But before he could turn, Zhang Min’s next quiet words sent a sudden chill through his whole body.

“Dad, what if the Summer Harvest is only three days?”

“Three days?”

“I have met the Murloc Clan’s second prince, Yu Chenghui. He said that because of the distance he cannot interfere inside our Mulberry Field Town, and he cannot find anyone to plead for us and have this breach-of-contract penalty forgiven, but he told me in advance exactly what the next disaster will be.” Walking behind Zhang Da, Zhang Min pushed the wheelchair, and soon the two were inside the house.

She stood, shut the door, and only after confirming that no one outside was eavesdropping did Zhang Min carefully sit on the edge of the bed and go on:

“Today is June eleventh. The Summer Harvest officially begins on June sixteenth. Although those above gave us ten days to harvest, in reality...”

“Right after midnight on the night of June seventeenth, we can see the information about the next disaster, and right after midnight on the night of June nineteenth, the disaster will strike at once.”

“According to the second prince, it is an unprecedented great hail. He did not say how large it would be.”

“But since it is unprecedented, forget the fragile Xinghuo No. 3 wheat. Even the houses we live in now and the territory’s infrastructure may not survive this hail.”

“Dad, do you understand what that means?”

“And do you know why, every time Qiankun Grain Store was about to be beaten by us in the past, a mysterious sum of money would pour in? Do you know why they could develop energy stone tools this time?”

“Behind them is Hope City! The Chen Clan! The mayor! We have been competing all along, but we were competing with the territory!”

She had said a great deal in one breath. Seeing the excitement on Zhang Da’s face finally vanish and turn into deep fear,

Zhang Min closed her eyes in pain. “Dad, you decide. If you are willing to trust the territory, then we will make one last desperate stand with the energy stone tools, and whatever the outcome, our Zhang Clan will bear it together.”

“But if you are not willing to trust the territory, then now is our last chance to choose.”

“Choose? How do we choose? The Inspectorate is staked out in front of our shop every day now, watching all the time. If you want to use what we planned before...”

“No, I have a way to fool the Inspectorate. The second prince gave me...”

Zhang Min bent down and began taking things out of the backpack she had held tightly in her arms all the way back.

After a while, as more and more odds and ends came out,

two unremarkable little things were finally set in front of Zhang Da.

“These are the miniature collapse incendiary bombs the second prince gave me. Set off in a particular way, they can start a raging fire within one minute.”

“We only need some small tricks to put them, without anyone noticing, in the place from the earlier plan.”

“Arrange it, and when the fire goes up, it will certainly cut down a great deal of the pressure of the Summer Harvest.”

“What’s left, we can even bring in with the energy stone tools, to ease the pressure on our accounts.”

At this point Zhang Min stopped talking.

Of course, this was not because she had not made a detailed plan.

It was because Zhang Da, sitting opposite her, clearly already had a few thoughts stirring in his eyes.

“Then who will you find to take the blame this time? Is it still Su Youzong?” Zhang Da suppressed his thoughts and spoke in a low voice.

In the business world, there are only permanent interests, never permanent friends.

After Zhang Min put it this way, he was no fool, and soon came to his own decision, choosing the path that was best for the Lane.

As for that Su Youzong...

He had been at the Lane for little more than ten days and was only an outsider anyway. When he died, the shares could simply be taken back.

As for his contributions, a thick coffin worth two taels of silver would do, which would not be unfair to him.

Sure enough, Zhang Min’s eyes darted, and father and daughter were again of one mind.

“Dad, it can only be Su Youzong. He’s in the spotlight now, so blaming him is the least likely to arouse anyone’s suspicion. Also, it wouldn’t be good with just him alone. We can go after the little follower beside him and push them both out to take the blame together.”

“When the time comes, these two will divide everyone’s attention. After the hail, we will go all the way, burn the shop down too, and leave no witnesses!”

“Even if the Inspectorate wants to investigate, there will be nothing to investigate!”

“Then I leave it to you?” A flicker of hesitation crossed Zhang Da’s eyes, then hardened again. “We can’t tell your brother the truth. We can only have him keep this Su Youzong steady for now. When the time is right, will you go in and hide these things in place?”

“Fine. Now that Bowen has produced results, I have an excuse to ask Su Youzong for advice on this subject. Once he teaches me, that will be the moment he goes to his death!” A fierce light flashed in her eyes. Zhang Min nodded and quickly hid the spread-out bombs again.

After settling things, she helped Zhang Da into bed, then went back the way she had come to the front courtyard of the shop and hid in the shadows.

At a little past nine in the evening, the shop entrance was still bustling, with hundreds of people gathered, filling out formal employment contracts.

In past years, even when Zizai Liang Lane was at its peak, such a lively scene was seldom seen.

As a new shopkeeper, Zhang Bowen had confidence and high spirits written all over his face, every bit of him longing for a beautiful future.

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