Transmigration: Space-Aided Rise to Power and Prosperity-Chapter 706 - 542: Fell Into a Trap

Accountant Ding felt a bit regretful about Accountant Xu being dismissed. Accountant Xu had taken good care of him. Therefore, he harbored a small thought of saying a few good words on behalf of Accountant Xu in front of the owner.

A few days ago, he ran into Accountant Xu and treated him to a meal. The latter was truly down and out, unable even to afford rice and flour soon.

His wife was in poor health and often needed medicine, which had drained their family’s resources. After leaving Juxiang Building, no one was willing to hire Accountant Xu.

Rumors had already spread throughout the prefecture, and all the shopkeepers knew that Accountant Xu had been dismissed by Juxiang Building.

Being dismissed must mean he committed an error, and dealing with account books and silver coins, who could trust Accountant Xu when he was kicked out like that?

At this moment, Ming Yan dragged the now-awake Xing Yang back into the study, water droplets rolling off the smooth satin garments onto the wooden floor of the study.

"Manager Xing, have you thought about what to say?" Gu Chengyu looked at Xing Yang, whose condition was even more pitiful than before.

Xing Yang truly had no strength left. He lay on the ground like a pile of mud, finding even moving a finger to be strenuous.

But he didn’t dare not answer the questions, otherwise, the owner would surely give him another beating.

"It was all my wicked idea. I took a mistress, and she coaxed me—all for her brother. Steward Yu was unaware of this; it was all my own foolishness."

Gu Chengyu pondered and suddenly asked, "When did you take the mistress? Besides a brother, who else is in the family?"

Of course, Gu Chengyu had to inquire clearly, suspecting it was the mistress who persuaded Xing Yang to commit such a wrongdoing. Even if greed was in Xing Yang’s nature, the mistress was the trigger.

If this mistress was sent by a restaurant competitor, aiming to erode his restaurant through Xing Yang step by step, it might indeed succeed.

Of course, these were his deductions, and he still needed to understand the mistress’s situation first.

Xing Yang didn’t understand why the owner asked this; did he have intentions towards Yang?

But he soon dismissed his own thoughts, as the owner was not short of Silver, good-looking, and hadn’t even met Yang. The idea of him being interested was absurd.

Accountant Ding also didn’t understand Gu Chengyu’s intentions, but of course, he dared not inquire aloud.

"The mistress’s surname is Yang. Besides a brother, her father used to sell pancakes. After her father died, the family was impoverished, and her brother was unambitious. By chance, I took a liking to her, and that’s why I took her in."

Gu Chengyu pondered for a moment, "Is there a contract of sale? How did you two meet?"

Xing Yang tried to recall before slightly raising his head to reply, "There’s no contract of sale. You know I am of humble status, and Yang’s contract of sale is hard to come by. I met a friend who sometimes came to the restaurant to eat. We got familiar, and he acted as the matchmaker."

"What is that person’s full name and where does he live? Is Yang residing in the back courtyard of the restaurant?"

Gu Chengyu asked in such detail that Accountant Ding also sensed something amiss.

Xing Yang was staying in the back courtyard of the restaurant, which was large, with Manager Xing’s whole family living there. The mistress Yang should be there too.

"Because my wife at home was always quarreling, the two were like water and fire; Yang was unwilling to live with my wife. So I rented a small courtyard, temporarily placing her outside. I don’t know that person’s residence—he just often comes to the restaurant to eat. I do know his nickname, called Hua Yutou."

Gu Chengyu felt that Xing Yang was truly a fool, and immediately called Ming Mo, who was waiting outside, to come in.

"Where is that small courtyard?" Gu Chengyu asked grimly.

Xing Yang answered intermittently, "In that alley not far from the restaurant, there’s a big apricot tree in the yard."

"Ming Mo, take some people and bring that Yang to me immediately."

If it’s just a woman’s greed, it is naturally not to be feared; what is feared is being schemed by others. Luckily he returned to Jingyuan Prefecture, otherwise, who knows what might have happened!

Ming Mo was about to leave, but was stopped by Gu Chengyu.

Gu Chengyu turned to Xing Yang, "Where did Yang live before? How can we find her brother now?"

Xing Yang, with his wet clothes sticking to him and his chest hurting so much that even breathing was difficult, felt his mind muddled. He could hardly hear what Gu Chengyu was saying.

It wasn’t until Ming Mo repeated it that he replied, "The previous courtyard was rented and has already been returned. Yang’s brother has no fixed residence, spending every night in brothels or casinos, never returning home. If he happens to come back, he stays overnight at Yang’s place."

"Master! Should we deploy more people to look for Yang’s brother as well?" Ming Mo, having served Gu Chengyu for many years, already understood his intention.

Gu Chengyu nodded, "The restaurant’s waiter Dayou should know Yang’s brother. Take him along."

Because earlier Dayou mentioned that Manager Xing’s brother-in-law came to the restaurant to eat, which clearly indicates their acquaintance.

Accountant Ding knew where Dayou lived, so he volunteered to write the address on paper.

Accountant Ding also fully comprehended the situation now: Could Manager Xing have fallen into someone else’s trap?

He thought about the person called Hua Yutou but really had no impression. This person didn’t come often, and it wasn’t known how he got involved with Manager Xing.

"Accountant Ding, do you know this Hua Yutou? Does he come to the restaurant often?"

Gu Chengyu felt that Hua Yutou seemed suspicious, a key figure too.

Accountant Ding naturally spoke truthfully, "I have no impression of this person; perhaps he’s on good terms with Manager Xing?"

Gu Chengyu glanced at Xing Yang with swollen cheeks, feeling that Xing Yang probably would not deceive him anymore. It seemed he had mostly fallen into a trap.

"Have someone look after him; don’t let him die. I still have a use for him."

Gu Chengyu didn’t want to commit murder; he planned to sell him to a coal mine. Such places were designated for servants who made grave mistakes or those exiled as soldiers.

Once there, life was truly a fate worse than death.

Life at an open-pit coal mine was extremely harsh, with heavy labor every day, and the food was worse than pig feed, soon enough reducing people to skin and bones. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

The mine was also extremely dangerous; if the mountains collapsed, being crushed to death was quite common.

Most troubling was that all sorts of people were there, and life was undoubtedly unbearable.

Ming Yan accepted the order, took out a bottle of medicine from his sleeve, and poured out a dark red pill. It was a must-have remedy after injury, highly effective for internal wounds.

Ming Yan hesitated to use it, as it was a protective measure given by the master, requiring precious medicinal ingredients.

Resolutely, he tossed the pill into Xing Yang’s mouth, pushed away his mud-like body, and left him alone.

Accountant Ding noticed that Gu Chengyu didn’t dismiss him and dared not request to leave.