Chapter 135: Better Not to Meet Than to Add to One's Troubles

Niu Da, Qin Mutou, and the others waited outside the county magistrate's office for a long time without seeing Xu Mo, so they considered going in to check on him.

Just then, Xu Mo emerged.

Qin Mutou immediately hurried over. "Master, why did it take so long?"

Niu Da followed, asking, "Master, did something happen?"

The rest of the group looked at Xu Mo with concern.

Xu Mo shook his head with a smile. "How could anything happen? The magistrate was busy praising us the whole time; I didn't even get a chance to speak."

Upon hearing that the magistrate had praised them, the group beamed with joy, feeling a great sense of pride.

Xu Mo then took out several banknotes and handed them to Niu Da. "Niu Da, take a few men and split up to help me buy some things."

"What are we buying, Master?" Niu Da asked, looking at the banknotes.

Xu Mo instructed them to buy mutton, pork, live chickens, and ducks, as well as over forty lightweight, durable wooden shields.

Niu Da understood the need for the food, but he was puzzled by the request for the wooden shields.

Xu Mo explained, "Although we drove those bandits back, they still outnumber us. They have already tasted the power of our bamboo spears. If I were them, I would certainly copy our methods, arm everyone with bamboo spears, and come back to cause us trouble."

"Therefore, we must prepare protective gear in advance; otherwise, if we encounter them again, we won't win as easily as we did today."

Niu Da, Qin Mutou, and the others nodded repeatedly, finding Xu Mo's reasoning sound.

Afterward, Xu Mo arranged to meet everyone at the Fragrant Skin Specialty Store, and Niu Da led his men to split up and make the purchases.

Xu Mo and Qin Mutou headed toward the store. On the way, Xu Mo spotted a pharmacy and stopped to buy some styptic medicine and bandages. He knew well that if they encountered the bandits again, it might lead to a much bloodier fight, and casualties were inevitable; these supplies had to be prepared in advance.

After buying the medicine, Xu Mo arrived at the store. Niu Er, Niu San, and the others had already finished unloading the cargo and had been waiting for a long time. Seeing Xu Mo and Qin Mutou approach, they all came forward. Xu Mo, seeing that everyone was fine, directed them to the market to help Niu Da and the others carry the supplies back.

Xu Mo then entered the shop and headed for the second floor. As he started up the stairs, he heard someone call his name from below.

"Master Xu." It was a woman's voice.

Xu Mo turned and looked down to see Manager Xie Yuqing.

Xie Yuqing hurried up to the second floor, bowed slightly, and asked, "Master Xu, are you looking for the young mistress?"

Xu Mo nodded. "Yes."

Xie Yuqing moved to the other side of Xu Mo, subtly blocking the path to Ning Yaxin's room. "Master Xu, the young mistress is not here today. If you have something to say, you can tell me instead," she said.

Xu Mo could tell at a glance that she was lying; Ning Yaxin was definitely in her room. He paused for a moment and asked, "Manager Xie, does Miss Ning not wish to see me?"

Xie Yuqing hesitated slightly before answering, "No, Master Xu, the young mistress is truly not here. Perhaps you should come back another day."

Seeing this, Xu Mo felt it was best not to press the issue. "Very well, Manager Xie, I will come back another time."

With that, he turned and went back down the stairs, leaving the shop.

Once she was certain Xu Mo had truly left, Xie Yuqing went to Ning Yaxin's room. Ling'er opened the door after two knocks. Ning Yaxin was busy calculating accounts, though she seemed absent-minded.

"Young mistress, Master Xu has left," Xie Yuqing said.

Ning Yaxin nodded slowly and asked calmly, "Did he say anything?" Despite her calm demeanor, she was secretly hoping that Xu Mo might have said something for her.

Xie Yuqing replied, "Young mistress, Master Xu asked me if it was you who did not want to see him."

"And how did you answer?" Ning Yaxin asked quickly.

"I didn't answer him, I just said you weren't here, and he left, saying he would come back to see you another time."

A wave of disappointment washed over Ning Yaxin. Deep down, she had secretly hoped Xu Mo would bypass Xie Yuqing and come into the room to find her.

Ning Yaxin asked again, "By the way, Manager Xie, they encountered bandits today. Is Master Xu all right?"

Xie Yuqing nodded. "Rest assured, young mistress, Master Xu is perfectly fine."

"I see. Manager Xie, you may go back to your work," Ning Yaxin said.

After Xie Yuqing left and Ling'er closed the door, Ning Yaxin walked over to the window. Ling'er approached and whispered, "Young mistress, do you really intend to never see Master Xu again?"

Ning Yaxin sighed softly and shook her head. "It only adds to the sorrow; it is better not to meet."

After Xu Mo left the Ning residence that day, Ning Yaxin had locked herself in her room and wept silently all night. Through that night, she had realized that she and Xu Mo could never truly be together. Rather than sinking deeper, it was better to make a clean break.

***

In the afternoon, around the hour of 3 PM.

At the city gate, Xu Mo's two carts were loaded with wooden shields, mutton, and pork. Because they had bought so much, Xu Mo had rented two additional flatbeds, which were now filled with live chickens, ducks, medicine, and bandages.

After Niu Da finished counting the men, Xu Mo gave the order, and the procession set off in a grand line toward Gushan Village.

On the way back, Xu Mo remembered someone and asked Niu Da, "By the way, Niu Da, has Li Sanshui returned?"

Niu Da shook his head. "No. I've had Niu San check his home every day, but Li Sanshui hasn't returned, and there is no news of him. We don't know where he went, and his mother is worried sick."

Xu Mo frowned slightly, thinking for a moment before saying, "Once we get back, let's search the mountains near the village. I hope nothing has happened to him."

"Understood, Master. As soon as we get back, I'll take the men into the mountains to search," Niu Da promised readily.

But Xu Mo could not have known that at that very moment, Li Sanshui was in a small town hundreds of miles away from Heyang County.

This town, called Xiyang, was home to a large salt mine, and the residents there mostly dealt in the salt trade. Li Sanshui had not come to Xiyang voluntarily. Not long after he met Jiang Zhaoming at the Laojun Temple, he had been knocked unconscious from behind and forcibly taken to Xiyang.

Upon arrival, Li Sanshui was thrown into the dark prison of the salt mine. Even though he shouted until his throat was raw, no one paid him any mind. At that moment, Li Sanshui regretted his actions bitterly, cursing Jiang Zhaoming incessantly as he wept uncontrollably.

Meanwhile, in the reception hall, Jiang Zhaoming was chatting and drinking tea with the local mine supervisor.

As they talked, the supervisor steered the conversation toward Li Sanshui. He laughed, "Master Jiang, now that the man is in my hands, you can put your heart at ease. Without my nod, he will never step foot out of Xiyang Town for the rest of his life! Hahaha..."

Jiang Zhaoming nodded. "I am naturally assured of that, but Supervisor, if he starts running his mouth..."

The supervisor didn't need to hear the rest; he understood immediately and interrupted, "Rest assured, Master Jiang. Tonight, I will turn him into a mute, ensuring he won't be able to speak nonsense ever again!"

"Many thanks, Supervisor!" Jiang Zhaoming bowed in gratitude.

Then, Jiang Zhaoming took out two 100-tael banknotes and placed them before the supervisor, smiling. "Supervisor, a small token of my appreciation; please, don't refuse."

The supervisor accepted the banknotes with great delight and said, "Master Jiang, be sure to send my regards to your father and uncle when you return."

"Certainly, certainly," Jiang Zhaoming agreed quickly.