Chapter 194 - Chapter 194: Chapter 194. A Secret
Chapter 194: Chapter 194. A Secret
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
Su Qing saw the words “Disaster relief” written on the gunny sack unloaded from the cart.
Su Qing frowned. Who was the boss behind this shop? He stole the food for disaster relief and sold it?
Seeing the intense reaction of the people in the front yard, the owner of the Yongwang grain store ordered his staff to close the gate. Today’s grain was sold out, and the price would increase tomorrow.
The commoners were so angry that they wanted to smash the grain store. More than a dozen burly men rushed out of the grain store and looked at them fiercely. The impulsive commoners stopped on the spot. They had no choice but to leave quietly because their lives were more important.
Su Qing didn’t know what was going on. She just wanted to find out who stole the food.
However, there were too many people in the backyard of the grain store. The person in charge of escorting the grain looked like a martial arts expert, so Su Qing could not get too close.
Just as Su Qing was thinking about how to sneak in, she saw two people walk out from the back door of the grain store. One of them was the owner from before. They were here to inspect the grain unloaded from the courtyard.
The owner instructed the man beside him,
“When that young master comes to collect food, send someone to follow him and see who he is with.”
“Okay.”
The man nodded in agreement. Judging from his bulging temples and the bright light in his eyes, he also had high martial arts skills.
A grain store had so many martial arts experts? It was abnormal.
Seeing the relief grain distributed by the imperial court being smuggled out and sold, such people were worse than animals.
They were profiteering from a national disaster. If they did this, the disaster victims waiting for food would die.
Su Qing wanted to find out who was so daring, but she saw someone running over to report to the boss in a low voice.
“What is it? Do you think there’s no one left?”
Hearing his subordinate’s report, the owner’s expression changed drastically, and his voice rose slightly. However, he immediately lowered his voice.
“Where is Young Master Wan?”
“He’s gone.”
“Where’s the account book?”
“It’s gone too. We found some weapons in the dry well but couldn’t find him.”
These people were in cahoots with Young Master Wan. Su Qing could tell what they were talking about by the way they spoke. From the content of this conversation, it seemed that the matter in the small courtyard had been discovered.
The Wan Family controlled this grain store, so they must have smuggled these relief grains.
How many disaster victims died because of the Wan family’s wealth? Su Qing felt that Ji Shuisheng was right to kill that Wan Jiefeng. A thousand cuts could even execute him.
Since she knew that this was the territory of the Wan family and that their boss was suspicious of him, Su Qing decided not to take the food for the time being. She wanted to avoid the danger first so as not to cause trouble for her parents.
Su Qing rushed back to where the disaster victims of Peach Blossom Cove were staying. Because the soldiers were chasing after the disaster victims, they did not dare to approach the city gate and the official road. They were all hiding in the forest!
When Su Qing returned, they were still there. Ji Shuisheng and Qiu Yongkang had already returned and reassembled the wheelbarrow into a carriage with everyone. Wan Yuxiang stood behind Ji Shuisheng like a fool.
He had also pulled out the cotton-padded clothes and condiments she had bought and placed them on the ground to wait for the carriage to be assembled before loading it.
The villagers of Peach Blossom Cove had not eaten steamed buns for a long time, so they ate them carefully. Ji Shuisheng and Qiu Yongkang even bought steamed buns from the city for everyone to eat. They all took small bites, trying to let the fragrance of the steamed buns stay in their mouths for a while longer.
“Sister, you’re back.”
Xiaoying was the first to notice Su Qing and happily greeted her.
“Yes, I’m back.”
When Su Qing saw Xiaoying, she remembered that she had forgotten to bring back the two boxes of golden cake that her father had prepared for her.
“Sister, Big Brother brought back delicious food. I saved it for you.”
Xiao Ying held Su Qing’s hand and said excitedly. Su Qing looked up at Ji Shuisheng, and Ji Shuisheng looked back at her. Their gazes met in the air.
Ji Shuisheng nodded, telling her not to worry and that everything was going well.
Su Qing didn’t ask any more questions. Xiaoying pulled her back to Black’s side. Although Black didn’t pull the cart anymore, he still had to carry things. A large flower basket was on each side, and a wooden stick was in the middle.
Seeing that its mistress had returned, Black was very excited. Its big black eyes looked at Su Qing happily, eagerly hoping its master could see it. Its two hooves dug into the ground, and it kept snorting.
Su Qing went over and patted Black’s head. It happily snorted and rubbed its head against its master’s body.
Su Qing liked animals because their feelings were the purest. They were only unconditionally loyal to their masters, unlike the complicated and unpredictable human heart!
Xiaoying took a food box from the flower basket and opened it for Su Qing to see.
“Sister Su Qing, the golden cakes Big Brother brought back from Luo City are so sweet. I’ve saved them all for you!”
Su Qing looked at the two boxes of golden silk cakes that her father had prepared for him. It turned out that Shuisheng had already brought it back! She had regretted not being able to bring it back for Xiaoying and the children to eat!
Su Qing pushed Xiaoying’s hand away.
“Sister has already eaten in the city. You can share these with the children, my father, and your godmother!”
“Xiaoying, these pastries were given to Sister Su Qing by Second Master Su.”
When Ji Shuisheng saw his sister take out the food box, he walked over and told her there were too many things to discuss when he had just returned.
“What? So it’s for Sister Su Qing. I’ve already eaten two pieces.”
Xiaoying had a look of self-blame on her face. She thought that her brother had bought it for her! Not only did she eat two pieces, but she also gave two pieces to her godmother and Uncle Su!
“I brought it back for you.”
Su Qing patted her shoulder and comforted her. Then, she called out to Ji Shuisheng,
“Come with me for a moment.”
Ji Shuisheng could tell that Su Qing had something to say to him, so he tacitly followed her into the forest.
The forest was tranquil, but Su Qing was still worried and went to check first. Ji Shuisheng saw that she was so careful, so he followed her and checked. After making sure that no one was around, the two stood in an open area where they could see the surrounding situation and talk.
“I found a secret in the Yongwang grain store in the city. The owner of that grain store is the Wan family. They stole the disaster relief grain to the grain store and sold it to the common people at a high price.”
Su Qing told Ji Shuisheng what he saw in a low voice,
” Also, they have already discovered what happened in the courtyard. They know that Wan Yuxiang and the account book are missing.”
“The Wan family has done all kinds of bad things. They should all be cut into pieces.”
Ji Shuisheng slammed his fist on the tree trunk and gritted his teeth. Su Qing looked at him and did not say anything. Ji Shuisheng calmed himself down and took a deep breath.
“We can make a fuss about this. You take your men and leave first. I’ll bring Wan Yuxiang to put on a good show.”
“Alright, be careful.”
Su Qing did not ask what Ji Shuisheng wanted to do. She did not want to interfere too much. Men should still have their own opinions.
After Ji Shuisheng returned to the resting area, he went to talk to Qiu Yongkang for a while before taking Wan Yuxiang away alone.
Qiu Yongkang was worried that Ji Shuisheng would take the risk alone, so he went to look for Su Qing after he left..