Finest Servant

Chapter 382

Chapter 382 The Bet

After patrolling the surface of Weishan Lake, aside from once again witnessing the deep blue sky and the vast expanse of water, there was no other gain.

The sky was getting brighter, the fog gradually dispersing, and a spray of the red sun showed half its face above the green water, dyeing the surface a layer of dazzling gold, making people feel unusually warm.

Luo Ning nestled beside Lin Wanrong, the golden morning sun shining on her face, setting off spots of golden red blush, contrasting with her snow-white skin, making her look exceptionally beautiful. Ning'er's eyes were filled with the glow of happiness as she hugged Lin Wanrong's arm and softly said, "Big brother, if I could watch the sunrise with you every day, Ning'er would have no other wishes in her life."

Women are emotional creatures, just worrying about not finding money a moment ago, and in the blink of an eye, longing for a beautiful future. Lin Wanrong gave a wry smile and said to Luo Yuan who was standing to one side, "Little Luo, instruct the brothers on the boat to stop for now. After breakfast, we'll continue to investigate."

Luo Yuan nodded in agreement and passed the message along. For those who lived on the water, their entire livelihood depended on a small boat. Soon, the surrounding boats were seen with curling smoke, and the aroma of fish and rice drifted over.

The boatman, an old man, hurried around and handed a bowl of fish soup to Lin Wanrong, saying, "Sir, try our fresh fish soup from Weishan Lake. I caught it overnight. It's not easy to catch fish in the lake during early spring. Originally, I wanted to give it to Lord Luo, but then this happened."

Lin Wanrong quickly took it with both hands, expressing gratitude with a smile, and handed it to Luo Ning first, saying, "The fish of this spring are those that escaped the nets in winter. After a cold winter, well-fed on water grass, they are plump and robust, just when they are most nourishing. Ning'er, you are frail, take a sip of the soup to warm up. You lost blood last night; you need to replenish yourself."

Luo Ning was deeply moved by his first words, but the latter words seemed frivolous. She looked at her big brother reproachfully and pinched him secretly on the waist, taking the bowl and taking a small sip.

The moment the soup entered her mouth, a rich fragrance permeated her taste buds, making Luo Ning's appetite grow, and she couldn't help but take another small sip, praising, "This is so delicious. I haven't had such good fish soup in the few months I've been in Jinan."

Lin Wanrong laughed heartily and said, "That's because you rarely come to Weishan Lake, so you can't appreciate the beautiful scenery or taste the delicacies. This place has beautiful lakes and mountains, a real land of fish and rice."

As he said this, he was reminded of the day when they attacked Jinan. Amid thousands of cannons, he was injured to save Sister An and Xian'er, and later, they desperately rescued him. The three of them depended on each other, boating under the moon on Weishan Lake. A warm, nostalgic feeling slowly rose in his heart. How many such carefree days can one have in life? If it hadn't been for Sister An's trickery, how could he have experienced all this? He sighed softly. Xian'er was in the capital, but where was that cunning and charming fox? Would she also think back to those days? Damn it, he missed that sultry fox.

"Big brother, big brother, look, it's Miss Xu!" Luo Ning suddenly grabbed his sleeve, excitedly shouting.

Xu Zhiqing? Lin Wanrong, who was lost in thought, was suddenly startled and quickly looked up. The mist on the water's surface had completely dispersed, and the situation on the lake was now crystal clear. From far away, a small boat was rowing towards them. A woman dressed in green stood gracefully at the bow, her expression calm, neither speaking nor smiling. A few dewdrops clung to the tips of her hair, flashing with brilliant colors under the morning light, enhancing the beauty of her charming face.

"Sister Zhiqing, Sister Zhiqing!" From a distance, Luo Ning started waving her arms, excitedly calling out. Xu Zhiqing, upon seeing Luo Ning, paused slightly, then nodded in acknowledgment, and the small boat gradually drew closer.

"Oh, that, I suddenly remembered," Lin Wanrong quickly interjected, "the reed swamp we just passed by seems not to have been carefully inspected. Little Luo, prepare the fastest boat for me; I need to go ahead."

The situation was not right, and Master Lin was ready to escape. He had something to hide. The events of last night were known only to Heaven, Earth, Master Lin, and Miss Xu. But this girl, Xu Zhiqing, was not easy to fool. She had a crossbow with her and had even shot four arrows at him the night before. Who knew if she would flare up upon meeting him? If she chose to expose him, it would be terrible. Life and death were trivial matters, but losing honor was significant. If she made a scene, Master Lin's reputation would be ruined.

Luo Ning grabbed his sleeve, laughing and refusing, "Big brother always talks nonsense. We've come all this way, and there was no reed swamp. Sister Zhiqing, for the sake of our family, has been on Weishan Lake since before dawn in this freezing cold. We must properly thank her."

"Really? That must be quite tiring!" Master Lin laughed, trying to make his escape, but Luo Ning held him tightly. Seeing Xu Zhiqing's boat getting closer, he was beside himself with frustration.

