Madmen don't keep diaries

Chapter 492 491 A Genuine Good Person
Two guards died, and the remaining guards, still seething with anger, gave the strong man a good beating.

The strong man was beaten until he cried out for his parents, and before the torture could continue, he spilled everything.

Only then did everyone realize that they were not bandits at all.

According to the strong, muscular men, they were indeed residents of the surrounding towns and had initially come out to search for treasure.

However, unlike Liu the Great Philanthropist, who funded a treasure-hunting team personally, they were a group of peasants who hit it off and decided to try their luck.

The group included hunters, herb farmers, and even a few local thugs, but not a single one of them was wealthy.

The two unlucky guys who were killed by Shunzi were the leaders of the group. They were brothers and the only two people in the group who had guns. It was said that they used to be bandits, but they ran back to town to become thugs because they thought life in the mountains was too hard.

This group set off in a grand procession, daydreaming of finding treasure for the first two days. However, on the third day, they encountered a "regular army" of mountain bandits, and all the money they had brought with them was robbed.

The bandits, however, had their rules; they took the money but didn't kill anyone, and released them.

Only when the leader of the group mustered up the courage to ask a few questions—relying on his brief experience as a former bandit "colleague"—did the legitimate bandits finally reveal the truth.

It turns out that the bandits initially came out to find treasure, but when they found that there were too many treasure hunting groups, they changed their minds and realized that finding treasure wasn't the only way to get rich.

Isn't another broad road right in front of us?

Which treasure-hunting team doesn't carry real gold and silver on their person? Instead of going through all that trouble to cross mountains and valleys, only to potentially not find the treasure, wouldn't it be better to just wait for the prey to come and rob them on their way?
Besides, he's someone who works in this industry, so he's very skilled at it.

After being enlightened by the professional bandits, the peasant treasure-hunting team suddenly understood and immediately began to imitate them.

They were just unlucky; they ran into Shunza right after their debut.

Feng Xiuhu felt sorry for them: "No wonder you guys are unprofessional. How dare you join our team of so many people? You should have practiced with a smaller treasure hunting team first."

The burly man replied with a sob in his voice, "That's what we thought too, but the leader said he's experienced and could tell at a glance that your treasure hunting team is exhausted and a rare piece of easy prey. He also said that the bold get rich while the timid starve, and that with just this one job, everyone will be set for life."

No wonder he used to be a bandit; his eyesight is impeccable.

The matter has been clarified.

The guard asked Liu Weisen, "Sir, what should we do with this man?"

The strong man trembled and quickly kowtowed and begged for mercy.

Feng Xiuhu also looked at Liu Weisen, wanting to hear what this great philanthropist had to say.

Liu Weisen was about to speak when he couldn't help coughing: "Cough cough..."

Butler Zhang had served Liu Weisen for many years and they had a tacit understanding. While he was serving Shunzi his meal, he also refilled the thermos with hot water.

Just then, he handed it to Liu Weisen: "Sir, it's chilly at night, go back to the car and wait out."

Liu Weisen took the thermos and wrapped it inside his fur coat.

He waved his hand lightly at the guard: "Take him to the edge of the woods and bury him. Remember to give him a quick death, don't torture him."

The guard bowed and agreed, ignoring the burly man's cries, and dragged him away.

Shunzi, sitting on the carriage shaft, shoveled rice into his mouth. Seeing Liu Weisen preparing to board, he sidestepped to make room for him. Liu Weisen thanked him quietly, lifted the curtain, and entered the carriage. Feng Xiuhu followed him in—Butler Zhang didn't have time to stop him.

The two sat opposite each other.

Feng Xiuhu said with a smile, "I thought that the great philanthropist Liu would not have the heart to take a life."

Liu Weisen smiled helplessly: "Mr. Ma, why are you joking with me? The lives of my two guards are lives too, and they deserve an explanation. Besides, they were out committing evil deeds, so they should have been prepared to be left to rot in the wilderness. I was just doing what I was supposed to do, and it has nothing to do with good or evil."

Feng Xiuhu became even more curious about Liu Weisen.

From the first time he heard the name "Liu the Great Philanthropist," Feng Xiuhu had many speculations.

He considered that this person might be a saint, or he might be a hypocrite seeking fame and fortune, and he even considered the worst possibility—that he might appear to be a virtuous and benevolent person on the surface, but in reality, he might be a wicked person behind the scenes.

But Feng Xiuhu never imagined that Liu Weisen was such a normal—a great philanthropist.

Feng Xiuhu asked curiously, "I heard that your family's nickname 'Great Philanthropist Liu' is hereditary?"

Liu Weisen was both amused and exasperated: "It's just a rumor, nothing to take seriously. But my grandfather was indeed famous in the village for his good deeds. For this, he even received a plaque bestowed by the emperor of the previous dynasty, which still hangs in the hall today, inscribed with the four characters 'Righteousness and Respect for the Hometown'."

Feng Xiuhu was taken aback: "Things from the previous dynasty? That's quite a long time span."

"It's both far and near."

Liu Weisen slowly shook his head: "It's only been a few decades. My grandfather experienced the bitterness of national subjugation, and my father experienced the turmoil of war. My generation is already extremely fortunate."

“Our Liu family prospered starting from my grandfather’s generation, just as the nation’s fate was about to end and refugees were rising up everywhere.”

"My grandfather did this to protect the Liu family, and he couldn't bear to see the people of his hometown suffer. So he gave away all his wealth to open soup kitchens and restaurants, and formed a grain protection team. He recruited young men to work in the city and paid them grain. He also joined forces with other wealthy households, explained the advantages and disadvantages, and jointly opened a fair-price grain store to stabilize the market. He also spread the news and posted notices to appease the people."

Feng Xiuhu was somewhat puzzled: "The fall of a country is an irreversible trend. I'm afraid your grandfather alone could not have turned the tide."

Liu Weisen smiled faintly: "That's right, but my grandfather was lucky. His tireless efforts day and night were seen by others, which finally moved the temple. Several temples in the city agreed to jointly protect Zhenqiu City from the disaster of chaos."

Feng Xiuhu nodded in realization.

"Then came my father's generation."

Liu Weisen continued, "Thanks to my grandfather's legacy, my father quickly prospered again after taking over the Liu family business, and the business was even bigger than before."

"However, at that time, the Great Xuan Dynasty had just been established and the laws were not yet clear. Bandits in the mountains were rampant, far more so than they are now. Among them were many defeated soldiers who fled here and escaped into the mountains to form bandits. Therefore, robbery was commonplace. Not only were the people full of complaints, but even caravans were worried when they traveled."

"So my father decided to get rid of this problem once and for all."

"Like my grandfather, my father did this for the sake of the people of Zhenqiu, but also for the sake of the Liu family themselves."

"Unlike my grandfather, perhaps because he read a lot of storybooks when he was young, my father was more courageous and chivalrous."

"He entered the mountains with only two or three followers and personally met with the bandit leaders of each village."

(End of this chapter)