92 Chapter 92
◎ Geomancer◎
Baisha Village.
A man sneaked over the bamboo fence with great difficulty. When he landed, the wound on the bottom of his foot was cracked and he grimaced in pain. He almost managed to hold it in and didn't make a sound.
He quietly walked to the door and whispered through the crack, "Uncle Da Zi, Uncle Da Zi, open the door."
There was no light in the room, and the old man's voice came out, not very clear: "He's asleep, don't call."
"..." The man couldn't help but feel wronged, "Hurry up and open the door! If the night watchman sees me, I'll be dead."
"Ah!" The old man got up helplessly, opened the door in the dark, stepped aside to let the man in, and closed it again. "What are you doing here looking for me in the middle of the night?"
The man chuckled and said, "I eavesdropped on those bastards talking today. Do you know what I heard?"
"What?"
"If Cui Niang really went to the capital and reported it to the high officials, the emperor would know about it and even send the princess to investigate the case." The man grew more and more excited as he spoke. "I'm sure Lao Bai will get justice."
Uncle Dazi poured a bucket of cold water on him: "Where is the princess?"
"Uh..." The man's face froze. "The prince and princess were assassinated and disappeared. They are now looking for them."
Uncle Da Zi said coldly: "It is better to rely on yourself than on others."
Since the death of General Bai, Baisha Village has been like an isolated island in the salt field. They are firmly controlled within the confines of the wells, stoves and homes, and have no way of hearing any news from the outside world.
If the new general manager and his subordinates had not been talking nonsense and the man happened to hear it, they still would not know what happened to He Cuiniang.
"Uncle Dazi, do you want to wait a little longer?"
"Still waiting?" Uncle Da Zi's voice was hoarse. "How many more lives will they take if we wait? I'm going to die anyway, and I don't want to die in vain."
The man grabbed his hair, looking embarrassed: "But we helped Cui Niang escape, wasn't it so that she could go to the capital to file a complaint?"
"The princess is missing, don't you understand?" Uncle Da Zi snorted coldly, and wanted to remind him not to hold out hope in others. He heard the footsteps of patrol outside the house, and immediately fell silent.
The patrolmen held torches high and shuttled through the village paths. Their eyes were as sharp as hawks, and any kitchen stove they saw was prey that they could tear apart at will.
Just as they passed Uncle Da Zi's house, they heard a sharp whistle and the patrol stopped.
After receiving the signal, one person immediately rushed to Uncle Da Zi's door and kicked it, causing the simple door panel to fall down.
"Get up and get to work!"
“Bang, bang, bang!”
"Get up and get to work!"
The noisy clamors echoed in the village, like evil spirits seeking revenge, taking away the vitality of the kitchen owners from house to house.
It was midnight. The cook had endured the heavy labor during the day and the pain in his body. He had just fallen into a sweet dream when he was ruthlessly awakened by the patrol team.
The moment I woke up, my heart almost stopped.
The patrol team slept during the day and was not sleepy at all. They kicked down the doors of the cooks who did not get up and open the doors in time, broke into the rooms, smashed everything they saw, and dragged people directly from the bed to the ground.
This practice has been going on for several months. It's not done every day, and there's no regular pattern to it, so the cooks can only take a break occasionally.
They were whipped and enslaved during the day, and then forced to work at night. More than a dozen people died from this.
Some people were injured and developed high fever, then fell asleep and never woke up again; some people woke up from their dreams, suffered cardiac arrest, and died; and some people were in a daze while working, accidentally fainted, and bumped into a well and died.
If this continues, the entire Baisha Village will be starved to death.
Uncle Da Zi's door was about to be kicked in, so he quickly pushed the man and said, "Go out the back door!"
If the patrol team finds out that we are having a secret meeting at night, we will be skinned alive if we don't die.
The man was very upset. He had clearly inquired and was told that the patrol team would not call for help tonight.
As soon as he opened the back door, an iron rod stabbed into his chest. He cried out in pain and fell to the ground.
The man stepped into the door, stepped on his chest with his right foot, and said viciously: "You are so brave, you dare to meet with me privately behind my back."
