Chapter 55: Establishing Prestige

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“Boss… Boss Lei, b-but I don’t have any money.” Wang Ergou was dumbfounded.

“You don’t have money, but don’t the brothers?” Lei Qing took out the only eight gold coins he had left from his bosom and said without blushing, “I spent all the previous money on those full-body armors to save the brothers’ lives. I only have eight gold coins left. Ergou is in trouble now. Brothers who are willing to help, contribute some money.”

The bandits looked at one another. They were all a bit awkward and blushing.

“What? Usually, when drinking from big bowls and eating big chunks of meat, you call each other brothers. But once a brother is in trouble, you all turn into cowards?” Lei Qing could not help but sweep his gaze over them with disdain. “I was wrong about you guys. With your cowardly attitude, you won’t even sacrifice a little bit, yet you want to follow me to conquer the world and rise above others? How can I trust your loyalty and determination? When I am fighting enemies at the front, how can I rest assured entrusting my flanks and my back to you?”

Lei Qing’s words immediately agitated the bandits. Someone immediately jumped out, took out a gold coin and some silver and copper coins from his bosom, and said with a red face, “Boss Lei, it’s not that the brothers are disloyal. It’s just that we are used to living recklessly, acting like bosses when we have money, and acting like paupers when we don’t. Life isn’t easy, please bear with us.”

“It doesn’t matter if it’s a lot or a little. Even if you only have one copper coin left on you, if you take it all out, I won’t despise you.” Lei Qing swept his eyes across the crowd and said coldly, “As for money, we will fight for it together in the future. No one will be short of it.”

“Since Boss Lei puts it that way, I won’t be afraid of losing face either.” Another bandit came out, took out a few silver coins and scattered copper coins with some embarrassment, and said, “This is all the money this little one has.”

“Jiang Yu.” Lei Qing shouted.

“At your service.” Jiang Yu hurriedly stepped forward to receive orders. In his heart, he felt that his decision was becoming wiser and wiser. Boss Lei was even more outstanding than he had imagined. With just one man and one sword, he looked proudly upon a hundred bandits and scolded them until they willingly became his followers. This kind of bearing and strength was not something an ordinary person could achieve.

“Get a pen and paper, and record these favors.” Lei Qing said indifferently, “In the future, when Ergou earns money, he will pay everyone back one by one. If he doesn’t pay back, I, Lei Qing, will pay back for him.”

“Yes…” Jiang Yu took off his helmet, instructed two bandits to bring a table and pen and paper, and began to record seriously.

Under Lei Qing’s actions, every bandit began to step forward to donate money. They basically took out all their money. The Black Iron-rank members could still produce one or two gold coins, but those ordinary bandits could only contribute a few silver coins. The poorest one only had a few dozen copper coins.

But Lei Qing did not care. He was just training this group of bandits, wanting to teach them what brothers were, what it meant to stick knives into one’s ribs for a friend, what loyalty was, and what unity was. He also needed to let them know that having dreams and hot blood alone was far from enough. For a dream, one must give all one’s strength to work hard; for a goal, one must fight with blood and life. There was no free lunch in the world. He also wanted them to learn what it meant to have ambition. Otherwise, let alone following him, Lei Qing, they would never rise above others. Even if the boss were Yu Tianji, a good-for-nothing would always be a good-for-nothing.

After nearly a hundred bandits had contributed money, together with Lei Qing’s, there were more than forty gold coins in total. Jiang Yu, Zuo Qianqian, and the others also took out their money under Lei Qing’s encouragement. There was still a shortfall of more than forty gold coins, so naturally, they had to target Backing Tiger.

Backing Tiger, Zhao Guang, started as a small bandit and had been an old bandit for more than ten years. Although he spent money like water, his income was high, so he naturally could not spend it all recklessly like those petty thieves. Lei Qing took several Black Iron-rank bandits and rushed into Zhao Guang’s private courtyard, scaring the maids and women brought back by Backing Tiger into a panic.

Two quick-witted women even rolled up Zhao Guang’s valuables and prepared to escape secretly through a secret passage, but they were naturally escorted back. Lei Qing did not release these women for the time being. He planned to deal with these female relatives after finishing other matters.

