The Bad Girl's Quick Transmigration System: Traveling Back and Forth

Chapter 733 Crimson Sunset

The setting sun, like blood, stained Qing Shi Town with an ominous crimson hue.

"Get out of here! You old fool! You owe the City Lord's Mansion taxes, and you still dare to argue?"

A violent roar shattered the tranquility of the town, accompanied by a dull thud and the heart-wrenching cries of a little girl.

Lin Zhong hid behind a grocery store on the street corner, only his bloodshot eyes showing as he stared intently at the horrific scene in front of him.

A man dressed in black, with a curved sword at his waist, had a hideous scar running from his forehead to his jaw, which looked even more terrifying in the setting sun. He was the leader of the Black Wind Guard in Qing Shi Town, known as "Scarface Li." At this moment, his heavy military boot was kicking a white-haired old woman hard in the chest.

The old woman fell to the ground like a broken leaf, her basket of freshly picked herbs scattering, the verdant leaves covered in dust and specks of blood she had coughed up.

“The taxes…we’ve already paid them…” The old woman struggled to lift her head, her cloudy eyes filled with pain and confusion, her voice hoarse like a broken bellows, “A few days ago, my son clearly handed over the grain…”

"Paid it?" Scarface Li seemed to have heard the biggest joke in the world. He bent down and patted the old woman's cheek with the hilt of his sword, so hard that the old woman's head shook violently. "Are you blind? It's not recorded in the City Lord's mansion's ledgers! Young Master Lin has ordered that anyone who resists paying taxes be arrested and thrown into jail! Take him away!"

"No! No! You've got it wrong! Let go of my dad! Let go of my dad!" A little girl, about seven or eight years old, with two pigtails, cried and rushed towards the middle-aged man whose arms were being twisted by two Black Wind Guards. The man had a dark complexion and calloused hands; he was the old woman's son, Zhang Dashan, an honest hunter from the town.

Zhang Dashan's face flushed red, veins bulging on his neck, but he dared not resist, only futilely pleading, "Sir, we really paid! It was Steward Wang who collected it; he said it could be used to offset taxes! You can't do this..."

"Manager Wang?" Scarface Li sneered. "He's in dire straits himself! Enough talk, take him away!"

Ignoring the little girl's cries and scratches, the Black Wind Guards forcibly dragged Zhang Dashan away like a dead dog. The little girl was impatiently shoved aside by one of the Black Wind Guards, falling heavily to the ground, her cries growing even more piercing.

The old woman lay on the ground, looking in the direction her son had been taken away, crying her heart out, almost fainting. "My son... my son... where is justice..." she pounded the ground, her voice filled with despair and sorrow.

A few neighbors gradually gathered around, mostly the elderly, women, and children. Looking at the tragic scene before them, their faces were filled with anger, sympathy, but even more so with fear. They murmured words of comfort to the old woman, but no one dared to step forward to stop them, or even speak loudly.

"It's the Black Wind Guard..." Lin Zhong's voice was squeezed out through clenched teeth, carrying a hint of barely suppressed fear and deep anger. His fists were clenched tightly in his sleeves, his nails almost digging into his flesh, and he was completely unaware that blood was seeping out.

Lin Zhong was also from Qingshi Town. He was only twenty years old and his parents had died early. He barely made ends meet by running errands for the town's pharmacy and doing odd jobs. He was usually taciturn, but he was meticulous and saw things more clearly than anyone else.

This is not the first time.

Since Lin Haoyu, the only son of City Lord Lin Xiaotian, took over the tax collection rights of Qing Shi Town and several surrounding towns half a year ago, life in the town has become increasingly difficult. Lin Haoyu, known as "Young Master Lin," is a typical spoiled brat, arrogant, domineering, and insatiably greedy. From the very beginning of his tenure, he increased taxes under various pretexts, such as "head tax," "carriage and horse tax," "shop tax," and even levied a "sunshine tax" on drying grain—it was simply extortion.

The people suffered greatly, and their complaints were widespread. At first, some went to the city lord's mansion to appeal, but they were either turned away or mysteriously disappeared or were falsely accused and imprisoned. Over time, no one dared to speak up anymore and could only swallow their anger.

