369 Getting ready for battle (1/2)

Xiaoyu kept looking at Yang Xiaojin. The more she looked at her, the more she liked her. Yang Xiaojin looked very cultured and was beautiful as well. At the same time, it did not feel like she was a delicate girl who could not fend for herself.

Where else could she find a sister-in-law like her?

Xiaoyu was already thinking about the dowry for Ren Xiaosu before the relationship had even started taking shape. She even wanted to ask Ren Xiaosu what he would name his child. How many children would Ren Xiaosu and Yang Xiaojin have? If they only had two, she could help take care of them. But any more than that and it would be really tough for her to handle.

When everyone went back to work, Xiaoyu secretly asked Ren Xiaosu, ”Did you use the tent that Big Sis prepared for you?”

The first thing that Xiaoyu thought about the moment they arrived here was this. When she saw that there was not even a proper place for them to live, she knew the tent would definitely come in handy!

But as Xiaoyu joyfully waited for his reply, Ren Xiaosu stammered, ”She sleeps inside the tent while I sleep outside.”

Xiaoyu pinched Ren Xiaosu hard. ”How could you let such a good opportunity slip?!” He had wasted all her efforts! Everything she'd done had been for nothing!

To avoid further questioning, Ren Xiaosu quickly went over to the refugees and gathered everyone together. ”I believe everyone already knows that the Zong Consortium in the north probably knows that we're here. Now that the South is in chaos, we might be in danger if we continue living here.”

At this moment, Jin Lan took the lead and shouted, ”Boss, we'll follow you wherever you go!”

Ren Xiaosu paused for half a minute before suddenly saying, ”Actually, I'm not from Stronghold 178.”

He felt that a wonderful hope should not be mixed with deception. If that dream were really worth it, there should be no impurities. So he had to be honest with them.

After the bandits gradually quieted down, Ren Xiaosu continued, ”I know both Xu Xianchu and Zhang Jinglin, and we even have a good relationship, but I'm not actually from Stronghold 178. If any of you wish to leave, I can write you a recommendation letter. As for whether you'll be allowed to join Stronghold 178, I can't guarantee that.”

Ren Xiaosu waited for everyone to make their decision. He was not pinning much hope on most of them choosing to remain with him. He had spoken the truth as he did not wish to deceive this group of people anymore.

Sure enough, most of the bandits started looking at one another after hearing what Ren Xiaosu said.

Regardless of whether the method that Ren Xiaosu had previously used to fool them was effective or not, even though everyone enjoyed the process of earning the bullets, they only chose to stay around because they ultimately were looking to join Stronghold 178. So the moment the truth was revealed, everyone instinctively hesitated.

Someone stepped forward and said, ”Boss, to be honest, I only chose to stay behind because I really wanted to go to Stronghold 178. So…”

Ren Xiaosu nodded. He beckoned for Yan Liuyuan to get pen and paper, then wrote a letter to Xu Xianchu and Zhang Jinglin on the spot. However, he could not guarantee that Stronghold 178 would take them in as a favor to him.

Once someone got the ball rolling, the next bandit stepped forward and asked for a recommendation letter as well. Even though they were very happy here, their future was much more important. It was Stronghold 178 they were talking about.

Within half an hour, roughly one-third of the 300-odd bandits had left.

Ren Xiaosu was not unhappy. Rather, he appeared unusually calm.

There was no point in forcing them to stay if they wanted to leave. He was no longer willing to resort to lies in order to keep these people around.

Ren Xiaosu looked at Jin Lan. ”Why aren't you going?”

Jin Lan replied with a smile, ”I already guessed that was the case.”

Ren Xiaosu was stunned. ”You guessed it?”

”Boss, I'm not stupid.” Jin Lan said with a smile, ”If Stronghold 178 really wanted to unify the valley, they wouldn't have to act so cautiously and only send two people here. With just a word from them, 99% of the bandits in the valley would take up the offer immediately.”

”Then you…” Ren Xiaosu was startled. He wanted to ask Jin Lan and the others why they did not leave if that were the case.

Jin Lan said with a smile, ”I'm in that 1%. When you and Boss Lady jumped into the muddy river and dug for silt together with us, I decided that I would follow you and explore the opportunities in the valley. Even if it wasn't the valley, we'd still have followed you wherever.”

After Jin Lan spoke up, Zhang Yiheng added, ”There's nothing great about Stronghold 178 anyway. It gets so fucking cold there in the winter that we wouldn't even know who we are, so it's no loss even if we don't go there.”

Xu Jinyuan said, ”Bandits don't meet with a good end. We've come across all kinds of bandit leaders before, but this is the first time I've encountered a leader like you. It doesn't matter if we can't go to Stronghold 178. We'll just go wherever you say, Boss!”