Chapter 156: Chapter 105: Call Over All the Da Xingzi From Around the Village, I Have Matters to Discuss.

Once the cost comes down, the price will come down too."

Su Liyan nodded. She was about to say something else when she saw the old butler hurrying down the corridor in the central courtyard.

When he arrived, he looked at Su Liyan and Song Meiqin in the courtyard and said,

"Greetings, Young Madam. Greetings, Madam Song..."

Then, before either of them could respond, he spoke again.

"Is the madam in her room?"

Seeing the old butler’s anxious expression, they quickly replied,

"She’s in her room."

The old butler nodded and was about to head to the East Wing to find Zhao Qiao’Er.

However, after a moment, the two of them snapped out of it, remembering something.

Su Liyan quickly looked at the old butler and said,

"Aunt Zhao isn’t really in a state to see anyone right now. Is it something urgent?"

’In her condition, how could Aunt Zhao see anyone?’

’Don’t be fooled by her sitting upright in the main room as if nothing’s wrong.’

’In reality...’

’When she got up around noon, Su Liyan and Song Meiqin had to help her out of bed.’ 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

In Aunt Zhao’s own words,

her butt hurt every time she moved, and she needed to find that wheelchair Song Meiqin used before.

The old butler froze, then said anxiously,

"It is indeed urgent. When will the madam be available? I must speak with her."

At her side, Song Meiqin immediately lifted her delicate chin and said to the old butler,

"Whatever it is, you can just tell us. We can make the decisions for this family too."

The old butler was taken aback, but what she said was true. He was well aware of the family’s current situation.

The old butler immediately bowed slightly to Song Meiqin and said,

"There’s been trouble at the three estates near Bajiao Mountain."

"A total of seventeen Travelers from the three estates have all died violently."

’Died violently?’

Su Liyan and Song Meiqin exchanged a look.

After a moment of shock, Song Meiqin frowned and said immediately,

"Let’s talk in the main hall."

The old butler froze for a second, then nodded and headed for the main hall.

Meanwhile, Song Meiqin quickly stuffed all the still-damp clothes from the basin into the hand-cranked washing machine.

Su Liyan blinked and followed Song Meiqin to the main hall.

Once they were in the main hall, Song Meiqin frowned and asked,

"Explain in detail."

The old butler immediately explained,

"The Spirit Stones were supposed to be delivered to South Wuli Village three days ago."

"But the estate in South Wuli Village never received the shipment, so they sent someone to check the previous estate on the route."

"They found six Travelers inside, all of whom had died violently."

"Upon further investigation, three estates along the Bajiao Mountain Spirit Stone transport line are gone, and all the Travelers inside have died violently."

Hearing this, Song Meiqin sucked in a sharp breath.

’Given the circumstances, we must have attracted a Da Xingzi.’

"When did this happen?"

Song Meiqin pressed immediately.

But the old butler shook his head.

"We’re still investigating, but the men who returned said it must have been at least ten days ago."

"At the estate closest to Bajiao Mountain, the bodies of the dead Travelers were already rotting."

"Their eyes and the flesh on their faces had been pecked away by crows."

At this, Song Meiqin frowned and said,

"Then there’s no need to panic."

"We’ve likely provoked a Da Xingzi."

"We’ll take a two-pronged approach. First, go to Dou Shi Temple to request a Celestial Master. Then, go to the Government Office and ask for Officials."

Normally, that would be the correct procedure.

Right now, they didn’t know what kind of Da Xingzi this was.

Nor did they know if the Da Xingzi would strike again.

The natural course of action was to first ask for Officials to patrol the estates along that line.

At the very least, there should be one Official stationed at each estate.

For this kind of Da Xingzi, only the Officials in Taiping City could suppress it for now.

The Officials could be stationed there first.

Then, once the Celestial Master from Dou Shi Temple arrived, they could conduct a proper investigation.

But the problem was...

The old butler looked at Song Meiqin with a frown and said,

"That’s what we did. We first sent a fast horse to Dou Shi Temple, and then I went to the Government Office myself."

"But this time, the County Magistrate refused to see me, shutting the doors."

"He said this is the Zhao Family’s business and that the Zhao Family must solve it ourselves. The Officials don’t work for us."

"They won’t get involved!"

Hearing this, Song Meiqin snapped,

"Bullshit!"

"Who are we mining these Spirit Stones for?"

"And who are we transporting them to?"

