He Laowu hid in the crowd, watching Zhixing and his group leave Longxing Prefecture, and spat heavily at Wang Jin and Zhixing's backs.
"What the hell! How dare you interfere in my affairs!"
He touched the silver in his pocket, a smug look on his face.
So what if those two bastards helped that bitch once?
He still managed to get his hands on the silver.
Just as He Laowu was about to spit out a few more pui, he saw that Wang Jin seemed to have a premonition and was about to turn his head. His pupils shrank, and he hurriedly dragged his leg, which had been injured by his father the night before, and ran away.
He lost all his money at the casino, along with the few things he had stolen from his uncle Liang Hai's house. He was kicked out of the casino and returned to the charcoal workshop in a huff, intending to steal a few more baskets of charcoal to sell outside the city.
As soon as he stepped inside, He Laowu faintly heard Sui Bao's choked sobs.
He ignored the He family members helping out at the charcoal workshop and the villagers from Shanqing Village who were shamelessly following them, and ran towards the sound of crying, cursing as he went:
"You unlucky wretch! You've cried away all the family's fortune! What are you crying for? If you keep crying, I'll sell you and give you the money!"
When He Laowu ran over to take a look, his injured leg immediately went weak.
Inside the charcoal workshop, many people were kneeling, including his father, his uncle Liang Hai, and several managers of the charcoal workshop.
A general with sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes sat in the hall, flanked by soldiers exuding murderous intent, a sight that sent chills down one's spine.
The seated young general glanced at He Laowu and snorted heavily.
Immediately, his men stepped forward, grabbed the limp He Laowu, and dragged him into the hall, forcibly pressing him down to kneel.
Old He's leg had just been injured, and this pressure made him wince in pain. Just as he was about to unleash a torrent of curses, He Village Head He, kneeling in front of him, gave him a stern warning:
"If you don't want to die, shut your mouth tight!"
He Laowu immediately shrank back, glared at Suibao who was still crying softly, and shut his mouth in a huff.
The young general tapped the table lightly with his fingers, his face serious: "Someone in your charcoal workshop is selling charcoal to refugees outside the city at three times the market price... What explanation do you have for this?"
Liang Hai, the owner of the charcoal workshop, broke out in a cold sweat:
“Slander! Absolutely not! We only buy charcoal from outside the city and sell it to other cities and counties within the city. We have never engaged in price gouging! Please investigate, General!”
He was cautious by nature, and with the reminders of his brother-in-law and scholar nephew, he did not go to extremes in his actions.
When the price of coal in the prefectural city was being driven up, he would instigate other shopkeepers and merchants to raise the price as high as possible, while he himself would mingle among them and set a price that was high but not extremely high.
With the help of his brother-in-law, an official, he was not among those targeted in the first round of purges after the general led his troops into the city.
But to my surprise, he was falsely accused of selling charcoal to refugees outside the city.
He understood that the man's point wasn't about selling charcoal to refugees outside the city, but rather about the price of charcoal tripling.
Didn't you see a few days ago, those who inflated grain prices by more than double, whether they were merchants, officials, or ordinary vendors, all had their property confiscated and were beheaded, their heads hanging at the market?
At the time, Liang Hai was glad that he hadn't gotten involved in the rice trade, but he never expected that it would be his turn today.
But... most of the refugees outside the city don't have much money, so why should he bother selling charcoal to them? He might as well squeeze more money out of the city.
Liang Hai spoke with great conviction, almost swearing to the heavens that he had never done such a thing.
The young general's eyes swept over the people kneeling on the ground, and he quickly noticed that He Laowu's expression was slightly unnatural for a moment.
His men immediately stepped forward and dragged He Laowu to the front of the crowd.
Liang Hai, who was trying to explain, was confused, but He Lizheng's eyes flashed and he narrowed his eyes to glare at He Lao Er, who was kneeling beside him.
Normally, He Lao Er is in charge of the charcoal burning for the people in Shanqing Village. If something really happens, you should at least ask He Lao Er.
He Lao Er quickly shook his head, indicating that he really didn't know anything about it.
Unable to feel at ease, He Lizheng could only secretly pray that his son, He Laowu, wouldn't say anything offensive.
Unexpectedly, the young general had evidence in his hands and, with just a few words, revealed everything that He Laowu had tricked him into saying.
"Yes... it was me and Lao Wang who did it together. His sons all helped transport coal in the workshop. With a little effort, no one would notice if we took five or ten pounds from each basket."
“I don’t know who I sold it to. I’m just waiting to get my share of the money. Old Wang is grateful to my family for helping him escape the famine and make a living. I don’t have to do anything.”
"Who came up with this idea first? I... it wasn't me, it was Old Wang, that's right, it was him, you have to arrest him!"
The young general gave a half-smile.
After hearing this, Liang Hai, He Lizheng, and the others wished they could kill He Laowu.
You idiot! There's no such thing as sitting back and waiting to collect money!
The He family was furious.
On the way from the small town at the foot of the mountain to Longxing Prefecture, it was Wang the Cripple who stole the grain from the merchant who was giving them a ride, causing all the people of Shanqing Village to be driven out of the caravan.
After several arduous days of walking, they encountered several crises, some big and some small. If it weren't for Sui Bao's timely reminders that allowed them to narrowly avoid danger, they probably wouldn't have survived until they reached Longxing Prefecture!
After being harmed like this, He Laowu still dares to trust Wang the Cripple? What kind of fool is he?!
He Lizheng wished he could go back to before the famine, abandon this beast and take the others away!
The young general looked up, and immediately his men went to the backyard to arrest someone.
He tapped the table and said calmly, "Old He, do you know what the consequences will be of selling charcoal at a high price?"
Old He shook his head repeatedly, tears and snot streaming down his face: "Sir, I know nothing. I swear, if I had known, I definitely wouldn't have done this!"
He will definitely do it more discreetly, and have Old Wang lower the price of coal so it won't be too expensive, just like what Dad and Uncle did, without standing out!
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