"Have you collected any news about the Mo Family?"
The man from the southern border shook his head desperately: "No."
Mo Jiuye did not believe him at all.
"The thug from the shipping business said you've been in Yun City for over a month. Don't tell me you've done nothing during this past month?"
The man from the southern border nodded his head vigorously again.
"I indeed have done nothing."
This man was timid and afraid to die. Mo Jiuye felt that he did not seem to be lying.
"Why?"
"When I set off for Yun City, Master gave me a very special homing pigeon. That pigeon was extremely spiritual and could find my master no matter where he was.
Because I was greedy for the company of beautiful women, I went to the brothel in the prefecture and got drunk. I accidentally let the pigeon get stolen.
My master has a fierce temper. If he finds out I lost the pigeon, he will definitely take my life. That's why I didn't dare go back to the southern border and decided to hide in Da Shun for the time being."
Mo Jiuye sneered: "So then you took over as the head of the shipping business?"
The man from the southern border nodded: "I wandered around the prefecture for about a month and found no decent way to make good money there. So I simply came to Yun City.
I heard the commoners on the streets say running a shipping business was a lucrative endeavor without much capital. So I set my mind on getting into that business."
Now Mo Jiuye understood everything. This man from the southern border did not intend to continue following Mr. Si Meng. He wanted to stay in Yun City and become a local tycoon.
He did not expect the original head of the shipping business to get exposed. And he got burned because of his association.
Mo Jiuye had one last and most critical question for him.
Of course, Mo Jiuye did not have high hopes of getting any useful information out of him.
"Do you know where Mr. Si Meng is?"
"I don't know. My master comes and goes without a trace. I've only seen him once and didn't even see his real face."
"Then how did he give you instructions?" Mo Jiuye did not give up questioning.
"He always passed messages to me through my teacher. As for how my teacher contacted him, I have no idea."
After a pause, the man from the southern border added: "My teacher is my master's top disciple."
So far, Mo Jiuye was quite satisfied with his performance. At least it was apparent that if he asked who his teacher was, the man would readily answer.
As for Mr. Si Meng's top disciple, he had already died by Mo Jiuye's hands some time ago. Mo Jiuye had asked him everything he could. As for the man in front of him, Mo Jiuye knew he couldn't get any more useful information out of him.
Mo Jiuye first glanced at He Zhiran: "Zhiran, go wait for me at the teahouse. I'll take this man to the county government."
"Alright, be safe."
He Zhiran felt nauseous for some reason smelling the faint scent of blood on the southern border man.
It was good timing to go back to the teahouse for some water and settle her stomach.
Mo Jiuye did not know his wife was uncomfortable. He directly took the southern border man to the government office.
The officers from the shipping business had also found the original head and captured some of his important subordinates back to the county government office.
The case had nothing to do with Mo Jiuye. Meng Huaining was the person in charge of handling these people. Mo Jiuye bid them farewell and went back to the teahouse with Hu Cong to get He Zhiran.
By this time, Mo Chuhan had also sobered up and was about to get up to go to the county government office to meet with the poisoner.
He Zhiran was persuading him that he would feel dizzy after just having recovered from the poison and should stay to rest for now.
Just then, Mo Jiuye came back. Seeing his eighth brother not listening, he went up and pressed him back down in his seat.
"Eighth brother, I've already sent the poisoner to the government office. The men from the shipping business were also taken back by the officers. Meng Daren is there handling things, so don't worry. Just focus on recovering."
Hearing that things were basically settled at the government office, Mo Chuhan finally felt relieved and asked Mo Jiuye for details about the captured men.
Mo Jiuye told him everything he had gotten out of the southern border man.
Mo Chuhan said indignantly: "Ninth brother, if we don't get rid of Mr. Si Meng, not only can we not find our missing elders, I'm afraid we won't get to live in peace at home either."
This was an indisputable fact. Whether using poison or sorcery, Mr. Si Meng was a top master. Mo Jiuye did not dare let his brothers recklessly go searching.
Although he was also eager to rescue his elders and wanted to live in peace, everything had to be carefully planned before taking action.
"Eighth brother, let's discuss this thoroughly when we get home before making a decision."
Although Mo Chuhan was a bit hotheaded, he was not completely brainless. He naturally understood what his ninth brother was thinking.
He was just feeling unfair for the moment.
"I know. I'll listen to your arrangements from now on."
The two brothers did not intend to keep their conversation from Hu Cong. Hu Cong would be living in Xi Ling Village in the future, so he would inevitably find out about the Mo family's circumstances.
Moreover, they had found so many elders in the family. Hu Cong would see them sooner or later.
Mo Jiuye did not plan on keeping the matter a secret. The Mo men could not live in hiding for a lifetime. Everything would eventually come to light anyway, so they might as well live openly.
Hu Cong knew a little about the Mo family's situation. When he saw Mo Chuhan at the county government office earlier, he was indeed shocked, unable to comprehend how someone already dead could appear again.
After hearing their conversation, Hu Cong had a general guess in his mind.
Having been in court service for many years, he understood very well the virtue of not being too curiously inclined.
Therefore, Hu Cong maintained a calm attitude throughout.
After getting Eighth Brother settled down, the time Mo Jiuye spent out with He Zhiran was about up too.
Since there were no other important matters in Yun City, they went back to Xi Ling Village together.
The Mo family womenfolk were not familiar with Hu Cong. When Mo Jiuye and his wife came back with a stranger, everyone's attention turned to Hu Cong.
Mo Jiuye introduced Hu Cong and his identity to the family. Only then did the wives know that the man was someone who shared the same misery as them.
Hu Cong was even more pitiful than the Mo's. At least the Mo's could take care of each other, while when Hu Cong was exiled, there were only him and his wife with no one to rely on. And now his situation was even more disastrous with him left all alone.
The Mo family greatly sympathized with Hu Cong and were very warm towards him.
However, Hu Cong was still an outsider after all, and there were many women in the family, so it was inconvenient for him to spend the night there. Mo Jiuye took Hu Cong to the head of the Jiang clan and helped rent him a small courtyard to stay at temporarily.
Of course, the money and some daily supplies were provided by the Mo family.
Hu Cong expressed deep gratitude and said he would repay the silver as soon as possible.
On her trip out He Zhiran finally obtained a legitimate reason for the antidote she helped her sister-in-law's prepare. Early next morning, she gave one pill to each sister-in-law.
In addition, she specifically arranged some medicinal tonics, hoping her sister-in-law's could fulfill their wish to have children sooner.
Soon there was more good news.
The little collectibles dealer worked efficiently. He Zhiran had just entered the space when she saw his message.
[I have obtained the crane bamboo you wanted. It can go on the shelf anytime.]
