Chapter 0004 Capture
Seated inside is a middle-aged woman nearing forty, dressed in a simple, gray, handwoven garment. Her eyes are closed as she continuously recites something before a statue of a revered Buddha. In her hand, she holds a string of prayer beads, which she turns rhythmically. Upon closer inspection, one can see that her hands are covered with a thick layer of calluses, indicating that she was a diligent and hardworking woman in her youth. The faint lines of wrinkles on her face and the crow's feet at the corners of her eyes cannot obscure her delicate and pleasant features. In her hand, she holds a string of prayer beads, which she turns rhythmically. Upon closer inspection, one can see that her hands are covered with a thick layer of calluses, indicating that she was a diligent and hardworking woman in her youth. The faint lines of wrinkles on her face and the crow's feet at the corners of her eyes cannot obscure her delicate and pleasant features.
Hehe, you rascal, trying to reason with me is like farting in front of a pig. If I could understand, I would have gone to school long ago. However, I really want to thank you for this time. Oh, and there's one more thing, this meal is probably the last one I will treat you to. Tomorrow, my father will send me to a big gang in Guanshan City—the Qinglong Gang—to learn the trade. By then, I will emerge as a great hero, haha! Wielding my sword in the rivers and lakes, drinking and killing, living freely—this has been my dream since childhood. After I'm gone, wielding my sword in the rivers and lakes, drinking and killing, living freely—this has been my dream since childhood. You need to be careful at the Luo residence. If anyone dares to bully you, when I return from my training, just tell me, and I will help you deal with them.
The occurrence of this incident has shocked both the court and the public. To dare to commit a crime in front of the emperor is nothing short of a contempt for imperial authority. It is said that the emperor has dispatched officials from the capital's government to investigate this matter rigorously, and even some palace guards have been sent out. However, it is reported that the results have been minimal, and by the time the officials arrived, the location of the transaction had long been deserted.
Before he could finish speaking, the shopkeeper Fang knelt down on both knees, his expression filled with deep regret as he pleaded: "Master Luo, I am ungrateful and beg you to spare me. I have not betrayed you; it is just that the authorities have been cracking down recently, and I wish to return to my hometown to avoid the storm. I implore you to show mercy." After saying this, he repeatedly bowed his head to Luo Feng.
Time flies swiftly. When Zhang the Fat left, the sky had already darkened slightly. After sending Zhang the Fat out of the courtyard, Luo Yu went to rest in his room. At midnight, in the silent Luo residence, a series of hurried footsteps echoed. Four or five black-clad guards, led by the Wang surname guard wearing golden silk gloves from last time, were escorting the manager Fang of Tongbao Bank towards the Luo residence. At this moment, Manager Fang's face bore several bruises, and there was a significant knife wound on his shoulder. Although the blood had coagulated, he appeared to have been severely beaten, walking unsteadily, with his eyes filled with a dead gray color, full of despair. They were escorting Manager Fang of Tongbao Bank towards the Luo residence. At this moment, Manager Fang's face bore several bruises, and there was a significant knife wound on his shoulder. Although the blood had coagulated, he appeared to have been severely beaten, walking unsteadily, with his eyes filled with a dead gray color, full of despair.
At this moment, there are two individuals waiting inside, one of whom is Luo Feng, who is slowly savoring a cup of clear tea with an expressionless face. The other person is the esteemed Chief Steward, while Luo Feng is still dressed in a splendid brocade robe adorned with golden edges, and the Chief Steward stands respectfully beside him with his hands clasped.
"Come in, but next time do not take other people's things without permission. What is owed to others will eventually be repaid." A gentle voice came from inside. The voice seemed to carry a hint of mild reproach and affection. Upon hearing this, Luo Yu did not wait for the person inside to continue speaking and directly pushed the door open, rushing in like the wind.
Upon entering, the guard with the surname Wang cupped his fists towards Luo Feng and said, "Young Master, the person you requested has been brought here by me." Luo Feng responded lightly, then fixed his cold gaze on Manager Fang and said, "Brother Fang, why are you in such a hurry to leave? You didn't even inform me, allowing your younger brother to see you off. Fortunately, I had someone waiting for you outside the city..."
