Finest Servant

Chapter 385

Chapter 385 Found It

"What are you doing?" Miss Xu fiercely pushed him away, her pretty face blushing a charming pink, her eyes filled with a faint anger, glaring at him.

Lin Wanrong, in his triumph, was caught off guard by her push and almost fell into the water. Fortunately, Luo Yuan's quick reaction saved him. Seeing Xu Zhiqing's face filled with anger, Luo Ning quickly explained, "Sister Xu, big brother didn't do it on purpose. He was just too excited and forgot himself for a moment. Please don't blame him."

"Yes, yes, Miss Xu, please don't misunderstand. I simply couldn't help myself." Lin Wanrong chuckled, smacking his lips, the lingering fragrance still present on his lips. He recalled the soft, warm, and delicate touch of her just moments ago, thinking that this Miss Xu really was captivating.

Xu Zhiqing, embarrassed, turned her head away, gritting her teeth, "Shameless person, I can't be bothered to talk to you."

Luo Ning also glared at her big brother, seeing his joyful expression, and quickly changed the subject, "Big brother, what did you just say? Have you found the silver?"

"Of course." Gazing at the bustling scene before him, Master Lin's face was radiant, his earlier dejected mood swept away. He waved at Luo Yuan, "Little Luo, see that big circle? Have our men place buoys within this span of a few yards."

Luo Yuan was immediately excited, loudly asking, "Big brother, do you mean the silver is right beneath this dragon gate?"

Lin Wanrong nodded with a smile, "Eight or nine times out of ten, that's the case."

Luo Yuan joyfully accepted the command, and dozens of small boats rushed over, surrounding the large circle formed by the leaping fish, placing buoys. The fish flopping and landing on the boats created a peculiar sight. As the fishing nets drew closer, more and more fish gathered around the circle, jumping higher and higher, as if constructing a shimmering dragon gate on the lake surface. The onlookers were stunned, some of the devout even falling to their knees, shouting, "The fish leap through the dragon gate, the Dragon reveals his spirit!"

"You say the silver is beneath this dragon gate?" Miss Xu finally couldn't help but ask, the corner of her mouth lifting in a faint smile.

"What, Miss Xu, do you have a different opinion? Look, this is the fish leaping through the dragon gate, a sight rarely seen in a thousand years!" Master Lin looked enthusiastic.

Xu Zhiqing's face turned utterly serious, "Lin San, don't blame me for not warning you. Do you know how much space three hundred and fifty thousand taels of silver takes up?"

"I know, I know, of course, I know." Lin Wanrong chuckled, "A truckload can carry it away. I know this better than you."

"Then you're so confident?" Seeing Lin Wanrong's full confidence, Miss Xu couldn't help but become puzzled, wondering if she was wrong in her doubts. And what was this 'truck' thing he was talking about?

"I don't have a hundred percent certainty, but there's an eighty percent chance." Lin Wanrong smiled slightly, "Miss Xu, I admire your patience and attention to detail, but don't be too rigid in your thinking. Connect all the information together. Three hundred and fifty thousand taels of silver don't take up much space. How would you bury it in the lake to be safe? Forty boats to transport the silver, don't you think the target is too big? Use your brain, use it more!"

Master Lin slapped his temple lightly, looking smug, which angered Miss Xu enough to snort, no longer wanting to talk to him, pondering his words in her heart instead.

Upon Luo Yuan and his men completely lowering the buoy, Lin Wanrong waved his hand, and the hundreds of skilled underwater divers who had already gathered rowed over in small boats. Lin Wanrong was in high spirits; he gleefully ripped off his long robe, leaving only his tight-fitting clothes, exposing his robust upper body. Miss Xu, startled, exclaimed, "Ah!" and quickly turned her head away, angrily asking, "What are you doing?"

"What else can I be doing? I'm going swimming in the lake," Lin Wanrong replied, rubbing his arms a few times to get the blood flowing, and said with great enthusiasm.

