My Promotion Story Through Time Travel

Chapter 116 Taking Charge

Based on past experience, Lin Ziping secretly guessed that this was usually the prelude to the appearance of an important person.

Sure enough, as soon as the voice fell, the group stopped waving their fists and stood silently to the side.

De Ge was beaten black and blue, while Rong Rong was shielded beneath him, her face looking normal, suggesting she hadn't suffered any serious injuries.

"Brother De, are you alright? Waaah—it's all my fault!" Rongrong, her face streaked with tears, hurriedly checked on Brother De's injuries.

Even though his hands were tied, Brother De still raised his hand to wipe away Rongrong's tears: "Rongrong, don't cry, I'm fine."

The scene was tender and moving; some people around even sniffed, probably touched.

However, Lin Ziping noticed the dark marks on Rongrong's face. The two of them had already looked somewhat disheveled, and Rongrong's crying had left her face patchy with black and white marks. Combined with the grime on De Ge's hands, the smudged appearance was even worse after wiping.

Upon closer inspection, it not only lacks some of the aesthetic appeal but also makes the viewer feel somewhat distracted.

"What a tragic couple, their story is truly touching."

A man stepped out from behind, and the others bowed respectfully to him, saying, "Master."

Lin Ziping nodded in agreement, but secretly observed the newcomer. He saw that the man was in his forties, wearing a dark blue robe, completely different from the bandits he remembered. He had a scholarly air about him, and seemed like a learned man.

The elder brother who brought Lin Ziping up knelt down on one knee before the newcomer: "Master, I have failed in my duties, please punish me."

The bandit leader waved his hand and said, "A-Da, take the men down the mountain and go to the Hall of Affairs to receive your punishment."

"Yes." Ah Da bowed and withdrew with a look of relief on his face.

All eyes turned to Rongrong and Dege.

"The friendship between the two of you has deeply moved me, and I can't be the bad guy, so I've decided to let you go." Master Jiang sat down on the armchair that had somehow moved behind him, looking quite relaxed.

After saying that, someone stepped forward and untied the ropes binding Rongrong and Dege.

Overjoyed, Rongrong burst into tears and hugged De Ge tightly: "De Ge, did you hear that? The boss is going to let us go."

Lin Ziping shook his head inwardly. This silly girl! They only said they would let you leave, but they didn't specify how you would leave or how many people would leave. She's getting too excited now!

Sure enough, Chief Jiang continued, "But my dozen or so brothers have worked so hard, we can't let them come away empty-handed."

“That’s only right. My father is a merchant in the city and he dotes on me the most. I’ll have him send the money right away,” Rongrong said quickly.

If Rongrong's father heard this, he would probably be so angry he'd vomit blood. He should also thank this filial daughter!

"Heh, Miss Rongrong is so naive and innocent. I'm afraid your father will bring soldiers instead of silver." Jiang sneered. "How about this, only one of you can leave. The other one will stay. Let's see who stays."

"this--"

The two men's faces changed drastically, and they knelt down with a thud, pleading desperately.

"One"

"two"

"three"

"If we can't decide, let's keep both of them!" Chief Jiang waved his hand, and the burly man beside him drew his sword and stepped forward.

"She, she's staying!" Brother De suddenly pointed at Rongrong and shouted.

Rongrong looked at Dege with disbelief.

"Rongrong, didn't you love me the most? You were willing to abandon your ladylike dignity and elope with me for me. You know I still have my mother at home, and I'm all alone. I can't stay here." Brother De pushed Rongrong away, his expression somewhat deranged.

Rongrong sobbed, "Brother De, didn't we agree to live and die together?"

De Ge said, "But I don't want to die! You're already mine, what's wrong with dying for me? Besides, you're not a virgin, how can you be worthy of me! Rongrong, I really don't want to die!"

Rongrong stared at De Ge with wide, disbelieving eyes.

"Master, she, she stays!" Brother De pointed at Rongrong, then turned and ran out of the village.

With a look of pity, Chief Jiang looked at Rongrong kneeling on the ground: "Little girl, your lover doesn't want you anymore and wants to be your concubine. Why can't you understand this and willingly degrade yourself?"

Rongrong seemed not to have reacted yet, staring blankly at De Ge's back.

Seeing this, Lin Ziping sighed. Another girl ruined by a scumbag.

"Boss, please help me kill him! I'm willing to offer up the entire Hu family fortune!" Rongrong banged her head on the ground, kowtowing heavily.

"The Hu family?! Little girl, the Hu family isn't for you to call the shots!" Jiang said casually.

“I—I’m willing to sell myself to you,” Hu Rongrong said firmly.

Jiang, the head of the household, seemed to have been waiting for this sentence, and said with a smile, "Alright, I'll take your Hu family's assets and your life!"

A short while later, Brother De was brought up again, bound hand and foot.

"Bang-"

Jiang, the head of the household, threw a dagger in front of Hu Rongrong: "Now I'm giving you a chance to take revenge yourself. Kill him!"

"No—Rongrong, no—don't you love me?" Dege began to struggle.

Hu Rongrong got up, picked up the dagger in front of her, and slowly approached Brother De.

"Liu De, you said you'd give me your life, and now I'm here to take it!"

Without flinching, Hu Rongrong plunged the dagger into Liu De's chest.

"Ah—" Liu De let out a wail, "You wretched woman, have you forgotten that you were the one who threw yourself at me? If it weren't for my pity on you..."

"It's too noisy, kill them!" Chief Jiang ordered expressionlessly.

The man with the knife stepped forward and killed Liu De with a single blow. The words he hadn't finished speaking were stuck in his throat, never to be uttered again.

Although his hands were tied, it couldn't stop Lin Ziping from enjoying the drama unfolding on the front lines. He couldn't help but marvel at the spectacle, never expecting to witness such a melodramatic love story here.

"Take him away," said Chief Jiang, then turned his gaze to Lin Ziping: "And who is this?"

"Master, Xiao Si discovered he had entered Mao Mao Village, and remembering our grand plan, he brought him back," said A Da.

"What are you going to Maomao Village for?" Jiang asked Lin Ziping with sharp eyes.

"Just passing by," Lin Ziping replied.

"Nonsense, aren't you looking for someone?" Xiao Si scolded.

Lin Ziping blinked and said, "Yeah, I was out looking for someone and just happened to be passing by."

"You—" Xiao Si shouted, drawing the knife from his waist.

"Xiao Si, step back," Jiang the head of the household said, stopping him.

Xiao Si glared at Lin Ziping and stood aside, unconvinced.

"Young man, you have quite the nerve, but you're a bit too arrogant. Are you sent by the government?" Jiang asked, toying with the dagger in his hand.

“Yes.” Lin Ziping’s eyes held a hint of innocent naiveté, his main strength being sincerity. He nodded heavily and said, “The government sent me.”

Lin Ziping's words were like a thunderclap from a clear sky, causing the atmosphere to freeze, and the people around him picked up their weapons and pointed them at him.