The golden age began in 1977

Chapter 288 A dark moon shines, wild geese fly high, thieves come to rob the road.

Seeing his focused expression, Zhou Tiezhen couldn't help but ask, "Director Qian, is it valuable?"

Qian Jin pondered for a moment and said, "I am actually a self-taught amateur, not an expert in the field of antiques, so I dare not make any guarantees."

"But in my personal opinion, these five large boxes are very valuable."

This was said in a rather restrained manner.

Actually, they aren't that valuable; their true value far exceeds the locals' imagination.

That Wanli silver coin, that tattered scroll possibly belonging to Dong Qichang, that worm-eaten copy of "Plum Blossom Joyful Spirit Manual," that small blue-and-white porcelain jar from the mid-Ming dynasty, that ivory box with a dragon design, that gold-rimmed She inkstone...

These few items, even those in decent condition, are extremely valuable. According to what he read in a popular science book on collecting, if they were kept for decades, each of these items would be enough to cause a sensation at an auction!
Not to mention the enormous quantity of copper and silver coins, the damaged but still valuable paintings, calligraphy, ancient books, and other miscellaneous items.

Even now, he still regrets those three gold coins.

Gold has exceptional ductility and is rust-free and resistant to both high and low temperatures. If it hadn't been damaged by humans, it would likely have been preserved intact to this day.

That would be incredibly valuable!
Qian Jin couldn't help but exclaim, "Captain Zhou, it's no exaggeration to say that Xiping is a poor and remote place. Is this meant to be a sarcastic remark?"

"But you have indeed preserved a lot of good and old items here. To be honest, your brigade has become rich because of your efforts and my efforts, as well as these old items."

He gently patted the box: "You all put in just as much effort!"

A smile immediately appeared on Zhou Tiezhen's dark face.

He chuckled, rubbing his rough, calloused hands, and said:
"Director Qian, you're mistaken. These aren't just things from Xiping; many of them were scavenged by our commune members from the homes of their relatives and friends."

Zhou Gu added with a smile:
"You have no idea, Director Qian. Ever since you brought us back more than 20,000 yuan with those 'junk' last time, along with those grain coupons, cloth coupons, industrial vouchers and the like, the whole brigade has been in an uproar."

"When our brigade leader distributed the items to each household according to the value you assigned, many families were stunned!"

“Those were stacks of brand-new 'Great Unity' bills! Many people have never seen so much money in their lives,” said Wang Xiaoying, the women’s director, who also joined in the conversation.

"My fourth uncle's family sold two broken bowls and a worm-eaten painting, and Director Qian, you gave them over 1,200 yuan in return! Enough for them to build a new tiled house!"

The tattered painting in Qian Jin's secret passage should be an authentic work by Tang Bohu.

Zhou Tiezhen chimed in, "Back then, our commune members were envious. Let me tell you, haha, they were really envious!"

He took a breath, his voice rising a few decibels:
"There's no need to urge or search anymore. Once the news spread, the members went crazy on their own."

"They searched every nook and cranny of their houses, from the roof beams to the kang (heated brick bed) holes and the cracks in the walls. Every broken box or cabinet left by their ancestors was turned upside down. To put it bluntly, they practically dug up every rat hole in every household three times over!"

"That's not all. Who doesn't have a poor relative or uncle? The married daughters and the godparents and godbrothers they make all send messages back to ask if there's any 'junk' left over from their ancestors."

Then he slammed his hand against the wooden crate in front of him, making a dull thud that made Qian Jin's heart ache, and he quickly moved his hand away.

Zhou Tiezhen chuckled and continued, "Anyway, all the aunts, uncles, cousins, and relatives have been gathered here."

"It's been more than a year, and it took a lot of piecing things together, bit by bit, to finally get these five big boxes of stuff."

"There are some things inside that I've never seen before, and I don't know what year they are. Anyway, as long as I can exchange them for money, that's fine."

This last sentence is simple and unadorned, yet it contains the truth.

This is similar to what happened to the Liu family production team in Hongxing back then, and perhaps even worse.