"Sister is right. Sister Xu has traveled thousands of miles for our family's sake, and her efforts are incomparable. We should indeed thank her properly. Big brother, there's no rush. You should meet with Sister Xu to see if she has discovered anything. Perhaps the two of you together might find a solution," Luo Yuan solemnly nodded, agreeing with the analysis.

‘You little rascal, trying to trap your big brother!’ Master Lin and Miss Xu were like fire and water, completely incompatible. Master Lin glared at Little Luo, wishing he could kick this mischievous boy into the water.

In the midst of their conversation, the boat carrying Xu Zhiqing slowly approached. Luo Yuan and the boatman caught the small boat, and Xu Zhiqing, holding Luo Ning's hand, jumped onto their boat.

Xu Zhiqing's hair sparkled with clear dewdrops, her cheeks flushed from the cold, her beautiful eyes slightly red and swollen, looking quite fatigued. Luo Ning was surprised and asked, "Sister, what's wrong? Have you been crying?"

"No," Xu Zhiqing answered softly, "The wind and dew on the lake this morning were strong, and it got in my eyes, causing some redness."

Luo Ning, holding Xu Zhiqing's hands, her eyes reddening, said, "Sister, why were you on the lake so early? The weather is so cold; what if you catch a chill? I would never find peace for the rest of my life."

Xu Zhiqing smiled faintly, her delicate hand gracefully wiping the dewdrops from her hair, and said, "Ning'er, why speak so formally between us sisters? I couldn't sleep in the middle of the night, so I thought I'd go to the lake early. I didn't expect Weishan Lake to be so vast. I was on the boat for several hours and only covered a few miles. Seeing that time was getting on, I worried that you would be anxious, so I turned back."

Upon hearing Xu Zhiqing mention "couldn't sleep in the middle of the night," Luo Ning thought that something had been revealed, her face turning pale and ears heating up in embarrassment. She shyly lowered her head and said, "I was disrespectful last night—"

"Nothing happened last night," Xu Zhiqing interrupted, "I waited in your room and fell asleep, seeing no one."

What did Sister Xu mean by her words? Was she hinting that she had seen or heard something last night? With these thoughts, Luo Ning felt her whole body heat up, her heart beating erratically. She was too ashamed to lift her head. The two of them both had something on their minds, yet they couldn't share it with each other, guessing wildly like a riddle.

"Oh, right, Sister Zhiqing, did you find anything on the lake? Perhaps you could discuss it with my big brother—Oh, big brother, where are you?" Luo Ning was trying to have her big brother talk with Miss Xu, but he was nowhere to be found. Just as she was puzzled, the boatman came from the back of the cabin, saying, "Miss, are you asking about that official just now? Oh, he's taken over my job, cooking at the stern of the boat. Alas, I've never seen such a kind and helpful official. Miss, you are fortunate to be with him!"

When did big brother become so industrious? Luo Ning's questions found no answers. But then, she saw Luo Yuan pushing Lin Wanrong out. Master Lin, with an apron tied around his waist, was shouting, "What are you doing? What are you doing? I still have to cook!"

"It's you?!!" Xu Zhiqing's eyes blazed, and she gritted her teeth in anger.

"Standing too close, I can't see clearly!" Lin Wanrong hastily retreated a few steps, keeping his distance from Miss Xu, examining her carefully before exclaiming, "Ah, isn't this Miss Xu? My goodness, what are you doing here? Long time no see, how are you?" His words were filled with sincere intent, making them sound like old friends who hadn't seen each other for a long time. Luo Yuan couldn't help but admire how his big brother was always so enthusiastic and lively with people.

"I'm doing very well, but I wonder how Lord Lin fared last night?" Xu Zhiqing replied with a cold smile, her eyes glinting dangerously.

The unintentional speaker, the intentional listener; Luo Ning's face turned red at the words, casting a secretive glance at her big brother, her eyebrows hinting at a touch of sentiment.

‘Nonsense, I was accompanied by a beautiful woman with fragrant candles, warm spring affections in a flowery bed, and endless pleasure on the mandarin duck pillows. How could I not be happy?’ Seeing Miss Xu's stern expression, Lin Wanrong gave a dry laugh and said, "Thanks to Miss's concern, I fared quite well, just a little better than you."

"Shameless, you have no face!" Xu Zhiqing gritted her teeth in hatred, her eyes welling with a faint mist of tears.

Although her voice was soft, Luo Ning heard every word. Seeing that her big brother and Sister Xu seemed to have some distance between them, she felt anxious and quickly grabbed Xu Zhiqing's hand, saying, "Sister Xu, do you have any misunderstandings about my big brother? He's quite good, industrious, kind, simple and humble, reticent, and protective of the weak. You've traveled with him; you should have felt these qualities, right?"

