I want to die!

Chapter 7 The Final Struggle

Across the street is Yutai Bank.

As soon as Magistrate Wayne stepped out, his gaze swept over the group of beggars and landed on a young figure among them.

Just now, Wayne clearly felt a gaze fall precisely on him through the chaotic crowd.

This is very unusual.

Wayne was confident that his disguise today was flawless. Not to mention ordinary people, even his colleagues in the county government, with whom he interacted daily, had been tested and could not be identified.

"Young Master, what's wrong?" A young man with a sword at his side approached from behind.

"Investigate that young beggar later." Wayne's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.

.........................

"Twelve taels of silver, and you're giving me only five mace?"

As dusk approached, Zhou Xing and the other beggars returned to the beggar's house, where Zhang Dakuang distributed the spoils based on their contributions.

Zhou Xing's group wasn't the only one that went out to find food; other groups also managed to get a few taels of silver and a few small bags of grain.

Groups of beggars are virtually invincible; ordinary merchants and wealthy households often dare not provoke them, and if they do encounter them, they can only accept their bad luck.

"Little Greenhead, you were just sitting on the sidelines today, so naturally you got less," Luo Zitou added from the side.

It was almost night, and several beggar girls were cooking on one side of the dilapidated courtyard, the aroma of rice wafting through the air.

"I do know of another fat sheep. There's a wealthy family named Zhao in the Eighth Township, known as the Benevolent Zhao..." Zhou Xing suggested.

The original Li family had dozens of acres of farmland swallowed up and were left with a debt of seventy taels.

Although he was known as the Great Philanthropist Zhao, the local gentry were not philanthropists. With interest compounded on the seventy taels of silver, about 50 to 60 percent of the debt he had repaid over the years had been interest.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Dakang's face immediately darkened:

"Don't say things like that again. We Hanako-bo can bully ordinary merchants, but do you really think the Zhao family, with their power, can get away with this?"

As Zhou Xing drank his porridge, he also felt a bit troubled.

While one might not starve in Hanako's hut, becoming wealthy and paying off debts would be incredibly difficult. We'll have to hear Zhang Dakang's money-making scheme tomorrow...

After finishing his meal at Hanako-fusa, Zhou Xing weighed the money pouch in his arms twice, then turned and left Hanako-fusa.

He has a home to return to, and he hasn't spent the night in Hanako-bu for the past year.

That night, as he turned to leave, many Hanako stared intently at his retreating figure, their expressions complex.

As the saying goes, "A tall tree catches the wind," and since Bango is already the third most important person in Hanako's brothel, no one dares to give him a second glance.

..............

Eight towns.

Under the old locust tree, Second Uncle Li Yingjie weighed the two coins of silver in his hand, his expression somewhat strange:

"So you really are a big shot, huh? You managed to steal money from a beggar's bowl..."

He reached out and took it, gathering his sleeves and tucking it into his robes. His expression softened slightly. "In that case, Uncle will accept it. If you need to borrow the oxcart again in the future, just ask."

Zhou Xing didn't say anything, but just shook the money bag in his arms, and a clinking sound was heard.

Second Uncle Li Yingjie's expression immediately changed, and he subconsciously swallowed.

"Your business actually earns you so much?" He weighed the two coins of silver in his hand and suddenly felt the money bag in his hand become lighter.

But he was, after all, the uncle, and it would be difficult for him to ask for a favor... He hesitated for a moment, then said softly:

"Nephew, you know... I'm a well-read scholar, can I... you know...?"

He felt inexplicably embarrassed and didn't dare to look up at his nephew's face. He stammered out a sentence for a long time.

"Uncle means, could you perhaps introduce me to someone...?"

After waiting for a long time without hearing a response, he looked up and saw that Zhou Xing had already walked away.

"That little bastard..." He turned red in the face and walked back cursing.

Meanwhile, Zhou Xing had already returned home.

An oil lamp was still lit in the room, but when the door was opened, no one was there; Li's mother and younger sister had already gone to sleep.

After hiding the money bag somewhere, Zhou Xing went to sleep as well.

....................

Day three.

It was also the last day of his lifespan.

Zhou Xing arrived at the beggar's house in the south of the city early, waiting for Da Kuang to call him into the inner room.

"Our beggar's business has always been divided into two routes, one overt and one covert." Zhang Dakang sat imposingly at the table, with the leader of the beggars and several other martial beggars standing behind him.

He dipped his fingertip in tea and drew two lines on the broken wooden table:

"The leader of the gang led his brothers to beg for vegetables for food, which was their only means of livelihood."

