Chapter 115

Chapter 115

"What are you yelling about and what does it have to do with you? We're not talking to you, get lost!"

One of the family members said impatiently.

"What did you say?" Lu Bo widened his eyes.

Lin Erlang hurriedly interjected, "He is our head overseer!"

"What did you say?" This time, it was the turn of the family members who had come to make a scene to widen their eyes.

A cripple with no legs, and he still claims to be the head overseer of the tangerine orchard?

Who does he think he's fooling?

"That's right, I am the head overseer of the Gu family, which means I oversee this island and the tangerine orchard. All affairs in the tangerine orchard, except those Madam Gu has not assigned to me, are under my jurisdiction."

The head overseer of the Gu family is actually a legless disabled man, so it seems Madam Gu is not fit to manage the household.

Lu Bo saw the disdain in their eyes as they stared at his missing legs, but he remained calm. He patted his leg and said, "Ah, these legs, I lost them on the night when the bandits attacked the island."

The family members were shocked. Someone tried to ask, "You were actually there that night?"

"That's right, I was there. As the head overseer, I have to be concerned about the safety of the tangerine orchard. Just like the guards, I had to stay and protect this tangerine orchard." Lu Bo nodded, "Unfortunately, I barely survived, but thanks to Madam Gu not rejecting me, she promised that once I recovered, I could still be the head overseer of her estate. So now that I'm healed, I'm back on the island."

"That being the case, since Madam Gu was willing to continue employing you as head overseer even though you're injured, wouldn't it be reasonable for us, the families of the guards who died protecting the tangerine orchard, to ask for a position on the island?"

Lu Bo looked at Lin Erlang.

Lin Erlang had no choice but to explain the whole situation.

"We're not saying no, but we're still considering..."

"Exactly, who knew that Madam Gu would be so cold-hearted..."

"Enough, didn't you hear me? The Gu family's tangerine orchard is not hiring anymore, come back next time!" Lu Bo's expression darkened as he gave them the order to leave.

"Next time? Let me tell you, don't think..."

"All of you, shut up!" Lu Bo shouted, cutting off their attempts to argue, "Don't forget, you're all waiting for the Emperor's reward, right?"

At the mention of the Emperor's reward, everyone calmed down.

"What do you mean by that?"

"If you keep acting this way, I'll tell Madam Gu to inform the prefect that your families don't deserve the reward."

"What deception are you talking about?"

"If Madam Gu is as heartless as you claim, why would she even submit your sons' names?"

"She wouldn't dare to do that!"

"Certainly, she would."

"If you keep causing trouble and spouting nonsense, do you think Madam Gu will be satisfied?"

"You're just trying to intimidate us."

"Don't bother with him!"

"I'm not scaring you. I'm from the same place as Master Li, and as it happens, I used to work in the Zhengzhou prefecture office. I've seen Prefect handle many affairs, so I know the procedures very well," Lu Bo explained slowly. "If you don't believe me, go and inquire. You'll find out whether I'm telling the truth or not."

The families all looked at Lin Erlang, who nodded silently.

Only then did the families realize their fear. They swallowed and scattered faster than rabbits.

"Thank you, Lu Bo!"

"Ah, serving the government faithfully!" Lu Bo patted the armrest of his wheelchair, smiling. "Madam Gu treats us so well; it's only right that we do our best."

Lin Erlang watched Lu Bo turn his wheelchair and move to the other side, unable to resist helping him push. "Does this thing work well?"

"It works well!" Lu Bo remained smiling.

He had seen this type of wheelchair years ago. It was said that they were originally made by various prefecture military departments for soldiers who had lost their legs in war, and later they became popular among the common folk.

At that time, seeing retired soldiers using wheelchairs, he had marveled at the unique chair. He never thought that many years later, he would be sitting in one himself.

And it was Madam Gu who had arranged for this wheelchair to be custom-made for him!

"By the way, where is Madam Gu?"

"She's busy with the final batch of tangerines."