Luo Yuan's mouth hung open in shock; he never realized that his big brother had such a lofty status in his sister's eyes. Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder, he thought. Why was his understanding of his big brother completely opposite to his sister's? Lin San, however, felt greatly comforted by Luo Ning's words. ‘My dear Ning'er, you truly understand me. Others only see my surface, but only you have seen the deepest parts of me!’

Xu Zhiqing listened with a mix of amusement and disbelief. According to Ning'er's words, Lin San must be the most honest man in the world. If Lin San was described as honest, even pigs would laugh.

"Yes, I deeply feel his virtues," Miss Xu said, a cold smile playing on her lips. Glancing at Lin San, she saw a smile in his eyes, and his gaze was stealthily focused on her chest, seemingly playing with some lewd thoughts. Miss Xu felt a surge of anger and almost fainted from the embarrassment. Such shameful matters could not be spoken to Ning'er, and she felt a mix of humiliation and injustice. Tears welled in her eyes as she quickly hid behind Luo Ning, saying, "Ning'er, let's go quickly!"

"Go? Where to?" Luo Ning asked in confusion, grabbing her arm and pleading, "Dear sister, my big brother is really not a bad person. Don't be angry with him. Have you discovered anything on the lake? You should discuss it with him."

"Yes, yes, let's discuss it," Lin San said, looking stern and righteous. Seeing Miss Xu's reluctance, he felt no fear, thinking that since things had come to this point, there was no turning back.

"I have nothing to say to you," Miss Xu snapped, her mind filled with the humiliation of the previous night and Lin San's lewd looks. Her heart ached, tears swirling in her eyes, ready to fall.

Luo Ning had never seen Sister Xu so angered before. She quickly embraced her and shot Lin Wanrong a warning glance. Lin San shook his head with a bitter smile, saying, "Alright, Miss Xu, I admit my mistake and will apologize to you. I will be more careful next time!"

"Next time?" Xu Zhiqing said, her teeth clenched in anger, her eyes filled with fury.

Lin San thought, ‘Is it a crime to have a full chest? Isn't a woman's good figure meant for men to see? Like me, who dares to openly act like a lecher, such men are already extinct in this world. You've encountered a rare specimen, and you're not content?’ He laughed lazily, thinking that unless they never saw each other again, he would still look.

The two quarreled for a while, leaving the Luo siblings staring in bewilderment. How did their big brother and Sister Xu become like mortal enemies? How would they live together in the future?

"General Lin, General Lin—" Just as the situation reached a deadlock, an excited shout came from the lake, and a small boat shot towards them like an arrow.

"General Hu!" Xu Zhiqing's eyes were sharp, and she immediately recognized the person on the small boat. It was Hu Bugui, who had been sent out to search the previous day under military orders.

"Brother Hu—" As the small boat steadied, Hu Bugui took a leap onto it. Seeing his excited expression, Lin Wanrong quickly grabbed his arm and asked, "Have you discovered something?"

Hu Bugui's face was weathered and his eyes bloodshot, but his expression was one of extreme excitement. He exclaimed, "General, your brilliant calculations were correct! Last night, I followed your instructions and searched along both shores of Weishan Lake, and indeed, we made some gains."

Upon hearing these words, everyone on the boat was instantly thrilled. Even Miss Xu, who was in a quarrel with Master Lin, turned her head to listen to him. But seeing Lin San smiling at her, she hurriedly snorted and turned her head back.

"Yesterday, I took two thousand brothers with me and explored along both shores," Hu Bugui continued, his voice filled with joy. "We traveled over a hundred li in one night, visiting the fishermen and common people on both sides, and finally found some extremely useful information. The day before yesterday, in the early evening, a few big brothers went out to fish in the lake. As it was early spring, there were few fish, so they paddled further out. On their return journey, they were chased away by several small boats."

"Chased away?" Lin Wanrong frowned. "Did they see the faces of those people?"

Hu Bugui shook his head. "It was already dusk when they were returning, so they couldn't see the faces of those people. But according to them, those small boats were heavily laden, and the fishermen on board were strong and robust, unlike ordinary fishermen. They chased them away a great distance before turning back. One of the fishermen, overcome by curiosity, secretly followed them. He was startled to find that behind those few small boats, there was an entire fleet."

"A fleet?" Lin Wanrong exclaimed joyfully, "How big were the boats? How many?"

"Because he was too far away and afraid of being discovered, he didn't dare to linger long, and he couldn't describe the size of the boats. But he estimated that there were about forty to fifty of them. The cabins were all covered with canvas, appearing grey and indistinct."

"Forty to fifty boats?" Lin Wanrong excitedly clapped his hands and turned to the boatman, "Uncle, what's the largest boat you've ever seen on our Weishan Lake?"

The old boatman replied, "I've been fishing on Weishan Lake all my life, and the largest boats I've seen were the naval vessels sent by the court last year to exterminate the White Lotus Cult. Those big ironclad ships could hold over a hundred people, and they even had cannons. But those are sea boats; they can't move in the shallow waters of Weishan Lake, so most of them were just for show."

