Liu Rumei's gaze turned cold. "Zhao Lao Er isn't usually like this. Today, even after Chen Xiaobei showed his waist token, he still sent the other party away. This is clearly intentional."
"But what's his purpose in doing so?" Butler Liu couldn't quite understand.
"It's very simple. Zhao Lao Er knows Chen Xiaobei is from Hetou Village. Perhaps he believes Chen Xiaobei is here to provide me with some information."
Butler Liu nodded. "Very well, I'll make the arrangements."
Liu Rumei nodded and turned back into her room.
Butler Liu beckoned two people over and said in a low voice, "You two go guard the door and tell Zhao Lao Er to come to my room."
With that, Butler Liu also returned to his room.
Upon entering the room, Butler Liu took out a small porcelain bottle from his robes, poured a bit of white powder into a teacup, then poured in some tea and swirled it slightly. He placed it on the table opposite him.
He then poured another cup for himself and placed it beside him.
Soon, a knock sounded at the door. Butler Liu replied, "Come in."
Creak, the door was pushed open, and Zhao Lao Er walked in with a smile, cupping his fists towards Butler Liu.
"Butler Liu, you were looking for me?"
Butler Liu smiled and beckoned, "Brother Zhao, please sit."
"Here, have some tea to moisten your throat. It's so hot today."
Zhao Lao Er, without any suspicion, picked up the teacup and gulped it down in two large mouthfuls.
Seeing him drink the tea, the smile on Butler Liu's face vanished instantly.
"How did Liu Tie's injury get reported to the capital? How did the master find out? I'd like to hear your opinion, Brother Zhao?"
Upon hearing this, a flicker of panic flashed in Zhao Lao Er's eyes.
But it was only a fleeting moment. He shook his head awkwardly. "This, I don't know. Perhaps someone leaked the news."
"Yes, Liu Tie is one of our Liu family's top experts. The master would surely be concerned about his injury."
"Moreover, if the enemy were to find out about this, it might be detrimental to Miss."
At this point, Zhao Lao Er's back began to sweat slightly.
"Butler Liu, why are you telling me this?"
Butler Liu looked at him with a half-smile. "Don't you know what you've done?"
Zhao Lao Er sprang to his feet with a jolt. "You suspect me..."
Before he could finish his sentence, Zhao Lao Er felt the world spin, and he could no longer stand.
"Liu Ce, you damned traitor!"
With that, he collapsed to the ground with a thud, completely unconscious.
Butler Liu shouted outside, "Someone, come here!"
Soon, two men in green clothes pushed open the door and entered.
"Lock Zhao Lao Er in the dungeon. Everything else will await the young lady's decision."
...
Meanwhile, Chen Xiaobei bought a large pile of steamed buns and, with Chen Xiaowen and Chen Xiaobo, set off for Wugong Ridge in a donkey cart.
This pile of buns was intended to appease Chen Xiaowen and Chen Xiaobo.
Eating the meat buns, Chen Xiaobo still felt uneasy. "Brother, I think we should report this to the authorities. Let them handle it."
Chen Xiaobei had considered it, but he worried that in doing so, the desperate Da Lao Hei might endanger Cui Hongyu and Chen Qiao'er.
It was more than forty li from the county town to Wugong Ridge, and this journey took them past noon.
Although called Wugong Ridge, it was a continuous mountain range, but the mountains were not particularly high.
The mountains were not high but were rugged and difficult to traverse, with many narrow paths. It was a place that was easy to defend and difficult to attack, which was why Da Lao Hei had chosen it as his stronghold.
Two li from the foot of the mountain, Chen Xiaobo hurriedly pulled the donkey cart to a stop.
"Brother, we can't go any further. Any further and..."
Chen Xiaobei understood his meaning. He had agreed with them along the way that if he went into the mountains and heard no news by nightfall, they could leave on their own.
Chen Xiaobei jumped off the cart, straightened his clothes, and strode towards Wugong Ridge.
Standing at the foot of Wugong Ridge, he cupped his hands around his mouth, forming a megaphone, and shouted towards the mountain.
"Listen up, people on the mountain! My name is Chen Xiaobei, and I want to see Da Lao Hei."
He shouted several times, and there was a response from the mountain. Two heads peeked out from behind a large rock and looked down. Someone shouted at him, "What do you want?"
It was good that someone responded. Chen Xiaobei shouted loudly, "Tell Da Lao Hei to send Cui Hongyu and Chen Qiao'er down."
"You wait right there and don't move. If you come any closer, we'll shoot arrows."
Then, the two heads quickly retracted.
In the mountain stronghold, Da Lao Hei was drinking with his men. These bandits had nothing else to do usually, so they drank at noon and at night.
Qing Lan came and said that Chen Xiaobei had arrived. He couldn't help but laugh heartily.
"Don't tell me this kid has some guts, daring to come to Wugong Ridge alone."
A sharp-faced, monkey-like man next to him chuckled. "Great Chieftain, you're drinking here. Let me go down and kill that kid with one stroke, and Cui Hongyu will become your wife."
Before he finished speaking, a young man beside him spoke. "Hou Lao Liu, what are your intentions? Cui Hongyu has already caused three men to die. I think Chen Xiaobei will be the fourth soon."
Hou Lao Liu was choked speechless by his remark and chuckled awkwardly.
"Yes, yes, Brother Xiong Fei is right, Great Chieftain. Why don't we just let them go, lest we keep this jinx at the stronghold?"
At this point, Wai Zui, who was sitting below, interjected. "Hou Lao Liu, are you saying we should let go of someone I worked so hard to capture?"
"Cui Hongyu can't be our wife, but we can keep her here to entertain the brothers. It's more convenient than going to the Hundred Flowers Pavilion in the county!"
His words caused the others to burst into lewd laughter. Su Dan Novel Network.
Da Lao Hei's face darkened. After a moment of thought, he placed his wine cup down heavily.
He turned to Xiong Fei. "Xiong Fei, you go down and make it clear to that Chen Xiaobei. If he wants his wife and sister, it's very simple. Help me get Yang Dazhi and Ding Lao San out of the county yamen, and I'll release them."
Xiong Fei was very reluctant, as it was so nice to be drinking here.
But he dared not disobey Da Lao Hei's orders, so he stood up and cupped his fists. "Great Chieftain, brothers, you eat and drink here. I'll be right back."
Chen Xiaobei was anxiously waiting under the shade of a tree when he heard a commotion from the mountain.
He saw Xiong Fei, accompanied by two subordinates, emerge.
Xiong Fei stopped about ten feet away from Chen Xiaobei.
"Chen Xiaobei, you've got guts, daring to come to Wugong Ridge alone."
Chen Xiaobei said loudly with a blank expression, "I'm here to see Da Lao Hei and get my people back. Who are you?"
Xiong Fei laughed heartily. "Who I am isn't important. But do you think we'll just hand them over if you ask for them empty-handed?"
Chen Xiaobei naturally understood that this was a negotiation. "Speak, what do you want?"