It was already November. After finishing the final batch of tangerines, everyone could take a break and go home to prepare for the New Year.

"Is it in the tangerine orchard behind the valley?" When Lin Erlang nodded, Lu Bo said, "Find someone to go with me there."

"Do you need something from her?"

"Yes."

What Lu Bo wanted to discuss with Gu Ran was about that old man, Grandpa Lu.

During his recovery, he often thought about Grandpa Lu, and suspicion arose in his heart.

Although it had been many years since the incident, it was precisely because so many years had passed that it left a deep impression on him.

Ten years ago, Lu Bo had gone to Quan Gang and witnessed a battle between the imperial navy and sea bandits.

At that time, he had also seen the spirited General Qiao An, whose heroic vigor was evident as he led the naval forces, routing the invaders from Quan Gang and sending them fleeing in disarray.

Witnessing General Qiao An leading by example, boarding the pirate ship alone with his sword, left a lasting impression on many.

Including him.

That night, seeing the agile moves of the old man against the Heaven Rank First bandit group, he thought it was a hallucination due to his severe injuries.

After waking and investigating, he realized it wasn't a hallucination.

He learned that Grandpa Lu had likely been abandoned on the desolate Dunzi Island for years before being discovered by Madam Gu and others. Now, with the truth revealed about General Qiao An's defeat, and the court searching everywhere without finding his whereabouts, there were rumors that he had been assassinated to silence him.

But now, Lu Bo suspected that Grandpa Lu might actually be General Qiao An.

Gu Ran had assumed Lu Bo needed something from her, but when she heard his theory, she was stunned.

Not only Gu Ran, but Pei Sixth Lady and Li Ji were also greatly surprised.

"Lu Bo, are you certain?"

"I'm just speculating. It's just that the exceptional skills of this old man, Master Lu, are very much like those of General Qiao, whom I saw in Quan Gang years ago."

After calming down, Gu Ran also recalled: When they first found Master Lu, they thought he had been abandoned on the deserted island by his family and even considered sending him back home.

They had also wondered how a man with such great martial prowess, clearly not an ordinary grandfather, ended up on a deserted island, which didn't make sense. However, after inquiring around the local villages, they found no one who had abandoned their elder on an island. There was nothing on Master Lu's person that could verify his identity, and he was incoherent, so they didn't pursue it further.

But what if Master Lu was actually General Qiao?

It seemed possible.

After all, not every grandfather could fight off a hundred men like Master Lu. The fact that he was still so capable at his age suggested he must have been even more formidable in his youth.

A person so skilled could very well be a general; it wouldn't be so strange.

Moreover, considering the Zhou family's collusion with Du Jiang in detaining General Qiao, and the fact that the Zhou family resided in Geyan County, it would make sense if General Qiao had escaped from Geyan County, ended up on the deserted island, and couldn't leave due to the surrounding water.

If that were true, Master Lu must have lived alone on Dunzi Island for at least seven or eight years.

No wonder he lost his mind; anyone would have struggled after such an ordeal.

If she had to spend so many years on that island, she'd probably lose her mind too.

"This matter requires careful planning," Gu Ran said to Pei Sixth Lady, Li Ji, and Lu Bo.

"Although it seems likely, we lack concrete evidence, and Master Lu has no memory of his past. To prove Master Lu's identity, we first need him to regain his memory and then find some physical evidence. After that..."

Afterward, they could take Master Lu to see the prefect, who could then escort General Qiao back to the capital.

The Emperor is searching for General Qiao, and it would be natural for him to restore General Qiao's honor and clear his name.

But for that, they would need both eyewitness testimony and physical evidence. Otherwise, who would acknowledge an old madman of unknown origin as a general?

Gu Ran didn't know that Master Lu had already regained his memory the night he confronted Jia San, so her concerns were unfounded.

That day, when she saw Master Lu finally return to the houses, she greeted him with her usual smile. Then she remembered the cane she had commissioned from Master Huang. She went to fetch it and handed it to Master Lu.

