Chapter 76: The Cruel Merchant Borrows a Knife to Kill (Part 2)

  The golden toed shoe killed him with one slash. The man's eyes met the golden toed shoe, and his whole body trembled. At this moment, in the eyes of those Kong family henchmen, the golden toed shoe was the living embodiment of Yan Wang Ye (the King of Hell), asking questions were just a ruse, and killing people with various excuses was the real deal. The man saw that no one before him had been spared, and now it was his turn, suddenly a sense of death enveloped his heart. He still had some pride in his heart, unwilling to die under someone else's knife, so he let out a loud roar, suddenly breaking free from the big man's restraint, looked up at the high platform under the eaves, and smashed his head against it, ending his own life.

  Golden lotus eyes stared at him, blood and flesh blurred, liver and brain splattered on the ground. He shook his head repeatedly, finally sighed and said: "If I had known today, why bother in the past! Those who bring evil upon themselves cannot live..."

  Jinjiaban stopped and looked up at the remaining three Kong family members, who were already frightened. Jinjiaban then said slowly and clearly: "Where... is... the... grain?"

  The three men, upon hearing this, trembled and dared not speak. Their panicked eyes darted about, exchanging glances with each other before looking back at their boss, clearly displaying a struggle of intense inner conflict.

  Golden Footboard made a gesture, and immediately several people came up, digging a large pit in front of each of the three men. Finally, Golden Footboard sighed again and said: "That day there were also three like that, who refused to confess their crimes. So..." Golden Footboard snapped his fingers, and the three accomplices were pushed into the pit, several strong men standing at the edge of the deep pit, shoveling a few shovels of soil onto them, causing them to scream loudly.

  Jin Jieban raised his hand, and the people below stopped. He squatted beside the pit, looking at the terrified faces below and asked: "I've heard that when a person is about to die, their words are kind. Come, let me hear your true words. Maybe I'll be moved, and I'll let you break through the earth and be reborn, starting anew!"

  Those who were buried in the pit with half of their bodies covered with soil, were so scared that they lost their souls. Just as they were about to speak up, Kong Ru suddenly shouted fiercely: "If you're afraid of death and dare to say it out loud here, then on the other side, your family members, I'll kill them all!"

  Shi Jin saw that Kong Rong was already getting impatient, so he walked up and patted his shoulder, saying: "Director Kong, why bother? As the saying goes, 'people die for wealth, birds perish for food', I don't understand now, you're so clever, Director Kong, how can you be both human and bird?" Shi Jin paused for a moment and said seriously: "It's not too late now, there's still room for negotiation!"

  "Shi Jin! Do you think I'm a fool? In this chaotic world, what's there to discuss? It's just the law of the jungle, where the strong prey on the weak. You're nothing but a bandit, and even if I die, I won't give you our grain!"

  Shi Jin took a look at Kong Ruo, who had turned pale with fright, and smiled wryly. He said to Jingu Bang, "Little Jin, you've scared Master Kong half to death. You'd better withdraw for now, I'll let Lord Huang comfort our old friend." Turning his head, Shi Jin said to Huang Erlang, "Lord Huang, I'm really sorry about this. Just now, I unintentionally offended Master Kong. As someone who knows him well, you should be aware of his temperament. Please help me calm him down!"

  Huang Erlang listened, but didn't understand. What kind of comforting method was this for a big man? He opened his mouth, but couldn't say a single gentle and comforting word.

  Shi Jin relaxed his grip on Boss Kong's shoulder, looked at Huang Erlang squeezing and rubbing his eyes, then glanced at the bruised and battered thugs of the Huang family, and looked back at Boss Kong. Now Huang Erlang understood, thoroughly grasping Shi Jin's meaning in his heart.

  In this Huayin County, the Kong and Huang families originally had their own influence, one relying on human power and the other on financial power. Originally, neither looked down on each other, although they now cooperate, it's also out of necessity, forced by circumstances. Under siege, Kong Rong relied on having grain to order the Huang family around, being very arrogant every day. Now that Shi Jin has come to find trouble with the Kong family, Huang Er Lang naturally is happy to help. So, Huang Er Lang nodded and said: "I understand Grandpa Shi's intention. I'll take care of it and make sure you're satisfied!" After speaking, he turned his head and shouted at several thugs under the eaves: "You! Come over and serve this Kong boss, bring me chili water, tiger bench and all that!" Huang Er Lang said, then smiled at Shi Jin again, hoping to see a satisfied smile on his face.

  Shi Jin nodded slightly, but ignored Huang Erlang and smiled at Kong Ru, remaining silent.

  Before long, the Huang family had prepared a bowl of chili water and presented it to Kong Ru in a bright red color. Immediately, two of the Huang family's thugs rushed forward and violently pressed Kong Ru to the ground.

  Kong Ru had always been treated with dignity and respect, never having suffered such humiliation. Now, the Huang family's people were using force to pry open his mouth, watching as the scalding hot pepper water was about to be poured down his throat, frightening Kong Ru into hastily calling for a stop.

  Shi Jin waved his hand and the fight immediately stopped.

  Shi Jin looked at Kong Ru's heavy breathing, smiled and walked over to squat down beside him, looking at his pale and disheveled face: "Boss Kong, you're not even afraid of death, what's a little chili water? Come have a drink."

  "No, no, no - don't!" Kong Ru heard this and repeatedly shouted to stop, seeing that the chili water hadn't been poured down yet he hastily cried out: "I'm not a swindler! I'm not!"

  Shi Jin immediately laughed again: "Boss Kong, how did you suddenly remember to confess?" As he spoke, he glanced at the brothers of Shao Hua Mountain on the other side, as well as the three half-buried pits, and suddenly realized: "I understand, Boss Kong is saying that you are not a dishonest merchant, according to the rules I shouldn't harm you? If I harm you, it would be like throwing away the rules of Shao Hua Mountain, losing face and reputation, is that right?"

  "Anyway, I am not a swindler!"

  "All right, you prove it to me! Let's not beat around the bush either. Let's start with that hoarded grain." Shi Jin said and listened with interest for his response.

  Kong Ru shook his head and said with a flourish: "They say I'm selling grain, saying that I colluded with the county magistrate, hoarding goods and making a fortune. Bah! The rise and fall of the country is the responsibility of every citizen, let alone me, a great merchant of this county! I was just helping the county magistrate to stockpile grain to prevent the granary from being in danger, preparing for future use. My transaction with the county magistrate was just collecting money for hoarding goods, as a businessman, can this be considered treachery? Shi Jin, you and your Mount Liang heroes are always boasting about being good men, but what you're doing is still the business of bandits! Kong Ru felt that he had grasped Shi Jin's weakness, so he continued to speak with increasing momentum: "Don't forget, when you entered the city, the notices you posted were still there! You said you would eliminate evil for the people, you said you wouldn't bully men and women, you said you wouldn't plunder the common people. Bah! Everything is just nice-sounding words, waving the banner of great righteousness and justice, but what you're doing is still the business of taking lives! Do you think the people will support you? Dream on!"