Chapter 49: Unable to Evade

The gatekeeper, standing straight in front of the Liu Residence, glanced down.

After seeing the two-qian piece of loose silver in Wei Yunlan’s hand, he looked ahead, avoiding eye contact, pretending not to hear.

Wei Yunlan reached into her sleeve and pulled out the two-qian piece, replacing it with two taels of silver.

The gatekeeper’s ears instantly became much more sensitive. He took the silver and said, “Our Manager doesn’t see just anyone. I’ll go inside and inform him, but there’s no guarantee you’ll get to see him.”

“Wait.” Wei Yunlan stopped the gatekeeper and took a brocade box from the carriage. “This is a gift from our master for your Manager.”

It was a pair of elegant, carved sandalwood paperweights.

The gatekeeper couldn’t tell much about it, only that it was surely expensive and likely to catch the Manager’s eye. His attitude became more polite. “I’ll go inform him right away.”

A moment later, the Liu Residence gate opened.

The gatekeeper greeted them from inside, “Please come in, guests. The Manager has just finished his business today. Please come inside for a chat.”

“Heh, this Liu Residence was indeed as arrogant” as Manager Feng had said.

Only money could open the way.

It was a three-courtyard residence. There weren’t many servants, but the furnishings were exquisite, even more elaborate than those of ordinary officials of the fourth or fifth rank.

As Wei Yunlan understood, this wasn’t the Liu family’s main residence, just a residence in Suizhou that the master didn’t frequent. It was usually occupied only by the Manager.

Guided by a servant from the residence, they walked to the side hall of the front courtyard. The Manager was already seated there, waiting for them.

That plump figure and arrogant demeanor—it was indeed the same Manager Liu she had seen at Fengji Porcelain Shop!

Wei Yunlan had intentionally dressed as a maid today and darkened her face a couple of shades, just to avoid being recognized.

However, he clearly didn’t pay attention to an insignificant little maid and focused his gaze on Manager Wang. After inviting him to sit down, he said with a hint of scrutiny and exploration, “Are you from another province? You look unfamiliar.”

Manager Wang had been working in the outer court for many years, and he had at least interacted with the households of princes and dukes. He could handle the situation with ease. He immediately responded with a calm and composed fabricated story, “I’m from Yuezhou. My family is in the business of buying and selling medicinal herbs, specializing in ginseng, deer antler, and other precious items. I heard that your residence has connections to sell goods to the capital, so I came here to pay a visit today.”

Upon hearing the words “ginseng” and “deer antler,” Manager Liu’s eyes lit up, and he even sat up straighter.

This was a big deal. If he handled it well, he would surely win the praise of the master. Perhaps he could be transferred to Lianzhou as a Manager. That would be a truly lucrative position.

In an instant, Manager Liu’s gaze toward Manager Wang became fervent.

Manager Wang described a batch of non-existent medicinal herbs and fabricated a bunch of numbers about the quantity he planned to sell. Manager Liu was excited by what he heard. Both of them were eager to forge a “good relationship” and had quickly started calling each other “Brother” and “Older Brother.”

Manager Wang said, “I’ll send someone home to send a letter and bring the first batch of goods to Suizhou for you to see, Older Brother.”

Manager Liu said, “Then I’ll be waiting for good news from you, Older Brother! Do you have any other arrangements for the next few days? Why don’t you let me be the host and take you around Suizhou?”

“That’s not necessary. The situation in Suizhou…” Manager Wang hesitated slightly.

Manager Liu slapped his forehead, “Oh, I was so excited talking to you, Older Brother, that I forgot about the current situation in the city. But our Liu family’s influence is not limited to Suizhou. We also have connections in Chongzhou and Lianzhou. If you’re interested, after we successfully collaborate, I can introduce you to expanding your business to Chongzhou and Lianzhou.”

“Oh?” Manager Wang feigned a suitable expression of doubt, his mind racing with anticipation.

Young Master Mingxuan and his servant Wang Gui had gone missing in the area of Lianzhou!

“I wonder what kind of business your residence handles in Chongzhou and Lianzhou?”

“Our Liu residence handles a lot of businesses.” As he spoke about the Liu family, Manager Liu regained some of his initial arrogance. It was obvious that the businesses they handled were extraordinary.

But while he seemed to talk about everything, he was actually very tight-lipped. He never revealed the Liu family’s primary industry, only mentioning unimportant businesses like restaurants and pawnshops.

Fearing that too many questions would make Manager Liu suspicious, Manager Wang instead chatted casually, complimenting Manager Liu’s demeanor and attire, especially praising the embroidery on his clothes and boots.

“These are all the handiwork of the embroiderers in the residence. It’s a pity they don’t work for outsiders. Otherwise, I could get you a few pieces, Older Brother.” Manager Liu boasted about the Liu family’s wealth, claiming they had over fifty embroiderers from the south.

Wei Yunlan took the opportunity to pour tea and gave Manager Wang a discreet signal.

Manager Wang immediately understood.

They had already exchanged enough pleasantries. It was time to leave!

After a few more polite exchanges, Manager Wang offered his farewells.

Exiting the Liu Residence and getting into the carriage, his demeanor changed instantly. He bowed respectfully to Wei Yunlan. “Miss, the group that Young Master encountered is indeed related to the Liu family!”

“Let me think…”

Wei Yunlan leaned against the carriage wall, closing her eyes and massaging her temples.

The information gleaned from Manager Liu, while seemingly scattered, could be pieced together.

First, the group that abducted the able-bodied men among the refugees came from the Liu family or had a close connection to them.

Second, the Liu family had shady businesses that brought in large sums of money in Lianzhou and Chongzhou.

If those refugees weren’t being sold to other provinces, then they were being abducted to work in these illicit businesses.

What kind of work and business would require such a group of people, especially with the advantage of being able to use refugees?

Wei Yunlan felt a line becoming increasingly clear in her mind.

She suddenly opened her eyes.

She knew!

What did Chongzhou and Lianzhou specialize in?

“…..”

As the carriage circled through Suizhou, shaking off the Liu Residence’s servant, in a mountain valley a hundred miles away.

“Crack!” A whip snapped in Wei Mingxuan and Wang Gui’s ears.

The whip landed not far from them. The man wielding the whip glanced at Wei Mingxuan and Wang Gui, frowning in disdain.

“How much strength can those skinny frames have? You didn’t even pick carefully when you captured them!”

“What are you looking at? Did I ask you to speak? Hurry up and move forward!”

He whipped again, impatiently urging them on.

Wei Mingxuan and Wang Gui moved forward with the crowd, picking up picks and shouldering baskets, entering the dark mine.

They exchanged wry smiles.

They had evaded the whips of the officials, but they couldn’t evade the whips of the mine foreman in this dark mine?