C46

The Ling Residence's back door closed with a creak. Someone carried a bundle and left from the Ling Residence's back door.

"What on earth happened? Why did suddenly so many guards get dismissed? People are leaving from here every day for the past few days."

"This is already the seventh person. I heard that there are two more people packing their bags and they will be leaving soon."

The two servants who were guarding the back door watched the figure with the bags on his back leave, and they began to discuss what had happened in the manor in the past few days.

"I heard that it's all because of Eldest Young Master's intentions." One of them said in a low voice.

The other person shrugged, "Eldest Young Master again? What exactly does the Eldest Young Master want to do? Ever since the incident with the Jia family, it's as if he's a completely different person. Everyone is afraid of him now. "

"How can I, a lowly gatekeeper, know what the Eldest Young Master is thinking? I just hope that he doesn't expel us."

Although Ling Zhang did not hear the discussions of the servants in private, he could guess what they would say. It was just that he did not care.

"Eldest Young Master, according to your instructions, we have dismissed the nine people. But now that we're out of nine positions, should we recruit someone new to fill them? " Wang Dashan asked respectfully and cautiously.

After interacting with him for a while, Wang Dashan had become somewhat afraid of Eldest Young Master from the bottom of his heart.

Ling Zhang had only trained in nursing home for a few days, and he could already see everyone within the nursing home very clearly. Even Wang Dashan himself had to spend a long period of time together before being able to see through the people under his command. Wang Dashan felt that he could not compare to such discerning eyes, and as a result, he couldn't help but be more respectful in front of Ling Zhang, afraid that he would be noticed if he was even the slightest bit careless.

"Fill in one person first. You go solicit them yourself. Remember, don't hire those waiting to be fed, nor those liking to owe debts; not to mention those with troublesome backgrounds. Come back and let me know when you have a candidate." Ling Zhang said.

Just to recruit one more person? Although Wang Dashan didn't understand what Ling Zhang wanted to do, he would definitely complete his instructions. It was not only because the treatment given to him by the Ling Family was not bad, more importantly, he was suddenly filled with anticipation at what Ling Zhang was about to do.

After Wang Dashan left, Ling Zhang called a person to ask: "Has Xia Feng sent a letter back yet?"

"Returning to the Eldest Young Master, not yet." The servant replied respectfully.

"Tell me right away when you get a letter of reply." Ling Zhang said.

"Yes." The servant replied.

The background of the remaining twenty-one people Ling Zhang had handed over to Xia Feng to check, and the results would not be known until Xia Feng came back. Therefore, he was not in a hurry to recruit new members. The reason he recruited one person first was just to see if Wang Dashan could complete the mission as he had promised.

It had already been four days since the day Second Uncle wanted to tell him about his mother's background and it was interrupted by his grandfather. During this time, Ling Zhang searched through his parents once again, wanting to find some useful clue that could indicate the origin of his mother's birth. Unfortunately, he didn't manage to find anything.

Most of his mother's belongings had been buried, the most useful books had been burned, and the only things that were barely worth a dowry were the ordinary brocade rings, gold and silver, and a few calligraphy and paintings, and nothing else were left.

Ling Zhang had a headache due to his grandfather's stubbornness.

"Eldest Young Master, Second Master is back. He's calling for you." The servant suddenly came to report.

The Second Uncle should be at the yamen by now, why would he come back?

Ling Zhang hurriedly walked out. As soon as he walked out, the A Da came out from nowhere and ran over to his feet. He had a piece of wood in his mouth.

Ling Zhang looked down at it: "What are you holding in your mouth, and where did you run off to?"

A Da placed the piece of wood he was holding in his mouth next to Ling Zhang's feet, like presenting a treasure. When Ling Zhang saw that it was a small wooden monkey, his face immediately darkened.

This was something he bought for Mao Mao on the street that day. The little guy loved it and couldn't let go of it, as it had been on his hands every day. Now, it was covered with A Da’s saliva and cut by tooth marks.

"Bastard, who told you to bite this? Should we beat you up when Mao Mao comes back?" Ling Zhang scolded.

The A Da drooped his head and whimpered as he rubbed Ling Zhang's leg. Ling Zhang retreated and looked at it coldly with a straight face.

The A Da did not dare to get close, and just sat there, not daring to look at him.

Ling Zhang wanted to see Ling Zhaowen, so he didn't have time to teach it a lesson. He found someone to wash the wooden monkey and kept it, then ordered the A Da to obediently stay where he was and not to run around, "Wait till we get back!"

Seeing Ling Zhang leaving in a hurry, the A Da first sat quietly for a while, then could no longer sit still and ran away again.

"Second Uncle, you were looking for me? Is there something urgent? " Ling Zhang asked as they walked into Ling Zhaowen's courtyard.

"Today, the Lord Tao has already given the order and in three days, Jia Yuanling will be sent away under escort to the border." Ling Zhaowen said.

Three days later, it would be over soon. A cold light flashed across Ling Zhang's eyes. As long as he left the Tan Yang, Jia Yuanling's life would not be his own.

"Other than the bailiffs, I have also hired people to follow them secretly. I have ensured that there are no mishaps, and that Jia Yuanling will definitely die on the road." Ling Zhaowen said.

"Second Uncle has indeed thought it through thoroughly." Ling Zhang said.

"Other than Jia Yuanling's matter, there is also something else that I need you to do." Ling Zhaowen said.

Ling Zhang looked at Ling Zhaowen in puzzlement. What is it?

