Chapter 44: Not Even a Fly Can Fly In

In the end, there was still an accident.

Early the next morning, everyone had arrived, except for Zhao Lianxin, who had sold herself to bury her father.

They waited for a long time but no one came.

Yan Ze even said, "Ningning, were you swindled by someone?"

Yan Ning found it strange, "Her deed of indenture is in my hands, how could she run away? Could it be that she encountered some trouble?"

It was her own fault for not asking where Zhao Lianxin lived beforehand.

Just then, a child of about ten years old ran over, knelt down upon seeing Yan Ning, and said, "Miss, please save my sister! My sister was snatched away by the young master of the Li family!"

Yan Ning's expression changed.

Zhijin and Yunshang, who were behind her, hurriedly said, "I know where the Li family lives. He loves to forcibly snatch common women; we must hurry over."

Yan Ning went over with Zhijin and also told her father to go find Wan Siyuan.

Yan Ning pounded on the door of the Li estate incessantly, "Open the door quickly! If you don't open it, I will turn your young master Li into a eunuch!"

The steward opened the door, "Who is making a racket outside?"

As soon as the steward opened the door, Yan Ning led Zhuo Heng and the others to storm into the Li family estate.

Young Master Li was just pinning Zhao Lianxin onto the bed; the next second, Zhao Lianxin kicked him in the crotch and spat on him.

When Zhao Lianxin saw Yan Ning, she immediately hid behind the guards.

The steward rushed off in a panic to find help, while Young Master Li had already been flipped onto the ground, his clothes in disarray.

Seeing that Zhao Lianxin was fine, Yan Ning kicked Young Master Li, then wanted to take them away; the journey was long, so they needed to return early.

Young Master Li ordered the guards of the estate to block them.

He said with a sinister tone, "Yo, two more beauties have come. Are you here to take Zhao Lianxin's place?"

A person ran out from behind Yan Ning and delivered a kick straight to Young Master Li's crotch.

Yan Ze had originally gone to find Wan Siyuan to help mediate, but who would have thought he would actually covet his own wife and daughter? He used his full strength in that kick.

Wan Siyuan sighed; they had agreed on mediation at the start...

However, Young Master Li was indeed detestable, so Wan Siyuan said to the servants of the Li estate, "Where is your master?"

The steward of the Li estate recognized Wan Siyuan and hurriedly said, "My lord, please wait a moment, I will go call my master over right now."

Young Master Li saw Wan Siyuan; why was he standing with this group of people?

A bad feeling rose in his heart.

Upon hearing that Wan Siyuan had arrived, Master Li hurriedly bowed, "Greetings, Lord Wan."

Wan Siyuan frowned, "Your son actually snatched a common woman in the street. I won't report this to the authorities today, but you lot had better not cause them any trouble either, lest you lose your lives."

Master Li and Young Master Li both shivered in unison.

Master Li could only swallow his anger.

After all, someone who could make Wan Siyuan act so respectful must have an extraordinary status.

Master Li forced a smile, "It is my son who acted absurdly. Why don't I invite you all to have a simple meal at the Four Seas Tower?"

After Yan Ning refused, she took her people and left, boarding a boat together to Shawan County.

Yan Ning had a boat in Shawan County that could seat dozens of people and transport goods; they bought several quilts and tents and brought them all along.

Yan Ning, Zhijin, Yunshang, and the Zhao siblings were all fine, but the three silversmiths and the cook, Li Dadao, were feeling uneasy. Looking at this situation, were they going to sleep in tents? Were these people reliable?

But they were already on the boat, and since they had come, they would see how things were first.

When Yan Ning returned by boat, in just a few short days, this area had changed drastically.

When Yan Ning left, she gave Er Gouzi two hundred taels in Silver Notes and told him to look after things.

Do not doubt those you employ, and do not employ those you doubt; upon her return, Er Gouzi gave her a huge surprise.

As soon as she got off the boat, Yan Ning saw that a Watchtower had already been completed. At that moment, two guards were keeping watch there, and the number of carpenters seemed to have increased as well.

There were five carpenters when she left, but there were already ten upon her return, all found by Er Gouzi in the vicinity.

The most surprising thing was that quite a few rooms had been built in the courtyard. At that moment, they were digging an artificial pond and building the rear courtyard. The doors and windows of every room were already finished, and simple wooden plank beds had been placed inside.

Er Gouzi introduced, "Since you were in a hurry to come and move in, I had the carpenters make these simplest wooden plank beds. Later, I will have the carpenters make finely carved canopy beds."

Yan Ning looked at the completed rooms; a total of ten houses had been built. Yan Ning's family slept in one, General Xie and his wife and daughter also slept in one, and the forty guards used the large communal bed the carpenters had made. The rooms were spacious, and one could sleep eight people.

The remaining rooms were just enough for the people she brought back to live in. Yunshang, Zhijin, and Zhao Lianxin lived in one, Zhao Lianxin's younger brother and Li Dadao slept in one room, and the remaining three silversmiths slept in one room.

Wu Dashi said with some disdain, "Judging by your status, why are you so unrefined?"

Wu Dashi asked, "These laborers and carpenters, surely they won't be squeezing in with us, will they?"

Er Gouzi chimed in, "How could that be? There aren't enough rooms, so I discussed it with them; I'll give them extra silver to sleep in the tents."

Yan Ning sighed, "Alas, there just wasn't enough time. According to the design drawings I made, everyone will be able to have their own room in the future. After all, these hundreds of acres of land cannot be wasted, it just needs some time."

Li Dadao was puzzled, "Why are you in such a hurry to move in? Don't you have a big house in Shawan County?"

Yan Ning told the truth, "My father was targeted. When we were in Shawan County, people would climb over the wall at night... It happened several times already, so we moved here immediately."

Li Dadao was a bit scared, "This, this won't be dangerous for us, will it?"

Yan Ning shook her head, "How could it be? Firstly, this place is remote and not many people know about it. Secondly, I had the carpenters build a Watchtower, and the guards take turns keeping watch at night. Never mind assassins, not even a fly will be able to fly in."

Li Dadao felt slightly relieved, "Then I'll take a gamble. Wealth and honor are sought in danger."

However, Li Dadao had originally thought about bringing his wife and daughter over after getting familiar with the place, but now it seemed it would be better for them to stay in Haicheng.

No wonder the pay here was generous; it turned out it wasn't safe.

The others didn't have any objections; after all, their guards really looked formidable. At that moment, General Xie was still drilling them, and they were taking turns shooting targets with the Crossbow.

Li Dadao had an illusion: had he accidentally entered a bandit's den?

But looking at these people's words and actions, they were very elegant and composed, not like those vulgar mountain bandits.

Except for Li Dadao, the other three silversmiths hesitated for a moment. Looking at the large basin of Glazed Glass—some clear and transparent, some with snowflakes floating inside—in short, they were all very beautiful. The three hesitated slightly, then decided to stay.

Still the same saying: wealth and honor are sought amidst danger.

Yan Ning saw them captivated by the Glazed Glass and asked, "What tools do you need to prepare for making silver ornaments? I will have someone prepare them right now."

"My shop has already been cleared out, and I am in a hurry to put the Glazed Glass up for sale; can you start work tomorrow?"