Chapter 1687 - 1682: Collecting Evidence at the Docks

"Hmm!" Mu Shuangshuang nodded.

She thought the same, not wanting Old Mr. Mu and Old Mrs. Mu to enter the third branch’s house.

However, hearing it from her father spared Mu Shuangshuang a lot of trouble.

Now, the third branch is very harmonious, and she doesn’t want the trifling matters of the Old Mu Family to affect her relationship with her parents.

"But looking at the way my grandfather is, he might find a way to lodge at our home! Or come over and try to appeal to father and mother on familial grounds! At that time, father and mother, don’t give in!"

Mu Shuangshuang warned in advance, afraid that Mu Dashan and Yu Si Niang would fall for it.

"Your mother and I have thought about it, if your grandparents come, we’ll immediately go back to the countryside for spring planting.

The fields at home can’t do without your mother and me, and Yuanbao and Xiao Han can’t always live at someone else’s house; these are things that must be done!"

Mu Dashan shared his thoughts with Mu Shuangshuang.

Mu Shuangshuang felt even more admiration for her father.

"Father, call for help with the countryside work! You and mother don’t need to work so hard! I earn enough money now for you both to enjoy life every day!" Mu Shuangshuang said.

"You silly girl, no matter how much you earn, it’s yours, how could your mother and I take it?" Mu Dashan smiled helplessly.

"Why not? You are my parents, it’s my duty to honor you!" Mu Shuangshuang replied.

"Your mother and I don’t need you to support us, you just need to live your life well!" Mu Dashan said.

Yu Si Niang nodded along, "We don’t care about money, your father and I are happy as long as you live well!"

Mu Shuangshuang smiled without speaking.

"By the way, father, mother, would you want to visit my fourth uncle’s house? I’ll be at the dock tomorrow, so I might not have time to join you for lunch.

You can visit my fourth uncle’s house, to reminisce with brothers and sister-in-law, and also comfort my fourth uncle and fourth aunt.

Today’s incident may have left them feeling a bit stifled, not knowing how to vent it!" Mu Shuangshuang suggested.

Mu Dashan and Yu Si Niang exchanged glances and nodded at the same time.

"Then I’ll have Niu Laoscar take you to fourth uncle’s house tomorrow, while I attend to my tasks!" Mu Shuangshuang said.

"Perfect, it’s been a while since we saw Old Fourth’s family!"

...

...

The next day, according to plan, Mu Shuangshuang delivered Yu Si Niang and Mu Dashan to the fourth branch.

She disguised herself for a bit and went to Zhenyuan Escort Agency to find Zhao Erbiao, asking him to introduce her to Chief Song.

Zhao Erbiao, with nothing to do, personally accompanied her to the dock.

The county dock is the largest docking station in Qianzhou Prefecture.

Since the responsible office opened here, more merchant ships and cargo ships have made the county dock a stopover point.

Ships depart from here, and transfer here.

Overall, this place is bustling.

Following Zhao Erbiao, seeing the lively scene at the dock, Mu Shuangshuang couldn’t help but marvel.

"This is a great place, lots of people, many merchant ships. If someone starts a small business here, they could earn quite a bit!" Mu Shuangshuang remarked.

"It sure is! But to do business here, one must pay a stall fee three times higher than the market, plus there’s a time limit!" Zhao Erbiao replied.

"Time limit? Do you mean during the river’s dry and frozen periods?" Mu Shuangshuang curiously asked.

"Exactly! We who run to the Northwest, except during wartime, can transport once a month for hefty earnings!

Chief Song can only work within time constraints! The merchant ships can’t be too large, otherwise during dry periods, they might run aground! Blocking the river results in fines!

If the merchant ships are too small, they won’t carry enough to be profitable per trip. Fortunately, they’ve established their own rules.

We in land transport don’t know their rules, and likewise, they’re unaware of ours!"

Zhao Erbiao explained patiently to Mu Shuangshuang.

Mu Shuangshuang listened carefully to everything he said.

All useful information was stored in her mind.

The two walked a lengthy path and finally reached a spot with many ships.

As Zhao Erbiao stood there for a while, a man came over, greeting him with a bow.

"Chief Zhao, what brings you here? Do you need anything delivered?"

Mu Shuangshuang thought the man was Chief Song.

Just as she was about to introduce herself, Zhao Erbiao said, "Wan Fu, this is Lu Daniu, a formidable force on our Northwest route! I brought her here to find Chief Song, where is he?"

"I’ll take you there!"

Wan Fu politely said to Zhao Erbiao.

Mu Shuangshuang called out, "Brother Wan!"

Wan Fu chuckled a few times and then jokingly asked Mu Shuangshuang, "From what I hear, the men running the Northwest route are all tall and strong, but young brother, why do you look so skinny, like a paper sheet?"

Mu Shuangshuang awkwardly laughed twice, "Why rush, I’m still growing!"

Wan Fu was stunned.

Goodness, so grown-up and still developing?

What a joke!

"Young brother, are you joking with me? You...you’re well into your thirties, aren’t you?" Wan Fu asked with a smile.

"I’m only eighteen this year!" Mu Shuangshuang replied.

The fake household registration she acquired states she’s eighteen years old.

Her disguise may be ugly, but certainly not enough to change eighteen to thirty!

Wan Fu felt extremely embarrassed and refrained from making such jokes with Mu Shuangshuang again.

He shifted to a safer topic, asking Zhao Erbiao, "Chief Zhao, when is the Northwest route departing?"

"Soon! We’re leaving on the fifteenth this month!" Chief Zhao replied.

"That’s quite soon then!"

The trio conversed while heading to a small courtyard near the dock.

At the courtyard entrance, Wan Fu knocked on the door, and shortly after, an old woman came to open it.

Ignoring her, Wan Fu led Mu Shuangshuang and Zhao Erbiao straight toward the inner courtyard.

In the backyard, Mu Shuangshuang saw Chief Song turning over soil, alongside his future wife, Meng Lijun, Mrs. Meng.

Seeing Zhao Erbiao, Chief Song dropped his hoe and came forward.

"Brother Zhao, what brings you here? And who is this?"

"This is Daniu, Lu Daniu! My buddy, I brought her here seeking your help!" Zhao Erbiao said.

"Whatever you need, just ask, no need for the word ’plead’!"

Clearly, Chief Song and Zhao Erbiao have a good relationship.

Otherwise, they wouldn’t directly call each other brothers.

Mu Shuangshuang laughed along, not letting Chief Song notice her disguise as a man.

The main reason likely being her rather unsightly face.

Meng looked at her, found it unpleasant, stood for a while, then left for her room.

Zhao Erbiao conveyed everything Mu Shuangshuang had spoken to him to Chief Song.

Upon hearing, without any disagreement, Chief Song nodded, "If this kid wants to bring stuff, let her bring it! If not in a hurry, wait until after my wedding, I’ll personally assist!

If urgent, let Wan Fu accompany her, in any case, she won’t suffer losses!"