Chapter 706: Chapter 708: Terrified

Chief Chen scrutinized them. "You’re bandits from the mountain."

Lai San panicked slightly. He nodded frantically, then quickly shook his head. "We haven’t done anything truly evil, you know!"

At most, they engaged in petty theft in the nearby villages or trailed behind other bandit strongholds to scavenge for leftovers. They truly hadn’t committed any heinous crimes.

"Don’t be nervous," Chief Chen said, looking at the two ragged men before him. They probably dressed only slightly better than beggars in a slum. Judging by their appearance, they were likely just fringe bandits. "I’m not here to arrest you."

Thinking of his current mission, Chief Chen’s eyes lit up with burning fervor. If he could recruit these bandits and turn them into honest, hardworking farmers, the Lord County Magistrate would have an easy time reporting to his superiors, and subordinates like himself could reap some tangible benefits as well.

He tried his best to make his face look more amiable. However, he didn’t realize that the bizarre smile suddenly squeezed onto his sharp, chiseled face only made Lai San and his companion worry even more.

They wondered if this Brother Officer was thinking of a way to trick them into a jail cell.

"Don’t be afraid," Chief Chen said, softening his voice as much as possible. Lai San and Zeng Dawang, whose hearts had been in their throats, wanted nothing more than to turn tail and run. How could they not be afraid?

"Have you heard about the notices the government office has been issuing lately? If you’re not familiar with them, I can explain them to you in detail."

Lai San and Zeng Dawang huddled close together, their hands tightly clenched behind their backs to support and encourage each other. They were even preparing to bolt the moment the other party made a suspicious move.

"Here’s the situation..." Chief Chen talked animatedly, spittle flying. From their initial tension, Lai San and Zeng Dawang slowly began to relax, eventually even chiming in.

"Lord Official, will people like us really be given a portion of the settlement Silver upfront?" Lai San asked cautiously, catching a moment when Chief Chen paused for breath. He remembered what his eldest aunt had told them.

"Oh? It seems you’re not completely clueless.

"There is indeed such a condition, but it’s primarily meant for the poor commoners who... are the first to come down the mountain." Chief Chen looked at the two timid men in front of him; he just couldn’t bring himself to call them bandits. He really didn’t know how desperate that bandit leader was for manpower to recruit people like this.

However, recalling the hardships of the past, Chief Chen sighed inwardly. They were all just people struggling to survive; otherwise, who would choose this path?

His expression softened even further. "If you can bring your brothers down the mountain, I will put in a good word with the Lord County Magistrate to ensure your group gets the best resettlement locations and settlement Silver.

"You’ve picked a good time. Since no one has come down from the mountain to register yet, you’ll be setting a precedent. Naturally, you’ll be given the best arrangements."

Zeng Dawang glanced back at the clinic’s backyard. Clenching his fists, he gathered his courage and asked, "Can someone who is severely injured, like my brother, also receive a share?"

"Of course, we allocate it per head." Chief Chen immediately understood his concern. Although he hadn’t consulted the Lord County Magistrate about this specific issue, he assumed the magistrate wouldn’t refuse such a minor request—especially since the man was only injured, not dead.

Zeng Dawang glanced at Lai San. "Then my brother and I will stay. Please help us register, Lord Official. I just don’t know if it’s possible to give us a little Silver in advance. I want to buy a couple doses of medicine for my brother."

As he spoke, Zeng Dawang flushed with embarrassment. They had been on the mountain for so long, yet they didn’t have a single copper coin in their pockets.

Chief Chen hesitated for a moment, then pulled a small string of copper coins from his robe. "I have one hundred coins here. I’ll lend them to you first to buy the medicine. You can pay me back once your settlement funds are issued." Chief Chen wanted to be generous, but he had a large family to feed. This was the most he could spare.

"This..." Zeng Dawang didn’t dare reach out to take it, looking helplessly at Lai San.

Lai San braced himself and took the coins on his behalf, thanking him profusely. "Thank you! As soon as we get our Silver, we’ll pay you back immediately."

Chief Chen laughed heartily. "I’m not worried about you running away.

"Now that the matter is settled, let’s talk. How many people are on your mountain? When do you plan to come down and settle? The sooner, the better. If other bandit groups beat you to it, I can’t guarantee you’ll still get such good conditions."

Lai San and Zeng Dawang now had a very good impression of Chief Chen. Despite just meeting them, he hadn’t discriminated against them, had lent them Silver for medicine, and had been completely transparent with them. In return, they laid bare their entire situation without hiding anything.

Although it was just a small group, Chief Chen wasn’t disappointed. With a good start, why worry about the rest not coming over? He excitedly registered all their names. "Then it’s a deal. I’ll wait for you at the city gate tomorrow. I’ll personally keep an eye on things and make sure you get the best land. It will be in this area, too, so you won’t be relocated too far away."

Lai San and Zeng Dawang thanked him repeatedly. At that moment, Doctor Qian, having finished treating the wounds, stood at the doorway watching them.

"Chief Chen, you know each other?"

Chief Chen didn’t answer his question, but instead asked, "Doctor Qian, how is the patient?" This was one of the individuals he had just registered tonight; he couldn’t afford to lose him.

"It’s nothing serious. Fortunately, he was brought in on time and no bones were damaged. I’ve already treated the wound. After taking a few more doses of medicine at home, he’ll be alive and kicking in a few days."

To Zeng Dawang and his companion, this was undeniably wonderful news. It meant Xiao Wang’s life was saved. Zeng Dawang endlessly spouted words of gratitude. This trip down the mountain had truly been the right choice.

"Don’t be in such a rush to thank me. For the follow-up medicinal herbs, do you want to get them from my pharmacy, or will you forage for them yourselves?"

Zeng Dawang was speechless.

Knowing absolutely nothing about medicinal herbs, he was genuinely afraid of finding the wrong ones and worsening Xiao Wang’s condition. He pulled out the copper coins he had just pocketed. "I wonder if this is enough?"

"Wait a moment," Doctor Qian said. "I’ll have the attendant calculate it for you."

Standing to the side, Chief Chen was utterly speechless.

Lai San, meanwhile, wanted to cover his face in shame. It was no wonder Boss Wu never let them come down the mountain to barter. Zeng Dawang was so foolishly naive that even a three-year-old child could probably swindle him.

Nevertheless, today ended happily for everyone, even if the process had been nerve-wracking.

Since they had gotten the medicine and needed to head back up the mountain tomorrow, it naturally wasn’t ideal to carry Xiao Wang back with them. They could only turn to Doctor Qian for help.

Doctor Qian had already learned of their origins from Chief Chen. Looking at them with a hint of sympathy, he quickly agreed. He also had the attendant brew the medicine for Xiao Wang, telling them they could come pick him up once they were settled.

They had been heavy-hearted on the way there, but on the way back, the two of them practically jogged the entire time.

`「Finally, they returned to the cave before dark.」`

Seeing that only the two of them had returned, everyone’s expressions grew solemn. They all just watched them quietly; no one took the initiative to ask why Zeng Xiaowang hadn’t come back with them.

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