Upon hearing Ah Bin's report, Brother Mao sprang to his feet.
"Ah Bin, remember, you must wait until more people have entered the house before detonating the bomb. I want this to be international news and for Yang Jian to face punishment from the military."
"Don't worry, I've disguised the inside of the house. From the outside, it looks like there are people active inside. They're about to enter the village. I'll report back to you later."
"Good, call me after you detonate the bomb."
After hanging up, Brother Mao appeared restless. Even if he couldn't kill Yang Jian this time, he could drive him out of Xiao Meng La. Then, he wouldn't have to worry about Yang Jian dealing with him anymore.
Wu Lai Zi's mood was conflicted. He desperately wished Yang Jian would be blown to death, yet he also hoped Zhang Hui could find this place and rescue him. Even if he had to go back to jail or be beaten by Yang Jian, it would be better than being sold like merchandise here.
Time ticked by. It had been over ten minutes, and Ah Bin's call still hadn't come.
Half an hour later, Brother Mao couldn't resist calling Ah Bin.
"Ah Bin, what's the situation?"
"Brother Mao, there are quite a few soldiers here, but they aren't going in. They've just surrounded the house. It's very strange."
"Surrounding but not entering? Did you see Yang Jian?"
"I don't know Yang Jian. It's all soldiers here. The people in the Cayenne haven't come out."
"How could this be?"
Brother Mao couldn't figure out what was happening. Just as he was about to say something, he saw a crowd gathering not far below.
Something was wrong. Although these people were in plainclothes, their hands were behind their backs, clearly not local villagers.
"Xiao Xu, grab your weapons. We're surrounded."
Brother Mao pulled out his pistol and quickly darted into the room. He realized his plan had failed. This location had been exposed. Yang Jian and his group were using a diversion, but he didn't know where the problem lay.
Wu Lai Zi also hid in the room, unwilling to be cannon fodder.
Xiao Xu was his subordinate. There were four of them downstairs, all armed. Upon hearing Brother Mao's warning, they immediately drew their pistols and rushed out.
A bald young man charged forward. A gunshot rang out, and the young man fell to the ground.
Xiao Xu immediately stopped: "There's a sniper. Retreat quickly."
The other two also scrambled back towards the house.
"Brother Mao, there's a sniper outside. We can't get out."
Xiao Xu ran upstairs, reporting to Brother Mao with a nervous expression.
A sniper? Brother Mao's face turned pale. Escape was impossible today. He immediately pointed his pistol at Wu Lai Zi.
"Old Wu, did you call them here?"
"No, no, Brother Mao. You burned all my clothes and luggage. I've been with you these past few days. How could I have tipped them off?"
Wu Lai Zi broke out in a cold sweat, fearing Brother Mao would shoot him in a fit of rage.
Suddenly, Yang Jian's voice came from outside: "Brother Mao, come out. An old friend is here, aren't you going to meet him?"
Brother Mao desperately wanted to go out and shoot Yang Jian, but he didn't dare show his head. He had no idea where the sniper was.
"Brother Mao, don't think about resisting. You can't escape. This house is surrounded, and three snipers have blocked your escape routes. Either lay down your weapons and surrender, or come out and get your head blown off. There is no third option."
Yang Jian's voice rang out again, making Brother Mao feel an urge to rush out and fight him to the death.
Xiao Xu trembled all over: "Brother Mao, let's... let's surrender. They'll really kill us. In this place, a dead person is like a dead ant. No one will care, and no one will come to save us."
Wu Lai Zi also wanted to persuade them, but seeing Brother Mao's pistol, he dared not. If he angered him, it would be a fight to the death, and he would also perish.
Yang Jian called out again: "Brother Mao, come out. I'll give you three more minutes to consider. If time runs out, we'll storm the place. Tear gas will be deployed immediately, and then we'll riddle you all with bullets."
"Surrender, we surrender."
The two young men downstairs walked out of the wooden house with their hands over their heads and were immediately taken away.
Xiao Xu couldn't wait any longer: "Brother Mao, I don't want to die. I'm going down to surrender too."
Brother Mao sighed: "Surrender. You haven't committed any major crimes, so you'll be fine. I can't harm you."
Xiao Xu was also afraid Brother Mao would shoot him in the back, so he backed downstairs and walked out of the house with his hands raised over his head.
"Old Wu, do we go out together, or do we surrender?"
Brother Mao asked, pointing his pistol at Wu Lai Zi's head.
Wu Lai Zi immediately wet himself and fell to his knees with a thud: "Brother Mao, surrender. We've been brothers. You don't have to push me to my death."
Brother Mao remained silent, but his hand holding the gun trembled. He was engaged in an internal struggle: suicide or surrender.
Suicide required courage, but not everyone possessed it. Surrender was also a dead end, but it could prolong his life. If his family could pull some strings, perhaps he could get a life sentence.
Yang Jian's voice came again: "Brother Mao, last five seconds. If you don't surrender, you'll lose your chance."
"Surrender, I surrender."
Brother Mao ultimately lacked the courage to commit suicide. He dropped his phone, went downstairs, and walked out with his hands over his head.
Wu Lai Zi quickly followed, also raising his hands. He was afraid the snipers might mistake him for an enemy and shoot him.
Yang Jian kicked Brother Mao to the ground. Biao Biao immediately stepped forward, pinned him down, and searched him. Finding no weapons, he pulled him up and shoved him into the car.
Meanwhile, Zhang Hui called Wu Lai Zi aside: "Old Wu, what's the situation in that village?"
Seeing Zhang Hui, Wu Lai Zi felt like he was seeing his own father: "Captain Zhang, you finally came to save me. That village is a trap. There are explosives installed in the house. Your men must not go in."
Zhang Hui was not particularly surprised. He immediately used his phone to notify Qin Feiyang to withdraw his troops and not enter the house.
The soldiers on this side searched the house. Seeing no one, they also withdrew their forces.
Wu Lai Zi and Brother Mao were taken away by Yang Jian and his group, while the others were taken back to the military camp by the army for processing.
"Brother Mao, don't be nervous. I won't hit you. Your frail body, I'm afraid one punch would kill you."
In the warehouse of Yang Fan's rubber processing plant, Brother Mao was forced to kneel on the ground by Biao Biao. Yang Jian squatted in front of him and patted his face.
Brother Mao remained defiant: "Yang Jian, I have nothing to say since I've fallen into your hands. Do as you please, whether you beat me or kill me, but don't insult me. I, Mao Zi, would rather stand and be buried than die on my knees."
Biao Biao was not polite and slapped him across the face: "If you really had guts, why didn't you shoot yourself just now? Knowing it was a dead end, you still chose to surrender."
This retort left Brother Mao speechless.
Yang Jian stopped Biao Biao: "Stop hitting him. His body can't take much punishment. It would be too easy for him to die by our hands. Brother Mao, there's nothing else. I just want to confirm one thing. I hope you answer honestly, otherwise, we have plenty of ways to make you yield."
"I know what you want to ask. It's about your grandfather's death, right? That's right, I sent Bao Guo to your house to smash things, but your grandfather's death was an accident."
Before Brother Mao could finish speaking, Yang Jian grabbed his hair and rubbed his face hard against the ground. This wouldn't kill him, but it would be extremely painful.