Chapter 23: Hostage

  At dusk, the western sky, after displaying its beautiful and charming dress to the world, began to gradually retreat into the night's veil, towards the valley of the western mountains. As the night curtain started to close in, the retreating sunset still cast its last rays onto the edge of the night curtain, embedding a beautiful seven-colored hem on the black skirt of the night.

  The evening wind carries the warmth of the new spring, gently sweeping across all things on earth.

  The blurry image of Dazhu County town, in the evening wind, swaying the vague silhouette of the ancient city wall's tower.

  Less than a mile from the city gate, on the road to Dazhu County, two young men sat scattered. These two young men were none other than Li Guoting and Zhao Erhu. Under the cover of night, they waited here for the return of Feng Dengke, the son of Feng Shiyu, a wealthy family in Chengguan Village, who would come to the private school from here in the morning.

  Near the village head of Chengguan Village, there was a person hiding beside a haystack. He was Ma Fei. Ma Fei was specially observing the situation in the village. If anything unexpected happened, he would inform Li Guoting and Zhao Erhu in front of him in time.

  On the road, people occasionally pass by, either in groups of two or three, or riding horses and driving carts. In the darkness, they hurry out of the city and back, but no one notices the two young men standing by the side of the road.

  In the past, one person wasn't the one they were waiting for. Now, another person still isn't the one they're waiting for. Looking at the sky, it's about to get completely dark. Still, there's no sign of that old and young pair appearing on the road ahead. Li Guoting couldn't help but feel anxious, he turned his face around and said to Zhao Erhu who was sitting next to him, picking up small stones from the ground and playing with them: "Third brother, stop playing, it's so late, those two should have arrived long ago. You go take a look ahead, if you see them coming, hurry back and tell me. If they still don't come back, we won't need to wait anymore, then they must be staying in the city."

  Zhao Erhuo stood up and threw away the stone in his hand, saying: "Okay, I'll go ahead and take a look." He then walked towards the front of the main road.

  Li Guoting reached into his pants and touched the dagger hidden in his waist, vigilantly watching the decreasing number of passersby on the road.

  At this time, a man pushing a wheelbarrow walked by him. He took a look at Li Guoting sitting on the side of the road and then walked over.

  Suddenly, Zhao Erhu, who had just walked a short distance forward, hastily turned back and said to Li Guoting: "Brother, they've arrived. Those two have come, and are on the road ahead."

  Li Guoting immediately stood up, reached into his pants and pulled out the dagger, hiding it behind his back. He was a bit nervous, this was the first time in his life he had become a kidnapper. In fact, he had never done anything like this before. Before making a move, his heart was already racing. So, he comforted himself: "Li Guoting, Li Guoting, how did you become such a coward? You're kidnapping the son of the wealthy man you hate the most, and robbing them of their ill-gotten gains. Is there anything to be afraid of? When doing great things, one must be ruthless and not afraid. Aren't you also seeking revenge for your parents and sister? How can you be afraid now?"

  Li Guoting slapped his own forehead, gritted his teeth, and said to Zhao Erhu: "Erhu, let's do it. When they walk over to us, I'll take care of the old man, you go up and use your belt to tie up the little one. Remember to stuff that piece of white cloth with the silver yuan I gave you into the kid's mouth so he can't make a sound. Once we're done, follow me. Did you hear?"

  "Big brother, I've got him tied up, let's go," Zhao Erhu said.

  "We must be quick and nimble, can't delay here. There are many people coming and going on this road, if we hesitate for a moment, we'll be done for." Li Guoting reminded Zhao Erhu again.

  "Alright, got it, big brother, don't worry, I'm quick with my hands." Zhao Erhu said.

  "That's you, kid, stealing so fast. Can it be any slower?" Li Guoting said with a smile.

  Just as they were talking, a young man riding a horse appeared on the big road in front of them, with an old man walking beside him holding the reins.

  These two never thought that tonight, in their village, someone would dare to kidnap them. They usually return home like this, and nothing bad has ever happened before. The old man didn't have any guard against it.

  The old man walked forward while holding the reins of the horse and humming a little tune.

  That little girl who was in a hurry to go to the market

  Where is your home?

  Brother, I really love you!

  I want to follow you back to your home.

  ————

  ————

  "Halt, don't move, or you'll lose your life." In the darkness, a sudden loud shout was heard, and a black figure instantly jumped out from the side of the road, pouncing on the old man's back. Immediately after, a shiny dagger was pressed against the old man's waist.

  The old man who was shaking his head and singing a little tune was startled by the loud shout. The sound of him singing stopped abruptly. Before he could come to his senses, he felt something sharp like a knife poking at his waist, and hurriedly said: "Don't, don't make a move. Who are you people? What do you want?"

