CHAPTER 144: CHAPTER 144: IF I GET OUT, YOU’LL SUFFER A FATE WORSE THAN DEATH

Tang Qingrou tearfully denied.

"Why did you deceive the government officers, you intentionally dragged me down, I kindly sheltered you, and now I’m the one at fault."

Thinking of this, Tang Qingrou leaned into Brother Da Niu’s chest, crying pitifully.

"Brother Da Niu, you must stand up for me."

Brother Da Niu couldn’t help but feel affection for this woman, and quickly spoke to the government officer.

"Lord, Tang Qingrou only spoke a few more words, why not just let it go."

Pei Shu’er laughed as she looked at Ma Dagou and others.

"Is it really like that?"

These people felt the cold gaze of Pei Shu’er, and thought that if Tang Qingrou didn’t admit, their guilt would be heavier, so they quickly spoke.

"Lord, it was under Tang Qingrou’s instigation, otherwise, even with ten guts, we wouldn’t dare!"

"Tang Qingrou, what else do you have to argue?"

The government officer sneered and went to seize Tang Qingrou.

Tang Qingrou’s hands were tied behind her back by the government officer, feeling increasingly defiant.

She looked towards a tall, strong man standing at the cave entrance.

"Niu Hao, do you see, it’s Pei Shu’er who sent your brother into the army, now his fate is unknown."

Upon hearing Tang Qingrou’s words, Niu Hao immediately turned his gaze towards Pei Shu’er.

Hatred filled his eyes, as if he wanted to tear Pei Shu’er to pieces.

After saying this, Tang Qingrou smiled at Pei Shu’er, her eyes full of hatred, she gritted her teeth and whispered.

"Pei Shu’er, just you wait, Niu Hao won’t let you go."

"And, you’d better pray to the heavens, don’t let me get out, or I’ll make you live a fate worse than death."

Pei Shu’er sneered: "Big Bull, Tang Qingrou said you can’t just catch her, there are a few experts in Yuhua Valley involved too."

Upon hearing this, Tang Qingrou’s mind went blank.

When did she say something like that!

Looking at the people in Yuhua Valley glaring at her with hatred, eager to tear her apart, she realized Pei Shu’er wanted her to have no place in Yuhua Valley!

The government officers, following Ma Dagou’s identification, arrested several of Big Bull’s subordinates, who were not the strongest, but were medium-level experts in Yuhua Valley.

Brother Da Niu had spent a lot of effort subduing these subordinates.

Brother Da Niu glared viciously at Tang Qingrou: "You bitch, I knew you were unreliable!"

Tang Qingrou tried to argue, quickly said: "Brother Da Niu, I..."

Before she could finish, Big Bull slapped her heavily across the face, knocking her to the ground, scraping her knees, blood flowing.

Tang Qingrou’s face swelled up, her eyes full of tears, crying pitifully.

"I didn’t."

Big Bull lost so many subordinates and such face, he wouldn’t let Tang Qingrou off.

He lifted his foot and kicked Tang Qingrou, leaving bruises all over her body.

Aunt Lin tried to intervene but was overturned by Big Bull, crashing into a rock, scraping the skin on her back.

Tang Qingrou had to hide behind two government officers.

Government officers then stopped Big Bull.

"Alright, that’s enough."

With such a big scene, others came out, looking at the scene in surprise.

Learning that it was Pei Shu’er who had Niu Qian imprisoned, everyone showed fear.

From the stance, Pei Shu’er discovered that due to Niu Qian’s downfall, Yuhua Valley was no longer as united as before, with many harboring differing motives.

Some supported Big Bull, some supported Niu Hao, while Big Bull succeeded in his usurpation.

Some had split off independently.

Now, it’s a three-way standoff.

But Pei Shu’er wasn’t interested in Yuhua Valley; the people here differed from those on Deserted Mountain.

The people on Deserted Mountain shared hardships with Pei Shu’er, there was camaraderie.

The people in Yuhua Valley, having lived through so much deceit and betrayal, those surviving were certainly not kind.

Moreover, in this place, there were too few women, only Tang Qingrou and Aunt Lin.

Another woman was dirty and emaciated.

In such a place, could it be any good? It wouldn’t be easy to subdue.

Even though these people could be driven out.

But what she lacked now wasn’t land, but manpower.

Pei Shu’er said to everyone, "Let’s go, head back."

The government officers loaded these large turnips onto the carriage, then headed to Deserted Mountain.

Reweighed for tax calculation.

The turnip yield per acre amounted to 6000 kilograms, and the government officers, seeing it, were a bit amazed.

Deserted Mountain had planted an acre of turnips, the rear mountain had three acres, all taxed and handed to the government officers.

Totaling 12000 kilograms, when the government officers hauled the turnips back to the camp, Zhang Feng was thrilled.

Now, boiled turnips plus boiled potatoes could sustain them for a while longer.

Pei Shu’er thought, if these people saw the rice mature, they’d certainly be even happier.

The rice harvest was nearing.

Once the government officers left, Pei Shu’er gathered the people on Deserted Mountain.

"Deserted Mountain needs a wall built, including the rear mountain, else thefts would continue, and it would ensure the safety of everyone here on Deserted Mountain."

This wasn’t a time of peace, one couldn’t rely on people’s conscience.

Even if there was a wall, it couldn’t keep out experts, but it could keep out regular folks.

Even if experts came, they couldn’t move all the crops overnight. Managing over ten bags would be quite a feat.

She saw many experts in Yuhua Valley, but not too many.

Not every time would experts be dispatched; even they would get tired.

If walls were combined with patrols, moving crops would face great difficulty.

Everyone was happy but also worried.

They wanted to build a wall, but where would the bricks come from?

There were rocks, but not easily usable, and there was no stone-cutting equipment.

As for mud bricks, they could be made, but weren’t sturdy enough.

Red or gray bricks were out of the question; no one had the money for them.

Pei Shu’er initially thought the brick kiln could wait, but now realized the sooner, the better.

They were about to leave Deserted Mountain and act near Gulan Mountain Range, sales wouldn’t be a worry; bricks could earn money.

If nothing else, Deserted Mountain’s construction needed bricks.

Thinking of this, Pei Shu’er immediately started drawing up a brick kiln design based on memory.

The design was simple, showing only the general structure.

Pei Shu’er smiled and said, "Using a brick kiln, we can produce uniformly sized bricks that adhere to standards, and the more we make, the sturdier they’ll be."