"The medicinal field has an important batch of ingredients going north, and I will have the Steward Zhou tell you the specific trade orders, you will go over later and take care of them, in addition, I plan to see the medicinal field get transferred." Ling Zhaowen said.

Tan Yang’s geography was special, rich in forests and medicinal materials. Although there were a few rare herbs that were difficult to grow in other places, they grew very well in the Tan Yang. Therefore, there were many farmers growing medicinal herbs in the Tan Yang, and there were also quite a few families that had profited from trading in and selling medicinal herbs. This was also the reason why although there were many bandits around the Tan Yang, there were still many merchants stationed in the vicinity.

There was also a small medicinal field in the Ling Family. They had directly circled a piece of land in the south mountains and planted quite a few medicinal herbs. However, it was a bit far from the Tan Yang City and the matters in the medicinal field were usually handed over to the manager, Zhou Quanfu.

There was also a small manor over there, and there were quite a few medicinal herb farmers living there.

The medicinal field's business was one of Ling Family’s main economic sources.

"Second Uncle, why do you suddenly transfer the medicinal field out?" Ling Zhang did not understand.

Ling Zhaowen said: "The medicinal fields over there are too far away. I plan to transfer them in exchange for the land at the east side of the city."

On the east side of the city? That side was relatively close to the city, but the quality of the medicinal herbs there were not as good as those in the south side of the city.

Why did the Second Uncle make such a decision?

Ling Zhang frowned and thought for a while before he suddenly thought of something.

The medicinal field to the south of the city was very close to the State Guard's encampment.

"Second Uncle, is Zhang Chong looking for trouble with the medicinal field?" Ling Zhang asked.

Ling Zhaowen was startled for a moment, then sighed and nodded: "Lord Tao has leaked some information. Zhang Chong had already reported to the imperial government to expand the army, and the selected new encampment station is our family's medicinal field."

Ling Zhang's expression became cold. No wonder Zhang Chong was so quiet these days. Something had been done in the dark.

The medicinal field was one of the most important economic sources of the Ling Family. If they were surrounded as an encampment, it was equivalent to cutting off nearly forty percent of the Ling Family's economic source.

"Is there no way to stop Zhang Chong?" Ling Zhang was unwilling.

"It's very difficult, unless someone from the imperial court refutes Zhang Chong's request for us." Ling Zhaowen said.

The interaction between the Ling Family and the capital had become very thin, all because of the incident twenty years ago.

Therefore, Ling Zhaowen's words were completely useless.

"What about the Lord Tao?" Ling Zhang asked.

Tao Feng was different from them, there was someone that could speak for Tao Feng in the imperial court.

"It's not that Second Uncle did not mention it, but rather that although the business in the medicinal field is important, it’s better not to owe Tao Feng a favor, let alone something related to the court. If we have to owe him a favor, we’d better use it on the blade, and according to the medicinal field…Let's just transfer it for now. " Ling Zhaowen said.

Ling Zhang's sharp senses detected that there was actually another layer of concern in Second Uncle's words, and he pondered for a moment before speaking, "Second Uncle, are you also worried that the medicinal field is too far away, and if we are careless, it may be prone to accidents?

If it was the east side of the city, it would be very close and could be taken care of at any time.

Ling Zhaowen looked at Ling Zhang with gratitude, he did not expect that since he did not reveal it, his nephew would also be able to think of this.

"That's right, but it's just that we haven't decided who the medicinal field is going to be transferred to, so we'll let you guard it first." Ling Zhaowen said.

Ling Zhang agreed: "Alright, I will set off immediately."

Seeing that Ling Zhang had agreed, Ling Zhaowen gave him a few more things to do, and said: "I asked Wang Qing to follow you, he's familiar with the matters at medicinal field; if you have any questions, ask him."

"Alright." Ling Zhang said.

It was just that he would have to leave for a few days. He had to think of a way to deal with the matters on the side of the nursing house before it was settled.

Just as he was about to go out, Ling Zhang suddenly thought of something, "Second Uncle, is there a letter from the butler?"

Ling Zhaowen said: "Not yet, don't worry, if there's anything urgent, he'll send a letter back. If he doesn't, it means the journey on the road is peaceful, and it should be time for him to reach the capital."

Ling Zhang nodded his head, "If there is a letter, please remember to let me know."

Seeing him so concerned about the rescission of the marriage certificate, Ling Zhaowen couldn't help but find it funny, and so he agreed with him.

When Ling Zhang returned to the courtyard, he instructed the servants to prepare something. After thinking for a while, he sent someone to call Wang Dashan over.

"I'm going to the south of the city for a few days, pick twelve people to come with me."

Wang Dashan agreed, “Then, need your subordinate me to go with Eldest Young Master?”

"No need, you stay at home, other than recruiting a new person, you also have to wait for news from Xia Feng; if he sends a letter back, you can immediately send it to me." Ling Zhang said.

"Yes." Wang Dashan said.

Fu Caiwei knew that Ling Zhang was about to go to the southern part of the city, so she busied herself preparing for his journey. Seeing that there were more and more of them, Ling Zhang had no choice but to stop her: "Second Aunt, it's enough, you don't need to busy yourself, I will only go for a few days."

"Take more of these thick cloaks with you. The medicinal field's manor is simple and crude." Fu Caiwei didn't really want to stop.

"I've already brought a box with me." Ling Zhang hurriedly said.

Fu Caiwei hesitated, obviously thinking that it was not enough.

"Big brother, I want to go as well!" Ling Maomao followed behind Ling Zhang and grabbed onto his clothes, refusing to let go.