Reborn at 80: From Village Scoundrel to Billionaire

Chapter 140

After Zhao Liuzhi and his family of three completely disappeared from the village entrance, Fan Sanyuan, supported by his two sons, walked forward.

"Xiao Bei, thank you so much for today."

Fan Sanyuan pinched the red mark on his neck, cupped his hands in a gesture of respect to Liu Bei, and said, "If that kid really strangles me to death, you'll have to collect my body."

"Secretary, you're too kind. We're all neighbors, no need to thank me." Liu Bei waved his hand with a smile.

"Xiao Bei, you've really grown up. Your father would be so happy if he knew this from beyond the grave. Keep up the good work. I believe in you!"

Fan Sanyuan nodded, patted Liu Bei on the shoulder, and slowly walked home with the help of his two sons.

Fan Xibei glanced at Zhao Liuzhi's family at the village entrance when he was a child, then looked at Liu Bei, and immediately ran after Fan Sanyuan and his two sons.

Before long, the villagers dispersed one after another; some carried hoes to the fields to plant rice seedlings, while others went home in twos and threes.

The threshing ground in front of the village committee was quickly emptied of most of its area.

Only Liu Bei's family, Old Tan and his son, Li Dazhuang, and Fan Shuanzhu's family of four remained.

"Brother Bei!"

Fan Ha'er rushed up, grabbed Liu Bei's shoulder, and said in a low voice, "That traitor Zhao Liuzhi has been dealt with. Next... shouldn't we go to Zhangjia Lake to help me retrieve the mermaid?"

"A mermaid?"

Zhao Chunyan, Lin Wanqiu, and Su Yuehe all pricked up their ears.

"Are there really mermaids?" Zhao Chunyan asked first, very curious.

Liu Bei rubbed his nose and told the whole story of how Fan Ha'er wanted to get married, how he suggested that he catch more fish to make money, and how he might even encounter a mermaid.

"Oh, I see!"

Upon hearing this, everyone immediately understood.

"Mermaid? Wife? I get it!"

Lin Wanqiu's lips curled slightly, but she remained silent.

"This is obviously a lie. Mermaid? What a joke! Only a fool like Fan Ha'er would actually believe Liu Bei's nonsense! That Liu Bei, he never tells the truth! Humph!!!"

Zhao Chunyan was speechless after hearing this, and kept complaining to herself.

"It's just a myth, you can believe it? Ha'er is so adorably naive!"

Su Yuehe lowered her head and pursed her lips, secretly smiling to herself.

Li Dazhuang and Tan Si exchanged glances, both of them knowing exactly what was going on, but neither of them exposed it in public.

"Brother Bei! It's getting late, let's go!" Fan Ha'er urged anxiously, "I have a feeling we'll definitely catch one at Zhangjia Lake today! Dazhuang, Tan Si, do you two want to go catch a mermaid? If we catch one, we can take it home as our wife. We can even save on the bride price!"

"..."

Saving money on the bride price is definitely a good thing.

But the key point is that the mermaid is fake.

Where can we retrieve it?

Li Dazhuang was stunned for a moment, then quickly scratched his head, "Um... I bought a few piglets the day before yesterday, and I still have to go back and feed them."

Tan Si quickly waved his hand, "We've fed a few chickens at home, and they're waiting for me to come back and help. You guys go ahead. I won't join in the fun."

"Nobody's going?"

Fan Ha'er was a little disappointed, and pouting, she clung to Liu Bei again: "Brother Bei, if they're not going, let's go together! Hurry up!"

"Alright. Go." Liu Bei, unable to resist being pestered, slapped away the arm that was around him.

Then he turned around and looked at his mother and his three ex-wives.

"Mother, you should take Wanqiu, Chunyan, Yuehe, and the three children home first. Those who want to catch grasshoppers should catch grasshoppers, and those who want to catch crayfish should catch crayfish. Ha'er and I will be right back."

"Going to Zhangjiahu again?" Zhao Da'e frowned.

"Don't worry. It's broad daylight and it won't be a problem."

Zhao Da'e was about to say something when Lin Wanqiu stepped forward, tugged at her arm, and whispered, "Mother, let him go. Don't delay important matters."

Zhao Da'e glanced at Liu Bei and snorted, "Go early and come back early! Don't be home before dark!"

"knew!"

Zhao Chunyan walked over carrying Xiaobao and said coldly, "If you really catch some mermaid, and you dare to have any funny ideas, I'll spank you when we get back."

Liu Bei: "..."

