Finest Servant

Chapter 386 Salvaging Silver

After a bout of playfulness, Luo Ning and Miss Xu gradually calmed down. The Talented Miss Luo clung to Lin Wanrong's arm with a face filled with joy, coquettishly complaining, “Big brother, you're so bad, teasing me and Sister Xu like this. Thankfully, Sister Xu has a good temperament, otherwise, she would certainly have made a fuss with you.”

Seeing Luo Ning's transition from surprise to happiness, her face still adorned with tear streaks, causing one to feel both pity and love, Lin Wanrong grinned, grabbed her hand, and gave her something. Luo Ning took a look and found it was a silver ingot and a lump of tin, the bottom of the silver stamped with the government's fire mark – it was the missing treasury silver.

Luo Ning was filled with surprise and joy, clutching the ingot tightly, tears streaming down her face, as she threw herself into Lin Wanrong's arms, sobbing, “Big brother, big brother, Father can be saved, we found it, we finally found it.”

Gazing at the silver and tin in Luo Ning's hands, Miss Xu smiled and nodded, everything had indeed turned out as expected. She also felt waves of excitement; an unsolved case with only a seven-day deadline was solved by him. From reasoning to deployment, to finally finding the silver, his analysis of others' thoughts, calculation of moving distance, search for the hiding place for the silver, everything was meticulously done, gripping the heart.

Beside them, Luo Yuan suddenly jumped up, embraced Lin Wanrong's shoulders, and joyously exclaimed, “Wonderful, big brother, I knew you could do it. Brothers, come, come, follow me to salvage the silver.”

Speaking, he beckoned to numerous fishermen to propel the fishing boat towards the place where the silver was buried. Xu Zhiqing hurriedly stopped him, saying, “Luo Yuan, what are you doing?”

“What else? Big brother has found the hiding place for the silver, so of course we're going to salvage it,” Luo Yuan replied with great enthusiasm.

“Salvage the silver? How will you do it? Have you considered that it's 350,000 taels of silver, with countless pieces of tin bound together, weighing tens of thousands of pounds? How will you salvage it?” Miss Xu asked with a smile.

In his excitement, Luo Yuan hadn't thought of all this. Hearing Miss Xu's words, he was stunned, indeed, hundreds of thousands of taels of silver were probably buried in the mud, how was he to salvage it? He pondered for a long time without a clue, could only let out an awkward chuckle, and bashfully looked at Xu Zhiqing, “Sister Xu, what do you suggest we do to salvage it?”

“This, we need to see the specific situation underwater,” Xu Zhiqing replied, smoothing her hair and glancing at Lin Wanrong, the meaning clear: please Lord Lin explain the situation in the water so they could find the right solution.

Lin Wanrong yawned, lazily saying, “Ning'er, I'm a bit tired, can I eat something and take a bath before we discuss this?”

This was clearly a refusal to give Miss Xu face, and Luo Ning's expression showed her difficulty. If she agreed with big brother, she would certainly dampen Sister Xu's enthusiasm; if she agreed with Sister Xu, she would feel sorry for big brother. Caught in this dilemma, Xu Zhiqing looked at Lin Wanrong, gritted her teeth, and huffed, “If you won't say, will I not go and explore myself? Ning'er, guard the cabin door; I'll be back soon.”

She rummaged through the bundle she carried, and surprisingly took out a black diving suit, turning towards the cabin as she prepared to go underwater herself.

Who could have guessed that this girl could swim? It was impossible to imagine what her ample and voluptuous figure would look like, hidden inside the tight diving suit. It would certainly be a breathtaking sight, and Lin Wanrong, with a customary sly smile on his lips and wide-open eyes, eagerly awaited the appearance of this mermaid.

"Big brother—" Luo Ning, alarmed, quickly grabbed hold of Miss Xu, turning back to look at Lin Wanrong with a pleading expression on her face.

"Ning'er, don't beg him." Miss Xu disdainfully pouted her lips. "He acts as if he's above everyone else, commanding his soldiers with arrogance. I'll show him that we can do just as well without him."

"I, being the most shameless person in the world, don't need any manners or grace. Miss Xu thinks too highly of me," Lin Wanrong laughed, then his face turned serious. "Since Miss Xu is so interested, let me report on the matter. There are indeed three hundred and fifty thousand taels of silver underwater, but they are mixed with large quantities of tin blocks, all massive in size and heavy in weight. All the silver and tin blocks are stored in over twenty large boxes, tied together tightly with a large net. To recover the thirty-five thousand taels of silver and tin blocks simultaneously, with our current conditions, I'm afraid it will be difficult to accomplish."

Miss Xu's brow furrowed lightly; if it were really like that, recovering the silver would indeed be a great hassle.

