Reborn in 78, I made my fortune by working in the mountains, supporting three families on my own.

Now that I have gathered them under my guidance and with a little polishing and training, they can become the most reliable support at the bottom, helping me to handle all kinds of trivial disputes and protect my own resources and opportunities.

As Zhao Lei pondered his future plans, the brand-new red brick houses at the village entrance gradually came into view.

Jiang Xinyue and Zhang Sanpo, along with the rest of the family, were filled with anticipation and hoped that Zhao Lei would return home safely.

A gentle evening breeze swept past the village entrance as Zhao Lei slowly rode his old bicycle into the courtyard.

The people in the courtyard had been on tenterhooks ever since Zhao Lei left.

Jiang Xinyue glanced towards the mountain path from time to time. Zhang Sanpo stood by the stove, her mind uneasy. Zhang Sangong, Zhang Lin, and Zhang Sen sat on the stone stool, waiting silently.

Even the two children stayed quietly to the side, not daring to make a ruckus.

Qin Bowen sat leaning against the wall, the redness and bruises on his face still lingering, and a sense of grievance and unease constantly weighing on his eyes.

Upon hearing the sound of the bicycle, everyone looked up instantly, their gazes all falling on Zhao Lei as he returned.

Jiang Xinyue was the first to step forward quickly and carefully looked Zhao Lei up and down.

After carefully checking me from head to toe to make sure there were no wounds or signs of distress, my anxiety finally eased a little.

"You're finally back. Did nothing happen? Did the people on the mountain give you any trouble?" Jiang Xinyue's voice was full of unconcealed worry.

Zhang Sangong also quickly got up and stepped forward, his brows still furrowed: "Leizi, we were all worried about you going into the mountains alone just now."

Ma Laosan's gang is notorious for being thugs and scoundrels; they don't hold back when they attack. Don't try to fight them head-on.

Zhao Lei parked his bicycle, calmly brushed the dust off his clothes, and looked serene and composed.

"Don't panic, everyone. I'm fine. Today, I went into the mountains and got my revenge on Bowen."

A calm remark instantly stunned everyone in the courtyard.

Everyone originally thought that Zhao Lei would only go into the mountains to argue a few things and at most give the other party a verbal warning. They never expected that Zhao Lei would actually take action and avenge Qin Bowen for being beaten.

Before anyone could react, Zhao Lei reached into his waistband and pulled out a short dagger with slight wear.

The blade is not finely crafted, and the handle is polished to a shine, clearly indicating that it is an item that is carried around and used frequently.

Zhao Lei gently handed the dagger to everyone and spoke calmly.

"This is Ma Guohua's personal dagger. Today, his group was robbing people and causing trouble on the mountain, but we and a few brothers have completely subdued them."

The people in the courtyard looked at the unfamiliar dagger with a hint of suspicion on their faces.

No one had ever seen Ma Laosan in person, nor did they recognize his personal belongings. For a moment, they couldn't believe that the matter had been resolved so swiftly.

Qin Bowen, who had been silent and patient all along, shuddered the moment he saw the dagger, and his eyes instantly reddened.

Qin Bowen struggled to his feet, staring excitedly at the dagger, and exclaimed, "It's him! This knife definitely belongs to Ma Laosan!"

Today on the mountain, Ma Laosan brandished this knife to scare me, threatening to cripple me with it if I dared to come up the mountain again!

After the confirmation was made, the entire courtyard fell into a moment of deathly silence, which was then followed by an uproar.

Everyone's face was filled with disbelief and shock.

Granny Zhang's voice was full of lingering fear: "My God! Ma Laosan has been the tyrant of Hongyan Town for so many years, with a group of thugs always following him. People would avoid him if they could, but Lei Zi, you actually dared to confront them."

"And they even confiscated the enemy's personal weapons?"

Zhang Sangong's expression turned grave, his first thought being the potential trouble that might follow: "Leizi, this matter is probably not that simple. Ma Laosan is narrow-minded and vindictive. Having suffered such a great loss this time, he will definitely not let it go."

If Ma Laosan seeks revenge later, that would be troublesome. Are you really not hurt at all?

Zhang Lin and Zhang Sen quickly echoed, filled with worry.

"Yeah, Brother Lei, those guys are all ruthless thugs who don't follow any rules. They'll definitely hold a grudge after we suppressed them this time, and they might cause trouble behind our backs in the future."

The people's worries were genuine and real; everyone's thoughts were focused on Zhao Lei's safety, and no one was the first to mention the joy of revenge.

Seeing everyone's concerned expressions, Zhao Lei felt a surge of warmth in his heart and spoke up to soothe their tense emotions.

"Don't worry, everyone, I know what I'm doing. I'm not going into the mountains alone today; I've called Qin Dajun and a few reliable brothers to come with me."

"Outnumbered and outmatched, we held an absolute advantage. Ma Laosan and his gang of five were all beaten into submission, each wounded, and utterly incapable of harming us in the slightest."

Zhao Lei paused for a moment, then continued.

"I have sternly warned them that they are never allowed to set foot in Qingfeng Mountain again, and never to cause trouble for our Heping Brigade again."

If they dare to show their faces again, I will not let them off easily. They are completely terrified today and will definitely not dare to cause trouble again anytime soon. Even if they want revenge in the future, they will have to think twice about their own strength.

His words were clear, logical, and confident, effectively calming everyone's anxieties.

The tense atmosphere gradually dissipated, and the mood of everyone in the courtyard subtly changed.

After the worries subsided, what welled up in my heart was a deep sense of warmth and reassurance.

Jiang Xinyue looked at Zhao Lei, who was calm and composed beside her, her eyes full of tenderness and trust.

Jiang Xinyue knew best that Qin Bowen was the youngest member of the Zhao family. Today, he was bullied and wronged for no reason. Zhao Lei could have chosen to endure it or ask the village officials or the security officer to mediate slowly and avoid any mistakes.

But Zhao Lei chose to take revenge immediately, rushing into the mountains to support his family and protecting them in the most direct way.

Looking at the scene before her, Granny Zhang was filled with emotion and couldn't help but speak up.

"Lei Zi is a really protective kid. He always has his own family in his heart, and he never backs down or backs down when something happens."

Who else would be willing to offend the town's notorious thug for their brother-in-law? Only you dare to take the blame.

Zhang Sangong nodded slowly, his eyes full of approval.

"These days, the most dangerous people are those who cower in the face of trouble and bully the weak while fearing the strong. Lei Zi is responsible, courageous, and can distinguish right from wrong."

When their own family members are wronged, they refuse to suffer in silence; such magnanimity and sense of responsibility are truly rare.

Qin Bowen stood there, watching Zhao Lei's retreating figure, his eyes completely welling up with tears.

Today, when Qin Bowen was surrounded, beaten, and bullied by a group of people on the mountain, he felt both scared and aggrieved. He even felt that he could only suffer this beating for nothing and had nowhere to seek justice.

Qin Bowen never imagined that his brother-in-law would personally lead a group into the mountains to seek justice for him, teach the villains a lesson, and vent his anger.

Qin Bowen's voice choked with emotion as he earnestly said, "Brother-in-law, thank you."

These five simple words encapsulate all the grievances, gratitude, and peace of mind.