Chapter 105 A false alarm, Ah Qing rescued!
Inside the official's office.
Liu Ashan hesitated for a moment, then reminded him:
"Master, there is another unusual piece of news. This morning, Liu Zian, who is in charge of the Guyue Sword Shop, suddenly summoned a small group of experienced swordsmiths and gathered them at the Dragon Head Platform by the river. No outsiders are allowed to approach within a half-mile radius, and even the swordsmiths forging swords at the nearby forges are not allowed to watch."
Ouyang Rong asked curiously, "What are they up to? Is there some shady business going on?"
Liu Ashan considered carefully and said:
"I suspect it might be related to the stuff that came out of the Jia San Sword Furnace today. The two things are too close together, and the Dragon Head Platform by the river is very close to the Jia San Sword Furnace."
"I remember that in sword shops, when a famous sword of good quality is forged, there is usually a sword-washing ceremony."
"The ceremony will be presided over by a priest from the temple. Some sacrifices will be made, and the sword will be poured with water from Butterfly Creek. This is the usual procedure, and it will probably be the same this time."
Ouyang Rong muttered, "Then why hide it? What kind of shameful thing is being produced... Right, sacrifice? What kind of sacrifice?"
Liu Ashan noticed some concern in the young magistrate's expression, and he shook his head to explain, "They all use chickens and sheep as livestock."
Ouyang Rong nodded thoughtfully, "A new sword being forged, and a sword-washing ceremony... The Liu family's actions are truly unpredictable."
"Master, what do we do now?"
Ouyang Rong sighed: "What else can we do? The sword shops on the west bank are their private property, practically an autonomous little kingdom. The county government has no grounds to intervene... That's what makes these powerful local gentry so hateful."
Liu Ashan hesitated for a moment, then couldn't help but ask:
"Sir, the Liu family has already bowed down and is cooperating with the county government to repair the Di Gong Sluice Gate. Should we continue to monitor them?"
Ouyang Rong said solemnly:
"The more amicable things seem, the less we should let our guard down. Ah Shan, would you trust a jackal to be your friend just because it seems to be yielding?"
"My business with the Liu family is not over. I even suspect that the Di Gong Sluice Gate was just a stopgap measure by the Liu family, and the Zheyi Canal dug by the county government may have touched the core interests of the Liu family."
"But I haven't figured out what the core interest is yet... It's mainly because I haven't been in Longcheng long enough and I don't know much about the Liu family, so I need you to help me find out more."
He squinted: "Sometimes, crucial clues are hidden in the smallest, most trivial things."
Liu Ashan nodded emphatically: "I understand, sir. I'll send someone to find out more about the details of today's sword-washing ceremony and the new sword."
"Okay, tell everyone to be careful."
Ouyang Rong nodded, and Liu Ashan clasped his hands in farewell. But just as the latter turned to leave, Ouyang Rong, who was deep in thought, suddenly had a thought. He looked up and asked:
"Wait, Ah Shan, when did you say the sword-washing ceremony would take place in the morning?"
Liu Ashan pondered for a moment and replied, "The second quarter of the morning."
Ouyang Rong stood up and paced back and forth in the room, his hands behind his back. He seemed to be recalling something and muttered to himself:
"That inexplicable act of merit just now seems to have happened around this time, almost exactly. Could it be related to...?"
But how could he be connected to the sword-washing ceremony taking place at the ancient Yue sword shop on the far west bank?
Ouyang Rong frowned.
According to the principle of judging by actions rather than intentions, each increase in merit is due to the influence he has had on certain people or things, producing a positive effect. The greater the influence, the greater the merit he receives... This is the general logic.
What kind of influence can Ouyang Rong exert on the ancient Yue sword shop on the other side of the river, a place he has never set foot in, and in a positive way at that?
Furthermore, this "influence" was applied before this morning, and then this morning, it had a special interaction with this item, which is very likely the sword-washing ceremony, and subsequently fed back merit points.
