Hou Liu took a sip of wine and asked with a worried expression, "Brother Yang Chun, that's what you say, but who can handle it?"
Yes, who could handle it.
Da Lao Hei pondered for a moment, the smile gone from his face.
"I've seen that place. The nearest woods are more than a dozen *zhang* away. Such a distance."
"Alas, I'm afraid it won't be easy."
At this point, Xiong Fei suddenly spoke up, "Big Brother, I have a way."
"Before I came to Centipede Ridge, I had a sworn brother, known as Iron-Arm Divine Fist Li Tong. He could draw a ten-stone bow and hit a target a hundred paces away."
Hearing this, Da Lao Hei's spirits lifted. He couldn't help but beam, "Heaven truly helps me, heaven truly helps me."
"Brother, you will set off tomorrow and invite this Li Tong here. The success or failure of this matter depends entirely on you."
Xiong Fei laughed heartily, draining his wine in one gulp. "Big Brother, why wait until tomorrow? I'll set off now."
...
Meanwhile, back in Hetou Village, Liu Ce had also returned, presenting a map to Liu Rumei and reporting in detail.
"Miss, the suspension bridge is built very sturdily. They say they'll lay planks on it too, so passage should be fine. The key now is to find the dragon's head and eyes to prevent destruction by the Grand Tutor and his men."
Liu Rumei nodded. "Indeed. His Highness the Crown Prince has already dispatched True Person Taiping this way. We must ensure his safety."
"Miss, if I were to make a move, I would choose to do so at the suspension bridge. That place is a strategic choke point. If we hold one end of the bridge, even a thousand troops could not pass."
Liu Rumei, however, shook her head. "What you can think of, they can also think of. Therefore, the more you feel it's possible, the less likely it is."
Liu Ce scratched his head and thought for a long time, finally sighing, "Then it's difficult. The distance from the foot of the mountain to the summit is over a hundred li."
Liu Rumei sighed softly. "Yes, it's difficult, but we must do it. We don't have much time. How about this: find an opportunity, and I will go into the mountains with you again."
"Then I will go and inform Brother Xiao Bei." Liu Ce stood up.
Liu Rumei waved her hand. "Just let him know. Don't ask him to send anyone else. With his people around, some things we say are not convenient."
Hearing that Liu Ce and his group intended to go into the mountains themselves and didn't need a guide, Chen Xiao Bei was relieved. Liu Rumei and her party were heading for Qingniu Mountain anyway, so if they wanted to go into the mountains, let them. After all, Qingniu Mountain wasn't his property.
The next morning, Chen Xiao Bei gathered ten village guards to accompany him into the mountains to pick apples.
Chen Da Yong, entering the mountains for the first time, was somewhat excited and kept asking questions along the way.
Of course, he didn't dare to ask Chen Xiao Bei these questions, so he could only pester Chen Xiao Bo incessantly.
Chen Xiao Bo could only smile and say, "Stop asking. You'll know when we get there. The mountains will be covered with apples."
The group soon arrived, chattering and laughing, but the scene before them shocked Chen Xiao Bei.
As far as the eye could see, a large area of trees was bare, with no fruit left. Many branches had also been torn and lay on the ground.
Chen Xiao Bei's mind instantly flashed with the scene of Cui San leading people to sell apples.
Yes, it must have been Cui San.
But how could he handle so many at once? How long would it take to sell them all?
Suddenly, Chen Xiao Bei slapped his forehead. He was so stupid. Cui San had likely discovered he was selling apples and wanted to claim them first.
If that was the case, he wouldn't be polite either.
Chen Xiao Bei remembered from his childhood that the apples bought in autumn could last the entire winter at home.
So, picking more wouldn't be a problem.
At this moment, Chen Xiao Bo, who had been here a few times, also noticed the abnormality.
"It seems a lot has been picked from here!"
Chen Xiao Bei nodded.
"Yes, it looks like we need to make a big move too. You go back to the village first and have Li Dong arrange for more people to come. Today, we'll pick a lot to take back."
After speaking, Chen Xiao Bei looked at Chen Da Yong and the others. "Originally, I thought one trip would be enough today, but now it seems we'll have to make several trips."
Chen Da Yong and the others smiled and said, "It's fine, it's fine, more trips are fine."
Just as everyone was dispersing to start working, they heard a commotion from a distance. Turning their heads, they saw Cui San arriving with dozens of people, a grand procession.
Everyone immediately tensed up. "Brother Xiao Bei, what do we do?"
Chen Xiao Bei smiled calmly. "He picks his, we pick ours. Just get to work."
But as the saying goes, the tree wants to be still, but the wind will not cease. Chen Xiao Bei didn't want to bother him, but it was clear Cui San had no intention of letting Chen Xiao Bei off the hook.
From a long distance, Cui San shouted, "Chen Xiao Bei, these are the fruit trees planted by my master. What do you mean by coming here to pick fruit?"
Hearing this, Chen Xiao Bei was almost furious.
"Cui San, you need to have some conscience when you speak. How did these become your master's fruit trees?"
Chen Da Yong and the others also chimed in, "Yes, yes, how did they become yours?"
"Then I'll tell you, this entire mountain belongs to my master. Don't come here again in the future." Cui San finished speaking and waved his hand. "Go, go, go, hurry up and leave."
Chen Xiao Bei pointed at the forest and said loudly, "This was originally a barren mountain. How did it become your land? You need some basis for what you say."
Cui San sneered twice again. "Stop wasting your breath. Leave when I tell you to, or don't blame me for being impolite."
Seeing that the other party intended to resort to force, Chen Da Yong immediately stepped forward, blocking Chen Xiao Bei.
Indeed, this Chen Da Yong was someone one could count on.
"Cui San, do you want to use your numbers to bully us? I'm telling you, Xiao Bei is the village head of our village. If you dare to touch him, and it gets reported to the county yamen, you'll be in big trouble."
Chen Da Yong's words did remind Cui San. After all, the village head was appointed by the county, a public official. If he were to be harmed, it would be difficult to resolve.
Cui San thought for a moment and came up with an idea. "Chen Da Yong, don't try to scare me with officials. My master is also an official. I'm telling you, this forest belongs to my master, and the county has issued land deeds for it."
Chen Xiao Bei knew that if he said this, it was likely he had no land deeds.
"Cui San, since you say so, let's go down the mountain together now. Show me the deeds."
Cui San was cornered and had no choice but to back down. "My master is magnanimous. Since you have come all this way, we will let you pick today."
"Oh, and I'll bring the land deeds for you to see later, so you'll be convinced."
With Cui San saying this, Chen Xiao Bei felt even more reassured. The other party definitely didn't have them, so what was there to be afraid of?
Thinking this, he gave Chen Da Yong and the others a look and signaled them to pick the fruit first, and deal with other matters later.
While they were picking the fruit, Cui San hurriedly descended the mountain.
Upon seeing Cui Da Na, Cui San exaggeratedly recounted the events.
Cui Da Na frowned slightly upon hearing this. "But where can we find the land deeds?"