After that, the group began to stroll around the market.
Yun Zhourong was genuinely curious as she saw such an expensive item for the first time.
Soon, she discovered that the agarwood had unusual shapes; some were in chunks, some in flakes, and some were oddly shaped, all varying in size.
So he couldn't help but ask, "Young Master Song, why do most of these agarwood pieces look so small and incomplete?"
"That's right. Agarwood isn't just pure wood; it's a solid concretion formed when the resin secreted by a special variety of agarwood tree combines with the woody components after it's injured."
Song Shuyi patiently explained, "Therefore, agarwood almost never has a complete woody shape; it is all shaped by cutting and removing the woody parts that are not resinous."
"So that's how it is. I always thought it was just wood, and I was wondering why it was so expensive," Yun Zhourong said with a sudden realization.
"Waaaaah...ah...waaaah..."
As the group was talking, a woman in tattered clothes suddenly stumbled and ran over from a distance.
"Stop! Grab her!"
Behind her, three or four burly men were hot on her heels.
There were many passersby, but since most of them were out-of-town merchants who came to trade, no one bothered to get involved, fearing they would get into trouble.
"Thump..."
The woman was extremely thin, and when she reached Yun Zhourong, she finally collapsed to the ground from exhaustion.
"Ha, let's see where you can run now!"
Seeing this, the burly men who had been chasing them slowed down, uttering threats, "You little slut, you dare to run away? Wait till we get back, I'll make sure you're dead!"
"Ugh...!"
The woman was terrified. When she looked up and saw Yun Zhourong, she immediately grabbed Yun Zhourong's skirt as if she had found a lifeline, and kowtowed repeatedly with a pleading expression on her face.
However, she couldn't say anything and looked like a mute.
Looking at the woman's hands, Yun Zhourong noticed they were covered in wounds and calluses, and were still bleeding.
She felt extremely distressed and wanted to bandage the woman immediately.
"Miss Yun, we are just outsiders, please don't meddle in other people's business." Upon seeing this, Song Shuyi immediately shook his head at Yun Zhourong.
"Ugh... hiss... ugh..."
Upon hearing this, despair welled up in the woman's heart, but a glimmer of hope remained in her eyes as she continued to plead and sob before Yun Zhourong.
After all, she had only seen one woman, Yun Zhourong, on her way here.
She knew very well that this was her only hope!
"Young Master Song, have you forgotten who saved you?"
Yun Zhourong glanced at Song Shuyi before firmly helping the woman up, saying, "Don't worry, I'll help you!"
"Mmm..."
The woman was overjoyed to hear this, and tears instantly streamed down her face as she repeatedly bowed to Yun Zhourong in gratitude.
Upon hearing Yun Zhourong's words, Song Shuyi felt a pang of shame.
Yes, if Yun Zhourong hadn't been kind enough to save him, he would have been devoured by fish long ago. Now that he sees someone in distress, he's actually thinking of standing by and watching them die.
Miss Yun must be extremely disappointed in him!
The burly men quickly arrived, and Yun Zhourong immediately pulled the woman behind him.
Upon seeing this, the burly man at the head of the group immediately frowned unhappily and warned, "You're merchants here to buy agarwood, aren't you? I advise you not to meddle in other people's business!"
Yun Hongcheng has always been a person who hates evil, and he strongly agrees with Yun Zhourong's actions in saving people.
So he immediately stepped forward to block her way and said coldly to the group of burly men, "May I ask you gentlemen, what has this young lady done wrong?"
"Don't ask questions you shouldn't ask. Just hand over the person." However, the big man didn't answer at all, and his attitude was extremely arrogant.
“This young lady has already asked us for help. If you don’t explain the reason clearly, we cannot let you take her away.” Yun Hongcheng’s attitude was also very firm.
"Heh, what a big mouth you've got. Do you even know who we are?"
Upon hearing Yun Hongcheng's words, the leading burly man's eyes immediately turned cold, and he said in a gloomy tone, "I advise you not to provoke people you shouldn't, otherwise you might not be able to leave Yazhou Ridge!"
The threat in his tone was already very obvious.
However, Yun Hongcheng was the kind of person who would respond to gentle persuasion but not force. This was mainly because he was wearing a bulletproof vest and had a pistol, a hidden weapon with incredible speed, which gave him a lot of confidence.
So, without the slightest fear, he said, "I do not know the identities of you gentlemen, but you gentlemen probably do not know my identity."
Upon hearing this, the expressions of the burly men changed slightly, and they cautiously asked, "Aren't you a merchant who came here to make a trade?"
"Of course not, I am just accompanying a friend."
Yun Hongcheng slightly raised his chin and said, word by word, "I am the current headmaster of Qiongzhou Academy, personally appointed by the prefect. If something happens to me here, I'm afraid you won't be able to handle the situation well."
"I've heard of Qiongzhou Academy. Before it was established, they even held a grand fundraising event with local powerful families in Qiongzhou." Upon hearing this, the burly man at the head of the group indeed showed a hint of apprehension in his eyes.
Everyone in Qiongzhou knew Zhou Renjun's temperament, and he wielded immense power. If Yun Hongcheng was indeed the prefect's man, they naturally wouldn't dare to touch him.
Most importantly, they couldn't attract Zhou Renjun's attention.
But this woman absolutely cannot be taken away, otherwise their secret will be exposed.
Just as the expressions of the burly men were wavering, a middle-aged man dressed as a scholar rode up on horseback.
"Third Master!"
Upon seeing the man, the men immediately seemed to have found their pillar of support, and their faces lit up with joy.
Third Master simply waved to the men and then politely bowed to Yun Hongcheng, saying, "I'm really sorry, this runaway woman is my concubine. This is her indenture. Please take a look."
"Waaaaah..."
Upon hearing Third Master's words, the mute girl immediately began to sob excitedly and shook her head repeatedly.
Yun Hongcheng could naturally understand what she was trying to say, but the indenture in his hand was indeed genuine, and it even had the seal of the local county government on it.
"Father, is it true?" Yun Zhourong asked worriedly.
Yun Hongcheng nodded slightly, his face also showing a troubled expression.
He knew perfectly well that the mute girl's situation was probably not so simple, but since her indenture was still in effect, they naturally couldn't forcibly take her away.
"Is this contract of servitude truly for this young lady?"
At this moment, Lan Jianhe spoke up and asked, "Do you have any proof? What if this is just some random contract of servitude that someone else took?"
Upon hearing this, Yun Zhou and the others' eyes lit up, and they looked at Lan Jianhe with admiration.
Yes, how could they not have thought of that!
“Of course it can be proven that she has signed and sealed the contract of sale.”
The burly man at the head of the group said with dissatisfaction, "Now that the evidence is right in front of us, you still refuse to return the person. Are you a human trafficker, trying to kidnap someone on purpose?"
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