What Kind of Monster Was It?

They got up, and were all dumbfounded. They looked at each other, their excitement completely gone.

"Was... was something pushing me just now?" A young carpenter asked, rubbing his lower back, his voice slightly weak.

The other person quickly nodded. "I felt it too, like something hard bumped into my butt!"

"No! Something must have hit me when I bent my knee!"

The short, stout carpenter clutched his leg, staring at the trees. "Something's weird, something's weird, what's going on with this forest?"

A young carpenter shouted, "What are you doing there, playing tricks on us? Do you want us to chop you all down?"

Good heavens, as soon as he said that, all the trees in the forest seemed to riot.

Why? Because these people are all from Luban Village.

The people of Luban Village are naturally at odds with trees; how could these trees possibly let them get away with it?

By the time Zhou Wanwan found them, they had already been beaten black and blue.

Zhou Wanwan coughed and asked, "What's wrong with you all?"

The Luban Village cried out, "Master, these trees have become spirits! They've attacked us! Waaaaah... it hurts so much!"

Other villagers were also clutching their heads, crying and howling, "Yes, what kind of monster is that? It hurts so much, my leg was whipped dozens of times!"

Zhou Wanwan looked at them and said, "Didn't I warn you before we came? Don't mess with the trees in this grove; you simply can't afford to."

Several carpenters muttered, "We only said a few words, right? Tree Gods, we were wrong, please forgive us!"

The surrounding trees couldn't help but roll their eyes and say, "Why didn't you be this nice from the start? If it weren't for the fact that Wanwan needs you, we would have eaten you up long ago."

These people couldn't hear any of this; Zhou Wanwan led them directly into Black Wind Stronghold.

The Black Wind Stronghold chieftain stood at the entrance to greet Zhou Wanwan, and chuckled as he saw her, saying, "Wanwan! You're back? Bringed a new friend back again?"

Zhou Wanwan looked at him and said, "Hello, Uncle Tie Niu..."

The Black Wind Stronghold chief chuckled and said:

"Don't be so polite, you're making me feel embarrassed."

Come on, Wanwan, I just wanted to invite you out for dinner so we can talk about something."

Zhou Wanwan followed him into the house and saw the leader of Black Wind Stronghold rubbing his hands together.

Zhou Wanwan looked at him and said, "Please feel free to tell me what's on your mind."

Zhou Wanwan thought he wanted to borrow grain, but to her surprise, the leader of Black Wind Stronghold suddenly knelt down.

Zhou Wanwan looked at him and quickly said, "You... you shouldn't be like this, let's talk this out."

The Black Wind Stronghold wept with tears in his eyes:

"Oh dear! I really can't explain this properly. To tell you the truth, the people in my mountain village have suffered so much because of me."

But I've realized I can't support them at all. Boss, I just want to ask, how did they even get to follow you?

I've heard that indentures are useful. Do you think it'll still be of any use to you if we sell ourselves to you now?

Zhou Wanwan scratched her head and said, "You're the leader of this mountain stronghold, it's not appropriate for you to sell yourself to me, is it?"

Tie Niu and his men knelt upright.

Tie Niu looked at her and said:

"The moment I saw you, I knew you were extraordinary, and we truly wanted to follow you."

We brothers are quite skilled in martial arts, and the people in this mountain stronghold are all obedient. Whatever you say, we're all willing to do it for you.

Please, please take us in!

It's no wonder Tie Niu was so eager.

Take their lives for example! They live just a few steps away from the people across the street, and those people eat nothing but steamed buns and braised pork every day, their mouths greasy with oil.

He was wearing a thick cotton-padded coat, with very few patches.

They live in houses with blue bricks and tiles, so they don't have to worry about leaks when it rains.

Then look at themselves, they are all skin and bones, their bellies are always dry, they drink thin porridge and eat cornbread mixed with bran.

His clothes were patched upon patched, and the cold winter wind pierced straight to his bones.

The dilapidated thatched hut we lived in swayed in the wind, and when it rained heavily outside, it drizzled inside.

The difference in their lives is like night and day.

Without comparison, there is no harm; Tie Niu is now single-mindedly hoping to become Zhou Wanwan's subordinate.

Only by working for her can the people of their mountain village live a life of luxury and comfort.

Zhou Wanwan looked at him and said, "Are you sure you want to be my subordinate? Then this entire mountain stronghold will be mine, right?"

Tie Niu nodded emphatically:

"We've all thought this through very clearly. From now on, you'll be the king of this mountain stronghold, and you'll be our boss."

You tell us to do whatever you want, but I know you probably led them to rob a place.

"Next time, just bring us along. We're pretty good too."

Zhou Wanwan's lips twitched as she said:

"We don't need you for robbery, but we might need you for farming. Your land is quite good."

Then I won't be polite and will just requisition you. Since you're going to be my subordinates, you'll definitely need a contract of servitude.

Also, you all have to listen to me; your houses are definitely not good enough.

"It's okay, I'll get one for you in a while."

Tie Niu nodded and said:

"Okay, okay, you guys build houses really fast. I've never seen anyone build houses faster than you."

Last time, I was thinking of learning more from you all.

"But it looks like we don't need to study anymore, boss. When are we going to start the robbery? I can't wait!"

Zhou Wanwan said helplessly:

"What robbery are you talking about? We don't need to rob you, but we'll have plenty of work for you to do."

It's winter now, and I plan to turn all the land here into greenhouses like the ones we have back home."

Tie Niu looked at the greenhouse with a face full of curiosity and said, "I've always been curious about what's in your greenhouses?"

The others nodded in agreement.

"We've been wondering what's inside, but we're too embarrassed to say."

Now that we're all family, can you take us to see it?

Zhou Wanwan led them to the greenhouse, and everyone was stunned when they saw the vegetables inside.

"These are all vegetables! How long has it been since we've eaten vegetables in our village?"

It's very uncomfortable for people not to eat vegetables, just like it's like not having salt.

Zhou Wanwan looked at them and said:

"Now that we're all family, I'll have them pick a basketful for you to take home and eat!"

Also, here are a few more chickens for you to take back and make soup, but your land will be requisitioned soon."

Zhou Wanwan is currently short of land. Although this mountain stronghold has quite a lot of land, there are more people to support now.

There are now nearly 3,000 people in the mountain stronghold, and they will all depend on her for their livelihood in the future. The situation outside is getting worse and worse.

The common people might not be able to see it, but she was very good at spotting problems.