Lin Wanrong nodded. During the extermination of the White Lotus, Xu Wei had mobilized naval vessels to blockade Weishan Lake. It was only to prevent the White Lotus from escaping by water, not for combat, so whether they could reach shallow waters was irrelevant.

Xu Zhiqing pondered for a moment and then said, "The thieves have stolen the silver and are in a hurry to move it. They surely wouldn't dare use naval vessels. Firstly, ironclad ships are too conspicuous and easy to spot; if they were to run aground in shallow water, they would be helpless. Secondly, all of Great Hua's naval forces are under effective control. They couldn't get their hands on such ironclad ships."

Xu Zhiqing was the daughter of Xu Wei, and she was also Li Tai's daughter-in-law and a highly regarded female military strategist. Her understanding of the Great Hua navy was no surprise. Lin Wanrong gave a thumbs up, laughing, "Well said, hit the nail on the head, I admire you!"

Xu Zhiqing snorted lightly and turned her head away. "What's the use of flattery from a shameless person like you, uncle? Please continue speaking."

The boatman nodded and said, "As for the other ships, they're pretty much the same, not much difference. I know the deep and shallow waters of Weishan Lake like the back of my hand. A typical wooden ship can carry about eight hundred catties, and that's a good one."

"That's right!" Lin Wanrong laughed heartily, "Three hundred and fifty thousand taels of silver, calculated at eight hundred catties per ship, would require more than thirty to forty wooden ships. Isn't that the fleet from that night?"

With this calculation, the fleet that had appeared that night was undoubtedly the one smuggling the silver, and everyone became excited. Even though they had confirmed that it was indeed the fleet carrying the silver, and that the silver was indeed in Weishan Lake, they still knew nothing about where it was specifically hidden.

After the initial excitement, Luo Ning and her brother realized the key issue, and their excitement gradually waned. Luo Ning looked at Lin Wanrong and whispered, "Even so, Weishan Lake is hundreds of miles wide. Where should we look for the silver?"

Lin Wanrong shook his head and smiled, "Don't worry, Big Brother is here. Ning'er, think carefully about when your father discovered the silver was missing, and when he began to block off the lake?"

"Father discovered the silver was missing at the second watch of the night, and he immediately issued the blockade order. Fast horses reached the shores around the third watch," Luo Ning thought for a moment and nodded.

"That is to say, it's certain the silver didn't make it to shore. Even if they put the silver on the ships at the first watch, by the third watch, it would only be three hours. A wooden ship, carrying eight hundred catties, how far could it go in three hours?" Lin Wanrong spoke smugly. If he had a few wisps of a small beard, he would look quite like a wise sage. "Oh, and one more important question, Brother Hu, did you ask about the wind direction on Weishan Lake that night?"

"I was in a hurry to report, so I forgot to ask," Hu Bugui said, looking embarrassed. He had been ordered the previous night to travel a hundred miles searching for clues without even stopping for a drink. His oversight was excusable.

"The wind was coming from the southeast that night," Xu Zhiqing said calmly, sounding quite certain.

"How do you know?" Lin looked at her in surprise.

"I already inquired about it when we left the lake," Xu Zhiqing responded without even glancing at him. She seemed to loathe him deeply, snorting, "You know the silver is in the lake, yet you never even asked about the wind direction. I don't know what filthy thoughts occupy your mind all day."

This young lady was speaking metaphorically, but she was indeed smart, considering all aspects of a situation. Master Lin thought to himself, admiring her assets, that he would let it slide this time. Reluctantly taking his eyes off her chest, he comforted himself.

"The young lady is right; the wind was indeed from the southeast that night," the old boatman interjected.

"Wow, Miss Xu guessed it right again." Lin Wanrong chuckled, his face full of feigned admiration. "Eh, by this calculation, weren't those thieves sailing against the wind? It seems Heaven itself is helping us. Uncle, three hours, how far do you think these wooden boats could go?"

"With a full load of eight hundred catties of silver, there won't be much space left on the wooden boat, at most four people with four oars paddling together. And they were sailing against the wind; even if they took turns rowing without rest, they couldn't travel more than a few miles in an hour. Moreover, the fleet would be moving together, and the speed would be even slower. I reckon about sixteen or seventeen miles in an hour should be about right," the old boatman declared decisively.

Sixteen or seventeen miles in an hour? That meant fifty miles in three hours? Lin Wanrong pulled out pen and paper, made some calculations, and was about to give orders when Xu Zhiqing spoke, "Don't just consider the distance the small boats could travel; also think about whether the silver submerged in the water would be pushed by the current? The current last night was blowing from the northwest."

"Miss Xu, you are so learned, even knowing fluid mechanics," Lin Wanrong exclaimed in admiration. Xu Zhiqing did not even look at him, completely ignoring his comment.

"No matter if it's the southeast wind or the northwest wind, I'll include the force of the water flow as well. If the lake water pushed my silver another ten miles, then within sixty miles, this will be our search direction." He drew a point on the paper and radiated several lines from it; the silver was within this radius.

