Chapter 117

Chapter 117

Han Zhang had long suspected those old-timers were more than they seemed, but he never imagined the Han family had such hidden depths.

Good heavens, no wonder the old man said that in his youth, he worked in escorting goods.

He wasn't lying—stealing someone else's shipment mid-route still counts as "escorting," right?

Surrounded by burly men shouting "Young Master," Han Zhang trailed awkwardly after Grandpa Han and the others, entering the small but well-organized mountain stronghold.

Then, as the old men caught up on old times, Han Zhang finally got the full picture of his family's secrets.

The Quyang Han clan really was wiped out back then.

That massacre was utterly merciless—hardly a soul from the main or side branches survived, except for Grandpa Han and his band of kids, who got away thanks to their elders shielding them with their own lives.

But in those days, even grown adults could barely scrape by. What were a bunch of kids supposed to do?

So the sharp-witted Grandpa Han and his crew, with nothing but smooth talk and guts, conned a bunch of illiterate, dim-witted but strapping refugees, scraped together a gang, and took up banditry. That's how they ended up in the capital.

Grandpa Han and the others had at least some schooling, and even though they were young, they thought big.

Turning outlaw was just a stopgap in a lawless era.

Once they had a safe place to land, Grandpa Han and the others—the "bandit masterminds"—immediately decided to hang up their outlaw names, put down roots in Shangpo Village, and live off the land.

But not everyone was cut out for a life that was safe but poor.

So these kids of the Han clan, young but plenty cunning, couldn't see eye to eye and eventually went their own ways to make a living.

Grandpa Han's main branch settled into a quiet life, farming and passing down learning...

Seventh Grandpa Han's branch kept the bandit crew going and growing...

Over the years, the two sides grew apart but stayed in close touch, knowing exactly what the other was up to. If one side hit a rough patch, the other would quietly have their back.

Bottom line: they were family, the kind where even broken bones stay connected by sinew.

After a few rounds of wine.

The dozen or so old brothers finished catching up.

Seventh Grandpa Han put down his cup and asked, mulling it over: "All you elder brothers showing up together today—don't tell me something big's happened in the clan?"

—Otherwise, why would all six of you old-timers make the trip yourselves?

"Nothing huge, but something did come up in the clan that needs you brothers to step in."

Clan Chief Han didn't mince words and just nodded.

Hearing it wasn't a big deal, Seventh Grandpa Han and the others visibly relaxed, then said, a bit miffed:

"Big brother, now you're just being distant! We haven't met in years, but we've never stopped writing. All these years, the stronghold's been working for the big shots in the capital, and we've stayed alive only because you kept tipping us off."

"So if you've got something to say, big brother, just say it. If it's within our power, I won't say no. Why use a word as cold as 'please'?"

Sure, there'd been friction between the main and branch lines of the Han clan before, but it was never life-or-death.

Especially after surviving the massacre and scraping by together in a lawless world, the old divide between main and branch lines—which had widened as the clan prospered—had mended, and they were on great terms now.

In everyone's minds, they might not live under one roof, but they were still family.

Over the years, the stronghold had dodged countless "kill the donkey after it's done plowing" and "burn the bridge after crossing" traps, all thanks to tips from Shangpo Village.

Now that Shangpo Village's in trouble, the big brother goes and says "please"—that's way too standoffish!

Clan Chief Han chuckled at that, stroking his beard as he scolded: "Look at you all—at your age, still so impatient."

"As the saying goes: one careless move and the whole game is lost... Even behind closed doors, one should think carefully and weigh one's words. That way, if you ever get into a verbal dispute, you won't end up at a disadvantage."

As the eldest brother, the clan chief couldn't help falling into the habit of lecturing like an old cadre.

Seventh Grandpa Han and the others all knew their elder brother's temperament. They didn't mind being scolded at their age; in fact, they rather missed this atmosphere.

The old men nodded with smiles: "Yes, elder brother's lesson is well taken. We'll be more careful from now on."

Clan Chief Han was satisfied and continued with the main topic: "We came today mainly because of Fifth Girl, the daughter of Sixth Brother. When she was born, she was swapped by that villain..."

He then recounted the full story of Fifth Aunt's background.

"If that girl truly didn't know, at most we'd take back the money spent on her over the years and cast her out of the family. But that girl is an ungrateful wolf!"

"Look at what she's done all these years. She barely escaped the court's interrogation, and instead of lying low, she's become even more arrogant and pleased with herself. It's absolutely infuriating!"

"And the remaining descendants of the Liu family—the way they bullied and mistreated Fifth Girl back then—that cannot be simply forgiven!"

Grandpa Han said coldly, "I don't want the Liu family's lives, just one thing... whatever suffering Fifth Girl endured in the Liu family, the Liu family, Liu Zhenzhen, and Liu Wangshi's other three daughters must all taste the same, one by one."