The man's eyes widened. He had been cheated!
"Boss Cao, what do you mean by that?" Uncle Dazi said calmly, "I'm an old man, my hands and feet aren't very flexible, so why not ask a young guy to take care of me?"
Mr. Cao urged his feet, "Uncle Dazi, you are a man of high moral character and prestige, so finding someone to serve you is no problem. But don't forget, this bastard used to be good friends with the Bai family, and he was also involved in letting Widow He go. Sparing his life is already a favor from the ambassador's office."
As soon as these words came out, Uncle Dazi knew that today would not end peacefully.
The rest of the cooks were also urged to gather together and had the patrol team surround them with torches, just like livestock being driven into a pen.
"What do you want to do?"
"Little brats, you know you'll get a beating if you don't obey." Boss Cao urged them to loosen their legs and signaled his men to drag the man up. "Tonight, I'll show you all what happens to those who disobey orders."
The man was dragged to the open space in front of the house like a dead dog, his eyes closed, his face pale, and his miserable and desperate look was seen by the other cooks.
Everyone pursed their cracked lips tightly, the firelight reflected in their pupils, turning into raging anger, boiling and roaring in their chests.
"Bai San, didn't I tell you to stay home at night and not wander around?"
Mr. Cao then hit his face with an iron rod, causing the corners of his mouth to crack and blood to flow out.
Bai San gritted his teeth and said nothing.
"What do you think? Should he be punished?" Mr. Cao's sinister gaze swept across the cook's face. "Anyone who keeps silent will be treated as an accomplice."
Everyone remained silent.
"Alright, you all have guts." Boss Cao sneered and ordered his men, "Hang Bai San at the village entrance. Anyone who gives him a grain of rice or a sip of water will have their entire family hanged with him."
Bai San understood it in his heart.
The previous tricks were meant to intimidate them, and now using him as an example is to split their unity. Once he dies, Baisha Village will completely become Cao Gou's one-man show.
Uncle Da Zi turned around and went back to the house, poured a bowl of water, rushed to Bai San, gave him a sip, threw the bowl away, and rushed to urge General Cao.
"I've already fed you, if you dare, hang me up too!"
Mr. Cao urged the others: "..."
Uncle Da Zi is a well-known figure in Baisha Village and even in the entire salt field.
He was an expert in geomancy. In the Jianzhou Salt Field, all the salt wells with abundant brine were dug by him and his men.
In addition, he was well versed in well-drilling technology. The salt wells dug under his guidance never had any deviation or omission, and the service life of the salt wells was far longer than that of other salt wells.
Salt means hard-earned money, and Uncle Da Zi, who can produce more salt, is a real money tree.
If other villages wanted to dig new salt wells, which one of them would not come with a shameless attitude to invite them, carrying meat and wine?
No one can resist money.
However, Uncle Da Zi is old, and although he can still do feng shui, he rarely takes care of the specific matters of digging wells himself.
Even so, Mr. Cao did not dare to attack him.
Just a while ago, Yan Dafa from Liugou Village approached him in a nice way, gave him gifts and spoke sweet words, and only then did he lend someone over.
In the past few days, several people have come to him to ask for help.
Mr. Cao enjoys being flattered and praised, and he would be the first one who would be reluctant to hurt Uncle Da Zi.
"Come here, take Uncle Dazi back to the house and take good care of him."
"yes!"
The men immediately subdued Uncle Da Zi and forced him into the house. From then on, he could not step out of the house without Mr. Cao's consent.
Uncle Da Zi struggled and slapped them in the face, so they could only endure it and drag him into the house.
Bai San was hung on the horizontal bar at the entrance of the village and could only touch the ground with his toes. After a long time, both of his hands would be disabled.
Leaving two people to guard, General Cao glanced at the cooks and turned to leave.
The cooks were woken up to draw brine all night, but he could go home and fall asleep, and even had a beautiful dream of being promoted.
When I woke up, it was already bright outside. Before I could even take a few bites of breakfast, my men came rushing over.
"Master Cao, someone from Liugou Village came and said he wants to borrow Uncle Dazi's room."
