The Whole Village Thrives After Adopting a Lucky Girl - Chapter 166
Chapter 166: Chapter 162: Fox Fairy_1
Translator: 549690339
Sun Licheng soon arrived with several of the local men.
After examining the bodies and the injured bandits, Sun Licheng’s stern face burst into a broad smile.
“Ah, Sanlang, this is indeed a significant contribution, hahaha.”
He patted Jiang Sanlang’s shoulder: “I’ve already sent someone on horseback to the county town to report the news. There should be someone come to take over these bandits this afternoon.”
Jiang Sanlang nodded: “We were able to capture so many bandits this time thanks to our villagers’ brave fight against the enemy. Many West Village residents also joined in, and dozens of craftsmen from neighboring villages helped as well. Lizheng Uncle, when you write your report, please include their names. I’ve already drafted a list. Please attach it with your report and send it to Mingfu.”
“Of course, of course.” The villagers of Chuanhe Town had made a contribution. It was as if he himself had made a contribution; there was no way Sun Licheng would refuse.
That afternoon, a team of over two hundred cavalry came, leaving behind a cloud of dust. They were led by a young officer.
They came to the South Slope under the guidance of Sun Licheng.
Yingbao, Dani, Erni, and their older sister were kept in the house by their grandmother and not allowed to go out. Yingbao pressed her face against the window to sneak a peek outside.
But there were too many people outside, a sea of black.
The Clan Leader was their grandpa, Lizheng Sun Licheng, their father Jiang Sanlang, several clan elders, and the village leader of West Village, Chen Changsheng, as well as Uncle Chen Yin. They were all accompanying the two officers and several soldiers in the middle.
A crowd went to the hut to bring out the bandit leader, then left the yard.
Yingbao wanted to see who the officer was, so while her grandma wasn’t paying attention, she snuck out of the house and climbed up the wall using the steps.
Standing on the wall, she could only see the tops of the soldiers’ heads and the officer’s head.
The soldiers tied up the bandits one by one, like long gourd strings, and the bandit leader was thrown into a prison cart.
The leading officer said something to Sun Licheng, who kept nodding.
Suddenly, the young officer looked up at the wall, his gaze met with Yingbao’s.
Yingbao blinked, finally making out the man’s appearance.
Eighteen or nineteen years old, with sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes. If he grew a goatee, he would look just like the commander ten years later.
She hadn’t expected him to look like this when he was young. Tsk, tsk, he looked even better without a beard.
“Baobao, come down quickly!” Chunniang, their maid, called from inside the courtyard.
Yingbao responded and slowly clambered down from the wall.
On returning to the room, she resumed reading with her elder sister.
Although the bandit leader had been taken away, the people of Dongchen Village did not feel relieved.
On the contrary, they were even more vigilant.
After all, bandits rarely only had one leader, there must be accomplices.
The Clan Leader and several clan elders had decided to also build houses on South Slope.
At least here they had the fortress-like Jiang Family home; if bandits came, everyone could run there for shelter.
So, the South Slope became even livelier, with all the inhabitants of Dongchen Village choosing plots of land on the slope and eagerly asking people to help them build houses.
Even several families from Xichen Village in the west came to visit South Slope, asking to build houses here too, but they were rejected by Jiang Sanlang.
Because this whole area was made up of farmland belonging to Dongchen Village. If people from Xichen Village came to build houses here, it would inevitably infringe upon Dongchen Village’s territory.
Even if they were to occupy unused land, eventually mixing the two villages together would cause chaos and make management difficult.
In addition, if they were to propose merging the two villages, Clan Leader of Xichen Village, Chen Changsheng, would certainly not agree. If the villagers he governed went to the neighboring village to build houses, what use would he have as the village leader?
Ten days later, Jiang Dalang returned from Pingjiang County with grain. He told his father and younger brother about what he had seen and heard on the road.
“All the inns along the road have had a lot of people added to their staff. They are constantly patrolling the official road. Those in shabby clothes are taken away for questioning, and if a group of refugees without a guide are encoutered, they are immediately executed.”
Old man Jiang was dumbfounded: “What if they are really refugees?”
“Then they can only blame their bad luck, but if they can’t produce a guide, then they are suspicious and deserve to be killed. The bandit problem has been quite severe recently. Every county is in a state of panic. I saw two groups of refugees being killed on the spot on the way here.”
Jiang Dalang sighed: “Judging from their accents, those refugees seem to be from Zhouhe County. Ah, it’s their bad luck that they happened to arrive as the Imperial Court is suppressing the bandits.”
Old man Jiang shook his head, “If it weren’t for their desperate circumstances, who would want to abandon their home and run away?”
But then again, refugees banding together to cause unrest is a disaster. Although their circumstances may have been pitiful, it is also unforgivable to commit atrocities.
Not only do they rob and kill everywhere they go, but they also rape women.
The craftsmen who were building houses said that several people in their village had been killed by these bandits.
The bandits had also captured a number of women, who were raped and then tortured to death. They were no better than animals.
It seemed that those refugees were not entirely innocent afterall.
In the blink of an eye, a month had passed.
Yingbao had already gradually moved all the items in the house, each time she quietly lured second cousin to go and discover them, and then used his hands to carry them back home.
Other than Jiang Sanlang, everyone in the Jiang Family found it quite magical.
“Isn’t it strange? I searched the bamboo forest countless times and found nothing, but the moment Erquan goes, he finds a pile of items, and they all belong to Sanlang.”
Old man Jiang had repeated this many times. His wife’s ears had even formed calluses from hearing it.
“Are you trying to say that our Erquan is the Fox Fairy?” Jiang Liu said discontentedly.
Old man Jiang coughed lightly, “Whether he is the Fox Fairy or not, I am just curious. Erquan, tell grandpa, how on earth do you manage to find things from your third uncle’s house in the bamboo forest?”
Jiang Quan: “How would I know?” He was also puzzled.
But the feeling of discovering treasure was irresistible, he was nearly addicted.
Tomorrow, no, today, he wished to go to the bamboo forest again to see if he could find anything else, even a piece of furniture would do.
However, when going, he must take Yingbao.
Jiang Quan had tried several times, as long as he took Yingbao, he could find a large treasure.
Once he went alone, or with someone else, he would return empty-handed.
Could it be that Yingbao was his lucky star?
“Yingbao, later second brother will take you to dig winter bamboo shoots in the bamboo forest, okay?” Jiang Quan looked at his younger cousin with a flattering expression.
Yingbao: “I don’t want to, I have homework with Sister Wen.”
Now that Mrs. Wen and her daughter were living with Jiang Sanlang, they had started to tutor her daily.
So Yingbao attended class in the morning, and she had to write and read in the afternoon, she rarely had time to go to the bamboo forest.
Jiang Sanlang had also asked someone to build a school on the South Slope for the village children to attend, but it was not yet completed.
Jiang Quan was slightly disappointed to see his younger cousin refuse, it seemed he had to take the chisel to the bamboo forest to dig bamboo shoots alone.
Actually it might be a little too difficult to dig bamboo shoots at this time, but it wasn’t impossible.
As long as a suitable location was found, the winter shoots dug out would be more tender than spring shoots.
Jiang Quan arrived at the edge of the bamboo forest, he looked left and right, and began to dig in a place with a thick layer of fallen leaves.
As he was digging, he suddenly heard a faint sound of footsteps behind him, they were getting closer.
Jiang Quan suddenly turned around, and saw two ragged-looking people standing not far behind him.
“What do you guys want?” Sneaking around behind him, were they trying to attack or something?
