What a lucky world!

Chapter 47 Li Daitao is stiff (Part )

"Mr. Shi, do you know about the students being kidnapped?" Zhang Mu asked.

Shi Yansheng nodded: "I've heard a little bit about it."

"I did it." Zhang Mu said directly.

Shi Yansheng stood up in shock and pointed at Zhang Mu: "You...you..."

"You and that group of beggars..."

"Mr. Shi, don't misunderstand me." Zhang Mu quickly signaled Shi Yansheng to calm down. "I was the one who spread this rumor."

After hearing Zhang Mu's words, even though Shi Yansheng was not very understanding of human nature, he knew that there was something hidden. He sat down and asked, "What's going on?"

Zhang Mu took a sip of tea, feeling the bitterness in his mouth, and slowly recounted the story of the beacon beating. Of course, in order to protect Shi Yansheng, Zhang Mu did not clearly reveal the information of the person behind the scenes.

"Do you want to use the strategy of using luggage to replace peaches and dead?" Shi Yansheng asked.

Li Dai Tao Jiang means to find someone to take the blame for you...

Zhang Mu smiled and nodded, saying, "The students of the county school are the foundation of culture and education. They cannot be ignored by all parties."

"In this way, I can confuse the public and direct the investigation efforts to the real case of Pai Huazi. Perhaps I can save those poor people."

"That's easier said than done," Shi Yansheng said. "Brother Mu, you're just a young man, powerless and without influence. How can you guide this power?"

"This is why I came to see you." Zhang Mu winked at Shi Yansheng.

Shi Yansheng frowned slightly. "It's not that I'm trying to shirk responsibility, but I have no achievements and no connections. How can I possibly lend a hand to Brother Mu?"

"Because Mr. Shi is a scholar!" Zhang Mu said, "He's the only scholar I trust."

"I hope Mr. Shi can write an article as soon as possible, focusing on guiding the students of the county school, so that they can put pressure on the county government and ask the county government to give them an explanation!"

"This kind of thing can only be done by scholars!"

In fact, to put it bluntly, Zhang Mu wanted to package Shi Yansheng as the opinion leader of this matter.

Although Shi Yansheng had no achievements and was somewhat pedantic, in Zhang Mu's opinion, at least you couldn't attack this person on the basis of his personal morality.

At the level of opinion leaders, as long as their personal morality is invincible, their opinions will also be invincible.

"I can do this!" Shi Yansheng nodded, "but I don't think it can solve the problem."

Zhang Mu said in a relaxed tone, "Mr. Shi, all you need to do is do this. I'll take care of the rest!"

"in addition……"

"If Mr. Shi has other classmates or friends, you can also bring them in to strengthen the momentum."

"I won't discuss the benefits for you, Mr. Shi. But for others, this might be a good opportunity to gain prestige."

Shi Yansheng pondered for a moment, then gave a wry smile and nodded. He then looked at Zhang Mu and sighed, "Brother Mu, you're so good at reading the subtleties of human nature, like reading the lines on a palm. It's truly admirable. I wonder how you achieved that?"

Zhang Mu stood up and said seriously, "Clear water can reveal turbidity, and a bright mirror can reflect filth."

"Mr. asked me how I practiced it?"

"Nothing else, just a kind nature!"

……

After arranging Shi Yansheng's affairs, Zhang Mu returned to the escort agency.

He continued to break through the acupoints, practice the Three Talents Sword Technique and the Broken Star Step until sunset.

Before dinner, Zhang Mu broke through another acupoint. Even then, the Liangyi Xiantian Pill was still effective, which surprised Zhang Mu. So, without further delay, he went to the kitchen for a quick meal and then returned to break through the next acupoint.

By daybreak, after a whole night, although Zhang Mu had not broken through the sixth acupoint, that acupoint had loosened and he should be able to break through soon.

After washing up, Zhang Mu went to the escort hall to check in, and once again learned some of the latest news from his colleagues.

The student has been missing for three days, and the family of the missing student has begun to use various connections to visit the provincial capital.

Classes at the county school have been suspended, and the county's principal is already writing a memorial to impeach the county magistrate for causing unrest in his rule.

