Love Lock

Chapter 146 Ambush in an alley
Zhao Zun's heart tightened again, and he moved to strike. But Han Lei had already swiftly ducked, and the spear grazed past his shoulder.

Han Lei simultaneously swept her leg, causing the soldier to lose his balance and fall heavily to the ground.

Taking advantage of the momentum, Han Lei flipped over and unleashed a barrage of punches, each one hitting her opponent's cheek precisely.

Her movements were fluid and graceful, causing an uproar on the scene. None of the soldiers had expected that Han Lei, who looked sweet and delicate, would be so fierce when she took action.

"Wow! The princess is so powerful. Hahaha..." Xiao Zhengfei cupped his hands to his mouth and shouted.

Zhao Zun's heart, which had been pounding, calmed down. He loosened his fists, crossed his arms, and quietly watched that delicate and agile figure.

Although Han Lei's kung fu looked strange and was completely different from the martial arts they practiced, he could also see that Han Lei's kung fu was more agile, more practical, and even more suitable for soldiers to train.

The surrounding soldiers were intimidated by Han Lei's imposing presence, and for a moment no one dared to step forward.

After Han Lei stood still, her eyes showed relief. Her breathing was steady, as if the fight with the two rough men was just a warm-up.

Han Lei raised the corners of her mouth slightly and asked loudly, "Does anyone else want to try?"

No one responded. Some even picked up the tools Han Lei had provided and silently went back to digging the foundation. Their dejected appearance amused Li Erniu, who burst into laughter.

Han Lei then walked up to Gou Sheng and asked condescendingly, "Do you submit now?"

Gou Sheng lay on the ground, panting heavily, and finally nodded: "I'm impressed, the princess is indeed amazing!"

"Does it hurt when I punch you?" Han Lei raised her fist, pretending to hit him again.

Gou Sheng quickly reached out to block, crying out, "It hurts, it hurts!"

"If a monster hits you, will it hurt?" Han Lei asked in a cute but fierce tone.

"Uh... I know I was wrong, and I dare not say that the princess is a monster again." Gou Sheng lowered his head dejectedly.

Zhao Zun couldn't help but laugh as he watched this scene.

He stepped forward, put his arm around Han Lei's waist, and said softly, "Girl, you've worked hard."

Han Lei cracked her knuckles and rolled her eyes: "Tch! Just because I'm not showing my teeth doesn't mean I'm a paper tiger. Now let's see if you still dare to call me a monster."

Zhao Zun laughed heartily and affectionately pinched her nose: "I wouldn't dare, I definitely wouldn't dare. Anyone who dares to say that again, I'll let them taste your fists!"

Upon hearing this, the people around laughed, and the atmosphere on the construction site immediately became much more relaxed.

After a brutal and gritty struggle, the soldiers dared not challenge Han Lei's authority any longer and picked up the tools at hand to begin digging the foundation.

Gou Sheng and the soldier from before struggled to their feet and obediently went back to work.

The foundations dug by the soldiers had to be deep and solid to support the heavy city walls and gun emplacements.

In ancient times, stone was the main material for building fortresses, but quarrying stone was a huge undertaking. With Han Lei here, there was no need for that at all.

Han Lei walked to an open space and, in front of everyone, bought a large number of fire bricks directly from the system to build the walls of the bastion.

Of course, concrete grout was also poured on the outside of the brick walls to increase their strength.

Although only Beiguan has modern firearms, other countries still use cold weapons and do not need artillery for the time being.

But Han Lei wanted to do it all at once, so she designed a turret at every corner. The positions of the turrets were carefully calculated to ensure that there were no blind spots in the firepower coverage.

Soon, the soldiers dug a wide trench outside the city wall, several meters deep and wide enough to stop the enemy's charge.

The bottom of the trench was filled with sharp wooden stakes to prevent the enemy from climbing it.

A low defensive wall would be built outside the trench as the first line of defense. The wall would be covered with thorns to make it more difficult for the enemy to attack.

Han Lei accompanied Zhao Zun on a tour, explaining in detail the construction process of the bastion and the function of each part of its design.

Comparing the design drawings of the bastion, Zhao Zun couldn't help but admire them repeatedly.

The complex later stages of the bastion project were to be completed by Yang Qiquan and his team of craftsmen.

After the two bastions at Beiguan are completed, Yang Qiquan will lead the fourth and fifth construction teams to build a cement road from Beiguan through Canglan County to Fufeng County.

These three counties are hundreds of kilometers apart, and the construction of cement roads is an enormous project, but it can solve the employment problems of craftsmen from two construction teams and many laborers.

Moreover, once this highway is open to traffic, it will greatly facilitate Zhao Zun's development of Cangzhou's power and people's livelihood.

Therefore, after Han Lei's plan was approved by Zhao Zun, the system rewarded her with an astonishing amount of gold that very evening.

