157. Husband and Wife Meet Yet Cannot Meet

Seeing Wang Erniang looking at him with trepidation, Lu Wei stepped forward and grabbed her hand. The calluses on his hands made Wang Erniang shiver, and Lu Wei almost spat blood from sheer nervousness.

"Don't worry, Erniang. Although I, Lu Wei, am a rough-hewn man, as long as you are willing, I will never let you suffer any grievances."

"But I..." Wang Erniang felt a pang in her heart. She hadn't expected such a fierce-looking man to have such a tender side.

"In the pugilistic world, we don't care about such things; the past is in the past. As long as you live a good life with me, none of that matters," Lu Wei comforted her.

For river bandits, who occupy the very bottom rung of society, talking about chastity is far too much of a luxury. Everyone has to fight desperately just to survive; who has the luxury of being so particular?

Even though his sworn brother's enterprise was currently flourishing, at the end of the day, they were still river bandits.

"Husband!" Wang Erniang could not help but be moved. She could not predict what her future life would be like, but at least for the moment, she could feel this man's goodwill.

Though she could not say she was completely willing. If she had been given a choice, that Commander was not only handsome, but also an extraordinary hero. With just the imposing aura he displayed on the stage, which woman could fail to be enamored?

Yet it was painfully obvious that he looked down on her. The young lady聂 beside him had eyes only for that Commander. Not only was she pretty, but her chest was every bit as full and prominent as her own. How could she dare to have such extravagant hopes?

Although the man before her might not possess handsome features, he looked steady and held a position of authority. Though he was somewhat older, at least following him meant she would no longer be bullied every single day.

"Haha, how could I be like my brother? My brother is a scholar, while I'm just a boatman and a rough man. Just call me 'Master of the House,'" Lu Wei said, growing more fond of her the more he looked.

One had to admit that men are often governed by physical instincts, at least Lu Wei was at that moment.

"Master," Wang Erniang murmured with a shy blush.

"Come, put this on so you don't freeze," Lu Wei said as he took off his outer robe and wrapped it around Wang Erniang.

Lu Jin watched with a sense of relief. Life was difficult for everyone, so they might as well pair up and live together, and perhaps his eldest brother would even have a second spring in his life.

"Erniang, are there any others here who used to bully you?" Lu Jin asked. The matter was clear as day, and there was no need to shy away from it.

Lu Jin did not call her sister-in-law. Although he felt deep sympathy for her, the growing LAN River Water Gang could not establish a woman with too tarnished a past as the official wife of the gang leader—such was the harsh reality of the situation.

"Those few were already killed by you, and as for those two..." Wang Erniang turned around and pointed at two men among the hostages.

The two hostages pointed out by Wang Erniang were so terrified that they collapsed instantly onto the ground. That pale-faced scholar was a veritable Yama demanding lives.

This turn of events also exceeded Lu Jin's expectations. He had originally thought there were just a few escaped bandits, but he hadn't expected them to be captives as well.

This made Lu Jin even more furious. Among all evils, the one he could least tolerate was the oppressed preying upon their own kind.

"Eldest Brother!" Lu Jin called out to Lu Wei, whose face was already covered in frost. This was a problem for Lu Wei to solve; it was not appropriate for him to step in directly.

Lu Wei picked up the sword Lu Jin had given him a few days prior, strode over to the two men in a few steps, and without a word, hoisted them up one by one and ran them through.

This bandit hero finally displayed his ruthless nature. The full-faced malevolence terrified the surrounding people into stepping back repeatedly.

"Is there anyone else among you who bullied them? Step forward yourselves!" Lu Jin pointed successively at the men and women in the crowd.

Soon, three or four more men were dragged out, collapsing onto the ground and begging incessantly for mercy.

"You were captured by them and were already pitiful wretches. You ought to have shared weal and woe, yet you turned on your own kind with such cruelty that you are worse than beasts. If we do not kill you, how can we uphold justice on behalf of heaven? Kill them!"

As Lu Jin's words fell, amidst the wails, several heads rolled to the ground.

This act completely set the minds of the remaining hostages at ease. After all, what had happened earlier could at best be considered a turf war between bandits, but this right here was truly meting out justice and avenging them!