But this time was different; Zhang Dashan's family had genuinely paid their taxes. Just a few days ago, Lin Zhong had personally witnessed Zhang Dashan carrying several bags of grain to the temporary tax checkpoint outside town and handing them over to Manager Wang, sent by Young Master Lin. Manager Wang had assured him at the time that there was no problem, that the grain was enough to cover his family's taxes for a year. How could it suddenly become "tax resistance"?

Lin Zhong knew perfectly well that this was Lin Haoyu and his Black Wind Guards deliberately causing trouble! They probably thought Zhang Dashan's family was easy to bully, or they wanted something from Zhang Dashan's family, or they simply wanted to establish their authority and use the charge of "tax resistance" to intimidate other people who wanted to appeal or were dissatisfied!

"These beasts!" Lin Zhong cursed inwardly. He thought of his parents, who, too, had been driven to desperation by a sudden imposition of exorbitant taxes, ultimately succumbing to illness from overwork. That painful memory was etched into his heart like a brand. Now, seeing the plight of Zhang Dashan's family, he felt as if he were seeing his own past self. A long-suppressed anger and a sense of powerlessness intertwined, almost threatening to engulf him.

The neighbors were still whispering among themselves, their voices filled with fear.

"Sigh, Brother Zhang is really unlucky..."

"The Black Wind Guards are becoming increasingly lawless, and Young Master Lin is a living devil..."

"Keep your voice down! If someone hears you, you're in big trouble!"

"How are we supposed to live like this...?"

Lin Zhong clenched his teeth, his nails digging deep into his palms. He watched the old woman and the little girl crying helplessly, watched the Black Wind Guards arrogantly departing, and watched the numb expressions of the neighbors who dared not speak out. An unprecedented impulse surged in his chest.

It can't go on like this!

Are we just going to let these wolves and tigers oppress the people and disregard human life?

He recalled the words of the knowledgeable old shopkeeper in the pharmacy: "Water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it. Without the hearts of the people, even the most powerful authority is like building a tower on sand."

But what about public sentiment? Now, all that remains in the hearts of the people is fear and despair. Who would dare to stand up and resist?

Lin Zhong took a deep breath, suppressing the turmoil in his heart. He knew that rushing out now would be tantamount to throwing an egg against a rock; not only would it fail to save Zhang Dashan, but it would also endanger him. He had to stay calm and think of a solution.

He quietly retreated behind the general store, then took several shortcuts and hurried towards the pharmacy at the east end of town. He was going to find the old shopkeeper; perhaps the old shopkeeper could offer a solution, or perhaps he could gain some insight from him.

As the sun sank completely behind the western mountains, night began to fall, shrouding Qing Shi Town in a suffocating darkness and oppression. Only the occasional faint cries from the western end of the town served as a reminder of the atrocities that had occurred during the day.

**Chapter Two: Undercurrents**

The "Huichuntang" pharmacy in Qingshi Town is the only pharmacy in town. The owner's surname is Chen, and he is known as Old Manager Chen. He has white hair and beard, a thin face, but his eyes are bright and piercing, revealing a wise understanding of the world.

Lin Zhong ran breathlessly to the back door of the pharmacy and gently knocked on it.

"Who is it?" came the aged voice of Old Manager Chen from inside.

"Uncle Chen, it's me, Lin Zhong."

The door creaked open, and Old Manager Chen poked his head out. Seeing Lin Zhong's anxious expression, he frowned slightly: "What happened? Why are you in such a panic?"

Lin Zhong slipped in, closed the door behind him, and said in a low voice, "Uncle Chen, Zhang Dashan has been arrested! Just now, Scarface Li led a group of men..." He embellished the story of what had just happened at the town entrance, of course, omitting his own inner impulse.

After listening, Old Manager Chen's cloudy old eyes flashed with a trace of sorrow. He sighed and shook his head: "Alas... I have already heard about it. Zhang Dashan is an honest man. His wife passed away early, and he and his elderly mother raised their children by hunting. Life was already difficult, and now it has become even worse."

