novelAbuy Chapter 27 The Butcher Goes Mad, Li Wei Opens the Warehouse!
Chapter 27 The Butcher Goes Mad, Li Wei Opens the Warehouse!
On the third day, Li Wei stood by the window on the second floor of the warehouse, watching the thin black smoke drifting from the south. His fingers, which had been tapping on the windowsill, finally stopped, as if he had made a decision.
He turned around and gave an order to Finn behind him.
"Finn, go post the notices in the South District again."
"Sir, what should we write this time?" Finn's one eye flashed with excitement; he had been waiting for three days.
"Tell all our fellow Irishmen who are starving and freezing in the South that there is a free dinner and a safe bed tonight in the North Warehouse."
This time, Finn didn't ask why, and his single eye looked at Levi with gratitude.
Regardless of Livy's motives, these people were ultimately his fellow Irishmen.
For some reason, Finn suddenly remembered the bowl of mutton soup he had held on the streets of Ireland thirty years ago.
In that dilapidated alley, an orphan crawled on the ground like a beggar, picking up spoiled food to barely keep himself going.
Later, a kind old woman opened the window and called out, "Little One-Eyed, have something hot to eat."
From then on, the neighbors in this alley began to take turns feeding him three meals a day, allowing the little beggar to survive and become the one-eyed "Finn" he is today.
At that moment, Finn, having received the order, simply nodded and yelled towards the warehouse entrance, "Guys, grab your weapons and come for a stroll!"
"Finn, remember, don't injure people on a large scale, and don't provoke the Red Shrimp Soldiers."
"Yes, sir."
Soon, a dozen or so of the strongest Irishmen at the North Wharf, who were also the earliest to follow Finn, stepped forward.
They held identical short sticks in their hands, their backs ramrod straight, their demeanor completely different from a few days ago.
In broad daylight, Finn led his group across the Charles River with an air of nonchalance.
They made no attempt to conceal their actions, posting notices with written words all over the streets and alleys of the southern district.
Conspicuous white paper was pasted on the entrance of the tavern, on the walls of the brothel, and even on the door of "Butcher" Jack's now-empty headquarters.
"Damn it! It's those North District scum again!"
Twenty-seven or twenty-eight thugs from the "Bloody Hand Gang" rushed out of an alley, carrying axes and chains, their faces full of menacing features.
"Finn! You one-eyed worm, you dare to come here to die!" the leader yelled.
Finn didn't waste any words.
"Form ranks."
The dozen or so people behind him immediately dispersed, forming small defensive formations of three people each, with short sticks in front to protect their bodies.
The thugs of the "Bloody Hands Gang" charged forward with strange cries, as they were used to swarming each other in the streets.
But they were no longer facing scattered dockworkers.
The thug at the front was wielding an axe, but before he could get close, he was blocked by two short sticks crossed together.
Before he could react, the third short stick struck his wrist with pinpoint accuracy.
"what!"
Amidst screams, the axe flew out of his hand.
Immediately afterwards, three short sticks rained down.
They struck his knees and shoulders, avoiding all vital organs, but instantly rendered him completely incapacitated, causing him to collapse to the ground.
The whole process took less than three seconds, clean and efficient.
The remaining thugs were dumbfounded; what the hell was this "trick"?
Finn's troops did not stop; they moved in unison, maintained their formation, and pressed forward.
The dull thud of the short stick striking the bone, along with the rising and falling screams, created a striking contrast.
In less than a minute, more than half of the Blood Hand Gang thugs were lying on the ground groaning, and not one of them could stand up.
Finn walked up to the leader and stepped on his face.
"Go back and tell Jack to stop being a 'fool'; Mr. Li is in charge now."
After saying that, he led his men away, under the awe-inspiring gaze of all the residents of the South District.
That night, the warehouses in the North District were brightly lit.
Hundreds of Irish people from the South, with their families and children, gathered anxiously at the warehouse entrance, clinging to their last glimmer of hope.
They expected to see swords clashing or a rousing pre-battle mobilization.
But what they saw was a mountain of black bread and several large pots of steaming fish soup sprinkled with scallions.
Seamus led his five-person team, silently maintaining order and allowing the elderly and children to proceed first.
Everyone remained orderly; there was no looting or shouting.
Levi and Fiona stood behind the long table, personally distributing food to everyone.
A plate, two large pieces of dark bread, and a spoonful of steaming hot soup.
When she encounters a crying child, Fiona uses her unparalleled kindness to lead them in prayer and soothe their hearts.
Li Wei, however, did not say anything inspiring.
He simply looked calmly into the eyes of each family as they received their food.
"Eat your fill, then get a good night's sleep."
"Here, no one dares to touch you."
These refugees from the South, holding the food in their hands, looked at the calm Easterner distributing the food, and then at the disciplined, silent Irish soldiers beside them. Many of them burst into tears on the spot.
On one side is Jack's brutality and plunder.
On one side was Livy's protection and food.
The invisible scales in their hearts are tilting violently.
Late at night, most of the refugees had already laid out dry straw on the open ground of the warehouse and fallen into a deep sleep.
A middle-aged man named Cornelius, carrying a clean plate, found Finn, who was on patrol.
He worked as a porter at the South District docks, and had a cousin who worked in the "Bloody Hands Gang," where he was considered a minor leader.
After finishing what was probably the most peaceful dinner of his life, he made a decision.
"Mr. Finn," he lowered his voice, a hint of nervousness on his face, "I have something to tell you, otherwise I won't be able to sleep tonight."
Finn glanced at him.
"explain."
"Jack the Butcher... he's completely lost his mind. This afternoon, he killed two of his henchmen who were trying to run away with the money and then gathered everyone together."
Connelly swallowed hard, his voice even lower.
"He said that we who came to the North District to collect food were all traitors, 'traitors who eat the inside and sell the inside.' Tomorrow morning, before we even get there, he's going to lead all his men into the North District, burn this place to the ground, and... skin Mr. Levy alive to use as riding boots!"
An unexpected turn of events allowed Li Wei to obtain the most crucial intelligence.
He stood on the high point of the warehouse, looking down at the men and women sleeping haphazardly, listening to their steady breathing and soft snoring.
The scales in the hearts of these Irish people have completely tipped in their own favor.
He looked at Finn and Seamus who had walked up to him, his tone calm and normal.
"Since our guests are coming, we must prepare gifts to welcome them."
"Tomorrow, in the North End, we will establish new rules for Boston's underworld."