Seeing his triumphant expression, Xu Zhiqing snorted contemptuously and took hold of Luo Ning's small hand, saying, "Ning'er, help me with something."

Luo Ning nodded, and Miss Xu continued, "Ask that shameless man how he knows that these three hundred and fifty thousand taels of silver haven't been scattered by the thieves?"

Luo Ning looked at her big brother hesitantly. If she asked, she would be admitting that her big brother was shameless; if she did not, it was a matter of importance. Lin Wanrong laughed, confidently saying, "More than three hundred thousand taels of silver would certainly not be scattered. Even splitting them into two piles is unlikely. Firstly, they didn't have ample time; coordinating forty boats is no small feat; secondly, scattering the silver under the water might cause it to be broken up by the current. They wouldn't be so foolish. More than three hundred thousand taels of silver would form a small mountain underwater and wouldn't be easily moved. They surely fixed all the silver together before daring to submerge it."

Miss Xu snorted and said no more, seemingly having no objections.

What was initially a baffling problem had been concretely clarified by Lin Wanrong and Miss Xu in a few words, and even calculated the radius according to technical principles. Everyone was impressed, especially by the coordination between Miss Xu and Lin Wanrong, whose complementing answers were incredibly in sync. Luo Yuan shook his head and sighed, "This sounds quite simple, and I understood it as soon as my big brother and Sister Xu explained it. Why couldn't I think of it myself?"

"That's what's called knowing after the fact and hindsight intelligence. If you had half the brains of big brother and Sister Xu, father wouldn't worry about you," Luo Ning teased her younger brother, then leaned affectionately against Lin Wanrong, her face glowing with happiness. She softly said, "Big brother, Ning'er is proud of you."

"Don't say it like that; this achievement belongs to everyone. I've only done a small part," Lord Lin said modestly.

Xu Zhiqing gave a cold smile: "Let's not boast too much. We've only calculated that the silver is likely within this range, but we still have no way to search for it."

Her words were indeed true. Even though they had narrowed the search range from several hundred li to just sixty, it was still a vast area. Searching for the silver within sixty li of water was no easy task.

"Can we find some underwater experts to search every place?" Luo Ning tentatively proposed a solution.

"This method is not feasible." Seeing that Lord Lin was deep in thought, Xu Zhiqing was the one to respond, shaking her head: "A sixty-li water area is not particularly large, but it's not small either. Even if we send the best underwater hands, searching ten li a day would be difficult. The emperor has given us only seven days, and after yesterday, we have only six left. There is no time. Moreover, there is a serious problem. The three hundred and fifty thousand taels of silver must be sunk to the bottom of the lake. Weishan Lake is incredibly deep, and the deeper you go, the greater the pressure. People can't endure it, and even if they reach the bottom, they can't stay long enough to search."

Luo Ning nodded, not fully understanding. When it came to poetry, she might have been able to compete, but how could she match the knowledgeable Sister Xu when it came to the principles of everything?

Lin Wanrong nodded, impressed that this Miss Xu, apart from being well-endowed, had considerable skills and even knew these principles. He pondered for a long while before addressing the old boatman: "Uncle, how deep is the water where we are?"

The old boatman slowly lowered his bamboo pole, and although it was as tall as three people, it still didn't reach the bottom. He laughed, pulling up the pole: "We've only traveled four or five li, and based on my experience, this is still shallow water, about five or six bamboo poles deep."

Luo Yuan gasped. A bamboo pole was as tall as three people, and five or six of them was considered shallow water? This was outrageous!

"How about I report to General Li Tai and bring fifty thousand more brothers from the camp? We can encircle the lake within sixty li and build dikes day and night to level it! General, don't worry; I, Old Hu, guarantee it'll be done within five days!" Hu Bugui said confidently, his proposal startling the old boatman.

Lin Wanrong forced a smile: "Brother Hu, don't scare me. Mobilizing tens of thousands of soldiers, their food, drink, and other needs, not to mention filling the lake and building fields, is no small task. Those three hundred and fifty thousand taels of silver probably won't even cover the cost. Besides, Weishan Lake is renowned as a land of fish and rice. If we really fill it, how will we explain it to future generations? We can do foolish things, but never malicious ones!"

Hu Bugui gave an embarrassed chuckle: "I was just talking, just talking, old man, please don't mind."

The old boatman sighed: "My lord, please don't say such things again; it frightens me to hear it. Our people have lived on Weishan Lake for generations, relying on fishing for our livelihood. We release fish in spring and catch them in autumn; Weishan Lake is our lifeline. If the lake is filled, what will we eat?"

"Uncle, what did you just say?" A glimmer of insight flashed through Lin Wanrong's mind, and he hurriedly grabbed the old boatman's hand to ask.

"This sir," the old boatman repeated, "I said, 'Weishan Lake is our lifeline. If the lake were to be filled, what would we eat?'"

"No, not that. It was the sentence before that one," Lin Wanrong excitedly said.