"See, you were missing your cane, right? I had this specially made for you, from the best quality white oak wood. Master Huang said the material was hard to come by; he went to the seaports to source it especially for you, the hero who defeated the leader of the assassins. He reluctantly gave me a small piece and charged me quite a bit, you know. Please try it and see if it feels right."

Qiao An silently took the cane and swung it.

"Does it feel good?" Gu Ran asked, not noticing anything unusual.

Qiao An nodded.

"That's good. This white oak wood is known for its durability. In the future, if you face the assassins again, this cane will hold up well."

Qiao An smiled and tightly gripped the new cane. After a long pause, he finally spoke: "Erniang, Gu Erniang!"

Gu Ran was still smiling when she heard Master Lu speak—during the intense attack that night, she hadn't noticed that Qiao An had spoken before. Her eyes widened in surprise: "Master Lu, you can speak? You can talk?"

"Yes, it's just that I haven't spoken for many years and forgot how."

Gu Ran laughed. He was relearning how to speak, which is why he was still stuttering.

Wait, if Master Lu could speak again, then could he possibly...

"Grandpa Lu, can you remember who you are?"

Qiao An's gaze lingered on the cane for a moment, his eyes clouded with sadness, but he quickly looked up and nodded at Gu Ran.

"Then, who are you?" Gu Ran asked immediately.

"I am... Qiao An!" Qiao An sighed heavily.

Since regaining his memories, he no longer lived in confusion on the island. He had asked around and learned about Quan Gang, the current government, and the state of the capital.

He knew everything now.

And what he didn’t know, he could infer!

His defeat back then was due to Du Jiang, the head of the Quan Gang Maritime Office, who had colluded with the pirates. Now, the entire Du family had been executed and their assets confiscated.

The Zhou family in the capital had worked hand-in-glove with Du Jiang. It was the Zhou family who had helped Du Jiang fabricate a treasonous plot.

Although Qiao An had managed to escape with the assistance of his subordinates, he ended up marooned on an uninhabited island, unknown to anyone.

Meanwhile, the Zhou family had been telling Du Jiang that Qiao An had been imprisoned in the Zhou family's estate all these years, using this as leverage over Du Jiang, who had risen to power in the capital. Last year, during Du Jiang’s downfall, something went wrong, and the truth of that year was accidentally revealed.

The current Empress, who ascended the throne as a princess, had cleared the names of Qiao An’s family and soldiers who were wronged, restoring their honor and compensating them generously to make amends for the past injustices.

But the Qiao family...

The Qiao family had already been wiped out back then!

The once large and prominent Qiao family now only had this old man left!

Qiao An had shed countless tears, his eyes red and swollen from crying.

And he felt the tears welling up again.

He struggled to control his emotions as he acknowledged his identity as Qiao An.

"Qiao An? General Qiao?" Gu Ran had expected it, but hearing it confirmed from Grandpa Lu himself made her heart swell with excitement.

Qiao An nodded.

"That's wonderful, it's good that you remember who you are now!" Gu Ran thought, "So, would you like to return home?"

Home? Where could he possibly go now?

But no matter how the world had changed, there were still things that needed to be done.

"I... want to go to the capital," Qiao An said firmly.

Since the current Empress had uncovered the truth and was searching for his whereabouts, he had to go to the capital.

To tell the Empress about his defeat and finally clear his name: he had not been negligent in his duties, and his soldiers had not been rebels.

He wanted to tell the Empress, the officials, and the people that the Qiao family and the soldiers who fought under him had been unjustly accused.

"Erniang, Gu Erniang, would you be willing to accompany me to the capital?"

Gu Ran hesitated, "General Qiao... what would I be doing if I go to the capital with you?"

"I don't trust anyone else," Qiao An said as he looked at Gu Ran.

Gu Ran felt a wave of gratitude.

"You saved me, so you are my savior. I'll bring you back to the capital and claim the reward."