That windfall and the scarce ration coupons acted like a giant magnet, stirring up a raging gold rush in this remote and impoverished mountain village.

Those ancestral heirlooms that have been dormant for countless years were considered troublesome in the past, and many timid people could only hide them away. Now, however, they have become a huge help that can change survival and improve life.

Under these circumstances, the Zhou family, who had lived in poverty their entire lives, could not resist the temptation.

Qian Jin sighed, pointing directly to the Wanli silver coin, the precious fragments of calligraphy and painting, and the porcelain, saying:
"These are all good things, but they don't get much attention in society right now. If we wait 20 or 30 years, these things will be so popular in the city that people will fight tooth and nail for them. At that time, these will be things that only the rich can afford to touch."

“A rich man? A landlord or a wealthy man?” Zhou Tiezhen asked.

Qian Jin smiled wryly and said, "More or less."

Zhou Tiezhen sneered and waved his hand: "They have long been knocked to the ground and stomped on by ten thousand feet, never to rise again."

Qian Jin didn't discuss this topic in depth with him. Instead, he promised, "They still have value now. Don't worry, Captain Zhou, I, Qian Jin, will never let anyone suffer a loss with these things."

"When I get back to the city, I will ask those experts who really know their stuff to do a thorough appraisal."

"I'll give you every penny they're worth now, and every single ticket you need!"

Zhou Tiezhen trusted him completely: "Alright, go back and find an expert to take a look. Anyway, you can give me whatever you think is appropriate. I can't let you suffer a loss, can I? You can keep some for travel expenses and handling fees."

Qian Jin asked him to wait a moment, then went to the driver's seat and took out the briefcase that Chen Shoujiang had been curious about:
"Here, this is the deposit for you. You can deposit it for the members first. Once the exact value is determined, I will give you a receipt, just like last time. You can then use the receipt to pay the owner."

Zhou Tiezhen subconsciously picked up the suitcase and laughed, "Hey, this suitcase is stylish, not bad at all."

Qian Jin told him to move the box properly, then reached out and pressed a button, and with a 'whoosh,' the box lid opened.

Inside were neatly stacked ten-yuan bills, all of them "Great Unity"!
These large bundles of paper, tightly bound together with the bank's distinctive white cardboard strips, were suddenly exposed to the headlights of the car, stunning everyone present.

Everyone, including Chen Shoujiang.

One hundred bills per stack, twenty stacks in total.

The banknotes were brand new and crisp.

It's all new banknotes that Qian Jin has saved up over the past two years.

Zhou Tiezhen, Wang Xiaoying, Zhou Gu and the others froze on the spot, staring blankly at the suitcase.

Under the lamplight, the gray-blue portraits of workers, peasants, and soldiers, along with the striking words "Shi Yuan," exuded a breathtaking luster.

Qian Jin said, "Count them, there are twenty stacks in total, each stack is worth a thousand yuan, that's twenty thousand yuan in cash."

"Another... another twenty thousand yuan," Zhou Tiezhen stammered.

"This is a deposit, still 20,000 yuan," Qian Jin promised. "We'll provide you with the receipts later."

"If my judgment is correct, this item might be more valuable than the last one."

Seeing that no one moved, he handed a thick stack of ten-yuan bills to Zhou Gu: "You're the brigade's accountant, you've seen a lot of money in the commune, hurry up and count it, we have to go quickly."

He looked towards the top of the mountain.

It was already dark at the foot of the mountain, but there was still a glimmer of light on the high peak.

There was a lot of light in everyone's eyes.

The light in everyone's eyes was drawn away by the bluish-gray color of the Great Unity painting.

Biaozi, Gousheng, Zhuzi, Erniu...

All the men present, including the young men carrying the boxes and the women in the distance who were still packing up their tools, were drawn to the scene as if by an invisible magnet.

It was firmly nailed to the thick stack of banknotes in Qian Jin's hand, which were neatly arranged like bricks!
That's money!
It's a brand new 10-yuan note, as if it still has the heat of the printing press!
Not just a single bill, not just a stack of cash, but an entire box of money!

That bluish-gray tone, the words "ten yuan," the portrait symbolizing the great unity of workers, peasants, and soldiers, representing national credit...