Luo Yu quickly walked up to the middle-aged woman, holding a lunchbox in both hands, and joyfully said: "Mother, this is from a chubby man who asked me for a favor; usually, he is very stingy." At this moment, the middle-aged woman slowly opened her eyes, put down her prayer beads, and turned to look at Luo Yu with affection: "You must not deceive your mother; I have taught you to understand etiquette since you were young. Although we are poor, we must live with dignity and not let others look down on us." After saying this, she took the lunchbox from Luo Yu's hands and continued: "Mother still has to go to the Dong family this afternoon to do some laundry. You will be home alone, so do not run around; be careful that the Luo family people bully you again. You have studied for half a day and must be tired, so rest in your mother's room before you go out." After hearing this, Luo Yu cheerfully replied "Okay" and quickly ran towards a small room in the house, laughing as he said: "Mother's bed is the most comfortable, much better than mine." The middle-aged woman looked at Luo Yu with eyes full of love, and after hearing his words, a warm smile appeared on her lips. Only after Luo Yu entered the room did she slowly withdraw her gaze and continue to meditate and recite scriptures.
Quietly entering the Luo residence, several individuals swiftly traversed through the dense courtyards, without knocking on the door, directly apprehending him and bringing him into Luo Feng's room
Moreover, during the transactions, those individuals always concealed their faces, and no one had truly seen their appearances, which is why the investigation into this case was progressing slowly. All of this was unknown to Luo Yu, who remained quietly engrossed in his study of "The Deceptive Path of Go," lost in its depths. He was exceptionally gifted, with a memory far surpassing that of ordinary people. The bizarre game records in the book could often be comprehended in just a moment, and he could even draw inferences from them. All of this was unknown to Luo Yu, who remained quietly engrossed in his study of "The Deceptive Path of Go," lost in its depths. He was exceptionally gifted, with a memory far surpassing that of ordinary people. The bizarre game records in the book could often be comprehended in just a moment, and he could even draw inferences from them. This can only be attributed to his extraordinary intelligence; if it were an ordinary person, even with hands-on teaching, they might not necessarily understand.
At that moment, Luo Yu heard a series of urgent knocks on the door, accompanied by the familiar voice of Zhang Pangzi. "Damn it, you brat, come out quickly, I’ve brought you food again." Luo Yu got up and quickly opened the door. Before he could react, a plump figure rushed in, without saying a word, grabbed the water jug on the table, and gulped it down, looking extremely thirsty. Luo Yu stared at Zhang Pangzi's sweaty face and said, "Pangzi, have you done something guilty? You look like your butt is on fire. Let me make it clear first, if you cause trouble outside again and come here to seek refuge, don’t even think about it." Hearing Luo Yu say this, Zhang Pangzi, who was drinking water, almost spat it out, but then swallowed it down, his face turning bright red as he coughed repeatedly. After catching his breath, he said, "Nonsense, what do you take me for? Besides, even if I really got into some trouble, it’s only right for me to come here to seek refuge! But this time, I’m here to thank you for the fake ticket incident. My father followed your method, and as a result, the pawnshop owner accepted that fake ticket. Just so happened he heard what I said to him, so he didn’t buy too much. I was just saying he shouldn’t have bought any at all." Zhang Qi complained.
Oh, how unbelievable! In fact, as long as you do not covet those small gains and work diligently, you will not be deceived. These are all lessons my mother taught me. " Luo Yu said as he picked up a pancake from the lunchbox and began to eat.
"You can rest assured and focus on your studies; I will take good care of myself." After hearing this, Luo Yu felt a slight pang of sadness in his heart, yet he still wore a smile. It seemed he was afraid that Zhang Pangzi would notice the hidden reluctance within him. However, both of them were only thirteen or fourteen years old, and such feelings passed in an instant. They soon began to play and frolic in the room, with bursts of laughter and the sounds of chasing and roughhousing echoing, adding a splash of color to the quiet courtyard.
Two days passed just like that, and the residence remained as calm as usual, with even the sound of birds chirping being scarce, seemingly afraid of disturbing the tranquility here. Outside the residence, however, chaos erupted, as a serious counterfeit ticket case occurred in the capital of the Yuanjiang Kingdom—Anding City. From high-ranking executives and wealthy families to ordinary citizens, approximately a thousand people were deceived, with an estimated loss of around ten million taels of silver.