Chapter 56: Mountain Bandits Enter the Village to Collect Protection Money

Seeing this strange-looking bow, Feng Er immediately became interested.

"Oh, this bow looks so odd, and it's so thin. It should have no problem hunting a chicken in the mountains," Feng Er said as he took the compound bow from Chu Chen's hands.

Without a word of explanation, Chu Chen snatched the compound bow back, slipped on the mechanical release aid, nocked an arrow, and fired in one fluid motion.

*Thwack!* The arrow pierced straight through the trunk of a nearby small tree, embedding itself deeply, the fletching of the arrow still vibrating.

Seeing this, Feng Er was speechless with astonishment for a moment.

"Th-This... Chu lad, what kind of bow is this? Everyone in Mashan Village says you are an immortal reincarnated—could this truly be a divine artifact?"

"Haha, Uncle Feng Er, never mind what kind of bow it is for now. Would you say this thing can do a bit more than just hunt a chicken?"

What a joke. If I had this bow, let alone a wild boar, I could even go toe-to-toe with a fierce tiger.

With that, Chu Chen handed the compound bow back to him.

Feng Er tried drawing it and found that this contraption was much lighter than his own longbow, yet its power was several times greater.

"Can Uncle give it a try?" Feng Er asked, eager to use it.

Chu Chen pulled out an arrow and explained how to use the scope and the release aid.

Feng Er raised the bow, nocked the arrow, and with a *swish*, sent the arrow flying.

"This is truly a fine weapon! With this, let alone a chicken, I could make even a tiger call me daddy, Uncle!" Feng Er said excitedly after trying it out.

Chu Chen's face twitched uncontrollably. If a tiger called you daddy, wouldn't that make you a beast yourself?

"Uncle Feng Er, hunting is just a minor matter. There are bandits in Qingniu Town, so I want to give this bow to you."

"Ah? Give it to me..."

This stroke of good fortune came too suddenly. Such a precious item, just handed over like that with a single sentence?

Feng Er looked at Chu Chen in disbelief, waiting for what he would say next.

"That's right, Uncle Feng Er. Throughout all of Mashan Village, you have the greatest strength. And as you know, our salt-refining workshop is the foundation of Mashan Village."

"Therefore, I want to organize a small team in the village, primarily to ensure the safety of Mashan Village and the salt-refining workshop. And you are the best candidate to be its captain."

In fact, Chu Chen had harbored this idea for a while. He had heard Wang Defa talk about the bandits of Qingniu Mountain.

Although paying the annual tribute usually kept the peace, he had been busy building a villa, shipping out goods, and paving roads lately.

He had a hunch that paying this year's tribute in Mashan Village wouldn't be so smooth.

Moreover, in the future, although he possessed plenty of modern weaponry, he couldn't possibly stay in Mashan Village every single day.

That was why he used hunting as an excuse to test Uncle Feng Er's thoughts.

"That's no problem at all! Mashan Village has always been united. As for this team you mentioned, how should we go about it?" Hearing Chu Chen's proposition, Feng Er agreed immediately.

"The team should consist of about twenty people—young, strong, and bold men. They can work in the workshop during normal times, but the moment any emergency arises, they must mobilize to protect the village's safety."

"At night, personnel must be assigned to patrol the mountains around the village. Of course, these people won't be working for free."

Hearing that they wouldn't be working for free, a gleam appeared in Feng Er's eyes. He quickly asked, "You don't mean to say that doing this pays money, do you, Chu lad?"

"Of course. You put in the effort, you get paid—that has always been my style."

"How about this? Considering the danger involved, everyone selected will receive a monthly wage of one tael of silver. And as the captain, Uncle Feng Er, you will receive two taels a month. What do you think?"

What do I think? That's more than fine! Two taels a month, and you can still earn wages at the workshop during your spare time—only a fool wouldn't go.

After listening, Feng Er immediately replied, "Chu lad, with that much pay, I reckon the number of people wanting to join won't be small."

Chu Chen looked at Uncle Feng Er with a serious expression. "I'll leave the selection of personnel to you, Uncle Feng Er, but there is one condition: they must be loyal to Mashan Village. I don't want any cowards who run away the moment trouble strikes."

To Chu Chen, even if he gave every single person in Mashan Village one tael a month, it wouldn't amount to much.

After all, the current workshop generated eight to ten thousand taels of revenue every month.

If worst came to worst, he could just ride his motorcycle to another city and sell a few glass products.

However, the crucial thing was whether these people could be relied upon. If he selected men who fled at the first sign of trouble, it would be utterly meaningless.

"Also, let's temporarily set the number at twenty. I'll leave this matter in your hands. Thank you for your trouble."

With that, Chu Chen handed all the remaining arrows to Feng Er and strode away.

Let him practice more with them. Since these arrows were fully recoverable and reusable, Chu Chen wasn't worried in the slightest about Feng Er wasting them.

After Chu Chen left, Feng Er eagerly began practicing with the compound bow, utterly unable to put it down.

Before he knew it, the time for the workshop shift had arrived, but Feng Er was still completely absorbed in it, enjoying it immensely.

Meanwhile, the gang members from Qingniu Mountain arrived at the entrance of Mashan Village around midday.

The Third Chieftain, riding a chestnut horse and looking arrogant, called out to the villagers gathered at the village entrance:

"Hey you lot, hurry up and call your village head out! The grandpas from the Fierce Tiger Hall of Qingniu Mountain are here to collect the tribute!"

With a fierce slash of his saber, the Third Chieftain dismounted and strode toward the interior of the village.

In a short while, as if well-prepared in advance, Wang Defa arrived with several men carrying grain bags.

He greeted them with a smiling face.

"Oh my, if it isn't the Third Chieftain! I've been waiting for you for a long time. Coming so late today, what has kept you busy, Third Chieftain?"

Wang Defa shamelessly tried to cozy up to him.

"Hmph, you old fox! In previous years you've always dragged your feet, but why are you so eager today? Could it be that your Mashan Village has struck it rich?"

Hearing this remark from the Third Chieftain, Wang Defa's heart skipped a beat.

It seemed the Fierce Tiger Hall meant business this time.

In past years, they would just grab the goods and leave. Why were they dawdling this time?

Could it be that they had noticed the monthly shipments and road expansion in Mashan Village?

Recovering quickly, Wang Defa immediately said, "What are you talking about, Third Chieftain? For all these years, Mashan Village has always been as poor as ever. Where would we get any wealth?"

"Oh? But I heard that a family here has moved into a large mansion just like the ones in the city. Well, aren't you going to take me for a tour?"

*Oh no.* Sure enough, he couldn't keep it hidden from these bandits. Looking at the twenty or so bandits behind the Third Chieftain, every single one of them gripping a steel saber, Wang Defa instantly panicked and lost all composure.

Meanwhile, Chu Chen, who had been relaxing carefree at home, was frowning deeply as he listened to the news brought by a breathless child.

"What did you say? The bandits are here, and they're entering the village?"