Miao Chu

Chapter 210 Care
Mafeisan (麻沸散) has calming, analgesic, and sleep-inducing effects.

Xiang Lin hadn't figured out a solution yet. His head was spinning, and he leaned back and fell asleep.

The surroundings were very noisy at this time. The sounds of boats coming and going on the river, shouting and hauling in nets, and the sounds of whistles and retreats being passed from the riverbank were constant.

But the inspector, despite being in such an environment, did not find it noisy at all; on the contrary, he found it extremely pleasant to listen to.

He even made a comparison—even the famous opera troupe that was invited to perform for his mother's birthday last time was nowhere near as good as the lively sounds on the river today!

This is a great achievement!

No matter how many twists and turns we encountered, as long as we finally captured Lü Mao, it wouldn't have been a wasted effort.

He took a few steps forward and walked to the riverbank. He watched as the fishing lights twinkled and darted across the river, reflecting on the water like maple leaves, a patchwork of red and yellow. Suddenly, a poetic inspiration struck him, and he exclaimed, "River maple and fishing lights! They say that reading ten thousand books is not as good as traveling ten thousand miles, and it is indeed true—I never imagined that the fishing lights in Huazhou would not only create a scene of maple leaves, but also catch such a big fish!"

As he spoke, he turned to Han Li, who was standing to the side, and said, "Brother Han, when you proposed to block the river and temporarily requisition all the boats in the city, I thought it was a bit of an overreaction. But now it seems that it was a precautionary measure, and I was the one who was a bit presumptuous!"

He added, "This also serves as a reminder for me to reflect on my actions and to avoid being arbitrary and capricious in the future."

Han Li followed and walked forward, looking at the fishing boats coming and going on the river. After a moment, he said, "For ordinary thieves, such actions are obviously making a mountain out of a molehill and only wasting manpower. No wonder you don't think it's a good idea, sir. The reason I'm making this suggestion today is because someone close to me has already suffered a great loss."

The inspector couldn't help but ask more questions.

Han Li then briefly mentioned Xin Feng's situation, and added, "That man was a veteran inspector who had always been the first to risk his life in everything he did. He was also very experienced, but he never expected to run into Lü Mao and be caught off guard."

“He used himself as an example, which I saw with my own eyes. If we don’t take more precautions, I’m afraid that if he finds out, he will treat me with disdain in the future.”

This inspector had risen through the ranks from the bottom up. Hearing such a story, he couldn't help but ask a few more questions. After learning how Xin Feng searched and found the person, and how Lü Mao escaped by jumping off the boat into the river, he couldn't help but sigh, "He's a capable man, but it's a pity that the criminal escaped. Although everyone knows that he was implicated and suffered the most, if his superiors don't give him face, he probably still won't escape punishment."

He sighed again, "If Lü Mao had been caught earlier during his river patrol, he might have been able to redeem himself. Now, although it's a good thing for Huazhou to gain merit, what about him? Alas!"

Han Li said, "We've finally caught the person. Now that we've caught him, although it's not good to break the rules, we have more room to maneuver."

The inspector was taken aback upon hearing this. He swallowed the words that were on the tip of his tongue, couldn't help but chuckle to himself, and then sighed.

He naturally knew how hard the lowest-ranking inspectors and officials worked.

However, what a person sees will vary depending on their position.

The superior of the patrol inspector is naturally the military patrol commissioner, but this guy named Xin Feng has only been a patrol inspector in the capital prefectural government for decades, which already says a lot.

The biggest problem is that this person definitely has no backing.

Although the military inspector can help to some extent, within his authority, he can only try to make the punishment as lenient as possible. If he wants to completely let the matter go, he would have to exert great effort and make a big show of it.

Why should we send out and use a patrol inspector who is not from our own faction and is of little importance?

They can't even keep an eye on their own trusted confidants!
If you give away benefits to outsiders so easily, what will happen when your own people need them?
You can't just turn your elbow outwards, can you?
To be fair, even if I were in the position of a military inspector, at most I could only offer some consolation and send someone to visit and offer a little more money, but that would be all I could do.

But seeing that the student in front of him seemed to think that Xin Feng was saved now that Lü Mao had been caught, he naturally wouldn't say such a thing.

Although he is capable, he is still too young!
After he hits a few more walls in the future, he'll realize just how difficult it is to be an official and a person. Why bother attacking him now?
***
The matter here was settled, and people were arranged to help clean up and finish up. The rest of the people finished their work and left. Just as they were about to leave, two yamen runners hurriedly came in from outside.

The two men first sought out their superior, who then sought out another superior, and soon they found the patrol inspector.

"What?! Even Dr. Zhang said there's no hope?!"

The person who answered dared not speak loudly, but also dared not speak softly; their voice was so low it seemed to slip through a crack and disappear into the ground.

