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“How is the situation this year? Have we planted everything I instructed?” Wang Jinhe inquired.
“Madam, rest assured, we’ve planted everything we were supposed to,” Liang, the steward, reassured her.
“That’s good to hear.”
“By the way, Madam, there was a landlord who came by earlier, offering a thousand acres of land. I told him to hold off for now,” Liang informed her.
Wang Jinhe was surprised by this unexpected offer to sell land.
“Why would he consider selling the land? Isn’t it usually the more land, the better for a landlord? Why does this landlord seem different from the others?”
“If it were any other day, this landlord would definitely not be willing to sell his land. It’s just that now he has no choice but to do so,” Liang explained.
“What happened?” Wang Jinhe inquired further.
“This landlord, surnamed Long, is actually a good person. During the natural disasters in the past, he helped many people. He is quite renowned for his philanthropy in Fu’an County. He has two sons; the elder one ventured into business but unfortunately got swindled, accumulating a substantial debt. Left with no other option, they have to sell the land to repay the debts,” Liang expressed his sympathy for Landlord Long.
It was unfortunate that the elder son of Landlord Long, a decent individual, fell victim to deceit, leading to the current situation where they have to sell their land to settle the debts.
“If they were swindled, why didn’t you report it to the authorities?” Wang Jinhe asked with curiosity.
“I’m not sure about that,” Liang, the steward, admitted he only knew limited details about the situation. He was unsure how to respond to Wang Jinhe’s question.
“Inform Landlord Long that I will take the land,” Wang Jinhe instructed.
“Alright, I will do that right away.”
Upon learning that Wang Jinhe wanted his land, Landlord Long was delighted and accompanied Liang to meet her.
“Greetings, County Princess.”
“Please rise, Landlord Long. I’ve heard about your situation from Liang. If you have evidence of being deceived, you could have sought legal recourse instead of reaching the point of selling your land. Why did it come to this?” Wang Jinhe inquired.
Landlord Long wore a bitter smile, expressing his helplessness. “If possible, I wouldn’t want to sell the land. It’s a legacy from our ancestors, and it pains me to part with it during my time,” he explained.
Listening to Landlord Long’s words, Wang Jinhe remained silent, allowing him to express his sentiments.
“At that time, my son had signed all contracts with them, but later, the contracts went missing. They accused my son of deception and demanded compensation for their losses. Even if we knew they were behind this, we were helpless. We had no choice but to watch it unfold,” Landlord Long explained. The money had to be repaid, or they would face imprisonment. He couldn’t risk his son’s safety.
“Things can be earned again, but once a life is lost, it’s gone forever,” Landlord Long expressed his dilemma.
Wang Jinhe nodded in understanding, realizing they were trapped in a difficult situation.
As Wang Jinhe pondered how to assist them, a man who bore a striking resemblance to Landlord Long entered. It was likely his son.
“Father, we shouldn’t sell the land. I will find a way to retrieve what was lost,” the son insisted.
“What nonsense are you talking about? They are clearly trying to trap you. By refusing to sell, you are walking right into their trap,” Landlord Long sternly warned his son.
The child is intelligent but stubborn, lacking flexibility in his thinking.
“Yuan Lin, bring Su Yu over here,” Wang Jinhe instructed.
“Yes, Madam.”
Upon receiving the message, Su Yu rode over to the location. Seeing Wang Jinhe assessing him, he knew everything was fine, which put him at ease.
“Xiao He, did you call me here for something specific?” Su Yu inquired.
“Yes, Landlord Long is selling his land to us due to some family issues. I sense foul play in their situation, so I wanted you to come and see if you can help them. Over the years, during the natural disasters in Xuan Empire, their family has contributed significantly,” Wang Jinhe explained.
Since Wang Jinhe had brought it up, Su Yu naturally agreed to assist.
“Give me a detailed account of the situation, and I’ll see what can be done,” Su Yu requested, looking at Landlord Long and his family.
Landlord Long was quick to respond, narrating the events with some input from his son where details were missed.
“That’s the gist of it,” Landlord Long concluded.
Su Yu lightly tapped the tabletop, contemplating that while the situation could be manageable, it also posed challenges. The approach to resolving it would be crucial.
“Do you have a way to help them, Su Yu?” Wang Jinhe inquired curiously.
“There’s definitely a solution. Just tell me where these individuals are located,” Su Yu responded.
“They are currently residing in the county town. They won’t leave until they receive the money I have,” Landlord Long explained.
“Alright, I’ll have someone take care of it,” Su Yu assured.
After delegating the task, Su Yu instructed Landlord Long and his son to wait for updates.
As the sun began to set, Yuan Bao returned with Yuan Lin. “Young Master, we’ve retrieved the items, but…”
“But what?” Su Yu inquired, looking at Yuan Bao.
“Those people not only engaged in deceit but also kidnapped several children. I saw that these children are from influential families. If something were to happen to them, it wouldn’t bode well for us,” Yuan Bao expressed concern. The sudden disappearance of children from prominent families could lead to unforeseen consequences.
Upon hearing about the kidnapping, Landlord Long’s son was shocked to learn that they were involved in such heinous acts.
“I… I had no idea about this,” he stammered.
Seeing the terrified reaction, Su Yu remained silent. With such fear, what else could these individuals possibly dare to do?
Wang Jinhe jokingly nudged Su Yu, “Don’t scare the poor guy.”
“How did you get involved with these people?” Su Yu asked, looking at him.
“Long’an, quickly explain what’s going on. Child trafficking is a serious crime,” Su Yu prompted, emphasizing the severity of the situation.
“I was introduced by a friend who had a good relationship with those people. He often dined and drank with them and facilitated business dealings. I trusted the introduction from my friend without giving it much thought, only to end up in this situation,” Long’an revealed, feeling uneasy at the thought of his friend’s betrayal.
Realizing that his friend had deceived him, Long’an couldn’t understand why he was misled in such a manner.
“It seems like you had a good relationship with this person,” Su Yu noted, observing Long’an’s strained attempt at a smile.
“If you don’t want to smile, then don’t force it. You look hideous,” Su Yu remarked, expressing disdain.
Wang Jinhe looked at Su Yu, torn between amusement and exasperation at his blunt words. Can’t he speak more tactfully?
“Business people should not make such amateur mistakes. This is a consequence of your own making,” Su Yu pointed out. Partnering with someone without fully understanding them was a mistake that deserved consequences.
Wang Jinhe wholeheartedly agreed.
Even blood relatives hold each other accountable; this individual made an unforgivable error from the start.
Landlord Long, feeling irritated, glanced at his son, “I’ve told you before, learn to observe people with your heart, not just your eyes. Sometimes, eyes can deceive.”
“Father, I understand. I won’t make the same mistake again,” Long’an responded, feeling uncomfortable with his father’s scolding. Being deceived is indeed a terrible feeling.