Water Margin: The opening scene involves assassinating Emperor Huizong of Song and forcibly taking L

The servant replied aggrievedly, "Young master, this place is deserted. Who knows what kind of inn that is?"

"What if it's a shady inn? If we pay for the wine and those scoundrels get greedy and add sleeping pills to it to kill us, my worthless life is fine, but if something happens to you, young master, how heartbroken will you be?"

"Young master is a scholar, unaware of the wickedness of people's hearts in this world. We should be careful in everything we do when we are out and about!"

"Nonsense! The world is at peace now, where would so many evil people come from? Even the bandits of Liangshan, they don't harm passersby, do they?"

The scholar angrily retorted, "It's clearly you who's been slacking off, yet you're making up these excuses!"

Seeing that the scholar and the servant were actually arguing,

Yang Zhi found it amusing, shook his head, and ignored the two of them.

Just then, a village song suddenly drifted down from below the hill.

Then someone sang: "The scorching sun burns like fire, the rice in the fields is half withered and scorched, the farmer's heart is like boiling soup, while the princes and nobles wave their fans!"

As the song grew clearer, it revealed a villager carrying a load on a shoulder pole walking up the hill.

Yang Zhi immediately gripped his broadsword alertly and carefully examined the villager.

Although he was burly, his steps were messy and weak, clearly indicating that he was not a martial artist.

These village men, if they really fought, would probably be no match for the strong soldiers in the army.

Although Yang Zhi breathed a sigh of relief, he still dared not let his guard down.

The villager had already approached.

Look at his appearance, his eyebrows and eyes are comical, his two front teeth are pressing down on his lower lip, and his small eyes are darting around. He looks three parts like a rat and seven parts like a human.

The villager was dressed in a pale white coarse cloth short coat, with a sallow face, and certainly didn't look like someone from the martial arts world.

Although I felt there was nothing wrong with this man

However, Yang Zhi still had his sights set on the 100,000 strings of gold and jewels, and dared not be careless in the slightest.

A soldier standing nearby noticed the villager carrying two round buckets on his shoulders, their lids tightly sealed, and immediately became curious, asking...

"Hey man, what are you picking up?"

The villager unloaded his carrying pole on the ground, lifted his shirt to fan himself, and chuckled as he spoke, his teeth chattering.

"Both buckets of rice wine were brewed in the village. We took them to a neighboring village to earn some money for expenses."

The rice wine brewed in this village is the most thirst-quenching thing in summer.

Upon hearing this, the soldiers immediately became hungry.

“You lad, if you had liquor, why didn’t you say so earlier? Perfect, you don’t have to go through the trouble of carrying it to the neighboring village. Just sell it to us, and we’ll pay you.”

As the soldiers spoke, they were about to rush forward and snatch the rice wine.

Upon seeing this, Yang Zhi immediately shouted,

"What's all the fuss about?"

The soldiers quickly laughed and said, "Commander Yang, it's really too hot. Let's pool our money to buy a bucket of rice wine. After we drink it, we'll feel cool and ready to go!"

"What nonsense!"

Yang Zhi shouted, "You all only care about eating, but you don't know how many heroes and brave men have lost their lives in this desolate wilderness because of the anesthetic in this wine!"

The soldiers dared not disobey him, and could only angrily go to Supervisor Xie and the two officers to plead for them.

Hearing Yang Zhi's words, the village man selling wine became enraged and sneered, "Where did you come from, you scoundrel? When did I ever say I was going to sell wine to you? Why are you slandering my innocence!"

Amidst the commotion, several men emerged from the depths of the woods.

The leader angrily said, "We've been walking for most of the day and were just looking for a short rest in this wood, but you're making such a racket!"

These were the same group of people who were resting in the woods selling dates.

Yang Zhi had seen them before, and seeing their anger, he was about to speak to calm things down.

The villager carrying the wine next to him said indignantly, "I carry rice wine across the hill to sell myself. Within this radius of dozens of miles, who doesn't know that I have an honest business?"

"These bastards suddenly stopped me and wanted to buy my wine, but then they insisted that there was sleeping potion in it. If they think there's something wrong with my rice wine, why do they want to buy it? They're clearly just looking for an excuse to rob me of my rice wine!"

"Do you have rice wine?"

Upon hearing this, the group of date sellers immediately burst into laughter.

The leader said, “Sir, it’s very hot now. We’re carrying dates and traveling, and it’s already getting quite hot. These people are suspicious, but we don’t suspect you. So, sell us a barrel of rice wine!”

The villager picked up his load, shook his head and said, "Not for sale, not for sale!", and was about to leave.

Seeing this, the scholar also stood up and stopped the villager.

“Sir, they all want a whole bucket, but I’m not greedy. If you’re willing to sell me a gourd of rice wine, I’ll pay you a string of cash!”

Chapter 225 A Woman Who Looks Just Like Li Kui

The people in the dense forest on the hill were still arguing about the rice wine.

Little did they know that on a small hill more than a hundred feet away, someone was also watching them.

"The fish is hooked!"

Liu Huiniang put down her telescope and clapped her hands with delight.

"Hey, little girl, how can you see people?"

Li Kui asked innocently, "Why can't I see anything?"

The term "little wench" made Liu Huiniang's cheek twitch.

She didn't bother with this blockhead and handed the telescope to Sun An, who was standing next to her.

After taking the cylinder, the Dragon Slayer, mimicking Liu Huiniang's earlier actions, held one end in front of his eyes and exclaimed in surprise.

"This thing is truly amazing! It can magnify the scenery a hundred feet away, making people feel as if things a hundred feet away are right in front of them!"

"Brother Sun An, let me see too!"