"Uncle Chen, they clearly paid their taxes! Why are they still arresting him?" Lin Zhong asked, puzzled. "Just because Steward Wang's words don't count?"

Old Manager Chen walked to the window, gazing at the dark night sky outside, his voice low and deep: "Manager Wang... Hmph, he's nothing but Lin Haoyu's dog. Now that Lin Haoyu wants to amass wealth and establish his authority, this dog is no longer useful, so he's naturally been discarded. Arresting Zhang Dashan is probably not just for that little bit of tax money."

"What's that for?"

"Lin Haoyu has acquired a new batch of hunting dogs, which reportedly require a large amount of fresh meat to feed them. Zhang Dashan is the best hunter in town. If we capture him, firstly, we can legitimately seize his hunting bow and tools, and might even force him to reveal his ancestral hunting techniques; secondly, it will also serve as a warning to the rest of the town—anyone who dares to disobey will suffer the same fate as Zhang Dashan," Old Manager Chen said slowly, a hint of barely perceptible anger in his voice.

Lin Zhong suddenly realized, and his anger intensified: "These bastards! They're utterly lawless! Isn't anyone going to do anything about them? Doesn't City Lord Lin Xiaotian care?"

"Lin Xiaotian?" Old Manager Chen sneered. "Lin Haoyu is his only son. He dotes on him too much to care about anything else. Besides, Lin Xiaotian himself... is no honest official. Over the years, relying on the resources of the Qing Shi Mountains, who doesn't know how much the Lin family has plundered from the people? He only cared about appearances before, but now that Lin Haoyu, this 'bad boy,' is charging ahead, he's happy to be a 'hands-off manager' and reap the benefits without lifting a finger."

Lin Zhong fell silent. He felt a wave of helplessness wash over him. If even the city lord was like this, what hope was there?

"Are we just supposed to stand by and watch them run wild like this?" Lin Zhong asked unwillingly, his voice trembling slightly.

Old Manager Chen turned around and gave Lin Zhong a deep look: "Lin Zhong, you are still young. Some things cannot be solved by anger alone. Acting rashly will only lead to needless sacrifice."

"But... are we just going to do nothing?" Lin Zhong clenched his fists again.

“It’s not like we’re doing nothing.” Old Manager Chen walked to the medicine cabinet and began to slowly and methodically organize the herbs. “When water is full, it overflows; when the moon is full, it wanes. Lin Haoyu’s perverse actions will offend many people. Not only us common folk, but even some of Lin Xiaotian’s former colleagues, and even some of his subordinates, may not be satisfied. Right now, everyone is watching and waiting for the right opportunity.”

"Timing?" Lin Zhong's eyes lit up. "What timing?"

“An opportunity that makes everyone feel they can no longer endure and can stand up and resist.” Old Manager Chen paused, then continued, “Lin Zhong, remember, the people’s patience has its limits. When fear can no longer overcome despair, that is the beginning of resistance.”

Lin Zhong pondered Old Manager Chen's words, and his heart gradually calmed down. He understood what Old Manager Chen meant: now was not the time, and they could not act rashly.

"Then... what about Zhang Dashan? We can't just watch him die in prison, can we?" Lin Zhong was still worried.

Old Manager Chen pondered for a moment: "Zhang Dashan shouldn't die anytime soon. Lin Haoyu still needs him. I'll try to find someone to put in a good word for him in jail, send him some food, so he doesn't get tortured to death there. As for getting him out... that's difficult. Unless..."

"Unless what?" Lin Zhong asked eagerly.

Old Manager Chen shook his head: "Unless Lin Haoyu falls from power, no one can save him."

Lin Zhong's heart sank. He silently lowered his head, looking at his hands. What else could these hands do besides carrying medicine and running errands? How could a powerless, poor boy like him possibly challenge a behemoth like Lin Haoyu?

Old Manager Chen seemed to see through his thoughts and patted him on the shoulder: "Lin Zhong, don't be discouraged. A single spark can start a prairie fire. Although everyone's strength is small, when they come together, they can form a mighty wave. The key is to have courage, wisdom, and... faith."

"belief?"