After gathering a hundred gold coins, there was an extra ten gold coins and some other valuables. Lei Qing personally led the team, selected twenty elite bandits, took Ergouzi with them, and rode horses. They traveled fast and arrived at that village in just over half a day. Wang Dafu was quite arrogant. In his early years, he had mingled outside, achieved some small success, had some small backers, and made some money. He came back, bought a few hundred acres of land, became a small landlord, and raised more than ten guards.

Upon seeing people from Fierce Tiger Ridge coming to ask for someone, he naturally had a few things to say. Originally, Wang Dafu was tired of Cui’er and disliked that she was not a virgin. He felt pained about the hundred gold coins betrothal gift. That was not a small amount; a full hundred gold coins, just to get a “second-hand goods” like her back.

Now that the other party was willing to return a hundred gold coins, Wang Dafu was originally willing. But he also prepared to mock them properly. Others might fear Fierce Tiger Ridge, but I, Wang Dafu, used to mingle with big forces after all, so naturally, I am not afraid. Perhaps I can even get more money back. After a few words of disagreement, Lei Qing was neither humble nor arrogant. He first showed off two of his unique skills and scared Wang Dafu, who still had some discernment.

In the end, the transaction was completed with mutual consent. Lei Qing made Wang Dafu write a receipt and a divorce letter. Afterward, Lei Qing was very particular about how he did things. He did not privately take the crying, pale, and haggard Cui’er back to Fierce Tiger Ridge. Instead, he directly took a group of brothers and sent her back to her parents’ home.

He displayed full etiquette and acted as an elder to Ergouzi. He personally proposed marriage and presented ten gold coins and some valuables as betrothal gifts. It was agreed that ten days later, on a lucky day, Ergouzi would come to the door to welcome the bride. Cui’er’s parents originally looked down on Ergouzi and were greedy. They thought a married daughter was like spilt water and didn’t expect to make money off her again. Since Wang Dafu didn’t want the money back and gave a divorce letter, and she could be married again, they were naturally willing. Moreover, Ergouzi seemed to be promising now. That Young Master boss seemed to be a big shot. Perhaps Ergouzi would have the opportunity to become successful in the future.

Furthermore, the group of people who came with Ergouzi were clearly bandits from Fierce Tiger Ridge. They all looked fierce and tough. Anyway, the daughter was willing to go with Ergouzi. Even if she became a bandit, whether she lived or died later was none of their business, and they could get ten more gold coins. Why not do it?

After all the running around, they returned to Fierce Tiger Ridge. He saw a group of bandits already waiting for news. Seeing that Cui’er was not brought back, they did not dare to ask Lei Qing. Instead, they surrounded the group of brothers who had gone to do the work. After a chaotic discussion, they all knew the cause and effect.

A wave of bandits felt emotional in their hearts. Boss Lei was indeed a Young Master from a famous clan. He did things properly and smoothly, leaving no room for criticism. If Cui’er had gone up the mountain today and followed Ergouzi, it would have looked like a happy ending on the surface. But ultimately, it would not have been proper or justified. They were all bandits, so it didn’t matter. But what would Cui’er think in her heart?

Boss Lei’s way of handling things was truly thoughtful. He put so much effort into a common bandit brother. If everyone followed him and worked hard, rising above others was just around the corner. This matter spread wildly among the bandits of Fierce Tiger Ridge. After hearing it, they all felt both respect and awe for Lei Qing.

Lei Qing’s efforts to win people’s hearts and his teachings also played a quite positive role. Coupled with his young and handsome appearance, presentable exterior, outstanding family background, and powerful strength. Following this kind of boss was naturally much better than following Backing Tiger, who didn’t understand anything and only knew how to be tyrannical. It was much more dignified, and there was a future to look forward to.

Overnight, although it was impossible for all the bandits to pledge their loyalty, Lei Qing’s prestige was initially established, replacing the position of Zhao Guang in most people’s minds.

…

Almost at the same time, in Qingshi Town. Deep inside the private courtyard of the Li Chamber of Commerce branch, a girl with a lovely appearance was kneeling on the ground with a deathly pale face, her delicate body trembling.

“Xiangling.” A soft but cold female voice sighed and said, “You have been my personal Maid since childhood. I regard you as a sister and trust you immensely. Could it be that at this point, you still refuse to say who you secretly sold that batch of full-body iron armors to?”

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