TGCFNM -Chapter 234 I’m the One Who Knows How to Make Money

Chu Ling personally saw Bai Hu out and fastened the bundled account books onto the horse.

Bai Hu looked at Chu Ling, as if wanting to speak, yet hesitating.

Chu Ling smiled and waved her hand. “You’ve worked hard on this trip. Rest a few days before you start.”

Bai Hu took a deep breath, but it seemed to get stuck in her chest, neither rising nor falling.

“Truly… many thanks to Lord Chu for your trust.”

Chu Ling widened her eyes and said matter-of-factly, “The Nangong family enjoys the Emperor’s deep trust. Other than the Nangong family, who else could handle these matters? No one.”

Bai Hu pressed her lips tightly together and simply mounted her horse.

Chu Ling waved again. “Once things are more or less settled, I’ll be leaving. I won’t trouble you then.”

Seated on horseback, Bai Hu fixed her gaze on her. “It would be good if one day you went to the capital. I’ve been displeased with certain people there for a long time.”

Chu Ling only smiled without answering—she had no intention of going to the capital.

Bai Hu gave a slight nod in farewell, then nudged her horse forward and rode off at a light trot.

After she left, Chu Ling’s smile faded. She turned and walked back into the yamen. “Zhang Dong, close the gates.”

“Yes.” Zhang Dong responded and shut the yamen doors tightly.

Three days later.

The shops taken over by Wan Xing had begun to be dealt with one by one, and the probing from the major noble families had begun as well.

After handing everything over, things at the yamen grew much quieter. Now that Prefect Zhao’s shops were in Nangong Bai Hu’s hands, several of the great families didn’t even bother probing anymore—they simply withdrew.

When Chu Ling learned of this, she specifically instructed Boss Bao to spread word about how those noble families had previously cooperated with Prefect Zhao in business—mainly so Nangong Bai Hu would hear of it.

Sure enough, Nangong Bai Hu immediately began investigating, forcing several of the great families to give up some of their shops.

Those shops were then directly absorbed by the Wan family.

Thus, Wan Xing’s layout slowly began to reveal itself. Unlike before, when he had been forced into action, this time the noble families took the initiative to come seeking cooperation.

Wan Xing’s first move on the board had officially begun.

And Chu Ling no longer needed to worry about the common people of Dongle City. As long as Wan Xing’s plan succeeded—gradually swallowing up the noble families’ shops and fertile lands—the lives of Dongle City’s citizens would slowly improve.

It would take time—but not too much time.

After Chu Ling had roughly sorted out the matters under her charge, she obtained several autopsy reports from Su He and had Boss Bao personally deliver them to Nangong Bai Hu.

There was no need for many words. With just Nangong Bai Hu’s deterrent presence, the number of unidentified corpses in Dongle City would gradually decrease.

As expected, Nangong Bai Hu directly posted a public notice: from now on, if unidentified corpses appeared in the charity graveyard or the mass burial grounds, the Qingqi Army would take over the investigation directly.

Once the notice was posted, no matter who it was, they would have to think twice before acting—otherwise, they would only be playing with fire.

The day after the notice went up—

Chu Ling and her group packed up at the yamen and departed. She declined Wan Xing and Fu Qingyu’s offer to see her off and left Dongle City.

When they reached the city gates, Chu Ling deliberately lifted the carriage curtain and called out to Qinglong, “Lord Jiang Wu! Lord Jiang Wu!”

Qinglong hesitated as he looked at her, but in the end walked over. After glancing at the carriage, he asked, “You’re leaving?”

Chu Ling leaned against the window and smiled at him. “I already told you—Bai Zhuoxing might appear at Tianjian Mountain. That piece of information costs five thousand taels!”

“Five thousand taels?!” Qinglong was shocked. “One of my messages is only worth one thousand taels!”

Chu Ling looked at him with disdain. “Your information was useless. Mine is far more accurate. Of course, I’ll still deduct what should be deducted. You originally owed me twenty-three thousand taels. One message reduces it by one thousand, and with the new information I’ve given you for five thousand, you now owe me twenty-seven thousand taels in total.”

Qinglong instinctively grabbed the window frame. “You can’t calculate it like that! You offered that information willingly—I didn’t buy it!”

Chu Ling smiled sweetly and told Zhang Dong to drive off. She waved at Qinglong and called out, “Remember to pay back the money! Otherwise, I’ll spread the word throughout Great Zhou that you’re in debt!”

Qinglong glared helplessly as he watched the carriage disappear. He didn’t even dare shout to stop it, afraid this corrupt official might suddenly expose his identity.

Chu Ling stuck her head out to look at Qinglong’s expression, then turned back inside cheerfully. “We’ve got money again.”

Xiao Hua sighed. “So not only are we supported by Master Wan—we’re also supported by Lord Qinglong.”

Chu Ling raised a finger and gently shook it. “No. It’s your lord here who knows how to make money!”

Xiao Hua nodded seriously. That was indeed true.

Just then, Su He lifted the carriage curtain and looked inside. “Brother Sanjin’s route is very clear. He’s even marked all the places to stay along the way. So tonight we’ll stop at the courier station.”

Chu Ling sighed appreciatively. “Thanks to Young Master Wan, otherwise we’d never have figured out the route.”

Su He looked at her silently. “You mean we wouldn’t have understood it.”

Chu Ling waved her hand. “Turn around and keep moving!”

Only then did Su He drop the curtain and continue directing Zhang Dong.

After taking a few short breaks along the way, they finally arrived after nightfall at the first stop marked on Wan Xing’s route—the courier station.

After Chu Ling presented her credentials, the stationmaster welcomed them in and arranged rooms on the second floor.

Once everyone washed up briefly, they went downstairs to eat.

While waiting for the food, Chu Ling observed the other people on the first floor. Then she leaned closer to the table and lowered her voice. “Something feels off.”

Wan Sanjin leaned in as well. “I feel it too. The overall atmosphere is very oppressive.”

“Did something happen?” Chu Ling muttered.

“No,” Zhang Dong said, looking at them. “When I took Zhuifeng to be fed, I heard people talking. They said this courier station is eerie—at night, you can often hear ghostly wailing. But if you don’t stay here, there’s nowhere else to lodge within a hundred li. You’d have to camp in the wilderness.”

Chu Ling tilted her head toward the half-closed door, staring at the pitch-black night outside. “Then staying at the station is more comfortable.”

Su He nodded seriously. A bed was definitely better.

Wan Sanjin hugged his arms tightly, frowning nervously at Zhang Dong. “Ghostly wailing? How loud could it be? Loud enough for the entire station to hear?”

Zhang Dong thought for a moment, then nodded. “Everyone can hear it.”

Wan Sanjin sucked in a cold breath and grabbed Su He. “Let’s sleep together tonight.”

Su He pressed his lips tightly together, trying to pry Wan Sanjin’s hand off—but he couldn’t manage it.

Resting her chin in her palm, Chu Ling asked curiously, “If the ghost wails that loudly, could it be a Crybaby Ghost?”

Xiao Hua looked confused. “Did the Crybaby Ghost cry itself to death?”

Chu Ling lay on the table and looked at them. “Or maybe it cried too long and too hard—and exhausted itself to death.”

Xiao Hua shook her head sympathetically. “That’s so tragic.”

Ghost Scholar lightly tapped Chu Ling on the shoulder, suppressing his laughter as he pointed ahead. “Perhaps you should think before you speak?”