Chapter 499 - Chapter 499: Chapter 486: What are you running for? (1/2)

Chapter 499: Chapter 486: What are you running for?

When mentioned by someone else, and not even by one of his own, Zhao Ziping became embarrassed and angry, snarling furiously, “You sure talk a lot, do you think you can become mute if you stop talking?”

“If both of you continue to blabber nonsense, just get out, and forget about asking me for help!”

Zhao Liu and Zhao Sanke immediately became flustered.

Zhao Ziping was the only scholar in the village. When anyone in the village needed to write Spring Festival couplets or a letter, they relied on Zhao Ziping.

Zhao Liu and Zhao Sanke, uncle and nephew, had an elder uncle who conducted business in the city. They wanted to seize the opportunity to go and find some work there, but they weren’t sure if their uncle would accept them. So, they planned to write him a letter first to see if he would reply.

If he replied, it would mean he was willing to lend a hand to his relatives back in his hometown. If he didn’t, it would mean he didn’t want anything to do with these poor relatives, and they would feel ashamed if they went there anyway. So they wouldn’t go.

But for this letter writing, they needed someone else’s help because they couldn’t write themselves. Hiring someone in town to write the letter would cost twenty to thirty coins, and there wasn’t even a guarantee that it would be good. If they wanted a scholar to write it, it would cost forty to fifty coins.

The cost was exorbitant, and the two brothers were reluctant to part with that much. They ultimately decided to rely on Zhao Ziping. They brought two freshly killed quails and some wine to him as a bribe.

However, Zhao Ziping refused the quails and the wine. He said that he would help them write the letter, but they had to accompany him on a little task. If they could complete this task he had in mind, he would write the letter and also handle all the writing needs for their family in the future, for all occasions.

The two brothers thought about it and agreed. Then, under the cover of darkness, they followed Zhao Ziping stealthily till they reached the outskirts of Enji Village. That’s how the earlier incident took place.

The two brothers, seeing Zhao Ziping genuinely angry, hurriedly tried to pacify him with their laughter.

“Brother Ziping, don’t be upset. We were just talking for the sake of talking.”

“Hmm.” Zhao Ziping grunted coldly. “If you keep fooling around here, both of you can leave.”

“We wouldn’t dare, we wouldn’t dare. Brother Ziping, whatever you ask me to do, I’ll do it. If you say go east, I certainly wouldn’t dare to go west.” Zhao Liu said, laughing nervously.

“That’s more like it.” Zhao Ziping’s expression somewhat softened. “Remember this. Later, Liu, you go and knock on the door. After you’ve knocked, hide to one side. If it seems deserted, that wretched girl will definitely come out and take a careful look.”

“As soon as that wretched girl steps outside the door, Sanke, you and I will put this sack over her. After we’ve covered her, I’ll grab her head, and you grab her feet. We’ll carry her to the persimmon forest outside.”

“Remember, you need to be swift and prompt. Don’t let the wretched girl scream. The people in Enji Village are all cunning. If she screams, the entire village will probably come running. Then none of us could escape.”

The last time when the people of Enji Village had treated him to a good beating, Zhao Ziping was somewhat apprehensive. He didn’t want to repeat the same mistake.

“Okay.” Both Zhao Sanke and Zhao Liu nodded in agreement.

“Brother Ziping, once we’ve trapped her in the sack, we could just give her a good beating right there and get our anger out. Why should we carry her to the persimmon forest to beat her there? Isn’t that like taking off one’s pants to fart, unnecessary?”

Zhao Liu asked, somewhat puzzled.