“Yes, faith.” Old Manager Chen’s gaze deepened. “Believe that justice will eventually prevail, believe that the people’s suffering will not be in vain. With this faith, we can persevere in the darkness and wait for the dawn.”

That night, Lin Zhong tossed and turned in the small hut behind the pharmacy, unable to fall asleep for a long time. Old Manager Chen's words, like seeds, took root and sprouted in his heart. He was no longer just angry; he felt a heavy sense of responsibility. He remembered Zhang Dashan's desperate eyes, the old woman's sorrowful cries, the little girl's helpless tears, and the numb and fearful faces of his neighbors.

He could no longer live in a daze like before.

In the following days, the atmosphere in Qing Shi Town became even more oppressive. Led by Scarface Li, the Black Wind Guards "patrolled" everywhere, arresting and fining people under various pretexts. Many shops in the town closed down, and the people lived in constant fear.

After Zhang Dashan was imprisoned, there was no further news of him. The old woman spent her days in tears, her health deteriorating day by day, and the little girl became silent and withdrawn, her eyes filled with fear. Lin Zhong secretly brought them some rice and medicine, all secretly provided by Old Manager Chen.

Using his position as a deliveryman, Lin Zhong paid closer attention to the town's happenings and secretly inquired about Lin Haoyu and the Black Wind Guard. He discovered that it wasn't just Zhang Dashan's family; in recent days, several other merchants and artisans in the town with some assets had been framed, imprisoned, or extorted, leaving them bankrupt.

Lin Haoyu's claws, like a pack of hungry wolves, are frantically devouring the flesh and blood of Qing Shi Town.

Lin Zhong keenly sensed a growing sense of discontent brewing beneath the surface. He heard more and more people complaining and cursing in private, the fear in their eyes gradually being replaced by anger. Although no one dared to openly rebel yet, Lin Zhong knew that Old Manager Chen was right; that suppressed volcano was gathering the power to erupt.

That day, Lin Zhong went to deliver medicine to Uncle Wang, the blacksmith at the west end of town. A few days ago, Uncle Wang was extorted for a large sum of money by the Black Wind Guard on charges of "possessing ironware with malicious intent," which made him fall ill.

As soon as I arrived at Uncle Wang's house, I heard suppressed conversations coming from inside.

"...This can't go on! Sooner or later we'll all be drained dry by these bastards!" This was Uncle Wang's voice, filled with anger.

"Brother Wang, keep your voice down! Do you want to die?" another voice advised. It was Liu, the carpenter from next door.

"Die? Rather than be starved or driven to death like this, I'd rather fight!" Uncle Wang gasped for breath. "My two sons are learning martial arts at a school in the city. I've already secretly sent someone to tell them to come back! I'll fight these Black Wind Guards if necessary!"

"Don't be impulsive, Brother Wang! How can we possibly defeat the well-trained Black Wind Guards with just a few of us? It's like throwing eggs against a rock!"

"Then what do you suggest we do? Just stand by and watch our families be destroyed?"

Lin Zhong's heart skipped a beat. Instead of knocking on the door immediately, he held his breath and continued to listen.

There was a moment of silence inside, then a strange, slightly hoarse voice came through: "Fellow villagers, I understand Brother Wang's feelings, but fighting head-on is definitely not the best strategy."

Lin Zhong was taken aback. Who was this?

"Who are you?" Uncle Wang asked warily.

"I am merely a passing merchant, simply resting here," the unfamiliar voice said. "I merely couldn't bear to watch the Black Wind Guard's atrocities and couldn't help but speak out. Fellow villagers, Lin Haoyu is cruel and inhumane, and has long been the object of the people's anger and resentment. As far as I know, it's not just Qing Shi Town; the situation is similar in several surrounding towns. If only we could unite..."

The next words were spoken in an even lower voice, which Lin Zhong could barely hear. But a storm was brewing within him.

A united front? Has someone already secretly made contact, preparing for a rebellion? And who is this unfamiliar businessman?

Just then, the footsteps and shouts of the Black Wind Guards patrolling came from afar. Lin Zhong's heart tightened, and he dared not linger, quietly retreating.