It's so breathtaking.

In the early 1980s, when resources were extremely scarce and the average worker's monthly wage was only thirty or fifty yuan, the visual impact of 20,000 yuan in cash was like pouring a ladle of boiling water into a frying pan.

Biaozi's mouth was agape, his eyes were wide open, and he made unconscious "hoarse" sounds in his throat, as if he were being choked.

Gou Sheng subconsciously rubbed his eyes hard, and couldn't help but say, "So much money!"

Zhou Tiezhen was considered quick to react.

He quickly snatched the money from Zhou Gu and stuffed it back into the box: "Director Qian, never mind, never mind, we'll wait until you go back to the city..."

"What are you waiting for? This is some of the money from your brigade members." Qian Jin shoved the box into his arms.

He was pleased with the expressions and gazes of those around him.

He had to dig several times to clear out all the old artifacts in the Liu family production team in Hongxing.

Now it's the turn of the Xiping Production Brigade.

He felt that there must be many old artifacts that the people of Xiping could dig out, but some of them lacked the motivation.

So, he has now delivered the power.

The men were eager and their eyes were intense; they wanted to say something, but they were stunned.

For a moment, the only sound in the crowd was heavy breathing.

Zhou Tiezhen scratched his butt and said in a weak voice, "This is way too much money."

"They deserve it." Qian Jin's voice was firm and resolute, carrying an undeniable force.

He stared intently at Zhou Tiezhen, then swept his gaze over all the commune members who were stunned and speechless at the sight of the huge sum of money:

"Moreover, this is a deposit. I, Qian Jin, keep my word. Once I bring these things back to the city, I will ask an expert in cultural relics research to examine each piece carefully, and to find out their origin, age, and value clearly."

“Back then, I personally delivered back every single penny of the outstanding balance and every single receipt.”

He paused, his gaze falling on the five wooden crates stuffed with "junk" beside the truck, further fueling the fire among the onlookers:

“Captain Zhou, and fellow villagers of Xiping, I, Qian Jin, am here today to give you all some definite news.”

"When the Spring Festival is over, I will not only come back with the remaining payment and ration coupons, but I will also send a batch of 'big items' that are hard to buy even by our supply and marketing cooperative to our brigade!"

He held up his fingers, counting each name forcefully, each one like a thunderclap dropped into the silent snow.
"We definitely need bicycles. It's not easy for us mountain people to get around. We can't just rely on our two legs to walk. We'll definitely have plenty of brand-new 'Phoenix,' 'Forever,' and 'Golden Deer' bicycles. I want everyone to be able to walk on mountain roads and to the commune without having to rely on their two legs!"

"We also have sewing machines—Butterfly, Bee, Peony brands, we have them all. Your wives can use them, to sew new clothes for the kids, and to make shoe soles for the elderly. Having a sewing machine will definitely save them a lot of trouble!"

"I'll also bring watches and clocks, wall clocks and grandfather clocks, for everyone. We'll put one in the main room of each house so everyone can hear the chimes. That way, we'll know exactly when to go to and from work, and we won't have to look at the sky anymore!"

"And there's the radio. The elderly can listen to operas and news on the radio at home, so that even those living in remote mountain villages can know about national events!"

Every time Qian Jin called out a name, the villagers' eyes lit up a little more, and their breathing became a little more rapid.

Does this work too?
So wonderful?

Can old items be exchanged for money, tickets, and even these in-demand commodities?

Those rare items that usually only existed in the shop windows of supply and marketing cooperatives, on the wrists of city dwellers, or in the main rooms of cadres' homes, were now being promised out with such certainty by Qian Jin, and everyone's blood boiled.

The young people's eyes were filled with longing for bicycles, several women were excitedly whispering about sewing machines, and the boys wanted a radio at home so they could hear the sounds of the outside world.

All of this held an unparalleled attraction for them!

Tie Dan tugged at his sleeve and asked, "Director Qian, really?"

"I keep my word, it's absolutely true!" Qian Jin's voice boomed like a bell, echoing at the foot of the mountain and drowning out the howling wind.

