Chapter 269: Keep Dreaming
After becoming Squad Leader, relying on having a gun and men at his disposal, he became even more arrogant beyond measure, acting increasingly overbearing.
He used the power in his hands to do many heinous things that provoked public indignation, causing many families to be ruined and people to flee their homes, with savings accumulated over half a lifetime or even generations all forcibly seized.
Because of this, Feng Ergou accumulated quite a family fortune.
Countless people of Beiping cursed him behind his back as a devil who ate people without spitting out bones!
But so what?
Those who cursed him still lived in dire straits, but he, Feng Ergou, relied on the capital obtained through strong-arming to flatter his superiors, rising steadily through the ranks from an ordinary soldier when he first joined to now a Company Commander in charge of over a hundred men!
Those who cursed him behind his back could only grovel and engage in sycophancy in front of him—who dared to challenge him?!
The soundly sleeping Feng Ergou suddenly chuckled. He dreamed of flattering the Regiment Commander and then kicking the Battalion Commander aside to take the position of Battalion Commander himself.
And the Battalion Commander, who was usually arrogant in front of him and whom he could only flatter obsequiously, knelt obediently before him like a pug.
Just as he was having this pleasant dream, he suddenly felt difficulty breathing, which brutally yanked him out of it.
“Which bastard!!”
He wanted to curse out loud, but found he couldn’t make a sound.
It was only then that he noticed a dark shadow had appeared by his bed at some point.
This discovery startled him greatly. He reached under his pillow, but found nothing.
“Are you looking for this?”
In the darkness, Cao Weida’s eyes flashed with mockery as he lifted the Jin-made 17-style pistol dangling from his left hand.
This pistol was copied by Yan Xishan’s Taiyuan Arsenal and mainly equipped Jin-Sui Army officers below regiment level as well as special agent companies and the like.
Later, after Yan Xishan was defeated along the Yanmen—Pingxingguan line, the Japanese Army killed and captured many of his subordinates and seized quite a few such pistols.
Seeing the gun taken away, despair appeared on Feng Ergou’s face, which was flushed red from being choked and unable to breathe.
The agony of being unable to breathe pierced to the bone marrow. He tried to pry open the hand choking his neck, which was like a steel bar, using both hands.
How could Cao Weida give him a chance to scratch him?
Before his arms could even lift, he smashed down viciously with the gun butt.
Crack~
Crack~~
After two crisp snaps, the arms that had tried to rise fell limply.
The pain of fractured bones made cold sweat instantly bead densely on Feng Ergou’s already purplish face.
“Spare me.”
For a coward like him, for a life with endless desire to survive, these two words were squeezed out with all his strength.
Because of this, his throat felt as piercingly painful as if cut by a knife.
Seeing him now ignore the pain, ignore his broken arm, he only knew he wanted to live!
“Oh~~ So our Company Commander Feng is also afraid of death.” Cao Weida couldn’t help but curl his lips in sarcasm, but unfortunately, it was blocked by the face veil—Feng Ergou couldn’t see it at all.
He eased his grip slightly, giving the other a sliver of space to breathe: “So, can we talk about something else? Like, where you keep your money?”
Faced with such a question, Feng Ergou felt not the slightest anger; instead, wild joy surged in his heart.
Since the other had a request, it meant he still had a chance at survival!
His eyes couldn’t help glancing at the naked woman nearby, who showed no reaction despite all the commotion.
He didn’t care that his woman was being seen in such an undignified state—what he cared about was whether she lived or died!
“Don’t worry, she’s just fainted, not dead.” Cao Weida let out a muffled laugh: “But if you’re not honest, I can’t guarantee she won’t go down with you to continue being lovebirds!”
Feng Ergou’s pupils contracted—he understood this was a warning!
“I’ll be honest, I definitely will!” He hurriedly said. His throat hurt from the recent choking, but he ignored it, begging fawningly:
“But sir, if I give you the money, will you spare this little one’s life?”
“Rest assured, I haven’t seen you tonight, and you haven’t been here!”
Hah, wishful thinking!
If I don’t kill you, who’ll fill my KPI?
He sneered coldly: “That depends on how well you cooperate. This old man only wants wealth, but if you dare play tricks, this old man won’t mind taking wealth and life!”
“Besides, if I can come once silently, I can come twice silently!”
“If you dare play tricks, heh heh.”
“I wouldn’t dare, I wouldn’t dare. I’ll definitely cooperate, definitely cooperate!” What he thought inside didn’t matter—at least on the surface, Feng Ergou was as obedient as could be.
“I hope you’re truly smart and not trying to be sly.” Cao Weida’s attitude didn’t soften at his submission; his voice remained cold:
“Don’t mess with me. Your life is in my hands. You’re a smart man—don’t act unclear-headed!”
