he eat today? I thought his bones were so hard, but it seems he’s still a spineless lump of flesh.”
“Big Brother is the same; your temper is clearly unbearable, yet you still called you to look after this scoundrel.” He chuckled, stroking Xi Cui’s arm, winking and saying: “But you’ve endured a day. Come, I’ll take you for a drink, and later we’ll eat together. Big Brother, when are we going tonight?”
Lu Shen unhurriedly poured another cup of wine, dipped a finger into it, and brought a little wine to the Monkey on his shoulder: “It’s still early; we must wait until it’s completely dark.”
Lu Jin Chuan’s face showed dissatisfaction: “It’s not like we’ve never done it during the day. Why must we wait until dark?”
This band of robbers sometimes blocked roads and robbed during the day, sometimes at night, and sometimes directly stormed into people’s homes arrogantly.
Lu Shen withdrew his finger: “What are you rushing for?”
Lu Jin Chuan was indignantly upset: “We can’t let Wei Zong Lin think we specifically chose the night because we’re afraid of him.”
Wei Zong Lin was Wei Dan Sheng’s father, and also the newly appointed county magistrate of Qing Yang County.
Xi Cui quietly pricked up her ears.
“What am I afraid of him for?” Lu Shen sneered: “If he wants to eliminate us to gain merit, he first needs to see if he has the capability. Besides, his son is still with us.”
Their self-confidence and arrogance, unafraid of the authorities, were not without reason.
Firstly, the bandits on Biao Er Mountain were numerous and possessed military-grade bows and arrows.
Secondly, they also colluded with government soldiers. These soldiers were often short-changed on their military pay, so they gradually began to collude with them.
Thirdly, because Biao Er Mountain’s terrain was naturally advantageous, easy to defend and difficult to attack, and also because it was at the border between two provinces, officials shirked responsibility, and it gradually became a "three-no-management" area.
Fourthly, because the bandits on Biao Er Mountain and the villagers below were originally one family with deep ties and frequent interactions, even if the authorities wanted to eliminate them, they often hesitated due to this situation, not daring to act rashly.
Wei Zong Lin was different. As soon as he took office, his son Wei Dan Sheng was captured, so he was determined to eliminate these bandits, even arresting several of Lu Shen’s brothers.
Lu Shen had originally intended to reconcile with him, just like with previous Qing Yang County magistrates, by offering some money in exchange for peace.
Unexpectedly, Wei Zong Lin was upright and incorruptible, unwilling to reconcile with him, insisting on completely eradicating these troublesome bandits before giving up.
News came from Biao Er Mountain that the authorities had taken action, but Lu Shen’s expression now seemed to show he still didn’t care.
After all, Wei Dan Sheng was still in their hands, so Wei Zong Lin had to be somewhat wary.
Wine was laid out on the table, all white rice wine brewed in the village at the foot of the mountain. Xi Cui was poured several large cups by Lu Jin Chuan. After drinking, her head felt a little dizzy, and her dark face also showed a few hints of redness.
“Your alcohol tolerance is too weak. If you get drunk later, we won’t carry you back.”
Xi Cui rubbed her head, hastily running off: “I’m going to get some fresh air to sober up.”
She said she was going to sober up, but in reality, she was going to find Wei Dan Sheng.
He was still sitting there, his small face expressionless, looking down at the ground.
Xi Cui followed his gaze and saw a swarm of ants clearing pumpkin crumbs on the ground.
By now, the sun had completely set. The clamor at the table gradually faded, and the night wind blew, making one feel a little chilly.
Wei Dan Sheng was dressed very thinly.
“Cold?” Xi Cui asked with a beaming smile. When she smiled, the flesh on her cheeks piled up, looking extremely adorable.
Wei Dan Sheng looked up at him, then shook his head.
Xi Cui extended a pair of hairy hands towards him: “Come, I’ll carry you back.”
Wei Dan Sheng nodded again.
He seemed to know there was no hope of escape, so he obediently allowed her to carry him without any intention of resisting.
She now had a lot of strength, carrying him effortlessly.
The boy’s weight in her arms was very light, thin and small, fragile to the point of transparency, yet his eyes seemed to burn with a teal flame.
His injured arm extended from his sleeve, hanging loosely, not grasping Xi Cui’s clothes.