Chapter 85: Could She Be a Bandit Leader?
After Han Lei recruited Yang Haibo and Tang Xiaotong, with their addition, more hands made light work. Han Lei simply took over a half-new guesthouse in Songyang Town.
Songyang Town is a passageway between Jingzhou and the Capital City. Setting up a "Youjia Inn" here not only allows for communication with the Capital City but also acts as a transit station for goods from Canzhou heading to the Capital City.
The brothers of the Big Character Team were responsible for finding craftsmen and completing the renovation of the guesthouse. Han Lei then led Yang Haibo and Tang Xiaotong in completing the various preparations and planning for the guesthouse.
Although Yang Haibo and Tang Xiaotong were familiar with selling goods in the streets and had some business foundation, they had never fully experienced the complete creation of a store, from personnel training to operational modes and processes.
Han Lei guided them step by step, particularly focusing on personnel training and dealing with higher-ups, requiring them to learn these aspects diligently.
Han Lei wanted them to master these skills so that they could recreate the first tavern in the Capital City.
Meanwhile, the preparation work for Han Lei’s first "Youjia Inn" branch was proceeding orderly and intensely.
On the other side, Zhao Zun was on the road, seeking people, arriving worriedly at Jingzhou Taoyuan County, at the station to join the team that had gone ahead.
When Zhao Zun said that Han Lei had been kidnapped, the old madam and Han Ling’er, who considered Han Lei a family member, felt deeply concerned and saddened.
To prevent them from worrying too much, Zhao Zun verbally comforted them, saying that Han Lei was very capable and that there should be no safety issues. However, his own worry did not reduce even a bit.
Every night, when all was quiet, Zhao Zun would take out the Love Lock, gently rubbing it in his palm, as if he were stroking Han Lei’s silky, smooth black hair.
Sometimes, the Love Lock would emit a faint glow, while other times it remained unresponsive. He couldn’t figure out what the faint glow represented.
The next day, Zhao Zun contacted the Big Character Team in Taoyuan County. On hearing that Miss Han had been kidnapped, the brothers of the team exploded with concern, as Miss Han was their life-saving benefactor.
The brothers, along with Zhao Zun’s trusted aides, searched throughout Taoyuan County for two days, still yielding no results. Zhao Zun, out of options, led the team to continue towards Canzhou.
Before leaving, he instructed Tao Qing to notify him immediately upon receiving any news about Han Lei.
By January 26th, the Youjia Inn branch in Songyang Town officially opened, over half a month since they set out from the Capital City.
That idle young master Wei Chengchao had already roamed the small town countless times before Han Lei finally set out with him and Yang Haibo towards Taoyuan County.
Da Wu and several of the brothers were left to establish a security bureau, with Da Wu as the person in charge for Songyang Town.
Han Lei was delayed in Songyang Town for more than half a month, and by the time they reached Taoyuan County, it was already the end of January.
In two days, the second day of February would be the set date for Han Lei and Zhao Zun’s wedding. Yet honestly, Han Lei had completely forgotten about the wedding, focusing entirely on her business without considering anything else.
Han Lei approached her work with the decisiveness of a modern woman. And just as Zhao Zun imagined, her relationship with Zhao Zun was brief, only slightly closer than ordinary friends, and hadn’t yet deepened to the extent of insisting on marrying him.
The carriage moved through the streets of Taoyuan County, with Han Lei heading straight to the distillery.
As they passed by the Jingzhou Royal Mansion, Han Lei lifted the curtain and caught a glimpse of the imposing gateway and grand entrance of the mansion.
An idea suddenly flashed through Han Lei’s mind—
The idea to exchange Jingzhou’s liquor agency rights with grain to Jingzhou Prince.
Prince Jingzhou, like Zhao Zun, was not favored by Emperor Jing, instead was suspected by him.
Although Jingzhou was neighboring the Capital’s area and relatively wealthy, Prince Jingzhou had been cautious over the years, fearing any misstep that might lead to fatal consequences.
He had no profitable ventures, relying solely on the court’s salary and food stipend to sustain a large family. As a Prince, his life was quite tight.
With Jingzhou situated between the Capital and Canzhou, Canzhou’s land was barren, more suitable for industrial development or growing coarse grains, and unable to cultivate refined grains.
Thus, she could exchange the white liquor agency rights for Jingzhou’s refined grains, naturally forming a commercial partnership.
With Prince Jingzhou involved, transporting Canzhou goods through Jingzhou to the Capital would face fewer obstacles.
Han Lei dropped the curtain, deciding to prepare gifts to visit Prince Jingzhou in a few days.
When Han Lei suddenly appeared in the distillery’s courtyard, Tao Qing and the others were thrilled.
"Miss? Ah! Miss, you’re finally back. You’ve worried everyone to death," Tao Qing joyfully greeted her, his tone slightly worried. "I heard from the Prince you were kidnapped, are you alright?"
"Haha, I’m fine, don’t worry."
Han Lei chuckled lightly, her eyes meaningfully glancing at Wei Chengchao nearby.
Receiving Han Lei’s gaze, Wei Chengchao shivered as he looked at the group of burly men in the yard.
Under Han Lei’s generous provision of meat and nutrition, these brothers from the military camp were now all tall and strong.
With their aura of battlefield murder, standing there, they exuded a powerful sense of oppression.
Wei Chengchao’s heart was pounding, increasingly suspecting Han Lei’s background.
Seeing Da Wu and others respecting Han Lei in Songyang Town was one thing, but unexpectedly in Taoyuan County, there was another group of men with a murderous aura equally respectful to her.
Canzhou, known for its treacherous landscape and rogue inhabitants, could this niece of the Qingshui County Magistrate be a bandit leader?
Tao Qing, unaware that the person who kidnapped Han Lei was right in front of him, conversed with Han Lei and then gravely said, "Miss, the Prince... is desperately searching everywhere for you."
"Uh..." Han Lei’s face stiffened, awkwardly asking, "Where is the Prince?"
In Songyang Town, she initially planned to catch up with Zhao Zun.
Unexpectedly, Da Wu appeared suddenly, and amidst the busy matters, she completely forgot about it, not even sending anyone to deliver a message.
Truly deserving a beating!
Tao Qing, not noticing Han Lei’s embarrassment, continued, "The Prince searched for two days in Taoyuan County without any clues, and he and his people headed towards Canzhou. The Prince said, once he finds the person daring enough to kidnap you, he won’t show mercy and will tear them apart."
Han Lei listened, her heart warm.
Then, she curved her lips into a playful yet sinister smile, casting a glance at Wei Chengchao standing aside.
Wei Chengchao’s face subtly changed, quickly lowering his gaze, eyes flickering with faint anxiety.
Upon hearing Zhao Zun’s frantic search, he felt unsettled, images of Zhao Zun beating him at Tengyun Building vividly resurfacing.
He had already sampled Zhao Zun’s prowess last time.
His identity as the Prime Minister’s son meant nothing to Zhao Zun.
Zhao Zun dared to hit him right under the Emperor’s nose in the Capital, if he accompanied Han Lei to Canzhou, would fearless Zhao Zun not directly beat him to death?
Back in the room arranged by Tao Qing at night, Wei Chengchao’s thoughts kept him awake, pondering solutions to return to the Capital.