C4 Surrounding Him!

Lau Mingzhu inhaled deeply and quickly began to fill Lin Han in.

"Greedy for money and lust?" Lin Han raised an eyebrow. "Is there anything else? Perhaps you could be more specific about his hobbies. Without that, I'm at a loss for a strategy."

Greed and lust were common to men; it was simply a matter of degree.

"He... he frequents the Spring Flavor Inn," Lau Mingzhu recalled, "and he has a penchant for married women. His methods are quite effective, and ultimately, he silences issues with silver. Also, the County Magistrate is henpecked."

Lin Han narrowed his eyes and quickly stated, "I have a few conditions."

Lau Mingzhu met Lin Han's gaze but remained silent.

"Firstly, I'll do everything I can to rescue your father. But once he's safe, you mustn't restrict my freedom, especially not my personal freedom..."

Lin Han's eyes sparkled with a hint of satisfaction.

Lau Mingzhu nodded. She had no particular affection for Lin Han, but with her father's life at stake, she was prepared to agree to any terms.

Even if this man wanted her...

"Secondly, I'll need funds to save your father, and I'll require your cooperation."

Lin Han regarded Lau Mingzhu intently.

Lau Mingzhu paused briefly, "How much money do you need?"

...

Silver was indeed valuable.

Lin Han did some quick math and realized that one tael of silver was worth about 300 yuan in the future. So, the hundred taels he had were equivalent to 30,000 yuan?

30,000 yuan was the most Lau Mingzhu could offer, the sole legacy from her late mother, tucked away in her purse. Today, for her father's sake, she was willing to part with it.

With the 30,000 yuan in hand, Lin Han stepped outside.

There was a lot one could do with 30,000 yuan. Lin Han even figured he might save some for himself later on, considering it his fee. He had no intention of returning it to Lau Mingzhu. After all, she was capable enough to fend for herself. Moreover, having some money was never a bad thing. So, for the sake of that silver, Lin Han was committed to the task at hand.

In the County Magistrate's office...

When no one came forward to lodge a complaint, Zhao Zhengkun, the County Magistrate of Shuixiu County, would naturally sit in tranquility in his study, leisurely perusing records of the day's events at the office.

Shortly thereafter, a man entered the room.

This individual served as the Deputy Magistrate of the county. In Shuixiu County, Zhao Zhengkun held unrivaled power. To protect his own interests, Deputy Magistrate Liu Yong had no choice but to align himself with Zhao Zhengkun. Outwardly, he adhered to the County Magistrate's directives, but behind the scenes, he was always searching for Zhao Zhengkun's vulnerabilities. They were backed by different factions, and if Liu Yong could manage to topple his superior, it would be cause for celebration.

He had recently encountered a young man dressed as a scholar. For a Deputy Magistrate, granting an audience to a scholar wasn't particularly challenging. However, the presence of a masked man with formidable martial arts skills, who whisked away his son and vanished over rooftops, made it clear to Liu Yong that he had no choice but to play along with the scholar's plans. Thankfully, the scholar's target was the County Magistrate, not him, which allowed Liu Yong to breathe a sigh of relief.

If he could strike a severe blow against Zhao Zhengkun this time, it would be a joyous occasion indeed. He also hoped that the scholar would honor his promise...

"Deputy Liu, to what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?"

Zhao Zhengkun asked languidly, looking up.

"Magistrate Zhao, the case against the Lau family's registrar seems to lack sufficient evidence. Do you truly intend to keep him detained?" Liu Yong inquired with a chuckle. "After all, if the evidence falls short, he'll have to be released..."

"That concern is none of your business, Deputy Liu. His daughter, Lau Mingzhu, is a formidable martial artist, unmatched in Shuixiu County. If she were to attempt a jailbreak, it would be effortless for her. Should that happen, the Lau family's reputation would be ruined. Even if she doesn't attempt a rescue, and I release him due to insufficient evidence, I still have ample time and energy to deal with Lau Ming. He is, after all, just a lowly registrar," Zhao Zhengkun stated coolly. "I had no intention of fabricating evidence to bring down Lau Ming directly. If Lau Ming won't respect me, then he can't expect any leniency in return."

