Chapter 17: Forming the Group and Unleashing the Ultimate

There were about a dozen robbers. Among the group of five, Chen Ming was the strongest and most skilled in physical combat. He charged forward like a lone warrior guarding a mountain pass, successfully drawing the majority of the fire and pinning down the four most dangerous leaders.

Jiang Xiucheng, who followed, was no weakling himself; he held his own against three opponents. As for Pei Wenyuan, he matched his scholarly appearance, functioning as the group’s strategist. However, with their lives on the line, everyone—including the scholarly Pei and the two young women—fought with everything they had to ensure Jiang and Chen would not be distracted.

Lin Jingshu and Pei Wenyuan were the primary fighters among the three, while Yun Shu, though unskilled and slightly slow to react, excelled at delivering underhanded strikes. As Lin and Pei struggled against the three weakest robbers, Yun Shu maneuvered nimbly through the fray with a pair of small scissors and a rolling pin. She would either land a heavy blow to the back of someone’s head or jab sharply into a kidney, successfully sapping the robbers' strength and drawing their ire.

She was quick-witted and agile, not only protecting herself well but also displaying keen situational awareness. Several times, when the robbers were about to strike their own companions, Yun Shu would shout or dart in to pull them away, saving her team’s combat strength. Despite the significant gap in numbers, the group of five managed to trade blows with the robbers, reaching a temporary stalemate.

After a while, the robbers, unable to secure a quick victory, began to consider retreating. After all, they were not in a desolate, uninhabited area, and more importantly, the rickshaw driver who had run off to summon the police was already returning with officers in tow. From afar, they could already hear the police shouting, "Don't move! Drop your weapons!"

It was a classic case of the hunter being hunted. Fearing they might be trapped, the robbers decided to flee. But that was hardly going to be so easy. Had they asked Yun Shu and her companions if they could come and go as they pleased?

This was not a desolate wilderness. Several onlookers, who had been hiding in the corners and itching to help, were watching. Initially, they had been held back by concerns for their own safety and the fear of retaliation from such vicious criminals. But with the police approaching, their confidence surged.

When the sharp-eyed Pei Wenyuan spotted the leaders trying to escape, he shouted, "Quick! They’re running! Stop them! Let’s rid the people of this scourge!"

True to his role as the strategist, his words ignited the crowd's fervor. No sooner had he finished speaking than three or four young men brandished sticks and brooms to block the escape route. The elderly man selling popcorn nearby also joined in, waving a crowbar while shouting, and two women even charged over carrying buckets of swill, unleashing a torrent of colorful insults.

Yun Shu and her friends narrowly dodged the chaos, but the robbers were caught off guard and bore the brunt of the onslaught. The scene turned chaotic yet exhilarating. In a daze, Yun Shu felt as if she were hearing a heroic battle anthem. Caught up in the adrenaline, she grabbed a coil of hemp rope from a nearby cart and charged into the fray, wielding it like a whip.

By the time the police arrived at the scene, the enraged ringleader was attempting a desperate, last-ditch attack against Chen Ming with a knife, only to be shot dead on the spot by the police.

With their leader dead, the remaining robbers lost all will to resist. They were beaten into submission by Yun Shu and her group, then promptly handcuffed by the police. The battle concluded perfectly: the group of five had sustained only minor injuries, the robbers had suffered heavy losses, and their supplies were secured.

The police needed to understand the sequence of events to ensure these young people were recognized for their self-defense and public service rather than being mistaken for a gang of brawlers. Fortunately, the rickshaw driver spoke passionately on their behalf, and the local onlookers who had finally joined the fight also stood up for them. The facts were quickly established, and the group was hailed as "Progressive Youth." The police captain even promised them a commemorative banner.

This was an unexpected windfall. With such a banner, they could avoid quite a bit of trouble back at the Fengsheng Brigade. In this era, the weight and importance of one’s reputation were unimaginable; many relied on such standing to survive these turbulent times. It would even make things like the university recommendations for workers, peasants, and soldiers a simple matter.

After finishing their reports at the police station, the group headed toward the city exit to meet their rickshaw driver. They were mostly silent on the way, drained by physical pain, small injuries, and the sheer exhaustion of the ordeal. The young driver, however, was ecstatic, praising them continuously while recounting his own exhausting run for the police. He mentioned that the police would likely commend him, perhaps even helping him land a formal job. The group nodded in silent encouragement.

Upon reaching their destination, Jiang Xiucheng handed a small bag of candy to the driver as a token of gratitude. The young man was delighted, promising them a discount the next time they came to town.

Exhausted, the group moved their belongings onto Old Man Zhang’s ox cart and took a moment to rest on some nearby stones. The three male educated youths went to smoke downwind with Old Man Zhang, whose occasional exclamations of surprise could be heard from afar.

Twenty minutes later, once the other passengers for the Fengsheng Brigade had arrived, Old Man Zhang called Yun Shu and Lin Jingshu onto the cart. The other passengers, seeing the group’s disheveled, bloodied, and bruised appearance, were naturally curious if something terrible had happened. Fortunately, Old Man Zhang spent the entire journey tirelessly publicizing their heroic deeds.

By the time they reached the Fengsheng Brigade, the news had already spread. The next day, when Yun Shu and Lin Jingshu went to register for the announcer selection, Brigade Leader Xie warmly inquired about the details. Upon confirming the story, he was even more pleased, personally writing Yun Shu’s name on the registration form and promising to vote for her.