Chapter 570: Chapter 572: Going to Sea

"That’s not right. Why didn’t you warn me sooner?" Tian Zhuang glared at Li Yong, his anger shifting as he remembered they had come up with the plan together.

Li Yong hurriedly protested, "I didn’t know General Zhou had his people there.

"I just thought he was a minor Magistrate. With the backing of the young miss’s in-laws, I figured we didn’t need to take them seriously."

’Li Yong felt wronged, too. He hadn’t considered this before. And he certainly hadn’t expected the Master to go directly to the Prefect’s Office. Now that Prefect Nan had made his stance clear, they had one less bargaining chip to use against Mrs. Gu.’

"Master, if this isn’t working, we should lay low for a while. When I was in Shangjing, I heard that both the madam and the young miss have suffered at Mrs. Gu’s hands. Why don’t we shut down our operations here for a time and go to the madam’s husband’s place..."

Tian Zhuang cut him off. "Shut up. It hasn’t come to that. If I back down now, wouldn’t that be admitting I’m afraid?

"Since we’re already at odds, I’d like to see just what she’s capable of. Let’s see if she can really take me down."

Li Yong wanted to argue further, but one look at his master’s face and he didn’t dare say another word.

"If we can’t do this covertly, we’ll do it overtly. Go find me some men. As soon as they’re ready, send them over to cause some damage. Tell them to be smart about it—wreck things and get out immediately. Have them leave Le City for a while, then we’ll bring in a new batch to take their place.

"I refuse to believe her people can stand guard forever."

Li Yong thought Tian Zhuang was getting desperate and acting irrationally. "But the cost will be too high, Master. All that Silver for hiring and rehiring... it’s a lot."

"Stop being so rigid. Le City is crawling with beggars and hooligans.

"Give them a meal and a little Silver, and they’ll do anything you ask." A glint appeared in Tian Zhuang’s eyes as he spoke.

He had clawed his way up from a poor farm boy to his current position not just because his sister had married a Scholar, but because of his own ruthless streak.

’And if she’s a stone blocking my path,’ he thought, ’I’ll just have to kick her aside.’

Li Yong said, "It’s true they won’t cost much in Silver Taels, but I’m afraid they’ll be hard to control. What if they talk...?"

’This stupid slave,’ Tian Zhuang thought, truly not wanting to look at Li Yong right now. But he had few useful men at his disposal, so he had to swallow his frustration. "Who said you should contact them directly? Be discreet. Go through intermediaries. No one will ever trace it back to you."

Seeing that Li Yong still didn’t seem to grasp it, he had to spell out the details. "Just do everything you can to cause damage. When it’s done, I won’t treat you poorly."

Li Yong shivered as he walked out of the Tian Mansion. He had thought becoming the head steward of this estate was a great stroke of fortune.

It seemed he had been wrong. This was more like a bottomless pit, and now it was too late to back out.

Steeling himself, he turned into a small alley. ’I have to find a way to distance myself from this,’ he thought as he walked. ’I can’t get dragged down with him.’

***

Jin Qianqian watched the two large ships enter the sea. With the one that had recently returned from its voyage, that made three. She couldn’t suppress the smile on her face.

"Once the ships are steady, Mother will take you aboard for a look."

She held Gu Ben Can’s hand, with Gu Benluo walking beside her.

Gu Benluo looked up, his face full of yearning. "Mother, can we go out to sea on the boat? I heard from Uncle Zhou that his soldiers catch lots of fish and shrimp every day."

After Jin Qianqian’s suggestion last time, Zhou Shixiong had indeed ordered his men to weave many large fishing nets. Now, when they went out to train the soldiers’ swimming skills, they often returned with a full haul.

Jin Qianqian was only now realizing just how abundant the fishing resources were here. Perhaps because the waters hadn’t been overfished yet, every cast of the net brought in a huge catch.

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As the ones who had suggested the idea, Jin Qianqian and Ancient Wen Heng naturally received special treatment. Every so often, they would be sent an abundance of fresh seafood.

Jin Qianqian reached out and patted her eldest son’s head. "Uncle Zhou has sent us so much seafood. Haven’t you had your fill yet?"

Gu Benluo pouted. "But I heard Uncle Zhou say that all this seafood comes right from the ocean. I want to try catching it, too.

"Mother, you used to take us fishing, but we haven’t been on an outing in a long time, not since we came to Lu City."

"..." Jin Qianqian knew her son felt neglected. It was true; they had been so busy lately that they hadn’t paid enough attention to spending time with their children.

Seeing the hurt look on his face now, her heart instantly softened.

"Alright then. In a little while, how about we try going out to sea and casting the nets ourselves?"

Gu Benluo’s expression immediately brightened. He lifted his head, a cute smile spreading across his face. "Then I’ll have to catch lots of rare seafood! Enough for Uncle Zhou, my teacher, and you and Father to eat your fill!"

Jin Qianqian reached out and pinched his little cheek. "My, you change your tune quickly. But we’ll have to wait a moment. Your father should be here soon. We’ll all go together then."

Just as she said that, Ancient Wen Heng appeared on the small dock, accompanied by He Gaofei and a few others.

Seeing the unexpected guests trailing him, Jin Qianqian merely raised an eyebrow before quickly putting on a standard smile and nodding at the men behind him.

He Gaofei and the others didn’t dare act pretentiously, and they hurriedly bowed with cupped hands in greeting.

Ancient Wen Heng remarked, "I didn’t realize the ships were already in the water. They don’t look as big out on the sea as they did on land."

"Of course," Jin Qianqian replied. "Don’t forget, behind it is the vast, boundless ocean. A single ship is nothing in comparison.

"Is everything at the government office taken care of?"

Ancient Wen Heng replied, "It’s all wrapped up for now. Besides, it’s getting late. Let’s head aboard and take a look."

Gu Benluo tugged on Jin Qianqian’s sleeve, and she gave his small hand a reassuring squeeze.

"Gentlemen, if you please," Jin Qianqian said, playing the part of the ship’s owner as she extended the invitation.

The ship had been simply furnished before its launch, and the necessary fittings were already in place.

Ming Qin, who had boarded earlier, was already waiting on deck with his men to welcome them.

Ancient Wen Heng and his group had been on the first ship before, so they were already familiar with the similar layout.

They toured the deck and the cabins, with Ancient Wen Heng explaining the purpose of various features to He Gaofei and the others along the way.

He Gaofei and his companions had been humbled by the couple several times already. Now, only wanting to stay on their good side, they were full of effusive praise.

The compliments flowed freely, and they even praised the two children repeatedly.

Gu Benluo waited patiently, but seeing his father deep in conversation with the officials, he finally couldn’t hold back any longer.

"Mother, you promised," he whispered, remembering his manners enough to tug on her sleeve discreetly to remind her.

Jin Qianqian patted his head reassuringly. "I remember. We’ll talk to your father properly after he’s finished with our guests."

Seeing that his mother remembered, Gu Benluo stopped pestering her and waited obediently by her side.

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