Ruan Xiaoqi couldn't wait to use the telescope, and just like Sun An, she exclaimed in surprise, curiously looking around with the telescope.

Xu Ning, Zhang Shun, and others took the telescope one by one, and after using it, they all praised it highly.

"If this item is carried by a scout on the march, it can detect enemy movements from a great distance and reduce the chances of the scout being discovered."

Xu Ning exclaimed, "No wonder Brother Zhao praised Miss Liu for her skill and dexterity. This telescope could only have been made by a master craftsman!"

“My brother will surely be delighted to see this,”

Sun An pondered for a moment: "I wonder what this thing is made of, and whether it's possible to manufacture several more?"

"The lenses of this telescope are made of polished transparent crystal,"

Liu Huiniang shook her head and said, "Transparent crystal is hard to find, and it's easy to break it during polishing. I searched through all the warehouses in Liangshan and finally managed to make this telescope."

"This item is so rare..."

The telescope was returned to Sun An's hands, and he was about to pick it up and take another look when...

Unexpectedly, a dark hand suddenly reached out from the side and snatched the telescope away.

"You've all seen it, it's time for Tie Niu to take a look!"

Li Kui had just seen everyone else marveling at this thing, and he himself had been itching to get his hands on it for a while.

After snatching the telescope, he eagerly placed it in front of his eyes.

After seeing the scenery that was a hundred feet away suddenly appear so close,

The man in black was so frightened that he screamed and loosened his grip, the telescope about to fall to the ground.

Liu Huiniang and the others immediately felt their hearts leap into their throats.

This thing was made using up all the crystals in Liangshan's warehouse—it was the only one of its kind!

It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say it's worth a fortune!

Just as the telescope was about to be destroyed, Ruan Xiaoqi was quick and agile. He bent down and scooped up the telescope in time!

"Tie Niu, what are you doing?"

Sun An scolded, "This telescope is a treasure. Once it's damaged, who knows when it will be possible to rebuild it!"

"I..."

Li Kui was still somewhat stunned, and after a long pause, he stared straight at Liu Huiniang and said,

"You little wench must know sorcery! Otherwise, how could you move something a hundred feet away to my face?"

Liu Huiniang scoffed and replied irritably, "...If I knew sorcery, I would make sure you could shut your stinking mouth right away!"

“Tie Niu, Liu Xiao Niangzi is now a leader in the stronghold, and she’s considered one of our brothers. You should be more polite when you address her,” Ruan Xiaoqi said helplessly.

"Brother Qi, did I call you the wrong person?"

Li Kui said impatiently, "This little wench isn't a man, and she doesn't know martial arts. How can she be Tie Niu's brother? You all treat her like your future sister-in-law and be very respectful! I, Tie Niu, am too lazy to bother with all this."

"Li Kui, what nonsense are you spouting?"

Liu Huiniang blushed instantly and scolded, "Who, who wants to marry that guy!"

Sun An and the others looked at each other, all trying hard to suppress their laughter.

Because Li Kui wasn't wrong; originally, when Zhao Yuan brought Liu Huiniang to Liangshan and made her his assistant,

All the leaders believed that Zhao Yuan must have taken a fancy to this delicate young woman, which was why he had placed her by his side.

Later, Zhao Yuan sent Liu Huiniang to Liangshan to work in the Gongcao (a minor official position) to help Song Wan.

········Requesting flowers·· 0

Everyone thought that he did this so that Li Shishi on Liangshan would not have an excuse to drive away Liu Huiniang.

After all, the work of the clerk was to build houses, forge weapons and armor, and make bows and arrows.

Although Zhao Yuan had already told them...

Liu Huiniang was skillful and adept at making various mechanical devices.

But none of the leaders believed that Liu Huiniang, this extremely beautiful young girl, was truly skilled in carpentry and blacksmithing!

Because Zhao Yuan had such high prestige in Liangshan, and everyone saw that he had not let beauty interfere with the cause of Liangshan, no one had advised him against it.

But today, after Liu Huiniang took out this telescope,

. ... .......

The leaders all began to look at her with new respect and started to believe the words Zhao Yuan had used to praise her.

But no one expected that Li Kui, that simpleton, would suddenly break through everyone's preconceived notions!

Looking at the smiles on Sun An and the others' faces, Liu Huiniang knew perfectly well what they were really thinking.

Her fair and delicate face flushed crimson instantly. She wanted to explain, but she was afraid that she would only make things worse.

Finally, he could only stomp his foot in frustration and hide behind a tree to vent his embarrassment.

"You black bastard, you really have too much of a mouth!"

Sun An said irritably, "Even if this Miss Liu really becomes our sister-in-law in the future, what business is it of yours?"

"I just think Brother Zhao is good in every way, except for his terrible taste in women."

Li Kui snorted, "What's the use of marrying a delicate little woman? My mother said that it's better to marry a strong, sturdy woman so she can bear children!"

"Ideally, I'd like to grow as strong as my Iron Ox, so I can not only bear children for Brother Zhao, but also fight alongside him!"

His words immediately made everyone laugh.

Even Liu Huiniang, who was hiding behind the tree, couldn't help but smile.

"Tie Niu, if your brother heard you say that, he would be scared sick!" Zhang Shun laughed.

Upon hearing this, everyone else imagined what a woman who looked just like Li Kui must be like, and they all shuddered...

Chapter 226 Freebies Through the Plague

Beneath the dense forest of Huangni Ridge, the villager, upon hearing that the scholar was willing to pay one string of cash, glanced up and examined the gourd in the scholar's hand.

With gourds of this size, his bucket of rice wine could easily hold about twenty of them.

This bucket of rice wine only costs five strings of cash.