Love Lock

Chapter 85 Could he be a bandit leader?

After taking in Yang Haibo and Tang Xiaotong, Han Lei figured that with more people, things would be easier, so she simply took over a semi-new inn in Songyang Town.

Songyang Town served as a passage between Jingzhou and the capital region. Establishing an inn here would not only maintain communication with the capital but also act as a transit point for goods from Cangzhou to reach the capital.

The brothers from the Big Character Team were responsible for finding craftsmen to complete the inn's renovation. Han Lei, along with Yang Haibo, handled all the preparations and planning for the inn.

Although Yang Haibo and his partner had some business experience, they had never fully experienced building a store, from staff training to operating models and processes.

Han Lei led them through the work while explaining things, especially the personnel training and how to deal with the higher-ups, which they focused on learning.

Han Lei wanted them to learn the tricks of the trade so that they could replicate the success of the first tavern in the capital.

Meanwhile, preparations for Han Lei's first "Youjia Inn" branch are proceeding smoothly and in full swing.

Meanwhile, Zhao Zun continued his journey while searching for people, and arrived in Taoyuan County, Jingzhou, with great anxiety. There, he met up with the old lady and her group who had gone ahead.

According to Zhao Zun, Han Lei was drugged and kidnapped. The old lady and Han Ling'er, who had already regarded Han Lei as family, were very worried and sad.

To reassure them, Zhao Zun told them that Han Lei was very capable and that her safety shouldn't be a problem. But his own worries didn't lessen in the slightest.

These days, whenever the night is quiet, he takes out the Love Lock and gently strokes it in his palm, each time as if he is stroking Han Lei's flowing, smooth black hair.

Sometimes the love lock would emit a faint light, and sometimes it would not react at all. He didn't know what the faint light from the love lock meant.

The next day, Zhao Zun contacted the Big and Small Ranks militia in Taoyuan County. Upon hearing that Miss Han had been drugged and kidnapped, the brothers of the Big and Small Ranks militia were immediately in an uproar, as Miss Han was their savior.

The brothers and all of Zhao Zun's personal guards searched Taoyuan County for two days, but still found nothing. Helpless, Zhao Zun had no choice but to lead the team to continue towards Cangzhou.

Before leaving, he instructed Tao Qing to immediately send someone to inform him if he had any news about Han Lei.

It wasn't until the 26th day of the first lunar month that a branch of the inn in Songyang Town officially opened, more than half a month after they set off from the capital.

Wei Chengchao, that idle young master, had already wandered around the town hundreds of times before Han Lei finally led him and Yang Haibo to Taoyuan County.

Da Wu and several brothers were left behind to set up a security escort agency, with Da Wu becoming the head of the Songyang Town Security Escort Agency.

Han Lei was delayed in Songyang Town for more than half a month, and by the time they arrived in Taoyuan County, it was already the end of January.

In two days, on the second day of the second lunar month, would be Han Lei and Zhao Zun's scheduled wedding date. But to be honest, Han Lei had completely forgotten about the wedding date at this time. She was focused on her business and hadn't thought about anything else.

Han Lei acts with the decisiveness and efficiency of a modern woman. Just as Zhao Zun thought, she and Zhao Zun had only known each other for a short time, and at most, they were closer than ordinary friends; their feelings were not yet deep enough for her to insist on marrying Zhao Zun.

The carriage traveled through the streets of Taoyuan County; Han Lei was heading directly to the winery.

As Han Lei passed by the gate of the Jingzhou Prince's Mansion, she lifted the carriage curtain and saw the high ceilings of the mansion and its imposing gate.

A brilliant idea suddenly flashed into Han Lei's mind—

That is, to transfer the liquor distribution rights of Jingzhou to the King of Jingzhou through a grain exchange.

Like Zhao Zun, the King of Jingzhou was not favored by Emperor Jing, but rather suspected by him.

Although Jingzhou is adjacent to the capital region and is relatively wealthy, the King of Jingzhou has been extremely cautious in his conduct over the years, fearing that the slightest mistake could lead to his death.

He had no profitable businesses and relied solely on his government salary and fiefdom to support his large family. Despite being a prince, he lived a meager existence. Jingzhou was located between the capital and Cangzhou. Cangzhou had barren land, suitable for developing industry or growing some coarse grains, but unsuitable for cultivating refined grains.

Therefore, she could exchange the distribution rights for baijiu (Chinese liquor) for fine grains from Jingzhou, and they naturally became business partners.

With the connection to the King of Jingzhou, goods from Cangzhou would be transported to the capital via Jingzhou with far less trouble.

Han Lei lowered the carriage curtain and decided to prepare gifts and visit the King of Jingzhou in a few days.

Tao Qing and his brothers were overjoyed when Han Lei suddenly appeared in the courtyard of the winery.

"Young lady? Oh! Young lady, you're finally back. You've worried us to death." Tao Qing greeted her with a joyful expression, though her voice held a hint of concern. "I heard from the Prince that you were drugged and kidnapped. Are you alright?"

"Hehe, I'm fine, don't worry."

Han Lei chuckled lightly, but glanced meaningfully at Wei Chengchao beside her.

Wei Chengchao received a look from Han Lei and, upon seeing the group of rough men in the yard, involuntarily shuddered.

Thanks to Han Lei's generous provision of meat and other nutritional supplements, these brothers from the military camp are now all robust and strong.

Coupled with the murderous aura they've developed on the battlefield, their mere presence exudes a powerful sense of oppression.

Wei Chengchao's heart pounded with anxiety, and he became increasingly suspicious of Han Lei's background.

It was one thing to see Da Wu and the others being so respectful to Han Lei in Songyang Town, but I never expected that in Taoyuan County, there would be a group of men exuding murderous intent who would treat her with the same utmost respect.

Cangzhou is a poor and desolate place where unruly people are born. Could this niece of the Qingshui County Magistrate be a bandit leader?
Tao Qing had no idea that the person who had kidnapped Han Lei was right in front of him. After exchanging pleasantries with Han Lei, he said with a solemn expression, "Miss, the Prince... he is frantically searching for you everywhere."

"Uh..." Han Lei's expression froze, and she asked somewhat awkwardly, "Where is the Prince?"

In Songyang Town, she originally planned to catch up with Zhao Zun.

Unexpectedly, Da Wu appeared so suddenly that she was so busy with other things that she completely forgot about it and didn't even send anyone to deliver the message.

It really deserves a beating!

Tao Qing, oblivious to Han Lei's embarrassment, continued, "The Prince searched for you in Taoyuan County for two days without any news, and then led his men to search all the way towards Cangzhou. The Prince said that once he finds the person who dared to kidnap the girl, he will show no mercy and will definitely tear him to pieces."

Han Lei felt a warmth in her heart upon hearing this.

Then, a playful yet sinister smile curled at the corner of her lips as she glanced sideways at Wei Chengchao, who was standing to the side.

Wei Chengchao's expression changed slightly, and he quickly lowered his head, his eyes flashing with barely perceptible panic.

Hearing that Zhao Zun was frantically searching for someone, he panicked, and the image of Zhao Zun beating him up at Tengyun Tower immediately flashed into his mind.

He had already experienced Zhao Zun's prowess firsthand.

In Zhao Zun's eyes, his status as the son of the prime minister was utterly meaningless.

Zhao Zun dared to hit him in the capital, right under the emperor's nose. If he went to Cangzhou with Han Lei, wouldn't the fearless Zhao Zun beat him to death on sight?
That night, after returning to the room arranged by Tao Qing, Wei Chengchao tossed and turned, unable to sleep, constantly thinking that he had to find a way to return to the capital.

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(End of this chapter)