Chapter 44: A Sudden Change of Mind

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When Yang Jinbao heard that Ning Yaxin would spend a night in the village, he was overjoyed and immediately ordered a villager to vacate their home. Ning Yaxin felt a little apologetic and had Ling’er give the family some money as compensation.

Shortly after settling in, Ning Yaxin and Ling’er heard the lively clamor of drums and cymbals outside. Ling’er, being young, was instantly curious and, with the young lady’s permission, hurried out to see what was happening.

Ning Yaxin remained calm and stayed indoors.

After a while, Ling’er returned.

"Miss, can you guess what's happening outside? I bet you can't!" Ling’er’s face was flushed with excitement.

Ning Yaxin glanced at her and replied, "You know I can’t guess, yet you still ask?"

Ling’er giggled and ran up to Ning Yaxin. "Miss, someone caught a bandit who had been robbing travelers. The villagers are parading him around the streets for everyone to see!"

Just moments ago, Xu Mo and his companions had finally met Yang Jinbao.

Initially, Yang Jinbao had little interest in Xu Mo’s group, his mind preoccupied with preparations to entertain Ning Yaxin with fine wine and food.

But upon hearing they had captured a highway robber, his attitude changed completely.

The villagers had suffered from bandits lately. Though the stolen money wasn’t much and the bandits hadn’t harmed anyone seriously, fear hung over everyone. As the village chief, Yang Jinbao had reported the crimes to the authorities, but the yamen officials paid little attention, promising to apprehend the culprits yet making no progress.

Now that Xu Mo’s group had caught a bandit, Yang Jinbao immediately ordered that he be paraded through the village, letting everyone vent their anger and celebrate.

"Is that so? Who caught him?" Ning Yaxin asked.

Ling’er shook her head. "I’m not sure who, but I heard they weren’t from our village. They came from Gushan Village and happened to run into him."

Ning Yaxin nodded thoughtfully. "I didn’t expect Gushan Village to have such capable people."

Ling’er asked, "Miss, don’t you want to see? That bandit looks miserable—his face bruised and battered, and he’s been pelted with rotten eggs, the stench is unbearable."

Ning Yaxin was uninterested. "What’s so entertaining about that? Only you enjoy such spectacles."

Ling’er secretly pouted, then said, "Miss, if there’s nothing else, I’d like to go watch a little more. I won’t be long."

Ning Yaxin thought for a moment. "Ling’er, don’t go. Tell the coachman to prepare the carriage. We’ll set off for Gushan Village immediately."

"Miss, didn’t you say we’d stay for the night? Why the sudden change?" Ling’er was surprised.

Ning Yaxin replied, "I decided to stay because I feared the bandits. Now that they’ve been caught, what’s there to worry about? Besides, there’s nothing here. Isn’t it boring to stay? We might as well head to Gushan Village."

Ling’er quickly responded, "But Miss, I heard there were seven bandits, and only one has been caught. If we run into the remaining six on the road, wouldn’t that be terrible?"

Ning Yaxin said, "Ling’er, can’t you use your brain?"

Ling’er looked confused, unable to understand her mistress.

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Ning Yaxin patiently explained, "If you were the leader of the bandits and one of your men was caught today, would you dare to continue robbing? Wouldn’t you flee far away and lay low?"

Ling’er thought carefully and realized it made sense, so her worry eased.

With Ning Yaxin urging her, Ling’er went to notify the coachman and two servants, and everyone began preparations to depart.

Meanwhile, Yang Jinbao was delighted that Xu Mo had brought back a bandit. When he learned Xu Mo wanted to claim an unowned plot of land in Gushan Village, he readily agreed. Normally, Yang Jinbao would have demanded some silver for the paperwork, but today was special—he didn’t ask Xu Mo for a single coin.

In the end, Yang Jinbao personally escorted Xu Mo’s group out and warmly invited them to visit often.