Wang Erniang looked at the scene before her, weeping uncontrollably. Ever since she had been abducted by human traffickers, she had never experienced such catharsis and touching vindication.

"Hear me out!" Lu Jin shouted.

"As you all can see, Wang Erniang has already joined in matrimony with my eldest brother, and henceforth they will live a happy life in our LAN River Water Gang. If any of you have nowhere to go or wish to stay, you are all welcome. If you are women, you may choose a stout-hearted hero among the brothers of our LAN River Water Gang to live with. If you are men, you can join us in upholding justice for the heavens."

As Lu Jin laid out option after option, the previously quiet crowd of hostages and water gang brothers immediately erupted into a bustling commotion. They had never imagined that wives would literally be distributed like this.

"Commander, can I choose you?" asked a bold woman.

"Shut up! He is the only one you cannot choose," Nie Wuci scolded angrily. These women were all trying to steal her man without even bothering to take a look at themselves in the mirror!

Lu Jin's mouth twitched; he hadn't even gotten a chance to speak.

Following this reprimand, the crowd calmed down slightly. The woman was pretty enough, but far too fierce.

"Alright, any choice must be mutually agreed upon by both sides. Our LAN River Water Gang is not a band of outlaws; how could we ignore reason and rules?"

"Now, any brothers who earned merit in beheading bandits and are willing to live with these women, step forward," Lu Jin called out to the water gang brothers.

As his voice trailed off, seven or eight brothers walked out of the queue with beaming smiles, officially kicking off the LAN River Water Gang's wife-matching event.

After a lively period of free communication, eight pairs of men and women found their matches.

"Very well, seeing that everyone has found a good match, my eldest brother and I are deeply gratified. However, I must emphasize a few rules."

"These sisters, like us, are people who have suffered. Falling into this bandit lair was not their fault, but the fault of this damned era. Therefore, the brothers must not hold their past against them, nor may they beat their wives to vent their frustrations. Anyone who engages in such behavior may appeal to my eldest brother, and he will surely uphold justice for you."

"Of course, as you live with our brothers, you must also mind your duties and manage the household frugally. Anyone who stirs up trouble and fails to observe proper conduct will also find my eldest brother ready to seek justice for the brothers."

Lu Wei, standing nearby, felt his mouth twitch. Why did all these domestic matters fall onto his plate?

"And one more thing: anyone who forms a couple with a brother of our gang will receive ten taels of silver as a settlement grant."

...

After dealing with these temporary couples, Lu Jin turned his attention to the remaining hostages.

"Those willing to stay with the LAN River Water Gang, stand on this side. Those who wish to leave, stand on that side. If any of you women wish to stay, you may stand on that side as well—it is not mandatory to marry in order to stay," Lu Jin told the remaining women.

Soon, the queue split into two columns. Most of the women chose to stay, but the vast majority of the men chose to leave. After all, the circumstances and prospects for men and women were entirely different in this situation.

"Very well. Our LAN River Water Gang keeps its word. We will never force any of you; you are free to stay or go as you please. Those who wish to stay, follow us onto the ships. For those who wish to go home, we have specifically left a boat for you. I wish you a smooth journey ahead!"

By the time everything was settled, it was close to the third watch of the night.

Lu Jin finally boarded a ship and embarked on the return journey.

"Are you really letting them leave?" Nie Wuci asked, watching those few people laboriously rowing their boat.

"Did you think I was lying?"

Nie Wuci honestly hadn't believed it, assuming Lu Jin was up to some scheme or trick again.

"Given the state they're in, will they even make it back?" Seeing that those individuals clearly had no idea how to row—having set off together, they were already on the verge of disappearing from sight.

"I rescued them from the bandit den and let them leave; isn't that enough? Do you expect me to escort them all the way to their doorsteps? I don't owe them anything."

Kind-hearted though Lu Jin was, he was no foolish do-gooder. He had already spared them a boat—dilapidated though it was, it was still a boat!

"Hey, where is my eldest brother?" Lu Jin asked in bewilderment. He had just seen him standing at the bow of the ship a moment ago; how had he vanished into thin air in the blink of an eye?

"Pfft!" Nie Wuci couldn't help laughing out loud. Did you think your eldest brother was a blockhead like you? Who knows what he's up to right now.

"What are you laughing at?"

