Love Lock

Chapter 189 The First Person to Undergo Labor Reform

Just as the tip of the blade was half a foot away from the target, Feng San suddenly felt something blocking the back of the blade.

At the same time, a bell rang.

"Jingle Bell"

The crisp sound of bells rang out like thunder in the quiet night.

Feng San froze, nearly scared out of his wits.

He had committed countless petty thefts in his life, but he had never encountered such a situation before.

"Who?"

A woman's sharp shout was accompanied by the sound of her standing up with a "whoosh".

What terrified Feng San even more was that a blinding light suddenly shone directly into his eyes.

The light was so intense, as if someone had crammed the midday sun into the cramped carriage.

He immediately and instinctively closed his eyes and raised his hand to cover them.

"what--"

Han Lei shone her powerful flashlight on someone, which startled her.

As her scream pierced the night sky, she raised her leg and kicked him squarely in the stomach.

Feng San cried out "Ouch!" and staggered backward, tripping over something in his haste.

"Jingle Bell……"

The bell rang merrily again, as if mocking his foolishness.

Feng San tripped and fell onto the cart floor. He waved his knife wildly, but only managed to cut through the air.

After leaving Jingzhou, there were too many beggars and disaster victims. Han Lei was worried that it would be unsafe to sleep in the wilderness, given the large number of people and the complex situation.

For the past two or three days, before going to bed, she would use the fishing line she bought in her spatial storage to set up a simple alarm net next to the soft couch.

Two small copper bells were tied to one end of the fishing line and hung on the side of the carriage.

What's even more amazing is that even while asleep, she was holding a powerful flashlight in her hand. She wanted to be able to see things clearly in the dark, and it unexpectedly came in handy tonight.

"Third Brother! What's wrong? Come out quickly!"

Hearing the commotion inside, the thugs waiting outside the carriage called out anxiously. Several other thugs also stared anxiously at the swaying carriage.

Upon hearing Han Lei's scream, the third-year student's pupils contracted, and he rushed over with a stun gun in hand.

Many disaster victims and beggars who were sleeping nearby were also awakened by the screams and got up to follow Da San forward.

Inside the carriage, Feng San had already lost his composure.

He wandered aimlessly through the carriage like a headless fly, his eyes stinging from the bright light, while the sounds of approaching footsteps and shouts filled his ears.

Fear, like a cold snake, crawled up Feng San's spine. He struggled haphazardly to get up, but was suddenly punched in the face.

"Ouch!"

Feng San screamed again, his hand slipped, and the dagger fell onto the carpet. Han Lei reacted quickly, kicking the dagger out of the carriage.

Han Lei stepped forward and stomped hard on his thigh, causing Feng San's pig-like screams to immediately echo through the night. Han Lei then shone her powerful flashlight directly at his face.

"Tell me, who are you?" Han Lei's eyebrows shot up.

Feng San never dreamed he would be so unlucky; a seemingly ordinary carriage actually contained a hidden trap.

He hadn't even done anything when he came in, and he was already being taken advantage of by a delicate young woman without even realizing it.

He covered his face with his hands, the pain in his thigh making his lips tremble, and for a moment he couldn't speak.

Just then, shouts from the third-year students and the refugees could be heard outside.

"Bold, who are you?"

"Thief!"

"Kill these despicable thieves."

"Damn it, kill them!"

The thugs guarding the carriage were about to flee when they realized things were going badly, but Da San had already turned on the flashlight on his stun gun.

The sudden bright light shone on the thugs who were about to escape. They had never seen such a light before and were immediately stunned.

Although they were only stunned for two seconds, in those two seconds they lost their best chance to escape.

The awakened refugees quickly surrounded them, blocking their way.

When Da San arrived, without saying a word, he turned on his stun gun and started pounding. After knocking down two of them, the remaining ones began to fight back desperately, but these thugs were no match for Da San.

During his junior year, he fought on the battlefield for many years. Although he suffered a serious leg injury and walked with a limp, he was still alive.

However, last time he almost lost his life because of a deep infection in his wound and inadequate medical care, which is why he was reported as a battle casualty. In fact, after Han Lei healed him, his injuries would not affect his normal movement.

