Chapter 917: Acceptance Inspection

Instead, another agreement in the contract had reached its deadline: Does Bailie was to evict the tenants on the outer islands of the Yangshan Archipelago within six days of signing the agreement, then hand the islands over to their new owner.

The authorities were already busy with this matter.

This meant that Lu Qing'an and He He Lingchuan still had to meet tomorrow to collect the remaining forty thousand silver taels.

Would that kid decide Does Bailie was defrauding him and refuse to pay the balance?

If so, then he shouldn't blame them for what happened next.

But judging by the fact that Lu Qing'an had sent people to tail He He Lingchuan, this rich kid, despite spending his days loitering in the markets and wandering around eating and drinking, didn't seem to have asked anyone about the Yangshan Archipelago.

Since he didn't ask, others naturally wouldn't volunteer the information.

Lu Qing'an didn't know if those subordinates of his would scout for information and report it back.

Instead, it was Ding Ding Zuodong, under He He Lingchuan, who was quite active. He had been purchasing furniture, roof tiles, farm tools, seeds, and the like, and recruiting skilled craftsmen, looking as if he really wanted to make a big splash on the Yangshan Archipelago.

It was nearly autumn now, so it was a bit late to plant other crops, but wheat was suitable. Moreover, clearing land for farming had to be done quickly; even if nothing was planted, after applying wood ash and letting it nourish throughout the winter, the soil fertility would rise, allowing for direct sowing in the spring, wasting no time.

Lu Qing'an had introduced these channels to He He Lingchuan.

Although he had severely fleeced the young master in the island sale, the connections he provided for him were all of good reputation and quality.

This wasn't because Lu Qing'an had a change of heart, but because the best material suppliers in the area were either owned by the Lu family or had the Lu family as shareholders. When they made money, the Lu family also received dividends.

Killing two birds with one stone, what was wrong with that? In the afternoon, as he was reviewing the grain and fodder ledgers for the Mou Kingdom, someone suddenly came to report: "The pirates of the Yangshan Archipelago suffered heavy losses a few days ago."

Lu Qing'an gave a grunt, not taking it to heart at first glance.

The pirates of the Yangshan Archipelago had been a scourge for a long time, impossible to eradicate. After the Qing Kingdom took over Blade Harbor, they had also sent people to suppress them several times; now, the number of pirates active in the archipelago was small and not particularly rampant, so both sides couldn't be bothered to manage them.

Does Bailie didn't care about the life or death of the pirates; it was even better if they suffered heavy losses.

Besides, the Yangshan Archipelago had already changed hands, and the pirates had become the new owner's problem, having nothing more to do with Does Bailie.

However, thinking of that new "island owner," Lu Qing'an immediately noticed the specific timing: "Ten days ago?"

Ten days ago, the Yangshan Archipelago was still in their hands.

Eight days ago, He He Lingchuan sent someone to their door, seeking to purchase the Yangshan Archipelago.

Could it be that they were the ones who dealt the heavy blow to the pirates? "Which force defeated the pirates?"

"Yinhui."

Once this answer was given, Lu Qing'an froze for two breaths: "What? They dared to go deep into the archipelago?"

Those pirates were old hands; how could they not know the dangers deep in the archipelago? "No, no. The people at the supply station said that for two consecutive nights, the Yinhui wiped out two of the pirates' old nests, killing nearly two hundred people."

The total number of pirates was less than a thousand, right? Lu Qing'an was shocked and suspicious: "You mean, the Yinhui have come out to the outer rim of the archipelago?"

Pirates couldn't possibly build nests deep in the archipelago. The only explanation was that the Yinhui had swum out of their own territory and invaded the outer waters! This was truly a bizarre event that had never happened in thousands of years.

"Yes!" the subordinate continued, "The people at the supply station only said today that there was actually movement on Black Page Island that night, with something desperately ramming the doors. These workers quickly hid in the rear bunkers. These bunkers were for defense against pirate riots, but in the end, they saved their lives."

Pirates usually wouldn't attack the supply station, but the latter had to be prepared nonetheless.

"Did they see clearly that it was indeed Yinhui?"

"Yes, they saw it clearly through the cracks in the door; every one of them was very large, at least three zhang in length."

Lu Qing'an gasped: "The Yangshan Archipelago is no longer safe."

If the Yinhui were coming out to cause trouble, the shipping lanes on the outer rim of the Yangshan Archipelago would soon become deserted.

Phew, it was a good thing they had already sold those islands.

The troubles in that sea area had nothing to do with Does Bailie from now on.

In the evening, he reported this matter to his father as usual.

Lu Lu Zhensheng listened, resting his chin on his hand, and said: "How could it be such a coincidence that everything happened all at once?"

The expansion of the Yinhui, the pirates being injured, the sale of the archipelago.

Within ten days, these events all revolved around the Yangshan Archipelago.

"What does Father think?"

"Whether the one surnamed He has anything to do with these events is hard to say." Lu Lu Zhensheng pondered, "Since the Yinhui have expanded their activity area, it might be dangerous for you to accompany him to the island for the inspection tomorrow."

Lu Qing'an nodded: "I won't go; I'll send someone else to accompany him. Also—"

He paused: "For the past two days, water-bloated corpses have been drifting to Blade Harbor, piling up on the beach on the southwest side of the port, the stench of rot filling the air. The port has cleaned them up several times, but they keep drifting over. These corpses are basically half-charred and incomplete, but very easy to identify—they are all Yinhui. The fishermen of Blade Harbor are complaining that no one dares to eat the fish near the port anymore. Even the Qing Kingdom authorities have been alarmed and sent people to ask us."

