Kang He carefully edged toward the wall, pulling out a loosely fitted brick and peering through the hole.
The night had closed in completely, no light visible outside—only darkness, with a sharp wind and heavy rain. Through the gloom, a vague silhouette could be made out.
Looking at that figure, Kang He thought it somewhat familiar… and just as he was about to say who it resembled, a voice answered from outside: “It’s me.”
Kang He recognized that short, faint tone—it could only be Fan Jing.
He hurried to open the door and pulled Fan Jing into the courtyard.
Fan Jing wore only a straw hat, no raincoat draped over him, and his clothes were almost completely dry.
Kang He furrowed his brow and touched his hands, which felt icy cold. “Why have you come back?”
Fan Jing took off his straw hat and walked toward the kitchen by himself.
Kang He hurried after him. “Did something happen in the mountains?!”
“No. Zhang Shili is up there with Xiao Qiu and her parents. They entered the mountains early and gathered some trusted hunters to set traps for defense. They’ve been patrolling everywhere these past few days but haven’t seen any strangers. Those mountain areas are safe.”
Fan Jing said, “I asked Zhang Shili to keep an eye on things. He promised to take good care of the upper area.”
Kang He breathed a sigh of relief but quickly frowned again. “Then why did you come down? You should stay put up there. It’s raining before nightfall, cold and damp outside, and things aren’t peaceful.”
Fan Jing had initially come down for some hot water to wash himself. Hearing Kang He’s rapid-fire questions, he paused, turning toward him.
Seeing Kang He’s tightly knit brows—already marked with two faint creases from just half a day—Fan Jing suddenly reached out to stroke Kang He’s forehead. “If I’m not there, how will you manage on your own?”
Kang He was momentarily stunned; a wave of emotion surged in his chest.
He suddenly understood why Fan Jing had been so silent and reserved when heading to the mountains earlier. Perhaps, even then, he had been wrestling with the idea of going up and then returning alone.
Grabbing Fan Jing’s cold hand, Kang He didn’t let go. His eyes, burning with warmth, pulled Fan Jing into a tight embrace.
Though he couldn’t fully express his feelings, he said, “Once this is all over, I’m going to look for Brother Zhang to have a serious talk. How could I let you run around like this by yourself?”
Hearing Kang He’s softened voice, Fan Jing’s brow twitched. “If he wants me to stay, how can I resist?”
Kang He was only speaking casually—he didn’t truly blame Zhang Shili. His chin brushed against Fan Jing’s damp collar as he finally came back to his senses.
“Forget about that for now. Go inside and get some clean clothes, then head to the clean room. I’ll fetch hot water for you to wash up.”
Fan Jing nodded, cautiously making his way back along the small path. On a rainy winter night, it was impossible not to feel cold.
He was so chilled he almost stiffened, but he said nothing and went inside.
Kang He carried water inside for Fan Jing to wash, then prepared a bowl of ginger soup to chase away the cold.
Passing by the side room, he heard the voices of Master Fan and Madam Fan snoring softly.
The two of them had such peaceful hearts they slept soundly.
They had moved over earlier, with Madam Fan complaining about the cold, so three charcoal braziers had been set up for warmth. Only then could they feel comfortable.
But not long after, Madam Fan complained of a bad taste in her mouth. Kang He brought over two plates of soft cakes. After eating one plate, Master and Madam Fan said they didn’t like the taste of tea and asked for some goat’s milk to go with the cakes.
Kang He served them for a while. That morning, they had eaten and drunk their fill before going to bed.
The night was silent except for the sound of wind and rain outside—no other noise could be heard.
Under different circumstances, it might have been a good night’s sleep, but tonight, it left people unsettled, unable to rest easy.
After washing up, Fan Jing drank a whole bowl of ginger soup sweetened with sugar, then Kang He soaked his feet in hot water. Having run around all day, he was quite exhausted.
Kang He told Fan Jing to get some proper sleep but to call him if anything happened.