Early this morning, Shi Yansheng, a famous old scholar in Wan'an County, brought along eleven other older scholars and fourteen older students, holding up a blood letter that read "Civility is swept away" and kneeling in front of the statue in the Confucian Temple. They declared that if they couldn't find the students, they would go on a hunger strike for a day, and even when they died, their loyal and Confucian souls would complain to the saint!
At noon, the yamen issued an order from the county magistrate, searching the entire city and strictly checking all outsiders.

For a moment, the situation in Wan'an County was like a strong wind sweeping across the lake, and waves suddenly arose.

But it's not over yet.

The picture has been exhausted, and next, the dagger will appear.

……

Anyu Lane, Xiao Liu Mansion.

"Tell me! Did you do it?" Liu Zhubu looked at Liu Yi, who was kneeling on the ground, with an anxious look on his face. "If so, let him go now. There is still room for maneuver!"

Liu Yi looked aggrieved: "Brother, it really wasn't me!"

"All I take in are women and children. I'd have to be bitten by a monster to touch a student..."

"So you have someone else on your side?" Liu Zhubu glared at Liu Yi.

Liu Yi sighed, "Last time, there was a bastard who was going to take over, but he disappeared after some accident. Now he's looking for a new channel to sell it, and it's been a few days!"

"Brother, please help me hold on for two more days."

"There are a few high-quality goods in this batch that can be sold for a lot of money, but I can't bear to touch them!"

"Stupid!" Liu Zhubu was about to smash the teacup in his hand, but when he saw his younger brother kneeling on the ground, he had no choice but to put the teacup down.

The Liu family looked prosperous, but since he was in the officialdom, how could he not want to advance further? To achieve this, he gave away a lot of money to his superiors, almost draining the Liu family's coffers. It was only this younger brother who was secretly engaged in the human trafficking business that supplemented his income.

"Two days at most!" Liu Zhubu shook his head. "If it's longer, I won't be able to hold it back."

"Two days?" Liu Yi thought for a moment, "Alright! At worst, I can escort them to the provincial capital myself and continue selling them there!"

Before Liu Zhubu could say something, the housekeeper suddenly ran in.

"Master, Second Master..."

Liu Zhubu frowned slightly: "What's all the fussing about?"

The butler quickly handed over an envelope and said, "A child just brought this letter, asking the master to review it."

Liu Yi frowned: "Butler, why are you going back in time as you grow older? You pass everyone's letters to my brother."

The butler smiled bitterly and showed the front of the envelope. Immediately, the pupils of Liu Zhubu and Liu Yi shrank.

There was no signature on it, only an address: No. 6, Changwu Lane, Jiazi. Liu Zhubu reached out to take the envelope, opened the letter inside, and after just one glance, his face suddenly darkened.

Liu Yi stepped forward and took the letter from Liu Zhubu, and was immediately furious.

There are only two words on it——

Let him go!

"Bastard! Who is that?" Liu Yi yelled, "Come on, take me to find the child who delivered the letter..."

"Stop!" Liu Zhubu called out to Liu Yi. He hesitated for a moment and said to Liu Yi, "Do those prisoners know anything?"

Liu Yi thought for a moment and said, "I don't know anything. They were knocked unconscious when they arrived. After they were locked up, there was only a deaf man who brought them food."

"Then let them go." Liu Zhubu nodded. "Wait until night, take them out and release them, far away..."

"Release him?" Liu Yi said angrily, "Brother, I will set off now and take him to the capital!"

"I told you to let him go!" Liu Zhubu suddenly slammed the table.

"Brother, calm down, brother, calm down..." Liu Yi knelt down quickly and said, "I don't understand. We arrested girls and children, not students!"

"Li Dai Tao Jiang, do you understand?" Liu Zhubu took a few breaths, pointed at the piece of paper on the ground with "Release the people" written on it, and said, "This is the condition given to us!"

"Ah?" Liu Yi looked confused.

Liu Zhubu shook his head and explained, "Don't you understand? There are no such things as bandits kidnapping students. Their target from the beginning has been us."

"If we don't agree, they might accuse us of kidnapping students!"

"If you sell a few women and children, I can still cover it up. But if it involves the students of the county school, even the county magistrate can't cover it up!"

"I don't know if they can do it, but, you can't bet on it!"

