Jiapingguan Chronicle

Chapter 2613 Atonement for Crimes 76.0
"You and your father don't believe in the Qinglian Sect, right?" Shen Cha looked at Boss Luan. "Although you have a close relationship with Master Falian, you are not so-called believers, right?"

"In response to the General, that is indeed not the case." Boss Luan paused for a moment, then continued, "To be precise, all those who partner with him in business or trade are non-believers, such as me, the Liu family, and the Ning family. His purpose in approaching us is very simple: to make money. We just need to help him make money. As for those vague and illusory things, he will arrange for other people to handle them."

"The Qinglian Sect has no connection with you?"

“Absolutely not.” Boss Luan nodded and held up two fingers. “We both know of each other’s existence, but we never meet, just like these two fingers, we never intersect.”

"They're trying to lure the powerful, wealthy, and influential people in the area into the Green Lotus Cult. If you don't meet them, how can you prevent them from recruiting you?"

“Each of our shops has a specific mark, whether it’s the door plaque or the banner. It’s unique and different from other shops. They can tell at a glance that this is another group of our own people, so they won’t come in to harass us. But we can’t rule out the possibility that they might overlook it occasionally, and we have other ways to deal with it. However, we have never encountered this kind of thing.”

Do you know those people's specific markings?

“I know some of it, and I’ve written it all down.” Boss Luan looked at Shen Cha. “If the General needs it, I can write it down.”

“When you’re feeling better, write down everything you know. Write down as much as you know, and leave the rest as you don’t.” Shen Cha thought for a moment. “If your father intentionally approached Ciji Hall, then the first person you met should have been the Empress Dowager, and the first person you served should have been the Empress Dowager, right? It was only after the Empress Dowager passed away that you had frequent contact with Master Falian?”

“No, even earlier. As I mentioned before, our family owed Master Falian a favor because of my brother and me. Favors are the hardest to repay, so there was no way to avoid getting deeper and deeper into this mess.” Boss Luan spread his hands helplessly. “Initially, my father intentionally approached Ciji Hall and got to know the Empress Dowager. Later, because of the Empress Dowager’s promotion, he had the opportunity to get to know him. After getting to know him, it was just a casual acquaintance, without any particularly deep friendship. Over time, we could sit down for tea and chat. My father said that it took about three years of contact before we gradually became familiar with each other and eventually became friends.”

"and after?"

"Then my brother and I were born, carrying the family's illness, especially my brother, who was sickly for over twenty years, living a life worse than death. Later, my father mentioned it to Master Falian, and that's how what happened next occurred. Although my brother's condition was too severe, Master Falian's medicine could only barely keep him alive, not cure him, but at least he wasn't suffering so much anymore. My father and my brothers were very grateful to him, and because of this, our family went from being just business partners to Master Falian's right-hand men, and then gradually evolved into what we are today." He sighed heavily, "It's not that we didn't know he had problems, that what he did wasn't good, but we couldn't get out of it, and neither could the Liu and Ning families."

"The Ning family is a prominent clan in Chaozhou. They have no shortage of money or fame. Why would they associate with you?"

"He's not with us, he's with the Empress Dowager. The Ning family can be summed up in one word: greed. They're not content with their small place; they want to expand to a bigger area. But the laws of the Great Xia Dynasty explicitly forbid aristocratic families from taking the imperial examinations. So, Ning Changguo went through all sorts of twists and turns to obtain the identity of a commoner to participate in the examinations. Whether the Empress Dowager helped them during this process, nobody knows. Moreover, the Ning family isn't just greedy for fame and fortune; they're also greedy for money. The Forget-Me-Not Powder deal, on the surface, looks like I was in charge, but actually, I didn't get much of it." Boss Luan looked at Shen Haolin, Shen Cha, Xue Ruitian, and then at Jin Miaomiao, and said, "The lion's share went to Master Falian, the second to the Ning family, and then to me."

"Why the Ning family?" "Because they own the docks and the Wang family's ships. I'm not entirely sure how they split the profits with the Wang family, but I do know that the Luan and Liu families didn't even get a fraction of the money the Ning family received." Boss Luan sighed. "You should have found the account books by now, right?"

"Ledgers?" Shen Cha raised an eyebrow. "We've found all the ones we could, but they seem a little different from what you described."

“It’s not in my possession, it belongs to the Ning family.” Boss Luan sighed. “The wife of Ning Changguo, that is, the young lady from the Wang family, took two children with her when she left. The little boy took a scroll of nautical charts, which contained account books.” He looked at Shen Haolin and Shen Cha. “That nautical chart was written by the Ning family. Duke Shen and the General can go and persuade the Ning family. I know you’ve arrested them, but they’re not that tough. A few beatings will make them confess.”

"What's recorded in the ledger?"

"I'm not entirely clear on the specifics, but there are detailed records of many shops under the names of the Empress Dowager and Master Falian, as well as their income and expenditure, and shops that sell the Forget-Me-Not Powder. In addition, there are some other names, but I haven't seen the chart to see exactly how they were recorded, so I'm not very clear about it."

"You didn't handle it?"

“I am only responsible for the delivery. Master Falian sends someone to deliver this to me, and I personally deliver it to the Ning family. The Ning family records it, puts it in a paper tube and seals it with red clay. Then the head of the Ning family gives it to me, and I deliver it to Master Falian’s special envoy. Only when this cycle is complete.” Boss Luan sighed softly and said, “One volume per year. At the end of the year, this volume will be sent to the island where Master Falian is located, where he will personally seal it.”

One volume per year?

"Yes!" Boss Luan nodded. "The Ning family boy took this year's ones. If you want to find the ones from before, you'll have to wait until you catch Master Falian."

"It seems you can't wait to grab him."

"Like I said, I've already repaid all the favors I owed. After doing so much, he still wants my life, so I have no choice but to retaliate." Boss Luan chuckled. "Also, I'll take this opportunity to avenge my father."

"Your father?" Shen Cha was taken aback. "What happened to your father? Didn't he die of illness?"

"It looks like he died of illness, but in reality," Boss Luan sneered, "just like my father-in-law, he was silenced."