Before the thugs could even get going, with the help of the surrounding disaster victims, Da San quickly knocked them all to the ground with his stun gun.

Then, Da San loudly asked into the carriage, "Miss, are you alright?"

"I'm fine! There's another one here."

Han Lei's soft, gentle voice, tinged with anger, came from inside the carriage. Da San breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing that Han Lei was alright.

Han Lei saved them from the brink of death. Zhao Zun gave these wounded soldiers to Han Lei, instructing them to stay by her side, obey her orders, and protect her.

If anything were to happen to Han Lei, they would be held responsible and would have no face to meet Zhao Zun.

Inside the carriage, cold sweat beaded on Feng San's forehead. He grimaced, resisting the pain radiating from his thigh.

The thought of "it's all over" had just crossed his mind when he felt the carriage curtain being suddenly lifted, his collar being grabbed from behind, and a tremendous force dragging him out of the carriage.

Under the moonlight, he saw the angry face of the third-year student and the black stick raised high.

The last thing Feng San remembered was a sharp pain in his head, and then the world went dark.

The commotion woke up more people. The senior student turned on the flashlight on his stun gun, and the blinding white light pierced the dark night.

He led more than twenty refugees hurriedly from the other end of the temporary camp, their chaotic footsteps particularly clear in the quiet night.

"Quick! Go and have a look!"

The senior urged them on in a low voice, his flashlight beam sweeping back and forth. Several young and strong refugees ran ahead, carrying wooden sticks and stones.

Upon arriving at the scene, everyone gasped in shock. Seeing seven or eight people lying haphazardly on the ground, they realized that thieves had broken into their home.

Under the flashlight beam, several gleaming short knives could be seen scattered around them.

"What happened? Is the young lady alright?"

Da Si rushed to the carriage, his voice filled with anxiety. His flashlight beam swept across the shadows on the ground, then quickly moved away, as if afraid of illuminating something he shouldn't see.

The third-year student shook his head. "It's alright, the girl is in the carriage." He gestured towards the carriage with his chin. "These fools tried to ambush the girl, but..."

Before he could finish speaking, the carriage curtain was gently lifted by a fair hand.

Han Lei tidied up the makeshift alarm net inside the carriage before leisurely jumping down. She wore a light blue tracksuit, which made her appear exceptionally beautiful and refined in the moonlight.

"Girl!" the surrounding refugees called out in unison, their voices full of concern.

Han Lei smiled slightly and glanced at everyone.

"It made everyone worried."

Her voice was soft and relaxed, as if the danger had never happened.

Seeing that all the thieves had been caught, the refugees were relieved, and their attention was drawn to the flashlights in their hands.

The refugees pointed at the flashlights and whispered among themselves, with a few bolder ones even trying to get closer to see what was going on.

"What is this?" an elderly man with gray hair asked tremblingly. "Why does it emit such a bright light? It's much brighter than the oil lamps we use."

“Yes, yes,” a young woman chimed in, “it seems to be resistant to the wind; it’s quite a rare find.”

In the corner, a ragged beggar suddenly said, "I saw this black stick the other day when people were jostling for food. It could knock people down, but I never saw it glow." He scratched his dirty hair. "Tonight is strange, though; lightning is shooting out of the stick!"

"Nonsense!" a burly man beside him retorted. "This is clearly a magical artifact, not some kind of lightning!"

The murmurs among the refugees grew louder and louder. Some said it was a treasure bestowed by the gods, while others speculated that it was a strange object from the Western Regions.

Several children hid behind the adults, staring at the magical light with a mixture of fear and curiosity.

The farmers were busy studying the flashlight, while the seniors and juniors walked up to Han Lei and solemnly bowed.

“Miss, we failed in our duty to protect you. Please punish us.” The senior’s voice was full of self-reproach. “If it weren’t for your alertness, the consequences would have been unimaginable.”

Upon hearing this, Han Lei burst out laughing; her sweet smile was especially captivating in the moonlight.

