Chapter 876

The situation in Xinglin Zhen indeed took a turn, and a huge turn at that.

But need to translate faithfully.

Let's go line by line.

The situation in Xinglin Town has indeed reversed, and it's a major reversal.

Translation: The situation in Xinglin Zhen indeed underwent a reversal, and the reversal was huge.

We need to keep "Xinglin Zhen" as per glossary.

Chen Ruoshui dispatched personnel to thoroughly investigate Xinglin Town's past, inside and out, uncovering many new details.

Translation: Chen Ruoshui dispatched people to investigate all past affairs of Xinglin Zhen inside and out, uncovering quite a few new matters.

Elder Yu, who loves charity and enjoys building bridges and fixing roads, is far from the benevolent figure he seems; his deeds are probably just his way of seeking redemption in his old age.

Translation: That philanthropic Elder Yu who liked to build bridges and repair roads was fundamentally not as benevolent as he appeared; his doing these things was likely just because he was getting old and wanted to use them to atone for himself.

Elder Yu and his son, a decent woman and a lovely maiden, are all desperate to be surrounded by women every day, and their interest wears off extremely fast.

Translation: Elder Yu and his son, a lecherous old man and a lecherous young woman, both wished they could lie among women every day, and their sense of novelty was extremely fleeting.

Any woman that this father and son set their sights on can hardly escape their grasp.

Translation: Any woman that this father-son pair took a liking to hardly could escape their clutches.

Elder Yu once held a high‑ranking post with considerable influence in Yan Prefecture; this father and son excel at using their power to intimidate women into compliance, and if a woman resists they slaughter her entire family and forcibly take her.

Translation: Elder Yu used to hold a significant official post, carrying great weight in Yan Zhou; this father-son pair were most adept at using power and influence to coerce women into compliance, and if they encountered resistance they would outright slaughter the whole family and forcibly abduct the women they fancied.

Their fascination with women lasts only about a month; after that, obedient women are made servants in the manor, while those whose families they slaughtered and whom they abducted for fun are either sold or buried.

Translation: The father-son pair's novelty with women lasted roughly a month; after losing interest, they would toss the obedient, docile ones into the manor as maids, while those they had slaughtered families for and abducted, then locked in the dungeon for amusement, they would simply sell off or bury in a pit.

So far, Chen Ruoshui has identified roughly a hundred victims.

Translation: According to what Chen Ruoshui has already uncovered, the number of victims is about a hundred.

This doesn't even include the family members who were also impacted.

Translation: This does not yet include their affected family members.

Though the father and son carry out such atrocities in secret, they keep up a perfect outward appearance of kindness and charity, swiftly silencing any rumors that arise.

Translation: Though the father-son pair's secret deeds were utterly heinous, on the surface they concealed them extremely well, consistently maintaining their philanthropic benevolent persona; even when occasional rumors surfaced, they were quickly smoothed over.

"Dig those two beasts out of their graves again, crush their bones and scatter their ashes!" Chen Wujì commanded with a stern face; hearing this made him inexplicably furious, and he felt like striking someone.

Translation: "Dig those two beasts out of their graves again and crush their bones, scatter their ashes!" Chen Wuji ordered with a stern face; hearing these matters made him inexplicably furious, wanting to chop people.

Given the Yu family's influence and wealth, they could openly pursue women, yet they choose to satisfy their father‑son duo's depraved tastes through such horrific methods.

Translation: With the Yu family's power and wealth, they could openly seek women, yet they insist on using such heinous means to satisfy their father-son duo's depraved cravings.

People like them deserve to be hacked to pieces; even that would be lenient.

Translation: Such people, death by a thousand cuts, would still be mercy toward them.

"What ties does Kong Mou have with the Yu family?" Chen Wujì asked.

Translation: "What connection does Kong Fang have with the Yu family?" Chen Wuji asked.

Chen Ruoshui answered: "My lord, his wife and children appear to have been massacred by the Yu father and son. I questioned several former servants of the Yu household, but they could only guess and could not confirm it. The Yu father and son have victimized so many women that the servants cannot distinguish them or recall details."

Translation: Chen Ruoshui replied: "My lord, his wife and children seem to have been slaughtered by the Yu father and son. I asked several servants who came from the Yu household, but they were only guessing like that, unable to confirm. The Yu father and son have slaughtered so many women that the servants cannot tell them apart or even remember clearly."

"Kong Mou is an outsider, not from Xinglin Town. The heads of the Xu and Lin families said he arrived two years ago with a merchant caravan; he first taught at the school left by the Yu family, and only later became involved with the two families."

