Chapter 348: This is Clearly Robbery

Chapter 347: Accidentally Entering the Black Market It seemed like it was fate. Seizing the opportunity while both sides were distracted, Yuan Shanchuan reached out his hand in the darkness and took hold of the painting. Slowly and cautiously, he retreated, step by step, moving away from the woods and running in a different direction. When he finally snapped out of his daze, he had already escaped far, far away. At this crucial moment, Yuan Shanchuan had no choice but to take matters into his own hands. Being cautious, he remembered stories he had heard from his escort friend about incidents that occurred during their journeys. Recalling those details, he clumsily concealed any traces of his involvement. He knew that this was a matter of life and death, and one wrong move could lead to the same fate as the two escorts. Perhaps due to luck or maybe because both sides from that fateful night were too injured to bother searching for him, Yuan Shanchuan managed to hide for several days without revealing his whereabouts. He didn't dare to return home, fearing that it would bring trouble to his family. Therefore, he needed to quickly return to the city and deliver the painting to the county magistrate at the yamen. But with all the detours, hiding in the mountains, and pretending to be someone else, Yuan Shanchuan had exhausted all the money he had earned along the way. Finally, after all the hardship, he arrived outside the gates of Jiangyuan County. He was on the brink of victory, and tears of joy almost welled up in his eyes. However, his good fortune came to an end at that moment. Before he could enter the city, he saw the group of bandits guarding the city gate. Yuan Shanchuan was terrified and didn't dare to enter the city. He could only run in the opposite direction. His hasty escape made him appear suspicious among the crowd entering the city. The bandits immediately sensed that something was amiss and cautiously approached him. In a state of panic, Yuan Shanchuan kept his head down, desperately trying to get away. "Then I saw a convoy that seemed formidable. Some people were gathered, talking, while the last carriage that transported miscellaneous goods was temporarily unattended. In a moment of impulse, I directly hid inside the carriage." Shu Yu paused for a moment, uncertain, and asked, "This convoy, is it the black market's convoy?" "Yes." Yuan Shanchuan nodded. "Inside the carriage, there happened to be a large box. After hiding in it, I didn't dare to move. I thought the convoy was heading into the city, so I planned to find an opportunity to escape once I got inside." Little did he know that the convoy didn't enter the city gates but instead headed towards the outskirts and finally stopped at this estate. Da Niu questioned with confusion, "Are you saying that the carriage went straight into this estate? But our carriage couldn't enter beyond that bamboo forest outside." Yuan Shanchuan replied, "I'm not sure about that. The carriage I hid in did indeed stop inside this estate." Shu Yu rubbed her chin and said, "It seems like this black market has another entrance and exit." She looked at Yuan Shanchuan and asked, "What happened next? Did you stay in this black market the whole time?" "Yes, originally, I planned to quietly leave while they weren't paying attention. But this estate is strange. I couldn't find my way out no matter what. It seems this place has traps or formations that make it easy for ordinary people to get lost."

