Chapter 13: A Smile Wipes Away Grudges (Part 3)

  Zhong Ling tidied up her skirt and gently pushed open the door. But what she saw in front of her made her take a surprise.

  Only Zhu Wu, Chen Da and Yang Chun, the three leaders, moved chairs to sit in the courtyard. Sitting with them was a man who looked like a doctor. Zhong Ling knew that he was Lei Baicao, a famous doctor from Huayin County. Behind the four of them stood several servants who had followed them, each holding a small purple medicine box.

  The four of them sat quietly in the courtyard under the scorching sun and quickly got up as soon as they saw the door open.

  Zhong Ling felt that being a guest in someone else's home was already a bother. The host's warm hospitality made her feel even more guilty. She hastily pulled at her skirt and stepped down from the stairs, hurriedly performing a courtesy.

  Zhu Wu and others did not dare to accept. After returning the courtesy, Zhu Wu said urgently: "Is my brother awake? I called Old Li to apply medicine for him."

  Zhong Ling looked at everyone's concerned eyes, turned her head and glanced inside, saying: "Let the good men wait for a long time, Dalang has been awake for a long time." Then she said with some difficulty: "I don't know if I can borrow your kitchen to use..."

  Chen Da Yi smiled as soon as he heard it: "Sister-in-law is so polite, why not just settle down here from now on, and come and go freely?"

  Yang Chun also smiled: "Don't worry, sister-in-law, big brother has already cooked chicken soup and is warming it up in the kitchen." After saying that, he instructed his subordinate next to him to have the kitchen servant bring it over immediately.

  Zhong Ling looked at the crowd on Shao Hua Mountain, who were all so considerate and polite. She didn't want to trouble them further, so she hastily thanked them and invited everyone into her house.

  Shi Jin thought there was someone talking outside, listened carefully, and it was the three brothers. Knowing they were going to come in to see him, he was afraid of losing his manners, so he struggled to get up. Just then, Zhu Wu happened to walk into the inner room and saw him, hurried over to help him lie down, and anxiously said: "Brother, what are you doing? Hurry up and lie down."

  Shi Jin had always been straightforward, and at this moment he didn't pretend to be polite either. He simply went along with his intention, but as the host, he let Zhong Ling put a pillow under him and half-reclined against the headboard. Zhong Ling also moved several chairs and sat down with everyone.

  When everyone was seated, Shi Jin clasped his fists and said: "Yesterday I still owe thanks to all the brothers for saving me! Today I'm disturbing your precious land, my heart is truly grateful..."

  Chen Da immediately chimed in: "We're all family, what's there to say!"

  Shi Jin smiled awkwardly and said, "Although I say so, how can Shi Jin forget the kindness of saving his life?" Shi Jin couldn't help but think of last night's fierce battle again. Last night, he woke up and arrived at the camp, and Chen Da mentioned one or two things, but he still had some worries in his heart. He immediately asked Zhu Wu, "Brother Zhu, what happened after I fainted? Can you tell me in detail?"

  Zhu Wu looked at Shi Jin's worried expression and guessed what he was concerned about, so he said: "Brother, don't worry, Chen Da didn't deceive you last night to make you rest and recover. It's true that there is no feud between us, but instead we have formed an alliance. Let Old Li treat your wounds first, and I'll slowly explain everything to you."

  Shi Jin felt relieved after hearing these words, a knot in his heart was untied, and he didn't rush to ask questions anymore.

  Lao Li brought the medicine box to the bedside and carefully began treating Shi Jin. Lao Li lifted up the bedding on Shi Jin's leg, examined the wound, then took out a small blade from the medicine box. He called someone over to heat it in the fire for several rounds, waited until the blade cooled slightly, then carefully cut away the rotten flesh on the surface. After that, he applied hemostatic powder and waited until the bleeding stopped before applying the healing balm. Finally, he wrapped the wound with a bandage.

  This was all done, and it was a hundred times harder to bear, but Shi Jin listened to Zhu Wu tell the story of last night without making any noise or frowning, as if those wounds were on someone else's body, and he didn't put them in his heart at all.

