?51: Chapter 51 Saving People 51: Chapter 51 Saving People “Director Ren, don’t worry.

    I’m here!

    Our villagers in Wanbao Village won’t harm you in any way.” As soon as Liu Hun pulled Ren Peiling into his arms, the scent of jasmine overwhelmed him.

    He then felt something soft against him, and without thinking, he said to Ren Peiling, “Director Ren, why are you carrying steamed buns with you?”

    Ren Peiling knew exactly what had happened.

    Earlier, when the villagers had pushed and pulled, the things she was protecting on her upper body had slipped down to her waist.

    It wasn’t convenient to adjust them in front of so many people.

    Unexpectedly, Liu Hun embraced her directly, causing her to rub against him through their clothes.

    As the villagers pushed her, she moved upwards, and as Liu Hun cleared them away, she slid back down.

    Ren Peiling’s breathing grew heavier, as if she’d run ten miles.

    Her cheeks were flushed with a rosy hue.

    The pushing, rubbing, and grinding from the villagers and Liu Hun pressed her harder.

    Just when it seemed things might escalate, she felt something pricking her waist.

    Looking down, she screamed in surprise when she saw an indecent finger touching her waist, and then her legs went weak; whatever was going to happen, happened.

    Hearing Ren Peiling’s scream, Liu Hun thought it had turned into a big mess.

    He shouted at the top of his lungs, “Mao’er!

    Throw me the gong!”

    “Coming!” Mao’er hollered and tossed the gong over to Liu Hun.

    With one arm holding the unexpectedly limp Ren Peiling, Liu Hun caught the gong with the other and started banging it on the people around him.

    “Bang!

    Bang!

    Bang!” The sound was like thunder, each hit echoing loudly.

    Surprisingly, it worked well.

    People in the front who got hit knew how powerful Liu Hun could be and didn’t dare push forward.

    Hearing the thunderous gong, those at the back also stopped, not knowing what was going on inside and fearing they might get into trouble if they pushed in.

    “Back up!

    Back up!

    I’m laying down the law here!

    If anyone dares to push forward, I’ll break his leg!

    If you don’t believe me, come try!” Liu Hun said and, with a loud “clang,” threw the now dented gong to the ground.

    The reverberating crash made everyone too afraid to act out.

    Du Yueling, Qin Yue, and others finally managed to squeeze through to Liu Hun when the villagers calmed down, feeling relieved to see he was fine.

    When the crowd started surging earlier, they couldn’t find a way to wedge themselves in, no matter how hard they tried.

    “What’s up with Director Ren?” Fen Ran rushed over to ask.

    After all, as Ye Canghai’s wife, she understood whom not to offend.

    If anything happened to Director Ren, Wanbao Village wouldn’t just lose out on poverty alleviation; even wanting to develop on their own would be hindered.

    “I don’t know.

    Maybe she’s hungry or frightened.

    Sister Yue, you hold her for a moment while I settle some scores!” Liu Hun thought about the two soft things pressed against him earlier—probably the steamed buns she was carrying—and handed the limp-as-a-rag-doll Ren Peiling over to Fen Ran.

    Fen Ran, who had mastered the eighteen skills at night, knew a thing or two, even though Ye Canghai was more bark than bite.

    From the way Director Ren looked when Liu Hun handed her over, it seemed she’d just crossed over the mountain peak but hadn’t caught her breath yet.

    What exactly did Liu Hun do, and what method was so powerful that the formidable Director Ren, once fierce as Mu Guiying, turned into Pan Jinlian in just a moment?

    Supporting Ren Peiling, Fen Ran pondered over it, thinking so much that her legs started to tremble.

    Looking past Du Yueling, Qin Yue, and Bai Lian, they knew immediately what had happened with Ren Peiling.

    The only mystery was how the upright and properly-dressed Liu Hun managed it.

    With nothing but some appetizers on the table, what would happen when the real deal came around...

    It was intriguing just to imagine.

    Unaware of these women’s thoughts, Liu Hun yanked a timid-looking man out of the crowd and said, “Speak up!

    Were you the one inciting the crowd just now?

    Were you the one who poked Director Ren’s waist?”

    “Why...

    why me?

    Are you...

    blind?

    What makes you say it was me?” The man stammered defensively, looking suspiciously like he was lying.

    “Afraid to admit it after doing it?

    Are you even a man?

    If you dared to reach out, you should have known the consequences!” Liu Hun said, and with Qi Force surging through his fingers, he grabbed the man’s arm and twisted it downward.

    “It hurts!

    Mama...

    murder!

    Help!” The man’s hand dislocated under Liu Hun’s grip.

    The surrounding onlookers felt a cold sweat break out, cautious against inciting further trouble.

    Gripping the man’s face, Liu Hun said, “Are you going to admit it now?”

    “I admit it!

    I admit it!

