My sister broke off her engagement to marry someone richer? My older sister married me and became in

Lu Qingshan's heart skipped a beat.

His Zhongshan suit, which he had just changed out of and was covered in dust from the forest farm, was still draped over the back of the chair, retaining a trace of its lingering warmth.

"What happened?"

His voice was steady, like the water in the old well in the courtyard, without a ripple.

Li Erniu stomped his foot, sending the mud off his shoe a long way.

"Brother Qingshan! The road! The road we use to deliver mountain goods to the county town is blocked!"

"Right at the 'Ghost's Sorrow' pass!"

Li Erniu's throat felt like it was blocked by something, making him both anxious and hoarse.

"Those damned bastards from Kaoshan Village, they got some big rocks from somewhere, cut down trees and blocked the road, refusing to let anyone pass!"

He pointed outside the door, his hands trembling.

"Three oxcarts, all fully loaded with goods, are stuck in traffic!"

"These are hawthorns and medicinal herbs that were originally intended for a health product factory in the provincial capital. If it snows again today, they'll get damp and freeze... and thousands of yuan will be wasted!"

Lu Qingshan frowned.

Without saying a word, he turned around, took the worn-out military overcoat from the wall, and neatly draped it over his shoulders.

"Mother, I'm going out for a bit. Don't wait for me for dinner."

Wang Guifen had just peeked out of the kitchen when she saw only her son's tall and upright back as he quickly walked out of the courtyard gate.

The bicycle was pedaled very fast, and the chain made a crisp sound that carried far in the cool air.

The "Ghost's Sorrow" Pass, as its name suggests, is a strategically important and dangerous pass, the only passage between two mountains.

At this moment, the place is completely blocked.

"Oh no! It looks like it's going to snow again. If this batch of goods is delayed any longer, it's bound to freeze and mold!"

"I told you this money wasn't easy to earn. This has already gone wrong so early on. Should we take it back?"

Several villagers paced anxiously around the oxcart, their faces filled with despair as they looked at the huge rocks and logs blocking the road.

Opposite them, seven or eight burly, rough-looking men leaned crookedly against a rock. The leader, Hu Dapao, had one foot on a boulder, a blade of grass in his mouth, and looked down at the crowd with a fierce expression, looking exactly like a mountain bandit.

"What's all the fuss about? You can go if you want!"

Hu Dapao grinned, revealing his yellowed teeth, and arrogantly waved his five thick, black fingers.

"Fifty yuan per car! Pay up, and we'll let you pass!"

"If you can't come up with the money, hehe, your truckload of goods can just stay here and keep the rocks company for the New Year!"

Fifty per car!

This is outright robbery! The villagers were so angry their faces turned pale, but they dared not speak out.

Just when everyone was at a loss, a clear voice broke the deadlock.

"Brother Qingshan is here!"

The crowd parted to make way, and everyone's eyes turned to look at him as if they had seen a savior.

Lu Qingshan was seen pushing a 28-inch bicycle, walking over at a leisurely pace.

He remained calm, as if the tense standoff before him was merely an ordinary gathering.

He ignored the clamoring Hu Dapao, and didn't even notice the anxiety of his own villagers.

Those deep eyes, like those of an eagle, quickly swept across the scene.

A birch tree felled by a blunt instrument, fresh pry marks under a boulder, messy drag marks on the snow, and a nearly imperceptible patch of slush next to those marks, mixed with the smell of sweat and cheap tobacco.

He examined the cigarette butt carefully and picked it up.

They already knew who did it.

"Hey! You're Lu Qingshan, kid?"

When Hu Dapao saw that the newcomer didn't take him seriously at all, he got angry and slammed the shovel in his hand down on the stone with a loud "bang," making people's eardrums hurt.

"So you're in charge, huh? Stop pretending! Hand over the money, fifty yuan a truckload, not a penny less!"

Lu Qingshan finally raised his eyes, his gaze falling indifferently on him, his thin lips parting slightly:

"Fifty per car, that's too little."

What?!

Not only was Hu Dapao stunned, but the villagers of Hongshitun were also dumbfounded.

What does Brother Qingshan mean by this? Has he gone mad?

Lu Qingshan, seemingly oblivious to the astonishment on everyone's faces, slowly said, "These gentlemen went to great lengths to bring such large rocks and thick trees down from the mountain; how can fifty yuan be enough?"

"How about this, I'll pay 100 yuan per truckload, 300 yuan for three truckloads!"

Upon hearing this, Hu Dapao and the gang of thugs behind him were stunned for a moment, and then burst into wild joy!

"Hahaha! I thought he was some tough nut to crack, but he's just a lucky charm!"

"This kid's got guts! Much better than his bunch of penniless underlings!"

Hu Dapao grinned from ear to ear, eagerly stretching out his hand to Lu Qingshan: "Alright! You're quick on the uptake! Hand over the money!"

However, Lu Qingshan gently shook his head.

Hu Dapao's smile froze instantly, his eyes darkening: "Kid, you dare to play me?"

"No, I never play tricks on people." A playful smile curved Lu Qingshan's lips. "But I have one condition."

"I would like to personally deliver these three hundred yuan to your Kaoshan Village and hand them over to your village chief in person."

"By the way, I'd also like to ask on behalf of everyone—"

Lu Qingshan abruptly changed the subject, his gaze suddenly sharpening as he stared at Hu Dapao with a half-smile.

"Blocking the road and collecting money—this is such a big deal, does your village chief know about it? Does the county police... know about it?"

He paused, his icy gaze sweeping across Hu Dapao and the others like a knife, his voice as if tempered with ice.

"Unfortunately, I just returned from the county yesterday. The county public security bureau has already issued an official document regarding the 'crackdown'!"

"Setting up roadblocks and extorting money is extortion! Serious cases should be prosecuted as robbery!"

"The whole county is making an example of someone right now, you're just walking into the line of fire!"

Lu Qingshan stepped forward, his voice not loud, but every word pierced the heart:

"Oh, by the way, the document also says that the public is encouraged to report such incidents. Anyone who can provide clues and report a 'road bully' will not only be rewarded with a big red flag, but the Public Security Bureau will also give them fifty yuan in cash on the spot!"

Fifty dollars!

They'll be used as examples to illustrate the point!

"boom--!"

Hu Dapao and the thugs behind him were struck dumb, as if by a bolt from the blue!

The smugness and arrogance on his face froze instantly, the color drained away at a visible speed, and large beads of cold sweat "whooshed" out from his forehead and streamed down his cheeks.

Lu Qingshan slowly walked up to Hu Dapao, who was completely stunned, and lowered his voice, speaking in a low voice that only they could hear:

"A toll of three hundred yuan is nothing compared to spending several years in jail and carrying a criminal record for life..."

He chuckled and patted Hu Dapao's stiff shoulder.

"Brother Hu, you're a smart man. Do the math yourself. Is this a worthwhile deal?"

"thump!"

Hu Dapao's legs went weak, and the shovel in his hand fell to the ground with a "clatter".