19. Chapter 19: A Little Boasting is Good for Body and Mind

Chapter 19: A Little Bravado Is Good for the Soul

These horses were already broken in and unafraid of people. Jiang Hao easily caught the horse back and had Jiu'er hold it while he loaded everything onto it. This made things much easier.

The two men Bald Sanpao had sent were still lying by the roadside. Jiang Hao thought it over—though this place was remote, people still passed through. If they were discovered, it would be trouble. Best to clean it up.

He found their guns and stashed them away, then dragged the two bodies into a nearby ditch. Beside it was a weathered slope. Jiang Hao kicked it a few times, and with a rumble, a section of the slope collapsed, burying the corpses.

"Jiu'er, get on the horse. We've still got dozens of li to go." Jiang Hao returned to her side and took the reins.

"And you?" Jiu'er asked.

"I'll lead the horse for you."

Jiang Hao didn't know how to ride. If he did, with Jiu'er in his arms and his pockets full of Silver Dollars, that would be a true triumphant return.

For now, he could only walk and lead the horse.

Leading the horse, Jiang Hao thought to himself: Horse Riding is like driving a car—a basic skill. In the future, when he traveled through different worlds, riding would be a necessary ability. He had to learn it for sure!

He helped Jiu'er onto the horse and slowly led it toward Shibali Slope. Jiu'er sat in the saddle, looking at the broad shoulders of the man ahead of her, feeling a sense of security she had never known before.

When they passed the Gauze Curtain, Jiang Hao stopped. He unloaded the Silver Dollars and guns from the horse and said to Jiu'er, "These aren't fit to carry. Let's hide them here first and retrieve them when the time is right."

Jiang Hao carried the cowhide money bag, and Jiu'er shouldered the guns. They walked deep into the Gauze Curtain until they reached a certain spot. Jiang Hao said to Jiu'er, "Remember this place?"

Jiu'er shook her head. To her, the Gauze Curtain all looked the same—she couldn't tell north from south, east from west.

"This is where we did the deed back then." Jiang Hao said with a grin.

Jiu'er caught on at once, and a blush crept across her face.

In truth, back then she had been dragged into the Gauze Curtain by this very man. She had been out of her mind then, and in the end, she had willingly given in to him. Maybe it was because he had saved her on her wedding day, or maybe because she hadn't wanted to give her body to Old Leprosy. That day had been her first time, and she would never forget it for the rest of her life.

Jiang Hao buried the Silver Dollars and guns, covering them with a thick layer of sorghum leaves. He kept two Box Cannons for self-defense, and the two of them left the Gauze Curtain.

He helped Jiu'er back onto the horse and led it toward Shibali Slope.

Back at Shibali Slope, the others were still mulling over what to do. Should they rescue the boss lady? Should they stay or leave? The group gathered around the millstone, talking in fragments.

Luohan had been smoking all day and still couldn't come up with a plan.

The last time they had tried to get Jiu'er out of jail, they had gone to the city's restaurants and taverns to beg for credit. Doing that again was out of the question. And two thousand Silver Dollars—that was too much. Unless they sold the Shibali Slope distillery. But he was just a Helper; he couldn't make a decision that big.

Er Dan's Mother was holding a winnowing basket full of shriveled grain, about to feed the chickens, when she suddenly spotted figures in the distance. She stopped and stared.

The person on the horse looked familiar. It seemed like... the boss lady.

Er Dan's Mother jolted, dropped the basket, and ran back with her legs splayed, shouting as she went, "Everyone, come quick! I think the boss lady is back!"

The Helpers heard her cries and came rushing out, standing on the slope to look into the distance. "Oh, it really is the boss lady!"

"Who's that leading the horse?"

"Looks like Brother Zhan'ao."

Jiang Hao led the horse up to the crowd. They all found it hard to believe—how had he managed to rescue the boss lady?

Jiang Hao helped Jiu'er dismount. Luohan looked at her, her hair disheveled and her clothes filthy, and quickly said, "Er Dan's Mother, take the boss lady inside to clean up."

Er Dan's Mother dropped her basket and hurried over to support Jiu'er, muttering, "Oh, you've been through such an ordeal." She helped Jiu'er into the house.

Once Jiu'er was inside, heating water for a bath and all that, the crowd surrounded Jiang Hao, peppering him with questions. "Brother Zhan'ao, you brought the boss lady back. How did Bald Sanpao and his bandits just hand her over to you?"

"Do you know the bandits?"

Jiang Hao had made up his mind to stay. He looked at the group, ready to awe them so he wouldn't have trouble later. He smiled and said, "How could I possibly know Bald Sanpao and his gang? But I've got this." He lifted his shirt, revealing the Box Cannon at his waist.

The crowd gasped.

A gun! Yu Zhan'ao had a gun.

"Let me tell you all, but don't spread it around—I took out Bald Sanpao and his crew to save Jiu'er." Jiang Hao said casually.

The distillery Helpers looked at Jiang Hao with a new light in their eyes—respect, and even a hint of fear.

In these times, only a few types of people carried guns: soldiers, bandits, and wealthy families. None of them were folks ordinary people dared to mess with.

Luohan glanced around and said, "The boss lady's safe return is a great joy. Dazhuang, go kill a chicken and stew it. Have Er Dan's Mother make something to nourish the boss lady later."

"Er Ga, whip up a few dishes to welcome Brother Zhan'ao."

The food wasn't lavish, but the liquor was ready. The table was set in the yard, lanterns hung on the posts, and everyone sat around it, with Jiang Hao naturally taking the seat of honor.

Red Sorghum liquor wasn't smooth, but it was strong. After everyone toasted him in turn, Jiang Hao was already a bit tipsy. They called for him to tell the story of how he saved Jiu'er, and Jiang Hao, wanting to establish his authority, spoke up with the drink in him:

"When I heard you say Bald Sanpao had taken Jiu'er, I got angry right then. These bandits run wild through the countryside, raping and pillaging, doing every evil under the sun. It was time to teach them a lesson. I found the East Slope Butcher Shop, but Bald Sanpao and his men weren't there, so I waited for them on the hillside outside."

"I lay on the slope and heard hoofbeats—clop-clop-clop, clop-clop-clop. I knew right away it was three horses. When they got close, I saw it was Bald Sanpao with two of his men. I raised my gun and fired. Bald Sanpao, a man with a name for himself, was quick—he dodged, but the bullet still caught him in the shoulder and knocked him off his horse."

"One bandit shot back, bullets whizzing past me. I raised my gun and fired again. That one took a hole right in the chest—he was done for."

The crowd listened intently, eyes gleaming with excitement, as if they were living it themselves.

"Brother Zhan'ao is incredible—he could tell it was three horses just by the sound!"

"And his marksmanship is even more amazing!"

"Facing a whole gang of bandits all alone—Brother Zhan'ao is a true hero, a real man, like Shan Xiongxin!"

"Quiet, let Brother Zhan'ao keep talking!" someone shouted.