    It was...

    it was me...

    All my doing.” The man finally confessed to his shameful behavior, nodding zealously in fear of more pain.

    With a cold snort, Liu Hun twisted the man’s hand back up, resetting his dislocated wrist with another scream.

    The lesson was taught.

    Liu Hun pushed the man aside and addressed the villagers, “I, Liu Hun, am here to make things clear.

    If you think what I say makes sense, then listen to me.

    If you think I’m wrong, then feel free to make more trouble!”

    Some villagers, although internally resentful, recognized Liu Hun’s strength.

    Without a leader to rally them, they had no choice but to listen respectfully.

    Liu Hun paused and continued, “First, let’s set everything else aside.

    What’s it worth for all of you to gang up on Director Ren, a lone woman?

    Is this all the skill you have?

    No matter how you look at it, you should never boss a woman around or lay hands on her!

    Second, Director Ren explained that the town’s funds depend on allocations from the county.

    How can they report upwards without completed investigations?

    Are there one or a hundred disaster-stricken households?

    Who can say clearly?!

    Finally, whether aid will come from the town and how much aid they can provide is the town’s business.

    What we can do is rely on ourselves.

    Who here is missing limbs?

    Haven’t our ancestors dug for a livelihood from the soil for generations?

    Didn’t they survive?

    When have they ever held out their hands for help?

    Why should we beg now?

    Really, how many families are truly without food?”

    These words from Liu Hun were like a bell, awakening many.

    Some felt that although his speech was plain, the logic was indisputable.

    “If everyone feels I’m right, then let’s disperse and go home.

    Wanbao Village has plenty of ways.

    There are capable people in Clear Water Ditch too.

    I believe we can get through this hardship with our own hands!” Liu Hun concluded generously—after all, he didn’t want to antagonize too many, particularly the villagers.

    Reflecting on Liu Hun’s reasonable words and recognizing they had no grounds for dispute or entitlements, the villagers began to disperse and return home.

    Afterward, as the villagers left, Ren Peiling, recovering her composure, dared not meet Liu Hun’s eyes, muttering a simple “thank you” before quickly leading her two colleagues out of Wanbao Village.

    Watching Ren Peiling leave, Liu Hun felt a bit uneasy and asked the women, “What happened to Director Ren?

    Could it be she’s holding a grudge against our Wanbao Village?”

    “I think not; she probably has a lingering fondness for our Wanbao Village.

    Earlier, looking like that she probably felt...” Wang Chunme blurted out thoughtlessly before being stopped by Fen Ran.

    Fen Ran smiled and said, “I believe Director Ren is sensible; she won’t cause trouble for our Wanbao Village.”

    Standing aside, Du Yueling listened to these remarks and recalled Ren Peiling’s strange expression earlier, feeling that there was something to it, though she couldn’t quite grasp it.

    “Forget it, let’s not worry about her now.

    Our Wanbao Village’s issues still need to be resolved by us,” Liu Hun said, swiftly assigning tasks to the women.

    Du Yueling was to write notices and draft agreements for villager loans; Fen Ran would visit the cooperative in town to find out about buying wild goods and see how the town’s market was doing; Bai Lian and Qin Yue would muster the villagers who had agreed to join them to find deadwood on the mountains and create a place to store the wood and cultivate mushrooms.

    This time, Liu Hun had learned his lesson—to secure buyers first before starting the work.

    The situation in Wanbao Village wasn’t completely desperate; accommodation could be found with relatives or friends, as most were kin.

    Staying in the temple was also an option, and having Qi Force in hand meant that while they couldn’t sell vegetables due to a lack of market, feeding everyone wouldn’t be a problem.

    Since relying on town subsidies wasn’t feasible, Liu Hun didn’t have a choice but to find his own way, though finding such avenues wasn’t particularly easy.

    “Our villagers are quite enthusiastic; most are willing to join us.

    However...” Bai Lian said, glancing at everyone present with a hint of hesitation, “Using their own money and effort to make a living is certainly less comfortable than getting free food from above.

    So some people have other ideas.”

    “Why care about them?

    Once the way is paved, Hunzi will provide the money, and not much effort is required—it’s easier than farming.

    If they’re still not happy, preferring handouts...

    why not just beg?

    I think some folks in our village just want to freeload,” Qin Yue retorted.

    She was fed up with the pervasive laziness in Wanbao Village, feeling that poverty and laziness went hand in hand.

    After venting, Qin Yue suddenly remembered Liu Hun’s assignment and said, “Look at me, getting so worked up I almost forgot our task.

    The place is set—it’s in the vegetable patch behind my house, close to the temple, making it convenient for Hunzi to manage.

    As for the deadwood, give us a few more days to arrange it.”

    Focused on their discussion, none noticed what was around them until they heard the gong sound behind them.

    Turning, they saw Mao’er entering with Du Yueling.