Chapter 2802 The Substitute Was Forcibly Taken by the Bandit's Wife 07

In order to punish Jin Chen, Chen Xiaoshan even sent someone down the mountain to invite several old carpenters to come and see him. The five poor old carpenters were brought up the mountain, their legs were so weak.

Black Mountain Stronghold was infamous throughout the Southern Continent. The government had launched several sieges against it, but all had failed. Ordinary people would avoid it at the mere mention of its name.

Now, dragged up the mountain by several fierce-looking bandits, the two elderly carpenters were so frightened they almost fainted. It was only after the fourth leader, Yan Qi, smiled and said, "Old folks, don't be afraid. We invited you here to oversee the work," that they were able to calm down.

Gu Fanghe had been waiting there for a long time, after all, this matter was no small thing, as it concerned the children in the village who had not yet grown up.

Chen Xiaoshan led the men to the ruins of the pavilion and said in a deep voice, "Take a close look at how this pillar broke. If there is even a hint of falsehood... I'll make sure you don't leave here alive."

The old carpenters agreed cautiously and began searching through the ruins.

Despite the fear, their hands worked efficiently, piecing together the broken pieces of wood one by one, checking the mortise and tenon joints, and tapping to listen to the sound...

About half an hour later, the most senior old carpenter picked up a piece of broken wood, his expression somewhat strange.

“Boss, this pillar does look like it’s been tampered with; there are pry marks on the break… but…”

"But what?" Gu Fanghe frowned.

"But the inside of this pillar is already rotten!"

The old carpenter wiped the sweat from his brow. "Look at this wood core. It's black in color and has a loose grain. It's clearly made of inferior wood that's supposedly made of gold and jade. The outside is painted to make it look sturdy, but the inside has been rotten for a long time!"

"Also, the gaps at the mortise and tenon joints are too large, they simply can't bear the weight..."

Another carpenter came over, picked up a few pieces of wood and pieced them together. "Yeah, even if it doesn't stop this time, it can only last for another half a month at most before the whole building collapses!"

Gu Fanghe's expression darkened, and he frowned without saying a word.

Chen Xiaoshan's face was ashen as he stared at the broken piece of wood on the ground, speechless for a long time.

The bandits behind him exchanged bewildered glances, their expressions filled with suspicion and uncertainty.

Chen Xiaoshan turned to the carpenters, his gaze sharp as a knife, "Are you sure you're not mistaken?"

"I wouldn't dare to talk nonsense!" The older carpenter was so frightened that he knelt down with a thud.

Half Moon...

Chen Xiaoshan closed his eyes, as if he could already see those children who were swaying their heads and chanting the mysteries of heaven and earth in the building being buried in the collapse, and he felt a chill of fear.

"But... the carpenter Zhang who was in charge of this pavilion back then was personally introduced by Young Master Ruan, and even the blueprints were reviewed by Young Master Ruan..."

The bandit who participated in the construction of the school building three years ago couldn't help but say.

Yan Qi's baby face was also tense at this moment, her brows furrowed, and she interjected angrily, "Maybe Brother Ruan was also deceived by that black-hearted carpenter. How could such a good person as Brother Ruan deliberately harm the children in our village!"

These words made perfect sense and reason, and the crowd's expressions softened slightly.

Yes, Young Master Ruan is kind and benevolent. He even saved the children in the village three years ago. How could he deliberately use such inferior talent? He must have entrusted the wrong person.

“By the way, boss,” the carpenter standing behind presented an object with both hands, “the men found this under the pile of broken wood in the southeast corner of the collapsed building.”

A white jade pendant with dark patterns, the end of the ribbon was covered with dust.

Gu Fanghe's gaze fell on the jade pendant, a subtle ripple passing through his eyes, and he took the jade pendant.

He recognized the jade pendant.

When Jin Chen was abducted to the mountain that day, this was the item hanging from her waist.

At that time, the firelight flickered inside the room, and the jade color flowed around his clothes, making it unforgettable.

