I was a conman in the Ming Dynasty.

Chapter 236 Wang Qiang Returns

Chapter 236 Wang Qiang Returns

The bandit army had been gone for seven days, and Wang Wenzhou had been dealing with the aftermath of the battle. Hanshan suffered a huge loss this time, with 2.5 million taels of silver going to Gao Yingxiang for nothing. According to Wang Wenzhou's previous regulations, all those injured or killed in service to Hanshan would receive compensation.

Sheng Lan was doing the math. Nearly six thousand people had been killed or wounded in the battles, and the compensation alone would amount to over four million taels of silver. All of Wang Wenzhou's silver, added together, was just enough. In other words, all the silver Wang Wenzhou had amassed over the past year had been returned in one go.

Wang Wenzhou frowned deeply. He was in a bad mood, not because of the money, but because Wang Qiang had been nowhere to be found. Wang Wenzhou always felt that Wang Qiang was dead. Since Wang Wenzhou's transmigration, Wang Qiang had been by his side for over a year, and he considered Wang Qiang a brother.

But now, with his good brother's body nowhere to be found, Wang Wenzhou felt really uneasy.

Sheng Lan asked, "Wang Wenzhou, when will the compensation be paid?"

Wang Wenzhou thought for a moment and said, "The compensation for those who died in battle will be paid today, but the compensation for the wounded will not be paid for the time being. I remember when we were being chased by the enemy, Xiaoqiang led a group of people to block the enemy. Xiaoqiang said that if they were lucky enough to survive, he would guarantee them a life of wealth and honor."

"Sigh..." Sheng Lan sighed softly, recalling the scene from that day.

Wang Wenzhou continued, "Xiaoqiang's fate is currently unknown, but I can't let the brothers who risked their lives for me go without a way to survive. Minor injuries are manageable, but for those brothers who are seriously injured, missing limbs, even if we give them some money, it won't be enough for the rest of their lives. It's better to teach a man to fish than to give him a fish. I do have an idea in mind, but my mind is too chaotic right now, and I haven't planned it out yet. I'll talk about it after I've thought it through."

"Hmm!" Sheng Lan nodded, gently patted Wang Wenzhou's back, and comforted him, "Don't be sad. Young Master Qiang is a lucky man and will surely turn bad luck into good."

Wang Wenzhou smiled wryly, "I hope so!"

At this moment, Fu Xingping rushed into the room and excitedly said, "Reporting to my lord, Young Master Qiang is back!"

"Haha!" Wang Wenzhou happily hugged and kissed Sheng Lan, then asked cheerfully, "Where's Xiao Qiang?"

"Hmm!" Fu Xingping looked troubled and said awkwardly, "Sir, you should go out and take a look yourself. I can't explain it clearly in a short time."

Wang Wenzhou, holding Sheng Lan's little hand, arrived at the entrance of Zuihualou.

A rickshaw was parked at the entrance. Wang Qiang was sitting on the rickshaw, with an old man and a young girl standing on his left and right, respectively. The old man and the young girl held onto Wang Qiang's arms tightly and wouldn't let go.

Wang Wenzhou laughed and said, "Xiao Qiang, you really live up to your name, the cockroach! You're lucky to be alive! Are you hurt?"

Wang Qiang nodded and said, "When I was escaping, I was shot by an arrow by the bandits and then slashed. Luckily, I survived, otherwise you would have been in mourning for me!"

"You little brat!" Wang Wenzhou laughed and scolded, "How dare you take advantage of me!"

The old man looked Wang Wenzhou up and down and asked, "Are you Wang Qingtian?"

Wang Wenzhou nodded and said with a smile, "Old man, I am Wang Wenzhou, the prefect of Hanshan. You're the one who saved Xiaoqiang, right? Xiaoqiang and I are like brothers. Thank you for your righteous rescue!"

Upon hearing this, the old man immediately knelt down and kowtowed, saying, "Please, Judge Wang, do justice for my Niu Niu!"

The old man pointed at Wang Qiang and said angrily, "That heartless bastard! My granddaughter and I tried to help him out of kindness! But he ruined my granddaughter's reputation!"

