Chapter 98: Zhao Tiezhu Breaks the Sky: My Brother Takes on the Ferocious Bandits!

"You're back!"

The peace of Shanwan Village was shattered by a few shouts, followed by panicked cries from the villagers, barking dogs, and the chickens and ducks flapping about.

Soon, when they saw Lu Qingshan, Zhao Tiezhu and Zhao Er Zhuang escorting two tightly bound strangers—one still bleeding profusely, his clothes soaked in dark red—and a few militia dragging a corpse wrapped in a rag down the mountain path, the whole Shanwan Village erupted in a frenzy.

The timid women and children had hidden inside, daring only to peek out through the cracks of doors and windows.

"Heaven above! What's happening?" an old man asked tremblingly.

"Lu Qingshan caught someone? Is… is it the bandit mentioned in the broadcast?" a young man asked, eyes wide.

"Then… aren't those Captain Chen of the Public Security Bureau and his men? They're here too!" someone sharp‑eyed pointed out the police following behind.

Villagers swarmed in from three sides, their murmurs buzzing, filled with shock and lingering fear.

Lin Yue'e, cradling Xiao Xue, managed to push through the crowd and, upon seeing Lu Qingshan dusty and scarred on his face yet unharmed, felt relief.

In her arms, Xiao Xue stretched out her little hand and mumbled, "Dad… Dad…," then could no longer hold back, tears streaming down like beads cut from a string.

She lunged forward in a single stride, clinging tightly to Lu Qingshan, unable to speak, her shoulders shaking violently.

Xiao Xue was startled by the scene, glanced at her crying mother, then at her weary father, pursed her little mouth and let out a loud "Wa—" cry.

Lu Qingshan gently patted his wife's back, then reached out to touch his daughter's reddened cheek, a swirl of emotions in his heart, his throat tightening.

Chen Zhiguo ordered his men to load Lu Jia Ying and another living captive onto a jeep, and had the corpse taken care of.

Before departing, he shook Lu Qingshan's hand firmly, his expression complex: "Qing Shan, this time it's thanks to you. The whole province and city are watching this case; you've done a great service. Rest at home for a few days and wait for my word."

His voice carried a barely perceptible fatigue, as if a weight had been lifted.

Chen Zhiguo's party rode away with the prisoners, kicking up a cloud of dust, while Shanwan Village remained unsettled for a long time.

Villagers gathered around Lu Qingshan and the two others, each offering a comment, asking this and that.

That night, Lu Qingshan's newly built courtyard was packed inside and out, even heads pressed against the walls, swaying in the moonlight.

Village chief Zhao Yongnian stood on a small square table brought in from the house, cleared his throat, and, using the borrowed tin loudspeaker, announced at full volume: "Tonight we hold a village‑wide meeting! The main purpose is to commend the heroic deeds of seven Comrades—Lu Qingshan, Zhao Tiezhu, Zhao Er Zhuang, Liu Fugui, Zhao Fei, Zhao Lei, and Zhao Qiang!"

The courtyard instantly rang with thunderous cheers, applause, and even some whistling.

A group of elder gentlemen gathered around Lu Qingshan, bombarding him with questions about the capture.

Zhao Tiezhu, never one to hold his tongue, was now so excited his face flushed red, spitting as he narrated, gesturing wildly, nearly knocking the nearby man's Smoke Pipe Bowl off the table.

He described Lu Qingshan's composure, his ability to anticipate the bandits' moves, and his one‑shot kill, turning it into legend—especially the pinpoint shooting, which he likened to a hundred‑step‑through‑a‑willow‑tree, leaving the crowd stunned.

"…and then I heard a 'Bang—' and the bandit leader's iron thing, along with his hand, flew off! Blood sprayed everywhere!"

Zhao Tiezhu slapped his thigh, his voice booming, "Brother Qing Shan's shooting—click, click—it's like he grew eyes! He hits wherever he points!"

He mimed a firing stance, adding a "biu" sound.

