Seeing that the matter was finally settled, I found Wu Yong, Lu Junyi and the others and said, "Brothers, now that we've passed this hurdle, fighting Fang La won't be easy either. We still need to think things through carefully."
Hu Sanniang slapped me and said, "What good will it do to talk to you? This is none of your business. Go back and keep my Baozi sister company."
Wu Yong and Lu Junyi exchanged a glance and laughed at the same time, "Third Sister is right. You're about to become a father, so spend more time with Baozi."
I said indignantly, "Am I really that useless? Why do you all dislike me so much?"
Wu Yong said seriously, "Who said that? You're very useful. Didn't you bring my glasses with you?"
I'm speechless...
Lin Chong laughed and said, "Stop fooling around. Xiao Qiang, your brothers are just joking with you. Baozi really needs you right now."
I nodded repeatedly: "Brother Lin Chong speaks so nicely."
Lin Chong continued, "But then again, you really can't be of much help."
Speechless again...
Fang Zhenjiang told me, "When you get back, don't let Xiaoyuan see you. Otherwise, she'll start asking me about it."
I asked in surprise, "Aren't you coming back with me?"
Fang Zhenjiang looked at Wu Song and laughed, "Didn't my brother say that we'd drink together and fight together from now on? I can't be a brother who only knows how to drink but not how to fight." Fang Zhenjiang leaned closer to me and whispered, "Besides—aren't you really worried that things will fall apart between everyone and Fang La again? If I stay, I can mediate." He was still worried about Fang La.
I nodded, then asked Hua Rong No. 2, "You're not going back either?"
Hua 2 said, "I have to stay and keep an eye on Pang Wanchun. We can't let him hurt our people, nor can we let him get hurt. He must have heard of our name by now, and he won't hold back when we meet."
I said, "When should I come pick you up?"
Fang Zhenjiang said, "The phone is working now, right? We'll just bring this flagpole. We'll contact you when we're done." This was essentially bringing a cell tower.
Seeing that the two had made up their minds, and with the enhanced version of Liangshan consisting of 108+2, dealing with Fang La's Eight Heavenly Kings shouldn't be a problem, there was no point in me staying. So, as I walked down the mountain, I said, "Then don't play around on your phones these next few days. Save some battery for me to call. I'll come see you in a few days when I have nothing to do."
I went up to Song Jiang and said, "Brother, if there's nothing else, I'll be going now."
Song Jiang nodded, somewhat bewildered. "Since I arrived, I've made a mess of Liangshan, so he hasn't said anything about my departure."
I shook hands with Grand Commandant Wang again and said, "Lord Wang, keep up the good work. I wish you a successful career. If you do well, you might even get the privilege of staying with me for a year."
Grand Commandant Wang was baffled for a long time. I had already walked quite a distance before he said to Song Jiang, "Why is this man talking so incoherently?"
I really wanted to turn around and tell him, "That clueless girl is my wife, and I'm just unhappy..."
I came down the mountain alone this time. When I got back to Zhu Gui's hotel, several of the men immediately surrounded me and asked all at once, "Brother Qiang, everyone's saying that Liangshan has accepted the imperial pardon, is it true or not?" The news spread really fast. Besides me officially becoming the 109th Brother, they even knew that we had already accepted the pardon.
I laughed and said, "Why do you all care so much? Just join in the fun." I couldn't say much more at this moment, since this fake surrender was quite a sensitive matter.
The guy who always parks for me is already standing next to my car...
After getting home, I called Fei Sankou while keeping Baozi company. I really couldn't think of a better person to ask than him to fix signal boosters. However, I'd heard that people in that line of work use special equipment—I wonder if they use China Mobile or China Unicom SIM cards.
Sure enough, as soon as I finished stating my requirements, Fei Sankou scoffed in a nonchalant tone, "The goods are no problem. But what trick are you up to now?"
I said seriously, "This is confidential; don't ask questions you shouldn't."
Old Fei hurriedly whispered, "Right, right, I forgot." A few seconds later, he immediately realized, "Damn it, you're telling me a secret?"
I chuckled a few times and said in a humble tone, "Help me get one. You can just install a listening device on it. I'll give you some intelligence: a certain anti-government organization is planning a large-scale operation soon."
"Are you serious?" Fei Sankou immediately became serious.
I realized that some jokes shouldn't be made with someone like him, so I quickly said, "I was just kidding."
Fei Sankou said seriously, "I'm also reminding you, don't do anything reckless—are the people from Yucai School getting restless again?"
I snapped, "You can't just say things like that. Are you implying that Yucai is an anti-government organization?"
Old Fei chuckled and said, "Alright, just wait, I'll have someone deliver it to you."
Strictly speaking, Lu Junyi and his group could also be considered educators. However, since the Northern Song Dynasty had already synchronized with modern times and was essentially seeking independence, Lu Junyi and his group's rebellion was an act of patriotism.
Baozi glanced at me after I hung up the phone and said, "What a jerk! I never see you doing anything productive all day. You're as busy as a national leader."
I rolled my eyes back and said, "Women who are two months pregnant should keep quiet! Men have to be busy during this period; more than 70% of couples have emotional problems stemming from this time..."
Baozi glanced at me sideways: "I couldn't get through to you on the phone all night again!"
"Are you kidding me? Is this all your man's intelligence is? Turning off his phone to have an affair?"
Baozi laughed and said, "I believe that—besides, you can't lock me up for just one night."
I said with a dark face, "Can you stop provoking me? Besides—why can't you lock me up for just one night? Haven't we locked each other up before?"
Baozi blushed and snorted, "You pervert!"
I was about to confront her further when I heard the doorbell ring. I got up to open the door, muttering, "So fast? Is that guy surnamed Fei spying on us right outside our door?"
The door opened, and a handsome young man, so dashing he was almost absurd, stood before me, smiling. He had one hand under his arm and the other supporting his chin, and he greeted Baozi on the sofa with a beaming smile. It was Jin Shaoyan.
This is the first time we've seen each other since Li Shishi left. Jin Shaoyan looks well and in good spirits; he must have moved on from Li Shishi's shadow. Baozi waved to him, "It's Shaoyan!"
Jin Shaoyan walked in and sat down, smiling as he asked Baozi, "When is your due date?"
Around the time of the New Year.
"Did it exceed the limit? Boy or girl?"