Translation: "Kong Fang is an outsider, not a native of Xinglin Zhen. The heads of the Xu and Lin families say that Kong Fang came to Xinglin Zhen two years ago with a merchant caravan; initially he taught at the school left by the Yu family, and only later did he become involved with those two households."

Chen Wujì paced a few steps, hands behind his back, stood at the window, and said: "This is highly plausible. If Kong Mou came for revenge, why did he have the Xu and Lin families seize nearby villagers' land and engage in banditry elsewhere? Is he just trying to build his own power base?"

Translation: Chen Wuji paced a few steps, hands behind his back, stood by the window, and said: "This possibility is great. If Kong Fang came for revenge, then why did he have the Xu and Lin families seize nearby villagers' lands and engage in banditry abroad? Was it merely to gather power for himself?"

Chen Ruoshui's face fell: "My lord, please excuse me; this is my oversight—I didn't investigate thoroughly. The townspeople of Xinglin are growing opium poppies, which brings quick cash, and they saw nothing wrong; when we looked before, no one realized there was a problem with cultivating those plants."

Translation: Chen Ruoshui's expression suddenly grew somewhat bitter: "My lord, please forgive me; this matter… is due to my dereliction of duty as deputy general, I failed to investigate thoroughly. The people of Xinglin Zhen cultivate A Furong, which brings in money quickly, and they didn't think there was anything wrong; when we previously investigated, no one realized that growing those things posed any problem."

"The Yu family supplies the seeds and collects the harvest; since the townspeople have grown rich thanks to the Yu family, they always speak highly of them."

Translation: "The seeds are distributed by the Yu family, and the harvested goods are also collected by them; because the people of Xinglin Zhen have made money thanks to the Yu family, everyone thus always remembers the Yu family's kindness."

Chen Wujì frowned sharply and asked: "What was the situation with the Xu and Lin families beforehand?"

Translation: Chen Wuji furrowed his brows sharply: "What was the situation with the Xu and Lin families before?"

"They also grew the crop before; in fact, before Kong Mou acted, the Xu and Lin families were closely tied to the Yu family, managing the villagers' cultivation, procurement, and shipping—tasks actually carried out by the Xu and Lin families—but later something occurred and their clansmen all became addicted to opium."

Translation: "They too had been planting before; actually, before Kong Fang took action, the Xu and Lin families had a very close relationship with the Yu family, overseeing the people's farming, goods collection, and shipment—these were in fact all handled by the Xu and Lin families—but later something happened and their clansmen all became addicted to A Furong." Chen Ruoshui said.

"Was it Kong Mou who saved them?" Chen Wujì exclaimed, turning his head.

Translation: "Was it Kong Fang who saved them?" Chen Wuji exclaimed, turning his head.

"Yes, although we don't know how Kong Mou did it, the people were indeed rescued by him; after that the Yu family died off overnight, and the Xu and Lin families then fully teamed up with Kong Mou."

Translation: "Yes, although I don't know how Kong Fang managed it, the people were indeed saved by him; after that, the Yu family died out overnight, and the Xu and Lin families then became fully allied with Kong Fang." Chen Ruoshui said.

"Most of the people the Xu and Lin families seized from outside are linked to opium. Kong Mou has a cure for opium addiction, but he withholds it from them and instead forces them to work the fields."

Translation: "Most of the people the Xu and Lin families abducted from outside have some connection to A Furong. Kong Fang possesses something that can cure the A Furong addiction, but he does not give it to these people; instead he forces them to farm and labor."

Chen Wujì felt a sudden pang: "Good grief, this kid is really a talent."

Translation: Chen Wuji felt a stir in his heart, "Damn, this kid really is a talent."

He almost killed the wrong person.

Translation: I almost killed the wrong person.

He carried out such a grand scheme and still managed to conceal it so well; this tactic really has merit. Without ample manpower, a blunt approach like casting a wide net and probing each spot might never have revealed these secrets.

Translation: Pulling off such a big maneuver and still managing to conceal it this well—this method really has something to it. If he didn't have ample manpower at his disposal, using a simple, brute-force approach like casting a wide net and probing each spot might not have uncovered these secrets.

"Opium…" Chen Wujì murmured, suddenly thinking of the Snake Staff Elder.

Translation: "A Furong…" Chen Wuji murmured, suddenly thinking of the Snake Staff Elder.

He vaguely recalled that the Snake Staff Elder had deep connections with Yan Prefecture.

Translation: He vaguely recalled that the Snake Staff Elder seemed to have deep ties with Yan Zhou.

