Supervisor Jiang instructed Foreman Huang to watch the mine closely, warning that any problem would cost him his head and his family’s ruin.
Foreman Huang nodded repeatedly, his body bent so low he was almost on the ground.
Did he not know? This mine, though seemingly belonging to Supervisor Jiang, was actually owned by a powerful figure in the capital. He could not afford to offend such a person.
After their inspection, Supervisor Jiang and his retinue went to a nearby camp.
After work that evening, Wang Donghua and her mother furtively approached Supervisor Jiang’s tent. Two guards at the entrance stopped them.
“Who are you? How dare you trespass into Supervisor Jiang’s tent!” one guard bellowed.
The mother and daughter were startled by the sudden reprimand. Composing themselves, Wang Donghua put on a fawning smile and said, "Esteemed young master, my mother and I are stone workers from this mine. We also worked at Hongshupo before. Supervisor Jiang is currently investigating Hongshupo, so I’ve come to report some important information to him."
The guards’ expressions softened slightly, but their tone remained cold and stern, "Supervisor Jiang has gone to another newly discovered mine five li away and won't be back tonight. You can come back tomorrow!"
Wang Donghua and Madam Pang exchanged a look, their faces falling.
They had to tell Supervisor Jiang about the situation at Hongshupo before Foreman Huang did. Otherwise, once Foreman Huang reported everything, their information would seem less significant.
Moreover, there were many workers at Hongshupo, and any one of them knew just as much as they did. Therefore, they had to seize the initiative. This was the best opportunity to get close to Supervisor Jiang, and the cover of night would make things even easier.
"Five li away? Approximately where is that?" Wang Donghua asked with a beaming smile.
"To the west, in the area of Shaling," a guard replied, pointing vaguely. He wasn't afraid to tell these two women; after all, they would still need people to work when mining began.
Wang Donghua’s face lit up, and she repeatedly bowed, "Thank you! Thank you, young master!"
The mother and daughter immediately went to Foreman Wang, borrowed some water, and hastily washed themselves.
The price for this was Wang Donghua enduring Foreman Wang’s lecherous caresses.
However, no matter what the men did to her, she held onto her final defense. Wealthy men valued that, and it was her greatest asset to ascend to nobility and live a good life. It had to be used strategically.
The mother and daughter immediately set off for Shaling, five li to the west.
As long as she could meet Supervisor Jiang this time, Wang Donghua was determined to use all her wiles to make Supervisor Jiang take her in, even if it was just as a bed warmer.
Dreaming of a future filled with fine clothes and delicacies, Madam Pang and her daughter’s steps grew lighter, their fatigue from a day of labor vanishing.
The sun had already set. After walking for about the time it takes an incense stick to burn, the mother and daughter suddenly heard the sound of approaching horses and the loud laughter of men.
Could it be Supervisor Jiang? Only Supervisor Jiang and his men rode horses. Thinking this, they ran towards the faint figures on horseback.
Only when they clearly saw the people on the horses did the mother and daughter regret their actions profoundly.
There were three men in total, all with black cloths covering their heads and large sabers strapped to their backs. Upon seeing the mother and daughter, their faces contorted into ferocious smiles as they roared with laughter.
It was clear these were bandits. They had long heard of a group of bandits in the desert who committed all manner of atrocities, burning, killing, and looting. They never expected to be so unlucky as to encounter them.
"Brother, it truly seems fate has delivered them to us. These two women, coming to us willingly. Don't you think heaven is providing for us? Hahaha..." a long-faced man with a scar on his face roared with laughter.
The one called "Brother" was a burly man with a full beard. After his gaze swept over Madam Pang and her daughter, he commanded, "Take this old hag back. See if the old men in the village want her. If not, wash her clean, kill her, salt her, and we'll have a feast."
Upon hearing this, Madam Pang collapsed to the ground, her lower body becoming wet and emitting a foul odor. "G-gentlemen, I'm capable. D-don't kill me. I… I'm not ugly after washing. Look at my daughter; we look very alike."
Wang Donghua trembled with fear at this moment. She dared not plead for her mother, afraid that a careless word might provoke these bandits into killing and pickling her as well.
How could she be so unlucky? How could she have run into bandits!
"As for this young one," the bearded leader’s gaze shifted to Wang Donghua, "take her back, wash her up, and make her my twelfth concubine!"
Wang Donghua breathed a sigh of relief. Being a concubine was good. She yearned to be a concubine.
Bandits were probably all wealthy. Being a concubine meant not only good food and clothes but also someone to serve her.
Most importantly, she could use these bandits to destroy Hongshupo or drive everyone from Hongshupo away so they could occupy it.
With this thought, Wang Donghua actually offered the bearded leader a seductive smile.
"Hmm, not bad. This lass is quite spirited!" the bearded leader guffawed lewdly, dismounted, and lifted her onto his horse.
Madam Pang was also grabbed by the other two bandits.
"Aiyoh, this old hag stinks!" another bald bandit exclaimed, wrinkling his nose in disgust.
"Washing… washing will get rid of the smell. I haven't bathed in years," said Madam Pang, lying across the horse.
"Shut your damn mouth! You stink even worse when you talk!"
Madam Pang immediately clamped her mouth shut, mentally planning how to charm some of the old men later so she wouldn't be killed.
The three bandits abducted Madam Pang and her daughter and galloped into the depths of the desert, kicking up clouds of dust behind their horses.
Lu Dagang, with a thrilled heart, told Zhang Lanlan everything he had heard at the mine.
Zhang Lanlan's eyes lit up as she listened. She looked at Lu Dagang and said, "Is everything you're saying true?"
Lu Dagang nodded, "Absolutely true. Many other people from our village were at the mine today and heard it. If you don't believe me, you can ask them. Supervisor Jiang is already having people investigate Hongshupo and will likely give them a hard time."
"But Hongshupo has Prince Yu's backing. Dare the mine provoke them?" Zhang Lanlan asked with some exasperation.
Lu Dagang leaned closer to Zhang Lanlan and whispered, "I heard the mine actually belongs to a powerful figure in the capital."
Zhang Lanlan’s expression changed. She twisted the handkerchief in her hand and stood up to walk out. "I'm going to the well to find my father."
Lu Dagang followed her.
Zhang Jiawang was looking for people to clean out the well, removing the silt from the bottom, otherwise, the water wouldn’t even cover the bottom.
When Zhang Jiawang heard Zhang Lanlan and Lu Dagang discussing the situation at the mine, he suddenly felt enlightened.
Hmph. Lu Ye and the others, relying on their newfound wealth, had brazenly recruited workers. Now, they had offended the mine.
Since the mine belonged to a powerful figure in the capital, their Zhang family could use a borrowed knife to kill.
Zhang Jiawang decided to find an opportunity to meet Foreman Huang and ascertain the identity of the mine's backer. If it was truly a major figure, then he would provide them with a reason to provoke Hongshupo.