Longevity Reward Redemption: The Immortal Clan Starts with Farmers

59: The second son of the Zhao family used someone else to do his dirty work.Xiao Wen and Zhao Song were sent down the mountain, while Chen Changsheng waited in the courtyard with Steamed Bun and Chuanwen.

”The Zhao Family of Longkou County has come to pay a visit. We ask the Head of the Chen Family to come out and speak with us!”

Soon, the Zhao Family’s party ascended the mountain and stopped in front of the Courtyard House. They were very polite and did not barge in directly, instead having an old servant deliver the message.

”Haha, the illustrious Zhao Family has arrived! How could I not welcome you? Please, come in!”

Chen Changsheng narrowed his eyes and laughed heartily before standing up, walking to the door, and pulling it open himself.

Only then did the carriage curtain of the Zhao Family’s carriage open. A gorgeously dressed young nobleman stepped down lightly. He held a folding fan in his hand and truly looked quite dashing.

”Head of the Chen Family, I am Zhao Ming, the second eldest in my Family. I have long admired your reputation, Head of the Chen Family, and have come specifically to visit today!”

Zhao Ming smiled and cupped his hands in greeting. He had absolutely no airs of a great Family, appearing approachable and elegant, with a temperament that made one feel as if they were bathed in a spring breeze.

”Haha, we of the Chen Family are just villagers; we have no such reputation. Second Young Master, you flatter me. Please, come into the hall and have some tea!”

Chen Changsheng felt a tightness in his heart. A member of a Clan who appeared approachable on the surface was far more difficult to deal with than one who was arrogant!

Someone like Liu Jinshan’s son, who only knew how to fight and kill and play petty tricks, had no real depth. Compared to this Second Young Master before him, it was like the difference between clouds and mud!

One had to be careful when dealing with such a talented young man!

”Haha, since the Head of the Chen Family has extended an invitation, I shall not refuse!”

Zhao Ming smiled broadly and then followed Chen Changsheng into the Courtyard House.

In the living room, Chuanwen served freshly brewed jasmine tea.

”Good tea! It is truly fragrant and exceptionally sweet!”

Zhao Ming took a light sip and could not help but praise it.

”If the Second Young Master likes it, you are welcome to take more back with you. Being able to provide tea to someone who understands it like the Second Young Master makes all our hard work in planting it worthwhile!”

Chen Changsheng continued to speak with a smile. Although he did not know Zhao Ming’s intentions, he was not anxious.

Howling Heaven was hiding on War Horse Slope. As long as they harbored ill intentions, none of them would be able to escape. This was Chen Changsheng’s source of confidence.

Zhao Ming laughed, and continued to exchange pleasantries with Chen Changsheng, talking about everything from tea and wine to the prominent figures in the county. He was quite knowledgeable and spoke with substance.

Finally, an hour passed, and Zhao Ming put down his teacup and revealed the true purpose of his visit to the Chen Family!

”To be honest, I have come to the Chen Family to ask for a favor!”

Zhao Ming stared at Chen Changsheng and said with a smile. Chen Changsheng took a light sip of tea, knowing that the main point was coming.

”I wonder what the matter is? Whatever you need, the Chen Family will do its best!”

Zhao Ming seemed quite pleased with Chen Changsheng’s attitude. He clapped his hands, and the old servant beside him immediately brought out a small wooden box.

Zhao Ming gently lifted the lid of the wooden box, revealing layers upon layers of small gold bars inside.

”Eight hundred taels of gold. Please help me find someone, Chen Family!”

Chen Changsheng set down his teacup and looked at the dazzling golden light in the wooden box. He could not help but gasp—what a massive sum!

One tael of gold could be exchanged for one hundred taels of silver!

This was eighty thousand taels of silver right off the bat; they were truly a wealthy Clan!

”Second Young Master, please tell me the truth about the matter. Otherwise, I dare not accept such a large sum of money!”

Chen Changsheng cupped his hands, but he refused Zhao Ming’s offer.

”Haha, there is nothing I need to hide from the Head of the Chen Family!”

”One of my concubines stole our Zhao Family’s martial arts Secret Manual and fled to Kaoshan Village!”