The old boatman looked at Lin Wanrong, puzzled. It was just one sentence; why would it excite him so much? "I said, 'Springtime is for stocking fish, autumn is for catching fish.' Sir, is this the one?"

"Yes, that's it, that's it!" Lin Wanrong's face was alight with excitement, muttering, "Springtime is for stocking fish, autumn is for catching fish. Stocking fish, catching fish. Uncle, what kind of net do you use for fishing?"

"For fishing, we use many different types of nets. There are cast nets, small enough for one person to handle, which fall open like a flower; these are for catching small fish. Then there are long gill nets, ranging from dozens to hundreds of feet, set in the water at night, and when raised the next day, they contain many large fish. There's also a longer net called a drag net. Every autumn, after fishing, the fishermen along the shore gather to discuss catching the remaining fish in the lake. We choose an auspicious day, spread out the drag net, divide the area, and hundreds of us pull together to catch all the fish in the lake. This is our final catch of the year, so it's also called a ‘complete haul’."

Talking about fishing, the old boatman's words flowed nonstop, describing cast nets, gill nets, and drag nets. Xu Zhiqing listened with great interest, let alone Luo Ning and Luo Yuan. They were born into wealth and were unfamiliar with these things, but Lin Wanrong, who grew up along the Yangtze River, knew them intimately. Listening to the old man's prattle, he felt an indescribable warmth.

"Excellent, excellent, the drag net, the drag net!" Lin Wanrong exclaimed, rubbing his hands together, "Uncle, how big are the holes in the drag net?"

"The holes? They vary in size, from coarse to fine. Fishermen may not have much, but nets are essential. You want a small hole; you get a small hole," the old boatman explained.

Xu Zhiqing couldn't hold back any longer and snorted, "Are you thinking of using these fishing nets to catch silver?"

"Eh, willing to talk to a shameless person this time?" Lin Wanrong replied, laughing without answering her question.

Xu Zhiqing ignored him and coldly said, "If you think of using fishing nets to catch silver, you are greatly mistaken. Even if you have the longest fishing net, it won't work. The net is weighted with tin blocks, which can sink to the bottom in shallow water, but in deep water, they can only reach three-tenths below the surface, at best."

"Don't worry, my Miss Xu," Lin Wanrong laughed, "When it comes to fishing, I was soaking in the water when you hadn't even begun to learn your letters." He then threw back at her the words she had used on the road.

"What do you want the fishing net for?" Xu Zhiqing asked, not arguing this time, her mouth twitching.

"Do you want to know? Come here." Lin Wanrong gestured to Miss Xu with a finger, his smiling face full of hidden meaning.

"You, what are you going to do?" Once bitten by a snake, one is afraid of the rope in the well for ten years; Miss Xu subconsciously reached into her bosom, on guard.

Lin Wanrong shrugged nonchalantly, "It doesn't matter. If you don't want to know, I won't insist. Uncle, let's continue our earlier conversation."

Curiosity killed the cat, and Miss Xu Zhiqing bit her silver teeth, forcibly restraining the fear in her heart as she slowly walked over to him, cautiously and warily saying, "Speak, I'm listening."

"Show some sincerity, come closer, closer, yes, that's how it should be." Seeing the tiny beads of sweat on Miss Xu's delicate nose, Master Lin couldn't help feeling triumphant inside. He was even impressed by his own ability to affect her. "You, speak quickly!" Getting close to him, remembering his "lecherous behavior" from the night before, feeling his hot gaze scanning her, Xu Zhiqing's heart was pounding, her face flushing, and she scolded him in a soft, challenging voice to bolster her courage.

"Do you want to know?" Lin Wanrong leaned close to her ear, finding her flushed, crystal-clear little ear rather amusing, "But I just won't tell you!"

"You—" Xu Zhiqing was both shocked and angry, teased by him once again, especially in front of so many others. Her anger was palpable. Seeing his playful and smiling face, Miss Xu wished she could kick him hard to relieve her frustration.

"You probably have no other way but to pretend you know something." Xu Zhiqing suppressed her anger, calmly responding.

This little girl even knew how to play the provocation game. Lin Wanrong chuckled, "Really? Am I just pretending? I don't think so! How about this, Miss Xu, let's make a bet!"

"Big brother, bet on what?" Luo Yuan perked up at the mention, a naturally mischievous person who thrived on chaos. Seeing a possible thaw in the relationship between his big brother and Sister Xu, Luo Ning also looked at his big brother with a smile.

Xu Zhiqing hadn't expected that her provocation would backfire, with this shameless man taking control. If she backed down, wouldn't she be teased by him again?

"What's the bet?" When the shameless man's sharp eyes fell on her, she felt a little flustered but a surge of defiance gave her the courage to lift her head and haughtily ask.

"If I find the silver with this fishing net, you agree to one condition of mine." Master Lin looked at Miss Xu up and down with a lecherous smile. To look openly was satisfying, and this girl could be described with one word, big—really big!

