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Chapter 359 Cargo Caravan (Three-in-One)

"Where's the child?!"

As soon as Lord Xu gave a stern question, Sister Hei immediately became flustered and nervous, stammering "uh-huh" and unable to utter a complete sentence.

Xu Yuan became even more anxious because many evil spirits preferred to eat children, finding them "fresh and tender"!
Xu Yuan showed no mercy, wrapping the animal sinew rope around Blackie's neck and suspending her in mid-air, the sword pellet pointing directly at his brow: "Speak!"

Blackie was being strangled so badly her eyes rolled back.

She was pulling on the rope around her neck with both hands, but the animal sinew rope was of the fifth rank, and she had no way to resist.

Xu Yuan's expression turned cold.

The sword pellet extended and grew longer, piercing through the cowhide on Blackie's face.

Blackie hurriedly patted her back.

But she had thick arms and broad shoulders, so her hands couldn't reach her back.

The black woman's eyes revealed a pleading look, as if there was another hidden story.

Xu Yuan loosened the animal sinew rope slightly.

Blackie took a breath and managed to say, "On my back..."

Xu Yuan flew into a rage: "You dare to deceive me? You're courting death!"

"You're really on my back. Put me down first, and I'll let them out." Sister Hei hurriedly said, "If you kill me, they'll never be able to get out."

Xu Yuan was puzzled for a moment, hesitated for a moment, and then put Sister Hei on the ground.

But the animal sinew rope was still around her neck.

Blackie lay down on the ground, her body swelled, and she slowly revealed her true form.

Her size was several times larger than the previous "Big Black Bull".

It has transcended the category of "ox" and reached the level of "elephant".

Her back was broad and flat, supporting a special space.

It resembles a sedan chair, or a soft, empty bubble.

It adhered firmly to her back.

There were more than twenty children inside, some playing and frolicking, and others lying on the haystacks, drooling as they slept.

The children were shrunk to only an inch tall by some kind of "trick".

The space on the cow's back became their paradise.

This trick might not be aimed at children, but rather at those who enter that void bubble and shrink completely.

Xu Yuan's face remained icy: "You locked them up? You used the children to threaten the villagers into farming and feeding you?"

Blackie exhaled two thick streams of hot air from her nostrils.

He grunted twice, but only managed to utter two muffled words: "No!"

And then there was no further explanation.

Xu Yuan frowned, sensing that something was amiss.

"Release them first."

Blackie knelt down, her body swaying slightly.

Just like back then, the action of putting down the little master who was riding on its back was exactly the same.

One by one, the children slid out of that empty bubble.

It felt like I was sitting on an invisible slide.

The children found it extremely fun.

He started laughing and shouting.

Upon landing on the ground, each child rapidly grew to a normal size.

Big Black Ox also followed with the other oxen.

They just didn't dare to get close, and watched from a distance of more than ten feet.

When the children came out and saw their cow, they called out in their childish voices and ran over to climb onto its back.

Although these cows had already undergone some kind of transformation, they still couldn't resist lying down on the ground, letting their little master climb on top of them.

Some are too short, with short arms and legs, to climb up.

The cow will also tilt its head slightly and help him with its thick horn roots.

For children in the countryside, the back of the family's water buffalo was the safest and most comfortable place they felt during their childhood.

Two mischievous children saw Dafu behind Lord Xu.

Then they crept up to try and catch it.

Xu Yuan didn't care.

As expected, Dafu gave the two foolish and unruly children a good lesson.

In the countryside, the scariest creatures are not yellow dogs or green snakes, but geese!

The two naughty children cried loudly and were pecked all over the ground by Dafu.

Xu Yuan looked at Sister Hei again, and seemed to understand.

"You like your little master?"

Blackie didn't answer.

Not answering means not denying.

Blackie resented her master for whipping her and forcing her to work hard.

But she gets along very well with her little owner.

Even the village children can climb onto her back to play.

Sometimes, Sister Hei also wonders: Why is there such a huge difference between people before and after they grow up and become sensible?
She wanted to enslave the adults in the village, yet she was willing to pamper the children.

Xu Yuan breathed a sigh of relief that the children were safe, then stared at the wisp of air on Hei Jie's back.

This is an extremely rare and cunning technique.

I originally thought these buffaloes, including Blackie, were just a bunch of insignificant oddities.