”For a martial arts Clan like ours, a Martial Artist’s Secret Manual is the foundation. So, as long as the Head of the Chen Family helps me find that concubine, these eight hundred taels of gold will be yours immediately, without question!”

”I believe that with the influence the Chen Family has here, it should be a piece of cake!”

As Zhao Ming spoke, he had the old servant beside him take out a portrait. It was lifelike and depicted none other than Ma Yuwen!

Chen Changsheng took the portrait and pretended to study it for a while. After a long time, he suddenly slapped his forehead and sighed deeply, looking as if he had missed out on a great opportunity.

”Oh, I have actually seen this young girl!”

”You came too late, Second Young Master. A month ago, a wealthy landowner took a fancy to her and took her to the Prefecture City to live a life of luxury!”

”If I had known she was worth eight hundred taels of gold, I definitely would have kept her!”

Chen Changsheng said with a look of regret, acting very realistically. Zhao Ming just watched Chen Changsheng quietly for a moment, and seeing no flaws, he stood up and cupped his hands.

”Since that is the case, please keep an eye out, Head of the Chen Family. If you see her, please notify the Zhao Family immediately, and the gold will still be yours!”

”Haha! Then many thanks, Second Young Master. Rest assured, as long as she shows her face again, I will never let the cooked duck fly away!”

Chen Changsheng hurriedly responded with a look of gratitude. The two exchanged more pleasantries, and then Zhao Ming took his leave of the Chen Family.

”Not simple! Chuanwen, you must keep Xiao Wen hidden well. This Zhao Ming speaks without leaving a single opening and always faces people with a smile, making it impossible to see what is in his heart. This is a person with many methods!”

Chen Changsheng narrowed his eyes as he watched Zhao Ming’s departing back, and instructed Chuanwen.

”Father, rest assured, I will be careful. Let Xiao Wen stay on the mountain; with Howling Heaven guarding her, I believe nothing will happen!”

Chuanwen nodded solemnly. He also smelled a familiar scent on Zhao Ming—that man was a sinister smiling tiger!

Just as Chen Changsheng and his son were discussing Zhao Ming, the Zhao Family’s caravan was also discussing Chen Changsheng.

”Young Lord, according to the investigation by the Family’s secret guards, Ma Yuwen was hiding in Kaoshan Village under the alias Liu Xiao Wen. A month ago, she was helped by a mysterious wealthy landowner and left with her foster mother!”

”The information we obtained is basically consistent with what Chen Changsheng said. I think we should dispel the Chen Family’s suspicions and focus our investigation on that wealthy landowner!”

The old servant beside Zhao Ming said softly, stating his deduction based on the intelligence.

”This Chen Family is not simple. Starting from a peasant household and rising to dominate a county—you have underestimated them too much!”

”If they want to hide someone, they can forge intelligence to confuse the issue. Perhaps what the secret guards found was just what they intentionally fabricated!”

The old servant showed a thoughtful expression. A moment later, he looked at Zhao Ming and asked:

”Then, Young Lord, do you mean to send secret guards to watch the Chen Family?”

Zhao Ming gently shook his paper fan, a smile appearing at the corner of his mouth. He said with confidence:

”Only the Head of the Family has the authority to mobilize the Family’s secret guards. I am, after all, still the Young Lord; using the secret guards would be neither justified nor legitimate!”

”Let the secret guards decide the direction of their investigation themselves!”

”This Chen Family cannot be let off lightly. Do you remember the secret guards’ intelligence? The Chen Family’s second son seems to have had a marriage engagement with the identity Ma Yuwen was disguised as. This piece of intelligence is very important!”

The old servant nodded obediently. Then, he showed a troubled expression and said:

”Young Lord, but if we want to keep a close watch on the Chen Family, we don’t have enough manpower!”

Zhao Ming unhurriedly took a sip of the jasmine tea Chen Changsheng had given him, and said with a smile:

”There is no need to use our own manpower to keep watch; that is too slow. Do you remember Young Master Lin behind the Black Wind Bandits in the Prefecture City!”

”This time, I want to use a trick: borrowing a knife to kill!”