The thatched cottage had virtually no soundproofing at all. From the side of the room where Song Xiaoyu slept beside her mother, she could clearly hear Second Brother’s earth-shaking snores rumbling through the thin dividing wall.
It was the fifth watch of the night, just after the Hour of the Tiger, around five o’clock in the morning.
Suddenly, a faint rustling sound came from the wooden fence outside the front gate.
In the darkness, Song Xiaoyu’s eyes snapped open.
Although she had been lying down all night, she had never truly fallen asleep. She had expected that Song Beishan and the others would make their move under the cover of darkness.
Quietly slipping out of bed, she peered through the small window.
Sure enough, her guess had been correct.
The figures sneaking around the yard were none other than Song Beihai and Song Beishan.
Just as she was about to head outside, Song Wen and Song Wu happened to wake up to relieve themselves.
“Little Sister, why are you awake in the middle of the night?” Song Wu asked.
“Keep your voice down, Brother Wu.”
Song Xiaoyu pointed toward the courtyard and briefly explained the plot that Song Beishan and his accomplices had arranged.
The moment he heard it, Song Wu’s eyes widened with fury.
“This is outrageous! I’m going out there right now and beating them senseless!”
He immediately prepared to rush outside.
“Brother Wu, don’t be impulsive.”
A sly smile appeared on Song Xiaoyu’s face.
“I already have a plan. Since they want to scheme against us, we’ll simply return the favor and use their own scheme against them.”
Song Wen instantly understood.
“Little Sister, you mean we’ll switch the target and let them reap what they’ve sown?”
Only Song Wu remained completely confused.
“What are you two talking about? Why does it sound like you’re reciting poetry? I don’t understand a single word!”
Without wasting time, Song Xiaoyu quickly assigned tasks.
She had Song Wen fetch a large gunny sack and several lengths of sturdy hemp rope, while Song Wu retrieved two thick wooden clubs.
The three siblings moved with remarkable coordination.
A moment later, Song Xiaoyu stepped into the courtyard alone.
“Uncle Beihai, Uncle Beishan, what a surprise. Out for a stroll at this hour?”
The two men nearly jumped out of their skins.
Song Beishan forced a stiff smile onto his face.
“Ah, Xiaoyu! What a coincidence. Your Uncle Beihai and I were merely passing by. Did you come out to use the latrine?”
“Whether it’s a coincidence or not, I’m sure you know the answer better than anyone.”
Song Xiaoyu’s smile vanished.
“Brother Wen, Brother Wu, now!”
Before the two uncles could react, Song Wen and Song Wu sprang forward.
Thud! Thud!
The wooden clubs struck the backs of their heads with perfect precision.
Both men collapsed unconscious on the spot.
Song Wu still wasn’t satisfied.
“You two rotten scoundrels actually dared to plot against my little sister!”
After helping stuff them into the gunny sack, he delivered several extra kicks and punches for good measure.
Only then did his anger subside.
The three siblings tightly bound the unconscious men together, hoisted the sack onto their shoulders, and headed toward the village entrance.
By the time they arrived, dawn was only beginning to brighten the eastern horizon.
They waited quietly.
After quite some time, the sound of wheels finally approached from the distance.
A horse-drawn carriage slowly came into view.
Song Xiaoyu had already discussed everything with Song Wen beforehand. To avoid complications, she concealed herself within a nearby patch of bushes and observed from a distance.
As the carriage stopped, Song Wen stepped forward.
“Are you Steward Chen?”
The middle-aged man sitting on the carriage nodded.
“My father suddenly came down with severe diarrhea this morning and couldn’t make the trip. He instructed my cousin and me to bring the goods here and wait for you.”
Steward Chen frowned.
“Your father is Song Renyi?”
Song Renyi was Song Beishan’s given name.
“That’s right.”
Song Wen pointed at the large sack.
“My cousin helped me carry the goods.”
Steward Chen’s gaze landed on the unusually bulky sack.
“Open it. Let me inspect it.”
Inside the sack, Song Beihai and Song Beishan had been tied tightly together face-to-face. Naturally, the shape looked somewhat suspicious.
Without missing a beat, Song Wen calmly stepped forward.
“Steward Chen, villagers will soon be heading out to work in the fields. Time is short. It’s better for you to leave immediately to avoid unnecessary attention.”
He lowered his voice.
“You know better than anyone that this matter isn’t suitable for public discussion.”
Steward Chen hesitated.
Song Wen continued smoothly.
“The sleeping powder you provided has already been administered. I guarantee she won’t wake up and cause trouble along the journey.”
The moment he heard that the drug had been used, Steward Chen’s remaining doubts vanished.
He immediately waved his hand.
“Put her on the carriage.”
Song Wen and Song Wu lifted the sack onto the carriage.
Just before stepping away, Song Wen added solemnly,
“Oh, one more thing. My cousin accidentally fell into a manure pit while using the latrine this morning. The smell is rather overwhelming. If she wakes up and struggles during the trip, whatever happens, don’t untie the sack.”
At those words, Steward Chen instantly covered his nose with his sleeve and backed away several steps.
“Understood.”
He looked thoroughly disgusted.
Then he pulled a pouch from his robes and tossed it over.
“Here are the remaining twenty taels of silver. The money and goods are settled.”
The carriage quickly rolled away toward the horizon.
Only after it disappeared from sight did Song Xiaoyu emerge from the bushes.
She grinned and gave Song Wen a huge thumbs-up.
“Brother Wen, your acting skills are incredible!”