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Chapter 20: Brazen and Bold

The courtyard fell silent again, everyone staring at Jiang Hao.

Jiang Hao continued: "Later, I took out both of Bald Sanpao's men. Bald Sanpao himself was wounded, hiding in a ditch too scared to show his face. The bastard wanted to live, so he offered me three thousand Silver Dollars to spare him. Hah, I was there to rescue Jiu'er—how could I agree to that?"

"No way, absolutely no way!" someone couldn't help but chime in.

Jiang Hao gave a light laugh. "Of course not. But my mind stirred in that moment, and I decided to turn the tables on him. I pretended to agree. Bald Sanpao actually fell for it and crawled out of his hiding spot. That was when he was completely in my hands."

Hearing this, everyone's hearts raced with excitement. This was courage and cunning rolled into one—more thrilling than any opera.

"I marched Bald Sanpao to the Butcher Shop, but when I got inside, I saw Jiu'er locked in a cage. I was furious." Jiang Hao's face twisted with anger.

The others joined in, cursing along.

"Bandits ain't human," Er Guzi said.

"Yeah, not human. Elder Brother Zhan'ao, what'd you do when you got mad?" Dazhuang asked.

"I pulled out my gun, bang bang two shots, and blew away the two Helper bandits guarding the Butcher Shop," Jiang Hao said.

"Good, good, well done."

"Treating people like that, they deserved to be shot."

The crowd shouted excitedly.

"What about Bald Sanpao? You didn't kill him?" Da Leng asked.

Jiang Hao said, "Hah, how could I let him off? I wanted to boil him in a pot to vent my hatred, but I was afraid it'd scare Jiu'er. In the end, I shot Bald Sanpao too, rescued Jiu'er, and torched the Butcher Shop."

Though Jiang Hao was a bit drunk, he still knew to hold back. Nine truths, one lie—he kept things like the silver and the gun to himself.

"Good on you, Brother Zhan'ao. We respect that. Let's all toast Brother Zhan'ao again." With that, everyone at the table raised their bowls.

At the Distillery, they drank by the bowl. Jiang Hao's tolerance wasn't bad before—half a kilo of baijiu or a case of beer—but here, he couldn't keep up. These men were practically pickled in liquor, drinking it to quench their thirst, downing two or three jin like it was nothing.

In the end, Jiang Hao's vision blurred, and he slurred drunkenly, "No, no more. I can't, can't drink another drop. What happened today, just listen and let it be. Don't talk about it. Don't let it out."

With that, Jiang Hao slumped onto the table.

"Elder Brother Zhan'ao? Elder Brother Zhan'ao?" Er Lengzi poked Jiang Hao. No response.

Dazhuang said, "Elder Brother Zhan'ao's a real hero, a true man. But his drinking needs work—two bowls and he's out. That won't do."

"What now?" Er Guzi asked.

Luohan said, "It's late. Carry Brother Zhan'ao to our room to sleep. Everyone tidy up and turn in early."

"Got it," they all replied.

Jiang Hao was tall and sturdy. Dazhuang, Er Zhuang, Er Guzi, and Da Leng carried him inside together. Just then, a woman's voice rang out: "Carry him to my room instead."

Everyone froze, turning to look at the Boss's Wife standing at the courtyard gate. Jiu'er had bathed and combed her hair by now. Though her face was still pale, she'd recovered somewhat.

Hearing the Boss's Wife say that, everyone was stunned. They thought, The Boss's Wife wants this man carried to her room? That means...

But this wasn't something the Helpers could meddle in. The four carried Jiang Hao to the Upstairs Boss's Room, laid him on the kang, and filed out. Er Zhuang started to say something, but Dazhuang yanked him away and shut the door behind them.

Back in the courtyard, Er Zhuang said, "Is it right to put Elder Brother Zhan'ao in the Boss's Wife's room?"

Dazhuang smacked Er Zhuang hard on the head and snapped, "What's it to you? Is this any of your damn business?"

Er Dan's Father said, "The Boss's Wife's had it hard. The old boss is dead, and she ought to have a man to lean on. Brother Zhan'ao's a good sort, and he saved her. If he's willing to stay, that'd be fine."

"How do you know the old boss is dead? They never found the body," Er Dan's Mother said.

Er Dan's Father glared at her. "What the hell do you know, woman? Keep your mouth shut."

Luohan looked around, tapped out his pipe, and said softly, "Alright, everyone get some sleep. What happened today, keep it to yourselves. Don't go blabbing, or you'll bring trouble on your own heads."

Everyone felt a chill and silently returned to their rooms.

Jiu'er brought a basin of warm water, tested the temperature, set the copper basin on the square table on the kang, climbed over, and undid Jiang Hao's clothes. Spotting the gun tucked at his waist, she carefully removed it and set it aside.

She soaked a cloth in the warm water, gently wiped Jiang Hao's face, then his body, and finally washed his feet—tending to him with every care.

She dumped the water, returned to the room, shut the door, climbed onto the kang, and reached for a blanket to cover Jiang Hao. Suddenly, a hand grabbed her arm.

Their eyes met. Both could feel the other's breath.

"You're awake." Jiu'er said, mildly surprised.

Jiang Hao gave a tipsy smile. "I woke up when you were wiping me down."

With that, he pulled gently on her arm, drawing her closer.

Inside the room, the oil lamp flickered like a pea, dim yet infinitely warm.

"Let me clean your ears," Jiu'er said.

"No need."

"Don't move. I'm good at it—it feels great. I've done it for my grandpa, my grandma, my mom. They all loved it."

She found a pick in the sewing basket, leaned close to his ear, and gently worked.

"Ahhh, damn, you've got a real touch."

"See? It's my specialty."