Chapter 38: Chicken and Egg
Jiang Shouyi's voice and expression were stern, and his words were like ice knives, piercing directly into the Jinyun Temple.
Jin Yunci shuddered with fear, waved his hands hurriedly, and said in a hurry:
"Sir, everything I say is true, and I have witnesses to prove it."
He clapped his hands, and the shop owner and his subordinate came forward together.
He slowly recounted the events of the day in a clear and organized manner.
Jiang Shouyi's heart seemed to be disturbed by an invisible hand, and he was full of doubts.
But considering Lin Xiyan's past, he was unwilling to believe such "evidence" and said in a deep voice:
"Master Jin, I will investigate this matter myself. You'd better not play tricks. If you dare to deceive me, I will not let you off easily."
After saying this, he put the booklet into his arms, strode out of the government office, jumped on his horse, and rushed towards the camp as if he was eager to go home.
On the way back to the camp, Jiang Shouyi was full of confusion and thoughts.
The sunset glow in the sky was like fire, shining on his stern face, but it could not melt the sadness between his brows.
When we entered the camp, night had already fallen. There was a blazing bonfire in the camp. Lin Xiyan was sitting around with the female family members, and her laughter was clear and crisp, spreading around like silver bells.
Seeing him return, she stood up and walked quickly to meet him, her hair gleaming in the firelight, her eyes full of concern:
"Brother Jiang, you're back. Did your trip to the city go smoothly today?
Lin Xiyan's clear eyes were full of genuine concern, and Jiang Shouyi was speechless for a moment.
He calmed himself down and forced a smile: "It's going well, but there are some trivial matters that need to be carefully considered."
The smile seemed a little forced under the reflection of the bonfire.
Lin Xiyan keenly caught the strangeness in his expression, and her heart sank slightly, but she still pretended to be relaxed and said:
"If you have any worries, please tell us and we can discuss it together."
At this time, Jiang Moyu and Lin Muyi also gathered around, with questioning eyes.
Jiang Shouyi glanced at everyone and said in a deep voice, "No problem."
Although Jiang Shouyi kept the matter to himself in front of everyone, the string in his heart was always taut, like a fully drawn crossbow ready to fire.
He knew very well that only by conducting a thorough investigation without making a fuss could he clear Lin Xiyan's name and unravel the mystery behind the theft from the national treasury.
Life in the camp continues like a gurgling stream.
Lin Xiyan happily led everyone to the red soil citrus field.
Jiang Shouyi followed behind him, his eyes sweeping across the vibrant fruit forest, and a warm feeling arose in his heart.
Under Lin Xiyan's careful care, the citrus tree transformed into a "blessed tree" with abundant fruits.
Each tangerine looks like a round golden ball, hanging heavily on the branches. Under the caress of the sunlight, the skin glows with an attractive luster, as if proudly displaying the plump and juicy flesh inside.
Lin Xiyan's hands were as light as a butterfly. She picked a tangerine and broke it with both hands. The rich fruity fragrance instantly spread. She smiled and shared it with everyone:
“Come and try it!”
Everyone gathered around, took the tangerines and put them in their mouths. In an instant, the sweet and sour taste exploded on the tip of the tongue, and the juice overflowed, drawing praises from all sides.
"Miss Xi Yan, your craftsmanship is truly amazing. This tangerine is a top-notch product, not to mention the Southern Wilderness. Even if it were placed in the prosperous Shangjing City, it would be a top-notch product!"
An old lady was smiling widely, and even the fine lines at the corners of her eyes showed joy.
Lin Xiyan's cheeks flushed, and she felt shy at the praise: "Everyone has contributed to this, this is our shared treasure."
"These oranges are ripe for picking, so let's pick them quickly so we can exchange them for some money to improve everyone's lives."
At the command, the picking operation began in full swing.
Everyone divided the work in an orderly manner. Some climbed the ladder to pick fruits high up, while others carefully received them under the tree.
The laughter and the sound of rustling branches and leaves interweave to play a melody of harvest.
Soon, a "mountain of citrus gold" was piled up on the ground.
Jiang Shouyi looked at the busy scene, thoughts racing through his mind.
Recalling the all kinds of people and merchants I met during my years of traveling for business, the business deals and friendships I made in taverns and teahouses can all come in handy now.
Lin Xiyan's eyes flashed with hope, and she leaned closer and asked:
"Brother Jiang, you have a wide network of contacts. Do you know anyone who is sincere in purchasing these oranges? We can't let these fruits rot in the fields. We need more people to taste them."
Jiang Shouyi nodded heavily, his eyes full of confidence: "Don't worry, young lady, such a good thing will not have trouble selling."
After that, he found a pen and paper and wrote a letter, describing in detail the appearance and taste of the oranges, and asked the messenger from the camp to deliver it to various places as quickly as possible.
Sure enough, within a few days, replies came in one after another, all of which expressed strong interest in the oranges and sincere willingness to buy them at a high price.
Jiang Shouyi and Lin Xiyan carefully screened and selected several merchants with good reputation and fair prices. After some bargaining and negotiation of details, the oranges were successfully sold in exchange for a large amount of silver.
With this wealth, the camp seemed to be injected with vitality and took on a new look.
After discussion, everyone decided to purchase thick tiles and prepare to renovate the earthen house.
In the past, although the simple dwellings could shelter us from the wind and rain, they could not withstand the invasion of wind and rain, and the severe cold and heat in the southern wilderness.
Lin Wuyu took care of everything himself, measuring dimensions and drawing drawings. Drawing on his travel experiences, he designed a house style that was both stable and well-ventilated.
The women weaved bamboo baskets and rattan baskets to store miscellaneous items in preparation for the move.
New soil was dug up, the foundation was compacted, sturdy beams and pillars were erected firmly, and tiles were stacked layer by layer, like fish scales, shining darkly in the sunlight.
During this busy period, Jiang Shouyi did not forget to secretly investigate Lin Xiyan's secret technique.
He sneaked into the place where the farm tools were placed, and after a careful look, he found that there was indeed the mark of Nanyan City.
Lin Muyi walked in at this time and found Jiang Shouyi here: "Master Jiang, what are you doing here?"
Jiang Shouyi heard Lin Muyi's voice and quickly turned around and replied, "This hoe is really durable. It's still so strong after using it for so long."
"Well, these are the farm tools my father and sister borrowed from the neighboring village. They all need to be returned."
“So we wipe it carefully after use and take good care of it.”
Jiang Shouyi narrowed his eyes slightly. So that's it.
Why is Lin Muyi's statement so different from what Jin Yunci said?
Who is lying? Jin Yunci has a reason and evidence, and Lin Muyi doesn't seem to be lying. Could there be something fishy about this matter?
One afternoon, Jiang Moyu was supervising the construction of a house when Jin Yunci came uninvited.
He was followed by a few close followers and walked into the camp with a fake smile on his face, but his eyes wandered back and forth between the bridal chamber and the busy people.
"Master Jiang, long time no see. The camp is undergoing massive construction. Where did the money come from? Could it be..."
He spoke in a sarcastic tone, the deep meaning of his words was self-evident.
Jiang Moyu responded with a cold face and took a step forward:
"Master Jin, I urge you to be careful with your words. The camp relies on hard work and wisdom to achieve a good harvest, sell tangerines at a good price, and renovate houses to improve life."
After saying this, his eyes were like knives, stabbing towards Jinyun Temple.
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