Chapter 309: We Are Here to Cause Trouble

The sound of the oar entering the water was as light as a fish tail flicking.

Two shuttle boats deftly threaded through the river channel as dense as a spider web; on both sides, reeds towered above heads, pressing darkly toward the middle, leaving only a thin, grayish sliver of sky.

At the prow, two Canal Gang men with dark skin guided the way; a light tap of their pole sent the boat gliding far away.

One man lowered his voice, lifted his chin toward the front, and said, "Gentlemen, we can only take you this far. This boat is yours; be careful with everything."

Lu Qi clasped his fists and said, "Thank you."

The group leapt from the boat, and a man secured one of the boats to the shore.

Xiao Ningxun turned, clasped his fists, and said, "Thanks for your trouble, both of you. Please return and inform Young Chief Luo, and remember, if you see Shen Wanjin's boat approaching, act immediately."

"Alright. Gentlemen, be extremely careful; that Shen Wanjin is no pushover."

The two leapt onto another small boat, turned silently, and vanished into the dense reed thicket.

A few of them looked up, peering through the reed gaps; ahead the water opened up, yet was fragmented by countless sandbars and reed clusters.

In the center of this waterway stood an artificial earthen island!

The island wasn't large, but it was compactly built, reinforced with wooden stakes at the edges, and bore a few rows of crude shacks.

Cooking smoke curled up from a corner of the island, mingling with the dusk haze.

The group stepped cautiously, one foot deep, one foot shallow, feeling their way onto the island.

Tuan Tuan lay on Xiao Er's back, curiously looking around.

The island's outline sharpened; on the west side of several long shacks stood a solitary low shack, now billowing smoke.

A few men carrying knives paced around the shacks and near the island's pier, chatting intermittently.

Further away, near the water's edge, a flock of ducks—about twenty to thirty—was gathered, stretching their necks and quacking loudly.

Lu Qi whispered, "There aren't many guards; on the surface only seven or eight, and there must be more hidden."

Just as he spoke, Xiao Er nudged Xiao Ningxun's arm and puckered his lips toward the right front.

Beside a earthen slope less than twenty steps from their hiding spot, a tiny figure crouched.

It was a girl of about eight or nine, with a small bamboo basket beside her.

She wore a shirt faded white from washing, sleeves rolled up, revealing slender wrists.

She bowed her head, diligently using a tiny shovel to dig wild greens on the slope.

With each plant she unearthed, she glanced back warily, as if guarding against something.

In the twilight, one could clearly see her sunken cheeks, bluish eye sockets, and the way she licked her lips at the greens—she was unmistakably starving.

Xiao Ningxun and Xiao Er exchanged a glance: how could such a tiny child be on this island? And starving like this?

While pondering, the girl lifted the basket, preparing to head back.

Perhaps from severe hunger and crouching too long, she wobbled as she rose, stepping on a loose stone.

Aiya!

She let out a low cry and tumbled down the slope; the bamboo basket slipped from her hands, scattering the greens everywhere.

Xiao Er sprang out of the reeds, extended his arm, and firmly caught her.

The girl, still shaken, looked up to see an unfamiliar face, froze in terror, and opened her mouth to scream.

"Don't be afraid." Xiao Er covered her mouth with one hand, "We're not bad people."

The others behind also followed.

Xiao Er set her down; she staggered back two steps, eyes wide and round.

Tuan Tuan poked its head out from behind Xiao Er, "Big sister, what are you doing here?"

The girl looked at Tuan Tuan, wearing a dark pink dress, with a beautiful pearl hairpin slanted in her hair.

So pretty! Like a figure from a painting!

Instinctively, the girl lowered her head to glance at her mud‑splattered clothes, her fingers curling.

She steadied herself slightly and asked in a low voice, "Who are you? Why are you here? Did Lao Liu Tou send you to deliver vegetables? It's supposed to be tomorrow."

Xiao Er quickly shifted his thoughts and replied, "Hmm, why are you digging wild greens alone here? Are you out of vegetables?"

The girl's eyes reddened at his words, "There are still vegetables, but… but today it's my turn to have an empty stomach."

"It's your turn to be hungry?" Lu Qi frowned, "What does that mean?"

Tuan Tuan pulled an oil‑paper-wrapped parcel from its pouch, revealing a piece of water‑chestnut cake, and handed it to her: "Here, big sister, you're hungry; have this. What's your name?"

The girl stared at the oil‑paper parcel, hesitated, then reached out and took it.

She opened the parcel; the water‑chestnut cake emitted an inviting sweet aroma.

She swallowed, then took a small bite.

So delicious.

She could no longer hold back; a few bites and it was all gone.

She lifted her head, eyes brightening: "I'm called Xiao Yue. The vegetables weren't supposed to be delivered here; what are you all doing?"

Tuan Tuan blinked its big eyes, "Big sister, we're here to cause trouble!"

Xiao Yue was stunned, "Cause trouble?"

"Exactly!" Tuan Tuan nodded vigorously, "We'll cause a huge ruckus, draw out the villains, and then capture them all!"

Xiao Yue's face was full of disbelief, "Really?"

Xiao Ningxun crouched to meet her eye level, "Yes, my sister is absolutely right."

"Miss Xiao Yue, could you tell me what actually happened here?"

Xiao Yue glanced here and there, then stared straight at Tuan Tuan, convinced that this little sister was definitely not a villain!

She gritted her teeth, "I… I believe you! You wait for me!"

Having said that, she turned and ran, her slender figure disappearing into the shadows behind the reeds.

Lu Qi frowned: "Could it be to deliver a message?"

"Doesn't seem like it." Xiao Ningxun stood up, shook his head, "Let's wait a while."

In less than half a cup of tea's time, Xiao Yue returned, with a middle‑aged man of about forty following behind.

The man walked a few steps away from the group, grabbed Xiao Yue, and shielded her behind him.

"You are here to capture the villains?" his voice hoarse, "Is that true? My daughter didn't hear it wrong?"

Xiao Ningxun nodded, "Didn't mishear. May I ask, uncle, who are you?"

The middle‑aged man was silent for a moment, "Enough! My name is Wang Laoshi, this is my daughter. I also have a son, Tiezhu, who is also here."

He paused, "A few months ago we met some people who were hiring temporary workers, providing food and lodging, needing a skilled blacksmith. My son's craft is good and his build is sturdy, so he took the job."

"It was agreed to be only three days," his throat choked, "but after that he never returned."

"Xiao Yue and I went to look for him, but we didn't expect that a few people came out, heard we were looking for someone, and without a word tied us up, blindfolded us, and brought us here."

"When we arrived we learned that Tiezhu had also been brought here, locked up, and forced to forge iron for them."

"Then you…" Lu Qi looked at Xiao Yue.

Wang Laoshi forced a bitter smile, "They kidnapped us so that we could cook for them."

"But they said that, between father and daughter, only one of us can have a full stomach each day."

"Who eats, who starves, all depends on a single word from them."

He raised his hand, stroked Xiao Yue's head, "Today, it's Xiao Yue's turn."

Xiao Yue lowered her head, tears pattering onto the mud.