"Cough cough..." Wang Wenzhou coughed a few times, glared at Wang Qiang, and thought, "You little brat, you're so heartless! I understand being driven by lust. But you can't repay kindness with enmity!"

Wang Qiang said with a wry smile, "Young Master, don't listen to this old geezer's nonsense!"

“Who’s talking nonsense? You’ve ruined my girl’s reputation, how could I talk nonsense?” the old man said seriously.

"Waaah..." The girl, with her hair disheveled, clung to Wang Qiang's arm and wouldn't let go, bursting into loud sobs.

"Hmph!" Sheng Lan snorted coldly and angrily scolded Wang Qiang: "Xiao Qiang, you're being too outrageous! Why don't you learn anything good, and instead only learn your young master's bad habits!"

"Sister-in-law! I'm truly innocent!" Wang Qiang said, his voice trembling with tears. "Back then, the young master touched Sister-in-law Zhang Jiao, and then he got a wife. But I really didn't even touch her!"

"Ahem..." Wang Wenzhou coughed awkwardly a few times before asking, "Old man, please get up. May I ask your name?"

“My name is Fu Ying, and that’s my granddaughter, Fu Niu Niu. I know you’re dedicated to serving the people, Mr. Wang. You must stand up for my Niu Niu today! If you don’t, I will kneel here forever!” Fu Ying said.

"Young Master Qiang, this is your mistake! You should learn from Wang Qingtian. If you sleep with a girl, you should marry her!"

"A life-saving grace should be repaid with one's body!"

Those watching the spectacle, not wanting to miss out on the fun, joined in the teasing.

Wang Wenzhou helped Fu Ying up and said in a serious tone, "Grandma, don't worry, I'll definitely stand up for you! Let's talk inside. It's too embarrassing with so many people outside!"

Fu Ying nodded.

Wang Wenzhou instructed, "Fu Yingjie, quickly carry Xiaoqiang into the house."

Several sedan chair bearers rushed over and lifted Wang Qiang up. But Fu Niu Niu still clung tightly to Wang Qiang's arm and wouldn't let go. The soldiers had no choice but to let Fu Niu Niu hold on.

Wang Wenzhou walked up to Wang Qiang and whispered, "Qiang, you've gone too far. She saved you, and you slept with her. Even after all this, you still acted heartlessly, like you're turning your back on her after you've done your job?"

Wang Qiang said with a wry smile, "Young Master, look at what she looks like. Do you think I could sleep with her? Do you think I dare to sleep with her?"

"Hmm?" Wang Wenzhou frowned and tilted his head to look at Fu Niu Niu. Fu Niu Niu's hair was disheveled, and her appearance was not visible at all.

"Is she ugly? Judging by her figure, this girl is pretty good!" Wang Wenzhou said in a low voice.

Wang Qiang said with a sob in his voice, "Young Master, you have no idea, she's even uglier than an ugly monster!"

"You really didn't sleep?" Wang Wenzhou asked.

Wang Qiang answered solemnly, "Of course I didn't sleep!"

"Then why are they holding onto you and won't let go?" Wang Wenzhou asked, puzzled.

Wang Qiang smiled bitterly: "Young Master, I've been tricked!"

As everyone entered the room, Wang Wenzhou said to Sheng Lan, "Lazy Lan, take Miss Fu to freshen up and change her clothes. I need to have a good talk with Old Fu and find out what happened."

Sheng Lan nodded and said, "Miss Fu, please!"

Fu Niu Niu shook her head and held tightly to Wang Qiang's arm.

Wang Wenzhou said with a smile, "Old man, look at Miss Fu's outfit, with her hair all over the place. It's really not how a woman should dress. Let her go with my Lanlan to change her clothes. Don't worry, old man, I will definitely take care of things for you."

"Niu Niu, you go ahead!" Fu Ying said.

“Okay!” Fu Niu Niu followed Sheng Lan upstairs.

Wang Wenzhou said with a smile, "Old man, please tell me what grievances you have."