137

With the customs clearance documents given by Xiao Lin, returning home became a fairly easy matter. It only took a few days for the salt ship to cross the Yin River and return to the sea.

Standing at the edge of the deck, Lin Mo grabbed the side of the boat tightly and took a deep breath. The familiar smell of the sea rushed into her nose, making her heart soar.

This was her home, and just watching the rolling waves made her feel happy.

Looking at his sister who rarely showed excitement, Lin Meng hesitated for a moment and suddenly said, "After this trip, do you understand the difficulties?"

Lin Mo glanced at his brother and shook his head slightly: "The gang leader is responsible for the big things. I can only help with small things. What's so difficult about it? If I could be stronger, I could shoulder the same heavy responsibilities as you, big brother."

Lin Meng was responsible for burning down shops and creating chaos this time. He was also the last one to retreat, so he naturally shouldered a heavy responsibility.

However, this was not what he wanted to hear. Frowning, Lin Meng said, "You are just too wild. Wouldn't it be better for you to be a good lady and enjoy life?"

This made Lin Mo's expression darken. After a while, he said, "How can you have a good ending if you put your life in someone else's hands? If something goes wrong, it will be difficult to die."

She thought of the delicate and tender little girl, and the figure hanging on the beam, swaying slightly. From that day on, she made up her mind to kill the bandits with her own hands like the gang leader, rather than being tortured to death by them.

This trip to Tingzhou had its unexpected aspects and some frightening moments for her, but after actually going through it, what bothered her most was that there was so little she could do.

Lin Meng suddenly shut his mouth. He had also heard the cries coming from the women's camp, and he knew even better what would happen to the powerless women if they fell into the hands of thieves.

But protecting his sister is his duty as an older brother. How can he bear to see her in danger?

Originally, Lin Meng thought that this dangerous mission would allow Lin Mo to calm down and stop having wild thoughts. Unexpectedly, she was not afraid at all, and her mind became even more determined.

This person must want to emulate the gang leader, but can everyone learn to be as talented as the gang leader?

Knowing that he couldn't persuade the person anymore, Lin Meng said no more.

When I return to the island and see my mother, I should tell her about A'mo's marriage. After the marriage, he will change his temper, right?

Lin Mo didn't know what his brother was thinking, but returning home was his top priority.

Once they reached the sea, they could hoist the flag of the Red Flag Gang. No one near Panyu was not afraid of this flag. However, contrary to Lin Mo's expectations, the salt ship did not return to Luoling Island first, but to the camp in Dongning.

It had been a long time since he had returned to the camp. When the boat stopped at the dock, Lin Mo couldn't help but show a look of surprise.

Although there have been significant changes on the island, how could a city appear out of nowhere?

Today's Dongning Camp does have the feeling of a city. The originally narrow dock has been widened several times, the roads leading to the shore have been renovated and are very flat, and the city walls in the distance are taller and more solid. There is no trace of the simple appearance of tents all over the ground in the past.

Seeing her shocked expression, Cheng Xi smiled slightly: "Why, can't you recognize her?"

Lin Mo couldn't help but nod her head repeatedly, but before she could rack her brains to come up with a few words of praise, she saw a figure running towards her.

"Master, you're back!" He Ling almost rushed over to Cheng Xi when she saw him. Her face flushed red with excitement as she asked repeatedly, "Did the trip go smoothly? Are you hurt?"

Looking at the little girl who had transformed into a mother hen, Cheng Xi couldn't help but laugh: "I'm fine, right? Naturally, it's done right away."

This was said in a joking manner, but He Ling took it seriously and almost had stars in her eyes.

Cheng Xi smiled and pushed Lin Mo over: "A-Mo has also made a lot of contributions this time, let her tell you about it."

He Ling and Lin Mo have an extraordinary relationship. Strictly speaking, they can be considered to be from the same school. Now that he sees his good friend again, he is naturally happy.

Lin Mo hadn't seen He Ling for a long time. If he had seen her before, he might have envied the change in her demeanor. But now, he could just stand there with a smile, accepting the change in her without being humble or arrogant.

Looking at the two girls who were both exhausted and slender, Cheng Xi smiled and walked straight ahead without disturbing the pair of best friends who were reminiscing about the past.

Ahead, a wooden wheelchair was parked on the dock. A man in a green shirt was sitting in the wheelchair with a stern expression, his hands tightly gripping the handrails.

Seeing that person, Cheng Xi smiled and said, "Danhui, I'm sorry to have worried you. This trip will be fine."

Only at this moment did Tian Yu breathe a sigh of relief. All his tension and anxiety were overwhelmed by a moment of joy.

Just now, that damn girl He Ling ran too fast, and he didn't even have time to open his mouth to stop her.

Fortunately, the shouts of joy helped to relax his tense nerves. He quickly straightened his expression and raised his chin slightly. "The leader is so capable, why would I worry? Where's that old man named Fang? Didn't he come back with us?"

