In a chaotic and famine-stricken era, I picked up an empress to be my wife.

Feng Guaizi looked up.

Shen An had a smile on his face, looking harmless, but that smile felt like a knife to him.

He quickly hid behind Liu Laowu and the others.

"Shen An, what do you want to talk about? You can say it here!"

"Hehe, Feng Guaizi, why do you look so scared? Don't worry, I won't hit you anymore." Shen An still smiled: "Since you don't want to come over, I'll say it to your face."

I've seen that you're performing well, and I'd like to give you a chance to be promoted to deputy squad leader.

Those who heard this were stunned.

Feng Guaizi repeatedly caused trouble for Shen An, but Shen An didn't retaliate against him and even promoted him to deputy squad leader?

Although Feng Guaizi sensed something was amiss, the temptation of the deputy squad leader was too great, and he couldn't help but ask, "Really?"

"Hmm." Shen An nodded, then changed the subject: "However, if you want this position, you must first pass the test."

"From this day forward, you will bury one hundred corpses every day. If you fail to do so, your monthly pay will be forfeited, and you will be forced to guard the mass grave."

As he spoke, his gaze swept over Liu Laowu and the others: "You guys are the same, you all have this opportunity."

"What?!!"

Feng Guaizi and the others finally came to their senses.

Shen An wasn't giving them a chance; he was trying to destroy them!

A corpse carrier is already working himself to the bone if he can bury twenty or thirty corpses a day; he can't finish a hundred even if he works himself to death.

If you don't finish, your monthly pay will be deducted, and if your monthly pay runs out, you'll starve.

Guarding the mass graves is even more ominous. They usually have to rush back to the village after finishing their work at the mass graves, for fear of contracting diseases. If they were asked to guard them, they would probably lose their lives in two or three months.

Feng Guaizi's face turned purple with anger, and he gritted his teeth, saying, "Shen An, don't push your luck!"

"This is going too far!" Shen An sneered. "As the squad leader, I can do whatever I want with you."

If you don't want to hear it, I'll report it to the authorities and let them make a judgment.

Feng Guaizi's expression changed drastically, and he immediately fell silent.

He knew all too well the ways the government operated; once the matter was reported, the punishment would only be more severe.

This is also why they dared not speak out against the bullying by Wang Bantou in the past.

As Dugu Meng watched this scene, an indescribable sense of satisfaction welled up inside her.

She had never liked bullying others, but seeing Shen An use his power to suppress Feng Guaizi, she felt incredibly relieved.

This is more satisfying than beating him up.

What they didn't know was that Shen An's actions didn't mean he wouldn't personally kill Feng Guaizi.

This bastard wants to trade his life for his future; he will kill him with his own hands!

The reason I'm not taking action right now is because I'm being watched by Officer Ma, and I can't openly kill someone and cause trouble.

But if he were to find an opportunity in secret, he would definitely kill Feng Guaizi himself!

"Feng Guaizi, Liu Laowu, since you have no objections, then hurry up and go to work at the mass grave."

Shen An smiled again, his tone calm, as if he were arranging something perfectly ordinary.

How could Feng Guaizi accept this so easily?

He turned to the other corpse carriers and shouted, "Don't you dare take any chances! If Shen An can treat us like this today, he can treat you the same way tomorrow!"

The other corpse carriers looked uneasy upon hearing this.

"Feng Guaizi, what nonsense are you talking about! Shen An isn't that kind of person!" Old Zhao's chest heaved with anger.

"Uncle Zhao, don't be angry."

Shen An clapped his hands and looked at everyone: "Everyone, from today onwards, the rule that Headman Wang used to charge you 50% of your monthly wages is null and void."

In addition to the previous price, each person who submits more than 100 catties of dead people's hair will receive an extra 10 coins.

Furthermore, Uncle Zhao, from now on you will be in charge of these people.

The corpse carriers were stunned at first, then their faces lit up with ecstatic joy!

Old Zhao's joy was palpable: "Shen An, am I really that old?"

"Of course! I, Shen An, am a person who always repays kindness. Uncle Zhao has spoken up for me many times before, so this position is rightfully yours!" Shen An patted Old Zhao on the shoulder.

"Haha, then I, Old Zhao, will accept your offer without further ado!" Old Zhao didn't stand on ceremony any longer.