Those nearby gasped, their gazes toward Lu Qingshan growing more reverent, mixed with curiosity.

Lu Qingshan merely smiled, patted Zhao Tiezhu's shoulder, urging him to say less, while several village elders pulled him into conversation.

The next day, the turmoil had settled a bit.

Lu Qingshan took Lin Yue'e and Xiao Xue to the "kingdom" at the foot of the back mountain that belonged to him.

The sunshine was perfect, warming everyone.

Liu Fugui was leading a few half‑grown boys to add fresh grass for the Spotted Deer, the youngsters working with a sprightly vigor.

Seeing Lu Qingshan's family, Liu Fugui grinned and rushed over, his excitement making his words stumble: "Q‑Qing Shan brother, sister‑in‑law, Xiao Xue! You've come!"

He pointed at the Spotted Deer in the pen, already clearly acclimated, lazily swishing their tails, their coats glistening in the sun, and at the nearby enclosure where little Wild Boars snorted, eagerly approaching the feeding trough to eat wild greens mixed with bran. He spoke rapidly, voice trembling: "Brother, look! These fawns are all glossy and healthy! Much more spirited than when they first arrived! Those wild‑boar piglets are also much tamer, eating whatever we give them! And there's a doe—her belly's swollen these past two days; she's probably about to give birth!"

His face was full of joy and anticipation.

Lu Qingshan watched the vibrant scene, listened to Liu Fugui's excited report, his eyes smiling, and gave his shoulder a firm pat: "Good lad! Well done! I'll credit you for this!"

Lin Yue'e observed everything: chicks pecking merrily under the fruit trees, the deer strolling leisurely in the pen, far away Zhao Laonian herding cattle and sheep at a relaxed pace, and Zhao Tiezhu leading four people in weeding the fields.

Her husband was no longer the hopeless "Lu Lazi"; he had become the village's backbone, her and Xiao Xue's support, filling her heart with an indescribable sense of steadiness and warmth.

Xiao Xue curiously extended her little hand, pointing at the fluffy fawns, shouting "aa aa" and wanting to touch them; Lu Qingshan lifted her with a smile, letting her watch from a distance so as not to disturb them.

"When they're no longer afraid of people, dad will take you to pet them."

At night, Xiao Xue fell asleep, a satisfied smile still on her face.

Lin Yue'e gently massaged Lu Qingshan's shoulder; under the lamp light, the scar on his arm from a wild boar's tusk remained vivid, like a snarling worm.

She clasped his hand and asked softly, "Qing Shan, yesterday… when you went up the mountain to capture them, were you scared?"

Her voice was soft, with a barely perceptible tremor.

Lu Qingshan was silent for a moment, then tightened his grip on her hand and whispered, "I was scared. How could I not be? He was a murderer, still armed."

He paused, his voice dropping further, "But when I think of you and Xiao Xue, I can't think of anything else. If they escaped or hid near the village, that would be endless trouble."

Lin Yue'e rested her head lightly on his chest, listening to his steady, strong heartbeat, her voice trembling with lingering fear: "I heard Liu Fugui and the others say you went up with Tiezhu to chase the fugitive; my heart nearly leapt out of my throat. Qing Shan, from now on… please don't take such risks again, okay? Xiao Xue and I can't be without you."

She hugged his waist tightly.

"Hmm." Lu Qingshan solemnly nodded, pulling her closer, "I won't again. I'll be more careful."

Moonlight outside poured like water onto the kang, and the house was hushed.

Lu Qingshan stared at the bright moon beyond the window and suddenly said, "Yue E, once everything here is settled, I want… I want to go to Beijing."

Lin Yue'e was slightly startled, lifting her head from his embrace, a flash of surprise in her eyes.

Then a mix of anticipation and worry rose; her lips moved as if to ask something, but she simply squeezed his hand tighter and whispered, "Alright."

She knew he had always been thinking of his long‑lost parents, the deepest knot in his heart.