"I, Qian Jin, will definitely get these things for our Xiping production brigade, and the pressure cooker I promised before will also be delivered. I will make sure that the lives of us mountain people can become brighter and brighter, just like those of city people!"

Zhou Gu led the applause:

"well!!"

"Director Qian, you keep your word!"

"We're waiting for you, waiting for you to come and bring us good things in the spring!"

Amidst enthusiastic applause, the crowd erupted in an unrestrained and passionate response.

Zhou Tiezhen hugged the box full of "Great Unity" tightly in his arms.

As he felt the real weight and listened to Qian Jin's description of a bright future full of modern vibes, he felt a surge of heat rush from the soles of his feet to the top of his head.

Director Qian is a benefactor and savior of our brigade.

Before the year before last, they wouldn't have dared to think of this.

It's laughable, but back then, this huge production brigade was worried about a few bags of fertilizer and worked hard to fill their stomachs. And look at them now.

This year, the brigade is doing very well. Every household has enough to eat, regardless of whether it's coarse grains or not.

In any case, being a poor mountain village, our ancestors had never had a year-round supply of enough to eat.

Now, Zhou Tiezhen is leading the way in getting a meal.

Not only did they have enough to eat, but many families also had savings. In a couple of days, when this year's work points are calculated, he estimates that every household in the entire brigade will have savings.

Suddenly, light appeared.

The more he thought about the good life he was living, the straighter his back became. His spine, which had once been hunched over by the burdens of life, was now ramrod straight, and he was full of vigor.

Finally, he spoke on behalf of everyone, his voice firm and resolute:

"With Director Qian's words, all of us 1,600 people in Xiping feel completely at ease!"

"Take everything you want. Whether we're cadres or members, we trust you, we trust no one else!"

The young people nodded solemnly.

Qian Jin nodded emphatically.

It was getting late, so he nodded to Chen Shoujiang, who quickly got into the car, revved the engine, and prepared to leave.

A tremendous roar resounded again, and the two headlights on the front of the car shone even brighter, beams of light piercing the darkness like two sharp swords.

Several commune members worked together to carefully place the small cage containing squirrels and tits, and the bag containing frozen pheasants and rabbits, into the driver's cab.

The five boxes were carefully placed inside.

Finally, Zhou Tiezhen took out the Type 56 semi-automatic rifle that he had shown off when hunting wild boars.

He pulled back the bolt with a click, and after checking that the bolt was working properly, he said, "Take this with you, Director Qian. The mountain roads aren't safe at night; we might run into robbers. Having this will give us peace of mind!"

Qian Jin had a handgun on him.

Traveling along country lanes is indeed very dangerous now, with murders and robberies occurring frequently.

But with Chen Shoujiang by his side, he couldn't use his pistol, so Zhou Tiezhen lending them a rifle was like delivering a pillow to someone who was already dozing off.

That's just right.

Qian Jin didn't know how to use a rifle, but Chen Shoujiang had played with them a lot in the forest farm. He hid the gun next to his car seat.

If there's a problem, having him propped up on the car window is like having a firing point.

Qian Jin gave Zhou Tiezhen's rough, strong hand a final squeeze before turning and getting into the passenger seat of the truck.

The heavy truck growled as its wheels rolled over the potholes and frozen mud of the mountain road, slowly starting to move.

The beams of the car headlights pierced the darkness, illuminating the winding, rugged mountain road ahead and the icy, muddy surface.

The mountain road was difficult to travel, and the truck, like a heavily laden ox, swayed and bumped along, gradually leaving the production brigade and disappearing into the deep darkness of the mountains. Behind the truck, the lingering noise and firelight of the Xiping Production Brigade continued.

Many people held up torches to see them off.

Finally, the truck turned a corner on the mountain road, and the flames disappeared completely.

By this time, it was completely dark in the mountains.

Qian Jin instructed Chen Shoujiang: "Brother-in-law, the road is difficult to travel, so we must be careful."

Chen Shoujiang said with full concentration, "Don't worry, four brothers, I will definitely get you back upstairs safely."