But Sister Hei's ability raised Lord Xu's opinion of her to a whole new level.

"What should we do with these guys?"

After thinking for a moment, Lord Xu said to Sister Hei, "Alright, change back."

Blackie then exhaled two thick streams of hot air, and then her body shrank back, transforming into the appearance of a woman.

Xu Yuan asked her, "I am Xu Yuan, Inspector of the Champa Office of the Exorcism Bureau."

Blackie's big, round eyes held a clear, innocent stupidity.

She had absolutely no idea what "the Bureau of Purification," "the Inspector," or "Xu Yuan" meant.

This is just a small village by the official road, and the villagers don't usually mention the Bureau of Purification.

Xu Yuan, his face stern, shouted, "The Exorcism Bureau is a government office that specifically takes in strange people like you!"

Blackie shuddered in fright.

The main problem is that I really can't beat the person in front of me.

"Although you haven't killed anyone yet, you have still committed evil deeds. According to the laws of the Ming Dynasty, you should be sentenced to immediate execution!"

Blackie's dark eyes widened in terror, and she trembled as she touched her neck.

Execute them immediately! Cut off their necks, how painful that must be!
Xu Yuan paused for a moment, feeling that he had scared them enough, before saying, "However, you love your children. Although you have become monsters, you still have a pure heart. I cannot bear to kill you like this."

Sister Hei stared longingly at Lord Xu.

Xu Yuan continued, "I will give you a chance to redeem yourselves through meritorious service."

Blackie tilted her head and thought for a while, then tilted her head to the other side and thought for a while longer.

After repeating this four times, he finally understood and said with a disgruntled pout, "You still want us to work for free?"

Before I started using sophistry, I worked for you humans for free.

After this treacherous turn of events, I'll still have to work for you for free.

Then wouldn't I have become a white ghost?

Xu Yuan then took out a silver note, on which the "Business Law" was embodied.

"I won't let you work for free; let's make a deal. You'll transport goods for me, and I'll pay you according to the market rate each time."

"This five hundred taels of silver is a deposit from me, what do you say?"

Sister Hei stared blankly at the silver note, looking just as silly as Dafu.

"How many copper coins is five hundred taels of silver?"

Xu Yuan calculated a number based on the current exchange rate and told it to Sister Hei.

Blackie gasped in shock: "So many?"

A bowl of tea costs three coins. How many bowls of tea can you buy with five hundred taels of silver?
Blackie counted on her fingers, but still couldn't figure it out after a long time.

But I definitely know a lot!
"Okay, I agree." Sister Hei hurriedly took the silver note, afraid that Xu Yuan would change his mind.

Commercial law was reached.

His cultivation level has increased once again!
Xu Yuan smiled and said, "Go to Ghost Witch Mountain and find Old Man Bai from Wangxiang Village, or Tian Jing. They will make arrangements for you."

Sister Hei shook her head: "I don't know either of these two people."

Xu Yuan: ...

Alright, Xu Yuan made all the arrangements.

He sent a message to Jiao through a folded paper, asking Tian Jing to come out and meet these stupid oxen.

"You can wait behind those two mounds on the way here," Xu Yuan said, pointing to the two mounds on the road. "Tian Jing will come to pick you up."

"But before that, you must release everyone in the village."

Blackie agreed.

Xu Yuan added, "But you were originally the villagers' property, so if you want to leave, you must first compensate the villagers for their losses."

"Why..." Blackie cried out, then felt the rope around her neck suddenly tighten.

Blackie wisely kept quiet.

But he held the five-hundred-tael silver note tightly in his hand.

Once the money's gone, don't expect it back.

Fortunately, Lord Xu said, "I will cover this money for you first. You can pay off the debt gradually by working to pay it off later."

“It can be done!” Sister Hei nodded quickly.

As long as I don't pay directly, it's as if I didn't pay at all.

Xu Yuan waved his hand: "Alright, you can go now."

Blackie then called over a group of silly younger brothers, and they went together to the mound.

Xu Yuan estimated that Tian Jing would arrive tonight.

Then Xu Yuan went from cowshed to cowshed and released all the villagers.

The villagers cried and wailed, kneeling on the ground and kowtowing to Lord Xu.

His forehead slammed against the ground with a loud thud.

The nose ring clattered on the ground.

Xu Yuan then summoned the village headman, who compiled a list of the families who had "lost" their cattle. He then paid them with silver notes at a price of twenty taels of silver per head of cattle.