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Chapter 346: Encounter with Bandits Yuan Shanchuan was enticed by the rumors of lucrative wages. Although he didn't possess martial arts skills like the other escorts, he was in his prime and had physical strength. Assisting in transporting goods seemed like a suitable job for him. In a hurry to depart, Yuan Shanchuan had originally planned to find someone familiar or from his village in the county town to pass on a message to his family. Unfortunately, he didn't encounter any acquaintances, and the others couldn't afford to wait for him. Thus, he had no choice but to leave the town first. According to the estimated journey, he would be back in around ten days. He had informed his family beforehand that if he encountered other tasks, it might cause a delay of a few days. Little did he know that this delay would last for over a month. Yuan Shanchuan recalled the thrilling experiences during those days and still felt a lingering fear. "After we left the county town and traveled for two days, we didn't make it in time to find lodging one evening, so we camped out in the wilderness. Unexpectedly, we were attacked by bandits that night. Luckily, I went to relieve myself in the woods behind us. When I returned, I saw three or four men in black engaging in a fight with the others. My escort friend was kicked out and heavily fell to the ground, just three steps away from me, barely clinging to life." That was his friend, and despite being terrified, Yuan Shanchuan quietly approached, intending to drag him into the woods during the cover of darkness and find a way to save him. However, the escort grasped his arm and told him that among the cargo they were transporting, there was a very important item—a painting containing crucial case files related to the safety of the people of Jiangyuan County. It was in the second carriage. The escort urged him to find it and return to the city to deliver it to the county magistrate, making sure it wouldn't be snatched away by others. Yuan Shanchuan wanted to inquire further, but the escort couldn't hold on any longer. His grip loosened, and he took his last breath. Yuan Shanchuan was in a state of panic and had an instinctive feeling that the item was trouble and should not be meddled with. However, he was held back by the words "related to the safety of the people of Jiangyuan County," including himself and his whole family. Yet, he was just a small figure, lacking the ability to shoulder such a heavy burden. Yuan Shanchuan wanted to run, but his feet wouldn't move. At that moment, another escort was killed. Their convoy consisted of only five people to begin with—three escorts and two ordinary individuals with no martial arts skills, one of whom was Yuan Shanchuan. Now that the two skilled escorts had died, there was only one escort left to resist, along with one ordinary person who had turned and fled in fear. Seeing the other person run away, the remaining escort, unable to contend with three opponents alone, gritted his teeth and also fled. With two escorts dead and one escort and an ordinary person gone, Yuan Shanchuan hid behind the trees, not daring to make a sound. The three bandits didn't pursue any further. They directly began searching the carriages for the item they sought. Yuan Shanchuan held his breath and watched as they rummaged through the carriages. The painting was well hidden, but despite the commotion caused by the three bandits, they still managed to find it. However, just as they were about to leave with the painting, another group of people appeared, launching an attack to seize the artwork. The two sides clashed once again, and the situation became chaotic. The fight almost spilled over to Yuan Shanchuan's hiding spot. It was at this moment that, by sheer coincidence, the painting fell just a short distance away from Yuan Shanchuan, within his reach.

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 Chapter 345: Events from One Month Ago

Chapter 344: Fourth Uncle, Nice to Meet You Da Niu pulled a chair and sat beside the soft couch, leaning closer to Yuan Shanchuan. "It's really me, Fourth Uncle. This is just a disguise. I intentionally dressed up like this to enter this place." Yuan Shanchuan suddenly realized, "Right, this is the black market. How did you come to the black market? You should stay at home. It's dangerous to come to a place like this." Before he could finish his words, he suddenly noticed the presence of someone else. He turned his head abruptly, staring at Shu Yu with a guarded expression. Yes, she was the one who knocked him unconscious earlier. Shu Yu raised her hand and greeted him, "Fourth Uncle, nice to meet you. Unexpectedly, we meet under these circumstances. I'm sorry, I thought you were a bad person, so I used a heavy hand." "A woman??" Yuan Shanchuan's eyes widened, feeling like he was experiencing auditory hallucinations. In front of Yuan Shanchuan, Shu Yu didn't deliberately lower her voice. Her voice was clear and soft. Da Niu quickly introduced, "Fourth Uncle, this is Ah Yu. Oh, she's the second youngest sister from Second Uncle's family who was taken away when she was young." Yuan Shanchuan was even more shocked. "The second brother's second daughter? After so many years, you've really been found?" He was filled with astonishment, feeling incredulous. Second Brother's family had been searching for more than ten years, but they had no news. Unexpectedly, he had only been away from Second Brother's family for two or three months, and such good news suddenly came. Yuan Shanchuan couldn't see Shu Yu's appearance clearly. But knowing that she was Second Brother's child, he felt slightly relieved. He had been hiding and panicking for so long, and now suddenly having two close younger relatives by his side, Yuan Shanchuan let out a long breath. He looked up at the room in front of him, realizing it was a private room on the upper floor with good privacy. The subordinates who were searching for him in the black market would definitely not enter. He felt a little less panicked. However, he quickly thought of something and furrowed his brows, asking, "Da Niu, A- AYu, you haven't told me how you came to the black market. Who brought you here? Do you know what this black market does?" Da Niu glanced at Shu Yu and she said, "Fourth Uncle, those things aren't important right now. The important thing is why you're here." "I..." Yuan Shanchuan pursed his lips, remained silent for a moment, then turned his head. There were some things, some matters, that were not suitable for them to know. Da Niu grew anxious. "Fourth Uncle, please say something. Those people earlier were searching for you, right? You have to tell us what happened so we can figure out how to rescue you." But Yuan Shanchuan suddenly looked at him and said firmly, "I can't leave yet." Da Niu was stunned. "What are you saying?" Not leave? So he was not captured and brought into the black market, but he chose to stay here? "Why?" Da Niu asked. Yuan Shanchuan let out a deep breath. "I still have something unfinished here. Once I finish it, I'll find a way to leave." "What else is there? Tell us, we can think of a solution together." Yuan Shanchuan smiled and said, "Da Niu, it's better for you not to get involved in certain things." Shu Yu, who had remained silent, went to the table and poured a cup of tea, handing it to him. "Fourth Uncle, are you trying to say that the evidence against the former county magistrate is inside this auction house?"