"Shameless lecher!" Xu Zhiqing muttered to herself, feeling somewhat helpless. She'd seen him thousands of times, so could she gouge her eyes out?

She gritted her teeth, "And if you don't find it?"

"If I don't find it, then I'll be Miss Xu's horse, and you can ride me for the rest of my life." Master Lin laughed heartily, dismissing the idea entirely.

Luo Yuan gasped, "Let Miss Xu ride for a lifetime? What a malicious vow, only big brother could think of such a thing."

‘If you don't find the silver, I'll whip you hard, and you'll be a horse for the rest of your life,’ Miss Xu thought bitterly. She couldn't guess the deeper meaning of Master Lin's words.

"Fine, then it's settled. A gentleman's word is his bond!" Miss Xu's silver teeth gritted audibly as she pronounced the word "bond" heavily.

"Miss Xu, big brother hasn't mentioned his condition for you yet." Luo Ning kindly reminded Xu Zhiqing.

Miss Xu was taken aback, ‘True, I was so angry I didn't think straight.’ She glanced at Master Lin, "Speak, what's your condition?"

"Lean in," Lin Wanrong signaled with a self-satisfied hook of his finger.

Miss Xu leaned in, only to feel that debauched man blow a breath into her ear, whispering, "My condition is simple, heh heh, it's just a touch—"

"You licentious thief, shameless—" Miss Xu felt her head explode with a bang, her face flushed red, memories of the previous night flooding back, tears welling in her eyes, as if about to fall.

"Hey, Miss Xu, you've misunderstood—" Lin Wanrong hurriedly explained, "I didn't mean that!"

Xu Zhiqing's eyes were red-rimmed, tears swirling, she suddenly turned her head away, her shoulders slightly trembling, "You don't have to say, I know your condition. Since I have already agreed to you, I'll resign myself to it. I just hope you'll do your best to help Uncle Luo recover the silver."

"Really? I haven't said it, and you understand?" Lin Wanrong opened his mouth wide, his face filled with disbelief.

"With the dirty thoughts in your heart, I know even if you don't say it." Miss Xu turned around, her eyes bright and calm, "I've agreed to you, the bet is on."

The self-righteous girl, Lin Wanrong sighed, no longer willing to explain to her. Luo Ning noticed something amiss between the two and quickly grabbed Lin Wanrong, "Big brother, what request did you make of Sister Zhiqing?"

"I asked her to take advantage of me, believe it or not?" Lin Wanrong chuckled.

Luo Ning shook his head firmly, "I don't believe it, big brother would just talk nonsense."

Lin Wanrong glanced at Xu Zhiqing, sighed, "Yes, I don't believe it myself. Uncle, where were we?"

"We were talking about the fishing net!" the boatman laughed, "The gentleman was asking me about the size of the holes!"

"Oh, right, right, Uncle, how long is the fishing net you have?" Lin Wanrong thought for a moment and asked.

"This one, the longest is more than a mile. Think about how we need hundreds of people to pull it each time, you can imagine how long it is," the boatman laughed.

"Can you make some even longer, like, several miles?" Lin Wanrong guided gently, Xu Zhiqing's brows furrowed at hearing this. Such a long fishing net—was this guy really planning to fish for silver? Stupid! Dumb!

"If we connect several nets together, one net can be made up to three or four miles long. Any longer won't work, it's hard to pull!" the boatman explained.

Lin Wanrong slapped his thigh, laughing, "Good, three or four miles long it is. Uncle, is it difficult to connect these nets together? Can you make me thirty of these long nets?"

The old boatman shook his head and smiled, "What's so hard about that? We fishermen, mending nets and connecting lines, it's the most basic craft. You want as many nets, no problem. We live off this, we can't do without it."

"Wonderful, wonderful," Lin Wanrong excitedly grabbed his hand, "Uncle, can you please hurry and get me some fishing nets, ready to use by tomorrow? I'll assign Brother Hu Bugui and his two thousand elite soldiers to assist you, what do you think?"

Seeing the official's anxious face, the boatman nodded, "This shouldn't be difficult. Let Officer Hu contact the three towns and nine villages, and we'll rush to work tonight. Tomorrow we guarantee to give you thirty long fishing nets, four miles long!"

Everyone listened to him talk for quite some time, but no one had any clue what he wanted to do with those things. Miss Xu was especially perplexed but felt a vague sense of joy. If he was unsuccessful, she wouldn't have to honor the wager and suffer his humiliation. However, if he failed, Ning'er's entire family would be executed. For a moment, she was caught between a rock and a hard place, torn between two difficult choices.

"Uncle, you mentioned earlier that you are preparing to release some fish fry into the lake. Is that true?" Lin Wanrong changed the subject, bringing the conversation back to fish after discussing the nets.

The old boatman nodded: "Yes, it's true. Every spring, we release fish. It's a joint effort between the fishermen and the government. The fries are ready, and as long as there's money, it can be done. We had already discussed this earlier and started fundraising, but unfortunately, Lord Luo's incident delayed everything."