The truck engine roared low, and the truck body bounced violently on the frozen ruts and exposed rocks. The pile of wood covered with canvas in the truck bed made a dull thud and rub with each bump.

Qian Jin sat in the passenger seat, his body rising and falling with every sway of the car.

After a bumpy ride of who knows how long, the truck finally chugged out of the last bend of the mountain road and onto a relatively wider county-level dirt road.

Their view opened up a bit, and they could vaguely see a few faint lights in the distant mountain valleys—those were scattered villages.

Although he had left the most treacherous mountain path, Chen Shoujiang's expression did not relax at all; on the contrary, it became even more solemn.

It's easiest to capsize in a ditch.

This is the advice that experienced drivers always gave him when he was learning to drive.

The roads in the county are not paved; they are dirt roads, full of potholes, making it impossible for trucks to drive fast.

Qian Jin was familiar with the roads here, and to save time, he chose a country dirt road at the intersection:
"Go this way, and you'll save half an hour."

Anyway, whether it's a country dirt road or a county road, there are potholes, so you can't drive fast. You just have to take whatever route saves time.

However, just as the truck rounded a dirt slope covered with withered grass, the sight ahead made the two men's pupils suddenly contract.

In the middle of the road, several logs lay indistinctly, like cold, inanimate obstacles, blocking the not-so-wide road surface.

Chen Shoujiang blurted out, "Damn! Zhou, that jinx, really was right, we've run into highway robbers!"

Qian Jin was embarrassed.

He chose this path.

Chen Shoujiang immediately shifted into reverse to prepare to retreat.

Suddenly, bicycles appeared at the intersection of a small road and a country road ahead, and seven or eight figures, all bundled up tightly, rode towards them.

Two people stopped on the logs, while other bicycles came from the opposite direction, nimbly weaving past the truck from both sides, quickly surrounding it from both the front and the back.

The truck's blinding headlights cast long shadows of the two men in front of it onto the dry, grassy slope by the roadside, looking menacing.

These people were clearly prepared, their faces were covered tightly with thick, dark scarves or tattered neck warmers and masks, leaving only their eyes exposed.

After the bicycles blocked the truck's retreat, the youths immediately got off the truck and brandished their weapons.

Some were carrying sticks, some were holding pickaxe handles, and some were even clutching gleaming machetes!

In the dim light, the cold gleam of the metal seemed particularly dazzling.

They stood there silently, radiating a chilling threat.

"Damn it, a bunch of brats!" Chen Shoujiang spat out a few words through gritted teeth, revealing a cold laugh.

He wasn't afraid of these highway robbers.

He was only armed with knives, guns, and clubs. Even if they didn't have five or six semi-automatic rifles, he wasn't afraid.

In this situation, you can reverse to get through the checkpoint!

Chen Shoujiang had no relevant experience, but he had heard experienced drivers talk about this situation too many times. He was a tough guy from the Northeast forest farm, so he was not afraid or even nervous at this moment.

Without the slightest hesitation, he gripped the steering wheel tightly with his left hand and slammed his right foot down on the accelerator pedal.

The trucks are roaring; we must retreat quickly.

Qian Jin said in a deep voice, "Brother-in-law, stop the car!"

Outside, a frenzied howl rang out: "Stop the car! Stop the car for me!"

"If you don't stop, we'll burn you bastards!"

"You want to be buried with an iron coffin?"

A young man behind him raised his arm, holding a beer bottle in his hand. A spark flashed, and the bottle immediately burst into flames.

Homemade Molotov cocktails!
really.

The young man slammed the Molotov cocktail onto the back of the truck, and a burst of flames immediately erupted from the ground.

Chen Shoujiang stepped on the brake with his left foot.

"Crench--!"

The screeching sound of brakes pierced the silent wilderness as tires screeched violently against the cold, rough road, leaving long black tracks in their wake.

The truck's immense inertia propelled it violently backward before bringing it to a heavy stop.

The cage in the driver's cab shook violently, and the squirrel and titmouse let out terrified screams.

The young men blocking the road seemed startled by the sudden stop, and one of them arrogantly shouted, "Damn it, trying to run away!"

