Miss and farmhand

Actually, when Huang Chu heard that it was just a message, she had already guessed that Zhou Shitai wouldn't help, but she didn't expect him to be so ugly and still dare to let her go and talk to him personally.

Huang Xingtong was a little worried that his daughter was too inexperienced and might impulsively agree to the agreement for the sake of the stone.

He immediately looked up and advised, "Don't believe him. He's just trying to get something for nothing, trying to trap you. If you agree, you'll fall into his trap, and he'll keep making demands, pushing you to your limits. Once you start, this will never end. We need to find a way, but we can't deal with this kind of complete extortionist scoundrel."

Huang Chu nodded: "I know, and I didn't plan to go either. I just didn't expect that when things come to this, people's true colors will be revealed. Putting aside kicking someone when they're down, Zhou Shitai, who always pretended to be a gentleman, has shown his true colors at this moment. He's nothing special."

She suddenly realized something and said with a bit of a laugh, "So, Father, you see, a good-looking son-in-law isn't necessarily more reliable."

Huang Xingtong knew, of course, that Huang Chu was referring to his suggestion to have Zhou Shitai marry into her family, which he had made to test her. It was just a joking remark, and he hadn't taken it seriously. He had always been very cautious about Huang Chu's marriage. However, the fact that Huang Chu brought it up herself now, especially in front of Huang Muyun, made him feel that it was somewhat deliberately inappropriate. He wondered if she genuinely just wanted to tease her father or was subtly hinting at something to Huang Muyun.

He glanced at Huang Chu, coughed, and said, "You still say that?"

Huang Chu pursed her lips and said nothing more.

Seeing that talking to the Zhou family was useless, was there no other way?

Huang Chu paused, then said somewhat resignedly, "Instead of begging this and that, let's just not beg anyone and just barge into the yamen to rescue Shi Tou."

Huang Xingtong scoffed, not even raising his head: "You've got a good idea to say such childish things."

However, he suddenly found that the room had become unusually quiet, with not even a sound of footsteps.

He looked up and saw Huang Chu and Huang Muyun looking at each other, blinking, and then looking at him together.

"...What's wrong?"

Huang Chu asked, "...Father, do you know the structure of the rooms in the yamen (government office) correctly?"

Huang Xingtong was also stunned. "...How would I know?"

"It was before," Huang Chu glanced at Huang Muyun, "that matter with Master Zhao, didn't you later go and act as a witness as his employer, even writing a statement and having him sign it? Even earlier, Shen Jingzong was on good terms with you, and you're a prominent figure in the area, I remember he invited you to consult him about something for a while? In short, you know who might be locked up in the yamen and where, Father, right?"

Huang Xingtong was stumped by her question. He nodded subconsciously, then immediately snapped out of it and exclaimed, "What a joke! Don't even think about such reckless things! Saving people is one thing, but breaking them out of prison is a completely different matter!"

"But……"

"No buts. I know what you're thinking. You're thinking that Shen Jingzong was wrong first. He accepted bribes, he condoned the collusion between merchants and thieves, and he acted as a protector for the Zhou family. He's a terrible official, so we don't need to follow the rules with him. As long as we can achieve our goal, we'll do anything. Is that what you're thinking?"

"……yes."

Huang Xingtong sneered, "What, you want me to draw the map for you so you can send Changzhi to rescue people?" He turned and glared at Huang Muyun, "You also think this is a good idea? Aren't you afraid of putting yourself in danger?"

Huang Muyun said slowly, "If we can really rescue Shitou and prevent him from being tortured inside, I don't mind."

Huang Xingtong then asked Huang Chu, "You're really willing to let him do such illegal and disorderly things?"

Huang Chu felt a slight sting from her father's implied meaning, and she said in a slightly guilty voice, "...Even if something really happens, we can hide. Father, haven't you always looked down on those inflexible and rigid ideas? Why are you scared now?"

Huang Xingtong immediately slammed his hand on the table, interrupting her seriously, "You think this is the same thing? You're completely acting recklessly. We're here trying to find a way to save people, and we're being cautious because we're afraid of that scoundrel Shen Jingzong. It's because the law is what it is. Shen Jingzong's actions haven't exceeded the scope of the law. He even got Zhu Xiaoxu to help him by making the initial accusation, just to find a good reason to frame Shi Tou. To make it seem like his capture of Shi Tou wasn't without reason. Why would he go to so much trouble? In his eyes, Shi Tou has no status or background. After getting his hands on him, he's not even afraid to use vigilante justice to kill Shi Tou. So why does he need a reason to act? He justifies his actions. Only after he has a legitimate reason can we find no way to deal with him. If it weren't for that initial move, if he had captured Shi Tou without any reason, I could have reported it immediately." He's been summoned from the government office to punish him. Now I can only try to find a way out from elsewhere, precisely because of his cautious nature. Even a bad guy like him knows the trick, yet you don't take it seriously! If you really try to break him out of prison, do you think everything will be fine once you've rescued him? Do you think Shen Jingzong really can't find out who rescued Shitou? His first suspect will be us! He'll take our whereabouts that day, he'll question our servants, what can't he find out? Do you think he'll hesitate to harm the servants? Once the confession is clear, it'll give him a handle to take me away. Once I'm gone, this family will truly be without anyone to protect us. Even if you rescue Shitou and send him away, doesn't it take horses and carriages to send a living person away? Will no one know about the arrangements made along the way? Will no one see it on the road? He'll know the direction once he asks, and send officials on horseback to chase after him. Do you think a carriage or officials are faster?

He said all this in one breath, and his face turned red with anger.

"Not only do you act without considering the consequences, but you also act impulsively and don't take your own safety seriously. Do you think your mother and I would feel if something really happened, and we lost two children instead of one?!"

Huang Chu was so frightened that she didn't dare to breathe, completely unaware that Huang Xingtong had considered so many consequences.

She was indeed too naive, only thinking about making a quick and decisive move, believing that since she had a way to implement it, she should do it immediately.

In truth, Huang Chu herself was unaware that she was treating the final wartime state of her previous life as the norm in all matters related to pirates. Back then, there were no officials or authorities, and everyone had to find their own way out because the Japanese pirates had already come knocking on her door. But now, before anything happens, everything still has to follow the law, and she can't do whatever she wants.

"...Father's reprimand is correct. Mother knows she was wrong. She will never think that way again."

She was sensible and admitted her mistake in time with a sincere attitude. Although she still felt that they really had no other way but to break them out of prison, she dared not think about it again after being taught a lesson by Huang Xingtong.

Huang Xingtong nodded with a stern face, reluctantly letting her off the hook.

Then he immediately turned to Huang Muyun: "Changzhi, what's your attitude?"

He didn't trust Huang Muyun either. That silly boy had clearly shown that if Huang Chu dared to ask him to break out of prison, he really would.

Unexpectedly, Huang Muyun was not as apprehensive as Huang Chu. He tilted his head slightly, as if he was thinking about something.

"Long comb!"

"...Sir, what if we don't need to get involved?"

Huang Xingtong narrowed his eyes. "What did you say? You're still so stubborn?"

Huang Muyun shook her head. "It's not that I'm stubborn, it's true. What if I could find someone to break us out of prison?"