It would take several days for a letter to be sent to the capital and a reply to come back. So Li Ying wasn't in a hurry to tip off the enemy.
The business of cultivating coconut conchs was of great importance. She didn't dare to entrust it to others. Almost every day, she shut herself in the room and threw herself into the space, personally implanting pearl nuclei into each little conch.
She wasn't really sure how much chance of success there was in this matter.
Finally, when she managed to straighten her aching back, besides keeping the little conchs in the space for a few days to increase their survival rate as much as possible, she could do nothing more.
Madam Li and a few other female relatives saw her frowning deeply. They also knew that the matter of cultivating conch pearls was crucial to the future of the fishing village.
It was a make - or - break moment. Would the village suddenly transform into a prosperous place sought after by the wealthy and powerful, or would they lose everything and return to obscurity?
Everyone couldn't help but feel a kind of inexpressible unease.
Granny Sun couldn't bear to see her getting thinner day by day. But she was just an old woman on the verge of death and couldn't really help much. She felt extremely anxious.
Qing Liu and the others weren't any more relaxed than Li Ying.
The days waiting for the reply seemed endless. But on the contrary, they didn't dare to show any signs of their scheme. Every day, they had to act submissively and carefully, feeling really pent - up.
Finally getting rid of A Man's sharp, knife - like gaze, they could finally put down their chores and lazily take a breath.
"Sister Qing Liu, that bitch Li Ying is so lazy! She only knows how to assign these trivial tasks to us every day! Does she really think of us sisters as little maids to be casually ordered around?"
A younger woman complained to Qing Liu with a bitter face, and the others echoed her.
"Sister Qing Liu, Li Ying is very on guard against us. Are we just going to do nothing like this every day? Does the master have any other instructions?"
Qing Liu was already in a bad mood. She wanted to take another look at the secret letter from Imperial Envoy Lin, but to her surprise, it was gone.
Oh no!
Could it be that Li Ying had discovered it?
She was shocked.
If the matter of the secret letter was exposed, they might not be able to stay in the village anymore!
"Sister Qing Liu, come up with a good idea quickly!"
Hearing that Qing Liu had lost the letter, the women all changed their expressions.
Seeing their panicked looks, Qing Liu took a deep breath to calm herself down.
She saw from afar that Granny Sun was sitting in the shade under a tree looking dejected. Frowning, she immediately came up with an idea.
"It's okay! I have a way. We can surely stay in the village safely and won't disappoint the master! You just follow my plan!"
Qing Liu whispered some instructions to the sisters. Then, she swayed her lithe body and walked slowly towards Granny Sun.
"Auntie? What a coincidence! We sisters were just about to come and pay our respects to you, and here we meet you!"
She curtsied with a beaming smile. Granny Sun frowned slightly.
Since returning from the voyage, Qing Liu had lingered in the village whenever she had free time.
She always dressed in bright colors and often tied a light silk ribbon around her waist, which made her willow - thin waist look like a charming blade that could captivate people's souls.
The big and strong fishermen were okay, but it was hard for the young unmarried boys in the village. At their impulsive age, how could they resist such provocation?
If things went on like this, there would surely be big trouble sooner or later!
She really didn't have a good impression of Qing Liu and her group.
Seeing them huddled in a corner whispering and plotting, she simply gave a cold snort as a response.
Seeing her cold attitude, Qing Liu didn't mind. Instead, she stepped forward and supported Granny Sun's arm.
"Madam, I know you don't like us sisters usually. We don't dare to disturb your tranquility."
"However, we sisters are grateful to Boss Li for taking care of us. We're not ungrateful people..."
"Don't misunderstand, Qing Liu also wants to share Boss Li's worries. We sisters have prepared some incense and offerings. I wonder if there's a shrine on the island? It would be good if we could pray for Boss Li."
Granny Sun originally thought these coquettish women were coming to gossip again and didn't want to pay attention. But unexpectedly, they could say such reasonable things. Her tightly - knitted brows finally relaxed a bit.
Her expression softened. But then she remembered that Li Ying had repeatedly warned her not to easily trust these beautiful but venomous women. Immediately, she straightened her face and said coldly, "What shrine? There's no such superstitious stuff in the village anymore!"
"No matter what tricks you have, you'd better behave yourselves. If I catch you plotting against A Ying, I'll make sure you regret it!"
She scolded with a straight face, but her old voice didn't have much deterrence.
The contempt in Qing Liu's eyes flashed by. Then, she forced a smile and said, "Auntie is right. We sisters will surely serve carefully and won't have the slightest bit of disloyalty!"
The women bowed to Granny Sun with their heads down and then walked away gracefully.
Granny Sun smelled the strong fragrance wafting from them and felt dizzy. She sneezed twice in a row and shook her head to suppress her nausea.
Why didn't she think of praying at a shrine?
She was really old and muddled!
Granny Sun slapped her thigh suddenly, and two bright lights flashed in her eyes.
Since it was about Li Ying's business, she naturally didn't trust others to handle it. After lulling Mian Mian to sleep, she found a big rattan basket, rummaged through the cabinets to find some incense, candles and offerings, and then rushed out of the house in a hurry.
Li Ying had been really tired from her busy days. When she woke up from a deep sleep, the moon was already high in the sky.
"Sister, sister, something's wrong! Granny has disappeared!"
Half - asleep and half - awake, Li Ying only heard A Man's panicked cry.
She immediately jumped up from the bed, thinking something was wrong. She quickly put on her clothes.
"A Man, don't be in a hurry. What's going on? First, tell me the whole story in detail."
A Man was holding Mian Mian. Her still - childish face was flushed red, and there was already a sob in her voice.
"Sister, Granny Sun is gone!"
What?
"I came back from the pearl farm after noon. I was really hungry and wanted Granny Sun to cook me a bowl of clear - soup noodles, but she wasn't in the room!"
Li Ying raised her eyebrows.
Granny Sun was always a very proper person and would never leave without saying a word.
"Sister, I've asked around. The villagers all said they haven't seen Granny Sun. Could it be that Granny..."
A Man didn't continue, but Li Ying already understood what she meant.
Could it be that Imperial Envoy Lin's men had taken action?
If that corrupt official used Granny Sun as a hostage to threaten her to hand over the pearl farm and the real conch pearls...
Granny Sun was the first person she met when she came to the fishing village. If it weren't for her kind hospitality back then, there might not be the current Li Ying.
She already regarded Granny Sun as her own flesh and blood. How could she just watch her being plotted against and disappearing?
Li Ying's eyebrows were tightly knitted together, and her face was cold as ice, exuding a chilling aura.