Reborn at 80: From Village Scoundrel to Billionaire

Soon, the torches on the shore stretched into a line, illuminating the surroundings brightly.

"So many people?"

Liu Bei and Fan Ha'er exchanged a glance, their brows furrowing in concern.

Suddenly, Fan Ha'er spotted a familiar face and immediately pointed it out.

"Brother Bei! Look over there!"

Liu Bei looked in the direction he was pointing.

In the crowd, Zhao Liuzhi stood next to a burly man, a smug smile on his face.

"It was that guy again!"

Liu Bei's eyebrows furrowed inward, and his gaze suddenly turned cold.

It's one thing for this guy to go against me in the village, but it's another.

In retaliation, they've even summoned the people from Zhangjia Village.

This is tantamount to betraying someone!

"Damn it! I get it!" Fan Ha'er suddenly slapped his thigh, his eyes blazing with anger. "Brother Bei, I was wondering why you haven't caught a single mermaid after all this work! Turns out, it's all that bad luck brought on by that bastard Zhao Liuzhi! That useless piece of trash who can't even have kids, and he's always picking on us! He's so damn awful!"

"I'm going to beat that bastard to death!"

After saying that, Fan Ha'er picked up a bamboo pole and pushed hard, and the bamboo raft shot towards the shore.

"Hey! Stop!"

Liu Bei stumbled and almost fell into the water, but quickly squatted down to hold onto the edge of the bamboo raft.

But Fan Ha'er's eyes were red, and he couldn't listen to anything.

The more frequently the bamboo poles are used, the faster the bamboo raft is rowed.

"Hey, don't be impulsive—"

But before Liu Bei could finish speaking, Fan Ha'er threw down the bamboo pole and jumped ashore.

Liu Bei: "..."

"Zhao Liuzhi! You son of a bitch, get your ass out here!"

As soon as he jumped ashore, Fan Ha'er yelled at Zhao Liuzhi.

"Whoosh!"

Zhao Liuzhi quickly hid behind the burly man in the lead.

The burly man was in his early thirties, with shoulders as wide as two wooden buckets, and an old scar on his face that stretched from his left eyebrow to his cheekbone.

His name is Zhang Hu, and he is a notorious ruthless character in Zhangjia Village.

"Fine." Zhang Hu sneered, turning to look at Fan Ha'er. "Not only have you come to our Zhangjia Village's territory to try and catch a mermaid, but you also dare to make a move in front of me, Zhang Hu?"

"You lot, grab him right here!"

"yes!"

As soon as he finished speaking, five or six strong men from Zhangjia Village surrounded him.

"What are you doing?"

"Let me go!"

"Get out of my way!"

……

Fan Ha'er struggled desperately, and her face quickly turned red.

But those men were burly and strong, and they held his shoulders down tightly, and he couldn't break free no matter what he did.

"grass!"

Liu Bei's gaze darkened, and he grabbed the bamboo pole from the raft and jumped ashore.

"Let my brother go!"

Upon hearing this, everyone in Zhangjia Village turned around.

A dozen or so people stepped forward, some carrying torches, others carrying hoes and carrying poles, completely blocking the path between Liu Bei and Fan Ha'er and his group.

Liu Bei held the bamboo pole and did not make any rash moves, but instead looked at Zhang Hu.

At this moment, Zhang Hu was also looking at him.

Their eyes met briefly in the firelight.

Zhang Hu smirked and patted Fan Ha'er on the back of the head, like patting a leashed dog.

"If you know what's good for you, hand over the mermaid in the wooden tub on the bamboo raft right now. Otherwise, you... hehe... you won't be getting away unscathed today!"

"Brother Bei! Don't worry about me!" Fan Ha'er shouted incoherently, his face covered in mud, "Hurry back to the village, hurry up..."

"Brother Zhang Hu, this guy surnamed Liu is a tough nut to crack. If you let him go back, he'll definitely bring reinforcements! Then we won't be able to get the mermaid! That's a mythical fish, a priceless treasure! Quickly catch him too, then get on the bamboo raft and carry the wooden barrel over!" Zhao Liuzhi immediately reminded him upon hearing this.