Immediately, a tall man in front drew a gleaming machete and charged fiercely toward the driver's cab.

He rode his bicycle wobblingly, and when he reached the front of the bike, he forcefully slashed at the headlight with a machete.

However, the handlebars, instead of hitting the headlights, struck the sheet metal, causing several sparks to fly.

Then he used his foot to push against the driver's side pedal and tried to pull the door handle of the driver's side.

A wave of ferocity and ruthlessness emanated from them.

Then it was gone.

He stopped moving.

As the car window rolled down, a dark iron pipe was pressed against the man's head.

The burly young man was stunned.

Despite the darkness, he could still see clearly up close.

What was revealed was not a club, but a Type 56 semi-automatic rifle that was well-maintained and gleamed with a dark blue metallic sheen!
The dark muzzle of the gun, like a venomous snake poised to strike, instantly sent a chill down the young man's spine.

This rifle still has a bayonet.

Zhou Tiezhen once told us about the origin of the guns. They lived deep in the mountains, where the area used to be very dangerous. From time to time, vicious criminals would hide in the mountains to escape capture.

At this point, the village militia was needed to assist in the capture, so the Xiping militia squad was equipped with the rare Type 56 semi-automatic rifle.

In addition, Xiping Mountain was once a place where guerrillas were active. There is not much else here, but there are the most guns and ammunition.

The militiamen of Xiping had been handling guns since childhood and looked down on ordinary homemade guns and cannons. It was only in order to motivate them and encourage them to take initiative that the county's armed forces equipped them with Type 56 semi-automatic rifles.

This gun has a bayonet.

Chen Shoujiang reached out and pulled on the bayonet clip, and the gleaming bayonet emerged, grazing the young man's cheek and piercing his collar.
"Fuck your mother! You little bastard! You're tired of living, aren't you?!"

Chen Shoujiang's roar was like a thunderclap, instantly tearing apart the cold night sky and making the withered grass by the roadside seem to tremble.

"Get out of the car, you all fucking squat down! Otherwise, I'll shoot you all dead right here!!"

His finger was tightly gripping the cold trigger, his eyes showing no hesitation or fear, only a fierce and resolute quality forged in the icy wilderness.

The tall young man who rushed to the car door was so scared he wet himself.

Chen Shoujiang's menacing words, "cancel the account," pierced his ears like an icicle.

He stood frozen in place, the machete he had raised high clattering to the frozen ground.

Those eyes, which had been so fierce just moments before, were instantly filled with boundless fear.

The lights didn't reach the car doors, so the robbers in front of and behind the car were unaware of what was happening.

They heard Chen Shoujiang's roar, and someone flew into a rage, riding up on a bicycle and yelling, "Fuck your mother! You dare bark at your grandpa even when you're about to die?"

Without hesitation, Chen Shoujiang pressed the muzzle of his gun against the tall young man's face and pulled the trigger!

"boom!"

The orange-red flames spewing from the gun muzzle flashed and disappeared in the darkness.

Almost simultaneously, a crisp, deafening gunshot pierced the deathly silence of the night!
The bullet whistled and pierced the wheel of the oncoming bicycle.

However, the bullet did not hit the wheel, but passed through the spokes and entered the frozen ground next to it, splashing up a cloud of mud and gravel covered with ice shards, which fell in all directions with a "plop".

The young man in front of the car door screamed in terror.

Then he let out a hissing sound from his throat, his body trembled like a leaf, and he instinctively tried to shrink back.

But the bayonet fell and landed on his neck.

Chen Shoujiang's thunderous roar rang out again: "Dare to move, and I'll slit your throat!"

Then he continued to roar: "These young people nowadays are really fucking bold, they even dare to rob military vehicles!"

"Damn it, robbing a military vehicle? Huh?! You're asking for it!"

His roar and gunshots were like thunderclaps from the heavens, striking the heads of the bandits blocking the road.

The air seemed to freeze in that instant.

The cold wind in the wilderness seemed to pause for a moment.

