Before the house was raided, the maidservant of the Prime Minister's residence absconded with t

"Big brother...I..."

Ah Biao realized his mistake...

Please forgive me this time.

In the future...

I'll never do it again...

Zhang Fei's voice was filled with pain and disappointment. "Second brother, we founded Tiger Head Stronghold together back then. It wasn't easy for us to achieve the scale and power we have today."

Why do you have to do this...?

Aren't you satisfied with the good life you have now?

Hu Biao opened his mouth, but couldn't say a word.

"Brother, Ah Biao was wrong!"

I was completely out of my mind at the time, and I was momentarily confused...

I don't really mean to kill you.

Actually, I regretted it that afternoon.

When I found out you were alright, you have no idea how happy I was!

It's all that bitch's fault. She blinded me with greed, made me act wickedly, and left me completely confused...

They committed an unforgivable mistake.

Please forgive me this once, okay?

From now on, I will definitely manage Tiger Head Village well for you.

Hu Biao pleaded desperately, squeezing out a few drops of horse urine from his eyes.

Then he pointed at Tao'er, his eyes filled with venom.

Tao'er glared at Hu Biao defiantly, and sneered inwardly: It's obvious this guy is acting.

Perhaps Hu Biao was loyal before, but people change, so at this moment Hu Biao had no regrets whatsoever.

Zhang Fei closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, his eyes were filled with determination: "Hu Biao, it's all too late."

If we let you off the hook, all the brothers in the village will follow suit.

As the second-in-command, you should be very clear about the rules of the village.

But I still want to know why?

Tell me why?

"Are you going to poison me?"

Knowing that the outcome was irreversible, Hu Biao suddenly burst into laughter, his laughter filled with madness and resentment: "Why?"

You ask me why?

Zhang Fei, we built this stronghold together, so why should you be the boss and I be the second-in-command?

Over the past few years, I have risked my life for you and made countless contributions!

But what did you give me?

You're just asking me to help you manage all sorts of trivial matters in the village.

And I will always, always listen to you, as long as you give the order!

He pointed at Tao'er: "And this woman! Because of her, you embarrassed me and made me lose face in front of my brothers!"

I am not satisfied!

Since you're unwilling to make decisions for me, then I'll become the chieftain myself.

"Just because of these things, you're going to poison me?"

Zhang Fei couldn't believe it.

Hu Biao sneered, "That's not all. The imperial court has already promised me that as long as I can get rid of you and take over the stronghold, they will offer us amnesty and give me a proper official position."

I never want to be a bandit again!

I want to get married someday, and my descendants can't end up like me, stuck in this bandit's den.

Zhang Fei swayed, and the First Madam quickly supported him.

He looked at Hu Biao, his eyes filled with incomprehension and heartache: "Second brother, you wanted to be recruited, why didn't you tell me?"

We can discuss it together!

"Discuss this with you?"

Would you agree?

You always say that government officials are untrustworthy and the imperial court is unreliable.

And don't forget there's someone chasing you...

If they discover your true identity, they will only kill you to silence you.

You can only ever...

I'm done!

I've had enough of this nerve-wracking existence!

Hu Biao roared.

Everyone in the courtyard fell silent.

Several of Hu Biao's brothers, who had followed him for many years, lowered their heads, their expressions complex.

Shi Qi's sharp eyes swept over the two of them, and he felt that the name "Big Boss" sounded familiar.

And what did Hu Biao, the second-in-command, mean by those words?

Upon hearing Hu Biao's words, Zhang Fei, sounding flustered, waved his hand and said, "Lock Hu Biao up and keep a close watch on him."

As for how to handle it...

Let me think about it some more.

"Zhang Fei! If you're going to kill me, then kill me! Give me a quick death!"

"The victor is king, the loser is villain; I accept it!"

Hu Biao struggled as he was taken away, his voice fading into the distance.

Zhang Fei turned to look at Tao'er and Chef Wang: "Little Tao, we owe you a lot this time."

Otherwise, I would be dead.

From now on, you will be my savior, Zhang Fei's savior.

