CHAPTER 1028: CHAPTER 1026: BEGGING FOR MERCY

Wang Yongzhu sneered, "Today you’re begging me to give them a way to survive, but when they caused this trouble, did they even consider giving me a way to survive? Things you all couldn’t do, you’re actually asking me to achieve?"

Loo Xiaoshan knew full well he was asking the impossible, but after all, it concerned the livelihood of over a hundred people. He had grown up with them, fed on the kindness of one household and drank at the hospitality of another. Could he really bear to watch them be driven out of Yingzi Gully?

Just as he was about to say something, Wang Yongzhu interrupted, "Loo Xiaoshan! Some words are best thought through before speaking. As the saying goes, ’words spoken cannot be recovered, like water spilled.’ I remember your sincere heart for the people of Yingzi Gully; some matters I’ve turned a blind eye to have already passed."

"But if you continue to fail to discern right from wrong, don’t blame me for being heartless!"

Loo Xiaoshan was startled, raising his head to look at Wang Yongzhu.

Wang Yongzhu said coldly, enunciating each word, "Do I need to remind you? Did all the people of Yingzi Gully really gather earlier? Those who didn’t come, where are they now?"

With these words, Loo Xiaoshan, a robust man, felt all his strength suddenly drained, collapsing to the ground with a ghastly pale face, unable to utter a single word.

Even Wang Yongping, not the brightest bulb, understood: "Sis, what’s going on? Did those people leave a backup plan? Did they sneak off to burn Tea Mountain?"

Wang Yongzhu said nothing, just stared at Loo Xiaoshan.

Loo Xiaoshan, dejected, lowered his head. It’s all over! It’s over!

Wang Yongping, furious, grabbed Loo Xiaoshan by the collar and lifted him up, "Loo Xiaoshan, you bastard! I treated you as a brother, thought you were a real man! And yet you hid such important matters? You bastard, have you no shame towards my sister, huh—"

As he spoke, he swung a fist at him.

Loo Xiaoshan closed his eyes, letting the punches land on his body and face. He knew he was in the wrong; he handled the matter despicably.

If he truly appreciated the Scholar’s Lady from his heart, he wouldn’t have let things come to this, trying to shield those old friends.

This beating was well deserved!

After a few more hits, Loo Xiaoshan was bruised, and Wang Yongping was about to start kicking when Wang Yongzhu stopped him.

"Sis, why are you stopping me? This ungrateful, heartless bastard deserves a beating!" Wang Yongping’s eyes turned red with anger.

"Fourth Brother, save your strength. You might need it tonight!" Wang Yongzhu reminded him.

Wang Yongping, hearing this, kicked Loo Xiaoshan one more time before reluctantly returning to Wang Yongzhu’s side.

Wang Yongzhu glanced at Loo Xiaoshan’s sorry state and indifferently looked away, "Please leave now!"

Loo Xiaoshan didn’t make a sound, climbed up, wiped the blood from his mouth with his sleeve, and left with his head lowered.

Watching Loo Xiaoshan’s retreating figure, Wang Yongping worried again, "Sis, won’t this bastard go back and tell the people of Yingzi Gully that we’ve figured everything out?"

Wang Yongzhu smiled, "At this point, the cat’s out of the bag. It doesn’t matter if they know or not, it won’t change the final outcome."

Gu Yu had cleaned the teapot and, finding a kettle of hot water from somewhere, brought it in. He poured two cups of hot tea and whispered, "Scholar’s Lady, my third sister and brother-in-law asked me to tell you that some people from Yingzi Gully have secretly gone to Tea Mountain, saying that if you don’t agree to their terms, they might just burn the whole Tea Mountain."

After finishing, seeing Wang Yongzhu’s unchanged expression, he continued, "My brother-in-law also said that it seems they’re not alone; they’ve collaborated with outsiders."

Only then did Wang Yongzhu raise an eyebrow, thinking to herself, no wonder these schemes and words seemed incited by someone behind the scenes.

Indeed, it’s external foes agitating the internal traitors!

Just then, Zhang Quan entered, and Wang Yongzhu had Gu Yu repeat the message.

Zhang Quan, confident, said, "Don’t worry, Scholar’s Lady. With Sun Qi over there, nothing will happen to Tea Mountain. However, here, when it’s time for the burning, things might start to stir."

"We don’t have many people left here. There could be mistakes. Scholar’s Lady, you should move into the canyon and lock the door from outside. They can’t escape, and when dawn comes, the people from Tea Mountain can round them up!"

Wang Yongzhu shook her head, "Don’t worry about me! You all need to be vigilant! And Gu Yu, go hide at your third sister’s place now and don’t come out until tomorrow morning!"

Gu Yu wanted to say something, but with a single glance from Wang Yongzhu, he nodded obediently, "Yes, ma’am!"

He retreated.

The group discussed a bit more, and then someone from Zhang Quan’s side brought over food.

Zhang Quan, remarkably, had managed to serve a few fresh vegetables at this time, especially one particular dish of bamboo shoots, crisp and sweet, that Wang Yongzhu couldn’t resist picking a few more times.

After the meal, she couldn’t help but ask, "Are there still fresh bamboo shoots at this time?"

Zhang Quan’s eyes flickered with a curious look. To be honest, he’d heard from his employer about how amazing the Scholar’s Lady was—not only skilled in business but also quite strong.

Today he’d witnessed it firsthand—such a dainty lady, yet a single kick from her and a tree as thick as a bowl snapped right in two. Luckily, he was composed enough, otherwise, he might have been shocked.

Looking at the situation in Yingzi Gully, normally, a young lady would be scared out of her wits upon hearing about it, yet the Scholar’s Lady remained unfazed, calmly discussing bamboo shoot dishes.

Zhang Quan, having traveled extensively with Zhang Yinbao, had seen many women, but encountering such a brave and composed young lady was a first.

He couldn’t help but feel admiration. No wonder his employer held her in high regard, considering her a heroine among women.

To be honest, although Zhang Quan appeared composed, he also felt a bit tense inside, but seeing Wang Yongzhu’s calmness, he relaxed somewhat.

He casually chatted about bamboo shoots, making small talk.

The night gradually deepened, and from the wooden house, they could hear the cries from the cave gradually diminishing.

Gradually, everything quieted down.

Zhang Quan’s nerves tightened again, knowing that this calmness was just the calm before the storm to come.

He signaled with his hand, and someone went out, standing by the door, making a gesture for caution in the lamp’s glow.

Hiding in the shadows, those guarding the wooden house held their breaths, eyes unblinking, fixed on the cave.

Sure enough, past midnight, they saw the cave lit up with flickering oil lamps.

Then, they spotted a dozen figures cautiously emerging from the cave, seeing the lights out in the wooden house, only leaving a lone flickering lantern swaying in the mountain breeze.

The surroundings were eerily silent. After waiting a moment, those figures rushed toward the wooden house. Under the pale light, they could see that some were holding ropes, others knives, and others bows and arrows.

The leader, holding a knife, gently knocked on the wooden door. There was no response. He pushed on it, and the door creaked open a small crack.