"What's there to punish me for? Look at me, I'm perfectly fine." As she spoke, she twirled around lightly, showing no fear whatsoever.

The juniors and seniors exchanged a glance, both seeing the aftermath in each other's eyes.

They knew their daughter was exceptionally skilled, but considering what might have happened if anything had gone wrong...

"Young lady, it's best to be careful," the junior student couldn't help but advise, "It's the middle of the night..."

His words were interrupted by a commotion as several angry vagrants punched and kicked Feng San, who was lying on the ground.

It turned out that Feng San had gradually woken up after being knocked unconscious. He writhed and tried to get up, but was discovered by the refugees, who then gave him a good beating.

"You beast! How dare you make a move on Miss Han!"

"Kill these bastards!"

"Miss Han has been incredibly kind to us, how dare you, you beasts!"

Seeing this, Han Lei quickly stepped forward to stop them: "Stop, stop! Don't fight!" Her soft, gentle voice made everyone stop. "Tie them up first, and we'll send them to the authorities tomorrow."

An old woman with a wrinkled face said in a trembling voice, "Young lady, you can't be too soft-hearted towards these thieves. They won't be grateful; instead, they'll harm you."

"Exactly!" a young man exclaimed indignantly. "The girl gave us food and drink, and even said she'd find us work. These damned women..."

Han Lei shook her head and said softly, "That's precisely why we can't be like them. We should deal with it according to the law."

The crowd dispersed reluctantly; some went to find rope, some went to get water, and several women surrounded Han Lei, offering words of comfort and concern.

Under the moonlight, the camp gradually returned to order, but everyone knew in their hearts that tonight's events were destined to become an unforgettable memory.

As night deepened, only a few scattered bonfires stubbornly burned in the darkness on the streets of Mianning County, reflecting the weary faces of the refugees.

Han Lei sat on the edge of the carriage, the beam of her flashlight sweeping across the gradually falling asleep crowd, finally settling on a few dark figures not far away, bound like rice dumplings.

Several thieves were tied up, and Han Lei told the third and fourth-year students to rest in the carriage while she stayed to keep watch for the rest of the night.

The juniors and seniors refused no matter what, but Han Lei's face darkened.

If they don't rest, how will they travel tomorrow? The magistrate of Mianning County will not allow so many people to stay in Mianning County indefinitely.

The two stopped insisting, but instead of getting into the carriage, they lay down beside it on the ground.

This time, they had to stay by Han Lei's side, afraid that something else might happen.

Beside the carriage, the two burly men, the third and fourth, although they obeyed Han Lei's orders to lie down and rest, remained vigilant.

The senior rolled over and said in a gruff voice, "Girl, we must not be soft-hearted towards those thieves."

“Exactly,” the third-year student chimed in, his fists clenching so tightly in the darkness, “We should have let the disaster victims break their legs just now, to see if they would dare to mess with us again!”

Han Lei sighed softly, and the beam of her flashlight swept across the bound figures once more.

Feng San squinted, his face contorted with rage, as the bright light stung his eyes. "Girl, have mercy! I was blind and didn't recognize your greatness..."

"Shut up!" Han Lei shouted sharply, her voice soft but carrying a threatening force. "Go to sleep now, or I'll gag you if you make another sound."

Feng San immediately fell silent, only his darting eyes betraying his inner schemes.

Several of his men were still unconscious when they were shot, and one of them even had white foam at the corner of his mouth.

A night breeze swept by, carrying the sound of roosters crowing in the distance.

Han Lei shivered, took a cloak from the carriage and put it on, but her gaze never left the prisoners.

She also knew that in this era of disorder, kindness often comes at a price.

As dawn broke, the refugees gradually awoke. Han Lei took out some dry rations from the carriage and organized everyone to line up to receive them.

After spending the last two or three days together, these previously scattered refugees have learned to follow the rules, quietly accepting the food and returning to their places.

"Miss Han, thank you so much for everything last night!" An elderly man with white hair trembled as he accepted the flatbread, his cloudy eyes filled with gratitude. "If it weren't for your magical treasure, we old bones would probably be..."

