"There's a big boss on the left, and a big boss on the right! It's rare to encounter such a good thing, don't ruin everyone's mood."
"The big boss said that whoever dares to break the rules will be beheaded."
"What do you mean?"
"Nothing else, and ask the other party's identity clearly. If the girl is not married, she likes you. What if you ask her back to the village? Otherwise, if you have any objections, go to the big boss."
The three bandits quarreled fiercely, but Xia Shang and Yue Haitang understood what they said.
Xia Shang glanced at Haitang, and the other party was also looking at him, but the look in his eyes was full of warnings, obviously warning Xia Shang not to talk nonsense.
The two exchanged glances, and the last bandit who entered the mountain came forward and looked them up and down: "What is your relationship?"
Xia Shang smiled: "This woman is my wife."
"Really?"
"Really."
"Where are you from?"
"From Yangzhou."
"How did you get here?"
"Yesterday, the bandits made trouble at the poetry meeting, and we fled here."
"So you are the nobles who participated in the poetry meeting in Liuzhuang! That's perfect, please follow us back to the village, our cave is not for casual living. Everyone, please write a letter and go back. When your family brings the ransom, we will send you back in the original place."
Now there is no choice. Xia Shang regrets that he didn't learn martial arts, otherwise he wouldn't be so passive. He had no choice but to be tied up by three bandits and leave the cave.
On the way, the relatively polite bandit was kind. Seeing that Mr. Zhuo was old and Yue Haitang was weak, he didn't tie Xia Shang up, and tied his hands all the way.
Xiaoqing Mountain has a wide vein. Although the altitude is not high, it is lush with trees. In the depths, there are layers of rocks and dangerous trees, and clusters of dead grass and new leaves. There is no feasible road in the mountains. Only bandits and hunters who live in the mountains all year round dare to walk in the hinterland of Xiaoqing Mountain.
After walking for two hours, and not knowing how far they have walked, the group finally arrived at the bandits' lair.
Kuangfeng Village!
This mountain village opened Xia Shang's eyes. One word to describe it is to be surrounded by mountains and rivers.
This mountain village is extremely secretive. It is located in a valley deep in Xiaoqing Mountain. It is surrounded by mountains on three sides and by water on one side. There are lush and dense forests between the mountain walls, which is a natural umbrella. When people arrive nearby, if they don't pass through layers of dense forests, they will not find a village hidden inside.
Although the mountain walls surrounding the valley are not high, they are extremely steep. You have to be very careful to walk from the top to the bottom.
"Brothers, my wife has internal injuries. The cliffs here are too steep. I am afraid of accidents. Loosen my rope and I will carry her down."
"Boy, don't play tricks!"
"Hey! What can you do with his appearance? We are already at the door of the house. Are you afraid that he will run away? Loosen his rope."
Xia Shang thanked him repeatedly. People under the eaves had to bow their heads.
After loosening the rope, Xia Shang squatted in front of Yue Haitang and winked.
Yue Haitang hesitated slightly, but still lay on Xia Shang's back.
Last night, he was busy taking care of Yue Haitang and didn't think much about other things.
Now that she was lying on his back, Xia Shang felt that this woman's body was very slippery, light, and weightless.
"Is it okay?" Yue Haitang asked softly on his back.
Xia Shang smiled: "You underestimate your husband too much, don't you?"
The word "husband" made Yue Haitang so angry that her chest swelled up, and she just pressed on Xia Shang's back.
Don't say it, it feels good.
"Okay, stop flirting, let's go."
Xia Shang carried Yue Haitang down the path on the mountain wall, waded through a stream, walked a few dozen meters, and finally arrived at the gate of Kuangfeng Village.
Kuangfeng Village has no high fences, nor defense facilities such as sentry towers. It may be because it is too secretive and there is no need to worry about being discovered by outsiders, so the structure of the village is relatively loose, not like a village, but more like a densely populated small village.
There are not only big and strong men and hideous bullies here. On the contrary, most of the people sitting at the gate of the village are women and children. Some are cooking, some are washing clothes, and some are cleaning... The whole house is in order. When they see Xia Shang and others coming, they just look back and don't think it's strange, and then go back to their own things.
Such a scene was beyond Xia Shang's expectation. If he had not been kidnapped, he would have thought this place was a paradise.
"Don't be stunned, hurry up."
The escort began to urge, and Xia Shang started to move again.
The big tent of the big boss was not far away, and it was relatively simple inside.
A stall made of various animal skins, two rows of six chairs, a bronze tripod in the middle, and a very beautiful and complete black bear skin on the wall opposite the gate, and even the head was made into a specimen, hanging on the wall.
Under the bear skin, a middle-aged man was holding a roasted deer leg in his hand and eating meat, not caring about the greasy smell on his face, which made people feel happy.
It is said that a seven-foot man is a standard seven-foot man. The man in front of him is a standard seven-foot man, with a violent burst of muscles, and a bronze complexion that looks full of power. A pair of arms like iron blocks are exposed outside, which makes people afraid.
Xia Shang and the other two were brought to the door. Someone reported, "Boss, we have arrested three people today. They all participated in the Liuzhuang Poetry Festival. They are all fat sheep."
"Fat sheep?" The boss wiped the fat water, put down the deer leg and widened his eyes. "People who can participate in the Liuzhuang Poetry Festival have high status. So, 40,000 taels of silver per person, and 100,000 taels for three people. Write a letter back immediately and ask your family to bring money to redeem them."
"40,000 taels per person!" Mr. Zhuo's beard stood up when he heard it. Although he was famous, he was just a doctor. Where had he heard of so much silver?
"My good man, can you be flexible? I am..."
"Don't! Don't tell me who you are? I don't care. I only want silver and nothing else. As long as you cooperate honestly, we will treat you as guests. If you don't cooperate, I will find a way to make you cooperate. Do you understand?"
"This..."
Mr. Zhuo wanted to say something, but was pulled by Xia Shang.
"Since we are here, we should make the best of it. Let's stabilize the situation first."
The three of them were silent, and the boss didn't say much. He waved his hand and had them taken away.
After that, the three of them were sent to a thatched house to live in, which had daily necessities.
Before the three of them could rest, someone brought paper and pen, and they had to write letters immediately.
Mr. Zhuo was worried and sighed at the table: "Where can we get so much silver?"
"It's just 100,000 taels of silver. I'll help you." Xia Shang was very calm.
The bandits on the side exclaimed: "Wow! What a big tone, you heard it clearly! It's 100,000 taels of silver."
"100,000 taels, easy! As long as you keep your word."
"Don't worry, our boss will keep his word, and the price he offers will never change! As long as you can come up with 100,000 taels of silver, I will release you immediately."