My older brother said I'm invincible.

Chapter 30 Pit

Zheng Yuanrui gave instructions to his men, and then led Li Xuanba into the carriage.

Zheng Jibo had previously instructed Zheng Yuanrui to kindly remind the Li brothers not to underestimate the bandits outside and to strengthen their military preparedness.

Zheng Jibo knew just how unreliable this kid was, so he didn't go into too much detail. He just brainwashed him, making him believe that he was going to help the Li family boys and improve the relationship between the Zheng family and the Li family.

Li Xuanba's provocation had finally provoked Zheng Yuanrui into submission.

He thought for a moment, and the adults said they wanted to improve the relationship between the two families and help them. Since they didn't have any, why didn't he lend them some?

Wouldn't this make the relationship between the two families even better?
I was truly brilliant!

Zheng Yuanrui's carriage was heading west of the city. As he drove along the road, he truly lived up to Wang Zanwu's description of a spoiled brat, recklessly charging ahead and refusing to give way to anyone. He would bump into people and ghosts if they were in his way, and only make way for gods.

The carriage was speeding along when suddenly, shouts came from behind.

Then they saw knights galloping towards them. These knights were extremely fast, shouting as they chased after them.

The knights around the carriage also noticed the pursuers, and the carriage was quickly forced to stop by them.

Leading the group was a burly, imposing man. Zheng Yuanrui got off the carriage, puzzled, and saw him.

"Uncle?? What's going on?"

"Get back into the carriage!!"

The man spoke through gritted teeth, and perhaps sensing his anger, Zheng Yuanrui didn't dare hesitate and quickly got into the car.

The man then directed the carriage to turn and head back towards the school.

Zheng Yuanrui sat in the car, feeling somewhat frightened.

"What's going on here?"

"Don't panic, or perhaps an adult in your family has something to tell you."

Li Xuanba appeared much calmer, but this usually kind young man now had a furrowed brow and his displeasure was evident on his face.

The carriage, surrounded by the knights, quickly returned to the school.

The leading knight told Zheng Yuanrui to get off the carriage, but he was quite polite to Li Xuanba, saying nothing more, and led them into the courtyard.

When the two of them entered the courtyard, someone was already waiting for them.

It was Zheng Jibo.

Zheng Jibo's eyes quickly locked onto Zheng Yuanrui, and it was hard to describe what kind of look he had. He was so angry that his whole body was trembling.

You beast!

He was afraid that this brat would cause trouble, so he didn't explain it to him clearly, but only hinted at it. His intention was to get the three Li brothers to do something outrageous, and then use that to gain priority in the negotiations.

When Zheng Yuanrui's attendant came to inform him that Zheng Yuanrui was going to take the Li family's son to his armory to borrow some armor and crossbows, Zheng Jibo was stunned.

For a fleeting moment, he even began to doubt whether all the efforts he had made for his family over the years had been worthwhile.

Can such a bunch of idiots really hold onto their family business?
If I ask you to cheat others, are you trying to exterminate your entire clan?

What a rip-off!!!

Zheng Jibo didn't dare to think about how much of an impact it would have if the Li family boys took the armor and crossbows from the Zheng family.

Zheng Yuanrui felt quite aggrieved looking at his elders' almost murderous gaze.

Didn't you ask me to try and build a closer relationship? Why are you angry now?
Seeing Zheng Yuanrui's aggrieved expression, Zheng Jibo cursed himself inwardly for making a child do such a thing. He was stupid!

He waved his hand dismissively, "Yuanrui, you may go now!"

Out of sight, out of mind; just kick them out.

Zheng Yuanrui didn't dare to ask any more questions and slunk away.

Li Xuanba, however, kept sizing up the person in front of him. He recognized Zheng Jibo. Since his father came to Xingyang, this was the Zheng family member with whom his father had the most contact. Even when the three brothers entered school, it was this man who took care of everything.

He was sometimes very close to his father, drinking and chatting enthusiastically together, and at other times he was hostile to his father, arguing fiercely.

Regardless of the circumstances, none of the Li family boys dared to be disrespectful to him and always treated him with the respect due to a junior.

"Mr. Zheng."

"Xuanba."

