Chapter 5: Hard to Return Home

  Wu Mei in his arms closed her eyes with a hint of reluctance, Lin Fei's heart was like a knife cut, he wanted to cry but had no tears. He gritted his teeth and said fiercely: "Meizi! Wait for me! I'll immediately behead these two dogs and use their heads to pay respects to you!"

  Zhang Yunbin, who had just come to, was frightened by Lin Fei's words and shit and urine came out. He crawled to Lin Fei on all fours, knocking his head like pounding garlic, begging for mercy.

  "Grandpa Lin! Spare me! I have money! Just don't kill me, and all the money in my house is yours, it's under that bed."

  Zhang Yunbin saw that Lin Fei was not moved at all, and said: "Old man Lin! I still have a large batch of weapons hidden in our Zhang family's ancestral tomb, right under my grandfather's tombstone."

  Lin Fei sneered: "Zhang Yunbin! Do I care about you? You're nothing but a dog!"

  Lin Fei carefully placed Wu Mei's body on the bed, turned around and walked step by step towards Zhang Yunbin, and took out a short knife from his waist. Zhang Yunbin suddenly fainted again.

  The Longcheng West Pass Lin family tomb has added a new grave, and Lin Fei knelt there motionless. At this time, his tears had long since dried up, leaving only anger and confusion.

  Lin Fei heavily knocked his head on the ground several times before standing up. He looked at the heads of Zhang Yunbin and others placed on the altar, muttering to himself: "Dad! Mom! Mei Zi! I've avenged you all! I'll come back often to visit you!"

  Lin Fei took a glance at a red wooden chest placed aside, which he had brought out from the Zhang's house, and it was the money that Zhang Yunbin had mentioned.

  Lin Fei thought for a moment, then picked up the box and quickly walked towards the back of the cemetery.

  As they were approaching the city gate, Lin Fei suddenly felt something was off. There were more guards at the gate than usual, and a large crowd of people gathered on the left side of the gate, all staring at a notice posted on the wall.

  Lin Fei had a bad feeling in his heart, he pulled over a middle-aged man who had just come out of the city: "Uncle! What's going on with Long City today? The checks seem to be much stricter than usual? And what are those people looking at?"

  A middle-aged man looked at him with some surprise and asked, "You look like you're from out of town. There have been big things happening in our Long City these past two days. First, the Lin family, a wealthy household in the city, was exterminated, and then the young master of another wealthy household, the Zhang family, had his head cut off. How can we not be strictly investigating?"

  Lin Fei nodded: "Oh......! So that's it!"

  The middle-aged man continued: "Do you know what the Zhang family does? The eldest son of their family, Zhang Dake, is the commander of our Longcheng garrison. His son was beheaded by someone, and he can't be angry? To vent his anger, he posted a notice saying that the Lin family was in collusion with the enemy and had been executed by him, but one person from the Lin family escaped, and the wanted poster above is for that person."

  "What? The Lin family is still in contact with them? Then who ran away from their house, worth Commander Zhang's great effort?" Lin Fei asked calmly.

  "What's going on? I heard that the young master of the Zhang family had his eyes on a girl, but was disrupted by Old Man Lin. The Zhangs then hired bandits from Fire Dragon Mountain to wipe out the Lins. Luckily, Young Master Lin wasn't at home when it happened, and after he found out, he snuck into the Zhang's house and beheaded their young master."

  Lin Fei felt a bit at a loss, it seemed that Long City was no longer suitable for him, where could he go next?

  Lin Fei didn't dare to go back into the city, so he turned around and headed in the direction of Xiguan again. He hadn't walked far when he heard the sound of car engines coming from behind him. Turning his head, he saw two cars driving out of the city, loaded with soldiers carrying guns and ammunition. The direction they were heading was exactly where Lin's ancestral tomb was located at Xiguan.

  Lin Fei quietly followed behind, and from a distance, he saw the car stop, a lieutenant colonel commanding the soldiers to carefully search the Lin family tomb.

  After a while, the two cars returned, but those soldiers stayed behind. Lin Fei knew that these people were waiting for him here, he didn't dare to stay long, and turned around to leave after stomping his foot.

  The county town of Pingzhou is bustling with people coming and going, the crowded streets are filled with vendors shouting loudly, all showing off the prosperity of Pingzhou.

  In front of a tavern, Lin Fei, exhausted, followed the enthusiastic waiter into the store, ordered a pot of tea and a few small dishes, drinking tea while waiting for the waiter to serve the food.

