Chapter 229: The Roundworm in the Belly

Chapter 229 -221: The Roundworm in the Belly

After leaving the government office, Bai Zhi sat inside the carriage and noticed that Hu Feng, who was driving at a leisurely pace, still hadn’t asked her a single question.

Given Hu Feng’s usual temper, after she had just been whispering with Meng Nan, he would absolutely demand a clear explanation afterward, even if he didn’t ask at the time.

But today was truly unusual. He hadn’t asked a single word.

‘He’s acting like nothing happened, with no intention of asking at all. This is just too strange.’

Bai Zhi felt confused and couldn’t stand the suspense, so she simply climbed out of the carriage and sat down beside Hu Feng.

Hu Feng glanced at her coolly, still showing no intention of speaking.

Instead, it was she who couldn’t hold it in any longer.

“Hey, don’t you want to ask what Meng Nan and I talked about?”

Hu Feng shook his head nonchalantly. “I don’t.”

“You don’t? That’s not like you at all. What’s wrong? Are you angry again?”

Hu Feng frowned. “In your eyes, am I that petty of a man?”

Bai Zhi nodded with great earnestness. “Yes, you are exactly that petty. That’s why I find your behavior today so strange.”

Hu Feng froze for a moment. ‘In her eyes, I’m a petty man?’

After a moment of silence, Hu Feng finally spoke. “I don’t need to ask to know what you and Meng Nan talked about. Since I already know, why should I waste my breath?”

He shot her a sidelong glance and said coolly, “If I ask, you’ll call me petty and nosy. If I don’t, you say I’m being strange. You women are so troublesome.”

‘Great, now he’s turned the tables on me!’

Bai Zhi jutted out her chin. “You said you know what Meng Nan and I discussed without even asking. Fine, then. Tell me, what did we talk about?”

‘I don’t believe it. Is he a mind reader or something?’

Hu Feng said, “Given the current situation, if Meng Nan were to report this to the Capital City and have them send investigators, it would take far too long, even if it meant the corrupt officials would be severely punished. The officials in the Capital can wait. Meng Nan and Lord Gu can wait. But the refugees and common people of Qingyuan cannot. They’re waiting for food, waiting to survive. So—”

Bai Zhi raised an eyebrow, her gaze fixed intently on his profile. “So, what?”

“So, the most urgent task isn’t to track down the court’s relief funds and grain. It’s to open the granaries first and distribute food, to save the people from their desperate situation.”

Bai Zhi quickly asked, “So? What kind of plan do you think I proposed to Meng Nan?”

Hu Feng remained the picture of calm, his eyes as deep as a tranquil pool, his gaze level. “Since you’ve already locked onto Lord Gu, he’s the natural breakthrough point. Meng Nan will approach him, but without mentioning the stolen disaster relief funds from the court. Instead, he will simply persuade him to open the granaries first. Of course, that’s not an easy task, which is why Meng Nan’s status is so crucial. He can leverage his position as a scion of a powerful family from the Capital, first promising benefits, then adding a degree of threat. If Lord Gu is smart, he’ll know what to do. Under these circumstances, if he opens the granaries and uses his own savings to help the refugees, all he’ll lose is some worldly wealth. What he’ll gain, however, is a reputation money can’t buy—something that will be immensely beneficial to his future career as an official.”

“Of course, the investigation into the stolen disaster relief funds from the court will proceed as it should. He’ll cooperate where he must. It would be best if the truth comes to light, but it’s no big deal if it doesn’t. He just needs to know the score. There will be plenty of time to deal with him down the road, so why worry?”

Bai Zhi almost applauded. What he said was identical to what she had told Meng Nan. Though the phrasing was slightly different, the gist was exactly the same….