These bandits might not come to their home, and the house was in a poor location, far from the village. If the bandits entered the village, they might not find this place.
With this thought, Fan Jing finally drifted off.
Seeing his breathing steady, Kang He lay down beside him.
Little did they know that past midnight, a group of bandits truly did slip into the village, riding the wind and rain.
The head of the village was a family named Deng.
That summer, they had learned from the Fan family how to replace their roof tiles and had installed stone bricks on their floors, making the house quite noisy.
Having struck a modest fortune from a recent business, the Deng family liked to show off.
Hearing rumors about bandits in the county, everyone else in the village secretly wished they were poorer, just to avoid attracting trouble.
But the Deng family, ignoring superstition, parked their newly bought carriage openly in the courtyard, confident they could boast among the villagers.
Like shadows, the bandits stealthily crept into the village, their first target being this family.
Deng Dalang vaguely heard some loud noises and woke up groggily, only to see several unfamiliar faces inside his home.
Still dazed, he thought they might be fellow villagers.
When he fully realized who they were, he was terrified and fell onto the tiled floor.
These bandits looked fierce, like demons or ghosts.
Tonight, even though half their faces were covered, they appeared to be ordinary men—nothing especially large or strong—but their sinister aura was unmistakable.
Deng Dalang couldn’t get up again; a knife was pressed against his neck.
He felt a coldness sharper than the dead of winter.
Seeing the bandits rummaging through his home, he was powerless to resist.
A sudden warmth from below betrayed him, and he soiled himself on the floor.
The bandits didn’t find much of value.
They forced Deng Dalang out, threatening, “If you don’t come out, we’ll behead you!”
He trembled on the ground. “I’m just a poor man. Everything outside is for show.”
“Gentlemen, you’re doing big things. Take my newly bought donkey. If it can serve you once, my life won’t have been in vain.”
“One broken donkey won’t fill us up. If you love your wealth so much, give us your life instead!”
At that, Deng Dalang felt the knife press deeper, chilling his neck.
Terrified, his eyes widened as he suddenly thought fast. “Don’t kill me! Although I’m poor, there’s a rich family in the village!”
“They don’t just have donkeys; they have cows, horses, and mules! Hundreds of chickens and ducks, and every meal is meat. No one lives better. I’ll be your guide and lead you there!”
The bandits exchanged glances.
The man pressing the knife at Deng Dalang’s neck yanked him roughly. “If you dare fool me, I’ll kill your wife and children right here!”
“I swear I’m telling the truth! That rich family lives near the mountain—it’s hard to find. Without a guide on a rainy day, you’ll alarm the whole village and still won’t find their home!”
Greedy for the horses and mules, the bandits bound Deng Dalang and gagged him, rendering him unable to move or shout.
Then they dragged him outside.
The torrential rain pounded on their bodies, stinging sharply.
It was past midnight—the time when people were deep asleep.
Kang He and Fan Jing lay on their beds, both sleeping lightly.
Hearing a dog bark outside, they woke immediately.
Listening carefully, the barking ceased. They wondered if they had imagined it.
Fan Jing flipped over and got up. Grabbing his longbow, he stepped outside.
Kang He made no excuse, knowing they couldn’t afford to ignore even the slightest disturbance at this hour.
Outside in the courtyard, the night patrol men were alert.
“Just now I heard a dog bark once. It didn’t bark again after that.”
Fan Jing’s brow tightened. He gestured for the men to wake everyone and told Kang He, “That dog must be dead. Something’s wrong outside.”
Just then, there was a knock on the door.
“Who’s there?!”
Everyone’s hair stood on end as they stared toward the main gate.
“It’s me, Deng Dalang. Is Fourth Brother Lian at the door? Open it! Bandits have entered the village. They rushed into our homes, killing and looting. I ran here to warn you!”
Deng Dalang’s voice was anxious and frightened, not sounding deceitful.
The men’s expressions changed.
