The Lucky Farmgirl
Chapter 834 - 812: Mission

Chapter 834: Chapter 812: Mission

He said, "Dahu Mountain is vast; it’s not just a single mountain. We don’t know where Zhou Yin and his wife were killed. Erji mentioned that the items were wrapped in a small package, carefully sealed with oil paper. It was just something small, yet with so many wild animals and the thick vegetation, it’s very hard to find."

Zhou Silang still didn’t know until today that there had been people searching for things in Dahu Mountain. He looked at Liu Gui with an expression as if looking at an imbecile and said, "So you knew Dahu Mountain was big, huh?"

Liu Gui glanced at Zhou Silang and remained silent.

Bai Shan was surprised himself, "Liu Gui, weren’t you in charge of managing the estate?"

Liu Gui bowed slightly with a smile, "I am also in charge of the estate, but I only head up the mountain to search when I have to avoid people."

The group struggled to move forward and then saw a very small path, with some traces of people having walked there.

County Magistrate Tang raised his eyebrows in surprise, and Zhou Silang said, "This is the path. It used to be much bigger than this. Now it’s overgrown with wild grass and thorns. Only the villagers from that side would take this route to take a shortcut to the county town, carrying items, but vehicles can no longer pass through here."

County Magistrate Tang nodded and asked, "How many villages use this path?"

After thinking for a moment, Zhou Silang said, "Two, I guess. Those who are farther away wouldn’t come to Luojiang County."

With Zhou Silang leading, County Magistrate Tang got a rough idea of the path’s situation, and both Manbao and Bai Shan were listening.

County Magistrate Tang looked at them and asked, "Do you think County Magistrate Bai would escape using this path?"

Bai Shan said, "Lord Tang, haven’t you already determined that it’s this path?"

County Magistrate Tang just smiled and headed in the direction of Dahu Mountain.

Dahu Mountain isn’t just a mountain but a series of mountains, primarily four connected peaks.

The reason it’s called Dahu Mountain is that these four mountains are almost joined together, and from afar, they look like a sprawling, sleeping tiger.

The largest mountain, the tiger’s buttocks, faces Qili Village, with the two revealed tiger paws also pointing towards the village, while the tiger’s head faces the direction of the official road.

Each of these four mountains is not small, especially the one resembling the tiger’s buttocks, which has thick and dense forests. There are even villagers who have claimed to have seen wolves there.

However, before Zhou Yin’s incident, the villagers of Qili Village loved to go to Dahu Mountain to collect firewood and hunt because the mountain was so big.

As for the small path that branched off, it initially followed the base of Dahu Mountain and stretched on. Roughly half an hour’s journey further, the path would cross over the neck of Dahu Mountain, separated by the distance of a mountain from the official road.

Zhou Silang stopped and said, "Following this path straight ahead leads to Luojiang County, but taking the detour you can reach the road back to our village."

County Magistrate Tang followed the direction he pointed and saw that one could no longer tell where the path was.

He turned his head and silently looked at Zhou Silang.

Zhou Silang cleared his throat and said, "Lord, it was only after searching the entire way here that I found this junction. I’ve checked back and forth just now; it’s definitely here."

An idea dawned on Manbao, "No wonder, Silang, you’ve been wandering around here; you were looking for the pathway."

"This path only leads to our Qili Village. No one from our village uses this path anymore. After eight or nine years, hasn’t it just turned out this way?" Zhou Silang glanced at the thorny bushes, not very keen on entering, and asked, "County Magistrate Tang, shall we continue inward? Or shall we go to Luojiang County?"

"We are here to trace the route Zhou Yin took back then. What business do we have going to Luojiang County?" County Magistrate Tang looked at the path and said, "However, if County Magistrate Bai was set on fleeing to Luojiang County, he would definitely have taken this path. He encountered Zhou Yin further ahead, so, with pursuers behind them, do you think Zhou Yin would still come this way?"

Zhou Silang hesitated and said, "Probably not, right? My uncle isn’t stupid?"

Manbao then said, "Ask Erji."

County Magistrate Tang nodded in approval, "Correct, we need to ask Erji. It will save effort and be more accurate. However, this path also needs to be cleared."

He looked at Zhou Silang and then his gaze shifted to Liu Gui.

Liu Gui promptly said, "Rest assured, my lord. I will bring people tomorrow to clear it."

County Magistrate Tang nodded and then, pointing to the thicket said, "Let’s go, let’s walk a bit further in."

Zhou Silang was flabbergasted, "County Magistrate Tang, aren’t you going to wait until it’s cleared before proceeding?"

County Magistrate Tang said, "I have to return to the County Governmental Office tomorrow, and then back to Yizhou City the day after. I don’t have that much time to waste here, so we might as well take a look today, especially for Bai Shan."

"Why?"

Bai Shan and Manbao, who were whispering to each other at the back, also looked up at him.

County Magistrate Tang just laughed and said, "Because he needs to draw these two paths."

Manbao was astounded, "You can hear us talking?"

"I can’t, but this can only mean that great minds think alike," County Magistrate Tang chuckled, "Later on, we’ll take the map to ask Erji, and then have someone come and search."

Zhou Silang expressed his concerns, "Can we really find that small item in these four vast mountains?"

After contemplating for a moment, County Magistrate Tang said, "People have habitual behaviors and feel safe in familiar places. Has Zhou Yin been to Dahu Mountain before?"

Zhou Silang perked up, scratching his head and said, "I was young, so I’d have to ask my elder brother and Second Brother. But when I was little, I often came up the mountain to collect firewood, though I never dared to venture deep inside. My Third Brother and the village youths used to come up the mountain to dig pits and hunt. Occasionally, they would even catch a rabbit or something."

After looking at Manbao, Zhou Silang added, "My uncle was known in the village for being mischievous and clever; he probably often came to the mountain."

"Who often accompanied him to the mountain?" County Magistrate Tang looked at Manbao and Bai Shan, "I can’t inquire in your village, but it would be much easier for you. Ask those people what places they often went to, the farthest they’ve been, where they usually rest on the mountain, and if there are any places they particularly like?"

Manbao got the point, "You suspect my father hid the items in a place he’s familiar with? But back then, he had been away from home for many years, and it was just when he’d returned."

County Magistrate Tang smiled and said, "No matter how many years pass, familiar places will still feel familiar, and one tends to trust them more. I think your father is quite bold yet meticulous. Maybe he really hid it somewhere he’s been before?"

Manbao and Bai Shan exchanged glances and then nodded in agreement, promising, "Rest assured, we’ll take care of it."

County Magistrate Tang nodded with satisfaction.

Then he gestured to Zhou Silang and Liu Gui to lead the way.

The path was really covered in miscellaneous trees and thorny brambles; the grass grew wildly, making the journey extremely difficult.

Zhou Silang began to get annoyed, but County Magistrate Tang looked at the mountain and the woods with great interest, even suggesting, "Why don’t we just walk back this way?"

Zhou Silang: ...

Daji took the sickle from Liu Gui and said, "Let me do it. You take the cart from the main road to the other side and wait there."

Liu Gui: ...