Just as Xu Mo’s group boarded their carriage, a villager rushed over, panting, to tell Yang Jinbao, "Chief, Miss Ning has changed her mind and won’t stay the night. She asked me to apologize for her."

"Ah?" Yang Jinbao was startled and hurried to look for Ning Yaxin.

The villager quickly said, "Chief, no need. Miss Ning has already left the village."

Yang Jinbao stopped in his tracks, shaking his head helplessly, looking somewhat dejected.

Xu Tieshu couldn’t help but ask, "Chief Yang, is this Miss Ning the eldest daughter of the Ning family from Xincheng?"

Yang Jinbao nodded, troubled. "Yes! Miss Ning came to buy land in our village. She said she’d stay the night and leave in the morning... We didn’t offend her, so why the sudden change?"

Yang Jinbao couldn’t understand, frowning and shaking his head as he returned to the courtyard.

Xu Tieshu turned to Xu Mo and asked, "Xu Mo, aren’t you helping Mr. Ning’s Zhenxiu Restaurant with their strategies? Have you met this eldest Miss Ning?"

Xu Mo shook his head. "I haven’t met her, but the staff said Miss Ning often dined at Zhenxiu Restaurant, though lately, business has been so good she visits less."

Xu Tieshu nodded thoughtfully, then whipped the mule, and the carriage slowly moved off.

Because their business went smoothly, Xu Mo’s group was cheerful on the road back to Gushan Village.

But none of them expected to encounter the bandits again at the mountain pass where they’d been attacked before.

This time, however, the bandits weren’t after them—they were surrounding Ning Yaxin’s carriage.

Fatty White Hair and Skinny Peng Dong were there, leading four wounded men, encircling the overturned carriage. Not only were the horses badly injured and collapsed, but the coachman and a servant had been beaten and lay helpless on the ground. Only one remaining servant desperately guarded the carriage door, swinging a stick and holding the attackers at bay.

Normally, the bandits wouldn’t dare return so soon, at least not in the next few days. But Peng Dong couldn’t swallow his anger and decided to strike again, robbing someone else to vent his frustration.

Just then, Ling’er’s voice rang out from inside the carriage, "You villains! Do you know who we are? My mistress is the daughter of Mr. Ning from Xincheng!"

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"Do you realize what status Mr. Ning holds in Xincheng? Even the county magistrate treats him with respect! If you dare harm his daughter, the authorities will never let you go!"

White Hair was instantly delighted and said to Peng Dong, "Brother, this is great—a wealthy young lady!"

Peng Dong, excited, shouted, "Brothers, this is a golden opportunity! If we capture her and demand a hefty ransom, none of us will ever have to live in poverty again!"

His words stirred everyone, and wild cries broke out.

Inside the carriage, Ning Yaxin and Ling’er huddled together, their faces drained of color, trembling in terror.

Suddenly, a scream echoed outside, followed by the sound of someone collapsing.

No need to ask—it was clear the servant guarding the door had been overpowered.

Ning Yaxin was terrified and rushed to brace the carriage door with her back.

No sooner had she done so than the attackers began kicking at the door.

Frantic, Ning Yaxin cried, "Ling’er, come quickly!"

Ling’er, finally reacting, threw herself against the door alongside her mistress.

But Ling’er’s spirit had already shattered; she wept uncontrollably as she asked, "Miss, what should we do now?"

"Ling’er, I’m sorry, this is all my fault—I shouldn’t have ignored your warning!"

Ning Yaxin was filled with regret; had she not insisted on leaving, they wouldn’t have run into the bandits.

Ling’er suddenly broke into wailing sobs.

Just as the two women fell into despair, the kicking at the door abruptly stopped.

Outside, the bandits’ voices grew panicked.

"Run, everyone, run..."

"Damn it, it’s him again..."

"Don’t just stand there, get moving..."

Then came the sounds of a frantic escape.

In the next moment, all was silent.

As Ning Yaxin and Ling’er exchanged bewildered glances, a man’s voice called out from outside, "It’s over, Miss Ning. The bandits have all fled!"