Liu Rumei's gaze became cold and fierce. "Zhao Erge is usually not of this character. Today, Chen Xiaobei even took out his badge, yet he still sent him away. This was clearly intentional."
"But what is the purpose of his actions?" Liu's housekeeper seemed puzzled.
"It's simple. Zhao Erge must know that Chen Xiaobei is from Hetou Village. Perhaps he believes that Chen Xiaobei is here to provide me with some kind of information."
The housekeeper nodded. "Alright, I'll arrange it."
Liu Rumei nodded and turned to enter her room.
The housekeeper called two people over and whispered, "You two, stand guard at the door. Have Zhao Erge come to my room."
After giving the instructions, the housekeeper returned to his own room.
Inside the room, the housekeeper took a small porcelain bottle from his chest and poured some white powder into the teapot, adding tea water and gently shaking it. He then placed the cup in front of the table.
He poured another cup and set it beside him.
Soon, a knock on the door was heard. The housekeeper responded, "Come in."
The door creaked open, and Zhao Erge walked in with a smile on his face, cupping his fists in greeting to the housekeeper.
"Housekeeper Liu, you called for me?"
The housekeeper smiled and waved, "Brother Zhao, sit."
"Here, have a cup of tea to soothe your throat. It's so hot today."
Zhao Erge, completely unprepared, picked up the tea and gulped it down in two large swigs.
Once he finished the tea, the housekeeper's smile instantly disappeared.
"How did the news of Liu Tie's injury make its way to the capital? How did the master find out? I'd like to hear your thoughts, Brother Zhao."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Erge's eyes flickered with a brief moment of panic.
But it passed quickly, and he awkwardly shook his head. "I... I don't know. Maybe someone leaked the news."
"Yes, Liu Tie is one of our best experts in the Liu family, so of course, the master would be upset about his injury," the housekeeper said. "And if this news gets into the wrong hands, it could be harmful to the young miss."
At this point, Zhao Erge began to sweat slightly on his back.
"Housekeeper Liu, why are you telling me all this?" he asked nervously.
The housekeeper looked at him with a faint smile. "Don't you know the consequences of your own actions?"
Zhao Erge immediately jumped to his feet, "You suspect me..."
Before he could finish his sentence, Zhao Erge felt the world spinning around him and could no longer stand.
"Liu Ce, you're damn betraying me."
With that, he collapsed to the ground with a thud, unconscious.
The housekeeper shouted out loudly, "Come in!"
Soon, two people in green robes pushed open the door and entered.
"Take Zhao Erge to the dungeon. Everything is to await the young miss's orders."
...
At the same time, Chen Xiaobei, with a large pile of baozi (steamed buns), was driving a donkey cart to Wugulong Ridge with Chen Xiaowen and Chen Xiaobo.
The baozi was to bribe Chen Xiaowen and Chen Xiaobo.
While eating the meat-filled baozi, Chen Xiaobo still felt uneasy, "Brother, I think we should report this to the authorities and let the officials handle it."
Chen Xiaobei had considered that, but he was worried that doing so would make Big Black act rashly and endanger the safety of Cui Hongyu and Chen Qiaoer.
It was more than forty miles from the county to Wugulong Ridge, and by the time they arrived, it was already past noon.
Although it was called Wugulong Ridge, it was actually a long mountain range, not particularly tall, but rugged and difficult to walk.
While the mountain was not high, the terrain was treacherous, and many areas were narrow mountain paths, making it easy to defend but hard to attack. This was why Big Black had chosen it and turned it into a bandit stronghold.
When they were still two miles from the foot of the mountain, Chen Xiaobo urgently stopped the donkey cart.
"Brother, we can't go any further. If we go deeper..."
Chen Xiaobei understood what he meant. He had already told both of them that if he entered the mountain and hadn't returned by nightfall, they could leave on their own.
Chen Xiaobei jumped off the cart, adjusted his clothes, and walked boldly toward Wugulong Ridge.
Standing at the foot of the ridge, he cupped his hands in front of his mouth and shouted loudly toward the mountain.
"People on the mountain, listen to me, I am Chen Xiaobei, and I want to see Big Black."
He shouted several times, and soon there was a response. Two heads peeked out from behind a large rock, looking down at him. One of them yelled back, "What do you want?"
Having received a reply, Chen Xiaobei shouted back, "Tell Big Black to send Cui Hongyu and Chen Qiaoer down!"
"Stand there and don't move! If you come any closer, we'll shoot arrows at you!"
The two heads immediately withdrew.
Inside the bandit stronghold, Big Black was drinking with his men. These bandits had no real work to do most days, so they drank both during the day and at night.
Qing Lan came over and said that Chen Xiaobei had arrived, and Big Black couldn't help but burst into laughter.
"Don't say it, this kid actually has some guts, coming alone to my Wugulong Ridge."
A man with a sharp mouth and monkey-like features grinned and said, "Great leader, you're here drinking, why don't you let me go down and kill that kid with one strike? Then Cui Hongyu will become your wife."
Before he could finish speaking, a young man spoke up, "Hou Lao Liu, what are you thinking? Cui Hongyu has already killed three men, I think this Chen Xiaobei will be the fourth."
Hou Lao Liu was choked by his words and was speechless, awkwardly laughing twice.
"Yes, yes, Brother Xiong Fei is right. Great leader, how about we just deal with him and get rid of this disaster, so we don't have to keep him here in the stronghold."
At this moment, the man sitting at the side, Yiwai, interjected, "Hou Lao Liu, I worked hard to bring the person here, and you want to just let him go?"
"Cui Hongyu may not be able to become the wife of the stronghold leader, but it's fine to leave her here with us brothers. It's better than her going to the county to visit the brothel."
The group burst into laughter once more.
Big Black's face darkened. After a moment of thought, he slammed his cup down heavily.
He turned to Xiong Fei and said, "Xiong Fei, go down and tell that Chen Xiaobei clearly. If he wants his wife and sister back, it's simple: he just needs to get Yang Dazhi and Ding Lao San out of the county prison, and I'll release them."
Xiong Fei was reluctant, as he was enjoying the drinking.
But he didn't dare defy Big Black's order, so he stood up and cupped his fist. "Great leader, brothers, you stay here eating and drinking, I'll go and return soon."
Chen Xiaobei was anxiously waiting under the shade of a tree, and he could hear the commotion from the mountain.
He saw Xiong Fei come out, accompanied by two lackeys.
When they were still about two zhang away, Xiong Fei stopped and said, "Chen Xiaobei, I'll admit you have some guts, coming to Wugulong Ridge alone."
Chen Xiaobei remained expressionless and shouted, "I'm here to ask Big Black for people, and who are you?"
Xiong Fei laughed loudly, "Who I am doesn't matter, but you think we'll just give you what you want just because you show up and demand it?"
Chen Xiaobei understood immediately that they were negotiating. "Say it, what do you want?"