Although Luo Ning knew that it was quite inappropriate for her husband to undress in broad daylight, especially in front of Miss Xu, she understood his excitement. Blushing slightly, she took Lin Wanrong's arm and said softly, "Big brother, you're going into the lake too? With so many skilled swimmers here, let them handle it!"

Lin Wanrong laughed and patted her little hand, "Don't worry, Ning'er. You should know that I'm known as 'Two Guns on Land, A Dragon in the Water.' It's not an undeserved reputation. Wait here, and I'll be back soon."

The hundreds of skilled divers were assembled, and although it was early spring and somewhat chilly, these were fishermen from Weishan Lake, well-accustomed to the water and strong of body. The weather was no issue to them. Seeing their superior undress and preparing to dive with them, they were even more excited.

Lin Wanrong assessed the position of the buoys and arranged the hundreds of men in a large circle around them. With a wave of his hand, they all leapt in together, sending ripples across the surface of the water, which quickly returned to calm.

Seeing her big brother go underwater, Luo Ning waited anxiously, biting her silver teeth and whispering, "Why isn't big brother coming up? It's killing me!"

Once Lin Wanrong had entered the water, Miss Xu returned to normal and laughed, "Ning'er, you're too anxious. He just went down; he can't come back up so quickly. Don't worry, his thick skin won't let him freeze."

Luo Ning's face turned red, and she took Miss Xu's hand, complaining, "Sister Zhiqing, you're making fun of me too. I'm worried that big brother won't find the silver, and it makes me feel bad."

Miss Xu sighed softly, "I also predicted that he might be wrong. But he spoke with such confidence that it made me hesitate. Could the silver really be buried here?"

Luo Yuan chimed in, "Miss Xu, I believe my big brother. Otherwise, why would he come up with a strategy to fish for silver, only to create a spectacle of fish leaping through the dragon's gate?" Luo Ning nodded in agreement, apparently not understanding the trick. Miss Xu thought for a long time, watching countless small boats drifting in the distance, her eyes brightened, her face turned a shade redder, and she murmured, "Am I really going to lose? This shameless guy, he had it planned all along!"

Seeing the puzzled looks on Luo Yuan and his sister, Miss Xu couldn't help but lower her head, shyly saying, "I didn't understand the reasoning behind the fish leaping through the dragon's gate either. But seeing all that he's done, along with his hints, I think I've guessed some of it. Luo Yuan, tell me, how much space would three hundred and fifty thousand taels of silver take up if it were on land?"

Luo Yuan thought carefully, smiling, "I've never seen so much silver, but since those thieves transported dozens of boats, it would naturally take up the space of dozens of boats."

Miss Xu shook her head gently, "Space for several dozen ships? That's what you naturally think. But according to the specific gravity of pure silver, three hundred and fifty thousand taels of silver, if cast into one piece, would roughly take up an area the size of three Luo Yuans standing together."

Luo Ning spoke up, "Sister Zhiqing, you can't calculate it that way. This silver was all cast into ingots, taking up at least twice as much space, if not more. If placed together, the length, width, and height should each be about ten feet."

"So Ning'er has also studied this." Miss Xu lightly tapped Ning'er's nose, "Little Ning'er is really smart. What you said is right; this official silver should be about ten feet cubed. But why would they use forty ships to transport ten feet cubed of silver? Don't you find that strange?"

This question was one that her big brother had asked earlier, and it had genuinely puzzled Miss Luo. Ning'er laughed, "Sister Zhiqing, you are becoming more and more like big brother, always liking to pose riddles."

"Why mention him out of the blue?" Miss Xu's face flushed, as if with rouge, "We're discussing our own matters, and yet you can't forget him for a moment. The thieves using forty ships to transport the silver, could it all be a bluff? I don't think so. Transporting silver with forty ships would be too conspicuous and easily detected. They have no need to take that risk."

"Yes," Luo Ning frowned, snorting, "Big brother must know, but he just won't tell us. It's infuriating!"