Mr. Cao frowned. "Have you finished digging the new well? Why are you borrowing it again? Where is Yan Dafa?"
"Boss Yan urged him but he didn't come." After saying this, the subordinate stepped aside, revealing a young man, who was Yan Dafa's subordinate.
"If he doesn't come, he'll just send his idiots over?" Mr. Cao said, feeling unhappy. "No."
The young man didn't get angry, and just said, "Boss Cao, please tell me there was something wrong with the new well that Uncle Da Zi picked last time. Maybe Uncle Da Zi is old and made a mistake. Master Yan asked me to ask Uncle Da Zi to come over and take a look. Don't make any misunderstandings."
“…”
You are so good, Yan Dafa, you deliberately use these words to threaten him. If there is really a problem with Xinjing, Uncle Da Zi’s reputation will be ruined. Who will come to him for help in the future?
Mr. Cao was holding back his anger, but he didn't dare to let it out until the problem was resolved. He just said with a serious look, "Come here, take him to see Uncle Da Zi."
In the early morning, the sky was still covered with dark clouds. Not long after the sun rose, the dark clouds all dispersed, and the sky was clear and spotless. Even the lines on the leaves on the roadside became exceptionally clear and distinct.
Despite the bright weather, Uncle Dazi's mood was utterly awful. He had worked in the saltworks for most of his life, and this was his fate.
The doors and windows were tightly closed, and sunlight could not enter the house. Only a few rays of sunlight could manage to get in through the cracks in the door, but the guard would step on them and the sunlight would disappear again.
I don’t know what happened to that kid Bai San.
"Open the door!"
Someone was shouting outside, and from the sound it was General Cao urging his "capable men" to do the job.
The guard naturally did not dare to delay and quickly opened the door.
The golden sunlight rushed in, illuminating Uncle Da Zi's heart.
"There's a problem with the new well in Liugou Village. I'd like to borrow Uncle Dazi to take a look."
"Something went wrong?" Uncle Dazi hurriedly stood up and asked, "What could have gone wrong? Did the well wall get damaged?"
The people of Liugou Village replied, "It's not the well wall. It's Master Yan who said there's something wrong with the geomancy. There's no point in digging any further because there's too little brine."
"Impossible!" Uncle Dazi immediately perked up when his professional ability was questioned. "I'm definitely not seeing things. That Yan Jiang is just talking nonsense!"
"That's why Master Yan asked you to come and take a look." The people from Liugou Village smiled and said, "We can't let your efforts go to waste, right?"
Uncle Da Zi immediately walked out the door.
After walking a few steps, he suddenly fell to the ground, screaming "ouch, ouch". When several people came over to help him, he waved them away with one hand, hugged his right leg and said, "It's broken, I can't walk anymore!"
"I'll go find a doctor!"
"I don't have time to see a doctor," Uncle Dazi snorted coldly, "The salt well is important, get someone to carry me there first."
The two guards immediately volunteered and found a door panel. They were about to move the old man up, but were rejected.
"I'm annoyed just looking at you guys, I don't want you to lift me."
Several people hurriedly asked him which one he wanted.
Uncle Da Zi's true intentions were exposed. "I want Bai San! Ask Bai San to go with me, or I will die rather than go today!"
“…”
A few people couldn't make a decision, so they hurried to ask Mr. Cao to urge them.
Mr. Cao knew clearly in his mind that Zhou Da simply wanted to take the opportunity to save Bai Sanyi's life.
It doesn’t matter whether Bai San is dead or alive. What matters is that the reputation of Baisha Village cannot be destroyed and Mr. Cao cannot lose face.
"Since he wants to, let Bai San carry it."
After being hung for a whole night, Bai San's hands are almost broken. Can he still lift it?
The moment the rope was loosened, Bai San fell to the ground. His arms were still half-raised and he couldn't put them down for a while. His hands turned purple and black.
Uncle Dazi was heartbroken and quickly jumped down from the door panel. He ordered the people from Liugou Village, "Help me carry him up."
"Uncle Da Zi, we agreed to have Bai San carry the ball, why are you asking us to carry Bai San instead?"
Uncle Da Zi: "I said to ask him to accompany me, not to carry me. Are you deaf?"