"Don't delay it, don't delay!" Lin Wanrong said, his heart on fire. "Releasing fish in spring is vital for the livelihood of our fellow fishermen on Weishan Lake. It's an urgent matter. How can we postpone it?"

"We're more anxious than you are, Sir!" the boatman lamented. "But without money right now, there's nothing we can do."

"Uncle, how much money is needed?" Lin Wanrong asked.

The old man held up three fingers, and Lin Wanrong slapped his chest, confidently saying: "Three hundred taels? Don't worry, Uncle, I'll cover it."

The old man bowed respectfully and said, "Sir, it's three thousand taels!"

"Three—thousand—taels—" Lin Wanrong grimaced, his eyes bulging out. "Uncle, are you sure? Three thousand taels of silver is a robbery!"

"It can't be helped, this is the world we live in. Three thousand taels for three hundred thousand fish fry—this is the hope of all the fishermen on Weishan Lake," the old man sighed, his face filled with worry.

Three thousand taels for three hundred thousand fish fry? Dammit, the inflation was fierce! Although he was a wealthy man, making money was not easy for him. He thought of all the hard work spent running the restaurant and making the perfume. Three thousand taels was equivalent to fifty bottles of perfume. Wasn't life hard for him?

"Big Brother," Luo Ning gently tugged at his sleeve, her eyes filled with tears. "Are you really buying the fish fry?"

‘Why would I buy fish fry if I don't fish? It's all for your father!’ He gave her a bitter smile and nodded. "Yes, I'm buying the fish fry, becoming a fisherman on Weishan Lake. Ning'er, will you still follow me?"

Luo Ning gave a shy smile, "Big brother is so annoying! Ning'er is your wife; whatever you want to do, Ning'er will support you. Grandmother left me some jewelry before going to the capital, worth perhaps a thousand taels. I'll give it all to you, big brother, so you can do whatever you want."

This girl truly was considerate. Lin Wanrong patted her little face, chuckling, "Good girl, this time your big brother is making a big sacrifice for you. You must compensate me well tonight."

"How should I compensate you?" Luo Ning's face flushed a pale pink. She looked at him, lightly biting her lip, her eyes seeming ready to brim with tears.

Lin Wanrong pinched her charming little hip, laughing lecherously, "Tonight, we'll try a new position, and I guarantee my little Ning'er will want to try it again."

"Big brother—" Luo Ning called out shyly, unable to keep her head up.

"Uncle, I will pay the three thousand taels of silver," Lin Wanrong's face turned bright red as he pulled out the silver bills from his bosom. He carefully counted for a while, a pang of pain in his heart, "But I have one condition. You must rush back now, and gather all the fish fry and fishing nets by tomorrow morning. Then gather all the fishermen from the neighboring villages. Tell them that this Master has three thousand taels for the fish, and I need their labor for a few days. Is this deal acceptable?"

"Yes, yes," the old man excitedly knelt down. "Master, you are like a Bodhisattva descending from heaven. The old man and the folks around here are endlessly grateful."

Lin Wanrong helped him up, sighing, "Uncle, I am no Bodhisattva, and I have my selfish reasons. These three thousand taels, if they can help recover the three hundred and fifty thousand taels, I will make a huge profit. This deal is worth it. If it doesn't work out, consider it as me accumulating virtue for my father-in-law, doing one last good deed for the villagers!"

"Master, rest assured, I'll go back and notify the villagers right now. Even if we have to risk our lives, we will have the fish fry and fishing nets ready within the time you've requested. This old man can't read much and doesn't understand what private or public interests are, but one thing I know is, as long as it helps our villagers, no matter what your intentions are, they are good."

The old man gave some instructions for his boat to an assistant, then jumped onto another small boat, kowtowing respectfully to Lin Wanrong. Master Lin tried to help him up but was too late, so he let him go on his way.

Luo Yuan gave him a thumbs up, Luo Ning's face turned bright red as she clung tightly to him, softly saying, "Husband, you are the best person in the world! Ning'er will always be proud of you!"

Three thousand taels of silver, all to buy back pride; this deal was worth it for him. Lin Wanrong smiled contentedly, burying his head in Ning'er's shoulder, "Sweet Ning'er, your husband is hurt, my heart is bleeding. Hold me as we go back, let's indulge in some daytime pleasure to comfort me!"

Luo Ning covered her cheeks in embarrassment, her tender little leg lightly touching his leg, an indescribable intoxicating sensation.

"You shameless lecher." Xu Zhiqing was standing beside them, having overheard their intimate whispers. The memory of last night's encounter surged in her heart, filled with anger. Remembering his confidence in needing nets and fish fry, she didn't know how he planned to recover the silver, yet a vague premonition told her that she might lose. Was she really going to let this lecher touch her again? She feared he might get used to it!

Her face burned as she sneaked a glance at them. She saw that lecher bury his head in Ning'er's shoulder, smiling at her. That smile, eerie and strange, was unspeakably lascivious...

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