Damn it, it's that old Taoist troublemaker again.

Translation: Damn it, this is again the doing of that old Taoist priest.

"How much do you know about the Snake Staff Elder's connections to Yan Prefecture?" Chen Wujì asked.

Translation: "How much do you know about the Snake Staff Elder's connection to Yan Zhou?" Chen Wuji asked.

Chen Ruoshui suddenly looked up: "My lord, you also thought of him? I'm not sure what connection this old man has with Yan Prefecture, but I know he frequently travels there."

Translation: Chen Ruoshui snapped her head up: "My lord, you also thought of him? As for what relationship this old thing has with Yan Zhou, I as deputy general am not clear, but I know he frequently travels to and from Yan Zhou."

"Behind Yu Ren is the Snake Staff Elder devising plans; plus opium appeared at the same time, so I suspect this might be the Snake Staff Elder's work."

Translation: "Behind Yu Ren is the Snake Staff Elder devising plans; plus, A Furong appeared at the same time, the deputy general suspects this might very well be the Snake Staff Elder's doing."

Chen Wujì suddenly felt irritated: "Damn, I've never seen anyone who can hide so well—this old bastard!"

Translation: Chen Wuji suddenly felt annoyed: "Damn, I've never seen someone who can hide so well, this old bastard!"

From Yunan to Yan Prefecture he has fought repeatedly and always emerged victorious, never suffering a defeat.

Translation: He has gone from Yunan to Yan Zhou, winning battle after battle with no defeats.

Yet against that old man he repeatedly comes out on the losing side.

Translation: Yet he repeatedly suffers losses at the hands of this old thing.

Although the Snake Staff Elder doesn't possess any particularly strong abilities, he still can't be caught, which is both maddening and chilling.

Translation: The Snake Staff Elder obviously doesn't have any particularly strong means, yet he just can't be caught, which is infuriating.

"He really is quite good at evading." Chen Ruoshui muttered, frowning as he fell into thought.

Translation: "He… really is quite good at evading." Chen Ruoshui muttered, furrowing her brows with a thoughtful look.

Chen Wujì turned and sat down: "Since the matter is now clear, release the Xu and Lin families' people; it seems I still need to personally apologize and make amends."

Translation: Chen Wuji turned and sat down: "Since the matter is now clear, release the people of the Xu and Lin families; it seems I still need to personally apologize and make amends to them."

"My lord, is that really necessary?" Chen Ruoshui asked, surprised.

Translation: "My lord, is that really necessary?" Chen Ruoshui asked in surprise.

Chen Wujì waved his hand: "It's fine; since we made a mistake and wronged them, we ought to humble ourselves, not ignore our fault just because I'm a military governor and a marquis."

Translation: Chen Wuji waved his hand: "No problem; since I made a mistake and wronged them, I must lower my stance—I cannot ignore my fault just because I am a Regional Inspector Commander and also a Marquis."

"Please summon the heads of the Xu and Lin families so I can talk with them. Also, have the Third Lady come over."

Translation: "Please summon the heads of the Xu and Lin families so I can talk with them. Also, invite the Third Madam over."

"Yes!" Chen Ruoshui replied, then added: "My lord, I've just been thinking carefully about what the Snake Staff Elder has done; there are some details I'd like to report to you."

Translation: "Understood!" Chen Ruoshui replied, then added: "My lord, after carefully reconsidering the Snake Staff Elder's past deeds, there are some details I wish to report to you."

"Go ahead."

Translation: "Go ahead."

"The Snake Staff Elder seems to be from the capital. While I was with him, he received letters from the capital; the sender's status appears high, and each time he got a letter his manner was very respectful—a look I rarely saw on him."

Translation: "The Snake Staff Elder seems to be a native of the capital. During the time I followed him, he received letters from the capital; the sender's status appeared not low, and each time he got a letter his expression was very respectful—a look I rarely saw on him." Chen Ruoshui said.

"Furthermore, when he comes to Yan Prefecture he usually goes under the guise of ancestor worship or repairing the ancestral home, heading to Longyun County. I was young then, so my memory is fuzzy, but I believe that's the name."

Translation: "Furthermore, when he comes to Yan Zhou, he mostly does so under the pretext of ancestral worship or repairing the ancestral home, going to Longyun County. I was young then, my memory is fuzzy, but it seems that is indeed the name."

He really liked adopting orphans in Yan Zhou, taking in dozens or even hundreds almost every year; many of them I never saw again later, perhaps they are still in Yan Zhou.