A Good Country Wife-Chapter 660 - 653_1

"Damn it, why is our luck so rotten? We finally escaped from Xin’an City, and those people stopped chasing us, only to run into a bunch of bandits blocking our way. Boss, though there are many of them, they’re just a ragtag bunch. With our skills, it’s not certain that we can’t handle them. Why not just fight it out with them? We’ve been too cowardly these past few days, being chased around by a gang of poor country bumpkins. I can’t swallow this anger anymore. It’s time to sharpen our knives on these blind bandits."

As Hidden Guards who were cultivated from a young age by the Yin Family, they were powerful and skilled, proud too. They didn’t behave like common servants in the presence of the Yin Family, but they still followed the principles that servants should maintain. However, facing the people from Xin’an City, they couldn’t help but feel superior, considering Xin’an City could never match the presence of Hidden Guards, a much more esteemed class. In their eyes, the servants from Xin’an City were nothing but a group of poor yokels unfit for showing their faces in public.

"Nonsense! The bandits of Longhu Mountain have been rampant for many times, growing more powerful with each passing day. The government hasn’t been able to eradicate them. The Village Chief must be quite capable to have developed an ordinary group of bandits into the force they are now. Xin’an City may indeed be a small place, but that doesn’t mean it has no capable people. Otherwise, we wouldn’t be in such a sorry state. It’s all because of underestimating the enemy."

The leader of the men in black evidently had more brains than his subordinates. With a somber face, he spoke, his expression growing increasingly grave. Although he also deeply resented these opportunistic bandits, what mattered most was resolving the matter, not acting on impulse. Once this was over, there would be plenty of chances to settle the score with these bandits.

"So much has happened that even our identities have been exposed. I don’t know how we’ll explain it all to the Family Head when we return. The last thing we need now is to stir up more trouble. If we can safely escort our charge back to the Capital City, we might even be able to turn our failure into success, at the very least avoiding severe punishment. But if something else goes wrong, would the Family Head spare us? Besides, against the bandits of Longhu Mountain, we have no chance of winning. We can only negotiate with these bandits and see if they will let us pass. If it comes down to it, we can spend some silver. After all, what bandits seek when they rob is simply wealth."

The leader of the men in black quickly thought of a solution. Little did they know that these bandits had been hired by the Zhao Family, and even without Lin Yue’s involvement, because they were Hidden Guards of the Yin Family, Huangfu Yi would not let them off so easily. They were thinking too lightly of the situation.

"The boss is right, we really shouldn’t stir up more trouble. Let me, your subordinate, represent you and negotiate with those bandits, hoping for a favorable outcome." Some of the men in black were arrogantly impulsive, while others were clever and keen to seize these opportunities to impress.

"Alright, then. I’ll leave this matter to you to negotiate with the bandits. If their demands aren’t too excessive, agree to them. Even if they are a bit too much, as long as we can get past this peacefully, go along with them. Once this hurdle is behind us, we can settle the score with them," the leader of the men in black knew this subordinate was somewhat capable, quick-witted with a sharp tongue, and he readily agreed to let him handle the negotiations.

"Village Chief, they’ve sent someone over, saying they want to negotiate. Should we let them through?" Chang Dabao waited for Huangfu Yi’s directive. Although he felt the other party was up to no good and their goal was to save someone, meaning they would never reach an agreement, the boss was smarter than him and was sure to handle them. Besides, he didn’t need to worry unnecessarily; following the Village Chief’s orders was never wrong.

"Oh? They’ve sent someone to negotiate with us? Alright, let that person come over. I’m actually curious to hear what they want to say. Negotiating with bandits is indeed a novelty," said Huangfu Yi with slightly raised eyebrows, sounding rather casual.

"Greetings to the Village Chief."

"Hmm, at least someone knows manners. So, what do you want to say? Negotiate, eh? Are you willing to change your ways and join us in the mountains as bandits, or do you want to spend money to avoid misfortune? There’s a saying, ’These mountains I open, these trees I plant; if you wish to pass this way, leave behind some coin.’ So, do you want to join us as bandits, or are you willing to pay up?"

Upon hearing Huangfu Yi’s words, the man felt a surge of joy. He thought to himself that bandits robbing roads were indeed after money. Listening to the bandit chief, it seemed like they were simply after wealth, and that suited him just fine. "We already serve a master, so joining the mountain is out of the question. However, we are willing to part with some fortune to compensate your camp, so as not to waste your brothers’ trip. Consider it a small token of appreciation for your troubles."

Huangfu Yi found the words pleasing, but the smirk on his face curled into a sneer. "Well, that’s good to hear. It’s very accommodating of you. Since you’re so understanding, I won’t be too greedy. We have over three hundred brothers here, give each one a hundred taels and add on a handling fee for myself. I rarely come down from the mountain, and I can’t be compared to ordinary folk. All in all, let’s call it fifty thousand taels."

The look of relief on the man’s face had not yet faded when he heard Huangfu Yi’s audacious demand. His expression soured instantly. What was with this bandit chief, demanding fifty thousand taels of silver just like that? Do you know how much that was? Although the Hidden Guards received allowances from their household, higher than those of common servants, it still would not exceed fifty taels a month, unless there were special tasks. Even then, it was a considerable expense. The Yin Family was now a shell of its former self, bleeding money. For this mission, they were given only three thousand taels of silver, which was already quite a generous supply.

"Village Chief, isn’t your appetite a bit too large? Fifty thousand taels of silver is not something we just have lying around, not to mention our Family Head cannot easily afford it either. Aren’t you just making things difficult for us on purpose?"

"So what if I’m making things difficult? This is Longhu Mountain, our turf. If you want to pass through, you’d better pay up neatly. Leave even a little less, and it won’t be acceptable. Otherwise, you can detour around Longhu Mountain. That way, you won’t need to spend the silver," Chang Dabao retorted shamelessly, well aware that Longhu Mountain was the essential route from Xin’an City to the Capital City. If not through here, then where else could they pass without paying?

"Don’t go too far. Our leader doesn’t want trouble, which is why I came to talk things over and was willing to pay some silver. But if it comes to a fight, it’s still uncertain who would win. You might have more men, but that doesn’t guarantee you’ll get the better of us. Wouldn’t it be better for everyone to step back a bit? You seem like a sensible person, Village Chief, so you surely understand this principle, right?" The man dispatched to negotiate was also frustrated. He had not expected these bandits to be so difficult and greedy. But since he had volunteered to negotiate with them, failing to get a good result would not look good for him in front of his boss, nor would he be able to demonstrate his capabilities for future promotion.