The village head waved his hands repeatedly: "How can this be? Those beasts have turned into evil spirits, it is not the adults' responsibility."

"The adults saved the lives of our entire village, how can we let them pay this money?"

Xu Yuan insisted on stuffing the silver note into his hand: "Don't worry, old man, someone else will pay for this. It's not out of my own pocket."

The village headman stubbornly refused: "No, no..."

"Grandpa, spring plowing is about to begin. Without oxen, how can the village's fields be plowed by manpower alone?"

The village head hesitated.

The village is not wealthy, and without oxen, this year's harvest will definitely be greatly reduced.

In winter, people will probably starve to death!
"This……"

Xu Yuan then stuffed the silver notes into his hand: "It really wasn't me who paid for it, old man, don't worry, the imperial court will subsidize this kind of thing."

Lord Xu told a white lie.

"Alright, on behalf of the whole village, I thank you for saving my life, sir!" The village head accepted the silver note and kowtowed three times to Xu Yuan.

Xu Yuan dodged it.

He couldn't stop him from kowtowing, but Xu Yuan couldn't bear to accept such an old man kowtowing to him. It was already late, and Xu Yuan didn't have time to continue his journey, so he stayed overnight at the village head's house.

Xu Yuan was initially worried that if the business on Guanghuo Street grew too big, delivering goods to places inside and outside the mountains would be a troublesome matter.

Although Old Man Bai is still vigorous despite his age, it would be too much for him to carry all the goods by himself if there were too many.

Now that we have this herd of cattle, the problem is easily solved.

Encountering this strange group on the way yielded unexpected gains.

After staying overnight, Xu Yuan quietly left at daybreak.

Otherwise, the villagers would again be grateful and see them off for ten miles.

The village headman urged his wife to get up early in the morning, took out a jar of white rice that the family was reluctant to eat, and took the last piece of cured meat from the roof beam. He cooked the most expensive meal that the family could afford and, together with his son and daughter-in-law, delivered it to Lord Xu.

When they opened the door, the room was empty; Lord Xu had vanished without a trace.

The village head was taken aback, and his daughter-in-law said with heartache, "This meal was cooked for nothing."

Two little heads poked out from the doorway, biting their fingers, staring longingly at the food in the earthenware pot.

The village head waved his hand and said, "Give it to the boys."

The two children cheered and ran towards their mother.

The village headman came out, gazed at the official road, and sighed softly, "Such good officials are rare indeed."

The two children wolfed down their food, saying, "Grandpa, you're both right and wrong."

The village head was in a good mood and teased his grandson, "What's right and what's wrong?"

“When the big official comes, we’ll have something delicious to eat, so Grandpa is right.”

"But that official's goose was so fierce! It pecked my face and it hurt! So what Grandpa said wasn't right either."

"Hahaha." The old man laughed loudly, then suddenly thought: Lord Xu has a goose with him? How come I didn't notice?
Dafu seems to have this ability: when he doesn't want to be noticed, he won't be noticed.

……

Xu Yuan rode his horse for an hour before stopping to rest.

He opened the letter and saw that Jiao had indeed replied.

However, Xu Yuan was given bad news: Tian Jing wouldn't be able to pick up the cattle until tonight.

Jiao tried to explain things clearly in concise language.

However, it didn't have much ink inside, so it still used up an entire page.

There's not much space left on this document.

It turns out that the battle between Ju Ya and Qiu Ningtai had finally led to trouble.

Qiu Ningtai and his group all died of illness, but the epidemic, originating from them, spread throughout Ghost Witch Mountain...

Even some of the most powerful evil spirits on Guanghuo Street have contracted this disease.

This includes Tian Jing.

As expected, this alarmed "Lord Ruan Tian," who slapped the crow in the face again, forcing it to resolve the matter quickly.

The crow, having been beaten, was seething with anger.

They dared not confront Master Ruan Tian, ​​but instead vented their anger on the evil spirits and demons.

It did cure the illness, but the medicine caused immense suffering.

Tian Jing was also tortured to the point of near death, her whole body was weak and she couldn't get up, she needed to rest for a day.

Xu Yuan snorted and shook his head.

This ravenous crow is a potential threat; if the opportunity arises in the future, we should try to eliminate it.

Another hour passed, and Xu Yuan finally arrived in Champa.