  Li Guoting lowered his voice and said with a thick nasal tone: "We are bandits, you have been kidnapped by us."

  As soon as the bandit's voice fell, the old man's legs went soft and he almost fell to the ground.

  "Bandits! Bandits! What are you going to do?" The old man's hand holding the reins was shaking as he spoke.

  Li Guoting thrust the dagger in his hand into the old man's waist with force, and the sharp blade pierced through the old man's padded jacket, reaching the coarse linen undergarment inside.

  "Honestly, listen to us, don't talk nonsense, follow us and we won't kill you. If you dare to make a sound, one knife will finish you off." Li Guoting said to the old man.

  "I'm listening. I'll follow you, but don't harm the young master, whatever you do. What are you saying? I'm all ears." The old man softened and said to Li Guoting.

  "Go, leading the horse, and walk on this road." Li Guoting continued to press the old man's waist with his dagger, pointing to a narrow path between the fields beside him, commanding.

  Just as Li Guoting was forcing the old man to lead the horse over, onto that narrow path between the fields they had already chosen, Zhao Erhu sprang up from his hiding place on one side and pulled down Feng Dengke, who was riding on the horse. Immediately after, before Feng Dengke could even cry out, he stuffed the white cloth Li Guoting had given him into Feng Dengke's mouth, and with the fastest speed, used the belt he had prepared ahead of time to bind Feng Dengke's hands behind his back.

  "Alright, big brother." Zhao Erhu's forehead was sweating, his hands tightly grasping the waistband of Feng Dengke's pants as he spoke to Li Guoting.

  "Go, go quickly, move forward." Li Guoting said.

  They had just passed through the village when Ma Fei, who had been watching from the head of the village, caught up with them.

  "Big brother, everything is normal ahead." Ma Fei whispered to Li Guoting as he arrived by his side.

  "Alright, let's hurry." Li Guoting said.

  Three people took advantage of the night's cover, escorting an old and a young person to a abandoned brick kiln not far from the village, overgrown with weeds and thorns.

  Inside the dark brick kiln, Li Guoting ordered the old man to sit on the ground and had Ma Fei untie his own belt to bind the old man's hands behind him. He stuffed a cloth into the old man's mouth to prevent him from making any noise. Then he handed the dagger in his hand over to Ma Fei and told him to keep an eye on the old man. After that, he went over to help Zhao Erhu push the young master of the Feng family into the brick kiln as well.

  After this fright, young master Feng began to cry. His body curled up, trembling, leaning on the old man's body.

  After doing all this, Li Guoting's forehead also sweated. He was still a little afraid, after all, it was his first time doing such a thing in his life. He had no bottom line. He walked out of the brick kiln with some unease, hiding at the kiln entrance, looking around cautiously to see if anyone had discovered him or if someone was following him.

  Outside the brick kiln, except for the rustling sound of wild grass blown by the evening wind, no other sounds could be heard. In the distance, the village under the night sky was quiet and still, with smoke rising from the village, occasionally accompanied by a few barks of dogs and the lowing of old cows.

  Li Guoting finally put down his tense heart and walked back into the brick kiln. He pulled Ma Fei over and asked in a low voice, "Second brother, what's the next step?"

  Ma Fei said, "Big brother, I've thought it through. That little kid's horseback has books and papers on it, as well as a pen. I'll write a letter and have Er Hu deliver it to their home. Guaranteed they'll obediently send the silver coins to us."

  "Ghost? Brother, I've never done this before, it's the first time." Li Guoting said.

  "Don't worry, big brother, they'll deliver the silver dollars. We take the silver dollars and leave. Who knows it was us?" Ma Fei said with confidence.

  Soon, Ma Fei took out paper and brush from the saddle bag on the horse ridden by Young Master Feng, and also took out a candle and matches. He hid in an abandoned brick kiln, wrote a blackmail letter, handed it to Zhao Erhu who was standing at the entrance of the brick kiln, and instructed: "Third Brother, you sneak into the village under the cover of darkness. Put this letter at the door of Old Man Feng's house, and after putting it there, hurry back. Remember, don't come straight here, go around in a circle outside to see if anyone is following you, and only come back when no one is following."

  Zhao Erhu put the letter into his bosom and said: "Second brother, you can rest assured, this small matter is no problem. I will handle it properly."

  Li Guoting also walked over and patted Zhao Erhu's shoulder, saying: "Third brother, be careful, finish up quickly and come back soon."

  "Alright, big brother, don't worry. I'm leaving." With that, Zhao Erhu bid farewell to Li Guoting and Ma Fei, turned around, and ran out of the brick kiln.