"Laughing at you for being a blockhead!" Nie Wuci said speechlessly.

This man was truly indescribable. Whenever he was idle, he looked rather dim-witted, his face plastered with a silly, foolish grin.

Yet when he was truly attending to serious business, he became an entirely different person—cool-headed, decisive, and intimidatingly majestic, chilling even her to the bone.

"..."

"Wuci, what on earth were you and Wang Erniang whispering about back there?" With time on his hands, Lu Jin grew somewhat curious.

"I won't tell you now; you'll find out later," Nie Wuci blushed and said.

Today had been an eye-opener; she hadn't expected there to be so many intricacies to that sort of matter. What a pity that this blockheaded man had the heart for it but lacked the nerve!

(⊙ꇴ⊙) What on earth would he find out later? However, Lu Jin's puzzlement flickered and vanished in an instant.

Standing at the bow of the ship, he looked up at the sky. Stars dotted the firmament, the Milky Way brilliant and vast.

He wondered if his wife had seen his letter yet. He missed her somewhat.

-----------------

Compared to the twenty boats they had arrived with, the return trip was a grand spectacle. Nearly eighty warships marched majestically through the starlight, banners fluttering, voices bustling.

Having lost their bandit chieftains, the remaining bandits gradually set aside their misgivings due to the amiable attitude of the water gang brothers.

They had been driven by circumstance to eke out a living here in the first place; where else couldn't they eat? Who would pick a pointless fight with their own lives? Besides, this group looked so imposing, and their leader was decisive in execution; following them might not turn out any worse than before.

"Silence! Silence!"

Right as he was lost in thought, Lu Jin suddenly heard soft cries rising and falling across the various vessels. Lu Jin hurriedly looked up and saw the flags on the leading ship swaying left and right.

Lu Jin's heart instantly sank; this signal indicated enemy movement ahead.

Sure enough, a short while later, a small boat rowed over from ahead.

"What's going on?"

"Commander, several ships have been spotted off our front flank, but they are too far away to make out clearly."

"All ships stop, scout further!"

However, with so many people and such brief training, executing orders instantly was no easy feat. Fortunately, the naval force was primarily built around family retainers, and after a good deal of pressure applied, the commotion finally settled down.

After waiting for a while, another boat was seen returning from the front.

"Commander, we've seen clearly. It's the heroes who helped us today. I saw many lanterns lit on their ships, and the people on board are wearing red scarves."

Lu Jin suddenly felt an aching sourness in his eyes, speechlessness welling up within him. His wife missed him too.

Yet with so many people on his side now—especially the several hundred newly joined bandits—it was utterly impossible to go and meet her.

"It must be that those heroes were worried and haven't left yet. Follow the plan and return by the original route!"

The majestic fleet moved forward another mile and saw two large ships anchored off to the right front, accompanied by a dozen or so smaller boats.

As the distance closed, Lu Jin, standing tall at the bow, finally caught sight of his wife, whom he had not seen for days.

Even at their closest point, they remained separated by several hundred paces. Shen Yanxi stood at the bow, her entire figure enveloped in a black cloak.

To an uninformed observer, one couldn't even tell whether the person standing at the bow was male or female. However, everyone else on her ships wore prominent red scarves, which stood out clearly.

All along the way, Lu Jin raised his hands high to express his gratitude, and the brothers of the water gang followed suit, all cupping their hands in thanks. Those on the opposite side cupped their hands in return.

This created an exceedingly bizarre scene: clearly, the two sides appeared intimately familiar with one another, yet they passed each other by in mutual silence.

Shen Yanxi stood at the prow, watching her husband from afar cupping his hands in gratitude, and her tears could no longer be contained.

Though she could not see him clearly, apart from the imposing flags fluttering on those dozens of ships, the rest of the people looked from afar like a group of fleeing refugees. Her husband... especially after hearing from Jiang Xing that her husband looked haggard, Shen Yanxi could not bear to let her thoughts wander any further...

The longer Shen Yanxi looked, the more her heart ached, and her tears merged into a continuous stream, slipping silently into the dark night.

Their reunion had been hasty and fleeting, yet they could only glimpse a blurred shadow.

The River Han is clear and shallow,
How far apart can they truly be?
With only a sparkling expanse of water between them,
They gaze at each other in longing, unable to speak a word.