However, they were blocked at the city gate for a while.

There was a large convoy ahead of us, undergoing inspection and paying to enter the city.

Xu Yuan thought it was a large caravan.

Unexpectedly, while they were waiting at the back of the line, the window of the car in front of them suddenly opened, revealing a face that greeted them with a smile: "Lord Xu, what a coincidence!"

It turned out to be Zhu Zhanlei.

Xu Yuan laughed as well: "What, it's you? Have you spent all that thousand taels of silver from Baiyue Pavilion?"

Zhu Zhanlei's expression changed, and then he heard another deliberate cough coming from inside the carriage.

Xu Yuan recognized the voice; it was his third sister, Zhu Zhanmei.

Xu Yuan blushed as well.

Zhu Zhanmei appeared beside her younger brother and said with a smile, "Lord Xu is back too? I'm seeing my brother off to his post. He will be stationed in Champa from now on, serving as Miao Yu's deputy. I hope Lord Xu will take good care of him."

"We're all brothers, no need for any talk of taking care of each other, we just help each other out." Xu Yuan was also very polite.

Zhu Zhanmei added, "My family has already repaid the favor we owed Lord Xu. Lord Xu, please wait for good news."

Xu Yuan was puzzled. What did that mean?
But Zhu Zhanmei smiled gently, her delicate eyebrows curving like a crescent moon, and she pursed her lips, not intending to say anything more.

Some things should not be said in public.

Zhu Zhanlei extended an invitation: "Let's have dinner together when we get to the city. I'll invite my brother-in-law, and we'll have a few drinks."

"Okay," Xu Yuan agreed.

My stepmother and Aunt Wang are both in Shanhe County, so I'm all alone and have nothing to do.

After entering the city, everyone temporarily went back to their respective homes to settle down.

To be precise, Zhu Zhanlei needs to be settled.

This convoy was carrying all of his stuff.

Xu Yuan had already walked a short distance when a clear and melodious voice suddenly sounded behind him: "Lord Xu, please wait a moment."

Zhu Zhanmei caught up on a fine horse.

She was still wearing the official robes of the Mountain and River Bureau Inspector, with a jade belt cinching her slender waist.

The hem of the official robes fluttered in the wind on both sides of the saddle.

Her face was fair and her cheeks were rosy; she was both heroic and beautiful.

Xu Yuan stopped, and Zhu Zhanmei caught up with him, handing him a bundle: "I suppose Lord Xu didn't prepare one, but I happened to have prepared extra for my younger brother, so I'm giving it to you."

Xu Yuan took it with a puzzled look.

Inside the bundle was a wooden box, and inside, when opened, were several red envelopes.

Zhu Zhanmei said, "There isn't much money. There are two layers in total. The top layer contains two taels of silver in each red envelope, and there are fifty in total."

The bottom layer contains ten taels of silver in each, ten in total.

Xu Yuan hurriedly asked, "What does this mean?"

This money was clearly not a "thank you" gift from the Zhu family.

Zhu Zhanmei smiled slightly, keeping everyone in suspense: "Lord Xu will find out soon."

Then she turned her horse around, leaving behind only a series of silvery laughs: "Hehehe..."

Xu Yuan was quite puzzled, and returned to the South City patrol post with his bundle.

Today is Lang Xiaoba's turn to be on duty.

With Lord Xu absent, no one dared to assign Old Qin to guard the gate.

Old Qin was also extremely depressed, feeling that he was about to become "Uncle Qin the doorman".

When Lang Xiaoba saw the master return, he grinned and was about to go forward to lead the master's horse when a large hand reached out from behind, grabbed his shoulder and pulled him back, then passed Lang Xiaoba and went to the master first.

It is Ji Shuangqiu.

Her smile was even brighter than Lang Xiaoba's. She took the reins from Lord Xu and said in a booming voice, "Happy New Year, Your Excellency! Your subordinate wishes you a Happy New Year!"

Then, he made a show of bowing and extended a large hand to Lord Xu, waiting.

Xu Yuan suddenly understood that the red seal was for this purpose.

Xu Yuan took out two ounces and placed them in her hand.

"Hahaha!" Ji Shuangqiu was overjoyed: "Thank you, sir. I wish you a smooth and successful career this year!"

Lang Xiaoba was robbed of the first prize, but dared not speak out in anger.

He also said a few auspicious words and received a red envelope from Lord Xu.