"Lord Zhao makes a compelling point..." Liu Yong said with a smile, swiftly adding, "I've come into possession of some top-tier tea leaves at home. Given that the County Magistrate overlooked matters today, might you be interested in visiting my abode for a tasting?"

Tea leaves?

Upon hearing about the tea leaves, Zhao Zhengkun immediately licked his lips and inquired, "What kind of tea leaves? How did you acquire them?"

"A friend of mine, a wealthy merchant from the coast, claims that these tea leaves are of tribute quality. I wouldn't dare invite Lord Zhao over if they weren't exceptional," Liu Yong replied, his smile masking his true thoughts.

Tribute...

Hearing this, Zhao Zhengkun could no longer contain his excitement, promptly standing up and leading the way ahead of Liu Yong.

As Zhao Zhengkun entered Liu Yong's residence with him, he encountered another individual, causing him to pause in surprise. "Magistrate He?"

Magistrate He was the County Magistrate of a neighboring jurisdiction. Zhao Zhengkun had not anticipated this encounter. Seeing Magistrate He, Zhao Zhengkun instinctively became cautious, but after a moment's reflection, he realized he had no vulnerabilities to worry about and relaxed slightly.

"Magistrate He, it's unexpected to find you here in Shuixiu County. May I ask what brings you to our region?" Zhao Zhengkun asked with a smile, taking a seat. As equals in rank and on his own turf, he spoke with a firmer tone.

"I haven't visited my friend in quite some time. It just so happens I had business in the area and heard that there was something here that piqued my interest. So, I decided to stop by. I'm curious, is Lord Zhao here for the same reason?" Magistrate He asked, his eyes narrowing as he regarded Zhao Zhengkun.

Zhao Zhengkun, taken aback, exchanged a knowing smile with him.

Meanwhile, Lin Han scrutinized the woman before him, who was holding a baby and bore a resemblance to him. He squinted and said, "Once you've done as I instructed, the rest will be yours. Understood?"

"Really?"

The woman nervously swallowed. She was a widow from a nearby county and her reputation wasn't much of a concern to her. If it came down to it, she could always start anew elsewhere, far beyond the reach of Zhao Zhengkun's influence.

The promise of earning twenty taels of silver for this endeavor was a fortune to her!

Lin Han nodded affirmatively. "Just follow my instructions, and once you're done, ten taels of silver will be yours."

Watching the woman stride forward, Lin Han narrowed his eyes thoughtfully.

Lau Mingzhu emerged with a complex look on her face, her eyes brimming with disdain as she regarded Lin Han. Despite his refined appearance, she hadn't expected him to be such a person. "Will your plan actually work?"

"I can't be certain of its effectiveness, but I've done all I can," Lin Han replied with a shake of his head. "Just wait and see. If all goes well, your father should be released before long. And please, don't look at me that way. Justice doesn't put food on the table, and you, of all people, have no grounds to scorn me."

...

"Magistrate Zhao, this is some of the finest tea available."

Liu Yong offered a smile, but as he was about to brew tea for Zhao Zhengkun, a woman clutching an infant burst in, causing Liu Yong to pause and narrow his eyes in anticipation.

Here she was.

"How dare you, Zhao Zhengkun! As the County Magistrate, you exploited my trust to violate me. You promised to make me your concubine, yet you vanished soon after. Are you aware our child is now a year old? You left us to fend for ourselves while you live above the law. I've finally found you. If you don't believe me, we can do a blood test to prove paternity. If you don't provide an explanation today, I'll take this matter to the magistrate's court and sue you!"

The woman charged at Zhao Zhengkun with determination.