News about the economic cooperative spread quickly.
Before Liu Tiezhu even got home, people from several nearby villages already knew.
"This must be a frame-up. With Tie Zhu's character, how could he do something like this?"
"No, I'm going to the economic cooperative right now to clear things up."
Inside the yard, Second Uncle was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan. He wrapped himself in a cotton coat and prepared to head to the economic cooperative.
"Dad, I'm coming with you."
"If those bastards try to frame Brother Tie Zhu, we'll fight them to the death."
Er Gouzi finished speaking and immediately grabbed his compound bow.
Big Brother wanted to join too, but Second Uncle stopped him.
Just then, the yard gate creaked open.
"Second Uncle, open up. It's me." Liu Tiezhu called out from outside.
It's Tie Zhu.
Hearing the familiar voice, everyone's faces lit up with joy.
Er Gouzi rushed over and swung the gate open.
Second Uncle leaned in and asked, "Tie Zhu, what's going on? The villagers say you raped Li Minrong?"
"It's a trap. I almost fell for Zhang Jingyang's scheme."
Liu Tiezhu then recounted everything that had just happened.
"Damn his mother! Zhang Jingyang, that bastard, moves fast."
"We can't just stand here and take it. We need to find a way to screw that son of a bitch."
Er Gouzi's eyes were bloodshot as he cursed.
Second Uncle, looking shaken, said, "That little beast is truly vicious. If you didn't have something on him, you might not have made it back this time."
"Now that you've threatened him, he won't let you off easy. We need to figure out how to deal with this."
Liu Tiezhu said, "Second Uncle, I've already thought of a way."
"What Zhang Jingyang fears most is the news about the silver ingots leaking out. So let's spread that news."
"Aren't there informants for the bandits in the village? Once this news gets out, they'll definitely report it to the bandits."
"But then Zhang Jingyang will know you're the one who leaked it," Second Uncle said.
Liu Tiezhu replied, "Let him know. We've already burned that bridge anyway."
"Even if we don't leak the news, Zhang Jingyang won't let us off."
He had originally planned to let Zhang Jingyang expose the silver ingot matter himself.
But now there was no time, and he couldn't afford to care about that anymore.
Once the bandits and Zhang Jingyang started fighting, he would find a chance to kill Zhang Jingyang and pin it on the bandits.
Hearing this, Second Uncle and Big Brother fell silent.
Er Gouzi said, "Strike first and you'll prevail; strike second and you'll suffer."
"Brother Tie Zhu, let's go for it."
As the saying goes, even a rabbit bites when cornered.
Zhang Jingyang was pushing them to the brink. They couldn't just stand there with their necks stretched out, waiting for him to swing the blade.
After finalizing the plan, Liu Tiezhu and Er Gouzi split up, embellishing and spreading the news about Zhang Jingyang's silver ingots.
In just one morning, many people knew that Liu Tiezhu had gotten off scot-free because he knew the secret of Zhang Jingyang's silver ingots.
The mention of silver ingots piqued everyone's interest.
They all wondered privately how Liu Tiezhu knew Zhang Jingyang had silver ingots.
Where did those ingots come from, that Zhang Jingyang would let Liu Tiezhu go?
At Liu Changhai's house, Zhang Jingyang, who was drinking, got wind of the news and flew into a rage, overturning the table on the spot.
"Damn it! That must be Liu Tiezhu, that bastard, spreading the news."
Liu Changhai looked puzzled. "Then why are you still keeping him around?"
Zhang Jingyang snapped, "Old fool, you don't know a damn thing."
"If I had the chance, I'd have blown Liu Tiezhu's head off long ago."
Now he regretted not taking out Liu Tiezhu at the foot of the mountain back then.
He had thought that by using Li Minrong's scheme, he could solidify Liu Tiezhu's guilt and kill him legitimately.
But in the end, Liu Tiezhu turned the tables and put him on the defensive.
Now that the grass had been stirred, Liu Tiezhu was on guard.
It wouldn't be easy to go after Liu Tiezhu again.
Liu Changhai's face flushed red from the scolding, but he didn't dare say a word.
"Damn it! That bastard is forcing my hand."
"Does he think this will make me hesitate? What a joke."
After a moment of silence, Zhang Jingyang let out a cold laugh.
He wasn't afraid of the news spreading through the nearby villages.
Those peasants would only dare to gossip among themselves; none had the guts to take it to the town.
Besides, without evidence, no one would believe hearsay in town.
"But we can't just let the rumors run wild," Liu Changhai warned.
He didn't like his son-in-law Zhang Jingyang, but he didn't want him to fall either.
Even though Zhang Jingyang didn't respect him, he still shared some of the grain allocated from above.
As long as Zhang Jingyang stayed in power, their family wouldn't go hungry.
Zhang Jingyang said, "Don't worry. This afternoon, I'll have the militia spread the word."
"Anyone caught spreading rumors in the village will be taken out and shot."
"These damn ignorant peasants don't understand the law."
"Once they hear that, who would dare to keep talking?"
Liu Changhai agreed, "Right, once the militia puts out that message, they'll all shut up."
"But you need to deal with Liu Tiezhu soon, or he'll be a problem down the line."
"That little punk won't live long. I'll find the right moment to get rid of him."
"Threatening me? Do you think I'd let him live?" Zhang Jingyang said, his face cold and murderous.
Meanwhile, at Liu Shan's house.
"Dad, our ancestors must be smiling down on us this time."
Liu Gang grinned so wide his front teeth nearly fell out.
Last night, the bandits from Tiangang Stronghold had met with him and mentioned the loss of silver ingots and pearls.
They asked him to secretly investigate and report anyone who had taken the items.
Now that Zhang Jingyang had silver ingots, it was obvious where they came from.
In the area, only Zhang Jingyang had the capability to kill bandits.
Everything fit. Reporting this would be a major achievement.
Once Tiangang Stronghold sent troops to take out Zhang Jingyang and backed him instead, he would become the most powerful person in the region.
"Son, what's the good news?" Liu Shan asked.
Liu Gang said, "The bandits lost a batch of treasure worth a hundred thousand."
"The contact asked me to secretly look into it and promised three guns and a thousand dollars as a reward if I found it."
"Last night, I was wondering who had the guts to mess with Tiangang Stronghold's goods."
"Now, I've figured out who it is."
"So, we're about to hit the jackpot."
Liu Shan's eyes widened. "Who? Messing with Tiangang Stronghold's stuff—do they have a death wish?"
"The militia leader, Zhang Jingyang, that bastard."
Liu Gang grinned and shared what he'd heard.
Liu Shan warned, "Son, you need to handle this carefully."
"If Zhang Jingyang finds out you're in touch with the bandits, he'll kill our whole family."
"Don't worry. This time, we won't get involved directly. We'll just watch from the shadows."
"No matter who dies—bandits or Zhang Jingyang—no one will know we were behind it," Liu Gang said.
Liu Shan said, "In that case, let's kill two birds with one stone."
"Report Liu Tiezhu's killing of the bandits too."
"Let the bandits take out Liu Tiezhu and his bunch as well."