After Xu Yuan entered the yamen, he distributed one to each of his subordinates he encountered along the way.

In the Ming Dynasty, it was customary for lower-ranking officials to give gifts to their superiors during holidays.

This way, when you take the exam, your superior will give you a "top-notch" rating.

Or perhaps there will be some opportunity that makes Shangguan think of you and recommend you.

However, the customs in the Three Offices of Strange Tales are somewhat different.

The brothers under your command are all willing to risk their lives for you, following you through thick and thin.

It's usually the superiors who give out red envelopes.

It's not much money, just for good luck.

Xu Yuan thought to himself, "The third sister of the Zhu family is very perceptive. She guessed that I have only recently become an official and probably do not know about this tradition."

Instead of reminding herself, she directly gave herself a portion of what she had prepared for her younger brother.

This also revealed the magnanimity of a scion of a prominent family.

In reality, it was only a few hundred taels of silver, which wasn't much for Lord Xu at the moment, but it greatly increased Xu Yuan's goodwill towards him.

The first tier, weighing two ounces, is for ordinary captains.

The bottom layer contains ten taels, and several are given for inspection.

Zhu Zhanmei's arrangements were very thorough, but Xu Yuan had only been sitting in the room for a short while when Shi Bading came running over, shamelessly bowing and scraping to Lord Xu, then grinning and stretching out his hand: "My lord, I'd like a reward!"

Xu Yuan laughed and scolded, "Old brother, stop joking. You're at the same level as me, what reward would I give you?"

Shi Bading shook his head repeatedly: "The appointment for the Southern Bureau should be coming down soon. My brother will soon be the Chief Lawyer, hahaha! Give him a reward!"

Xu Yuan was both amused and exasperated, having been extorted out of a ten-tael red envelope.

"Zhu Zhanlei invited me to lunch and drinks. Shall we go together?"

“Okay.” Shi Bading agreed without hesitation.

The Zhu and Miao families are both ancient and prominent clans. Without Xu Yuan leading them, Miao Yu and Zhu Zhanlei would never have looked down on him, a mere seventh-rate inspector.

……

During lunch, Xu Yuan intended to thank Zhu Zhanmei in person.

Zhu Zhanmei, however, did not come.

Zhu Zhanlei shook his head and said, "My sister probably thought it would be inconvenient for you to go to Baiyue Pavilion if she were there, so she made up an excuse not to come."

Xu Yuan cried out in protest, "When did I ever want to go?"

Zhu Zhanlei shrugged: "It's no use telling me. Go tell my sister."

Xu Yuan's eyebrows and eyes drooped.

They ate at an elegant and expensive restaurant in the northern part of the city.

It's quite far from Xieliu Lane.

Miao Yu was sullen and soon drank too much.

He put his arm around Xu Yuan's shoulder and said in a thick tongue, "Brother, you've really risen to the top! It's already spread throughout Luo City. Your appointment will be announced in a few days. From now on, we brothers will both be in charge of law. Let's join forces and dominate Zhan City!"
A real man should strive for success and make a name for himself; all sentimental matters should take a backseat!

Xu Yuan sensed something was off and winked at Zhu Zhanlei: "Is the engagement off?"

But Xu Yuan clearly remembered that when they entered the city, Zhu Zhanlei still called him "brother-in-law".

Zhu Zhanlei looked at him with exasperation: "Ignore him, he's so indecisive. As long as Mom and Dad agree, my eldest sister wouldn't listen to them, would she?"

Miao Yu was feeling down and wanted to drink again, but Xu Yuan and Zhu Zhanlei, seeing that he had already drunk too much, stopped drinking with him.

He then pulled Shi Bading to accompany him.

Shi Bading couldn't refuse.

Before long, they both developed slurred speech, but they got along so well that they wanted to chop off a chicken's head and become sworn brothers on the spot.

Zhu Zhanlei quietly told Xu Yuan, "My older sister is still lukewarm towards him..."

Miao Yu has been trying to please his older sister for the past few days, racking his brains to come up with all sorts of ways, but unfortunately, his older sister still doesn't give him a second glance.

Miao Yu was truly distressed upon returning to Champa.

Just as Xu Yuan and Zhu Zhanlei finished speaking, there were two loud thuds as Miao Yu and Shi Bading's heads slammed onto the table almost simultaneously.

Drunk.

(End of this chapter)