Chapter 305: Ragged? So many, many

In front of us was a modest pier, its wooden walkway rotted in several places and leaned crookedly toward the dim, dark river.

The bank was overrun with weeds, piled with broken mooring posts and abandoned cargo crates—a scene of desolation.

Yet on the muddy ground near the water remained clear wheel tracks and scattered footprints.

Tuan Tuan patted the horse's thick neck: "You're really great! I'll bring you something tasty when we get back!"

The horse lifted its head slightly and gave a soft whinny.

When the two returned to Zui Jiangyue, it was already near midnight, and Xiao Ningxun was standing at the inn's doorway waiting.

Xiao Er was about to speak when Xiao Ningxun shook his head, reached out, and lifted Tuan Tuan from the horse: "Tuan Tuan, you're tired; rest for now, we'll discuss tomorrow."

Early the next morning.

Everyone listened to Xiao Er's description.

Xiao Ningxun mused: "The abandoned pier… it seems they used grain carts to bring poison here, then shipped it elsewhere via the waterways."

He looked up at the group: "For this, we need to ask the Bridgehead Gang."

"I won't go!" Xiao Ran nearly sprang up from his seat.

Xiao Ningxun said helplessly: "In Jiangzhou, there's no bridge or pier they don't know; if we don't ask them, who else can we ask?"

Lu Qi stifled a laugh and said seriously: "Jiu Shaoye, this really does require you to go. Young Chief Luo now treats you as a 'life‑saving brother'; you'd better speak well."

"Exactly," Xiao Er's mouth twitched upward, "the Young Chief has no other thoughts about you; what are you afraid of?"

"I‑I'm not scared!" Xiao Ran's ears flushed; recalling Luo Hongli's gaze that day made his heart race. "I'm just… too lazy to see her!"

Tuan Tuan blinked his big eyes: "Jiu Gege, why are you afraid of Sister Luo? She's so beautiful!"

Xiao Ran: "……"

In the end, after everyone's urging, Xiao Ran still forced himself and went out together.

The party arrived at the Bridgehead Gang headquarters.

Luo Zhenyue stepped out, and Luo Hongli greeted them, her face beaming, clasping her fists as she laughed: "You've arrived? Please, come in."

She glanced at Xiao Ran; her gaze showed no avoidance, very straightforward.

Xiao Ran's eyes flickered, unwilling to meet hers.

Luo Hongli sighed inwardly, turned and left the hall; shortly after, she returned with five unusually tall, hulking, muscular men.

They stationed themselves behind her, forming a human wall.

Their gazes, in unison, fell openly on Xiao Ran.

Xiao Ran felt their eyes sweep over him from head to toe, his back hair standing up, a faint sheen of sweat on his temples.

Xiao Ningxun cleared his throat lightly.

Lu Qi tilted his head again, examining the mortise‑and‑tenon of the ceiling beams.

Xiao Er turned his face away silently, pressing his lips together.

Zhou Ping and Zhou An sat upright, bewildered.

Tuan Tuan trotted to the hulking men, lifted his little face, and earnestly exclaimed: "Wow! You're so tall and strong! Just like my second uncle!"

The leading strongman looked down at the child barely reaching his thigh and said, "Little kid, is your second uncle also a practitioner?"

"Mm!" Tuan Tuan nodded vigorously, "My second uncle is awesome!"

Xiao Er smiled brightly.

Luo Hongli patted Tuan Tuan's little head, turned to Xiao Ningxun: "You all came today—any business?"

Xiao Ningxun restrained his smile and gave a rough description of the abandoned pier's location and condition.

"Grey Gull Ferry?" Luo Hongli thought briefly and said, "That pier has been abandoned for years; silt upstream has built up, preventing large ships from entering, so it fell into ruin. So, what's wrong there?"

Xiao Ningxun replied, "We suspect it's been used to transport some things that shouldn't have been moved."

"May I ask the Young Chief, can one navigate from that pier via the waterway to the Hei Wei Dang where the ships of Jiangkuo Trading House dock, as you mentioned last time?"

"Yes." Luo Hongli nodded, "The waterway is smooth; after turning past two river bends you reach a tributary on the outer edge of Hei Wei Dang. If you go at dead of night, it's virtually unnoticed."

Xiao Ningxun and Xiao Er exchanged a glance.

"In that case, I'd like to ask the Young Chief for a favor," Xiao Ningxun clasped his hands, "Could you send a few reliable brothers to discreetly keep an eye on Grey Gull Ferry?"

"No need to get close; just watch for any vessels passing through and determine their destinations."

"A trivial matter," Luo Hongli replied cheerfully.

She thought for a moment: "It's just that the reeds around Hei Wei Dang are too dense and the waterways are complex; even if our men could follow, they'd find it hard to penetrate."

"No problem; just watch them and see whether they eventually enter Hei Wei Dang—that's enough. We'll figure out the rest later."

"Alright, leave it to us."

The group stood up to take their leave.

Luo Hongli personally escorted them to the doorway and tugged Xiao Ran's arm.

Xiao Ran jumped in alarm: "What?"

Luo Hongli leaned close, whispering, "Is there anyone you have your eye on? If so, tell me."

Xiao Ran's face was terrified: "None…"

"Little brother," a broad, fan‑shaped hand of a strongman patted Xiao Ran's shoulder from behind, the weight numbing half his body.

The strongman looked at him, his voice booming, eyes encouraging: "Come by often when you're free!"

Luo Hongli nodded vigorously: "Exactly! Our Bridgehead Gang brothers are all great!"

Xiao Ran: "…Thank you."

He almost fled the Bridgehead Gang's bamboo building with both hands and feet.

Only after walking far away did Xiao Ran finally let out a long sigh and relax.

Lu Qi at last couldn't hold back a hearty laugh.

Xiao Er's mouth corner also stretched into a grin.

Even Xiao Ningxun's face was full of smiles.

Tuan Tuan tugged at Xiao Ran's sleeve, with a naive expression: "Ninth brother, that uncle wants you to come play often, does he like you a lot?"

Xiao Ran: "…Little runt, stop talking."

Back at the inn, Xiao Er asked: "Third Young Master, what should we do next?"

Xiao Ningxun thought for a moment: "Let's wait for news from the Bridgehead Gang."

"But I want to find a way to first deal with the granary side."

Hearing this, Xiao Ran's spirit lifted: "How to do it? Should I mobilize troops?"

Xiao Ningxun shook his head: "It's not the time yet."

Lu Qi thought: "That drainage ditch! It's the only way into the granary interior; how about we block it?"

Xiao Ningxun's eyes brightened: "Good idea!"

"If we block the drainage ditch, their wastewater can't flow out, it will backflow and soak their poison."

Xiao Er clapped his hands: "Ha ha, then they'll be in total chaos, and we can just watch the show."

Xiao Ningxun nodded: "From the fact that they no longer care that people outside can smell it, Shen Wanjin is already deeply suspicious and is hurrying to make poison."

"If something happens now, he'll definitely fly into a rage."

"Zhou Ping! Zhou An, where can we get broken tiles and torn cloth scraps like that? Lots, many."

Tuan Tuan's eyes lit up: "Rags?"