"And this secret passage..." Zhang Dakuang stared into Zhou Xing's eyes, carefully observing the changes in Zhou Xing's expression:

"Let's start with the first one." Zhang Dakuang tapped the table with his rough fingers. "You've seen what the outside world is like now. There are refugees everywhere, and people are treated worse than dogs. In those shacks in the south of the city, there are many families who can't make ends meet."

Those who truly couldn't survive voluntarily sold themselves into servitude to earn a living and ensure their families' survival.

"Selling yourself into servitude?" Zhou Xing asked suspiciously.

"There are plenty of refugees, but not that many wealthy families in the city."

Zhang Dakang didn't say anything upon hearing this, but the corners of his mouth curved slightly.

Luo Zitou added two more sentences from the side:

"How much it costs is not our concern. We'll just act as intermediaries and make the connection."

"The butcher shops on the main street have their own connections to handle things; it's none of our business. This business is much more stable."

Zhou Xing didn't say anything.

The inner hall fell silent, and the faint murmurs of beggars in the courtyard outside could be heard.

"Hanako-fusa has already been doing this human trafficking business... Tell me about the second way to make money."

Although I knew long ago that beggars were not easy to deal with, their collusion with human traffickers was both unexpected and reasonable.

But when this actually happened to someone I knew, I vaguely realized the true weight of the phrase "when there is a great famine, people eat each other."

Zhang Dakuang raised his eyes, his goatee trembling slightly, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes: "The second one is riskier, but it brings in more money, and it's also more... satisfying."

He leaned forward, lowering his voice even further: "Remember Zhang Deyao, the soldier who robbed you of those eighty taels of silver? The one who guarded the granary."

Zhou Xing's eyes flickered.

"That bastard is an old ladybug. Relying on his little bit of power, he embezzles rations and resells grain, growing fat and bloated. Tonight..." Zhang Dakang's lips curled into a mocking smile.

"He's going to book out the 'Hundred Flowers Pavilion' in the west of the city and treat his five or six men to drinks and brothels. As for the granary, only two old and weak soldiers are left to guard it."

Luo Zitou continued, "We've figured out when he changes shifts. There's a dog hole in the back wall of the granary; it's been in disrepair for years, half of it has collapsed, and it's barely big enough for a person to crawl through. There are guards inside, but..."

"But our Huazifang has plenty of people, though," Zhang Dakang chimed in, a flash of fierceness crossing his eyes.

"And they're all worthless. While they're drunk, let's get to work tonight, taking as much as we can. Old rice or coarse grains, whatever we get is money, it's a way to survive!"

He stared at Zhou Xing: "If you do this right, you might get back double the eighty taels you lost. But if you mess it up and get caught by the soldiers, you'll lose your head."

"Meet at midnight tonight in the backyard of Fuxingju. The leader will guide you to find your way."

Zhang Dakuang and Luozitou both looked at him, waiting for his answer.

"A crime that could cost you your head..." Zhou Xing repeated, his voice trembling slightly.

No way, such a good thing really exists?

Zhou Xing gradually became teary-eyed.

I can finally die! I'll graduate soon!

If I had known today was the last day of my life, that my time was coming to an end, I would have known this was the reason.

However, his trembling voice and tearful eyes seemed very strange to Zhang Dakuang and the others.

No, they haven't even started yet, and just hearing about it is enough to make you cry?

"Brother Xiaoqing, you're not scared, are you?" Luo Zitou coughed lightly, intending to use a provocation tactic.

"I wasn't afraid, I was moved," Zhou Xing said sincerely.

"For something this important, Hanako-fusa didn't treat me like an outsider and specifically asked me to do it, so naturally I can't refuse!"

Zhang Dakang and Luo Zitou looked at each other for a while.

This kid doesn't seem to be pretending; his sudden openness has made them feel a little ashamed...

Regardless, they were indeed relieved to see Zhou Xing set such an example.

Those beggars outside are all lazy and cowardly; they can only bully others when things are going their way, but they can't take risks.

If I had known this kid was strong, fearless, and ruthless, he would have been perfect for leading such a big project!

"However, I still have a small question," Zhou Xing asked again.

"After the deed is done, the granary will be missing grain, and the government will definitely investigate. I've heard that Magistrate Wei of Qingshui County is a man who can't stand a speck of dust in his eyes."

"Let alone us who stole government grain, even his own brother could be beheaded by his own orders!" Zhou Xing said confidently.

"You make it sound like you witnessed it yourself. Magistrate Wei is a tough nut to crack, but if we dare to do something like this, we naturally have a plan," Zhang Dakang said, raising his eyebrows.

"Tonight I also contacted the bandit 'Mountain Wind' outside the city. All we need to do is open the granary door and hand over the grain to them."