Feng Guaizi's face darkened further. Shen An had won over the other corpse carriers with just a few words.

"Boss, what... what do we do?" Liu Laowu asked in a low voice, "Should we apologize to Shen An?"

"Screw you, I refuse to believe I can't outmaneuver Shen An! If he were truly capable, we wouldn't have been behaving like this before!"

Feng Guaizi scoffed, "Go back first, think it over carefully, there's bound to be a way to make him give in!"

"That's right!" Liu Laowu and the others all gave Shen An a cold look before turning away.

Shen An didn't stop them. He called Old Zhao over: "Uncle Zhao, have a few people keep an eye on them and record the number of corpses they handle. If they're not guarding the mass grave tonight, send someone to report to me immediately!"

"Okay!"

"Also, do you know why Feng Guaizi attacked me in advance? Did someone on the battlefield deal with them?" Shen An asked.

"Yes, after we finished yesterday, he took us to the battlefield where the fighting had ended, but we were beaten by Black Six's men. They won't let us go there, and they beat us every time they see us!" Old Zhao replied. "That Black Six has a powerful background; he's not someone we can afford to mess with. So he came back and instigated others to cause you trouble!"

Shen An asked this question because he wanted to know the situation on the battlefield.

After all, the amount of human hair in mass graves is limited, and if the business of blood charcoal is to be expanded, the acquisition of human hair must also be scaled up.

"Squad Leader Shen, you're not thinking of going to the battlefield to loot too, are you?" Old Zhao panicked. "Absolutely not! We can't afford to mess with those guys!"

"Hey, Uncle Zhao, do you think my brother and Feng Guaizi are that stupid? Why would they need to compete with them? Why not just pay to buy it?" Shen Xiaoqi said with a smile.

Old Zhao then realized, "Right, right, buy them! Nobody wants that dead man's hair, they'll definitely be willing to sell it if I pay!"

Shen An also had this idea; he could cooperate not only on the battlefield, but also on other mass graves in Qingyang County.

However, for now, we need to stabilize our own little territory.

Shen An then led the corpse carriers to the mass grave.

Without the oppression of Wang Bantou, the corpse carriers looked much more relaxed, while Feng Guaizi and the others, although also in the mass grave, had no intention of completing their mission.

Shen An didn't stand on ceremony. By evening, he told Feng Guaizi and the others, "You didn't finish the work today, so you won't get your monthly pay this month."

"Tonight you are all required to guard the mass grave. Anyone who dares to be absent will be reported to the authorities tomorrow, and you will be punished!"

The higher the rank, the more power they have. Feng Guaizi and his gang were having a hard time being controlled by Shen An, but a whole day had passed and they still hadn't found a way to deal with him, so they could only obediently stay in the mass grave.

Thinking of their arrogant attitude yesterday and this morning, Dugu Meng felt very pleased, but when Shen An said "after we get home," she felt flustered again.

According to Shen Xiaoqi, Shen An will bring up the wedding night after he resolves the current matter.

So this matter should happen tonight?

Unaware of her thoughts, Shen An returned home and, after carefully storing the collected hair, instructed Shen Xiaoqi: "Tomorrow we will meet Ma Tianming. It will be a trap. I need you to lie in ambush nearby with a crossbow."

If I fight them, you will assist me from the sidelines. Anyone who dares to help Ma Tianming, you will shoot them!

"Hehe, okay! I'll go practice my aim now!"

Fear was still not in Shen Xiaoqi's dictionary. He chuckled and closed the door behind him.

Only Shen An and Dugu Meng remained in the room.

Dugu Meng's emotions clearly fluctuated, leaving only the two of them in the room. Shen Xiaoqi was creating an opportunity for them to have their wedding night!

If Shen An were to bring up the wedding night at this moment, how should she respond?

How could a dignified emperor give his virginity to Shen An?

Before Shen An could speak, she quickly said, "Shen An, I... I can give you unimaginable benefits, I hope you won't touch me tonight."

Shen An realized that she had taken Shen Xiaoqi's words seriously.

He wanted to clarify, but then he thought again that he had always suspected Dugu Meng was an important person.

It would be very beneficial if she could offer some real benefits.

He might as well take this opportunity to get the benefit: "Benefit? You're currently imprisoned and need my protection. What benefit can you give me?"