RYEY – Chapter 136 Robbery Within Robbery

First of all, someone had to be on duty at the village entrance, and it had to be twenty-four hours without interruption. But since the weather was too cold, Li Huan decided that tomorrow morning he would build a thatched hut at the village entrance.

Secondly, those who stood night watch could not only earn an extra work point, but also get a late-night meal. Of course, the meal would be nothing more than flatbread or steamed cornbread, just enough to fill their stomachs.

With rewards, naturally there were punishments. Anyone caught slacking off or dozing during duty would not only lose their work points but would also be excluded from all future village benefits.

Chen Weidang was so excited that he couldn’t sleep. He went straight to the village committee in the middle of the night and wrote down all the rules they had discussed that evening, preparing to hand out a copy to every team leader, who would read it before each duty shift.

Cuihua lay on the heated brick bed waiting for Chen Weidang, but her thoughts wandered to Li Huan. That little rascal might seem quiet most of the time, but when he acted, he shocked everyone. As for her husband, he had been so discouraged before, full of grievances but with no place to vent them.

Who would have thought that after the darkest night, there was light again? Thanks to that rascal’s maneuvering, her husband not only became a village cadre again (an accountant also counted as one), but judging by Li Huan’s intentions, much of the village’s management work would be left in his hands.

Then there were Da Mao and Er Mao, who had reached the age for matchmaking. Though her husband received a monthly salary, most of it went toward helping the elderly villagers without family and paying for his father, who had been hospitalized long-term.

Fortunately, she was frugal and good at managing the household. Even though the hundred yuan lent to Chen Weimin was gone for good, their family still had some savings. Marrying wives for her sons wouldn’t be too difficult. Thinking this over, she slowly fell asleep.

At dawn, Cuihua realized that Chen Weidang hadn’t come home all night. Knowing he was busy with work and had lost track of time, she sighed, shook her head, and went to the kitchen to prepare him breakfast.

Sure enough, just as breakfast was set on the table, Chen Weidang came back, looking a bit weary. If not for his empty stomach, he would’ve gone straight to the village entrance to build the hut.

“Da Mao, Er Mao, grab the tools and come with me to build the hut.”

“Alright, we’re coming!”

After breakfast, the two carried hoes and followed him to the village entrance, where many villagers had already gathered. With everyone working together, in half a day they built a hut large enough to shelter ten people.

“Everyone follow Uncle Niu’s orders. Those on duty must not be late, nor leave early. For night shifts, there will be two groups—one from nine to one, the other from one to five.”

After giving his instructions, Li Huan borrowed Uncle Niu’s ox cart and left with Cheng Qiao. Mother Li wanted to ask why they were heading to the county since it was Sunday and Cheng Qiao didn’t have school.

But then she thought of Li Huan’s old habit of secretly doing speculative trade. Maybe he had pulled Cheng Qiao into it too? That wouldn’t do. She would have to talk to him privately later.

The ox cart swayed into the old family residence in the county. Cheng Qiao opened the door while Li Huan hurried to light the heated bed. Ever since Zhao Hui had come, Li Huan had started gradually repairing the old house.

One west-side room in the second courtyard had already been repaired. Cheng Qiao had arranged it with daily necessities so that if it got late, they could stay there overnight instead of returning to the village.

Entering the east room, Cheng Qiao brought out a young deer caught in Li Huan’s trap, plus rice, flour, oil, eggs, and milk powder from her store—enough to make up goods worth five thousand yuan.

“Li Huan, I feel uneasy. How about moving the goods into the front courtyard? Don’t let this person enter the second courtyard.”

Li Huan felt his scalp prickle. He trusted her instincts. If Cheng Qiao felt uneasy, maybe something really was about to happen.

“I’ll clean up the woodshed in the front yard. Put the goods there later.”

The front yard woodshed was rickety but usable. Li Huan quickly emptied it within ten minutes, and Cheng Qiao moved in the shelves along with the goods.

Just as they finished, Skinny Monkey’s voice came from outside. Cheng Qiao slipped into her space in a flash. Seeing her vanish, Li Huan knew she had hidden herself, and he couldn’t help but smile.

“Brother Huan, why are you smiling so cheekily?”

Li Huan: “…”

“Boss Li, hello, we meet again.”

“Boss Chen, hello. Long time no see. How’s business lately?”

“Ai, goods are scarce everywhere. I can hardly get stock anymore, so I’ve come to you instead.”

“That’s fine, that’s fine. I’ve already prepared five thousand yuan worth of goods. Take a look, Boss Chen.”

Boss Chen eagerly followed Li Huan’s pointing finger into the woodshed. His eyes lit up when he saw shelves full of goods—all in high demand.

“Good, I’ll take it all. I’ll have my men move it.”

Li Huan nodded. Boss Chen went out, and soon four burly men pushed in two wheelbarrows. They quickly loaded the goods and carried them out, piling them into a small van.

Li Huan’s gaze darkened. Now he understood why Cheng Qiao had felt uneasy. This was clearly an attempt at a robbery within robbery. But with only him and Skinny Monkey, they were no match for the five men.

“Boss Chen, that’s five thousand yuan in total. Please settle the bill.”

“Settle? I don’t have money right now. Let me sell this batch first, and we’ll settle up with the next one.”

“So Boss Chen plans to rob me, is that it?”

“Boss Li, let’s not beat around the bush. Old Chen’s indeed in a tough spot. Be generous, lend me this once. When I rise again, I’ll repay you.”

“Boss Chen, this isn’t fair. We also have costs. If you take everything, how are we supposed to survive?”

Skinny Monkey grew anxious, blocking Boss Chen’s path with a worried face.

“And who are you? I’m talking to your boss. Who let you interrupt?”

“He’s my brother, of course he can speak. Anyway, Boss Chen, when will you come next? I’ll prepare more goods for you.”

“Now that’s more like it. Boss Li, magnanimous as always. Then I’ll be leaving.”

“You can leave, but the goods stay. Come back with money if you want them.”

“So you plan to go against me? I’ve got five men here.”

Boss Chen sneered, raising his chin. What a perfect place—spacious, remote, and if someone died here, nobody would find out right away. By the time anyone did, they’d be long gone.

Li Huan sneered back, walking into the woodshed. From a shelf, he picked up a rustic musket—the very one that Cheng Qiao had quietly tossed out from her space while no one was looking.

He had been keeping an eye on the woodshed and had immediately noticed the gun’s sudden appearance. In his heart, he praised Cheng Qiao’s foresight.

Before leaving, she had insisted on bringing it. He had thought it unnecessary—after all, wasn’t this just some petty trade? Why would they need a gun? But now it was clear: always listen to your wife.

With a sharp click, the bullet was chambered.