"Yes...yes...we invited Dr. Zhang and the head doctor of Shun'an Hall over in the middle of the night. Master Feng's lips were sore from talking, and he said he would do anything to save him—but both doctors said that once the throat is cut, even a god can't save him. Right now, he can't breathe and can't speak, so we can only stuff cotton into his throat for now."

"After Dr. Zhang gave him acupuncture, Shun'an Hall brought out all the old ginseng stored in the clinic, but they could only buy him half an hour to make his last arrangements—and he might not even last that long, because people can leave just like that."

The inspector's expression immediately changed, and he asked, "Did that merchant come here alone? Does he have any family with him?"

"I have a son, an adopted son, some men under my command, and an old steward. Everyone else has been called. Only my biological son was just kidnapped by that thief. Master Feng sent us to inquire whether he has been rescued and whether we can take him back now."

At a time like this, who would stand in the way?

Before long, everyone arrived in front of Xiang Lin.

When the inspector saw that the child's face was covered with white cloths, he was startled and quickly called the doctor to ask him what was wrong.

The doctor said, "That thief was too ruthless. The child was frightened and lost two fingers, his right ear, and his face—he will most likely have scars in the future, but his life is not in danger, and it is fine to move him."

Upon receiving this message, someone quickly called a carriage and had a doctor stay by their side. They were then sent back together with Xiang Lin.

The others stayed behind, and as they were all sighing, they heard someone whisper, "Don't be so sorry for them—it was that merchant who knocked on the door today. Old Chen and Lian Shun were in front, and they both said they saw him winking at the thief."

"The thief hadn't noticed the ambush outside yet. As soon as he gave the signal, the other side ran away."

"No way? Could you be seeing things?"

"Old Chen's eyesight! He could see the black mole on your butt even if you were bathing in the river from half a street away. You're saying he was wrong? Besides, there's Lian Shun too! Was he wrong too?"

"Nonsense! You're the one whose ass was being looked at!"

"Just tell me, do you have any moles on your butt?"

"No! No! It's my waist!"

"Oh, a waist that's split in two! And it's quite fat!"

The constable, with his two fat lobes, became enraged and retorted, "Whether it's true or not, what does it have to do with this case! Oh my! Old Chen's mouth! How can it be so big!"

He quickly steered the conversation back on track, saying, "What do you think he's after? If he hadn't given us a heads-up, he might have caught us right there in the house. Now we're all going through all this trouble!"

"It's a lot of trouble for you and me, but it's costing him his life! His son was also ruined by that thief!"

"Could you be seeing things?"

"Won't the thief find out during the first trial?"

The crowd discussed among themselves, some expressing regret and pity, but when they learned that it was most likely Xiang Yuan who had tipped them off, they changed their tune, each saying that if it was true, then he deserved it, and that the child was pitiful.

While everyone was pitying the child, the child, Xiang Lin, was fast asleep.

He was drooling when he was suddenly nudged several times. He was actually awake, but unwilling and afraid to open his eyes, until he heard a familiar voice. "Young Master, wake up!"

Xiang Lin glanced at the visitor furtively and, recognizing a familiar face, slowly sat up and asked, "Why is it you? Where's Uncle Sheng? Call him over!"

The man opposite, who was usually timid and submissive, wore a very complicated expression this time, saying, "Young Master, Steward Sheng is with the Master and can't leave for the time being..."

"I won't get off the carriage until he comes!"

Before he could speak, the servant hurriedly said, "Master can't hit anyone right now. He just has some things to tell the young master—get up quickly, or it might be too late."

Xiang Lin already had a guilty conscience. Upon hearing this, he was both worried that he was being tricked into getting beaten and afraid that something really would happen. In the end, he dragged himself off the carriage.

He was practically dragged towards the backyard. Before long, he passed through two gates and then through the side gate that had been smashed open, and somehow ended up back by the plum blossom stake.

The training ground, especially around the plum blossom stakes, was almost full of people, with countless torches and lanterns illuminating the area as if it were daytime.

Xiang Lin was initially taking two steps at a time, but when he reached the front and saw a familiar figure standing there, his anger flared up instantly. He strode forward and shouted, "Liang Yan, what are you doing here?!"

Liang Yan looked up at him, wiping his face haphazardly with his sleeve as he looked—his eyes were unusually red and swollen, and he was currently crying, with two streams of snot that he couldn't wipe away.

Xiang Lin was extremely disgusted and cursed, "Snotty brat!"

Just as he was about to start cursing again, he heard someone shout, "Quickly bring the young master over here!"

People immediately came up and half-pushed him to a recliner.

In the chaos, Xiang Lin nearly twisted his ankle. Furious, he turned to glare at the servant, but was pulled away and pressed to the ground, with the words, "Young Master, kneel down!"

