A daily intelligence report; in chaotic times and famine years, grain is plentiful.

Shannan Town.

Wang family.

Wang Laoqi was pacing back and forth in the courtyard, looking worried, and occasionally glancing up at the gate.

"Master, the eldest young master is back!"

Before long, the butler rushed in and shouted loudly.

Upon hearing this, Wang Laoqi suddenly stopped and turned to look at the door.

Two servants led Wang Mang in slowly.

At this time, Wang Mang was disheveled and had been imprisoned for several days, but he did not look disheveled at all. Instead, he smiled and pulled his father in front of him.

"Father! I'm back!"

Wang Mang pushed aside the servants in front of him, swaggered into the courtyard, sat down in a chair, and picked up the tea from the table.

"Bring me the wine, I've been craving it for days."

Wang Mang shouted.

Seeing his son's nonchalant attitude, Wang Laoqi was furious and wanted to slap him, but he held back in the end.

"You idiot, do you know how much money your family spent to get you out of jail?"

Wang Laoqi scolded.

Wang Mang put down his teacup, wiped his mouth, and said nonchalantly, "Father, why are you in such a hurry? I guessed long ago that the government troops would release them. Our Wang family still has some influence in the town, and General Zhao won't break ties with us."

"face?"

Wang Laoqi was so angry he was panting heavily.

"You think that Lieutenant General Zhao is easy to talk to? To ransom you, I gave away all my family's ancestral treasures, plus a lot of money and grain. I've worked for nothing all year!"

Wang Laoqi walked to the stone table and slammed his hand on the surface.

"It's just a little money and provisions, isn't it?"

Wang Mang waved his hand, still appearing completely unconcerned.

"Father, don't worry, I'll go to Lingtou Village in a few days and get all the grain and money back from those scoundrels!"

He patted his chest, looking confident.

Wang Laoqi was furious at his wasteful behavior.

His son was spoiled from a young age and had no idea how hard it was to earn money.

"Do you think those villagers are still the pushovers they used to be? Now that Chen Mo is leading the way, they're sticking together for warmth, and they're not as easy to manipulate as before."

Wang Laoqi said with a serious expression.

In the past few days, he sent people to the village to find out the situation and learned that the villagers had almost all united.

If the Wang family were to make another move rashly, it might provoke public outrage.

The only solution now is to disband these so-called villagers.

"Chen Mo?"

Wang Mang sneered, a hint of smugness appearing on his face.

"Father, there's no need to worry. That kid is doomed this time. The fire at Black Wind Ridge burned down all the fields they cultivated. Now that they have no crops, they won't be able to gather enough grain to pay their taxes before winter. He'll be in big trouble then!"

Because of this incident, even though he was detained by the government troops for several days, Wang Mang was not unhappy at all.

"I don't think this is that simple. The fire just started, and you were arrested by the government troops. What a coincidence!"

Wang Laoqi's expression was solemn, and his brows were furrowed.

These past few days, he's been thinking about this incident repeatedly, and the more he thinks about it, the more something seems off.

Moreover, according to reports from informants outside the village, quite a few villagers have been going up the mountain with tools these days.

Since the ground is already on fire, why would they go up there?

The smugness on Wang Mang's face gradually disappeared as he recalled the events of that night.

"I was also puzzled. The fire had just been lit, and before we could even leave, we were surrounded by the government troops' cavalry."

"how long?"

Wang Laoqi pressed for an answer.

"Not even an incense stick's time..."

Wang Mang replied that he himself couldn't figure it out either.

Hearing these words, Wang Laoqi's expression grew even more solemn.

"Something's not right. Black Wind Ridge is so remote, why would the government troops be patrolling at that particular time?"

"Who knows? Maybe General Zhao had nothing better to do and let it take a stroll in the mountains."

Wang Mang said nonchalantly, while eating peanuts and drinking a little wine.

"Did you see the fields burned to the ground with your own eyes?"

Wang Laoqi stared at his son, his eyes full of suspicion.

"Of course. I was afraid of making a mistake, so I went there myself and watched it all burn before I left. There were at least a hundred acres of land, and not a single seedling was left."

Wang Mang assured him.

Are you sure you've gone to the right place?

"Definitely, Zhang Yan took me there."

"Zhang Yan?"

"It was him. I threatened him with his son, and they didn't dare to play any tricks. I also saw that it was indeed Mai Tian."

Wang Mang said.

"Wheat fields? Wheat fields in the mountains?"

The more Wang Laoqi listened, the more uneasy he felt, and his heart grew increasingly uneasy.

"You've probably fallen into Chen Mo's trap. That kid is ruthless; he's not so easy for you to outsmart."

After these days of fighting with Chen Mo, Wang Laoqi no longer dared to underestimate Chen Mo.

"Father, you're overthinking it. Even if he has incredible abilities, it's impossible for him to clear land and start farming again in just two months."

Wang Mang remained relaxed and asked, "I heard that General Zhao is planning to return the grain requisition duties to us. Is that true?"

Wang Laoqi said, "Commander Zhao said that if Chen Mo can't gather enough grain, then the task will be handed over to us."

"He definitely can't do that."

Wang Mang stood up excitedly.

"Don't get carried away," Wang Laoqi scolded. "You better behave yourself during this time. Also, have someone keep a close eye on Chen Mo."

Wang Mang curled his lip, not taking his father's words to heart at all, but he didn't openly refute them either, only replying perfunctorily, "I know, Father, I'll keep an eye on those lowly people."

"Brother Mang! You're finally back! I've missed you so much!"

Just then, a sweet, delicate voice came from behind.

Wang Mang turned around and saw Lin Qingxue swaying her waist as she walked quickly towards him.

With a broad smile, she threw herself into Wang Mang's arms and pressed herself tightly against him.

Wang Mang wrapped his arm around her waist, a frivolous smile on his face, and teased, "You missed me but didn't come to visit. Your ex-husband, Chen Mo, got me locked up in jail for days. I'll teach you a lesson tonight..."

"Brother Mang, you're so mean..." Lin Qingxue said coquettishly, giving Wang Mang a light tap on the head. "Why are you talking about that good-for-nothing?"

Looking at the beauty in his arms, Wang Mang had been holding back for several days. If his father hadn't been there, he almost wouldn't have been able to resist.

Wang Laoqi, standing to the side, frowned as he looked at his son, unsure of what to say.

His spendthrift son has such a promiscuous woman by his side. She doesn't do anything productive and just causes trouble everywhere.

Moreover, Wang Mang had repeatedly provoked Chen Mo because of this woman, which caused him a lot of trouble.

"Go back to your rooms," Wang Laoqi said impatiently, waving his hand and adding, "Remember what I said, don't do anything reckless again."

"Okay, Dad!"

Wang Mang put his arm around Lin Qingxue, then got up and left.

He chatted and laughed with Lin Qingxue, completely ignoring Wang Laoqi's instructions.

Wang Laoqi watched their retreating figures, shook his head helplessly, and looked on with worry in his eyes.

He definitely couldn't handle Chen Mo with just his spendthrift son.

It seems it's time for him to take action himself.