The second half of the sentence was filled with resentment. Cheng Xi laughed: "Mr. Fang is going to attack Tingzhou with the Suoyi Gang, how can he come back with me?"

Tian Yu's face immediately fell: "I said we shouldn't let him find out so much inside information. If he sides with those straw raincoat thieves, won't it cause trouble for us?"

That old man not only wanted to help others, he also wanted me to marry him with the Red Flag Gang.

However, this old complaint was not suitable to be vented casually, so Cheng Xi said: "Although Mr. Fang is not coming, he promised to help me find some talented people. Maybe they can be useful."

Tian Yu didn't believe that old man Fang Tianxi could find anyone useful. He said he would recruit talented people from all walks of life, but how talented could those who couldn't even pass the imperial examination be?

Seeing that he was about to complain, Cheng Xi suddenly coughed lightly and said, "We encountered some unexpected events when we went to Tingzhou this time. We ran into the ghost scholar from the Changjing Gang."

Tian Yu suddenly became nervous: "How did we run into him? Could it be that the Long Whale Gang is planning to make plans in Tingzhou?"

Although he was a tax official, Tian Yu had some knowledge of the pirates at sea, and he knew how terrifying the wanted criminals like the Ghost Scholar were.

Even General Qiu's plan back then failed to stop this group of thieves. I heard that it was the ghost scholar who was giving advice behind the scenes. This is not an enemy that can be dealt with easily!

"He went to Tingzhou to help the Ye family eliminate the Qingfeng Gang. He was probably afraid that we would ally with them. But fortunately, we foiled his evil plan..." Cheng Xi simply recounted the incident and sighed, "It's a pity that I couldn't kill him with my own hands."

Cheng Xi's description was very simple, but Tian Yu's palms were sweating as he listened.

This guy is too bold. He actually goes into battle himself. If something goes wrong, all of us will be wiped out in Tingzhou. Doesn't that old guy Fang Tianxi care about the life of his leader?

However, even so, when Tian Yu heard that the ghost scholar had escaped, he couldn't help but agree: "What a pity!"

If Ning Fu were killed, it would really solve a big worry. But now, there is a possibility that he will be targeted by the other party, which is really a trouble.

Upon thinking of this, Tian Yu immediately said, "Since they don't want us to form an alliance with the Qingfeng Gang, we must act immediately! It's summer now, and the Changjing Gang's ships can't come yet. It's hard to say what will happen in autumn!"

This was also what Cheng Xi thought, but she smiled and shook her head: "We must form an alliance, but we can't be the one to take the initiative. Without the support of the Lu family, the Ye family will probably fight to the death with the Qingfeng Gang. At this time, Shen Feng will no longer be so arrogant."

She had already sent people to inform the Qingfeng Gang, ostensibly to alert the Changjing Gang that they were planning to attack them, but in fact to point out what had happened in Tingzhou.

Shen Feng probably reacted as soon as the news of Tingzhou got out. An opportunist like him would definitely come over to express his gratitude and discuss how to join forces to resist the enemy.

Only in this way can he put aside his desire to take advantage of her and cooperate with her properly.

Although he wasn't familiar with the Qingfeng Gang's style, Tian Yu felt relieved by Cheng Xi's confidence and immediately asked, "Did you close the deal?"

"Of course it's done." Cheng Xi raised the corner of his lips, "Xiao has promised to provide us with at least 2,000 dan and up to 4,000 dan of grain every year. In the future, all the 'Western goods' we make can be shipped to Tingzhou for sale.

We've also reached an agreement to trade sea salt for artillery, and we'll be doing it in Chaozhou. I can't guarantee the quality of the artillery, but it's still cheaper than getting it elsewhere."

Tian Yu was inevitably surprised by these words. It was not difficult to exchange artillery with the Suoyi Gang, but it was rare for the Xiao family to be willing to buy so much grain. In this way, even if the food supply to Hepu was completely cut off, they would not encounter a food shortage. This would be of great help.

Tian Yu also became a little happy. He said: "As long as the food supply can be guaranteed, everything will be fine."

True to the temperament of a tax official, Cheng Xi asked, "How are the repairs to those workshops going now?"

When Cheng Xi mentioned this, Tian Yu raised his chin slightly again: "The workshop has been repaired and will be operational soon. But these are not important. The Tang family, who previously saved a thousand taels of silver, has sent several invitations to invite Sun Erlang and me to a banquet. I'm afraid they have set their sights on the cement workshop."

Cheng Xi raised her eyebrows: "Someone is interested so soon?"

This was really beyond her expectations. It seemed that there were many smart people everywhere.

Tian Yu snorted coldly: "Businessmen chase profits like flies to stench. Naturally, they would be tempted by a business like the cement workshop."

It's good that she's moved. Cheng Xi chuckled and said, "Since she's so eager to meet him, let's meet her."

After such a long period of intrigue and life-and-death struggle, it's time to change your mind and relax.

This kind of market with an unbalanced supply and demand ratio is a great opportunity to make a killing.