Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
Wang Nian, grappling with inner conflict, expressed his predicament to Chen Linâer. âYou know Iâve severed ties with my wifeâs brother. Iâve committed to turning over a new leaf and being a better person.â
âMy wifeâs brother has made it clear that he doesnât want to see me again. He even threatened to kill me if I lingered. Now, when I need his help, Iâm uncertain if heâll receive me. Even if he does, I donât know if heâll resort to violence.â
Observing Wang Nianâs dilemma, Chen Linâer, tearfully kneeling before him, pleaded, âBrother Wang Nian, please help me for the sake of the childâs father!â
Wang Nian hesitated, but his wife, Ms. Zhang, intervened with a tearful plea, kicking him and saying, âSaving a life is more crucial than building a seven-story pagoda! You must help, even if youâre reluctant!â
Ms. Zhang further entreated Wang Nian, offering him another earring. âTake this earring with you. My brother wonât harm you if you have this.â
Reluctantly, Wang Nian agreed to Chen Linâerâs request. âIâll try my best to persuade them to reduce the ransom. If thatâs not possible, Iâll plead for a few more days.â
Despite warnings about Wang Nianâs unreliability, Chen Linâer had no alternative. He was the sole person capable of communicating with the mountain bandits.
Wang Nian returned the next day with devastating newsâboth children were already dead. The abductors had rendered them unconscious with a palm strike, subsequently placing them in cloth bags for transport to the mountain. Upon reaching their destination, the assailants discovered the children unresponsive, possibly succumbing to suffocation or an excessively forceful strike.
Chen Linâer lost consciousness on the spot.
Upon awakening, she heard Wang Nian recounting, âI pleaded extensively before those people allowed me to meet my wifeâs brother.â
âHowever, my wifeâs brother denied involvement, claiming it was another group responsible.ân/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
âI implored my wifeâs brother to take me to speak with this other group, and after much persuasion, he agreed.â
âUpon meeting them, I observed that they were fierce-looking individuals, seemingly ready to devour anyone. They differed significantly from my wifeâs brother.â
âI gathered my courage and proposed lowering the ransom to 800 taels, citing the limitations of the value of your shop and house. Surprisingly, the leader readily agreed, granting us additional days.â
âYet, something felt off. Why were these malevolent individuals so cooperative? I couldnât shake the strange look in the leaderâs eyes. It made my heart skip a beat. Could something be amiss?â
âI immediately requested to see the child. He grew furious, shouting, âWhat are you looking at? Hurry up and go back to get the money. Do you believe that Iâll kill them immediately?ââ
âFrightened but concerned, I discreetly tugged at my wifeâs brotherâs clothes, pleading for his assistance.â
âMy wifeâs brother intervened, telling the leader, âAs bandits, we have our own rules. Itâs not excessive to allow the hostagesâ family to see them.ââ
âHowever, the boss adamantly refused to comply. Just as the tension peaked, another man entered, inquiring, âShould we bury the corpses of the two children first, or wait until we receive the ransom before returning them to their families?ââ
âI was stunned to hear this revelation: Were they already dead?â
âAs the truth unraveled, the boss had no choice but to admit the tragic reality..â