Republic of China: Guandong Ginseng King

Chapter 38: Inn Changes Ownership
If those officers and soldiers wanted to catch traitors or fugitives, then Shui Laowu's identity would definitely be exposed and he would be in danger.

But to say that they are bandits or gangs is pure lies, someone is just deliberately framing them.

There is no need to even think about it, this person must be Qi Tiande.

That kid suffered a great loss at the hands of Shui Laowu, and he must be unwilling to accept it. He knew that he couldn't deal with Shui Laowu openly, so he did bad things behind his back.

"Master, we can't stay in the inn tonight. Let's find a place to hide first."

Qi Tiande is full of bad intentions. Who knows what tricks he can play while hiding in the dark?

It's not safe for the two of them to stay in the inn, and it's easy for Manager Lin to be implicated, so it's better for them to hide away first.

Shui Laowu thought about it and realized that it was true. What if there was someone hiding in the dark, waiting for them to come back and catch him?

"Okay, let's go out and hide. Ruolan, I'll go find the second and first innkeepers tomorrow and ask them to help sell the inn as soon as possible.

Mr. Qi must be unwilling to accept the fact that he failed to catch me after reporting me to the police, and he might do something bad.

Be careful these days and try not to go out."

"Okay, I understand. Don't worry." Shopkeeper Lin nodded.

The master and his disciple did not stay in the inn for long. They climbed over the wall and found a place to spend the night.

Anyway, it’s summer and I’m not afraid of the cold, so I can always make do with it.

The next morning, Shui Laowu took Qu Shaoyang to find Li Yongfu, the second clerk.

When Li Yongfu, the second keeper, heard that the government wanted to arrest the water crow, he felt a little overwhelmed.

“I don’t have the ability to do this.

How about this, I'll take you to see my brother-in-law, he's well-connected in Andong City, and people from all walks of life have to give him some face."

In this way, Li Yongfu took Shui Laowu and Qu Shaoyang to the house of Qian Xiucheng, the chief cabinet manager.

He used the money from his woodworking business to build a large cabinet and owned a courtyard house in the best location in Andong City.

The house may not be decorated with carved beams and painted rafters, but it exudes an air of wealth everywhere.

The doors and windows of the house are made of the finest wood and are intricately carved, looking simple and elegant.

The room was very spacious, with a red-painted floor. A huge floor clock stood against the north wall, and various porcelain and lacquerware were placed on the treasure cabinet against the side wall.

There was also a chaise longue in the room, made of fine ash wood and covered with a satin embroidered cushion.

Qian Xiucheng was sitting on a recliner, and after listening to Li Yongfu's explanation of his purpose, he couldn't help but laugh.

"Shui Laowu, Shui Laowu, you have been so cold-hearted and cold-faced over the years, and you have stayed away from women. I thought you were going to become a monk.

As a result, if you are not tempted, it's fine, but if you are tempted, you will make a big fuss. Do you think you are really crazy?"

When Qian Xiucheng talks about "the house is exploded", he usually means that one has committed a crime by relying on others or accomplices. Most of the time, the man in the family of the person who relied on him is fed up and goes back on his word.

In this situation, most gang members will step in and pay to redeem the person.

Shui Laowu was teased by Dagui and his face turned red with embarrassment.

"Master, I don't have any other ideas. I just thought that Master has a wide network of contacts in Andong City. Can you help me sell Tonghe Inn?"

Qian Xiucheng smiled and patted his thigh, "Okay, this is easy.

Not to mention anything else, just for the help you, Shui Laowu, have given me in the mountain and water fields over the years, I will definitely help you.

Okay, Yongfu, take them to your home and stay there for two days, and wait for my news."

In this way, Li Yongfu took Shui Laowu and Qu Shaoyang back to his home. Two days later, the cabinet sent back a message saying that they had smoothed the relationship with the government and withdrawn the arrest of Shui Laowu.

At the same time, Qian Xiucheng also found a buyer who was willing to pay two thousand taels of silver to buy Tonghe Inn.

Logically speaking, Tonghe Inn is quite large and its business is booming, so the houses alone should be worth more than two thousand taels.

But Lin Ruolan wanted to leave Anton City, so it would be great if someone could take over in such a hurry, and there was nothing she could do even if the price was low.

After some bargaining, the two sides finally settled on a price of two thousand two hundred taels. They found a middleman to write the paperwork, and then went to the government to exchange it for a formal red deed. Thus, the Tonghe Inn changed its owner.

The news of the change of ownership of Tonghe Inn quickly spread to all the businessmen in Andong City.

Qi Tiande, who had been hiding in his relative's house, also learned the news. He was so angry that he jumped up and down.

"Uncle, you have to help me with this.

That bitch sold the shop, took the money and ran off with her lover. I didn't get a penny. What should I do next?
The people in your county government are all useless. They can't even catch anyone even if they are asked to do so.

If we had caught that wild man and chopped him off earlier, I wonder where that bitch would have gone without anyone to rely on. "

"Oh my nephew, do you really think your uncle is so powerful? I am just a small clerk, I don't have much power.

You said you wanted to arrest someone, and I also thought of a way to help you. The county government sent people there in the middle of the night, but they didn’t catch anyone, right?
Because of this, I was scolded by the county magistrate. "

Qi Tiande's uncle also looked depressed. How could it be easy for him to be a clerk in the government office? And he had such a nephew who was always causing trouble for him.

"The county magistrate has spoken about this matter, saying that the people living in the Tonghe Inn are all gangsters, and there are no bandits or gangsters, so I should be more careful in my future actions.

Nephew, if I help you again, my future will be ruined."

"No, I can't just watch that woman run away with the money and a wild man. She can't take a penny of this money. It's all mine."

Qi Tiande was so angry that he gritted his teeth and came out of his cousin's house mumbling, trying to think of another way.

Tonghe Inn is operating well and the handover between the two parties was also smooth.

Lin Ruolan packed up the gold, silver and valuables she had saved over the past few years, as well as the proceeds from the sale of the shop, and planned to leave with Shui Laowu, taking the money and valuables with her.

Originally, Shui Laowu wanted to wait for the other guys to go back together so that he would have some company on the road.

But Cui Fugui and others hadn't had enough fun and were unwilling to go back so early, and Wang Changliang's body had not fully recovered yet, so it was not suitable for him to travel.

So after Shui Laowu discussed with everyone, he and Qu Shaoyang left first, waiting to meet everyone in the mountains at the end of September.

When going from Andong to Changbai Mountain, you usually take the small path along the river. Some places are rugged and difficult to walk on with rocks and trees, and people can barely pass through, but vehicles and horses cannot.

But Lin Ruolan had brought a lot of things with her, and it was impossible for three people to carry them that far, including the backpacks.

So, Shui Laowu found a way to get a mule cart, and the three of them drove the mules back along the road.

Although this is a longer route, it is much easier with a mule cart as a means of transportation.

The next day after leaving Andong City, they passed a mountain on the way. As soon as they entered the forest, Qu Shaoyang felt something was wrong.

"Master, be careful, something seems to be wrong in this forest."

Qu Shaoyang couldn't tell what was wrong, he just felt that the forest was too quiet.

At dusk, there was not even a bird singing in such a large forest. It was obviously abnormal.

Shui Laowu also noticed it, so he gave the reins to Qu Shaoyang and asked him to drive the carriage.

Shui Laowu jumped out of the car and grasped the handle of the short knife at his waist with his right hand.

(End of this chapter)