"Remember what I said. Otherwise, I'll really spank you! Humph!!!" After reminding Liu Bei several times, Zhao Chunyan left with Xiao Bao in her arms.

Liu Bei: "..."

He shook his head, looking quite helpless.

A short while later, after everyone had dispersed, Liu Bei pulled Fan Ha'er aside: "Go home and get your hunting rifle."

"Brother Bei, aren't we going fishing? Why did you bring a hunting rifle?"

"Last time we ran into Zhang Hu's gang without guns, and you and I almost got killed. This time, we're better off prepared."

Fan Ha'er was taken aback for a moment, then nodded: "Got it! Don't worry, Brother Bei, although my marksmanship isn't as good as yours, I can still hit a thigh accurately!"

"Alright, stop joking around. If you want to go, hurry back and get your hunting rifle and tools."

"Okay!"

Soon, the two went home separately to retrieve their equipment.

……

A dozen minutes later, on the shore of Zhangjia Lake.

Liu Bei and Fan Ha'er each carried a hunting rifle on their backs and tools in their hands as they boarded the bamboo raft.

As soon as he stood firm, Liu Bei glanced at the lake.

The next moment, his vision was filled with countless tiny red dots.

However, most of those small red dots were concentrated in the waters along the Zhangjiawan Village shoreline on the opposite side.

"Hey, push towards Zhangjiawan Village on the other side."

"Alright!" Fan Ha'er grabbed a bamboo pole and pushed hard, and the bamboo raft broke through the water.

More than half an hour later, the bamboo raft approached the shallow water area on the side of Zhangjiawan Village.

Liu Bei immediately got up and cast the fishing net out.

"Whoosh~"

Soon, the fishing net sank into the water, and Fan Ha'er stared wide-eyed at the surface of the water without moving.

"Mermaid! Mermaid! Mermaid!" Fan Ha'er kept praying.

"Whoosh!"

A short while later, Liu Bei suddenly closed the net.

The next moment, the fishing net was pulled up, the whole net bag was heavy, and it was full of lively bass and grass carp.

Fan Ha'er stepped forward and glanced at it, then his shoulders slumped immediately: "Where's the mermaid?"

"No rush, keep fishing, we'll catch something eventually."

As soon as he finished speaking, Liu Bei cast the second net, and soon pulled it up again, filling another scoop full of eels and turtles.

Fan Ha'er peeked out again and sighed, "Brother Bei, still nothing."

"Good things come to those who wait. If catching a mermaid were so easy, everyone could marry one. Don't be discouraged. We'll keep trying. We'll catch one eventually!"

Liu Bei smiled and reassured Fan Ha'er before casting the third net.

A few minutes later, he pulled it up again, and there were thirteen crucian carp, sixteen carp, and five or six bighead carp in the net.

Instantly, all three wooden buckets were filled.

"Brother Bei... we've filled three big buckets already, and we haven't seen a trace of the mermaid! Sigh..." Fan Ha'er squatted on the raft, looking pitifully at Liu Bei. "How about we cast another net? I have a feeling we'll definitely catch a mermaid in the next cast!"

"Alright, as you wish!"

Not wanting to discourage Fan Ha'er, Liu Bei smiled and was about to cast his fourth net when a commotion suddenly arose from the shore.

"Hey! You two, put the net down!"

"Halt! This is Zhangjiawan territory. Who gave you permission to come here to fish?"

"Bring all the fish out of the bucket! Hurry!"

……

Upon hearing this, Liu Bei and Fan Ha'er both looked up at the same time.

A dozen or so burly men stood on the shore, the one in the lead having a long scar on his face.

It was Zhang Hu, the same person I met last night.

Upon seeing that familiar face, Fan Ha'er's anger flared up instantly.

"That son of a bitch again!"

At this moment, Zhang Hu also saw the people on the bamboo raft clearly. His expression changed instantly, and then he sneered:

"Ha! What a small world! You two managed to escape last night, and you dare to come back today? You two are really asking for trouble."

The scar on his face twitched, and he raised his chin and waved behind him:

"Get them all in the water! We'd better drag these two bastards out of the water today! Don't let them get away!"

"It's Tiger!"

"thump!"

"thump!"

"thump!"

Seven or eight burly men jumped into the water and swam toward the bamboo raft.

"Um?"

Looking at the several burly men in front of them, Liu Bei and Fan Ha'er exchanged a glance.

Then, the two men simultaneously took off their hunting rifles from their backs, pulled back the bolts, and aimed the dark muzzles at the burly men swimming in the water.

"Zhang Hu. You had more men last night, how about you try again today?"