"Isn’t it all for the Court?"

"Since when does the Court not get involved when there’s trouble?!"

"Get the carriage ready. I’m going to see that County Magistrate and ask him myself!!"

After Song Meiqin finished speaking, the old butler didn’t dally and said at once,

"Madam Song, after you."

Immediately, Song Meiqin gave a few instructions to Su Liyan, then lifted her skirt and hurried out the door.

Su Liyan stood in place, blinking, lost in thought.

Song Meiqin left, her carriage speeding directly toward the Government Office.

...

"Hey?!"

"Isn’t that Song Meiqin in that carriage? The factory director."

"Where is she going in such a hurry?!"

Gu Gaoxu raised an eyebrow as he watched the carriage speed past him.

Gu Gaoxu had been wandering around Taiping City for the past few days.

He was also using the opportunity to ask around about Lu Yuan and the factory.

He was asking more questions, trying to get information indirectly.

’If I could cater to Lu Yuan’s interests, wouldn’t I then be able to learn that skill from him?’

Of course, some smart aleck is bound to ask,

"Hey, you’re the second son of the King of Yan! If you just reveal your identity, would Lu Yuan dare not teach you?"

Ahem, that’s where you’d be wrong.

He would definitely have to teach me.

But the problem is, he wouldn’t necessarily teach me willingly and sincerely.

With this sort of thing, you need the person to teach you willingly. Otherwise, they’ll hold back and leave out the important parts.

What’s the use of learning something incomplete?

Besides that...

After wandering around these past few days and hearing what the common folk of Taiping City had to say about this Lu Yuan,

Gu Gaoxu found himself inexplicably admiring him.

He felt this guy was truly incredible.

Moreover, Gu Gaoxu had seen it with his own eyes.

Whether it was the two types of vehicles that sold like crazy yesterday or the Mortar that had first caught his attention.

Faced with such a great talent, Gu Gaoxu genuinely wanted to befriend Lu Yuan.

It was less admiration and more that Gu Gaoxu inexplicably felt a bit of hero-worship for Lu Yuan.

Especially since...

Gu Gaoxu also felt that he and Lu Yuan would probably get along very well.

So, it really wouldn’t be good to use his status to pressure him.

You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink.

However, Gu Gaoxu really couldn’t figure out how to befriend Lu Yuan.

The guy wouldn’t even give him the time of day.

"There’s been trouble at the Zhao Family’s estates."

An Attendant at his side suddenly said in a low voice.

Hearing his Attendant’s words, Gu Gaoxu gave him a strange look.

"What kind of trouble?"

The Attendant replied directly,

"More than a dozen Travelers died violently at three estates."

"Around lunchtime, when I came out to buy wine for you, Second Master, I saw people from the Zhao Family going to the Government Office."

"But they were blocked outside. The Government Office wouldn’t get involved and told them to solve it themselves."

Hearing this, Gu Gaoxu looked puzzled.

"Why is that?"

"Mining for the Spirit Stone Mine is a top priority for the Empire. The local Government Office is required to give its full cooperation."

"Why wouldn’t they help?"

At this, another Attendant whispered from the side,

"It seems it’s still because of that business with Song Meiqin."

...

「Around four or five in the afternoon.」

In Changliu Village, smoke rose from the chimneys of every house as families began preparing dinner.

The sound of urgent hoofbeats grew closer, finally stopping at the gate of Su Liyan’s family home.

A Traveler walked directly into the courtyard, looked at Su Liyan’s mother, who was holding firewood to start the cooking fire, and cupped his hands.

"Old Madam, the Young Madam sent me to deliver a letter."

Huh?

Su Liyan’s mother was startled for a moment, then quickly put down the firewood, wiped her hands on her apron, and took the envelope.

The Traveler cupped his hands once more and left immediately.

Su Liyan’s mother quickly tore open the envelope and began to read. The further she read, the more her expression changed for the worse.

After she finished, Su Liyan’s mother walked briskly toward the house.

As she passed the stove, she crumpled the letter in her hand into a ball and threw it directly into the fire burning beneath the pot.

"Husband, come watch the pot. I have to go out for something."

With that, Su Liyan’s mother threw on a thick coat and hurried toward the large reservoir in Changliu Village.

On the way, seeing no one around, Su Liyan’s mother whispered,

"Xiao Yunyun, quickly summon all the Da Xingzi from around the village. I have something to tell them."