Chapter 132

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The portly old man glanced towards the site of the commotion, shook his head, climbed into his palanquin, and commanded, "Let's head back to the mansion." The palanquin moved slowly away.

Lin Wanrong, who had already identified this man, jumped forward, calling, "Sir, please hold on."

At his shout, the burly men surrounding the palanquin started, immediately tensing up. They encircled the palanquin protectively, eyeing Lin Wanrong with caution.

The old man pulled back the curtain, took one look, and seeing Lin Wanrong's face, paused. A trace of an awkward smile appeared on his face, and he waved his hand, saying, "Stop for a moment."

The old man slowly disembarked, clasping his fist towards Lin Wanrong, "May I ask why this young gentleman has halted my journey?"

Seeing no great surprise on his face, Lin Wanrong felt more confident. ‘Pretending, are you, old man?’ He laughed heartily, "It's getting late, and I was just strolling in this alley. Quite unexpectedly, I ran into you, sir. You seem quite interested in this place, and I think we may call it fate. I hope you'll forgive me for my audacity in stopping you."

The men guarding the palanquin, listening to his nonsense, thought to themselves, ‘Strolling my foot! It's dark, and here you are, a mere servant, blocking the palanquin. You're probably looking for trouble.’

"Do you have any advice for me, young master?" The old man chuckled, his eyes squinted into slits by his smile.

"Ah, I just happened to witness the spectacle over there, and it frightened me a bit. Sir, you have a kind and friendly appearance, and I assumed you were a gentle elder. Seeing you made me feel more at ease," Lin Wanrong bluffed.

"Oh," the old man sighed, "I saw it too. Didn't expect that my little outing would be marred by such an unsightly incident. To be honest, I was a bit scared, which is why I asked my servants to leave early. I'm afraid I made a laughingstock of myself in front of you."

‘You, scared? You're a better actor than I am, old fox.’ In the past, Lin Wanrong planned to use the governor's son, Luo Yuan, to strengthen Hung Hing. Now, this old man was using Hung Hing to restrain the Cheng family, proving that no one was a pushover. However, this old man, who had even involved his own son, was staking too much.

Lin Wanrong chuckled, "No laughing matter, no laughing matter, we're all in the same boat. Actually, I followed you because I thought you looked familiar."

The old man asked in surprise, "Oh, who do you think I resemble?"

Lin Wanrong smiled, "In this land of Jiangsu, whoever is the most powerful, you resemble him."

The old man laughed heartily, squeezing out a few bitter smiles on his face, "Young Master Lin, why must you talk in riddles with me? I have long heard of your intelligence and capabilities. Now that I have met you in person, you truly live up to your reputation. You are ten times more formidable than the rumors suggest."

Flattery was a basic skill in the world of officials, and this old Luo had certainly mastered its essence, readily engaging in it. Lin Wanrong clasped his fists and greeted him with a respectful smile, "I'm Lin Wanrong. It's a pleasure to meet you, Governor."

Luo Min hastily responded, "Please, no formalities, Young Master Lin. With your natural intelligence and exceptional talent, I have no doubt that you'll stand out among your peers and have an extraordinary future. I'm undeserving of your courtesy."

‘What nonsense about natural intelligence and exceptional talent! This old fox hadn't even seen my face before and yet he was trying to butter me up.’ When it came to flattery, Lin Wanrong was an expert among experts; he effortlessly filtered out Luo Min's words.

He curiously looked at Luo Min, "Governor Luo, why would you say that? I'm but a mere servant, uneducated, lacking in martial arts skills, and without wealth or power. How am I expected to stand out?"

Luo Min chuckled, "Reading poetry, practicing archery, while these may lead to some achievement, they're ultimately driven by others and aren't worth mentioning." His implication was that even without such accomplishments, Lin Wanrong could still be an exceptional person. This was indeed curious. Lin Wanrong had never interacted with him before. How could this old man have such confidence in him?

Lin Wanrong glanced at Luo Min and tentatively asked, "On the day of the restaurant opening, I was gifted with a golden plaque, and today you've sent your son to assist me. I'm truly grateful. However, since we have never met before, I wonder why you have such high regard for me?"

Luo Min, looking at Lin Wanrong, gave a mysterious smile, "Young Master Lin, your talents are outstanding. I've heard about your exploits at the brothel where you manipulated the top courtesans. I'm quite envious of your business acumen and your superior intellect. I fully support my son befriending you. Recognizing and understanding people is part of my responsibility as the chief official of Jiangsu. How could I ignore such a talent in my jurisdiction? Though we've never met, it seems our spirits have known each other for a long time."

‘Damn, he is indeed a cunning one, not revealing a hint of his intentions.’ Lin Wanrong didn't believe him for a second and laughed, "Governor Luo, you make me blush. Fortunately, I've recently made the acquaintance of many talented individuals who would certainly be moved by your noble character. I believe your golden plaques will be in high demand."

Luo Min awkwardly laughed, "Young Master Lin, don't joke like that. Your assistance to the Xiao family and your fight against the White Lotus, your actions are extraordinary, it's only right for me to show a bit of appreciation."

‘What does he mean by that? Is he insinuating that I've gotten involved in some sort of power struggle? Hell, I'm just taking advantage of the governor. These factional matters, it's better if they don't involve me.’

Luo Min gave another mysterious smile, then continued, "Some time ago, I heard about your brave fight against the White Lotus and your rescue of Eldest Miss Xiao. Truly a cause for celebration."