"Zhao Liuzhi, you traitor!" Fan Ha'er roared in fury. "You're from Fan Family Village, yet you help outsiders against your own brothers. Are you even human?"

"Heh." Zhao Liuzhi didn't take it seriously. "Fan Ha'er, what do you know? I'm just being pragmatic."

After saying that, he winked at Fan Ha'er, his face full of smugness.

"Brother Bei! Don't worry about me! You go!" Fan Ha'er shouted again.

However, Liu Bei still didn't move.

He withdrew his gaze from Zhao Liuzhi and slowly took two steps back.

My heel touched the edge of the bamboo raft.

"Um?"

Seeing this, everyone's eyes followed him.

Zhang Hu squinted his right eye.

Liu Bei then stopped.

"Zhang Hu, right?"

"I can hand over the mermaid, but I have one condition."

Zhang Hu thought Liu Bei had given in, raised an eyebrow, and a playful smile appeared on his lips.

"What are your conditions?"

Liu Bei pointed the tip of his bamboo pole directly at Zhao Liuzhi:

"This man is from our Fanjiacun village. Today he betrayed us brothers for his own selfish gain. Do you think he won't betray you tomorrow for even greater benefits?"

"This guy..."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Liuzhi's expression changed:

"Nonsense! Brother Zhang Hu, he's trying to sow discord! Don't listen to him!"

"hehe……"

Liu Bei ignored him and continued talking.

"Hand over Zhao Liuzhi to me immediately, and I'll give you the Mermaid. Otherwise—"

"I'll jump onto the bamboo raft now, kick over the wooden bucket, and release the mermaid back into the lake. Then none of us will be able to catch her."

"You dare!!!"

Zhang Hu's expression suddenly darkened.

"Do you think I dare?" As he spoke, Liu Bei jumped onto the bamboo raft.

"etc!"

Upon seeing this, Zhang Hu immediately panicked and shouted to stop him.

Zhao Liuzhi panicked and quickly said, "Brother Zhang Hu, he's just bluffing! Don't fall for it. I guarantee he wouldn't do that!"

"Is that so?" Liu Bei chuckled coldly a few times, then spoke again:

"I forgot to tell you. Mermaids are mythical fish, rare creatures. Nine times out of ten, they're nationally protected species. The fact that you've made such a big fuss tonight—torches, farm tools, dozens of people around the lake—has all that noise!"

"When people like Zhao Liuzhi leak the news, and the police find out, do you think the police station will come to Zhangjia Village to investigate? Dozens of people gathering to rob nationally protected fish species, what crime do you think that constitutes?"

"..."

The moment these words were spoken, the surrounding area fell silent.

The villagers of Zhangjia Village all frowned, their eyes fixed on Zhang Hu.

"This guy..."

Zhang Hu remained silent and pointed at Zhao Liu with a sullen face.

Zhao Liuzhi trembled all over, waving his hands repeatedly: "Brother Zhang Hu, I won't tell anyone! I promise! I, Zhao Liuzhi, swear to God—"

"Words are no proof," Liu Bei suddenly interrupted. "If you're truly sincere, leave a finger as collateral. Zhao Six-Finger, do you dare?"

"..."

Zhao Liuzhi's face turned deathly pale. He pointed at Liu Bei and roared, "You...you're a madman! You're a madman!"

"Brother Zhang Hu, you can't believe him! I, Zhao Liuzhi, promise I'll keep my mouth shut and I'll never betray Zhangjia Village! Don't listen to his nonsense!"

But the more he looked like this, the more Zhang Hu frowned.

Several men from Zhangjia Village nearby began whispering among themselves, their gazes towards Zhao Liuzhi now carrying a different meaning.

The more eager someone is to distance themselves, the less reliable they seem.

Zhang Hu understood this principle better than anyone else.

After a moment of silence, Zhang Hu finally spoke: "He's right. Actions speak louder than words. Zhao Liuzhi, if you can really guarantee you won't tell anyone, then leave behind one finger!"

"..."