The young man riding up behind him was hit like a punch in the face. His bicycle crashed to the ground, and he froze, the pickaxe handle in his hand hitting the ground. He didn't dare to move for a moment.

The other robbers, still brandishing sticks and poised to attack, were completely terrified.

The ferocity they displayed just now, when faced with real guns and ammunition, was as fragile as a paper lantern, easily punctured.

The steel pipe in someone's hand clattered to the ground.

Some people's legs gave way and they collapsed onto the cold dirt road.

Some people even instinctively wanted to turn their heads and disappear into the darkness by the roadside while riding their bicycles!
Fearing they might go back and call for reinforcements or that they might have secretly hidden firearms, Qian Jin quickly said, "Not a single one of you is allowed to run away!"

Upon hearing this, Chen Shoujiang kicked open the car door, knocking the tall, dumbfounded young man to the ground.

He leaned halfway out of the driver's seat, gripped his gun with both hands, and fired:

"Bang bang bang!"

A flash of light, and three gunshots rang out in succession.

Bullets struck trees and the ground, sending bark and gravel flying.
"Don't move! Anyone who moves will be attacked!"

"Listen up, you fucking idiots! If you want to live, get out of here right now! Right now! Throw that car away!"

"Throw your bicycle on the side of the road! And throw all the knives, sticks, and scrap metal you're carrying on the ground!"

Chen Shoujiang didn't intend to kill anyone outright, so he didn't fire the two bullets at the person.

At the same time, he was not a sharpshooter and could not hit exactly where he was aiming. Coincidentally, one of the bullets grazed a young man's scalp and hit the trunk of an old poplar tree next to him.

This terrified the two young men who were trying to escape on their bicycles; their bikes lurched violently, and they fell flat on their faces.

Qian Jin also roared, "Everyone squat down! Anyone who stands will be shot! Anyone who stands will be killed!"

His gaze was sharp as a knife, sweeping over the bodies of these people.

Seven or eight people quickly got up and squatted down.

Night had completely fallen by then.

With poor visibility and being unfamiliar with the area, he dared not get out of the car to arrest the person rashly, in case there was someone hiding in the shadows.
Then he shouted, "And another thing! Take off all your tattered cotton-padded jackets, tattered overcoats, and tattered shoes! Throw them on the ground! Then get out of here barefoot! Get as far away as you can!"

"If we see even a single hair on your head again, the next shot won't just hit the ground!"

No sooner had he finished speaking than Chen Shoujiang pulled the trigger again.

There was a flash of fire.

The cracking sound was terrifying!

This shot was the last straw that broke the camel's back; the robbers began to wail and cry for help.
"Mom!"

"Sir, spare my life!"

"Don't shoot! Don't shoot! We'll take our clothes off! We'll take our clothes off!"

A cacophony of wailing and howling for mercy erupted instantly.

The tall young man who had been slumped next to the truck door scrambled to his feet and quickly unbuttoned his cotton-padded coat.

Seeing this, the others followed suit, frantically tearing at their cotton-padded coats.

Some people were so frightened that they couldn't even unbutton their clothes, and they tried to forcefully pull their clothes down from their heads, almost strangling themselves to death.

Sticks, machetes, shovels, and pickaxe handles were scattered haphazardly on the ground, making a clanging sound.

The bicycles were also pushed over into the withered grass by the roadside as if they were hot potatoes.

In less than a minute, seven or eight thick cotton-padded coats and overcoats of different colors, all dirty and worn, were already lying on the ground.

Before long, the young men were left only in thin thermal underwear. In the biting cold wind of minus ten degrees Celsius, the skinny guys shivered, their faces covered in snot and tears.

Qian Jin roared, "Where are the shoes?!"

The young people shuddered, sobbed, and began to take off their shoes again.

When they were finally barefoot, Qian Jin coldly spat out a single word:

"roll!"

As if they had received a pardon, the group of youths who had just been fierce and menacing suddenly scrambled and cried out for their parents as they rushed into the darkness by the roadside.

In an instant, seven or eight people disappeared into the inky darkness of the night, leaving only a few distorted cries from the cold and the muffled thuds of falling, carried by the night wind.

(End of this chapter)