“…”
"Are you going or not?" Uncle Da Zi urged.
The people of Liugou Village did not dare to delay Yan Dafa's order. He didn't care about the trivial matters of Baisha Village. Together with Uncle Da Zi, he carried Bai San onto the door panel.
"If you don't want to lift it, I and this kid will do it." Uncle Da Zi said as he was about to grab the door panel.
The two guards hurriedly stopped him, grabbed both ends of the door panel and lifted it up with force.
Just kidding, they have to follow and monitor.
Uncle Da Zi glared at them, then quickly left Baisha Village with his hands behind his back.
He had to think carefully about how to convince the people in Liugou Village to help him find a doctor when he got there.
Next to the new well in Liugou Village.
Xiang Jinghui was sitting in the straw shed drawing a blueprint, while Xie Mingzhuo and Jiang Qing were hanging out with the well carpenter, squatting outside the shed and chatting.
The problem with the new well was caused by them on purpose.
Xie Mingzhuo gathered intelligence from the gossip in the village and concluded that "Uncle Da Zi" from Baisha Village was a key figure.
They couldn't sneak into Baisha Village easily, but they could make the people of Baisha Village come out on their own initiative.
I just don't know what kind of person this Uncle Da Zi is, and whether he has anything to do with Mr. Bai's death.
Soon, three unfamiliar men came into view, accompanied by Yan Dafa's confidant.
Two of them were lifting a door panel, on which lay a man. He was in a dishevel, with a pale face, his arms raised above his head, and his hands were swollen and purple.
Xie Mingzhuo immediately stood up and said without a word: "Master Yan, the master from Baisha Village is injured. I will go and get Doctor Xu."
Uncle Da Zi: ???
He hadn't figured out how to start yet. This kid was not only sharp-eyed, but also very kind-hearted.
He decided that even if the problem with Xinjing was caused by the stupidity of the people in Liugou Village, he would never curse them.
"You two, follow this kid to find a doctor."
guard:"……"
No, how did things turn out like this?
No matter how reluctant they were, they were now in Liugou Village and could not do anything excessive, so they had to follow Xie Mingzhuo and Jiang Qing reluctantly.
What's so great about having long legs? Why are you walking so fast?
The two men carried the door panel and followed behind, panting, until they arrived in front of a neat courtyard gate.
Doctor Xu and others from Liugou Village had also heard of it, but when they saw it today, they were stunned.
She's really a young girl?!
Xu Qinglang received a signal from Xie Mingzhuo and cooperated in checking Bai San's injuries. He said with regret, "It's too late. Let me give it a try."
"Oh, Doctor Xu, why don't we stop wasting your time? If we can't cure him, forget it. Let's just carry him back."
Xu Qinglang took out the needle bag, revealing a row of slender silver needles. He glanced at them coldly and said, "I said I would try. Carry it in."
The silver needle flashed with a cold light. For some reason, cold sweat broke out on the backs of the two men, and they involuntarily carried the person into the house.
After calming down, Xu Qinglang was already holding a silver needle, ready to give Bai San an acupuncture.
Seeing that they were still stunned, he raised his eyes and asked, "Why, do you want a few injections too?"
The two men were frightened by the needle tip and quickly turned around and left the house, waiting outside.
Jiang Qing followed them out, closed the door, and sat directly on the threshold to prevent the two men from breaking in.
Inside the house, Xu Qinglang cleared the meridians in Bai San's hands, and the color of his originally congested hands gradually faded.
"If it's any later, it will really be useless." She glanced at Bai San's trembling eyelashes and sighed, "Brother Tiezhu, the chief collector of Baisha Village is really a rude person."
Xie Mingzhuo stood by the window, observing the movements outside the house.
"Then overthrow it."
She said it lightly, but it was like a bolt of thunder to Bai San's ears.
I didn’t expect that there were people in Liugou Village who had the same idea!
Unfortunately, such people cannot live long in the salt field. Mr. Bai is a bloody example.
He was just wondering whether he should continue pretending to be unconscious when he heard the man say another sentence.
"May I have your name?"
He blurted out: "Bai San."
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