Abandoned Woman Busy Farming

Chapter 2354: Chapter 2353: The Trail Has Gone Cold

Bai Ruozhu and Jiang Yichun exchanged a glance. Most of the sailors and ship workers on this boat hadn’t attended school, so their speech was rather crude or carried an accent. Only a few of them, along with Li Jin from the Shipping Department, spoke in the official dialect, which sounded slightly more refined.

”First, detain him and then check on Li Jin. Teng Liu, take a few people and search everywhere for the kitchen maid’s son.” Jiang Yichun and Bai Ruozhu were thinking alike.

The two rushed to the uppermost level together and found Li Jin in his room.

”Master Jiang, Master Bai, what brings you here?” Li Jin looked puzzled, but Bai Ruozhu wondered if it was just due to his good acting skills.

”Li Jin, where did you go early this morning before dawn?” Jiang Yichun coldly stared at him and asked.

Li Jin shivered under his gaze. ”Nowhere, sir. I was sleeping in my room.”

”Who can vouch for that?” Bai Ruozhu asked.

”I live alone, who could vouch for me?” Li Jin became nervous. ”What’s going on here?”

”This morning someone instructed the kitchen maid to poison us, and we’ve already discovered it,” Jiang Yichun said.

”What!” Li Jin was startled, ”Who did it? Master Jiang, are you okay?”

His expression suddenly changed drastically. ”You came to me... you don’t think I instructed her, do you?”

Li Jin was on the verge of tears. ”I’ve been trying to persuade you to give Zheng Xin a chance to redeem himself, but I wouldn’t poison you for him! Even if you gave me ten times the courage, I wouldn’t dare!”

Bai Ruozhu quietly exchanged a look with Jiang Yichun, suspecting that Li Jin didn’t seem like the one who poisoned them.

She surveyed the room briefly and sniffed around, suddenly noticing something suspicious.

She walked over and pointed to some powder, asking, ”What is this?”

Li Jin looked surprised at the bit of powder on a cabinet in his room. ”I don’t know, the room is cleaned daily, perhaps a ship worker left it there.”

”This powder is the drug that was put into the food this morning,” Bai Ruozhu told Jiang Yichun.

Jiang Yichun suddenly glared at Li Jin. ”You have a chance to make an honest confession now, or don’t blame me for being rude. I’m the highest-ranking officer on this boat; executing a minor officer wouldn’t be an issue.”

Jiang Yichun was always particularly cold and carried an aura of danger, making Li Jin’s legs tremble with fear.

”Master Jiang, I really don’t know. I swear, I swear if I instructed the kitchen maid to drug you, may I not die well, struck by thunder during rain!” Li Jin was crying in fear, swearing fiercely as he sobbed.

”Words alone aren’t enough; stay in your room for now so no one threatens your safety. If you’re indeed innocent, once we’ve figured out the truth, we’ll clear your name.” Jiang Yichun stated.

Li Jin kept bowing, ”Alright, alright, thank you, Master Jiang, thank you, Master Bai.”

Bai Ruozhu and Jiang Yichun left Li Jin’s room and promptly arranged for Yuan Licheng to watch over him, as Jiang Yichun had earlier suggested, mainly to ensure Li Jin didn’t fall victim to foul play.

”I don’t think Li Jin did it. You purposely said someone poisoned us without mentioning the patient. If he were the culprit, he might easily slip up.” Bai Ruozhu noted. ”Besides, his demeanor doesn’t seem fake.”

Jiang Yichun nodded in agreement, ”Taking such oaths, it probably wasn’t him.”

In ancient times, people revered ghosts and gods; if Li Jin were truly guilty, he probably wouldn’t make such statements about being struck by thunder.

”So who really instructed the kitchen maid, then framed Li Jin? Could we have an informant among us?” Bai Ruozhu instantly thought of Mo Beishan, given he was the most distant relation in all this, and there was no practical reason for their own people to do such a thing.

”Let’s not jump to conclusions yet. After all, the person didn’t succeed in their attempt. If they try any further actions, they’ll surely reveal themselves.” Jiang Yichun advised.

Bai Ruozhu nodded, ”If one plan fails, they’ll scheme up another; we must ensure the patient’s safety.”

The two went to the patient’s side, where Bai Ruozhu examined him again. The old man not only had lost too much blood but was also malnourished due to long-term imprisonment, slowing his recovery.

Bai Ruozhu fed him a yellow pill to slightly boost his vitality, helping him recover more quickly.

This distraction left them missing breakfast, but fortunately, Teng Ya and her mother thoughtfully brought more food, so Bai Ruozhu and the others managed a few mouthfuls at last.

By afternoon, everyone gathered the people they’d found into the meeting room.

Among them was an old sailor, appearing to be a hardworking person but somewhat timid in nature. There was also a middle-aged ship worker who often lent a hand collecting ropes, thus noticing some navigation patterns. Additionally, there were three others, each having learned some things, forming a group of five as the helmsman Zhinan Group.

”All five of you, discuss among yourselves. As long as you can figure out the route, you won’t have to endure Zheng Xin’s oppression anymore,” Bai Ruozhu told them.

The timid old sailor hesitantly asked, ”Zheng Xin has relatives in the Shipping Department. Will they...”

Jiang Yichun shot him a stern look, ”Don’t worry about it; the Shipping Department can’t control me.”

The old sailor shivered under his gaze and dared not ask further questions.

Soon enough, Teng Liu came to report that they had found the kitchen maid’s son.

”He was just knocked out, but there’s nothing wrong. He says he didn’t even see the other party.” Teng Liu said.

Well, the trail was still cold.

Fortunately, in the following two days, they didn’t encounter any more storms, and the one who secretly instructed the kitchen maid to poison hadn’t acted again, as if they hadn’t found another opportunity to strike.

The seriously wounded old man finally woke up.

”How do you feel? Do you remember who you are?” Bai Ruozhu was summoned by Qiu Zhi and, seeing the old man’s confused expression, felt somewhat worried.

Luckily, the old man’s eyes gradually cleared. ”Young lady, did you save me? I vaguely heard your voice.”

Bai Ruozhu nodded, ”I treated you, and your health will gradually improve.”

The old man sighed heavily, his eyes gradually reddening, ”Thank you, I’ve been locked up there for so many years. Finally, I see the light of day again.”

”Who exactly are you? Why were you locked up there by Zheng Xin?” Bai Ruozhu hurriedly asked.

The old man suddenly became agitated, which caused a harsh cough. Bai Ruozhu quickly helped him ease his breath, but the old man’s face reddened, his eyes rolled back, and he fainted again!

Bai Ruozhu urgently used a needle to help his condition improve slightly, knowing that forcing him awake to question him could disastrously cut his life short.

Thus, it wasn’t until the evening that Bai Ruozhu awoke the old man, calling Teng Ya to bring some rice porridge to feed him, not expecting that after just a few sips, the old man angrily announced, ”I am his master!”

Bai Ruozhu froze for a minute, then realized that the old man meant Zheng Xin!