Gu Ran felt a surge of excitement.

After all, saving General Qiao would be a huge accomplishment!

She wasn’t about to pretend she didn’t care about the reward or act all high and mighty about it!

The capital was just a trip, after all!

With a smile, Gu Ran nodded lightly, casually agreeing to the journey to the capital.

"Then, Grandpa Qiao, we can only depart after the new year," said Gu Ran. "Also, your situation needs to be reported to the prefect so he can arrange an official ship to escort us to the capital for safety."

Now that the Emperor was aware of General Qiao's unjust grievance and was sympathetic towards him, the prefect would definitely ensure General Qiao's safe return to the capital.

What a great achievement this would be!

Sure enough, after receiving a secret report about General Qiao's whereabouts, the prefect couldn’t wait and returned to Dunzi Island under the radar—to avoid letting too many people know and steal his credit.

After meeting Qiao An and hearing their explanation, the prefect was fully convinced.

"Is there any other physical evidence to prove it?"

Qiao An handed the prefect a tattered long sword. "Back then, I was ordered to lead the expedition, and it was the royal sword bestowed by the Emperor."

The prefect immediately bowed to the sword, then carefully inspected it and confirmed the royal insignia.

"Don't worry. Once we return to the capital, I'll explain everything to the Emperor," said Qiao An. "Moreover, there are officials in the capital who know me. The truth cannot be hidden, and no one would dare to impersonate me and deceive the Emperor!"

The prefect nodded repeatedly. "General Qiao, rest assured. I, Hang, will also be returning to the capital to report my duties and transport this year's winter grain tax. I'll arrange for us to travel together and ensure everything is handled properly."

Qiao An nodded.

Inside, Prefect Hang kept his serious face, but once outside, he couldn’t stop smiling, like a kid who just got a big present.

Having found the long-wronged General Qiao, he was certain to be promoted after reporting back to the capital.

To ensure General Qiao’s safety and avoid any more trouble, Prefect Hang sent four skilled guards to the island after returning to Jianzhou.

Only Gu Ran and the three others knew that Grandpa Lu was actually General Qiao.

With Dunzi Island already gaining fame for taking down those assassins, news of General Qiao being on the island would be even bigger news!

So, when Grandpa Lu suddenly had four guards around him, those in the know weren’t surprised, but those unaware found it strange.

"Why does Grandpa Lu have people serving him now?"

"Did Madam Gu hire them?"

"Why should a crazy old man have guards?"

"Because he helped fight off the assassins that night—what else do you need?"

Some people got it, while others griped, but Qiao An didn’t care either way.

Leaning on his cane, he left Dunzi Island for the first time today, crossing the churning river and reaching the other side, then riding in a donkey cart to Xiaxi Village for the first time.

It was also the first time in many years that someone was accompanying him for the New Year's celebration.

Gu Ran brought Grandpa Qiao back to Xiaxi Village, planning to have a wonderful New Year with Pei Sixth Lady, Big Tangerine, and their extended family, a four-generation reunion.

Grandpa Qiao thought he would only have company for the New Year, but he didn’t expect such a large family of furballs to be waiting for him.

The bolder cats immediately ran up to greet him, while the shyer ones watched from a distance before cautiously joining the welcome party. There were also the lazy ones, like Big Tangerine, and the recently lethargic Xiaohua and Xiaohei, who glanced at him before settling back near the charcoal basin without moving.

Seeing so many cats with different temperaments, Qiao An felt his mood instantly relax.

He crouched down to pet the lively little furballs. These cats were used to one or two strangers occasionally visiting the small cottage and would go over to them, rubbing against their legs.

Grandpa Qiao petted them all and then picked up one that was clinging to him, holding it in his arms, and exclaimed, "It's really warm!"

"Erniang, why do you have so many cats in your house?"

"Yes! There are too many. I’m planning to take them to the island next year."

"With so many orange trees on the island?" He had heard that orange trees were harmful to cats.