Fourth Brother Lian hesitated to open the door, looking at Kang He.
Fan Jing motioned Kang He to pull the man inside and quietly moved toward the wall hole to see what was going on outside.
Kang He locked eyes with Fourth Brother Lian and said, “Brother Deng, is it really as bad as you say? Don’t worry. I’ll wake everyone inside and arm them. Then we’ll help.”
“Fourth Brother Lian, open the door first. It’s raining hard outside. I can come in and help you call people. I’ll explain the situation clearly.”
Fan Jing looked out through the hole, his expression turning grim.
He signaled the number eight with his fingers.
Just from what he saw, there were eight men outside!
Deng Dalang was just a decoy to get them to open the door.
Everyone inside panicked, fingers immediately reaching for weapons they had prepared.
They waited for Kang He and Fan Jing to arrange the defense.
At that moment, the eldest uncle, Fan Shoushan, was hurriedly awakened and ran outside.
Upon hearing the bandits were at the door, his face turned pale.
Though he had prepared defenses, he still hoped the bandits wouldn’t come to their village. But now, it had happened right at their doorstep.
Kang He saw his worry and hurried to reassure him. “Uncle, go back inside and look after Master and Madam. Close the doors tight and don’t make a sound.”
Fan Shoushan pointed outside, his voice barely above a whisper. “Third Brother, what do we do now? The walls are thick and high. They shouldn’t get in, right?”
Kang He didn’t want to add to his worries, so he didn’t mention the plan with Fan Jing.
He nodded firmly. “Yes. You just stay inside and watch over Master and Madam. I’ll guard outside. They won’t make a big scene—they don’t want to alert the villagers and get the authorities involved.”
“If it gets bad, I’ll have Fourth Brother Lian lead you and the Masters out through the secret exit.”
Without waiting for Fan Shoushan’s reply, Kang He gently pushed him inside.
In this pause, Fan Jing had already called some men from the courtyard—Yi Huan, Er Xi, and a few others—to check outside through different wall holes.
There were a total of twelve bandits outside, plus Deng Dalang, making thirteen.
Their defenders, including Fan Jing, were only eight.
These bandits had killed before and were ruthless. If it came to hand-to-hand fighting, they wouldn’t stand a chance.
But if they didn’t stop them now, the county would continue to be troubled, never at peace.
Besides, since they had learned of the Fan family’s wealth, these bandits would return if they failed today.
What peace could they expect?
“Damn it! Are you going to open the door or not?!”
The bandits outside, seeing the Fan family’s tall, sturdy gate, realized it was a prime target.
But the door remained shut, and their patience was wearing thin.
Sweat dripped down Deng Dalang’s forehead as he knew he wasn’t well-liked by the Fan family.
He had barely convinced them to open the door despite the emergency.
“Fourth Brother Lian, if you don’t open the door soon, I’m going to lose it!”
“Deng Dalang, don’t panic. I’m scared too and don’t know what to do.”
While pulling the latch, Fourth Brother Lian called into the house in a loud voice, “Yi Huan, Er Xi, get up! There are bandits in the village! Light the lanterns and wake up Kang San!”
The heavy door slid open.
Fourth Brother Lian had already hidden behind it and slipped away along the wall.
Deng Dalang was kicked roughly by the bandits and shoved inside.
Seeing nothing amiss, the bandits rushed in.
Just then, several arrows suddenly flew toward the gate, hitting three or four men who were leading the charge.
“Ambush! Watch out!”
The bandits quickly raised their bows and fired toward the source.
But Fan Jing and Yi Huan, Er Xi had already switched positions in the shadows and shot back.
Taking advantage of the chaos, Kang He and the guards lit strings of firecrackers and threw them near the gate, the loud crackling echoing through the night.
The bandits were thrown into confusion, further attacked by arrows.
Realizing this place was too well defended, they dared not force their way inside and turned to flee.
