“Young Master Han, spare me this time! From now on, this life of mine belongs to you!”
What Han Mo didn't expect was that Zhang Maolin was quite straightforward.
Without another word, he stated his bottom line.
This was also the only value he could currently offer Han Mo.
“How did you get in touch with Cai Shu? You’re not going to tell me you knew him originally, are you?”
Han Mo sneered and asked.
“Young Master, you jest. How could a small fry like me possibly know him? It was his second steward who found me…”
Hearing Zhang Maolin say this, Han Mo’s brow immediately furrowed.
After all this talk, Cai Shu had actually learned a few tricks.
Even though he hadn't interrogated Xu Sanbao yet, he guessed the result would be the same.
In this case, even if he blew this whole thing wide open, it wouldn't affect Cai Shu in the end. At most, it would only be Cai Fu’s second steward who would be the scapegoat.
However, this instead increased the reliability of the young man's confession.
“It’s not impossible to spare you, but you should understand that this sort of thing always requires some evidence, right?”
Han Mo hesitated for a moment, then said with a smile.
“This…”
“You’re unwilling to even write a confession?”
Han Mo sneered. His expression suggested that if Zhang Maolin uttered a single word of refusal, he would immediately turn and leave.
“I’ll write! I’ll write! It’s just that you don’t have any paper or pen here…”
When one is under someone else's roof, they have no choice but to bow. At this point, Zhang Maolin had no say in the matter.
On one hand, immediate death. On the other, death at an uncertain time.
It was better to live a meager life than to die a good death. Especially for someone like Zhang Maolin, he didn't need to struggle; he immediately agreed.
“Then please, Governor Zhang, write a blood letter!”
Han Mo smiled and said calmly.
“What? Is that difficult?”
“I’ll write, I’ll write!”
Seeing that Han Mo was about to change his expression, Zhang Maolin immediately agreed.
Han Mo, too lazy to waste any more words with him, sat down on a stool nearby and watched as Zhang Maolin tore a piece of white cloth from his collar.
After biting his finger, he winced in pain and lay on the ground, his backside in the air, writing his confession.
By the time he had finished writing down the details, the tip of his finger was a mess.
As he handed the blood-soaked letter to Han Mo, Zhang Maolin’s mouth twitched.
“Don’t worry, Governor Zhang. From now on, we’re our own people. In the future, in this city of Tokyo, I, Han, will have many things to trouble Governor Zhang with. I hope you won’t refuse then.”
After examining the contents, Han Mo very satisfied tucked the blood letter into his embrace, his face immediately breaking into a brilliant smile.
“Young Master, you are too polite. Your matters are my matters from now on. Please feel free to command me with anything.”
Looking at the smile on Han Mo’s face, Zhang Maolin couldn't help but tremble. This kid was too difficult to deal with. Was he really only in his teens this year?
His actions were methodical, each step following the last, without the slightest hesitation. When it was time to strike, there was absolutely no mercy.
Perhaps even Zhang Maolin himself couldn't have been so shrewd.
“Since that's the case, then Governor Zhang, please return. Today’s events will be as if they never happened.”
Having obtained the assurances he desired, Han Mo smiled and said directly.
“Yes!”
After walking out of Han Mo’s courtyard, Zhang Maolin suddenly felt like he had narrowly escaped death.
“Boss, what’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?”
Seeing Zhang Maolin's pale face and his body covered in dirt, the constables around him immediately gathered around.
“It’s nothing, nothing. There’s nothing for us here anymore, let’s go.”
Zhang Maolin now wished he had more legs, fearing that Han Mo might regret his decision later.
He led his subordinates and fled without looking back.
After sending Zhang Maolin away, Han Mo returned to the woodshed next door.
“Steward Xu, we’re not outsiders anymore, are we? Do I need to explain things too clearly?”
Looking at the nervously uneasy Xu Sanbao, Han Mo smiled.
“Brother Mo, spare me this time! I was forced into it!”
Xu Sanbao had watched everything that happened outside through the crack in the door. Zhang Maolin had already been thoroughly subdued, so how could he dare to be defiant?
“Forced into it? Tell me, how exactly were you forced into it?”
Seeing that this fellow was still trying to quibble at this point, Han Mo said with a cold smile.
“I, I…”
Xu Sanbao was speechless, truly not knowing how to continue his fabrication.
“I think I’ll hand you over to my grand-uncle for punishment. I wonder how my grand-uncle will punish someone like you who betrays his own household.”
Han Mo sneered and turned to leave.
“Spare me this time, spare me this time! I accepted ten taels of gold from Cai Fu’s second steward and agreed to help him frame you for theft!”
Xu Sanbao no longer dared to delay and confessed everything he knew.
Indeed, what he said matched Zhang Maolin’s account, and Han Mo was immediately about eighty percent convinced.
“Ten taels of gold, and you dared to sell me out? You are truly daring to the point of recklessness!”
Thinking of his past self and the grievances the young girl had suffered, Han Mo truly wished he could kick this fellow to death.
“Spare me this time, spare me this time! I’ll give you all my money, all my money!”
Xu Sanbao spoke while kowtowing incessantly. He no longer looked like the head steward of the Han family at all.
“Write down everything you know, and then sign it as proof! Go kneel at the courtyard entrance!”
Looking at his subservient demeanor, Han Mo felt a wave of disgust.
He was too lazy to bicker with such a fellow. After all, this fellow was still part of the Han family.
If he truly made a big fuss out of this, it would ultimately be Han Jiayan who would lose face.
Therefore, Han Mo decided to give him a light punishment.
After all, if he were to kill this fellow, the Han family would just get another steward, and it might not be any better.
It’s better to utilize past mistakes than to reward past services.
With this incident, he probably wouldn’t dare to cause trouble for him again in the future, at least.
“Second Brother, are you alright?”
As soon as Han Mo returned to the main house, Han Yan rushed to greet him.
“What could happen to me? Look, I’m perfectly fine, aren’t I?”