Chapter 47 Turning Double-Cross into a Good Deed

After an autumn rain, the weather turned cold for good. The village’s land had frozen solid, and Guyue Village seemed as if someone had pressed a pause button—every household hunkered down for winter.

On this day, Wen Mubai, Sun Wenming, and Hu Qixin arranged to climb the mountain together.

Sun Wenming wore a dog-skin hat, his hands tucked together, hunched against the wind as he trudged forward.

“Brother Bai, with this cold, what prey could be left on the mountain? Wouldn’t it be better to stay home by the fire?” Hu Qixin grumbled in a muffled voice.

Wen Mubai parted his lips, mist swirling from his breath. “Fool.”

The smile faded from his handsome face, replaced by stark indifference.

Sun Wenming sniffed. “Brother Bai’s taking us to do something heroic.”

Hu Qixin stomped his frozen feet. “What do you mean?”

“You’ll know when we get there.” Wen Mubai didn’t care to explain further.

He led his two companions up the mountain, winding left and right, crossing a river, crawling through a cave, until they reached a gorge. There, he signaled for them to stop.

The three found a concealed tree hollow, hid themselves, and stared toward the gorge.

Not long after, two figures approached from a distance.

“Brother Bai…”

“Shut up!”

Ma Wu and Ma Wen, the brothers, crept into the gorge like thieves.

Ma Wen whispered, “Brother, there’s a lot of goods this time. Did they say when they’ll come for it?”

Ma Wu’s sinister voice replied, “In three days.”

Ma Wen spat. “So we have to feed those wretches for three more days? What a hassle!”

Ma Wu snapped at him, “Quiet!”

Then he added, “Give them some food, keep them alive. We don’t need them causing trouble when the buyers arrive.”

Ma Wen’s voice turned sycophantic. “You always know what to do, brother.”

Ma Wu grunted darkly. “The cave’s sealed up. Don’t let any of them escape.”

“With this batch, we’ll live free and easy for a whole year.”

Dreaming of the days when the money would be in hand, the brothers could not help but smile.

After confirming the goods inside the cave, the brothers didn’t linger. They erased their footprints and left.

Wen Mubai and his companions, hidden in the tree hollow, only poked their heads out after the Ma brothers had gone.

Sun Wenming’s mouth hung open. “Brother Bai, this…”

Wen Mubai’s face was steely as he thought for a moment. “Let’s go. We’re heading down.”

Today, he’d originally planned to rob Ma Wu—a double-cross, so to speak. After all, he was soon to meet his future in-laws; he couldn’t go empty-handed. That’s why he’d been watching Ma Wu, tracking the brothers’ routine for days, only to discover their boldness was beyond expectation.

Hu Qixin and Sun Wenming trusted Wen Mubai absolutely, following him down the mountain without a word.

“Brother Bai, are we really just going to leave it alone?” Hu Qixin asked, incredulous.

Wen Mubai glanced at him. “We’ll talk at home.”

Walls had ears.

He brought the two back home.

Tang Banxia saw the three return with solemn faces, puzzled.

Wen Mubai gave a brief explanation, then said, “We need to find a way to notify the police.”

“You mean, the Ma brothers are involved in trafficking?” Tang Banxia finally found her voice after a long silence.

Wen Mubai shook his head. “We didn’t see it with our own eyes. It’s only a suspicion.”

A suspicion pieced together from their conversation.

He pondered for a while, then looked to Hu Qixin and Sun Wenming.

“Sun, Hu, keep your mouths shut about today. Not a word to anyone, understand?”

Sun Wenming and Hu Qixin, aware of the gravity, nodded quickly.

“Who did you tell about climbing the mountain today?” Wen Mubai pressed.

“My brother and my father,” said Sun Wenming.

“I just told my mother,” said Hu Qixin.

“Go back and tell them you changed your mind halfway up, came to my house instead,” Wen Mubai instructed.

Both agreed readily.

“After a while, you two should head home.” Wen Mubai added, “Leave this to me.”

“Brother Bai…”

“I’m not some hero. It just so happens that Banxia and I are heading to the county tomorrow to send something to her mother. It won’t attract attention,” Wen Mubai said.

He wasn’t sacrificing himself for others—this matter was too tangled, and a single misstep could expose them. He’d rather handle it himself. After all, he’d worked hard for his peaceful days and had no wish to see them shattered.

“Just do as I say. Pretend you know nothing. Don’t give anything away at home, got it? Keep this secret buried.”

“We’re not like Ma Wu. We have family and friends—can’t afford the consequences if he targets us.”

Thinking of their own families, Hu Qixin and Sun Wenming fell silent.

“What about you, Brother Bai?”

“Me? I’m just going to the county. What could happen?” Wen Mubai retorted.

Sun Wenming and Hu Qixin had nothing more to say.

Tang Banxia stood by, watching Wen Mubai calmly make arrangements, slowly recovering from her shock.

As the sun set, Hu Qixin and Sun Wenming left Tang Banxia’s home in silence. At the door, Wen Mubai reminded them, “Smile. Don’t let anyone see through you.”

They lifted the corners of their mouths, forced smiles, and each returned home.

Once home, following Wen Mubai’s instructions, they told their families the cover story.

After dinner, they lay early on their heated beds.

Both men had grown up in the village. The biggest trouble they’d ever faced was fighting over territory—never anything like this.

Now, lying on their beds, they couldn’t stop trembling. Trafficking—how could the Ma brothers be so bold?

They worried: what if they’d been discovered today? The Ma brothers dared to traffic people—how could they possibly contend with them?

They tossed and turned all night.

Meanwhile, at Tang Banxia’s house.

Tang Banxia struggled to process the news, then cast a strange look at Wen Mubai.

He noticed and looked back. “What is it?”

“Nothing,” Tang Banxia shook her head. “Just surprised you thought everything through so well.”

She saw him in a new light.

Wen Mubai grinned cheekily. “With something this big, how could I not?”

“True,” Tang Banxia agreed. “What’s your plan for tomorrow?”

“Hmm…” Wen Mubai mused. “I have an acquaintance whose wife works at the police station. After we send the package tomorrow, we’ll pay him a visit.”

Tang Banxia nodded, then asked, “How come you never mentioned having a friend in the county before?”

Wen Mubai smiled ingratiatingly. “You never asked.”

Tang Banxia shot him a look. “Anything else you’re hiding from me?”

Wen Mubai rubbed his nose, a little guilty. “None of it matters.”

“What did you say?” Tang Banxia’s eyes widened.

Wen Mubai pulled her into his arms. “We’ll talk about my stuff some other time. Right now, the urgent matter is the missing children.”

He held her close, leading her inside. “Tomorrow, here’s what we’ll do…”