Chapter 132: Shocking News

“The caviar noodles are getting more and more expensive—I can’t afford them anymore.”
“Pirates are rampant. Who dares to fish at sea now? My distant uncle’s fishing boat was seized by pirates; two of his sons died.”
“I heard there’s a powerful eunuch in the court who defeated the Five Tiger Generals of Southern Liang, killing 400,000 enemies in one battle. I don’t understand why they don’t send troops here to quell the pirates.”
“Hah, the nobles and generals are out there seeking glory. Who cares about us common folk’s lives?”
“In the end, there’s an insider. Those people collude with the pirates, robbing countless fishing boats and wealthy citizens.”
“Better watch your words. The Wu family of Zhenhai County has resisted the pirates for years, yet this time their entire clan was wiped out.”
“They killed tens of thousands of Zhenhai’s people these days. The corpses blocked the city gates. It’s tragic.”

These men’s skin was darkened by the sun, their faces looked older than their years, and their soles were broad—clearly they had spent years aboard fishing vessels.

Long Chen ate his noodles and cautiously joined the conversation. “Brothers, from what you’re saying, no one dares to go out to sea anymore?”

The men glanced warily at Long Chen but said nothing, lowering their heads to eat.

Long Chen sensed their distrust and hurried to explain, “I’m a hunter from the mountains. My father was clawed by a big beast during winter hunting. The doctor told me to come here to buy fish oil—it’s supposed to heal.”

“I heard you say no one dares to fish at sea. Then where can I get fish oil to treat my father?”

His face was filled with worry as he rested his chopsticks on his bowl.

Seeing that Long Chen and Zhang Qian wore fur garments, unlike locals or fishermen, one man asked, “Where are you hunters from?”

“From Shangjiang County, living off the land in the Nine Dragons Mountain,” Long Chen replied.

Another man nodded. “I know Nine Dragons Mountain. There are many beasts there. People at the foot of the mountain often get eaten.”

The man’s wary expression softened. In a tone of shared hardship, he said, “We all have tough lives—you earn your living in the mountains, we make ours on the sea.”

“There’s a kind of fish in the sea, all bone and no meat, but the oil refined from its bones can heal wounds. That must be what you’re looking for.”

Long Chen turned eagerly. “Brother, where can I buy it?”

The man sighed. “That fish only lives in the deep sea. With pirates rampant, you won’t be able to get any.”

Long Chen sighed in frustration. “Damn those pirates. What about my father… sigh…”

Another man saw Long Chen’s filial piety and said, “Actually… there is a way.”

Long Chen immediately asked, “Please tell me, brother.”

“That’s with the Xu family. But it’s expensive.”

“Which Xu family?” Long Chen pressed.

“The Xu estate near the eastern city wall. Everyone here knows.”

Long Chen frowned. “You just said pirates are rampant. How can the Xu family get fish oil? Are you joking?”

The man frowned. “You don’t know the ways of the world. I’m trying to help you. If I were joking, why would I tell you? Just go and you’ll see. You’ll definitely get it.”

Not wanting to press further, Long Chen thanked the men, finished his noodles, paid, and returned to the room with Zhang Qian.

After closing the doors and windows, the room still smelled of sweat and mildew. Zhang Qian rolled up the bedding and tossed it aside, then padded the floor with furs.

“Which Xu family is it exactly?” Long Chen asked.

Zhang Qian shook her head. “I’m not familiar with this area either. We’ll have to ask the locals.”

Long Chen thought for a moment, then stepped out briefly before returning with a waiter.

“Sir, how may I help you?” The waiter wiped his hands on his apron. His knuckles were cracked and rough.

Markets are places where news circulates freely. Waiters hear everything, and if they’re sharp, they know a great deal.

So Long Chen called the waiter over.

“Brother, we’re hunters from the mountains. We want to buy fish oil to treat my father’s illness.”

The waiter nodded, “I heard you. Go to the Xu family. They definitely have it. They’re not lying.”

Long Chen invited him to sit and speak.

“I’m from out of town and want to know about the Xu family. No other reason—just concerned about safety.”

“My father is lying at home waiting for medicine. If something happens to me, there’ll be no one to bury him.”

Long Chen gave a look, and Zhang Qian quickly pulled out a silver ingot and tossed it to the waiter.

The waiter’s face lit up. “You’re generous, sir. You hunters must make a good living?”

Long Chen smiled. “To be honest, we found gold dust in the mountains, so we have some money.”

The waiter pocketed the silver and lowered his voice.

“Brother, since you trust me, I’ll tell you.”

That silver ingot was worth several years’ wages for him.

“Brother, you’ve been in the mountains too long and don’t know how to guard yourself. Don’t show off wealth here, especially when you go to the Xu family.”

“And that Xu family…”

The waiter paused, listened carefully to the surroundings, and when sure no one was nearby, continued.

“The Xu family are pirates. They collude with the sea bandits. While the pirates raid the sea and coast, the Xus act as their inside men.”

“Why do they have fish oil? Because the pirates give them all the goods they seize. In return, the Xu family supplies the pirates with weapons, rice, vegetables, and intelligence.”

“If you go to buy from the Xu family, don’t bring too much silver, or they’ll kill you for it.”

“Also, don’t bring your sister-in-law—she’s too beautiful. Trust me on this.”

Long Chen whispered, “Does the governor know?”

The waiter frowned. “Officials and bandits are the same. Governor Chen Zu is a pirate himself.”

Long Chen was stunned. If local officials and gentry colluding with pirates was one thing, a whole prefectural governor joining them was absurd.

The governor is a high-ranking official appointed personally by the Empress and evaluated by the Ministry of Personnel. How could he be a pirate?

“Impossible!”

Zhang Qian was shocked as well.

The waiter lowered his voice. “That’s just what people say. Anyway, if you go to the Xu family, don’t carry too much silver.”

Downstairs, the owner was cursing loudly, looking for the waiter. The waiter hurriedly stood up and said, “Brother, listen to me—be careful.”

With that, he rushed downstairs just as the owner let loose a string of curses.

“Master, the waters of Qianjiang Prefecture run deep.”

Zhang Qian closed the door and carefully listened to make sure no one was eavesdropping.

Long Chen found it unbelievable. “A prefectural governor who’s a pirate? How could that be?”

Zhang Qian asked, “Could it be a false rumor? Someone trying to frame the governor?”

Long Chen shook his head. “If the Xu family are pirates and openly do business in the city, Governor Chen Zu must know.”

“Then there’s only one possibility: Governor Chen Zu is in cahoots with the Xu family.”

Zhang Qian was puzzled. “But governors have to report to the Ministry of Personnel in person every three years. Could the ministry have been bribed?”

Long Chen dismissed that. “Bai Libing of the Ministry is the Emperor’s man. He wouldn’t be bought. There must be another reason.”

Zhang Qian asked, “What reason then?”

Long Chen shook his head. “I don’t know yet. Tomorrow I’ll visit the Xu family and find out.”

“Tomorrow, wait outside the city for Dugu Jiali and Wu Jian. Tell them not to enter the city.”