‘This old fox,’ Lin Wanrong cursed inwardly. ‘That White Lotus incident was due to your failure in maintaining order as the Governor. And yet you have the audacity to talk about my fight against the White Lotus.’

It seemed as though Luo Min had perceived his thoughts and sighed, "As for the White Lotus, I may have the will, but I lack the power. The soldiers at my disposal are merely city guards, while the infantry barracks are under the control of Commander Cheng. Even with my limited authority, I cannot mobilize them. On the occasion when I tried to capture them, they disappeared as if they had been forewarned." Luo Min's eyes flickered with a shrewd glint.

His words were loaded with implications. ‘This old fox is far from being a fool,’ Lin Wanrong mused. However, these matters of office politics were not my concern. Was this an excuse to exploit Hung Hing? Even if Hung Hing handled matters well, it was still a gang and couldn't be compared to the Green Battalion.

Luo Min knew that the servant before him was a shrewd person who couldn't be easily deceived. With earnestness, he said, "Young Master Lin, rest assured, I bear no ill will towards you, and I believe you can feel it. I'm here today simply because I'm concerned about Luo Yuan. This child has grown so much and yet, he has never been in a fight." Speaking of Luo Yuan, a glimmer of affection flashed across the old fox's eyes, revealing his deep love for his son.

That Luo Min bore no ill intentions, Lin Wanrong never doubted. It was evident from his encouragement of Luo Yuan's closeness to Lin. This old man had placed all his bets on Lin Wanrong, which was strange. How could he place such a high bet on a mere servant like him?

"Governor Luo, I deeply appreciate your kindness. However, I'm a stubborn man who never believes in manna from heaven. Your support for me must be motivated by someone else's instigation. Am I correct?" Since the old Luo was not willing to speak, Lin Wanrong decided to confront him directly, challenging the old fox to acknowledge it.

With a bitter smile, Luo Min responded, "I can't say, and I dare not say. Please forgive me, Young Master Lin. But believe me, you are under the protection of a nobleman. Success is only a matter of time."

‘Damn, what a nobleman's protection? This old man only speaks half of his mind and it's frustrating.’ However, Luo Min's words sent a clear signal; indeed, someone was secretly helping Lin Wanrong.

Seeing the old fox's genuine expression, Lin Wanrong became curious, wondering who this secret benefactor could be. Of the people he knew, if wealth and power were the criteria, Xiao Qingxuan would top the list. Could it be that the girl truly had powerful connections?

"Is it Qingxuan?" Lin Wanrong tentatively asked.

With a calm expression, Luo Min shook his head and bitterly smiled, "Young Master Lin, please don't press me further."

‘Damn, if I don't press you, who will I press? You're as slippery as an eel, giving me a half-truth then swallowing the rest. How could you not frustrate me?’ Even if Qingxuan was a princess, would a single word from her be enough to have this territorial governor so devoted? Knowing the nature of this old fox, it would not be that simple.

Such a headache. ‘I didn't even know who is backing me up or whether they could stand up against the mastermind behind Cheng De.’ Choosing the wrong side in critical times could cost one's life.

Seeing Lin Wanrong lost in deep thought, Luo Min said, "Young Master Lin, you need not guess any longer. Even if I had the courage, I wouldn't dare to tell you. Just continue doing what you're doing and help the Xiao family as best as you can."

Damn, how did the Xiao family get involved again? Could it not be Qingxuan? The more he asked, the more complicated it became. Was this old fox playing a game of Tai Chi with him?

Though he had gained some insight, it bred even more questions, making Lin Wanrong's head spin. He looked at Luo Min and said, "Regardless, I appreciate your guidance, Governor Luo. If you need help with anything in the future, feel free to ask - as long as it doesn't involve money." Even at this moment, he didn't forget his crafty merchant instincts - apart from asking for money, he could assist with anything else. After all, Luo Min was acting under someone else's directive to help him. He felt that acknowledging this was sufficient.

Luo Min nodded and smiled, "Young Master Lin is indeed straightforward. However, I was wondering if you might be free tomorrow. I would like to invite you to accompany me to a certain place."

Lin Wanrong chuckled, "Is it the Miaoyu Pavilion? I haven't been there in quite a while. I wonder if the girls there still remember me." sᴇaʀᴄh thᴇ ɴøvᴇlFɪre.ɴet website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of nøvels early and in the highest quality.

Luo Min, being the governor of a province, could hardly withstand such a jest. He responded with an awkward smile, "Tomorrow morning, I will send someone to fetch you. You will understand when we get there."

Upon parting from Luo Min, Lin Wanrong continued to ponder who could be secretly supporting him from behind the scenes. Despite much thought, aside from Qingxuan, he couldn't identify anyone else. But Luo Min's demeanor told him the matter was not so straightforward.

Returning to the Xiao mansion, Lin Wanrong was concerned about Qiaoqiao. He stopped one of the young maids downstairs and asked, "Has Miss Qiaoqiao, who was speaking with the Eldest Miss earlier, left yet?"

The maid replied, "Not yet. The Eldest Miss and Miss Qiaoqiao are having a heart-to-heart talk. Miss Qiaoqiao will be spending the night in the Eldest Miss' room."

A heart-to-heart talk? Lin Wanrong was taken aback. What could these two young ladies be discussing? Through the lantern-lit paper window, he could clearly see two delicate silhouettes. It deepened Lin Wanrong's puzzlement...

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