"You're too kind, Boss..."

Tao'er said something polite.

Thinking you're my savior? You're dreaming. I have no intention of saving your dog's life.

I'm just cutting off one of your arms first.

"Little Peach Girl, what do you want?"

Even if I mention it to the boss…

The First Madam reminded her.

"Yes, yes, Miss Peach, I am very grateful to you for saving me this time."

You can make any requests you have.

From this moment forward, you are a guest of Tiger Head Village.

"As long as your family doesn't want to go down the mountain, anything goes."

The head of the household continued, picking up where his wife left off.

"Boss, I have no other major requests."

If only you wouldn't monitor our family of three like prisoners, and would give us a little freedom.

Also, it's too dangerous for the three of us, so I was thinking of letting Ah Qi live in our yard.

He is mute, which is quite pitiful.

I envisioned him working as a guard in our yard to protect us, and also doing some odd jobs, like fetching water and chopping wood.

My husband is a weak scholar; he can't handle those crude words.

Besides, Chef Wang deserves a lot of credit today. Can you forgive him for his previous mistakes?

After all, he was forced into this situation, for the sake of his wife and children's lives. Besides, he had no idea it was poison; he thought it was just a regular laxative.

After Tao'er finished speaking, she glanced at Chef Wang, who was standing anxiously beside her, waiting for his judgment.

"Little Peach Girl, I can agree to anything you said earlier. As long as you don't go down the mountain, you can move around freely in the village."

If we want to go down the mountain, it would be fine if one of the brothers from the village or my wife accompanied us.

However, it shouldn't be too frequent, and of course, it can only be done by two people at a time; not both of them can go down the mountain.

As for Chef Wang, he almost killed me, so he deserves to die too.

I can spare his wife and children, but not him…”

Zhang Fei stared coldly at Chef Wang.

Chef Wang knelt down with a thud: "Boss, spare my life!"

"I know I was wrong..."

"Boss, you are a magnanimous man, and you can forgive even the most magnanimous person. Please be lenient with him!"

Chef Wang's exposure of the crime this time can be considered a way of making amends for his past mistakes!

He's dying, how pitiful his wife and children are..."

Tao'er continued to plead for Chef Wang.

"Boss, Miss Tao is right. We owe a lot to Chef Wang today, otherwise you might have been harmed by the Second Boss in the future."

The First Madam also spoke up to plead for them.

Zhang Fei remained silent for a long time before saying, "Chef Wang, although you were forced into it, you did participate in this matter."

He may be spared the death penalty, but he cannot escape punishment.

From this day forward, you shall go to the back mountain to chop firewood and shall not enter the kitchen again.

"And drag him away and give him twenty lashes!"

Chef Wang, with tears streaming down his face, kowtowed repeatedly, saying, "Thank you, Master, for sparing my life!"

Thank you, Boss Xie!

Zhang Fei waved wearily, signaling everyone to disperse.

Chef Wang was also dragged away by two people and beaten.

As he was being dragged away, he nodded gratefully to Tao'er.

The First Madam approached the Chief, helped him up, and said softly, "Chief, go back to your room and rest."

Zhang Fei nodded.

As Tao'er watched Zhang Fei and the First Madam depart, she was filled with mixed emotions.

She only wanted to protect herself, but unexpectedly got caught up in this conflict.

She looked up at the sky, where sunlight streamed through the clouds.

But Tao'er knew that this turmoil was not over; it had only just begun.

Hu Biao is now in jail.

I need to find a way to pry the secret of Xiao Jia Wu Lang out of him.

The clear, melodious chirping of birds drifted from afar, a stark contrast to the heavy, oppressive atmosphere in the mountain village.

Tao took a deep breath, turned around and walked towards her little house.

No matter what lies ahead, she must remain clear-headed and vigilant, and strive to survive in this land that is not hers.

Tao'er returned to the courtyard, and Shi Qi followed her back.

"Miss Peach, could you please tell me why you insist on staying at Tiger Head Stronghold?"

Shi Qi always felt that Tao'er was hiding something from them.