Luo Yuan snorted and said, "If we can't haul it all up at once, we can break it apart and haul it up piece by piece. We'll send hundreds of skilled divers, and with each one carrying up dozens of taels, we'll eventually get it all."

"Such a dull idea from a dull person," Lin Wanrong laughed, patting Luo Yuan's head. "You can't think of something smarter? A few hundred people diving together could easily hide some silver, and if there's a shortage of thousands or tens of thousands of taels, will you pay for it?"

Luo Yuan, seeing the glimmer of amusement in his big brother's eyes and sensing that he had a plan all along, suddenly had a realization. Clapping his hands, he said, "Big brother, you must have a way, right? I knew you could do it."

Luo Ning seemed to see hope as well, hugging Lin Wanrong's arm and cooing, "Big brother, do you have a plan? Tell me quickly."

With Luo Ning's sweet and cloying coquettishness, Lin Wanrong's heart softened. He rubbed his arm against her full, soft chest and chuckled into her ear, "I can tell you, but tonight you can't run away. Leave your Miss Xu aside."

Luo Ning blushed, her body twisting slightly, her soft chest pressed tightly against his arm.

Lin Wanrong gave a lustful smile, sneakily caressing Luo Ning's ample buttocks. His face turned serious as he patted his chest loudly, "Ning'er, Little Luo, don't worry, the matter of recovering the silver is on me. Alas, who made me so clever?"

When big brother agreed, Luo Ning and her brother were naturally overjoyed, and Miss Xu dared not speak. She had completely lost confidence in Lin San. She didn't know whether this person was bluffing or truly capable.

Master Lin looked around the lake impatiently and said, "Where's the boat? Where's the boat I asked for? Why hasn't Brother Hu brought it to me yet?"

"What boat?" Luo Yuan, with his keen hearing, immediately asked.

"Oh, it's nothing. Yesterday, I asked Hu Bugui to borrow two large wooden boats from the Jiangnan Navy for me, and to prepare some things. By my calculations, they should be arriving soon." Lin Wanrong shook his head and said, "How about this, Little Luo, go and hurry them along. Remember, you must find the two largest wooden boats, and they must be filled with sand. The more, the better. Also, prepare some sturdy wood and some thick and strong ropes."

"Sand, wood, ropes? Big brother, what do you need these for?" Not only was Luo Yuan dumbfounded, but even Miss Xu was stunned. What was this guy up to?

"Nonsense, what else could it be for? Of course, it's for salvaging silver." Lin Wanrong said playfully, kicking him on the buttocks, "Go and get it done quickly."

Hearing it was for salvaging silver, Luo Yuan jumped three feet high and quickly took a small boat.

Lin Wanrong found an unoccupied small boat, jumped on it, lay down in the cabin, and sighed comfortably. Luo Ning followed him, sitting beside him and gently asked, "Big brother, are you very tired?"

Lin Wanrong nodded and smiled, "I am a bit tired! I haven't been in the water for a long time, and my muscles are almost atrophying. It seems that there is some truth to the saying that life lies in movement. Ning'er, how about we do some water sports?"

Water sports? Luo Ning looked at him puzzledly, and Lin Wanrong leaned into her ear and chuckled, "You escaped last night, but not today. Ah, it's been a long time since I've tried water sports. The scenery is beautiful, and the weather is fine. It's a great opportunity for daytime indulgence."

Luo Ning was startled, her face blushing, her ears burning, and she murmured, "How can this be? It's broad daylight now, and besides, Sister Xu is resting on the opposite boat. Ah, I'm so embarrassed!"

"She can rest, and we can do our thing. Daytime indulgence is a very meaningful task. We must try hard." Master Lin chuckled lewdly, embracing Luo Ning's delicate body, his hands resting on her slender waist, and he kissed her sweet cherry lips.

The Talented Lady Luo felt her body go soft, and her brother's body was hot as fire, as if it would burn her. Thinking that her dear sister Zhiqing was on the opposite boat, possibly looking this way, she felt waves of embarrassment, yet also an indescribable thrilling pleasure.

Spring was the best season for passion. Seeing Ning'er's hesitant yet inviting expression, Master Lin couldn't resist. He gently rubbed her back and buttocks, and his two large hands moved to Luo's chest, gently kneading her soft, white breasts.

Ning'er's eyebrows furrowed slightly, her teeth lightly biting, her cheeks flushed, her breathing quickened, her body undulating, her waist swaying, and she had long forgotten where she was.

"Ning'er, Ning'er—" Xu Zhiqing's voice came from outside the cabin, and Miss Luo was startled with a scream. She saw her half-bare, mutton-fat white jade-like chest being played with by her big brother. Her beautiful cheeks instantly turned red as fire, and her cherry lips let out a soft moan. Her small fists rained down on Lin Wanrong: "Stinky big brother, naughty big brother, I'm so embarrassed!"