Zhao Zun's tasks in Beiguan were very demanding, including supervising the construction of the bastion, adjusting the army's organizational structure, training the assault teams and garrison to use modern firearms, drafting weapons management rules, and assigning ordinary soldiers to reclaim wasteland for farming, among other things.

Therefore, Zhao Zun and his twenty personal guards need to remain in Beiguan for the time being.

Han Lei only needs to wait until the fortress in Yong'an City is initially completed and the church guards further use and maintain the firearms before leaving behind enough materials to return to Fufeng County and supervise the local development.

Meanwhile, the construction of the fortress is proceeding according to plan. In the two weeks that Zhao Zun and Han Lei have been in Beiguan, the cement plant in Fufeng County is also experiencing rapid development.

At the cement plant, all five kilns were in operation. Due to the rudimentary equipment, the cement production was not large, but it was still enough to keep up with the progress of road construction and house building in the area.

A small excavator could have been used to dig the irrigation ditch, but Han Lei had too many things to do, and operating an excavator was not as simple as using a three-wheeled vehicle.

Han Lei hasn't had time to select technical personnel to learn how to operate the excavator.

Therefore, the irrigation canals leading from Qulinjiang were temporarily dug by hand by laborers using shovels and picks.

The team here is growing bigger and bigger, with newly recruited laborers and craftsmen arriving every day.

Those who had just arrived and didn't know what they could do were all sent to dig irrigation ditches and learn to drive three-wheeled vehicles as transport workers.

Hua Tianyou took the training of the new recruits very seriously. Under his tutelage, the recruits changed every day, and their spirit and temperament were greatly improved.

At this moment, Hua Tianyou was standing on the military camp's drill ground, his gaze sweeping over the rows of neatly lined-up new recruits.

His voice was loud and powerful as he repeatedly directed the soldiers in their drills.

A few months ago, Hua Tianyou was a celebrity in Beijing's playboy circle, a rich young master with a playboy air.

After several months of training at the Beiguan military camp, his frail and sickly health had improved significantly.

Now, I've been assigned the task of training new recruits, and I have to be careful to set a good example for them in every gesture.

As he matured, he gradually shed his frivolity, and his brows became more resolute and composed.

After the drill, Hua Tianyou wiped the sweat from his forehead and looked up at the sky.

The afterglow of the setting sun shone on the newly laid cement floor of the military camp, casting a golden glow.

Hua Tianyou's heart stirred, and he remembered Zhao Ling'er, who was busy at the chicken and duck farm.

Since Zhao Ling'er came to the cement factory with Aunt Li and Eleven, she has found everything here very interesting.

The population gathered in Jingzhou since the 11th was gradually arriving. Zhao Ling'er, who was literate, had been following Li Sao around these days, helping with light tasks such as accounting and record-keeping.

Although she is busy leaving early and returning late every day, she always has a smile on her face, feeling that it is much more fulfilling than staying at home without ever stepping out of the house.

Hua Tianyou strode towards the chicken and duck farm and saw Zhao Ling'er squatting on the ground in the distance, holding an account book and diligently recording something. Her long hair was casually tied back like Han Lei's, with a few strands fluttering gently in the wind, making her profile look exceptionally soft.

"Ling'er, are you still busy?" Hua Tianyou approached, his voice carrying a hint of concern.

Zhao Ling'er looked up and saw Hua Tianyou. Her face immediately lit up with a smile: "Brother Tianyou, what brings you here again? Are you done with the recruit training?"

"Yes, just finished." Hua Tianyou squatted down and looked at the ledger in her hand. "Are these accounts complicated? Do you need my help?"

Zhao Ling'er shook her head and smiled, "No need, I can figure all of this out. But you, you must be tired after training all day, why don't you go and rest?"

Hua Tianyou smiled and looked at her gently: "I'm not tired, but you are. You're busy with these trivial matters all day long. Don't work too hard."

Zhao Ling'er lowered her head, her cheeks slightly flushed: "I don't feel tired at all. I'm very happy to be able to help."

The two remained silent for a while, and a subtle atmosphere seemed to permeate the air.

Just then, Eleven passed by and jokingly said, "Young Master Hua, are you treating our chicken and duck farm like a second military camp? Why are you coming here every day?"

"Go! Go do your work. Can't I come to see Ling'er?" Hua Tianyou rolled his eyes at him.

Eleven pursed her lips, shrugged, and left. Only Hua Tianyou's gentle gaze remained, falling once more upon Zhao Ling'er.

Hua Tianyou's thoughts were written all over his face, but Zhao Ling'er seemed oblivious, still treating him as the neighbor boy who often came to her house to play.

Ever since Zhao Ling'er came to help at the chicken and duck farm, Hua Tianyou has been constantly looking for opportunities to go there during breaks from new recruit training.

Sometimes, he would come two or three times a day.

Every time he came, he would bring some little trinkets, such as a bunch of wildflowers, a bag of snacks, or sometimes just a few wild fruits that he picked casually.