The Yinhui were dying one after another, for unknown reasons? Lu Lu Zhensheng pondered for a long time: "The death of the Yinhui, and the living ones going ashore to attack human settlements, perhaps indicates that a major change has occurred on Dragon Spine Island."

"Does the one surnamed He know the reason?"

"You can probe him tomorrow, but prioritize completing the agreement and getting the remaining money." Lu Lu Zhensheng rubbed his hands, "The Yangshan Archipelago has already been sold and will not be returned. Whatever happens to it, it has nothing to do with us anymore."

Lu Qing'an smiled: "That is exactly how I replied to the Qing Kingdom."

The next morning.

Just at sunrise, the Registrar Yang sent by Lu Qing'an arrived at Cloud Peak Villa to invite He He Lingchuan to Blade Harbor.

"Why, why so early..." He He Lingchuan rubbed his eyes and yawned several times, barely finishing the sentence, "... to go to the island?"

He was in the middle of a dream being lovey-dovey with Master Sun, and hadn't even gotten much out of it, when he was interrupted by this fellow.

Damn it!

"Does Young Master He not want to inspect it earlier?"

He did, but seeing these guys so anxious, He He Lingchuan was suddenly in no hurry.

"Where is Master Lu?"

"He went out of the city for an urgent matter. Today, as Young Master He goes to the island, this subordinate will accompany you." Registrar Yang smiled, "Master Lu will go to Blade Harbor in the afternoon to wait for you."

He He Lingchuan didn't say anything after hearing this.

When they were drinking last time, Lu Qing'an had promised to accompany him to the island for the inspection, but now he was backing out at the last minute.

Why? Was it because the seas near Blade Harbor were not peaceful lately, and Lu Qing'an was afraid of dying?

This family was really cautious. He He Lingchuan noted this trait.

It was a beautiful day with clear skies, the sea surface rippling with golden waves, and seagulls circling and squawking tirelessly. Does Bailie had chartered a pleasure boat here in advance, and it was now carrying Registrar Yang, He He Lingchuan, and dozens of others toward Black Page Island.

He He Lingchuan fed a nut to the monkey on his shoulder while asking Registrar Yang: "Did the original tenants of the six outer islands agree to move out?"

"They were all given extra money, why wouldn't they agree?" Registrar Yang smiled, "Originally they didn't really..."

Didn't really make much money.

These words almost slipped out, but fortunately, he stopped in time.

He He Lingchuan looked back at him: "Didn't really...?"

"Didn't really manage these places well." Registrar Yang shook his head, "It looked like a slum, lowering the value."

As they were talking, a pitch-black object drifted over on the sea surface.

Everyone took a closer look and saw it was actually an incomplete corpse.

He He Lingchuan pointed at it, looking surprised: "Wow, what the hell is this? It's not human, is it?"

"The long tail is curled, it's not human." Qiu Hu also squeezed to the side of the boat to look, commenting solemnly, "But it seems to have hands. What kind of monster is this?"

Registrar Yang had wanted to follow Lu Qing'an's instructions to probe for information, but on second thought, whether it was pirates or Yinhui, talking about it would probably ruin this business deal.

If this Young Master He backed out and didn't want to pay, although the agreement was already made and they could use force, it would ultimately be a low-class move.

So he shook his head: "Just a floating corpse. If Young Master He lived by the sea for a long time, you would know that there is never a shortage of strange things in the sea."

He He Lingchuan scratched his head, appearing not to care much, and didn't ask further.

The boat sailed with the wind in the morning, and before long, they arrived at Black Page Island.

The island looked lush from afar, but only upon closer inspection did one realize that the shore and cliffs were made of black shale, with thin, book-page-like rock flakes stacked willfully, possessing both the openness of sea rock and the roughness of tree bark and the patterns of growth rings.

There was a curved bay here, with a wooden pier extending from the shore into the sea for ships to dock, passengers to land, and cargo and water to be unloaded.

Registrar Yang walked onto the land along the wooden pier and pointed upward: "That is the supply station."

Above the black reef group was a cluster of low houses, varying in size and shape; some were made of bamboo, some of wood, some piled with stones, with only the roofs being relatively uniform, mostly palm leaves, large sea grass, and wheat straw.

Registrar Yang was right; the supply station here was quite crude, all built on a whim without any planning.

He He Lingchuan walked over and took a look; the doors were all open, and the inside was a mess, with broken bottles, jars, rotten grass balls, clothes left behind, and stained farm tools.

Was this a supply station? It was more like a scavenger's home.

Seeing strangers enter, a few mice scurried out from under the bamboo mats and fled, squeaking.

In the corner of the room, there seemed to be a mouse hole.

Seeing this scene, everyone fell silent.

Registrar Yang cursed his subordinates in his heart for being perfunctory, not even knowing how to clean up after driving the tenants away. Anyone could see that the business situation here was too poor, and the contractor of the supply station probably hadn't made any money.

"The family that left was unscrupulous, throwing all their junk inside." He coughed lightly, "Young Master He, please don't mind; I will call people over to clean it up."

He He Lingchuan's face twitched: "Can you have them just tear these houses down?"

"Of course." Registrar Yang's face was a bit embarrassed, "Of course you can."

He changed the subject and hurriedly introduced it to He He Lingchuan: "The scenery of the eastern cliffs of Black Page Island is actually extremely beautiful; you can see the boundless sea and the waterfalls on the opposite island."

(End of chapter)