Miss Xu had ruined the good moment again, and the muscles on Master Lin's face twitched a few times. He pinched Ning'er's buttock and said angrily, "What grudge does this Xu girl have against me? She has ruined such a beautiful spring scene."

Ning'er chuckled and shyly said, "It's clearly you who were naughty. Why are you blaming Sister Zhiqing? She doesn't even know we're here, um—" Luo Ning covered her face and ran out, only to see Miss Xu standing on the opposite boat, looking at her with a smile that seemed to see through something.

Miss Luo's heart pounded, and her words were not as fluent: "Sister, Sister Xu, did you call me?"

Miss Xu nodded and smiled, pointing to two large ships drifting in the distance: "Go tell that shameless man that Luo Yuan has brought the big ships back."

Luo Ning looked up and saw two huge wooden ships coming from afar, with Luo Yuan standing on the bow, waving frantically at her. She quickly turned around to leave but heard Miss Xu say, "Ning'er, there's one more thing." Xu Zhiqing mysteriously smiled and pointed at Luo Ning's chest.

Miss Luo looked down and screamed, her face red as fire, and she ran back into the cabin without looking back. In her haste to come out, she had buttoned her shirt wrong, exposing a patch of white and tender chest that caught Miss Xu's eye.

"It's all your fault, all your fault!" Luo Ning hammered her big brother's chest: "Sister Xu must know everything now, and she will laugh at me."

"Laugh? What's there to laugh about?" Lin Wanrong said shamelessly: "I say, she should be envious, envious that you have such a good husband. Ning'er, since we've been found out, let's not be afraid and continue, haha."

Having a licentious day was indeed a great dream, but unfortunately, Master Lin could not fulfill it that day. Luo Yuan had arrived with two large wooden ships from the Jiangnan Navy, and Master Lin regretted that little Luo had to walk so fast, ruining his plans.

The two large ships of the Navy were more than ten feet long, broad and majestic, with a great carrying capacity. Seeing the ships filled with mud and sand, Miss Xu frowned. This guy really had two ships of mud and sand brought over; what was he going to do? She couldn't help but glance at Lin Wanrong.

Standing beside her big brother, Miss Luo was mischievous, and when she saw Sister Xu looking this way, she was immediately embarrassed and lowered her head. Her eyes, filled with a hint of spring, made her as beautiful as the goddess of the Luo River, even stunning Miss Xu.

‘Ning'er is so beautiful,’ she sighed softly, a trace of melancholy flashing in her eyes that she herself did not notice.

"Big brother, big brother, what do we do next?" Luo Yuan jumped down from the big ship, landing in front of Lin Wanrong, and shouted loudly.

"Don't panic. Did you bring the quality timber and strong, sturdy ropes I told you about earlier?" Master Lin was quite dissatisfied as Luo Yuan had ruined Master Lin's good plans, and he became much stricter and more demanding with his younger brother-in-law.

"These? General Hu prepared them all before going to raid the office in Zhuping County this morning. I just happened to come across these two large ships," Luo Yuan chuckled, looking quite pleased with himself, unaware that he had interrupted the romantic moment between his sister and brother-in-law.

"You're lucky, young man!" Lord Lin snorted and then laughed, saying, "Now we'll start, and I will be in command. First, bind these two large ships together, side by side, leaving about a ten-foot distance between them. Then use the quality timber you've brought to build a sturdy frame spanning the two ships. Remember, it must be strong."

Two ships bound together? And building a frame on them? Has big brother gone mad? Luo Yuan had doubts in his mind, but seeing his big brother's serious demeanor, he faithfully followed his instructions.

Two enormous wooden ships, laden with mud and sand, sunk deep into the water. Luo Yuan led the craftsmen to nail the timber tightly onto the two large ships, constructing an incredibly sturdy frame between them. Everything was completed in less than half an hour. Lin Wanrong meticulously inspected the work, even jumping on the frame to test its solidity.

Xu Zhiqing watched in puzzlement, finally unable to restrain herself from asking, "What are you doing?"

Lin Wanrong did not answer her question, instead smiling and saying, "Miss Xu, I have a serious request to make of you."

"What is it?" Miss Xu asked, perplexed.

Lin Wanrong grinned, "Next time my sweetheart and I are having a tender moment, could you please not interrupt us? Have you ever experienced a passion interrupted? It's truly torturous!"

"Pah!" Miss Xu turned away, her face red as fire, lightly stamping her foot on the ship and daring not to speak again.

Lin Wanrong took hold of the thick rope that Hu Bugui had prepared, pulling it a few times to test its strength. He nodded with a smile. Old Hu's work was reliable; this rope could even pull a train.