"Not in the large cottage within the tangerine orchard, but on the other side of the river." Wu Sanbo had already arranged to clear an acre of land at the foot of the hills after the Lantern Festival and before the farming season, where they would build houses for the cats and let them roam freely.

They also planned to build several cottages ascending the hill beside the cat courtyard, with the blueprints already designed. By then, it would become her mansion.

She set aside 300 taels from this year’s earnings to start the construction. However, the entire project was large, and they needed time to build a whole cluster of houses, so it would have to be done slowly.

Moreover, after the New Year, she would first go to the capital with Grandpa Qiao. Since it was a return to the capital for him, she would be away for a few months and had already instructed Wu Sanbo to build slowly without rushing.

Joining Grandpa Qiao on the trip to the capital would be Pei Sixth Lady and Li Ji.

Initially, the four of them had discovered Grandpa Qiao, and General Qiao told them that he was now alone, with no close relatives, and they were the ones he was most familiar with.

Additionally, although the prefect had sent four guards, General Qiao didn’t trust them. He trusted Pei Sixth Lady and Li Ji more because of their good skills.

Pei Sixth Lady wasn’t too concerned about the reward, but she quickly agreed out of concern for Gu Ran.

As for Li Ji, upon hearing that he could meet the Emperor and recalling the wrongful conviction of being framed for killing a suspect, he immediately agreed. Even though his entire Li family had left Zhengzhou and he was now living a good life, he couldn’t bear to carry such a crime on his back. So, if there was a chance, he had to take it.

When it was known that they were going to the capital to receive rewards—to avoid causing a stir and suspicion, the true reason for their trip, Grandpa Lu’s situation had been kept secret. The official reason given was that they had eliminated the remnants of the Heaven Rank First bandit group and were recommended by the prefect to go to the capital for recognition and rewards. Shen Laoye had also gotten involved.

Since half of his guards had left, Shen Laoye decided to take Shen Er Lang to the capital for the reward and to broaden his horizons.

Gu Ran couldn’t explain it outright, but after discussing it with Grandpa Qiao, she got his agreement.

After reporting to the prefect, permission was granted but with the condition that no more people could go. Gu Ran agreed and didn’t add anyone else.

After these matters were settled, everyone happily had a wonderful New Year.

Gu Ran was especially happy!

First, the issue with the Heaven Rank First bandit group was completely resolved, and no one would come to cause trouble again!

Second, the production of tangerines in the tangerine orchard was steadily increasing, and with the rising fame, they received many advance orders from merchants this year, with deposits already received. After splitting the profits with Pei Sixth Lady, she saved the money into her real estate.

Third, with Grandpa Qiao’s support, she could go to the capital next year to see the imperial capital of the Great Sheng Dynasty. There might even be a chance to meet the Emperor and get a royal reward. It was simply perfect.

This New Year's Eve dinner was not only especially warming for Qiao Grandfather but also made Gu Ran particularly happy.

Although the original owner had grown up in the Marquis residence and was accustomed to seeing important figures come and go, Gu Ran, being her own person, had never seen anyone as high-ranking as General Qiao before.

Who would have thought that the man they met on the deserted island was actually General Qiao?

A general, a high-ranking figure, coming to have a reunion dinner with her and Sixth Miss in the small cottage felt like a rare privilege!

The place arranged for Qiao Grandfather was naturally the annex.

However, upon hearing of General Qiao's situation, the Prefect was moved to tears and sent many good things over, equipping the annex with luxurious quilts, brocade blankets, antler velvet, ginseng, and embroidered robes. The small annex, now adorned with these items, felt even more opulent than Gu Ran’s own master bedroom.

Gu Ran didn’t feel any envy.

There was no comparison in terms of status!

For the first time in many years, Qiao Grandfather enjoyed such a warm New Year’s Eve dinner, lying in a quilt as light as cotton, with two furry companions cuddled close to keep him warm. He hadn’t slept so peacefully and contentedly in years.