Chapter 364: The Four Little Ones Making a Commotion
Translator: c.o.keZero Editor: Rainystars
Lu Jiao’s heartstrings were touched by his teasing, and when she turned her head, she saw Xie Yunjin’s eyes were fixed on her as they burned with desire.
Although Lu Jiao was a military doctor and had an outgoing personality, she actually had no experience with intimate contact with men. Seeing Xie Yunjin’s intense gaze, she felt a bit at a loss and took a while before she softly said, “Alright, then I’ll call you Yunjin from now on.”
“Ok.”
The two continued walking along the secret pa.s.sage and unexpectedly came across another fork in the road.
By carefully observing, Xie Yunjin once again determined which one was the normal pa.s.sage and not a trap-filled one.
To be honest, the fact that they were able to walk smoothly through the secret pa.s.sage was thanks to the bandits who originally dug it. Being bandits, they had made the pa.s.sage rough and hadn’t refined it. Anyone with a bit of refinement could easily find the correct path.
After walking in the secret pa.s.sage for a while, Lu Jiao and Xie Yunjin finally found a large warehouse filled with a considerable amount of salt.
Upon seeing the salt, Xie Yunjin’s expression turned dark. “I didn’t expect that even in a small county like Qinghe, there are people smuggling private salt. Most likely, these are the private reserves of the four major families. I wonder if they are all involved, or if it’s just the doing of one of them.”
Lu Jiao looked at the piles of private salt and said, “No wonder salt is so expensive in Qinghe County. It seems that it’s controlled by the merchants. Although Qinghe County is small and poor, when I went shopping before, I noticed that basic condiments like oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar were particularly expensive.”
Initially, she thought those items were naturally expensive, but now it seemed that they were being monopolized by the merchants of Qinghe County, which explained their exorbitant prices and the wealth of the local merchants.
With a grim expression, Xie Yunjin said, “Once we capture the Yang and Peng, we will crack down on the illegal practices of the profiteering merchants and stabilize the prices. We must rectify the lawlessness in Qinghe County.” Lu Jiao nodded in agreement. The two continued talking as they walked along the path, convinced that the secret pa.s.sage must have an exit. They couldn’t keep going without finding an exit. Xie Yunjin and Lu Jiao made markings at each exit they pa.s.sed to ensure they wouldn’t backtrack.
After going through all that trouble, the two finally emerged from the secret pa.s.sage as the day was nearing dusk.
“We finally made it out,” Xie Yunjin said, but as soon as the words left his mouth, footsteps could be heard from the outside. Someone opened the door and rushed in.
Xie Yunjin and Lu Jiao quickly turned around and saw that it was Zhao Lingfeng and the guards he had brought.
Seeing Xie Yunjin and Lu Jiao, they excitedly exclaimed, “Are you both okay?”
After Zhao Lingfeng finished speaking, without paying attention to Xie Yunjin, he rushed to Lu Jiao and said excitedly, “Lady Lu, it’s so great that you’re okay!
Do you know how worried I was?”
Lu Jiao was moved for a rare moment, but then Zhao Lingfeng continued speaking.
“If something happened to you, what would happen to our collaboration of the three workshops? I would be in big trouble.”
Lu Jiao looked at Zhao Lingfeng with a dark expression, realizing that his concern was because of the potential loss to the three businesses.
On the side, Xie Yunjin had already come over and reached out to hold Lu Jiao’s hand.
Now Lu Jiao is officially his wife, and he has the right to display their relationship.
Unfortunately, Zhao Lingfeng was too excited at the moment and completely ignored Xie Yunjin’s actions.
After his excitement subsided, Zhao Lingfeng turned around and ordered the guards behind him, “Immediately inform Magistrate Hu, Commander Xu, and the others. Let them know that Scholar Xie and Lady Lu have been found and they are safe.”
The guards quickly went to deliver the message, and soon, Magistrate Hu, Commander Xu, Officer Zhao, Cla.s.smate Han, and the others received the news and hurried over.
Several members of the Xie family also rushed over.
As soon as Xie Yunjin and Lu Jiao saw them, they asked with concern about the situation of their two children.
“How are the Second Born and Han Nanfeng?”
Ruan Kai quickly reported, “Earlier, I personally sent them back to the Xie residence and handed them over to Steward Lu. Don’t worry, they should be fine now.’
Xie Yunjin and Lu Jiao weren’t completely rea.s.sured. The Second Born must have told the others about their disappearance, and those kids were unpredictable. They must go back immediately.
“Let’s go back to Qinghe County first. We’ll talk later.”
Magistrate Hu and the others agreed, and everyone descended the mountain, boarding carriages or riding horses, they headed straight for the Xie residence in Qinghe County.
The Xie residence was in chaos at this time. The First, Third, and Fourth Borns knew that their parents were missing and became frantic, insisting on going out to find them.
Lu Gui and the servants from the mansion tried to stop them, but the four little ones, despite their small size, were extremely stubborn and caused a commotion. Lu Gui and Feng Zhi, among others, were left feeling dizzy and overwhelmed.
Neighboring Lady Lu, Grandfather Liu, and Grandmother Liu rushed over to persuade the little ones, but it was of no use.
The four kids refused to eat or drink, firmly determined to go out and find their parents.
In the end, Lu Gui surrendered and decided to take them to Black Wind Mountain to find Xie Yunjin and Lu Jiao.
Not to mention the four little ones, even if he thought about the possibility of something happening to his sister, he was deeply saddened.
Thinking of the deep affection their mother had for Lu Jiao, if she knew about this, who knows what might happen?
Lu Gui was both heartbroken and distressed, wishing he could replace his sister and bear this suffering.
“Uncle, please take us to find our parents. Our dad and mom will be fine. They are strong and won’t be harmed.”
“Yes, they will be fine. Our dad and mom are very capable. No one can harm them.”
Seeing their pitiful appearance, Lu Gui felt even more sorrowful. Oh heavens, what will happen to these four little ones if something happens to his sister and brother-in-law?
As Lu Gui was grieving, Uncle Wen rushed over, shouting, “Stop causing a commotion! The Master and Madam have returned, they have returned!”
Lu Gui, the four little ones, and everyone in the courtyard turned their heads and indeed saw a group of people walk grandly through the gate of the Xie residence. Leading them were Xie Yunjin and Lu Jiao.
Although the two of them didn’t look too good, it was evident that they were alive.
Now everyone was overjoyed, and the four little ones ran to Xie Yunjin and Lu Jiao, hugging their legs and bursting into tears.
Only at this moment did they truly cry out, knowing that their father and mother were safe. This was really wonderful, they were safe.
Xie Yunjin and Lu Jiao crouched down and embraced the two children. Then, they comforted them.
“Don’t be sad, didn’t father and mother come back? We are fine.
“Yes, we are fine.. We are strong, who can harm us?”