novelAbuy Chapter 4: Such methods are incredibly cunning!
Chapter 4: Such methods are incredibly cunning!
Everyone looked in the direction of the voice and saw a tall, burly man with a bushy beard.
He was followed by a scholar and two fishermen.
The one-eyed Zhuang family member squinted and sized up Liu Bei.
"Who are you?"
Liu Bei ignored him and just looked at Ruan Xiaowu.
"Not embarrassed enough? Come back with me."
When Ruan Xiaowu saw Liu Bei and his two brothers, a hint of shame flashed across his face, but it was quickly replaced by a sense of resentment.
"My affairs are none of your business!" He shook off the dealer's hand and shouted at Liu Bei and the others.
"It's not up to you."
After Liu Bei finished speaking, he stepped forward and reached out to grab Ruan Xiaowu's shoulder.
Ruan Xiaowu, who made his living on the water all year round, was extremely agile. Upon seeing this, he immediately dodged to the side and threw a punch at Liu Bei's face at the same time.
His punch was fast and fierce, accompanied by the sound of wind.
However, his fist was easily intercepted by a large hand in mid-air.
That hand was like an iron clamp, firmly gripping his wrist.
Ruan Xiaowu was greatly alarmed.
He was one of the strongest men in Shijie Village, but now that his wrist was being grabbed, he felt as if the other person's strength was as vast as a mountain and as deep as the sea, and he couldn't even move a single finger.
He tried to pry Liu Bei's fingers with his other hand, but found that the five fingers were as solid as iron and did not budge.
"Let go!" Ruan Xiaowu was so angry that he raised his foot and kicked Liu Bei in the lower body.
Liu Bei's arm trembled slightly.
A tremendous force came, and Ruan Xiaowu felt dizzy as the world spun around him. He was lifted up and his feet left the ground.
He struggled desperately, using both his hands and feet, but under the control of that hand, all his movements seemed so powerless and ridiculous.
The entire casino fell silent instantly.
Everyone stared in disbelief at the scene.
The one-eyed Zhuang family man and his thugs turned pale and quietly retreated.
They had never seen such terrifying strength.
Ruan Xiaoer and Ruan Xiaoqi were also stunned.
They knew that Brother Chao Gai was highly skilled in martial arts and had extraordinary strength, but they never expected him to be this strong.
In his hands, the fifth brother was like a chick caught in a trap.
Liu Bei carried Ruan Xiaowu as if he were carrying a package, and turned to walk out of the thatched hut.
His face was expressionless, as if he had only done a trivial thing.
Only after stepping out of the thatched hut and breathing in the fresh air by the river did Wu Yong finally breathe a long sigh of relief.
He was utterly shocked as he looked at Ruan Xiaowu, who was being held up by Liu Bei with one hand, his face flushed red, unable to utter a sound.
This "Chao Gai" brother is not only as deep as the sea in his mind, but his skills are also extremely domineering!
Liu Bei walked all the way to the side of the boat before throwing Ruan Xiaowu into the cabin like a sack of potatoes.
Ruan Xiaowu fell onto the deck and struggled to get up, but found that his whole body was sore and he couldn't muster any strength.
He looked at Liu Bei, and for the first time, fear appeared in his eyes.
Liu Bei looked down at him without saying a word, but simply untied the hemp rope from his waist and tied his hands behind his back.
"Brother, this..." Ruan Xiaoer wanted to step forward and plead for mercy.
"Get on the boat," Liu Bei interrupted him.
Ruan Xiaoer and Ruan Xiaoqi dared not say anything more and silently boarded the boat.
Wu Yong quickly followed.
The small boat started again and rowed towards the Ruan brothers' residence.
The atmosphere on the ship was oppressive; no one dared to speak.
The only sounds were the oars cutting through the water and Ruan Xiaowu's heavy breathing.
As the small boat approached the bay where the Ruan family lived, Ruan Xiaoqi suddenly looked towards the shore and waved repeatedly.
"Brother Liu Tang, over here!"
The crowd looked in the direction he pointed and saw a tall man with red hair and a red birthmark on his temple standing on the open ground by the shore.
This man was Liu Tang, the Red-Haired Devil. It was Liu Tang who told Wu Yong about the birthday tribute.
As soon as Liu Tang saw the small boat, he immediately rushed over: "Brother Chao Gai! I've finally waited for you!"
But when he saw the situation on the ship, he was taken aback.
Ruan Xiaowu lay disheveled in the cabin, bound with hemp rope.
Ruan Xiaoer and Ruan Xiaoqi looked embarrassed and dejected.
"What's wrong?" Liu Tang asked, puzzled.
Wu Yong quickly stepped forward, pulled Liu Tang aside, and whispered a brief account of what had just happened at the casino.
Upon hearing this, Liu Tang frowned deeply. He glanced at Ruan Xiao Wu, then at the calm-faced Liu Bei, and said impatiently, "Brother! A great matter is imminent; how can we be delayed by such a trivial matter? Please release Wu Lang first, and we can discuss this further!"
He was a rough and straightforward man. In his opinion, Ruan Xiaowu's gambling was just a minor flaw. The most important thing right now was to seize the birthday gifts, and he shouldn't let it damage the harmony between brothers.
Liu Bei didn't look at him, but spoke to Ruan Xiaoer and Ruan Xiaoqi instead.
"Carry him inside."
The two brothers dared not disobey, so they grabbed Ruan Xiaowu from both sides and dragged him into the largest thatched hut in the middle.
Liu Bei followed him inside.
Wu Yong and Liu Tang had no choice but to follow.
The room was simply furnished, and a fishy and damp smell wafted out.
A worn-out square table and a few benches were all the family's possessions.