"The next step is crucial," Lin Wanrong said, holding the rope, his face serious. Miss Xu pricked up her ears to eavesdrop. "Luo Yuan, send two of our best swimmers underwater to tie one end of this rope to the box containing the silver. Remember, it must be secure, no slack."

Hearing the seriousness in his big brother's voice, Luo Yuan carefully explained the task to two strong men before sending them into the water. After the time it took to brew a cup of tea, they surfaced, signaling that the rope had been tied.

Lin Wanrong stepped onto the wooden frame between the two ships, finding the center, and slowly pulled the rope until several men's strength could no longer move it. He then carefully tied that end of the rope securely to the center of the frame.

Miss Xu watched his actions intently, only now starting to understand, and asked, "Are you going to use these ships to pull up the silver? But that silver is stuck in the mud at the bottom of the water, no matter how many people row the boat, they won't be able to pull it up."

"Is that so?" Master Lin chuckled, "Miss Xu is so confident? Then how about we make another bet?"

Speaking of betting, Xu Zhiqing's cheeks immediately flushed. He had already found the silver, and she had to fulfill her promise. Was she really going to let him take advantage of her? A feeling she couldn't quite describe welled up in her heart; bitter, trembling, and some taste she herself couldn't understand. Thinking of the scene where Ning'er had just run out with her clothes disheveled, she clenched her teeth and snapped, "You rogue, I won't bet with you anymore; if you don't want to tell me, just leave it at that!"

Lin Wanrong laughed heartily, "It's not that I don't want to tell you. In fact, if you observe carefully, you will surely understand. Watch closely; the next step is crucial."

With a wave of his hand, Lin Wanrong shouted loudly, "Shovel the sand! Shovel all the mud and sand into the lake, and don't leave a single grain behind."

At his command, the soldiers on the boats began to pour the mud and sand from the two large wooden ships into the lake. As the mud and sand gradually decreased, the ships slowly began to rise. The rope pulling the silver became tauter, and Lin Wanrong stared intently at it, his heart pounding. ‘Brother Hu, you better not be playing with me; this rope involves the lives of my father-in-law's family!’

As the mud and sand in the boats decreased, the rope became straighter, and finally, it slackened slightly. Lin Wanrong was overjoyed. It moved! It moved! The silver moved! The two strong men who had gone into the water reported, "Master, the silver box has floated up from the bottom."

"Quick, quick, pour out all the mud and sand!" Master Lin shouted urgently, and the soldiers moved even faster. When the last grain of sand fell, the silver box was already suspended in the water.

"I understand, I understand," Miss Xu exclaimed, her lips trembling with excitement, looking at Lin San with admiration in her eyes. No matter how shameless this man was, his intelligence was indeed unparalleled in the world.

"Miss Xu, what's going on?" Luo Ning murmured, "How did the silver float up? It's like a dream."

"It's not a dream; it's real. Your family's Lin San is an unparalleled genius," Xu Zhiqing nodded, "He cleverly used the buoyancy of water, poured out the mud and sand, and pulled up the silver box, suspending it in the water. This method is truly extraordinary. How did I not think of it?"

"Row the boats!" Master Lin waved his hand, and the soldiers on the two large ships began rowing, moving the wooden ships toward the shore, with the silver box slowly being pulled behind.

The nearby fishermen and common people stared in amazement, witnessing two unprecedented wonders: fish leaping through the dragon gate and silver boxes growing legs, both occurring on the same day. Was this Master Lin sent by the court a celestial being?

When the wooden ships reached the shore, Luo Yuan knew what to do without Lin Wanrong's instructions. Taking advantage of the silver box still floating in the water, everyone pulled the rope together, and the silver box emerged halfway from the water, finally touching the ground.

What came next was much simpler. Following the same method, Luo Yuan switched the rope, filled the two wooden ships with mud and sand again, and pulled back another silver box. This miraculous process left countless people in awe. If there were truly divine beings in the world, Master Lin was undoubtedly one of them.

By the time evening arrived, more than twenty silver boxes were scattered haphazardly on the shallow beach. Luo Yuan was excitedly shouting, touching one box, then another, acting as though he had never seen silver before.

Ning'er giggled charmingly, running vigorously on the sandy beach, and called out loudly to Lin Wanrong: "Big brother, Ning'er loves you! You are the most amazing person in the world!" Her radiant expression even outshone the western setting sun.

‘If it weren't for darling Ning'er, I wouldn't have bothered wasting so many brain cells. Darn it, this work really isn't fit for a human being; it's worn me out!’ Master Lin wiped the sweat from his forehead, his whole body soaked through, and plopped down on the ground by the shore, panting heavily.

A silken handkerchief imbued with a faint fragrance was slowly passed to him. He took it and wiped himself a few times, about to say thanks when he felt something amiss. Turning his head, he saw Miss Xu's graceful figure hurrying away, disappearing into the dim twilight.

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