He's never far from her thoughts, the shameless man. Was this what it was like to be married? Miss Xu was slightly taken aback for a moment, and then she heard Luo Ning whisper in her ear, "Sister Xu, what is the reason? Tell Ning'er quickly."

"If you don't mention that hateful man again, I'll tell you," Miss Xu said with a smile.

Luo Ning giggled, lightly covering her mouth, "Sister says not to mention him, but she keeps talking about him herself. You're really putting Ning'er in a difficult spot."

This girl had a sharp tongue, becoming more and more like that shameless person. Xu Zhiqing's face warmed slightly, and she asked, "Ning'er, if you were the thief, and you hid the silver in Weishan Lake, only taking up a ten-foot cube, would you feel at ease?"

Luo Yuan, who had been listening for a long time, finally found a chance to jump in, "Not at ease, definitely not at ease. That's three hundred and fifty thousand taels of silver! If it were washed away by the water, it would all be gone. If you ask me, it would be best to pile the silver into a small hill and bury it. That would be reassuring."

"Luo Yuan is absolutely right," Xu Zhiqing praised with a smile, "It must be buried as a small hill, standing firmly in the water. That's the only way it would be safe. If I'm not mistaken, those forty ships, they're not just for transporting the silver. I'm afraid something else was also filled inside."

Fill? Luo Ning clapped her hands, excitedly saying, "That's it, that's it! What big brother said earlier must mean this. By increasing the size and height of the silver, it can resist the impact of the water flow, making it safer and more reassuring. Sister Zhiqing, you are so smart!"

‘That shameless man is much smarter than me,’ Miss Xu shook her head and laughed, "Forty boats carrying silver, if my predictions are right, the silver must have been supplemented with large quantities of tin or copper blocks. This way, the space occupied under the water would be larger, ensuring stability. If estimated, the length and width must be around fifty to sixty feet square, and the height about twenty feet, perfectly matching the area of 'Fish Leaping over Dragon Gate.' Lin San released three hundred thousand fish fry to increase the density of fish in these waters. By casting nets to catch the fish from all sides, they forced the fish fry to approach the lake center. The young fish hurriedly swam from all directions and met the mountain of silver, momentarily blocked and unable to pass. Those in deeper waters had to squeeze into shallower waters, and those in shallow water had to jump up. The higher the fish density, the more crowded this place became. Driven to the wall, even rabbits will bite, so when crowded to a certain degree, with pursuers from behind and the path forward completely blocked, the phenomenon of 'Fish Leaping over Dragon Gate,' which is rarely seen in a century, was artificially created."

Luo Yuan uttered a long "Oh," laughing, "Big brother is really talented to think of such a method. I admire him greatly. But wait – something's not right." He seemed to remember something and continued, "Big brother mentioned that the fishing nets were weighted with tin, which won't sink to the lake's bottom. Why didn't the fish fry swim through the bottom of the nets?"

Xu Zhiqing nodded, "Little Yuan is right; this is what confuses me too. But in practice, very few fry escape the nets. That's quite strange."

The boatman rowing beside them burst into laughter, "Young Master, two Young Ladies, you must never have fished before. If you are correct, we would never catch any fish in Weishan Lake. No fishing net can completely sink to the bottom; wouldn’t all the fish run away?"

Miss Xu's face turned red, and she humbly asked, "Boatman, can you explain how this works to us?"

The boatman smiled, "The principle is quite simple. We, common folks, have a saying called 'the alert cat, the dazed fish!' A cat's eyes change three times a day, sometimes big, sometimes small, but they see clearly day or night – this is the alert cat."

"What does 'the dazed fish' mean?" Luo Yuan asked.

"The dazed fish is the opposite of the alert cat. Different fish live in different waters; some in deep, some in shallow. Sea fish mostly live in deep waters, but those in Weishan Lake mostly prefer shallow, with a few in deep. When you cast a net, those accustomed to shallow waters seldom dive deeper; they swim forward and right into the net holes. Because they don’t adapt, we can catch them. This is the dazed fish. Today, when three hundred thousand fish fry were released all at once, the lake became crowded. Some fish fry swam to deeper waters but were uncomfortable, so they hurriedly squeezed up, another reason for the group of fish leaping out of the water."