Ruan Xiaowu was thrown to the ground. He struggled and glared angrily at Liu Bei.
"Chao Gai! I respected you as a hero, which is why I was willing to work with you on this great undertaking! What kind of hero are you to humiliate me like this?"
Liu Bei walked to the table, sat down, and poured himself a bowl of water.
He ignored Ruan Xiaowu's clamor and looked at Liu Tang instead.
"You've come at the right time, saving me the trouble of sending someone to look for you."
Liu Tang cupped his hands in a respectful gesture.
"Brother, the birthday tribute is about to depart. If we don't act now, it will be too late! The Ruan brothers are both excellent watermen; we can't do without them!"
Liu Bei took a sip of water and placed the earthenware bowl heavily on the table.
A muffled thud made everyone in the room jump.
"Indispensable?"
Liu Bei's gaze slowly swept over the crowd, finally landing on Ruan Xiaowu on the ground.
"What can you expect from someone who can't even control their own desires and forgets everything once they're at the gambling table?"
His voice wasn't loud, but every word was clear.
"Today he can gamble away his entire fortune. Tomorrow, wouldn't he sell all our heads to the authorities for a few taels of silver?"
Upon hearing this, Ruan Xiaoer and Ruan Xiaoqi's faces turned deathly pale.
Liu Tang was also stunned. He opened his mouth, but couldn't say anything to refute it.
Ruan Xiaowu on the ground was struck dumb. He stopped struggling and just stared blankly at Liu Bei.
Liu Bei stood up and walked up to him: "I ask you, is it true that you took the money meant for your mother's medicine and gambled it away when she was sick?"
Ruan Xiaowu's lips trembled, unable to speak, and finally he nodded dejectedly.
"I'll ask you again, if we brothers hadn't come looking for you today, what were you planning to do after you lost everything?"
Ruan Xiaowu lowered his head even further.
What can he do?
They resorted to high-interest loans, theft, or robbery.
Once you embark on that path, there is no turning back.
Liu Bei looked at him, his tone remaining calm.
"The birthday tribute is worth 100,000 strings of cash. Once you have that money, will you still remember your own name? Will you still remember us brothers? Can you resist gambling? Once those jewels leave your hands, and the authorities investigate, can you escape?"
Ruan Xiaowu began to tremble, not from anger, but from fear and shame.
"Brother...I...I was wrong..." He finally managed to squeeze out a few words, his voice trembling with tears.
Liu Bei did not immediately help him up, but stood up and walked back to the table.
His gaze swept over Wu Yong, Liu Tang, Ruan Xiaoer, and Ruan Xiaoqi.
These few people are all the people he can rely on now.
Wu Yong possesses cleverness but lacks strategic vision. Although quick-witted, his perspective is too narrow, requiring constant reminders and guidance.
Liu Tang is a reckless and impetuous man, unfit for great responsibilities; he is only fit to be a general charging into battle.
The Ruan brothers were fearless and skilled in swimming, making them natural-born naval talents.
Unfortunately, discipline was lax and shortcomings were obvious.
In Liu Bei's view, the most terrifying thing in a team is not a lack of ability, but a person with a fatal flaw.
A gambling addiction is a flaw.
An army can tolerate dull-witted soldiers and cowardly soldiers, but it can never tolerate a gambling officer.
Because he would sell everything to pay off gambling debts.
"What happened today is a reminder to all of you."
Liu Bei's voice echoed in the quiet thatched hut.
"What we're doing is a business that risks your life; one wrong step and you're doomed."
"From this day forward, everyone must abide by my rules."
He looked at everyone and said, word by word, "Orders must be obeyed without question, as easily as your own limbs. Those who cannot do this may leave now."
No one speaks.
The anxiety on Liu Tang's face had vanished, replaced by a solemn expression.
Ruan Xiaoer and Ruan Xiaoqi also put away their usual carefree attitude and became solemn.
They realized that what this Brother Chao Gai was up to was far more than just "robbing the rich to help the poor".
He was in charge of military affairs.
They used the methods for managing an army to plan this "deal".
Wu Yong stood aside, his mind in turmoil.
He fully understood Liu Bei's intentions.
This is an attempt to establish authority.
It's a complete overhaul.
Before the operation begins, the biggest hidden dangers within the team must be eliminated to ensure that nothing goes wrong.
Such cunning and skillful methods!
"Brother, we will all listen to you!" Ruan Xiaoer was the first to express his opinion, bowing and clasping his hands in a gesture of respect to Liu Bei.
"Yes! We'll listen to whatever you say, brother!" Ruan Xiaoqi chimed in.
Liu Tang hesitated for a moment, then clasped his hands in a fist and said, "Liu Tang is willing to obey your orders, brother."
Liu Bei nodded, then turned his gaze to Ruan Xiaowu on the ground.
"And you?"
Ruan Xiaowu kowtowed several times, his forehead hitting the muddy ground with a dull thud.
"Brother, I know I was wrong! Please give me a chance to make amends! From now on, if I, Ruan Xiaowu, ever touch dice or dominoes again, may I be struck by lightning, drowned, and my body never be found again!"
He made a solemn oath, a vow he made with utmost sincerity.
Liu Bei, however, remained unmoved.
Your vows mean nothing to me. I believe not in your words, but in your actions.
He turned to Ruan Xiaoer and said, "Untie him."
Ruan Xiaoer quickly stepped forward and untied the rope.
Ruan Xiaowu moved his numb wrists and knelt straight down in front of Liu Bei.
"Please punish me, brother!"
Liu Bei looked at him and slowly spoke.
"There will certainly be punishment."
As he spoke, he pulled a silver ingot from his pocket: "This is ten taels of silver. Keep it in your hand, and tell me how much is left in three days."