Unlimited Resources: Raising a Minister with a Space Supermarket-Chapter 527 - 464: Stealing Credit

Yu Xiaolian, when the bandits gathered in the front courtyard, put knockout drugs in all the rice, flour, and meat oil.

If it weren’t for helping Su Jingchen earn political achievements, she could have simply poisoned these bandits and become a silent hero famous for exterminating bandits.

But since her husband is the County Magistrate, the credit definitely needs to be attributed to Su Jingchen.

Only through a formal trial, with the matter clear, can it be reported for Su Jingchen to gain recognition. Such major merit in bandit extermination often aids in an officer’s promotion.

After administering the poison, Yu Xiaolian quietly climbed onto the roof of the front courtyard, observing the events below with clarity.

Seeing the young bandit running towards the back courtyard, she knew he was probably coming to find her. Yu Xiaolian waited for them to have lunch to signal Su Jingchen, deciding not to reveal herself to the young bandit again.

Yu Xiaolian slipped directly into her space on the rooftop, isolating herself from the noise of the bandits.

In the heat of summer, she had spent the entire afternoon under the scorching sun on the roof; it wasn’t easy for her. After a quick refreshing shower, Yu Xiaolian indulged in a lychee-flavored ice pop, followed by a bag of spicy snacks paired with cucumber.

Speaking of spicy snacks with cucumber, it’s truly delicious!

Yu Xiaolian stayed in her space until after 2 PM and then came out to check on the situation outside.

Indeed, the previously chaotic yard had turned into silence.

Yu Xiaolian tried making some noise to see if anyone was still conscious, and surprisingly, there was.

Zhao Pingting?

Apparently, the young lady the others mentioned was Zhao Pingting. Yu Xiaolian was taken aback.

The first time Yu Xiaolian sold goods at Qingquan Academy, she set up a prize system; she remembered back at the Women’s Virtue Academy the top prize went to Xiao Fangfei, second to Yu Wanying, and third was this Zhao Pingting.

Zhao Pingting hadn’t changed much in appearance; if there was a change, it was that she used to be makeup-free, but now she’s slightly overdressed.

Just now, Yu Xiaolian had deliberately dropped a tile in the courtyard, and upon hearing the noise, Zhao Pingting came out to check. Yu Xiaolian initially held a dart in hand, but when Zhao Pingting turned around, she lowered herself quickly and didn’t use it on Zhao Pingting.

Given her privileged background, how did Zhao Pingting end up in a brothel?

Being sold into a brothel is tragic enough for a woman; Zhao Pingting is even worse, having been kidnapped by bandits.

After checking both courtyards and confirming Zhao Pingting was the only one conscious, Yu Xiaolian lit a signal firecracker in the back courtyard to notify Su Jingchen.

After signaling, Yu Xiaolian found the unconscious young bandit and sent him on his way.

After finishing everything, Yu Xiaolian quickly descended the mountain, lest anyone discovers she alone had drugged all the bandits.

Reaching a deserted area at the foot of the mountain, Yu Xiaolian released her horse from the space and galloped towards Yangcheng.

However, Yu Xiaolian hadn’t anticipated that before Su Jingchen and his men could ascend the mountain, the stockade caught fire fiercely, and Zhao Pingting ended up taking credit for the bandit extermination.

Yu Xiaolian was frustrated, having stayed in the bandits’ realm for two days, wanting to earn political achievement for Su Jingchen, yet the credit escaped her grasp.

Since the matter couldn’t be argued or explained, Zhao Pingting adamantly claimed she single-handedly eliminated a band of bandits, leaving Su Jingchen helpless.

With all the bandits burned and the stockade destroyed, Su Jingchen bypassed the interrogation phase and instructed to collect the bodies.

In the evening, Su Jingchen asked Yu Xiaolian to arrange a room for Zhao Pingting to temporarily stay.

"With her claiming publicly to have exterminated the bandits alone, it wouldn’t be appropriate to imprison her today. After tomorrow’s trial, she won’t be able to deny her lies," said Su Jingchen, who had no memory of Zhao Pingting until Yu Xiaolian reminded him of her presence at Women’s Virtue Academy under Teacher Wan’s tutelage.

"If she insists she drugged all the bandits, we can’t do anything about it either!" Yu Xiaolian was furious.

Su Jingchen patted Yu Xiaolian’s head, "Don’t worry, no one can take away your credit. I have ways to make her tell the truth."

"I’m not after credit, I just can’t stand Zhao Pingting’s nonsense."

If she had known earlier, she would have hit Zhao Pingting with a dart while at the stockade.

"What are your methods? Tell me," Yu Xiaolian queried, looking up.

Though she and Su Jingchen weren’t much different in height initially, since her period at fifteen, her height had stalled, while Su Jingchen skyrocketed. Now, Yu Xiaolian had to look up to him.

Ah, the heavens are unfair; why must the height difference between her and Su Jingchen be so drastic?

Eyeballing it, Su Jingchen is probably around 20 cm taller than her. Yu Xiaolian decided to sit to avoid standing next to him, forming a stark contrast, which would make her more discouraged.

Su Jingchen stated, "Zhao Pingting, despite seeming plausible, has many holes. Tomorrow I just need to probe a bit and she’ll fail to keep her story straight."

Yu Xiaolian didn’t understand, "Why on earth is Zhao Pingting lying?"

After you finish questioning her tomorrow, will she be sent back to the brothel or imprisoned?

Su Jingchen also sat down, "She’s killed so many by arson; even if spared from execution, she can’t escape punishment."

Yu Xiaolian frowned, understanding those bandits deserved their fate, yet recognizing Zhao Pingting was also pitiable.

"Oh, today the courier brought letters from Luocheng; several are for you. You should take a look after dinner," Su Jingchen pointed to a corner of the table.

"I want to read them now; I’m not hungry." Yu Xiaolian eagerly grabbed the letters in a few strides.

She first looked at the envelopes; all addressed personally to Yu Xiaolian, none marked with the sender’s name, so she opened them one by one.

The first letter was from Sun Hu, enclosing a fifty-tael silver note, asking Yu Xiaolian to give it to Mrs. Xu. Sun Hu mentioned he contacted Su Jingyue and joined Jiang Lin’s troops with Su Jingyue.

Sun Hu’s letter was brief. Yu Xiaolian rapidly skimmed through it and anxiously opened the second letter.

The second letter was from Sun Erlin, written on behalf by Sun Manjin, stating their intention for Sun Manhong to move to Yu State with two children, also enclosing a silver note, requesting Yu Xiaolian to arrange everything.

Yu Xiaolian wanted to read her parents’ letter, so after quickly reading the second letter, she opened the third.

The third letter was finally from Yu Changhe, informing Yu Xiaolian they were well, but business at Zhenpin Pavilion was not as flourishing as before. Shortly after Yu Xiaolian left, some products sold out with no restock, leading to dissatisfied customers refraining from patronizing Zhenpin Pavilion.