Abandoned Woman Busy Farming

Chapter 2317: Chapter 2316: Points of Doubt

Bai Ruozhu’s eyes widened. She nodded vigorously, ”Right, aren’t Merfolk naturally powerful? You might not have awakened your bloodline, but your comprehension is excellent and your strength is strong. If the Luo Family were Merfolk, how could they have no ability to protect themselves?”

”Then why, after more than twenty years, hasn’t the Luo Family aged, but their health isn’t very good?” Jiang Yichun asked.

”Could she be a demon?” Bai Ruozhu found it funny as soon as she said this. Was she being influenced by the little Daoist? Opening her mouth and already calling someone a demon.

”Let’s go take a look tonight and then talk about it.”

Both were tired and fell asleep as soon as they lay down, only waking up at noon when Tang Feng visited and disrupted their sleep.

”What were you up to last night? It’s already midday and you’re still not up,” Tang Feng asked with a smile.

”Something really inexplicable happened, hard to explain. Let us figure it out and then we’ll tell you,” Bai Ruozhu said, rubbing her temples. She had been mulling over these things so much it made her head big.

”Alright, let’s go down for a meal first. I’ll treat you to some local specialties at a different restaurant today,” Tang Feng eagerly invited them and soon took them to a restaurant on another street.

Tang Feng helped order some local specialties, and soon the food and wine were served, and everyone started tasting them.

After a while, several officers came into the restaurant. One of them spoke loudly, and Tang Feng, in the private room on the second floor, heard it and laughed, ”Officers from the government office, usually rude, but not bad people.”

Bai Ruozhu suddenly thought of that good-natured bailiff Gao De. Didn’t he live near Fang Qing’s home? Would he usually interact with those people?

Or are they ghosts?

”Is Gao De downstairs?” Bai Ruozhu asked.

”Do you have business with him?” Tang Feng asked.

”I wanted to ask about the Luo Family, but I think I asked too little before,” Bai Ruozhu said.

Tang Feng nodded, ”Let me call someone to bring him up.”

In no time, Gao De was brought up. Gao De cheerfully saluted Tang Feng, ”Sir, what are your orders for this humble one?”

Tang Feng looked at Bai Ruozhu, indicating for her to speak.

”Officer Gao, have a seat, let’s chat while we eat,” Bai Ruozhu pointed to an empty seat.

Gao De politely returned the greeting in thanks and then sat properly in the designated spot.

”Gao De, do you usually interact a lot with your neighbors?” Bai Ruozhu asked while eating.

Gao De looked up, ”It’s alright, my neighborhood is full of ordinary residents who are quite amiable. I haven’t seen anyone arguing before.”

”Have you ever visited anyone’s home?” Bai Ruozhu asked curiously, ”And generally, what do the people of Xunyang City do for a living?”

”No, I’m usually quite busy and just exchange greetings when I bump into people after work. Many people do small business, for example, Grandma Li makes tofu to sell, and sometimes she directly trades for rice and flour,” Gao De replied.

”Are all these sold around your area? Never on the main street?” Bai Ruozhu asked.

”Their small businesses sell out quickly even without leaving the neighborhood,” Gao De said with a smile.

Bai Ruozhu pointed to the table, ”Don’t be shy, eat and chat. I really think the Luo Family is a child of my relative. I want to learn more about her, even if she doesn’t recognize my grandaunt. I can go back and tell my aunt about the Luo Family.”

Gao De picked up some dishes and took a few bites, then said, ”They say the Luo Family can’t have children, but don’t tell your grandaunt that. The neighbors all know Fang Qing is especially good to his wife. They have never had an argument.”

”What small business do the couple do?” Bai Ruozhu asked.

Gao De thought for a moment, ”It seems they don’t do much. It is said Fang Qing has fields in the countryside leased to fellow townspeople and gets harvests from each crop cycle, so living isn’t an issue.”

Bai Ruozhu nodded, ”Then I’m relieved, but when I visited the Luo Family yesterday, she was ill, and I wonder if she’s better now. I’m quite worried about her.”

”The Luo Family’s health isn’t too good, often falling ill, and that’s why they can’t have children. You don’t need to worry too much; it’s usually just colds from the chill wind,” Gao De answered carefully, having had a couple of drinks and thus more open.

”By the way, where does that tofu-making Grandma usually get her beans? I have land in North Mountain growing beans. If she needs stock, I can give her a discount. It’d be great to help the Luo Family’s neighbors, considering they’ve helped out over the years,” Bai Ruozhu pondered.

”I really don’t know. I’ll ask Grandma Li when I go back,” Gao De said, suddenly frowning, ”Probably someone delivers to her. Grandma Li lives alone and doesn’t leave the area.”

Bai Ruozhu and Jiang Yichun exchanged looks, realizing Grandma Li is most likely a ghost. Gao De hadn’t thought much, but with a bit of thought, he noticed the oddity.

If Gao De ever found out most of his neighbors were ghosts, and he was greeting them daily, who knows if he’d be scared out of his wits.

Seeing Gao De was already suspicious, Bai Ruozhu didn’t delve further and instead organized everyone to eat.

After the meal, Gao De returned to his duties, and Tang Feng, looking curious, asked, ”What did you guys discover?”

”Let’s talk about it back at the inn,” Jiang Yichun said.

The group returned to the inn, seeing Qiu Zhi pacing at the entrance from afar, clearly having come to the room to find Bai Ruozhu, but unable to find them, and was waiting there.

”Qiu Zhi, what’s going on?” Bai Ruozhu stepped forward and asked.

She thought Qiu Zhi had found out something, feeling a bit pleased, thinking that the little Daoist was indeed quite capable.

But Qiu Zhi, with a dejected face, said, ”Master, I’m hungry. Can I work after I’ve eaten?”

Bai Ruozhu took a deep breath, ”I gave you a silver banknote, couldn’t you just buy something to eat first?”

Qiu Zhi sheepishly said, ”I sent the silver banknote back to Mount Longhu. Now I have no money on me, so...”

Alright, waiting anxiously just because he had no money to eat! This little Daoist sure is tricky!

”Here, take this. How can you have no money at all? Anyone would think I’m being harsh if they knew,” Bai Ruozhu stuffed a silver banknote worth a hundred taels into Qiu Zhi’s hand.

”Thank you, thank you, Master!” Qiu Zhi said with excitement and carefully tucked the banknote into his chest.

Bai Ruozhu massaged her forehead, feeling she shouldn’t have given the silver banknote, as he probably wouldn’t even want to change it. She went ahead and gave him twenty taels of silver, ”Fine, use this for pocket money.”

”Master, you’re so good to me!” Qiu Zhi said even more excitedly.

Jiang Yichun gave him a glare, ”Hurry and eat. After eating, go work. Taking money without working is freeloading!”

On hearing that, Qiu Zhi quickly ran to the Main Hall and hastily ordered a bowl of noodles. Bai Ruozhu felt speechless when she heard what he ordered; he had just ordered the cheapest Yangchun Noodles.