“I’m letting go of your throat now. You can try calling for help, but I think you won’t like the consequences.”
He said all this mostly to give the other hope of survival.
Human instinct for survival is boundless; in the face of life and death, what money, what power—all bullshit!
After realizing he truly might have a chance to live, boundless desire for survival burst from Feng Ergou’s eyes. Hearing this, he nodded without hesitation, enduring the pain of his throat being gripped, forcing a fawning smile:
“Sir, rest assured, I’ll definitely cooperate obediently.”
Money mattered less than life—without life, what use was more money?
On the contrary, as long as he lived, wouldn’t he be able to make more money?!
“You’re indeed a smart man.” Cao Weida chuckled oddly twice, picked up a rope from the floor, and swiftly tied him up in a five-point bind.
Feng Ergou didn’t dare struggle and cooperated fully throughout.
Of course, he didn’t dare resist, nor could he.
Both arms were already broken—how could he resist?
Bite with his teeth?!
While tying him, Cao Weida glanced downward, his eyes full of disdain: “With your little worm, can you even satisfy a woman?”
Faced with such mocking words, though Feng Ergou felt deeply humiliated and wanted to curse, he could only smile awkwardly, not daring to show any displeasure.
His eyes kept glancing furtively at the door with his peripheral vision. Cao Weida noticed and sneered directly:
“What, still waiting for your lackey to save you?”
“Save it. You think I’m talking to you so boldly for no reason?”
Feng Ergou’s heart went cold—this time he was thoroughly hopeless.
“Get up, show the way. Don’t try any of your so-called clever tricks. If I find out you haven’t confessed everything, I’ll make you confess right here!”
Dragged forcibly to his feet, Feng Ergou was in such pain he was drenched in sweat. The pain from his two broken arms kept stimulating his nerves, but he didn’t dare cry out.
What if he shouted and this thug thought he was calling for help—wouldn’t he be done for?
A thorough rummaging through boxes and cabinets.
Soon after, a pile of Silver Dollars, gold, and jewelry was heaped together.
This dog thing sure knew how to hide—he hadn’t even hidden it in the master bedroom, guarding against even his own woman!
But this was even better; he collected it all with greater peace of mind.
“Well now, quite a haul. A Company Commander’s military pay for ten years wouldn’t even come close.” Cao Weida’s voice dripped with sarcasm.
Thanks to Feng Ergou’s cooperation, he found a total of 1,200 Silver Dollars, thirty small gold bars, and five large gold bars.
There were even more Union bonds, but now Union bonds were increasingly worthless—they could only be used for daily expenses and tips.
Exchange at the bank?
Don’t make me laugh. The little devils openly banned other currencies, allowing only Union bonds—would the bank exchange them?
Not to mention those Union bonds, just these Silver Dollars and gold were a huge sum.
This wasn’t a small amount—most middle-class families that had struggled for generations might not have this much wealth.
Especially after the little devils came, many middle-class people were fleeced several times.
Some went bankrupt and were killed, others sided with the little devils to get rich.
Feng Ergou smiled obsequiously, full of flattery, but didn’t dare answer directly.
Who knew what temper this thug had—if he said the wrong thing, wouldn’t he be in danger?
But what he didn’t know was, whether he answered or not, and whatever he answered, Cao Weida wouldn’t let him go.
While he was still full of fawning smiles, an ordinary embroidery needle appeared between Cao Weida’s two fingers.
Then, before he could react, it had already pierced his temple swift as lightning.
“Urk”
Feng Ergou’s eyes bulged wide, full of unwillingness, as if saying, didn’t you promise to let me go?
But no matter how unwilling, he no longer had a chance to speak, collapsing to the ground with eyes wide open, dead without closing them.
“How could I leave a scourge like you alive? Besides, I never said I’d let you go.” Cao Weida’s eyes were full of sarcasm. As Yan Shuangying would say, for someone like you, how to change?!
Only death!!
Not kill you—let you continue harming the innocent?
Casually stowing the corpse, then the Silver Dollars, gold bars, Union bonds, his gaze turned to the woman lying on the bed.
He rubbed his chin, deep in thought about how to deal with this woman.
He could kill the utterly wicked without hesitation, but according to her file, this woman just relied on Feng Ergou’s backing to be somewhat arrogant and haughty, looking down on the poor masses with her nose in the air.
She bullied people but hadn’t done anything truly heinous.
She wasn’t that bad, certainly not deserving of death.
After considering for a moment, he shook his head and muttered to himself: “Forget it. She knows nothing anyway, so leave it like this.”
If she knew nothing and he still killed her ruthlessly, how would he differ from the likes of Feng Ergou?
“Gotta say, though Feng Ergou that dog thing isn’t anything good, he sure has good taste—this woman’s quite the dish.”
After erasing all traces, he glanced at the spring scene and quietly withdrew.