These people weren't the main culprits, but none of them were innocent either. When his daughter was in the Liu family, every single one of them had bullied her mercilessly. As they sowed, so shall they reap.

Liu's mother cherished her own children dearly—did the Han family not have the same protective love for their own?

As the saying goes: everyone dotes on their own children!

Dealing with the Liu family wasn't a big matter. If one's own blood was bullied like this and no revenge was taken, then they were cowards.

Seventh Grandpa Han and the others immediately nodded angrily: "That Liu Wangshi! Her daughter is a daughter, but others' daughters aren't? Not only did she use someone as a scapegoat, but she also treated them so cruelly."

"Sixth brother, rest assured. Leave the remaining Liu family members and Liu Wangshi's daughters to us. Whatever suffering Fifth Girl endured in the Liu family, we'll make them repay double!"

They like forcing people into hard labor and mistreating them, do they?

They had plenty of places where these people could truly experience what real hard labor meant!

Hearing this assurance, Grandpa Han finally let out the pent-up frustration in his chest: "Thank you, younger brothers, for your righteous assistance. This kindness, this elder brother will remember forever."

"What kindness? Sixth brother, you're being too formal too!" Seventh Grandpa Han waved his hand grandly, full of heroic spirit: "We're all family. Fifth Girl is my own niece. When a niece is bullied, how can we uncles stand by and do nothing?"

"Seventh brother is right—we are one family. But even so, we still trouble you brothers to go to the effort..."

Grandpa Han showed a relieved smile, then pulled Han Zhang over and said warmly, "Ah, I haven't introduced you yet. This is my grandson who excels at his studies—Qinzhang. Today's a good opportunity, so I brought him along to meet you brothers."

Han Zhang understood and quickly rose, bowing deeply to the elders: "Grandson Qinzhang pays respects to all the grand-uncles."

"Qinzhang? So this is our Qinzhang grand-nephew who earned the title of xiucai before even reaching twenty? Truly a fine young man!"

The elders' spirits lifted immediately, their gazes falling on Han Zhang in unison, eyes full of surprise and curiosity.

Having corresponded regularly over the years, they naturally knew of Han Zhang's existence—this prized grandson of the family.

Although the two branches of the Han clan now go their own way and stay out of each other's business, once one branch makes a name for itself, the other is certain to return, reuniting the clan to strengthen the family together.

Therefore, Han Zhang is also very important to Grandfather Han Qi and the others.

Speaking of Han Zhang, Clan Chief Han dropped his usual composed act, and he couldn't hide the pride and swagger in his voice:

"Been swamped with clan business lately, so I haven't gotten around to filling you boys in—Qinzhang has already married, and he wed the eldest legitimate son of Lord Shen, a Fifth-Rank Assistant Commissioner in the Transmission Office."

"Lord Shen holds him in high regard and has recommended him to study at the Imperial Academy. His teacher at the academy said that as long as nothing unexpected happens, Qinzhang's name is all but guaranteed on next year's exam list."

At that, Grandfather Han Qi and the others were overjoyed: "Is that true?"

A provincial graduate already has the right to seek an official post, and even if Han Zhang doesn't pass the big imperial exam, that title alone is enough to pull some strings and land a job.

Once Han Zhang gets an official post and can shield the family, the Han family's comeback is right around the corner!

"Excellent, excellent! Heaven blesses our Han family! Qinzhang, my boy, focus on your studies, and if there's anything your uncles can help with, just say the word—we've been in the capital for years, and sure, we ain't exactly walking the straight and narrow, but every snake has its slither, every rat its route. These old bones of ours can still pull their weight."

The elders beamed with joy, jostling to clap Han Zhang on the shoulder while pacing the hall.

You could see the excitement and hope plastered all over their faces.

The mountain bandits near the capital were vastly different from those in remote, impoverished regions.

Bandits in poor areas survived entirely by robbing traveling merchants and common folk;

But right under the emperor's nose, with the capital's tight security, Grandfather Han Qi and his group were "bandits" in name only—in reality, they were basically "private muscle" for the big-shot families, hired to do the dirty deeds the nobles couldn't do out in the open, kind of like modern-day mercenaries.

As everyone knows, the big shots love to burn bridges and kick the ladder out from under you once they're across.

After all these years doing the nobility's dirty work, Grandfather Han Qi and the others had piled up way too many secrets they had no business knowing—it was plain as day that if they didn't quit, they were doomed.

But the problem was, how the hell could they just walk away from a mess like this? Without a solid enough patron, the so-called "going clean" was just wishful thinking.

And in this world, what kind of patron really counts?

The answer: getting an official post—and a high-ranking one at that!

Sure, Han Zhang didn't have much pull yet, but as long as he looked like he was going places, Grandfather Han Qi and the boys would pull out all the stops to clear the path for him and shoot him straight to the top.

That was exactly why Grandfather Han and the others had brought him along today.

For your average poor scholar, climbing the ranks was a brutal grind, so the more backup his grandson had, the better.