Ouyang Rong nodded slowly; this was a relatively plausible logical chain.
Of course, if one insists on saying that this was a coincidence that the disaster relief camp's past actions saved a family, and thus merit points were awarded in return, that logic is not entirely wrong, but it is too much of a coincidence.
Ouyang Rong stroked his chin, pondering his actions over the past few days.
"So these past few days, I've had some influence on people... Wei Lai and my aunt were definitely among them, but they stay within the gates of the Meilu Garden and don't leave."
“Junior Sister? She was at the Su residence in the morning and will be at the county government office in the afternoon to handle matters related to the Infant Care Department. It doesn’t seem like her.”
"Aqing? It was her birthday yesterday. She came over for dinner, and I even gave her a gift. That should count as an influence. So, where is she now... wait, where does Aqing work?"
Ouyang Rong suddenly turned around and asked the stunned Liu Ashan:
Where is Aqing?
"At the sword tassel workshop."
Ouyang Rong immediately asked, "Where is the Sword Tassel Workshop? Is it the Ancient Yue Sword Shop?!"
Liu Ashan nodded.
"Ah Qing works for the Liu family's businesses, why didn't you tell me before?"
Liu Ashan blushed and said:
“It’s a small matter, I didn’t bother you, sir… Some time ago, when your relationship with the Liu family was tense, I told her to come back and not go, but after Liu bowed her head, she went there herself, saying that she was used to life at the sword tassel workshop and that this was the only way she could help the family…”
“I didn’t stop her. My sister is usually gentle, but once she’s made up her mind, nothing can change it… Besides, I think the sword shop’s business is so big, with so many craftsmen and servants, and thousands of people on the west bank, the Liu family shouldn’t notice such a small matter.”
"Don't just think what you want! And don't take any chances!"
Ouyang Rong immediately interrupted, his brows furrowed:
"The Liu family, being local bullies, have far more information channels than we do. Don't underestimate them!"
He stared at Liu Ashan, uttering each word clearly:
"And never, ever risk your loved ones. No matter how stubborn they are, you have to pull them back, because if something happens, we can't afford the consequences!"
This was the first time Liu Ashan had ever seen the master speak to him so seriously and angrily. He was filled with respect and nodded vigorously.
"Master, it was my oversight. This elder brother has failed in his duty. I... I will go and bring Aqing back right now!"
"etc."
Ouyang Rong turned to change his clothes, saying without looking back, "I'll go with you!"
...
afternoon.
Penglangdu Wharf.
A horse-drawn carriage sat quietly under the shade of willow trees on the riverbank, a stark contrast to the bustling street next door.
Inside the carriage, Ouyang Rong and Xie Lingjiang remained silent.
Ouyang Rong would occasionally peek through the curtains at the boats at the ferry crossing not far away.
Xie Lingjiang looked at her senior brother with curiosity.
She was summoned by her senior brother at the last minute, apparently for something important.
"Senior brother, are you alright?"
Ouyang Rong shook his head, his eyes gazing at the scenery outside the window.
Across the Butterfly Creek, rows of sword furnaces stand, constantly emitting wisps of smoke. These ancient Yue sword furnaces, when viewed from afar, evoke a sense of heaviness in the heart.
Ouyang Rong was somewhat worried that the Liu family had already noticed Aqing and was trying to obstruct things.
He has always been quite pessimistic about many things and always makes the worst-case scenario his plans.
But things often turn out in the pessimistic direction we anticipated.
It seemed so at the moment. Whether it was because he was too impatient or because he had been waiting for a long time without anyone coming, Ouyang Rong clenched his sleeves tightly.
In his heart, Aqing was more than just his subordinate's sister.
When Ouyang Rong woke up at Donglin Temple, he met A Qing and her family for the first time. This was his first contact with the grassroots people of Longcheng County.
This can be considered one of the original motivations that inspired him to go down the mountain to provide disaster relief and flood control.