Xiang Lin was stunned. He stared intently and realized that the recliner was surrounded by people, some of whom he knew and some of whom he didn't. And there was a person lying on it.

The man was pale, with only a very short stubble of beard and a scar on his chin. His eyes were closed, his head was turned to the side, and he was covered from neck to toe with a thick blanket. At this moment, a clear gurgling sound was coming from his throat, which was covered tightly.

Xiang Lin looked at him several times before realizing that this was his father, who had suddenly lost his beard. Seeing him lying in the chair, he felt strange, but a surge of grievance welled up inside him. He rushed forward and cried, "Father!! That man surnamed Rui..."

Before he could finish speaking, the steward grabbed him.

The steward shouted loudly into Xiang Yuan's ear, "Master, the young master is here!"

Xiang Yuan slowly opened his eyes, as if it had taken a lot of effort.

He pointed at Liang Yan, then at Xiang Lin.

Liang Yan wiped away his tears, took a few steps forward, and knelt down beside the recliner.

Xiang Yuan slightly raised his hand.

The steward then lifted Liang Yan and Xiang Lin's hands together and placed them on Xiang Yuan's body.

Xiang Yuan tried his best to hold the hands of his adopted son and his son together, and then looked at the person in charge.

The person in charge brought out a piece of paper. The paper was messy, full of words that didn't form sentences. Some of the words were even missing characters, so you couldn't make anything out of it on your own.

"The young master didn't have time to return just now. We, along with Master Feng and Master Mao from the Huazhou government office, and the officials, witnessed the incident. The master said that after he leaves, the eldest and youngest sons don't need to carry the coffin back to their hometown. They can find a security escort agency to escort them. They also don't need to observe the long mourning period. After observing the first seven days, the two of you can take your luggage and go to the capital."

"Master has already asked someone to find the Nanlu Academy, and also asked someone to find a suitable martial arts school. Once the two young masters arrive in the capital, the younger young master will study diligently at the academy, while the young master Yan will temporarily stay at the home of Manager Zhu Liangfu..."

He explained all the arrangements in detail, and then talked about the industry.

The Zhu family's shops will remain under the temporary management of their respective managers, while the land and other assets will be managed by the two elders of the Xiang family, and so on.

After finishing speaking, he looked at Xiang Yuan and asked, "Master, is that what you mean? If so, nod; if not, shake your head!"

Xiang Yuan nodded slowly but firmly.

His eyes were almost unfocused at this point, but he still tried his best to lift his head and look at Liang Yan first. He couldn't actually speak, but he repeatedly mouthed the words "take care of each other, Liang Lin" to make sure they were clear.

Liang Yan nodded, fighting back tears, and said, "Uncle Xiang, don't worry, Xiang Lin and I will definitely look after each other!"

After looking at Liang Yan, Xiang Yuan looked at Xiang Lin. This time, he struggled to squeeze out a few words from his throat.

"Son... don't go astray, study..."

The sound was drafty and almost inaudible; it was quite frightening.

Xiang Lin sobbed uncontrollably, crying, "I don't want to! Father! I don't want to study! I don't want to go to the capital! Don't die!!"

Xiang Yuan didn't react. Instead, he rolled his eyes and finally looked at the person in charge, opening his mouth and mouthing, "Rui... Fu... Sheng..."

The steward understood his meaning and quickly said, "A message just came from outside that the man has been caught!"

Xiang Yuan kept his eyes open, opened his mouth, exerted force with his hands, and kicked with his feet, and then remained motionless for a long time.

The entire room held its breath and waited for half a day, but there was no further response. Only then did a doctor rush forward to examine and palpate the patient.

The two doctors gave their results almost simultaneously.

"went."

"The person is gone."

Before the two finished speaking, Liang Yan and Xiang Lin had already started crying one after the other. The former was sobbing and weeping, while the latter was wailing. While crying, he forcefully pulled his hands out of Liang Yan's and Xiang Yuan's hands, desperately calling for his father, but his eyes were glaring fiercely at Liang Yan opposite him, his eyes full of hatred.

The person in charge stood aside, and seeing Xiang Lin's appearance, he understood everything perfectly.

In the past, Xiang Yuan almost always talked about changing Liang Yan's surname, moving him into the family genealogy, and giving him half of the family property.

However, in today's distribution of money and property, this so-called adopted son was not mentioned at all, as if he had been completely forgotten.

At this point, death is like a lamp going out. Without a father, who can keep Xiang Lin, the only son of Chengzong, in check?
The so-called division of property naturally came to nothing.

I just don't know if the young master will actually appreciate all the elaborate arrangements the master has made.

I'm afraid they won't just not care, but will also overturn it!
(End of this chapter)