novelhk Chapter 234 No trouble
Chapter 234 No trouble
Zhang Lao's eyes were red as he was about to rush out, but he was pulled back by Li Lao and Wang Lao. "Why are you so anxious? There are important people in the manor now. If you rush in like this, Manager Cai will never let you go."
"Why don't we wait a little longer? After the noble leaves, we can go and ask for mercy from Manager Cai. We can just say that it was your kid who bumped into us and kowtowed a few times."
Zhang Lao's tears immediately welled up, and he said in a hoarse voice:
"I can't wait any longer. Manager Cai gave me instructions in advance, but I got possessed and decided to let this kid go and try to save everyone's life. Now, how could Manager Cai let him go?"
"Don't worry," Zhong Ning placed the bowl of water on the small stone table, stood up and said soothingly, "My guard is quite capable. Let him go to the farm first to see if your boy has been detained. If so, just rescue him."
After hearing this, Mr. Zhang felt inexplicably guilty. In fact, this was exactly what he had in mind just now, but he didn't dare to say it out loud.
When he saw Zhong Ning and his group, he felt that they had a large number of people and would be able to rescue his son from the imperial farm.
He was very worried because his son had not been heard from for two hours since morning, but he also knew that he was old and weak and could not enter the manor, let alone offend Manager Cai.
Only then did he start to think about Zhong Ning and his group.
But now that the other party took the initiative to speak, Zhang Lao felt a little guilty. He knelt down with a plop and kowtowed, saying: "Thank you, benefactor, thank you, benefactor..."
Zhong Ning turned sideways and signaled Feng Xin to help him up, but Mr. Zhang seemed to be welded to the ground, crying and refusing to get up:
"I'm sorry, benefactor. I was just acting. I was incompetent and couldn't save the child, so I put on an act for you..."
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry... wuwuwu..."
Old Zhang knelt on the ground and kowtowed desperately. The other two old men turned their heads away, unable to bear to watch any longer.
Zhong Ning also sighed, and then said: "I know everything. I am willing to be used. Please get up quickly... If you don't get up, your grandson will not take care of you..."
Zhang Lao was sobbing. After hearing this, he staggered to his feet and looked at Zhong Ning with tearful eyes. "I'm sorry for causing you trouble..."
"No trouble, Feng Xin..." Zhong Ning said, "Go and have a look at the one called..."
"Zhang Xiaoshuan!" Old Zhang added.
"Yes, let's go and see if Zhang Xiaoshuan has been locked up. See where he is being held and whether we can rescue him..." Zhong Ning said.
Feng Xin clasped his fists and saluted: "I'll go right away!"
Zhong Ning felt a little uncomfortable when she saw Mr. Zhang with a guilty look on his face, but she came here today not for family matters, but mainly to see the specific situation.
"Mr. Zhang, it will take some time for my guard to come back. Why don't you take me around the village?"
"This..." Old Zhang frowned slightly. It was not that he didn't want to take people to the village, but most of the people in the village were xenophobic, and there were many veterans who had retired from the battlefield, most of whom were missing limbs. He was worried that his benefactor would be frightened again if he saw them.
"Is there anything wrong with that, Mr. Zhang?" Zhong Ning noticed his hesitation and asked directly. Mr. Zhang pursed his lips, thought for a moment, and finally said, "There are some disabled people in the village, so they are a bit xenophobic."
"Why is he disabled? Was he born with it?"
"No, they retired from the battlefield in their early years... They are old now... Some of their children are not around." Old Zhang explained.
"I see. They are all national heroes, and we should respect them. So, let's just take a look around and take in the general environment. Don't worry, we will never offend any heroes."
Hearing Zhong Ning say this, Mr. Zhang and his companions felt relieved.
He then stood up and walked out slowly, with Zhong Ning following closely behind him. However, he saw that there were very few blue brick houses in the village, only two or three, and most of the others were unfinished earthen houses.
"I wonder whose house that is?" Zhong Ning asked.
Li Lao explained, "That's the family of Manager Cai's favorite concubine. Three years ago, he forced Wang Huzi's daughter into marriage and then gave her thirty taels of silver. Only then did Wang Huzi's family have the money to build a house."
"Oh... Then how is this Manager Cai managing the farm?"
"As for him, we haven't seen him often in the past two years. Usually it's his son who comes to the village and bullies the boys and girls. He takes away any girl he likes, regardless of whether the girl is willing or not..." Old Li sneered.
Then he was interrupted by the other two: "These words should be kept among yourselves, don't say them outside!"
Zhong Ning was silent for a moment and turned his gaze towards the location of the village. He saw that the village was built on the mountain, and the mountains were mostly lush forests. If used well, it would be a benefit.
"Your village is at the foot of a mountain, so you should be able to pick some mountain products and sell them in the city anytime..." Zhong Ning said, then turned and asked, "You live off the mountain, so you can at least make some money. How can you not have enough to eat?"
"Miss Zhong...you can't say that. The mountain our village is leaning against is called Floating Cloud Mountain, and it's next to Futu Mountain outside the capital..."
"This mountain also belongs to the royal family, but Manager Cai said that ordinary villagers are not allowed to go up the mountain. Only his trusted associates can go up the mountain. Those fruit trees can only be planted by his relatives. If anyone else dares to go up the mountain rashly, it will cost their lives..."
Old Zhang said with a bitter face, "A few days ago, our family was really struggling, so my grandson and a group of other kids went up the mountain to pick some local produce. They were seen by Wang Erse's family, who reported them to Manager Cai. That same day, all of those kids were punished by being forced to kneel for a whole day and night..."
"The Li family kid injured his leg because of this, and it took him a long time to recover... My kid was exposed to a cold wind all night and had a fever for three days. He barely survived..."
As they spoke, their faces became even more bitter!
Zhong Ning was so angry that his heart ached. Manager Cai, you are so great! You really think you are the local emperor.
Zhong Ning took a deep breath and asked, "There are three stewards in the manor. Steward Cai is the chief steward, and there are two deputy stewards under him. When these things happened, didn't those two react?"
Zhang Lao replied, "Manager Cai's family has been managers of the Imperial Manor for three generations, and they have long regarded the manor as their own private property."
"Those two deputy stewards are his relatives. They share the same fate. How could they care about the lives of ordinary people like us?"
Zhong Ning:......
This thing is hereditary!
But it is true. I think Manager Cai’s ancestors must have been extremely loyal to the royal family, which is why they enjoyed such treatment.
But after three generations, that loyalty had long since disappeared.
All we can hold in our hands now is wealth and glory.
Thinking of this, Zhong Ning immediately said goodbye, "Three uncles, we have come here and we are leaving now. It is not easy for us to come here, so I will also go to meet old friends."
"Didn't you say you were just passing by..." Mr. Zhang asked blankly.