12dz Chapter 416 I hate my own incompetence!
Chapter 416 I hate my own incompetence!
“Aside from the fact that some people looked at me with impure eyes when I first came up the mountain, you, Uncle Hu, Uncle Liang, and Uncle Huo have always treated me very well.”
Scarface's smile deepened; he was very satisfied with Lin Xiaotang's answer.
“Those who had ulterior motives towards you have long been tied up and sent to the government office. The rest have all been investigated. Since you also feel that everyone is good to you, we are all family, so you can stay and lead everyone to prosperity. There are so many elders on the mountain who care about you, isn’t that good?”
It's good, but these aren't family members with blood ties, so naturally she wants to be with her parents, brother, and sister.
Instead of answering directly, she changed the subject.
"Uncle, there are actually many ways to get rich. My father and his friends opened a restaurant together and also planted medicinal herbs. Their business has grown bigger and bigger, and they have earned more and more money. This trip to the capital is to open the restaurant from the county to the capital."
The same goes for medicinal herb cultivation. Right now, we're working in the fields ourselves. If we turn our fortunes around and have some capital, we can sell some land to hire workers. We'll select the varieties, find sales channels, and manage the workers on a daily basis. That's how we can earn more money.
Scarface's eyes lit up after hearing this, and he was very envious of Lin Qingchuan.
Unexpectedly, Lin Qingchuan, who looked so ordinary, actually had such abilities, which was truly impressive.
He longed for the way Lin Xiaotang had described to get rich, but given his status, it was already good enough that he could grow some medicinal herbs on the mountain so that Lin Xiaotang could lead her brothers who weren't carrying any criminal records down the mountain to exchange them for silver. How could he dare to ask for more?
"If I had known I would meet you, my lucky star, I would not have done those petty thievery, kidnapping, and threatening people with knives years ago. I wouldn't have ended up being wanted by the police and having to hide everywhere."
Lin Xiaotang said with a smile, "We became friends after a fight. A few years ago, we ran into you and Uncle Hu outside the town gate of Pingding County. We were still outwitting each other. My dad and Xue Ruifeng's hearts were in our throats. We almost got caught by you."
Even if we had met back then, I couldn't have taught you how to get rich, because my family was truly poor at the time. Our business was just starting out, and we had to borrow money upfront.
No one expected that the kidnappers who abducted Xue Ruifeng would be so eager to recognize her as their goddaughter and even get rich by following her.
The two chatted for a long time, and after dinner, Scarface hesitated for a long time before finally agreeing to let Lin Xiaotang return to the capital.
Since you treat her as one of your own, you should give her enough trust. Otherwise, even if you keep the girl for a while, you can't keep her forever.
The mountain is full of grown men. Even the youngest scholar, Huo Qi, is more than ten years older than Xiao Tang. Girls of Xiao Tang's age in ordinary families are already getting married. You can't keep her trapped on the mountain as an old maid for the rest of her life.
When Lin Xiaotang learned that she could go down the mountain to the capital, she was as happy as a child and immediately told Big Beard, Uncle Liang, Huo Qi and others the news.
Everyone was happy for Xiaotang, but Huo Qi looked worried and seemed to have something on his mind.
After Lin Xiaotang discovered this, she asked Huo Qi about it.
"Uncle Huo, do you miss your family too? Is your family in the capital?"
Huo Qi remained silent until Lin Xiaotang kept pressing him for details, at which point he finally revealed the truth.
"My father died early, leaving only my mother, who has poor eyesight, to depend on me. When I got into trouble at the academy, my mother tried everywhere to seek justice for me, but to no avail, and eventually died in despair."
The rich young master who framed me bribed the government officials. Fearing that the truth would come out, he sentenced me to exile along with the other criminals. Shortly after we set off, a sudden rainstorm and flash flood occurred. I was swept off the main road by the flash flood and managed to escape.
Later, I wanted to secretly return to the capital to see if anyone had come to collect my mother's body, but I was troubled because I didn't have a travel permit and couldn't get in..."
When the past was mentioned, Huo Qi was already in tears, his usually gentle face filled with regret.
Perhaps out of regret, he came from a poor family and preferred to earn a meager living by copying books in order to attend college. He was often looked down upon by his classmates, which also gave others the opportunity to frame him.
Because of his poor family background, he was unable to defend himself without evidence or witnesses, and others easily believed that he was the one who stole his classmate's money.
He also felt hatred, hatred for his own incompetence!
A scholar is utterly useless. He not only couldn't clear his name, but he also couldn't protect his mother. He couldn't even collect her body. Years have passed and he doesn't even know where his mother's grave is, nor can he offer her any incense.
He is utterly unfilial!
Scarface and Uncle Liang both knew about Huo Qi's plight. Although they sympathized with him, no one could help him.
Scarface sighed and said in a deep voice, "It's done. There are too many unfair and helpless things in life. I believe your mother's wish is for you to live well. Those people were afraid of you and sent you to exile. You were lucky enough to escape, so you should live well. Those people can't find you anywhere, neither alive nor dead. They must be restless. Living well is the best revenge against those people."
Lin Xiaotang shook her head and said, "No, there are many injustices in life, but I also believe that things can be accomplished by human effort. Since we have been wronged, we should not only live well, but also seek revenge and make the evildoers receive the punishment they deserve."
Huo Qi immediately looked up, his eyes filled with disbelief. He stretched out his arm and wiped away his tears with his sleeve, his eyes full of hope.
"Xiao Tang, tell me, is there any way to help me get justice?"
After saying that, he laughed self-deprecatingly, "My problem is something that so many people on the mountain can't solve. What can a little girl like you possibly do? I was just too anxious and actually asked you for advice. Am I making things difficult for a little girl like you?"
Lin Xiaotang thought for a moment and nodded affirmatively, "I have a way to get you to the capital to pay respects to your mother. All I need to do is get you a new identity and a travel permit."
Perhaps Manager Xue can handle this matter.
After all, the Xue family was in the medicinal herb business and had opened several medicinal herb shops all over the country. Madam Xue's maternal family was also a royal merchant family, and both families had many businesses. Their employees needed to travel back and forth to transport medicinal herbs, so it shouldn't be difficult for them to obtain a new identity and a travel permit.
Huo Qi was surprised that Xiao Tang, a little girl, actually had a solution. He excitedly grabbed Lin Xiao Tang's hand with surprisingly strong force.
Lin Xiaotang winced in pain at her wrist and couldn't help but frown.
Seeing Xiao Tang's pained expression, Huo Qi realized that he had been too agitated and had hurt the little girl. He quickly let go and apologized.
"I'm sorry, Xiaotang, I didn't mean to. I just heard you say you had a way, and I got too anxious and lost control. Please don't be angry."
Lin Xiaotang forced a smile and shook her head to indicate that she was alright.
"It's alright. I'm not that delicate little girl. Don't get excited. I need to plan this carefully and find someone to get you a new identity and travel permit."
Years have passed, and your appearance must have changed somewhat. I'll disguise you again then, and no one will be able to tell the difference.