Shortly after, Hu Cong recounted in detail to Meng Huaining what had happened to him.
After listening, Meng Huaining slammed the alarm bell violently.
"In the eyes of those boat gang people, there really isn't a shred of royal law."
Regarding Hu Cong's matter, Meng Huaining did not intend to inquire too much, because in the evidence he had in hand, there was a lot that was similar, and the evidence was conclusive.
Hu Cong's matter could be handled together with the evidence he had collected.
Meng Huaining called the attendant to bring Mo Chuhan over. It was said that the head of the boat gang was a master of martial arts. Sending those attendants who only knew some boxing skills would be at a disadvantage.
Not long after, Mo Chuhan, who was patrolling outside, was brought back.
In front of Mo Jiuye and his wife, Meng Huaining directly ordered Mo Chuhan to lead twenty attendants to rush to the boat gang and be sure to arrest the head of the boat gang.
Mo Chuhan left with the people. What Meng Huaining had to do now was to wait.
He greeted Mo Jiuye and his wife as well as Hu Cong to chat in the back hall, sent someone to fetch hot water for Hu Cong to wash away the filth on his body, and found a set of clean clothes for him to change into.
When Hu Cong came back after changing his clothes, he was like a different person.
The kind of scholarly temperament he inherently had was undeniable.
Meng Huaining asked casually, "Master Hu, don't be impatient. After the people from the boat gang are arrested and brought to justice, this official will definitely destroy your deed of sale, and give you corresponding compensation from their confiscated property."
Hu Cong stood up gratefully and bowed: "Thank you, sir, for standing up for me."
Meng Huaining waved his hand to indicate that he should not stand on ceremony.
Mo Jiuye was also very concerned about Hu Cong's situation: "Older brother Hu, now that your house has been burnt down, do you have a suitable place to live?"
Hu Cong shook his head helplessly: "I don't want to go back to the fishing village anymore, and I don't want to fish anymore. I might as well find another village to be an authentic farmer."
When she heard that Hu Cong wanted to be a farmer, He Zhiran suddenly had some thoughts.
She had heard from Mo Jiuye that Hu Cong was the number one craftsman in Datong. It was just that he had always been low-key, and after arriving in the northwest, he had never publicized his talents.
Such a talented person, not to mention in ancient times, even in modern times, would be like a top-level engineer.
She and Mo Jiuye had bought so many abandoned houses and land in Xiling Village, not only to build houses for their family to live in, but also to build some small workshops.
The workshops would inevitably need some advanced tools. Although she could buy such tools on Taobao, they would definitely not see the light of day.
It would be different with Hu Cong there. She could provide some blueprints and then ask Hu Cong to help make them so that they could be used openly and completely solve her troubles.
In addition, she personally felt that Hu Cong was a man of great talent, and it would be a pity if he continued to be buried.
"Since Older Brother Hu doesn't plan to go back to the fishing village, would you consider going to Xiling Village to be Mo family's neighbor? After all, we are all from the capital city. Living closer would allow us to take care of each other."
Mo Jiuye immediately saw what was on his wife's mind and helped persuade: "The villagers of Xiling Village are very simple, and there is a lot of farmland there. It happens that we are about to build houses right away. If Older Brother Hu doesn't mind, you can join us."
After being taken away by the boat gang, Hu Cong had already had the idea of feeling hopeless about life. He thought his life was over like this.
He didn't expect that after escaping from the boat gang, he would be rescued by Mo Jiuye. He had just mentioned his plans for the future on a whim without any detailed plans.
What's more, he didn't have a penny in his pocket at the moment, not even a place to stay.
If what the county magistrate said was true, he would be able to get some compensation from the boat gang. At that time, he could indeed consider going to Xiling Village to be Mo family’s neighbor.
"I have no objection to this, it's just that..."
When he spoke, Hu Cong's eyes couldn't help glancing at Meng Huaining, hoping to get confirmation from him that he would be able to get compensation from the boat gang.
Unexpectedly, Meng Huaining did not look at him, but stared blankly at the tea in his hand.
Even if Hu Cong didn't say so, Mo Jiuye could clearly understand his current predicament.
"Older Brother Hu doesn't have to worry too much. I can lend you some silver first to settle down in Xiling Village."
Hu Cong didn’t have a penny in his pocket. Now was not the time to pretend to decline courteously.
"Since that’s the case, Hu will not stand on ceremony with Master Mo. If I’m fortunate enough to get compensation from the boat gang, I will return it immediately. If not, I also have skills. As long as you give me some time, I will definitely be able to pay back the silver."
Mo Jiuye and He Zhiran had the resources of two national treasuries in their hands. How could they care about a little money?
The reason they were willing to help Hu Cong was purely because they valued his skills and character.
It could be said that both were indispensable.
"Older Brother Hu doesn't have to consider too much. Just settle down in Xiling Village."
Hu Cong's matter was temporarily arranged. After some casual chat, He Zhiran felt somewhat restless after about half an hour.
Suddenly, an attendant ran in in a panic, even forgetting to knock on the door in his hurry.
"Sir, bad news! The head of the boat gang knows poison. Just now when Mo Chuhan took us there to arrest them, we couldn't even get into the yard. The few people in front were poisoned and fainted."
Upon hearing this, Meng Huaining jumped up.
"What? You said the head of that boat gang used poison, what about our people?" What he cared most about now was the lives of his subordinates.
The attendant wiped the sweat from his forehead and continued to report: "The few brothers walking in front have lost consciousness, and Mo Chuhan is also a little dizzy."
Now it was Mo Jiuye's turn to panic.
Eighth Brother had narrowly escaped death. He couldn’t let the villain injure him again.
Moreover, he and He Zhiran had the same thought that for Wucheng, the boat gang could only be regarded as local tyrants. Most of them were just some gangsters.
However, someone who knew how to use poison and dared to use poison against the attendants must be extraordinary among those gangsters.
Through brief analysis, they both determined that the leader of this boat gang was not ordinary.
The situation was urgent. Mo Jiuye got up and said to Meng Huaining, "Brother Meng, I'm going over there to take a look now."
He Zhiran knew that Mo Jiuye was worried about Eighth Brother's safety. He didn't know anything about poisons either. It would be very easy for him to suffer a loss if he rushed over recklessly like this.
She also stood up, "Husband, take me with you."
When He Zhiran spoke, her eyes were extremely determined.
This time, Mo Jiuye didn't even consider rejecting her.
"No, you're pregnant now. I can't let you take risks."
He Zhiran subconsciously glanced at her belly. Indeed, she couldn't be too brave at this time.
After thinking twice, she followed Mo Jiuye out of the county government office gate.
At the street corner where no one was around, she handed Mo Jiuye an invisible anti-poison mask.
This thing was a disposable item and extremely thin. It was a military item in her infirmary that she had used during missions to prevent toxic gases from entering the body.