"The bandits will take the blame; it has nothing to do with us."

After listening, Zhou Xing looked at Zhang Dakuang with newfound respect.

This is hardly a beggar.

He was not just some ordinary beggar; he was a local tyrant who rolled in the mud like a mudfish.

With his questions answered, Zhou Xing left.

Tonight's important matter requires him to stay home and avoid going out to find food during the day. He should conserve his energy. Zhou Xing then said goodbye and prepared to go home.

In order to witness a grand death tonight, Zhou Xing also needs to make some small preparations in advance.

........

When he arrived at his hometown town, he pushed open the courtyard gate and saw his younger sister, Li Ziqing, squatting with her back to him by the haystack.

Upon closer inspection, one could see that the little boy was holding a stick and was fiercely hacking at the straw figure he had just piled up.

"Two dragons emerge from the sea!" "Dragon and snake unite in perfect harmony!"

He was shouting out the names of the moves while making "hissing" sounds, having a great time all by himself.

Zhou Xing stood behind her with great interest, remaining silent and watching the show quietly for a while.

It reminded him of when he was a child, after the TV station broadcast "Cardcaptor Sakura," the younger girls in his neighborhood would always play magical girl house in the open space downstairs, reenacting the anime's lines and action scenes.

Back then, he would always try to suppress his laughter in the house.

Looking back now, I feel a little regretful. It would have been so funny to show it to them in a few years...

As he stood there, his aunt smiled, but then he saw his younger sister acting even more enthusiastically by herself.

"Hey! Demon, take this!" she shouted, brandishing the branch in her hand and stabbing the straw doll several times in the chest.

"This sword is to punish you for always disobeying and going out to be a beggar."

"This sword strike is to remind you that you're never home, that you only come back after dark, and that you eat dinner out."

"This sword strike left you covered in wounds every time you returned; it was terrifying..."

"This sword strike is for you... I forgot the beginning, I forgot the end, but you deserve to be hit."

After a while, I couldn't think of any other reason, but I kept stabbing the straw man about ten times until I finally knocked it to the ground.

"Now you know how powerful I am, you devil." Li Ziqing put on a stern face, helped the straw doll up, and leaned it against the fence.

"Now that you know what's what, stand properly and stop grinning like that." She stood with her hands behind her back, adopting the demeanor of a private tutor, and drew out her words.

"Yesterday I met a blind fortune teller at the entrance of town. He said I would rise to great heights in the future, so I will definitely be very rich."

"The little bit of money you're making now will be just a tiny bit, a tiny amount, like the size of a fingernail."

"So, don't go out and become a street beggar. Listen to me, I'll have plenty of money in the future, enough to buy ten, a hundred of you."

Li Ziqing patted the straw figure's shoulder with feigned magnanimity, but her voice gradually lowered.

Zhou Xing looked at his little sister squatting next to the straw doll in front of him. He tiptoed out again and opened the courtyard gate with a creak.

"Brother Demon...you're back?" The little sister turned around, her face showing a brief moment of bewilderment before quickly turning into an innocent smile.

"Yes, I came back to get something." Zhou Xing went into the inner room and took out the money bag he had hidden last night. The silver coins inside jingled and fell onto the table, making the little bean's bright eyes widen in surprise.

"Brother, did you run into Buddha when you went out? Your harvest is so good."

"Yes, Buddha told me I'll be rich soon... Remember to give this money to Mom to pay off her debts when she comes back," Zhou Xing instructed.

He was still wondering if handing over a full twenty taels of silver to Li's mother would arouse her suspicion that he had committed murder and arson outside.

Although my younger sister looks young, she is actually quite mature, so her message is quite accurate.

"I have to go to work today, so I'll be leaving now." Zhou Xing turned to leave.

"Huh? We have to go 'to work' again?" Li Ziqing's excitement faded. She tugged at his sleeve, tilting her head up with a look of confusion and unease in her eyes. "Didn't you just bring back the money?"

Zhou Xing suddenly changed his mind, but now, faced with his younger sister's eager eyes, he was also slightly moved.

"I'm sorry, this is the last time." He bent down and flicked his finger on his sister's forehead.

"Once I've made some money this time, I won't have to go anymore."

It didn't mean anything else.

The main point is to first set a death flag to ensure everything goes smoothly.

By the time Li Ziqing clutched her head in pain, Zhou Xing had already slipped away through the front door.

"Now, it's time to make some preparations," he thought to himself.

He remembered that on the south side of the city street where he was begging that day, in the area of ​​Liangyou Restaurant, there was a shop selling incense and candles that he was looking for.