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 Chapter 343: It's Me, I'm Da Niu

Chapter 342: Renting a Private Room Shu Yu was the only one who had Da Niu carry a bundle on his back. Inside the bundle was not something that could be traded; it was just some tools she used for disguises. She didn't want to leave it in the carriage and wanted to be prepared in case something happened in the black market. Anyway, all kinds of people entered the black market, so it wasn't unusual to walk around with a bundle. Shu Yu had Da Niu open the bundle and take out a piece of clothing. She brought both a set of men's clothing and a set of women's clothing. The women's clothing couldn't be used, and the men's clothing was a bit too long for Yuan Shanchuan. But it didn't matter. Shu Yu had Da Niu help him change into the clothes while she took the opportunity to use the restroom. When she came out, Da Niu had finished changing. Shu Yu had him block the artificial mountain while she changed Yuan Shanchuan's hairstyle. She let a portion of his hair hang down, covering his face. Then she blackened his face, realizing for the first time that there was an injured area on his face with a bruise on his lip. She wondered what he had been through during his disappearance. Shu Yu didn't have much time, so she quickly finished fixing his appearance and had Da Niu carry him out. Yuan Shanchuan was very thin, and the long clothes conveniently covered his worn-out shoes. With Da Niu carrying him, his head drooping and covering most of his face, as long as no one lifted his head, they wouldn't recognize him. Da Niu lifted him a bit and asked, "Master, what should we do now? Leave the black market and go home?" Shu Yu shook her head. "Not now. It's easy to attract attention if we leave immediately. Let's hide him first." "Where should we hide? People in the black market are still looking for him." "Let's hide in a private room. Come on, let's go to the second or third floor and rent a private room." Da Niu followed her as she walked forward, but when he heard her words, he gasped in surprise. "What did you say? Rent a private room?" He lowered his voice, not even bothering to use formalities anymore. "Ah Yu, that will cost thirty taels of silver. You, you..." Are you crazy? Shu Yu waved her hand. "Don't worry, someone will cover the expenses for me." "Who?" "Sir Xiang." Shu Yu chuckled. Although Yuan Shanchuan was her uncle, he was also the criminal that Sir Xiang was looking for. Especially since she had already informed Weinan, her fourth uncle might be in possession of some important evidence. Now that she had found such an important person, to protect him and safely bring him out, it was only fair for him to cover the expenses. Shu Yu had thought about finding Meng Yunzheng and Zhao Xi, but she didn't know which private room they were in. She couldn't search through each room one by one; that would be too suspicious. They could only wait until the auction was over and see when they came downstairs. They might need their help to take Yuan Shanchuan out. After hearing Shu Yu's words, Da Niu fell silent. If it wasn't Shu Yu's own money, he wouldn't be so concerned. Saving her fourth uncle was still the most important thing. With Da Niu carrying the unconscious Yuan Shanchuan, he followed behind Shu Yu and headed towards the upper floor. At this moment, the auction was at its most intense, especially in the private rooms on the upper floor. Bids were being called out one after another, and the guests in the hall were excitedly cheering. Shu Yu and her two companions entered through a side door without attracting much attention. She quickly led Da Niu to the second floor. As soon as they reached the top of the stairs, they ran into a black market staff member.