Han Lei smiled gently: "Uncle, you're too kind. It's only right that we look out for each other. Everything will be fine once we get to Cangzhou."

She turned to look at the prisoners, now illuminated by the rising sun. The thugs had gradually regained consciousness, and along with Feng San, they lay sprawled on the ground.

After distributing the food, while everyone was eating, Han Lei and the third and fourth-year students each ate a steamed bun and walked up to Feng San and the others, looking down at them.

The group of thugs stared wide-eyed, their faces filled with fear.

"Girl, spare me!" Feng San struggled to his knees, his forehead pressed against the muddy ground. "I'll never dare to do it again. I was in debt at the gambling den yesterday, and I was momentarily blinded by greed..."

Han Lei slowly took a bite of her steamed bun, scrutinizing them with an air of nonchalance: "You rob people whenever you owe them money. So, you're repeat offenders?"

"No, no, no!" Feng San hurriedly denied, a hint of panic flashing in his eyes.

“We lost money at the gambling den yesterday and were passing by when we happened to see the girl casually throw out two gold ingots, which is why we were tempted by the money.”

The third-year student kicked him in the shoulder: "Bullshit! What do you mean by 'lure at money'? You guys are obviously not good people. Tell me, besides last night, how many other times have you done it?"

Startled, Feng San shrank back, but Han Lei raised her hand to stop him. She squatted down to be at eye level with Feng San, playing with the sharp knife that Feng San had held in his hand the night before.

"You'd better tell me the truth. What evil deeds have you committed in Mianning County? Why is the magistrate here doing nothing about you?"

As Han Lei spoke, a sinister smile appeared on her face, completely at odds with her delicate and sweet demeanor.

The sharp knife grazed Feng San's cheek, waving back and forth in front of his eyes. Feng San looked down at the knife tip, which seemed ready to pierce his skin at any moment, and his mental defenses completely collapsed.

"No, no. I'll talk, I'll talk."

Feng San glanced at the group of thugs beside him, his Adam's apple bobbing. Beads of sweat trickled down his forehead, whether from the heat or from fear, it was hard to tell.

His bloodshot eyes darted away, avoiding eye contact. Thinking of the flashlight from last night and the miraculous treasures the disaster victims had mentioned, he dared not lie and could only stammer out the truth.

"A few of us often gambled at the Ruyi Gambling House in the west of the city. When we lost... when we lost..."

At the crucial point, his voice suddenly choked, as if something was choking him. After a long pause, he managed to squeeze out a few more words: "Every time we robbed or stole something, we... we would always give it to Zhang, the head of the yamen, for a 30/70 split..."

Before he could finish speaking, the senior student kicked the carriage wheel next to him in anger: "Rotten people, they are all rotten people."

"Just as I thought." Han Lei stood up, a hint of disappointment flashing in her eyes. "It seems they're in cahoots with the corrupt officials in the government. Reporting to the authorities won't do any good."

Then she turned to the juniors and seniors and asked, "What do you think should be done?"

"Just break their legs and throw them into the wilderness to feed the wolves!" the third-year student gritted his teeth.

"How about... we send him to Beiguan to serve in the army?" Da Si suggested.

Han Lei pondered for a moment, then shook her head: "Death is too cheap for them, and conscription... Beiguan doesn't need anyone right now."

Suddenly, her eyes lit up. "Cangzhou is currently mining, and the mines need labor."

Upon hearing this, Feng San's face changed drastically: "Girl! We can't endure that hardship! Please..."

Han Lei snorted, ignoring their wails, and turned to get into the carriage.

Since thieves like Feng San, who rob people with knives, are not punished by the government in Mianning County, and are allowed to wreak havoc on the people outside, it is a serious problem.

The magistrate of Mianning County was definitely an incompetent fellow.

Rather than reporting them to the authorities and having them arrested and released again, it would be better to take these people to Cangzhou and put them in the mines to work.

It can both enable them to work and generate benefits, and teach them how to be good people again.

Currently, everyone working in Cangzhou is doing manual labor on a voluntary basis, and Han Lei has never forced anyone.

Let this Feng San become the first person in Cangzhou to undergo forced labor reform!

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