  Lin Fei left Longcheng and decided to go to Beijing, because he remembered that a relative of his family was in Beijing. He walked along the highway for several days, but all the way, there were wanted notices about him everywhere. Helplessly, he had to change direction to Shanxi.

  Before long, the wine and dishes were served. Lin Fei picked up his chopsticks just as he was about to start eating, when he saw a dark hand stretching out from under the table, quickly grabbing a handful of peanuts from the plate before withdrawing back underneath.

  Lin Fei was taken aback and hastily lowered his head to look over, under the table a shabbily dressed little boy stared at him with a pair of terrified eyes.

  Lin Fei couldn't help but shake his head. After these few days of running around, he had a deeper understanding of the actual situation in the country. Alas! The world is not good anywhere, and it's all about leaving home and wandering away. He beckoned to the boy: "Get up!"

  The boy stared at Lin Fei and slowly stood up, Lin Fei smiled slightly: "Come! Sit down!"

  After the boy sat down, Lin Fei handed over a pair of chopsticks: "Eat! Anyway, I won't be able to finish it all. Do you want to eat something else?"

  The boy didn't say a word, suddenly snatched the chopsticks and lowered his head to eat. Lin Fei beckoned to the shop assistant, who immediately apologized: "Oh dear! Sir! We're really sorry! It's our fault for not keeping an eye on him... Let this little beggar sneak in..."

  Lin Fei waved his hand: "Buddy! This is on me, bring a few more small dishes and two bowls of noodles! Hurry up!"

  The fellow looked at the boy in puzzlement as he ate with his head down, but seeing Lin Fei say that, he didn't say anything else: "Alright!"

  After the dishes were all on the table, Lin Fei waved his hand: "Eat!"

  The little boy didn't stand on ceremony, pulling a big bowl of noodles in front of him and slurping them down loudly. After finishing, he wiped his mouth and smiled at Lin Fei before turning around and running out. Lin Fei shook his head.

  "Clang! Clang! Clang!" A burst of gong sounds came from afar, and the people in the store all rushed to the door to watch the excitement.

  Lin Fei didn't think it was strange either. After finishing eating, he tossed a few copper coins on the table: "Pal! The money's here!"

  As soon as they went out the door, they saw a large crowd of people coming from the east. Walking in front were two police officers wearing black uniforms, one of whom was holding a copper gong and striking it occasionally.

  Behind the police was a prison van. Lin Fei didn't see clearly the people inside as it was far away, but vaguely saw a woman wearing red clothes with disheveled hair inside.

  Lin Fei felt a bit strange. How could there be a woman in the prisoner's carriage? He lightly touched the person beside him: "Brother! Who is this? Why is it still a woman?"

  That person looked at him in surprise: "You're from out of town, right? You don't even know her?"

  Lin Fei nodded: "Yes! Just arrived in Pingzhou today!"

  That man shook his head with some complacency: "See? The person inside is the big master of Wohu Mountain, fifty miles away from the county town!"

  "What's going on with the great master of Sleeping Tiger Mountain? How did she get caught?" Lin Fei asked in confusion.

  "Alas! It's a long story! The big boss of Wohu Mountain is called Su Yun! We all call her Auntie Su! In the past, she was also one of the top wealthy young ladies in Pingzhou City, but after something happened at home, she went up the mountain! However, this Auntie Su wasn't caught by these police, she surrendered voluntarily! The idea that these police could catch her, humph! It's impossible!"

  Lin Fei became even more curious: "Big brother! What's going on?"

  That man sighed and said, "Alas! Since Su's aunt went up the mountain, she can be said to have no offense against us ordinary people! They only look for trouble with those wealthy families, so they are hated by those wealthy families who grit their teeth. So they thought of a way to capture Su's uncle, and in order to save her uncle, Su's aunt came to the county town to surrender herself!"

  At this time, the prison cart arrived at the gate of the tavern. Lin Fei looked carefully and saw Su Yun's appearance as the prison cart swayed. Wow! This Su Darenjia is still a beauty!

  Su Yun's body was covered in blood, her clothes stained everywhere, and the scars from the whip were visible all over. The people around her couldn't help but gasp in shock.

  The policeman holding the copper gong looked at the crowd with a hint of pride: "Everyone take a look! This is what happens when you become a bandit! County Magistrate Li has already reported to his superiors, and today we will send the leader of the Mount Wohu bandits, Su Yun, on his way! Make way!"