"Could it be because of the wheat seeds?" Lian Manman suddenly said.

If Zhao Wencai had really colluded with Lian Shouren and Lian Shouyi to monopolize the wheat seeds from Taicang to this side, then had they also set their sights on the winter wheat seeds?

"If that’s the case, this matter won’t end well," Wu Lang said.

If so, it can only be said that the Lian Family of Taicang extended their reach too far. Not only can they not sit idly by, but it’s also likely to involve other forces.

"Didn’t Aunt Wu say that not just the Lu Family Merchant Team, but also some old customers expected to return from Taicang in the past few days haven’t come back?" Lian Manman continued, "Could something major have happened over there?"

While the family was in a state of anxious uncertainty, the Lu Family merchant team finally returned.

Lu Bingwu and his brothers came together with winter wheat seeds to Lian Manman’s family, accompanied by Wu Yugui, Wu Jiaxing, Lady Wu Wang, and Wu Jiayu.

Looking at this lineup and the expressions on their faces upon entering, Lian Manman knew...

"Something has happened in Taicang." Sure enough, Lady Wu Wang spoke as soon as she entered.

The incident in Taicang was expected, so Lian Manman was not too surprised. She just didn’t expect things to happen so quickly, and from the looks of it, it was quite serious.

"What, what happened?" Lian Shouxin asked nervously.

The Lu brothers exchanged a glance before beginning to explain the situation.

This time, the Lu Family merchant team traveled quite far. When they passed through Taicang County Town, they didn’t leave anyone there, just informed a familiar shop to select the best winter wheat seeds for them. However, when they returned and went to pick up the wheat seeds, the shop owner said there were no seeds available for sale.

Being entrusted by someone, the Lu brothers couldn’t stop there. Moreover, the shop owner had initially promised to select the best seeds for them.

After persistent inquiries, the shop owner finally told the truth.

It turned out that the County Yamen had sent people to all shops selling wheat seeds, instructing them not to privately sell seeds to merchants from Liaodong Prefecture. If they wanted to sell, they had to go through the County Yamen. The person who delivered this message gave a very official reason. Taicang County was to assist Liaodong Prefecture in promoting wheat, so the County Yamen had appointed someone to manage the trade of these seeds. They claimed it was to prevent merchants from substituting inferior seeds and charging exorbitant prices to make huge profits.

The person in charge of this matter at the County Yamen was the brother of the honorable County Magistrate, whom the people of Taicang referred to as the Second Old Master, Lian Shouyi.

Lian Shouyi had been doing exceptionally well in Taicang that year. When people mentioned the Second Old Master, they were undoubtedly referring to him.

At that time, the Lu brothers were still unaware of the severity of the situation. Because they had been delayed by two days on the road, they were anxious to return home for fear that Lian Shouxin might urgently need the seeds. So, they mentioned that the person buying the seeds was Lian Shouxin, the biological brother of Taicang County Magistrate Lian Shouren and the Second Old Master Lian Shouyi. They asked the shop owner to sell them the pre-arranged seeds quietly.

Since the shop owner had dealt with the Lu Family frequently, he didn’t want to damage his reputation and was tempted by the Lu brothers’ words. Eventually, he agreed to give them the seeds. It was not a sale, but a gift, free of charge. However, the shop owner emphasized confidentiality to the Lu brothers, warning them not to let anyone know, even if it was a gift.

The shop owner also told the Lu brothers that some shops had been caught by the Second Old Master for privately selling seeds to merchants from Liaodong Prefecture. The shopkeepers, clerks, and others involved were imprisoned. Only when those shop owners agreed to sell all their seeds at extremely low prices to customers designated by the Second Old Master did the County Yamen release the shopkeepers and clerks.

The reason this shop owner claimed there were no seeds for sale was that he realized those shops were just a trap set up by local ruffians led by the Second Old Master’s brother-in-law, Lord He. Their goal, naturally, was the seeds.

The shop owner joked with the Lu brothers by saying that if something happened, they should definitely cover for him.

The Lu brothers, being meticulous in their dealings, did not take the seeds right away. Instead, they scheduled a time to conceal the seeds among other goods before taking them back to the inn.

The Lu brothers stayed at Old Wang’s Large Cart Inn in Taicang County Town.

Originally, everything went smoothly. The Lu brothers had acquired the seeds and planned to set off for Thirty Mile Camp the next day. However, by coincidence, Lady He, whom people in Taicang called the Second Madam, happened to visit Old Wang’s Large Cart Inn to see her son. Lady He loved wandering around and being nosy. That day, while cracking sunflower seeds noisily, she wandered around the inn, watching people load and unload goods. By sheer chance, she came to the Lu brothers’ cart.

Lady He was familiar with everyone and casually reached out to feel the sacks on the cart.

Knowing that the Second Old Master was engaged in a lucrative business, Lady He realized the contents of the sack felt like wheat, so she called out.

The results were predictable. The Lu brothers were arrested, and the entire Lu Family merchant team was detained.

Even after being apprehended, the Lu brothers refused to reveal the shop owner who had given them the seeds, resulting in them being imprisoned.

Because the Lu brothers ended up in prison for a task entrusted to them, Lian Shouxin felt deeply guilty.

"...This, this has put you through hardship," he said.

"We didn’t suffer much," Lu Bingwu replied. "Once we were imprisoned, we were suddenly ignored, and after four days, we were unexpectedly released. When we inquired about it, we learned that...

The Taicang County Magistrate’s family had encountered some trouble.

"Was it because of the wheat seeds issue?" Lian Shouxin quickly asked.

"Not just this matter; there were a series of charges, and we couldn’t remember them all," Lu Bingwu said.

"What were the main charges?" Wu Lang asked.

"Here’s a notice," Lu Bingwu said, pulling a crumpled piece of paper from his pocket and handing it to Wu Lang.

As Wu Lang unfolded the notice, his frown deepened.

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Thank you for your support during the festival. Here’s an extra release. We’ll continue to ask for pink votes. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendations, monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)