The Fan family lit their lanterns, and the guards rushed to subdue and tie up the injured bandits who had fallen.
“Don’t let anyone escape!”
Fan Jing jumped down from a high spot and called to Yi Huan and Er Xi to give chase.
The few bandits who managed to mount mules sped away.
Fan Jing loosed an arrow and shot one of the fleeing men.
Yi Huan and Er Xi had started learning archery later, so while their aim wasn’t as good, they managed to shoot the mule instead.
The startled mule bolted wildly, throwing its rider into a field.
The firecrackers echoed deep into the night.
Master and Madam Fan, both elderly, had trouble sleeping and were suddenly awakened by the commotion.
Seeing Fan Shoushan sealing the doors and windows to protect them, they learned the bandits had attacked their home.
Madam Fan, who had earlier said she wasn’t afraid of death, fainted outright at the sound of the fighting outside.
The sound of firecrackers in the middle of the night stirred the whole village awake.
People lit their lamps one by one.
In this region, firecrackers at midnight usually meant something terrible had happened or someone had passed away.
Hearing the noise near the Fan residence, the Xu family was the first to grab their weapons and rush out.
Within fifteen minutes, the village was in an uproar—like a raid, with everyone chasing after the bandits.
The bandits were fierce but not as clever as local thieves.
Local bandits always familiarized themselves with the terrain before a raid, and when caught, they slipped away like foxes.
These outsiders only scared people but fled clumsily when counterattacked.
Shouts rang out: “He’s over there, heading for the field shelters!”
Then another: “He’s trying to get to the main road! Stop him with your weapons!”
The village was noisy for a long while.
Almost two hours later, dawn broke and county soldiers arrived.
Of the twelve bandits who entered the Fan household, four were killed by arrows, three wounded and tied up in the yard.
Two who fled on mules were knocked unconscious.
Five others ran into the village; villagers captured three, and two escaped but were later caught by the soldiers.
The dead and wounded were all taken back to the county office.
This whole ordeal shook everyone’s nerves and took a long time to settle.
The rain finally stopped at daybreak.
The Fan family tidied up, and the guards’ minor wounds were treated by Doctor Zhu, who also examined the frightened, unconscious Madam Fan, diagnosing her with shock.
Sadly, the two dogs kept to guard against kidnappers had died.
Having raised them for years, they were sharp and protective.
Kang He asked Fourth Brother Lian to find a good spot to bury the dogs.
As for Deng Dalang, he was lucky to survive.
Though knocked down with the bandits, he wasn’t killed—only wounded by stray arrows and the firecracker blasts.
During cleanup, he was pulled up, soaking wet and smelling foul, repelling everyone around.
Kang He didn’t treat him kindly.
Deng Dalang had led the bandits into their home, likely coerced to protect his own family, but he had been too loyal to the bandits.
Not only did he help them kill their dogs, but he also pretended to trick them into opening the door.
If Kang He hadn’t left that secret hole in the wall when building the house, things might have gone worse.
Previously, the Deng family only gossiped about the Fan family, which was harmless.
This time, however, they had truly crossed a line.
Such a dishonorable man would surely meet his comeuppance.
Deng Dalang lay unconscious for a day or two.
When he awoke, his mind was muddled, no different from an ordinary person, but he struggled with confusion.
He started having fits, randomly shouting, “The bandits are coming! I’ll kneel and beg for mercy! Don’t kill me!”
The Deng family thought Doctor Zhu’s diagnosis was poor and went to the city to seek other doctors.
They all said his spirit was disturbed, that medicine wouldn’t cure him, and that he would have to be cared for at home, hoping for gradual improvement.
The villagers, learning of Deng Dalang’s actions, felt a mixture of pity and disdain for the family.
Many villagers continued to come to the Fan household, bringing gifts for Madam Fan.
They weren’t just visiting the elderly; they wanted to thank the Fan family for capturing the bandits.
Having endured such a harrowing experience, they came to offer comfort.
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