Luo Yuan realized, "The alert cat, the dazed fish – so that's what it means, quite dazed indeed! Seeing big brother eat, drink, play, and fool around without reading much, where does he get all this knowledge?"

"How do you know big brother doesn't read?" Luo Ning huffed, defending her own husband, "In my opinion, big brother has profound insights, enabling him to plan ahead everywhere."

Miss Xu remained silent for a moment, then sighed, "It seems I have been viewing the world from a narrow perspective. I thought that having learned so much from books, I knew everything, but I was actually far from the truth. Truly useful knowledge is accumulated through life experience, and on this point, I am indeed not equal to Lin San."

She and Lin San were two distinct individuals; one was a theoretician, and the other a pragmatist. After several confrontations with neither side gaining the upper hand, such a sentiment was not surprising.

The three were talking when suddenly, bubbles erupted on the distant lake surface, and one after another, heads emerged. These were the hundred or so strong men who had gone underwater earlier, their faces flushed red, panting heavily, water dripping from their hair.

"Where's big brother?" Luo Ning searched for a while but didn't see Lin Wanrong's figure. Growing anxious, she suddenly felt a gentle tremor beneath the small boat, and she let out a sharp scream.

Miss Xu, quick-eyed and nimble-footed, extended her small foot, and her embroidered shoe stepped on a pair of large hands gripping the gunwale and rocking it stealthily. She stomped down hard twice, and scolded delicately, "You shameless scoundrel, show yourself at once."

"Ouch!" Lin Wanrong's cry of pain came from under the boat. "Miss Xu, are you playing for real?!"

"Big brother?!" Luo Ning screamed in surprise, bending down to see Lin Wanrong gripping the bottom of the boat, grinning at her.

"You naughty thing!" Luo Ning uttered tenderly, stretching out her little hand to pull him up. Luo Yuan hurried over to help, while Miss Xu turned her head away, giggling. ‘Serves you right, you shameless man, now you taste your own medicine!’

Lin Wanrong clambered onto the boat, taking several deep breaths. Luo Ning quickly handed him a bowl of steaming ginger soup. Watching him gulp it down, she finally relaxed.

"Big brother, how did it go? Did you find the silver?" Luo Yuan, ever impatient, immediately asked once Lin Wanrong had caught his breath.

Lin Wanrong glanced at Miss Xu seemingly unintentionally, his eyes narrowing as he grinned, "Miss Xu, you stomped on me several times just now; it was on purpose, wasn't it? Heh heh, are you hoping I found the silver or not?"

Xu Zhiqing's heart fluttered, and she didn't dare to answer. Luo Ning snapped, "Big brother, what are you talking about? Sister Xu came all this way to help us find the silver, didn't she?"

"Is that so? Oh, I forgot." Lin Wanrong shook his head and laughed. Then his face turned serious, and he said solemnly, "I'm sorry, Ning'er—"

"What?" Xu Zhiqing screamed, almost unable to believe her ears. Was this shameless man's confidence before going underwater all a lie? How could he do this?

Luo Ning's joyful face turned as pale as snow, her large teardrops rolling in her eyes. She bravely bit her cherry lips and gently caressed Lin Wanrong's cheek, softly saying, "Big brother, it's alright. Don't blame yourself. It's Ning'er's fate to be your wife. I'm content with that and don't care about anything else."

Lin Wanrong sighed deeply, holding her soft body in his arms, biting her ear and saying, "I'm sorry, Ning'er, I tried my best, but I only recovered—three hundred and fifty thousand taels!!!"

"What?" Both women froze simultaneously, glancing at each other before pouncing on him like mad, raining down blows like a storm, crying out, "I'll beat you—"

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