  It was just that it had a bad effect on Zhong Ling, she saw it in front of her eyes and felt pain in her heart. Her two hands were tightly clenched on the hem of her clothes, and her fingernails even slightly pierced the palm of her hand. And Chen Da and other good men looked at each other with admiration!

  When Zhu Wu mentioned forming an alliance with Shi Jiazhuang, exchanging resources and discussing important matters, Old Lei thoroughly helped Shi Jin pack up. Shi Jin knew that the conversation to follow was extremely urgent. However, with Lei Baicao still present, he felt it wasn't suitable.

  Just as he was thinking of an excuse to leave, Old Lei had already stood up and instructed Zhong Ling a few words about dietary taboos before bidding farewell. The leaders stood up to thank him, and then Yang Chun sent him out.

  Just as Li Kui had walked away, Shi Jin quietly asked Zhu Wu: "That fellow who just left didn't seem quite right, we shouldn't have let him go."

  Zhu Wu saw the concern in Shi Jin's eyes, and dismissed the servants. Zhong Ling also retreated to the outer room. When only the four brothers were left in the inner room, Zhu Wu spoke in a low voice: "Brother, you don't know this. In your eyes, he is just a doctor, but actually, he is one of our small leaders from Shao Hua Mountain, a hidden chess piece planted in the county. Not only is it the place where we collect and transmit intelligence in the county, but also the source of various supplies for the mountain stronghold."

  "So that's how it is! No wonder your information came so quickly!" Shi Jin exclaimed.

  Zhu Wu felt a slight sense of satisfaction in his heart, but quickly composed himself and began discussing official business.

  "Last night's battle, although we won, but that corrupt official escaped. Not to mention sister shooting and killing the general with one arrow, the imperial court will definitely investigate, and that corrupt official will also add fuel to the fire, calculating all the tricks. We must be careful and prepare in advance."

  Shi Jin thought for a moment and asked: "I don't know how many brothers are still on the mountain? How many winding paths, how many checkpoints, and how many arrow towers?"

  Zhu Wu saw that Shi Jin had no longer the air of a stranger, and although he did not say so outright, it was clear that he had already joined their side. Zhu Wu's heart was greatly delighted, and he did not hide his feelings. With sincerity on both sides, they began to discuss and calculate: "Not counting those who are wounded or ill, there are now only eight hundred brothers who can be used... On this Shao Hua Mountain, there is only one main path, which is the one you took that day when you went via the back mountain's hidden path. There is also only one hidden path... At each pass on the main path, there is a gate and a barrier, with two watchtowers at each side. On the hidden path, there is only one barrier at the halfway point... Along the mountain, every li has a watchtower, so in total, there are twenty-three."

  Chen Da said, "If we want to defend against the thousands of government soldiers, it's not a problem. But if more come, I'm afraid those stockades and arrow towers won't be useful. We must quickly arrange for reinforcements."

  Shi Jin listened and was very much in agreement. However, seeing Zhu Wu's face had a difficult expression, he understood in his heart. He said to Zhu Wu: "Brother, don't worry about the money. Shi family village has abundant manpower, carpenters and masons are all available, no need to spend too much silver, just use some labor. What's difficult about that? I'll write a letter now, you take it to Shi San Gong, he'll send a few hundred people to repair the stockade immediately. If money is needed, it won't be a large amount, Shi family village can afford it..."

  Under this arrangement, Zhu Wu and Chen Da were very satisfied and grateful. Afterwards, the group discussed in detail the deployment of troops at each location on the mountain, personnel allocation, patrol shifts and other matters. Before they knew it, it was already noon, and Zhong Ling had set out a meal in the inner room, so everyone sat down to eat together, chatting and laughing.

  At this moment, neither Zhu Wu nor Shi Jin knew that each had already made plans in their hearts.

  Just then Yang Chun returned, not only did he complete the task, but also brought someone back.

  As soon as he entered the room, Shi Jin and the newcomer met, and they both shed tears instantly.