"The enemy is in the dark, I am in the light. This bet is unfair from the start!"

"Let it go!"

Liu Yi gritted his teeth, hesitated for a moment, and said, "Then... can we keep a few?"

"There are two that look decent. I'll take one, and my brother will take one. I'll let the others go."

"Let them all go!" Liu Zhubu waved his hand, "Don't leave any alive!"

Seeing Liu Yi's unwilling look, Liu Zhubu patted Liu Yi on the shoulder and said, "I didn't intend to tell you so early."

"Little brother, bear with it for a while."

"County Magistrate Zhou's term is up in two months. He's planning something big, and I'm helping him. When he leaves, he'll submit a petition on my behalf, hoping to secure a position as magistrate in another county. If successful, my position as chief clerk will naturally be yours."

"Our Liu family shouldn't do anything weird at this time."

Liu Yi's face lit up when he heard this, and he nodded: "Is that so? Don't worry, brother, I know the seriousness of this matter!"

Upon hearing this, Liu Zhubu nodded with satisfaction.

……

Another night of practice.

The sixth acupoint was finally opened, and there were still three acupoints left to open the second level of meridians. The efficacy of the Liangyi Xiantian Pill was still stable.

After completing the roll call at the escort hall, Zhang Mu hurried to Lixing Store.

At this time, Zhou Yuanguang was also waiting for him at Lixing Store.

Seeing Zhang Mu coming, he immediately pulled Zhang Mu into the small secret room and said with suppressed excitement: "My benefactor, it's done!"

"I saw from afar last night that quite a few people came out of that house, filling up eight carriages."

"After the carriages reached the outer city, they dispersed. I followed one of them and saw them find a secluded place and let the people off."

"I was afraid of being discovered, so I didn't dare get too close."

Zhang Mu nodded when he heard this. Fortunately, according to what the beggar said before, these people should be locals, so there is no need to worry about them returning home.

That's all he can do.

"Okay!" Zhang Mu patted Zhou Yuanguang's shoulder, "Thank you for your hard work."

"My benefactor, what you said is not true. We feel good about this..." Zhou Yuanguang shook his head and said, "It's just that that Liu guy didn't do anything wrong. I feel a little unhappy about it!"

"Good deeds will be rewarded, evil deeds will be punished. It's not that there is no retribution, it's just that the time has not come yet." Zhang Mu comforted him, "Let's release those students tonight. Be careful not to expose yourself."

Zhou Yuanguang nodded and said, "By the way, benefactor, there is one more thing."

"What?" Zhang Mu asked curiously.

Zhou Yuanguang smiled and said, "A few days ago, I told my wife about how the benefactor saved me. My wife said that saving my life was a great favor and I should repay him."

Zhang Mu waved his hand: "Didn't you give me the Fuyuan Bag at that time?"

"That's something else. Besides, it should have been your benefactor's spoils of war." Zhou Yuanguang pulled a silver note from his sleeve and said, "My wife said that you are a martial artist. You are poor in literature but rich in martial arts. You must need a lot of money for your cultivation."

"Here is a hundred taels of silver as a token of my appreciation. I hope you won't despise me!"

Zhang Mu was stunned. Lixing Store was actually a grocery store. He estimated that the profit in a year would be only a few hundred taels of silver. Besides, Zhou Yuanguang was not the owner yet. The one hundred taels was indeed a sign of sincerity.

After thinking for a moment, Zhang Mu nodded and took it: "I do need the silver, so I will accept it."

When Zhou Yuanguang saw Zhang Mu accept the silver, he smiled even more happily.

……

Walking out of Lixing Store, Zhang Mu pinched the banknotes in his sleeve and smiled.

It’s like a pillow is given to you when you feel sleepy, and it’s an unexpected bonus.

Zhang Mu was just planning to go to the money shop to exchange the silver bills when suddenly a figure blocked his way.

Zhang Mu looked at the other person, who was a middle-aged man wearing a Confucian robe and had a warm smile.

"Sir, is there anything I can help you with?" Zhang Mu asked.

The middle-aged man nodded: "Of course there is something."

"My humble name is Song Haowen, the county magistrate."

"I want to ask you, my friend, when will you let my students return?"

(End of this chapter)