Ouyang Rong clearly knew who he, as the magistrate of Longcheng County, was here to seek benefits for.
He is indeed the local official in Longcheng County, but to be more specific, he should be the local official for the majority of poor people, not for a few wealthy and powerful families.
This is very important.
Aqing's family was the starting point for this concept to take root.
The atmosphere inside the carriage was quiet.
Xie Lingjiang stared at her senior brother, who kept peeking out from behind the curtains, for a while. She opened her mouth as if to speak, but just then, she saw her senior brother's tense expression relax.
As if a heavy burden had been lifted from her heart, before Xie Lingjiang could even ask questions, footsteps could be heard outside the carriage.
A tall, thin man covered in sweat, accompanied by a pretty young woman carrying a bundle, arrived at the carriage under the shade of a tree. Both of them had the character "Yue" tattooed on their foreheads. They boarded the carriage together.
Liu Ashan picked up the reins, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and drove away from the ferry.
As soon as Aqing entered the carriage, Ouyang Rong took her bundle, grabbed her slender wrist, and stared at her with a look of relief.
"Master, what's wrong?" Ah Qing asked shyly.
"No...it's nothing."
Noticing the gaze of his junior sister beside him, Ouyang Rong realized what was happening, quickly released A Qing's wrist, and sat back down in his original seat.
After leaving the office in the morning, Liu Ashan, upon hearing Ouyang Rong's words, immediately went to find a reliable brother under his command and asked him to take a boat to the Guyue Sword Shop to deliver a message to Aqing. He made up an excuse that his mother was sick and told Aqing to return immediately no matter what.
Liu Ashan did not go to the sword shop on the other side of the river himself, following Ouyang Rong's advice to avoid being discovered by someone from the Liu family with ulterior motives.
Fortunately, Aqing returned safely, and Liu seemed unaware of anything amiss.
Inside the slowly moving carriage, Aqing blushed for a moment, then, remembering something important, immediately asked anxiously:
"Master, what happened to Mother at home? Why didn't my brother tell me anything on the way here?"
Ouyang Rong shook his head. "Your mother is fine. Your brother and I were worried about your safety at the Liu family's sword shop, so we found an excuse to get you back quickly. Don't blame your brother."
"this……"
Ouyang Rong glanced at A Qing's somewhat conflicted expression.
The girl seemed to understand something. Clearly, Liu Ashan must have explained the pros and cons to her before, telling her not to work at the Liu family's sword shop anymore. However, the little girl was obviously quite stubborn.
Seeing that Aqing seemed to want to say something but hesitated, Ouyang Rong asked first:
"You're not listening to the master anymore?"
“Ah Qing, listen to... listen to what Master says.”
Aqing glanced at the clothes Ouyang Rong was wearing today, which was the new robe she had given him yesterday, and replied softly.
Ouyang Rong nodded in satisfaction, exhaled, and then, as if noticing something, pointed to the girl's slightly flushed forehead and asked:
"Why is your forehead so red? Who did this?"
Aqing covered her forehead, which had been poked red by a thin-lipped female worker, and shook her head like a rattle drum:
"It's nothing, I just... tripped and fell."
Ouyang Rong gave her a meaningful look and didn't ask any further questions.
His expression immediately turned serious, and he said in a broad voice:
"Don't go to the Guyue Sword Shop anymore. Your brother has helped you resign from the Sword Tassel Workshop. He will also help you get rid of your lowly status in the next few days. Don't worry, just stay home and keep Mother company. Find some other work to do."
Seeing the unyielding gaze from the master, Aqing met his eyes, looked away, swallowed her words, and nodded gently.
“Ah Qing will do whatever Master says, but…”
The pretty young woman was speaking when she suddenly looked up, her delicate eyebrows, adorned with the character "Yue," furrowed in a rather endearing frown.
"But there's one more thing left at the sword shop, and I forgot to get it back."
"oh?"
(End of this chapter)
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