Chapter 19

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

Thinking that the theft of Chaoyun Manor’s warehouse was probably man-made, Hao Jiyong’s figure immediately appeared in Song Ankang’s mind.

There was no other reason. Compared to the others, there were really many doubts about Hao Jiyong.

Moreover, Liu Yuanqing had also investigated the workers in the other warehouses and found that the suspicious points on these people combined could not compare to Hao Jiyong. No wonder Liu Yuanqing blamed this matter on Hao Jiyong.

Song Ankang frowned as well. He looked carefully inside and outside the storeroom, but found nothing. However, when he left, Song Ankang inexplicably thought of the feeling that something was wrong when he had just entered the storeroom.

In the next few days, while Song Ankang was cultivating, he often came to the warehouse to find out about the progress of the theft. However, he had nothing to gain, not even the feeling that something was wrong.

There was good news about Hao Jiyong’s investigation. The ten-year-old ginseng that Hao Jiyong sold was indeed new and not leftover from last year.

Moreover, Hao Jiyong had also found the place where he had dug out the ten-year-old ginseng. He had also obtained the confirmation from the experts in the field farm that the ginseng was indeed growing well there.

Even so, because the theft case had been slow to progress, the doubts that shrouded Hao Jiyong quickly rose back after some time, especially as something happened.

“Hao Jiyong, you’re my big brother. Why don’t you help me? The people from the Ningmen Association are already forcing me into a corner. You still want to hide it and not take it out, right?”

“Everyone says you stole a dozen precious herbs and sold them for a lot of money. A third is enough for me to pay off my gambling debts. Why didn’t you save me?”

“Since you want to see me being forced into a corner by Ning Men, don’t blame me for revealing this matter. You must have stolen those precious herbs because you told me about this once.”

“At that time, you said that there were so many loopholes in the management of Chaoyun Manor’s warehouse. As long as the people inside had any bad ideas, they could take out many precious medicinal herbs from it. So you had bad ideas, right?”

That morning, Song Ankang was practicing with Jiang Yunhe in the courtyard to improve his combat experience and combat skills when he heard a piercing shout outside.

Song Ankang’s face darkened. Because there had been no progress in the theft case for a few days, many people had placed their attention on Hao Jiyong. Now that Hao Jiyong’s brother Hao Jimeng had shouted, there would probably be more people suspecting Hao Jiyong again.

Hao Jiyong took the time to pick medicinal herbs in the middle of the night for his younger brother, Hao Jimeng. However, Hao Jimeng did not know how to repay the kindness. It was fine if he did not know how to repay kindness, but because of the gossip of others, he also felt that Hao Jiyong had stolen the precious medicinal herbs in the warehouse of Chaoyun Manor.

After not getting what he wanted from Hao Jiyong, he repaid kindness with ingratitude and bit Hao Jiyong. He clearly wanted to drive Hao Jiyong and his family into a dead end.

Hao Jiyong had treated this heartless ingrate so well.

Even though in the eyes of Song Ankang, Hao Jimeng’s actions proved that Hao Jiyong did not steal the precious herbs in the storeroom, in the eyes of most people, Hao Jiyong was even more suspicious.

“Even Hao Jiyong’s younger brother said that the precious herbs in the storeroom were stolen by Hao Jiyong. Clearly, this matter can’t be fake. The Villa Master has misjudged the person this time and wasted so much time.”

“I knew it. Hao Jiyong has so many suspicious points. Who else could it be? Even though what Young Master said makes sense, Hao Jiyong might be deliberately confusing us. Actually, he stole those precious herbs from the storeroom.”

“Hao Jiyong doesn’t admit it now only because we’re all keeping an eye on him. That’s why he doesn’t dare to tell Hao Jimeng that he was the one who stole the precious herbs in the storeroom. He wants to kill his brother for his family. Hao Jiyong is really ruthless.”

“Young Master is too stupid to believe someone like Hao Jiyong. In the end, it’s because Young Master is too stupid and can’t manage a farm at all. After all, Young Master was just a weak scholar in the past. What ability can he have?”

The same thing was interpreted differently by different people. Song Ankang felt that Hao Jimeng’s actions further proved Hao Jiyong’s innocence, but most people did not think so. It even affected Song Ankang’s status and reputation in Chaoyun Manor.

“Young Master, what should we do? Many people in the village are saying that you’ve been blinded by Hao Jiyong. You don’t have the ability, but you still want to stand up for him. If we really can’t find the herbs, you’ll have to bear a lot of responsibility.”

“We shouldn’t have interfered in this matter. Actually, they should have handled it themselves. Young Master is new here. Even if there’s any punishment, Young Master won’t have much responsibility. However, Young Master is kind-hearted and saved Hao Jiyong’s family. If they really did this, it would be too unjust.”

The maidservant, Qiu Shi, was also a little anxious. She kept circling around Song Ankang, even more anxious than him.

Seeing how worried she was, Song Ankang smiled and shook his head. “Don’t worry. Even if I’m wrong about this, it’s nothing. Besides, in my opinion, Hao Jimeng has strengthened my previous speculation.”

“We’ll go to the storeroom later. Maybe we can find some clues.”

Beside him, Jiang Yunhe was silent. He frowned slightly and was also puzzled.

After lunch, Song Ankang practiced the Seven Wounds Demonic Sutra for a while before leading Qiu Shi and Jiang Yunhe towards the storeroom. However, halfway there, he heard Hao Jimeng shouting outside the village wall again.

“The deputy manager of Chaoyun Manor’s warehouse, Hao Jiyong, is my big brother. He has money there, and he will help me pay back the money I owe you. He has helped me pay back many times before, don’t you know that? So don’t worry, don’t force me anymore. Give my big brother some more time.”

“A few days ago, my brother dug up a ten-year-old wild ginseng. Didn’t he already pay most of the interest? He has the ability to dig up a few more and return the capital to you. You can give us some more time.”

The voice was familiar. After all, he had heard it this morning. Song Ankang was stunned. Not long after, Hao Jimeng returned.

There was no time to go to the storeroom. Song Ankang and the others came to the wall and saw Hao Jimeng surrounded by a few fierce men outside the wall. Beside him was Hao Jiyong, whose wife and children were watching worriedly.