Chapter 17

We still have two secondhand mini-trucks. We can help haul all the garbage by the river away and sell it. Please spare us this once!"

"And Zhang Feng! Zhang Feng will come by tomorrow morning to livestream. He definitely wants to see you make a fool of yourself. When the time comes, we'll whip him for you! We'll whip him so badly even his parents won't recognize him!"

"You're a magnanimous man, please let us atone for our sins through good deeds!"

He Qinglan looked at the burly young man at the very back, kneeling and crying, and recalled who the person called "Zhang Feng" was.

Sometimes, the evil in human hearts truly made gods sick.

Still, there was no need to dirty his hands by killing people so casually. A few extra free laborers were not a bad thing.

These people had Corrupting Miasma on them, but no murderous karma or resentful aura. They were suitable enough for reform through labor here.

"In that case, stay."

He Qinglan watched the seven men all heave a sigh of relief, then turned to look at Shui Wuyuan's gloomy gray eyes, which had darkened several shades further.

"Go clean up the garbage in the river first."

Stay farther away. Otherwise, they might get directly struck by Ten Thousand Rains Pierce the Heart.

Even so, Liu Dalong and the other six did not have it easy—ice pellets the size of soybeans slapped against their heads, faces, and bodies like countless tiny palms.

They did not dare ask, and they did not dare speak.

They could only curse Gao Feng furiously in their hearts, deciding that later, they would make that damned little runt pay for every bit of this suffering!

At that moment, He Qinglan faced Shui Wuyuan's gray eyes, walked over to stand beside him, and looked at the ruined chair and table.

Under the Rain God's gloomy gaze, he stretched out his hand and lightly tapped the desk and chair.

A pale blue glow fell from his fingertips, spreading like a drop of water falling into a river. Wherever the ripples flowed, the smashed desk and chair slowly repaired themselves, until they were whole and brand-new again.

Shui Wuyuan remained where he was, looking down at him.

"You think this is enough to—"

He Qinglan lightly tapped his forehead with a finger, carrying a cool breath.

"Enough. Do not be angry."

"May the River God bless you."

Those gray eyes suddenly widened slightly. Looking at the faintly smiling young man, Shui Wuyuan abruptly turned around.

He plopped down into the chair and laughed in exasperation.

And his anger faded.

"Humph! ╭(╯^╰)╮!"

Author's Note:

Shui Wuyuan: Blah blah, cuddle me! Beg me! Do not hit my face!

Shui Wuyuan: No one but my wife can talk me down! This is called being spoiled!

Wind, Rain, and Thunder Gods: This is called cowardice.

The seven garbage-picking lackeys made hearts with their hands: We'll reform ourselves properly!

Chapter 17

By the time Liu Dalong and the other six had worked themselves half to death cleaning up the garbage clogging the river channel and piling it together, two hours had already passed.

It was three in the morning, when the vast majority of people were sound asleep. Exhausted and aching, the seven men peeked cautiously toward He Qinglan and Shui Wuyuan like the most timid of mice, hoping the two big shots had already fallen asleep or were not paying attention to them.

Instead, they met two equally cold and indifferent pairs of eyes head-on. They were so frightened they nearly fainted, and felt so miserable they wanted to cry. From this day onward, the six words "Do not litter" would probably be carved forever into their minds and hearts.

He Qinglan noticed that the vitality of these seven humans was plummeting. After thinking for a moment, he said coolly, "You may rest for two hours."

If they did not rest, these seven laborers would probably drop dead from overwork or fall ill.

That would greatly reduce the efficiency of picking up garbage.

Heaven knew how moved Liu Dalong and the others were when they heard those words. The youngest one, who had joined the group last, whimpered twice and collapsed onto the ground. He truly could not remain standing any longer.

Liu Dalong and the others wanted to scold their little brother for lying down on the muddy ground so carelessly, since he would get sick. But they were also exhausted and in so much pain that after saying a few words, they each sat down on the ground and fell silent.

Only Liu Dalong remained standing.

After all, he was the leader of the group. He had to take responsibility for his brothers.

They had been beaten, soaked in ice pellets, and spent more than two hours picking up garbage. If they stayed here any longer without taking any medicine or doing something about it, they would probably fall ill immediately. At the very least, he had to drive the vehicles back so his brothers could rest inside.

But to drive the vehicles, he had to leave this place. And to leave this place, he definitely had to ask permission from those two monster big shots...

Liu Dalong's hands trembled. Deep in the night, in this wilderness, amid strange rainwater—why did he have to be the leader?! Would it not have been better to obediently be a lackey?! And why had he not studied hard and read properly back then? Why had he insisted on going out to run with the wrong crowd?! He was truly stupid beyond belief!!

Yet he was still the leader of his brothers.

Liu Dalong took several deep breaths and steeled himself. Step by step, he shuffled toward He Qinglan and Shui Wuyuan.

Halfway there, he saw that the boss chair and luxurious office desk he and his brothers had smashed apart had already returned to normal. His already anxious and terrified heart sank even further.

But he did not dare ask, and he did not dare think.

Liu Dalong bent at the waist and lowered his head, putting on his most respectful expression. "...Sir, I... I want to go drive our vehicles back. My brothers have been soaked by rain all night and are injured. They need somewhere dry to rest and take some medicine... Don't worry, I definitely won't run away! My brothers are all here. Once I drive the vehicles back, I'll keep picking up garbage!"

He Qinglan thought that was a reasonable request and was about to agree when Shui Wuyuan beside him revealed a malicious smile.

His fingers tapped against the table, as though knocking directly upon Liu Dalong's heart.

"Did you remember incorrectly? You originally drove back in your vehicles."

Liu Dalong did not understand immediately. When his mind finally grasped what this big shot meant, he spun around with utter horror and saw two vehicles that had appeared at some unknown point in the open ground by the river.

One was a secondhand sedan, and the other was a secondhand pickup truck.

Were those not the most valuable possessions he and his brothers owned?!

But when the rainwater had dragged him away, he had personally seen the two vehicles left by the roadside several kilometers away. Liu Dalong gasped harshly several times before managing not to roar, "Holy shit, there's a ghost!"