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 Chapter 341: Someone is Looking for Yuan Shanchuan

 Chapter 122: The Lu Family Learns the Truth

Lu Erbai watched her figure and couldn't help but feel heartbroken. In anger, he threw the piece of wood away and exclaimed, "The Zhang family has gone too far!"

"Dad, let Sister divorce Zhang Shu," Shu Yu brought up the matter again.

The three of them present were stunned for a moment. Lu Dasong hesitated and said, "The Zhang family is indeed not good, but that Zhang Shu isn't a bad person."

"Zhang Shu isn't a good person either," Shu Yu sneered.

However, she stopped herself from mentioning Zhang Shu's issue in front of everyone.

Uncle Lu Dasong was alright; he knew his boundaries. But Uncle Sanzhu... if he knew such a big gossip, he would definitely be unable to resist going back and telling the Liang family. It wouldn't take a day for the whole city to know.

Shu Yu didn't care if Zhang Shu's reputation was ruined, but if that happened, Zhang Shu would become cautious. It would be difficult for her to find the inhumane evidence she was looking for. Shu Yu preferred a direct hit, to crush the opponent completely.

So Shu Yu sat there, busy with her own thoughts, while still listening to Lu Sanzhu's complaints about the Zhang family. The matter of divorce was not mentioned again by any of them.

Only after Lu Dasong and Lu Sanzhu left and the whole family had dinner, they sat in the hall and asked about Da Ya's condition. Shu Yu calmly explained Da Ya's situation.

She didn't send San Ya and Da Hu away. Although the two children were young, they needed to be educated in this matter as well. Otherwise, they might end up like Da Ya, fooled by scumbags in the future.

However, after Shu Yu finished speaking, apart from the two children, the three people present all wore shocked expressions, as if they had heard an unbelievable story.

Ruan Shi grabbed Da Ya's hand and asked, "Is it true? Are you still pure? Zhang Shu hasn't touched you?"

Da Ya shook her head.

The old lady trembled as she stood up and suddenly pulled Da Ya towards the room. "Come with me."

As soon as the two entered, the old lady closed the door.

Shortly after, as they were leaving, the old lady nearly fell to the ground. Shu Yu acted quickly and supported her, saying, "Granny, calm down."

"I'm not calm, I'm not calm! How could I not be furious?" The old lady shed tears. "My good daughter, she was treated so miserably by them, by those beasts. How dare they take us for fools, animals! That beast has caused my daughter to bear so much shame and suffering!"

Lu Erbai grabbed a nearby stick and was even willing to ignore his own recently healed leg injury to confront them.

Shu Yu's pupils dilated, and she quickly held him back. "Father, stay calm."

Lu Erbai couldn't calm down. It was all his fault. His eldest daughter suffered, his second daughter was sold, his eldest son and third daughter couldn't eat or dress properly—it was all his fault.

He wanted to kill Zhang Shu and seek justice for his daughter.

Shu Yu hurriedly said, "Father, actually, this might not be a bad thing for eldest sister."

Lu Erbai was taken aback. He turned around, and the teary-eyed old lady and Ruan Shi also looked at her.

Shu Yu continued, "Zhang Shu is clearly the one at fault here. In this situation, even if our eldest sister doesn't divorce him, she will have to. But now that we have exposed their wrongdoing, everyone will sympathize with her. It will be easier for her to remarry in the future, right?"

This way, it would be much better than Lu Erbai rushing over and beating up Zhang Shu.

After being persuaded by Shu Yu, the whole family calmed down. She had become the backbone of the Lu family.

As for what would happen next, it was up to Shu Yu. The most important thing for now was for them to act as if they knew nothing. She would continue making clothes and modeling, and they would keep the eldest daughter at home. If anyone from the Zhang family or Zhang Shu himself came, they would kick them out directly.

(End of this chapter)