A warm smile appeared on Zheng Jibo's face. He gestured for Li Xuanba to come over and took his hand affectionately. "It's been a few days, Sanlang seems to be in much better spirits. How are you feeling? Is the medicine I sent you working?"

"Lord Zheng, I am much better now. Thank you for the medicine you gave me earlier."

Zheng Jibo nodded, "That's good, as long as it works." "These past few days, I've heard many things about you. Come, come with me!"

Zheng Jibo pulled Li Xuanba along and they began to stroll leisurely around the courtyard.

"You read very well."

"It's truly remarkable that your Li family could produce such a promising scholar as you. Your father should be grateful!"

At this moment, Zheng Jibo was like a kind and approachable elder, chatting with his younger relatives about recent events with a smile.

Li Xuanba remained silent, his brows furrowed.

The two walked on and on until they reached a small pavilion. Zheng Jibo gently touched his waist and said, "I'm getting old and can't walk much anymore. Let's sit down for a while."

The two sat down in the pavilion, and immediately someone brought them tea and some food.

Zheng Jibo then asked, "I heard you and Erlang are going to do something. Go out of the city to fight the thieves?"

Li Xuanba nodded slightly, "That's the idea."

"Hey, you two kids, aren't you just messing around?"

Zheng Jibo shook his head and solemnly warned, "This is not something you little kids should be doing! Do you know how dangerous the thieves outside the city are?"

"I will tell your father about this!"

Zheng Jibo spoke at length with a serious expression, and Li Xuanba suddenly added, "It was my second brother who suggested going out of the city to attack the bandits."

Huh? So you're already betraying your brothers?

Zheng Jibo was taken aback, but then heard Li Xuanba continue, "As for myself, I want to do more. I want to first provide relief to the people inside the city, and then appease those outside the city."

Zheng Jibo's eyes lit up, and a faint smile reappeared on his lips.

“You are kind, just like your father. It’s good to have such a kind heart, but you are still young and may not be able to accomplish it.”

He sighed deeply, "However, the people inside and outside this city are indeed pitiful. If someone can help them, that would be a very good thing."

"Don't rush this matter; you can't do it alone."

Zheng Jibo spoke in a low voice, but the smile on his face grew more and more obvious.

Do you understand what I'm saying?

Li Xuanba nodded after listening to him finish speaking.

"clear."

"Are you implying that I should find more people, preferably the rest of my brothers, and then provide disaster relief in the city? The Emperor forbids relief at the moment. If we do it, it will be evidence of our crimes, and you can use it to blackmail Father."

Zheng Jibo almost spat out the tea in his mouth, staring in astonishment at Li Xuanba in front of him.

"What are you"

“Zheng Yuanrui has always been playful and hates doing chores, but today he kept bothering me and said he would help me. He even hinted that I should go find armor and crossbows.”

“How dare my family secretly possess armor and crossbows? That’s illegal.”

“But Zheng Yuanrui clearly didn’t know that; he still wanted to get me armor and crossbows.”

"Then you stepped in again, first suppressing the matter of Zheng Yuanrui, but when I mentioned disaster relief, you started to hint at it again."

Zheng Jibo stared in astonishment at the little baby in front of him. This is a little baby?!
The little kids he usually saw were like Zheng Yuanrui—simple-minded, clueless, and fond of pretending to be adults, playing with things they themselves couldn't understand. But this guy in front of him was clearly completely different from Zheng Yuanrui.

Just as he was about to reprimand the other party, Li Xuanba said sadly, "Lord Zheng, my father regarded you as his best friend and often told us that when we saw you, we should treat you as if we were seeing him, and not be rude. My mother also instructed us to remember your kindness and to repay your kindness."

Why would you do that?

"I am still young and really don't understand, what have we done to offend you?"

Looking at Li Xuanba's sorrowful eyes, Zheng Jibo felt uneasy, as if he were some kind of wicked villain.

"Nonsense!"

"How could I harm you! Go back and let this be a matter between adults! Go back!"

Zheng Jibo waved his hand, as if to shoo people away.

Just then, a huge commotion broke out outside.

Some people are shouting, some are yelling, and some are crying.

(End of this chapter)