When Zhao Ling'er asked, he would always smile and say, "I was just passing by and thought I'd drop by to see you."

Hua Tianyou's eyes always followed Zhao Ling'er's figure, watching her busy doing accounts or helping Aunt Li register the new staff.

He himself was unaware of how gentle and focused his gaze was, as if every move Zhao Ling'er made fascinated him.

Sometimes, he would voluntarily help Zhao Ling'er record the number of times the laborers moved stones, or help her organize the account books.

Although these tasks were actually quite simple and Zhao Ling'er could have easily completed them on her own, she always enjoyed doing them.

He enjoyed listening to Zhao Ling'er talk, watching her laugh, and even liked the way she would occasionally scold him.

He felt at ease whenever he came to see Zhao Ling'er every day.

Each time he left, he was always reluctant to go, walking very slowly, as if hoping that time could last longer.

Hua Tianyou was only three years younger than Zhao Zun and had long been of marriageable age. He already had two concubines at home, but his temperament was as unpredictable as the wind, and he rarely stayed at home.

As a celebrity among the playboys of Beijing, Hua Tianyou spent his days in the capital either calling on friends to listen to music in brothels or frequenting brothels.

He was never short of women, but he also knew that those women were only after his status, position, and money.

Therefore, his heart never lingered for any one woman.

However, the military camp is the best place to change a person. During his months in the military camp, Hua Tianyou's character was tempered, and he naturally gained a deeper understanding of relationships between men and women.

Upon arriving in Fufeng County, they saw Zhao Ling'er again after many years; she had grown into a beautiful young woman.

He found that Zhao Ling'er was completely different from the women he had met before. Her innocent, lively, and pure appearance made him happy.

A ripple stirred in his heart, as if some kind of magic was drawing him closer to Zhao Ling'er.

In addition, he often saw Zhao Zun and Han Lei flirting on the cement factory construction site, and he felt that such scenes were very happy.

For some reason, he suddenly had the idea of ​​settling down.

Therefore, if his family were to arrange a marriage for him, he hoped that person would be Zhao Ling'er.

As night fell, everyone finished another day's work.

Perhaps sensing something amiss, Shiyi used the excuse of having many things to arrange to create an opportunity for Hua Tianyou. He asked Hua Tianyou to escort Zhao Ling'er and Li Sao back to their residence in the county town.

Hua Tianyou was more than happy to oblige, and he eagerly drove the carriage back to them.

As night fell, the last rays of sunset faded from the horizon, leaving only the bright moonlight shining on the winding path.

The carriage moved slowly along the road back to the county town, its wheels making a slight creaking sound as they rolled over the stones.

Hua Tianyou held the reins, a smile playing on his lips, glancing back at the carriage every now and then.

"Ling'er, did you know that during the training of the new recruits today, one of the boys actually shot an arrow into his own hat!"

Hua Tianyou's voice was loud and clear, with a hint of smugness, "That kid was so scared his face turned white, but guess what? He actually insisted that he did it on purpose, saying it was to practice 'precise dodging'!"

Zhao Ling'er's giggles echoed from inside the carriage, her voice as clear and melodious as a silver bell.

“Brother Tianyou, your training method is really ingenious. No wonder they all say you are interesting.”

Sitting to the side, Aunt Li couldn't help but shake her head with a smile: "Young Master Hua, you really have a way of talking the dead back to life."

"Pshaw! Don't you believe me? I'm telling the truth."

Upon hearing this, Hua Tianyou laughed even more heartily, gently lashing the horse's rump with his whip, causing the horse to quicken its pace.

Hua Tianyou chatted with Zhao Ling'er casually as the carriage soon entered the county town. Under the cover of night, lights could be faintly seen everywhere.

"Ling'er. We'll be home soon if we go through that alley ahead." Hua Tianyou looked up, his smile deepening. "Hold on tight, let's speed things up!"

"Okay! Brother Tianyou. The alley ahead is narrow, so drive carefully," Zhao Ling'er said wearily from inside the carriage.

Hua Tianyou responded and drove the carriage into the alley.

The wheels rolled over the bluestone pavement, making a dull sound.

The night was as dark as ink, and only a few dim lanterns swayed in the wind in the alleys of the county town, casting dappled light and shadow.

Li Sao and Zhao Ling'er sat inside the carriage, the curtains swaying gently with the bumps of the carriage.

Zhao Ling'er leaned on Li Sao's shoulder, looking somewhat tired. Li Sao gently patted her back and closed her eyes.

Suddenly, a sharp whistling sound pierced the silence of the night.

An arrow shot out from the darkness, aimed directly at the carriage curtain.

Hua Tianyou just happened to raise his riding whip, the tip of which drew an arc in the air.

With a "snap," the arrow was struck by the whip, deviated from its course, and became embedded in the door panel of a nearby house.

"careful!"

Hua Tianyou was shocked. He let out a low shout, his eyes flashing like lightning as he quickly scanned his surroundings.

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