"Big brother, this is... Jin Chen's?" Chen Xiaoshan couldn't help but ask.

"Yes." Gu Fanghe nodded.

"It really was him!" Chen Xiaoshan exclaimed in bewilderment. "But why... why didn't he admit it back then?"

If he had pointed out the problem with the attic at the time, things wouldn't have escalated to the point of physical violence.

Gu Fanghe held the jade pendant in his palm, feeling the warmth of his fingertips.

He looked up, his gaze sweeping over Chen Xiaoshan's indignant and fearful face. "If Jin Chen had confessed back then, and the truth had not yet been uncovered, the only outcome would have been death."

If Jin Chen had said then, "The pillar was about to collapse, and I broke it to save people," who would have believed her?

A boy of unknown origin, who was kidnapped and taken to the mountain, said that there was something wrong with the pavilion in the village that had been built for more than three years. Who would believe him?

People will probably just think he's making excuses and that he has ulterior motives.

Chen Xiaoshan was speechless.

He recalled the blade that had been swung that morning; if Jin Chen hadn't dodged quickly, if the leader hadn't arrived in time...

Chen Xiaoshan sat heavily back down on the stone stool next to him and sighed deeply.

Gu Fanghe instructed his men to properly accommodate the carpenters, asking them to stay and help rebuild the school, and to offer them generous compensation.

The carpenters dared not disobey, and thanked him repeatedly, hoping only to leave this bandit's den safely.

The matter was temporarily resolved, and everyone dispersed.

Yan Qi sidled up to Liu Mianfeng, puffing out her cheeks, still somewhat indignant. "How could Big Brother be so lenient with that...that fake? Even if he wasn't behind this, his origins are unknown, and he always talks back to Big Brother!"

Liu Mianfeng waved his fan, a playful smile playing on his lips, "Big Brother's thoughts have always been the hardest to fathom, but..."

"This Young Master Jin is indeed much more interesting than that dignified Young Master Ruan."

-

That night, the moonlight was like a ribbon.

In the east wing, Jin Chen, wearing only an outer robe, leaned against a chair by the window, flipping through a miscellaneous book about the customs and scenery of the Southern Continent by candlelight.

Ayan was dozing off in the outer room, her head nodding slightly.

Suddenly, very light footsteps stopped outside.

Jin Chen paused slightly as she turned the pages, a smile playing on her lips. "Here we go again."

It was worth waiting until now.

Then, there was a gentle knock on the door.

Startled awake, Ayan rubbed her eyes and got up. Still half asleep, she walked to the door and peeked out through the crack.

Under the moonlight, a tall man stood in the courtyard, dressed in black with dark hair, wearing a wide robe embroidered with dark crane patterns, holding a torch in his hand.

The firelight illuminated half of his face, making the red mark under his eye appear even more eerie in the interplay of light and shadow, like some ancient totem branded onto his handsome features.

"what!"

Startled, Ayan gasped, all sleepiness gone. Trembling, she called out to the door, "Master? My young master... he's already asleep..."

But the window in the inner room was pushed open.

Jin Chen casually leaned on the windowsill, propping her cheek with her hand. Her dark hair was unbound and draped over her shoulders as she tilted her head to look at the figure in the courtyard.

"Is the boss out here in the middle of the night, pretending to be a ghost to scare people?"

The moonlight fell on him; his white undergarment was loosely tied, his long hair was unbound and draped over his shoulders, with a few strands slipping down his cheeks and swaying gently in the night breeze.

Gu Fanghe turned his gaze to the smiling eyes looking over from inside the window in the candlelight and moonlight. The dark and sinister look in his eyes gradually faded, replaced by a gentle warmth.

"Didn't the young master keep asking for a gift?" Gu Fanghe said in a low voice.

Jin Chen raised an eyebrow slightly and said to A Yan, "Open the door."

Ayan quickly agreed and hurriedly pulled open the door latch.

Gu Fanghe casually stuck the torch in the stone mortar by the door and stepped into the house.