Fleeing from famine? Not a chance; the divine healer's wife made her fortune.

When first venturing into the salt route, officials consulted with each other.

Su Yunlan looked at the letter in her hand repeatedly. The delicate handwriting seemed to her like dancing musical notes, composing a melody full of crisis.

The secrets about the salt route revealed in the letter made her realize that the Xiao family's confiscation of property and exile might not be as simple as it seemed on the surface.

What forces are involved in this hidden salt route, and what secrets does it hold?

She gently stroked the letter, the rough texture under her fingertips making it feel unusually heavy.

Her thoughts surged like a rushing river, churning her once tranquil heart.

Her gaze was firm, and a wise light shone deep within her eyes.

Now that this letter has been delivered to her, it must be fate. She is determined to uncover this secret, find the mastermind behind it, and seek justice for the Xiao family!

Looking at Su Yunlan's solemn expression, Xiao Yuhan felt a sense of unease.

He reached out and took Su Yunlan's hand, the warmth of his palm transferring to her, silently giving her strength.

He could sense the turmoil in her heart, but he didn't ask anything. He simply stayed by her side quietly, giving her his unwavering support.

At this moment, no words are needed; a glance or a gesture is enough to express each other's feelings.

The atmosphere inside was slightly heavy, and there seemed to be a sense of tension in the air.

The next morning, Su Yunlan took Xiao Yuhan to the county government office.

Sunlight streamed through the carved window frames into the hall, illuminating the old tables and chairs and the faded calligraphy and paintings on the walls.

A faint scent of ink filled the air, mingling with the solemn atmosphere unique to government offices.

Su Yunlan explained his purpose, but was unexpectedly stopped by a shifty-eyed clerk.

This Mr. Chen, with his two mustaches and darting small eyes, was clearly no good.

He said with a forced smile, "Madam, the magistrate is very busy with many affairs. Please wait here for a moment."

Su Yunlan saw through his attempt to evade responsibility at a glance.

This Master Chen is clearly deliberately making things difficult for her, delaying her from seeing Magistrate Li.

She sneered inwardly, but remained outwardly calm: "My lord, what I request concerns the livelihood of the people. I beg you to make an exception."

Upon hearing this, Master Chen's smile became even more forced, and his tone carried a hint of sarcasm: "Madam is joking. How could you possibly interfere in matters of the salt route? You should go back to being a wife and mother and not worry about things that are not your concern."

Su Yunlan was enraged by his words, and a surge of anger rose from the bottom of her heart, but she tried her best to control herself and said in an icy tone: "Master, I have come here today to plead for the people, please do not stop me."

Seeing Su Yunlan's firm attitude, a sinister glint flashed in Master Chen's eyes. He was about to speak when he heard a clear voice from outside the door: "Fourth Sister-in-law, you're here! I've finally found you!"

Su Yunlan turned her head and saw Young Master Xiao rushing in with an excited smile on his face.

"Tenth Brother, what brings you here?"

"Fourth Sister-in-law," Young Master Xiao whispered mysteriously in Su Yunlan's ear, "I've found out..."

"Fourth Sister-in-law, I've found out that Magistrate Li is going to a banquet at the Wang family's house in the suburbs today. Why don't we just go and ambush him?" Young Master Xiao raised his eyebrows smugly, like a cat that had just stolen some fish, his face practically screaming "I'm the smartest."

Su Yunlan smiled gently and ruffled Young Master Xiao's hair. "Alright, let's go now!"

The group headed towards the outskirts of the city in a grand procession, leaving Master Chen standing there, hopping mad with anger, his mustache trembling incessantly, looking like a mouse whose tail had been stepped on.

When we arrived near the residence of the wealthy Wang, it was midday, the sun was scorching, and the air was filled with a faint smell of earth.

Su Yunlan looked up and saw a series of barking dogs coming from afar. They were the vicious guard dogs kept by Master Wang, and their barking was quite annoying.

She took a deep breath and her gaze fell on the narrow path not far away, the only way for Magistrate Li to get to the Wang family mansion.

Before long, a small blue sedan chair came into view, surrounded by several yamen runners, looking like a large entourage.

Su Yunlan smiled slightly. She gestured for Young Master Xiao to step forward and stop the sedan chair, while she and Xiao Yuhan stood side by side to the side.

"Stop the sedan chair!" Young Master Xiao shouted at the top of his lungs, rushing forward like a wild horse. Several yamen runners were startled by his sudden action and scrambled to their feet, causing the sedan chair to come to a stop.

The sedan curtain was slowly lifted, revealing Magistrate Li's fat, big-eared face. His brows were furrowed, and his expression was extremely unpleasant, clearly indicating that the sudden turn of events had spoiled his mood.

"You audacious scoundrel, how dare you block my sedan chair!" Magistrate Li roared, his voice filled with displeasure.

Su Yunlan stepped forward unhurriedly and gave a slight curtsy. "Your Excellency, I am Su, and I have important matters to discuss with you."

Seeing Su Yunlan's extraordinary bearing and the scrutinizing look in his eyes, Magistrate Li softened his tone, "What is it?"

"This concerns the salt route; I humbly request that you speak to me privately, sir." Su Yunlan's tone was firm and left no room for argument.

Upon hearing the words "salt route," Magistrate Li's expression changed slightly. He sensed something was amiss and had no choice but to agree, leading Su Yunlan and the others to a nearby teahouse.

While waiting for Magistrate Li, Xiao Yuhan gently held Su Yunlan's hand. The warm touch from her fingertips instantly soothed her anxiety.

Su Yunlan turned to look at him; his eyes were deep and starlike, carrying a reassuring power.

She smiled slightly and gently leaned on Xiao Yuhan's shoulder, feeling the warmth emanating from him.

The surrounding tea drinkers occasionally cast envious glances and whispered among themselves, but at this moment, Su Yunlan felt only a sense of peace in her heart.

"My lord, I have been waiting for a long time, please see the truth." Su Yunlan's clear voice interrupted the warm atmosphere. She raised her head and looked firmly at the entrance of the teahouse.

Magistrate Li appeared at the door, his face showing a hint of fatigue, but his eyes were full of calculation.

Behind him was an unexpected person.

The wooden door of the teahouse was pushed open, and Magistrate Li strode in, his obese body almost taking up the entire door frame.

Behind him followed a man with a shiny face, dressed in silk—none other than Sun, the largest salt merchant in the area.

As soon as he entered, he greeted Magistrate Li with a beaming smile and bowed, "Sir, what a coincidence! I didn't expect to see you here." Then, his eyes darted around and landed on Su Yunlan. His expression immediately changed, and he pointed at her, shouting, "Sir, it's this woman! She's disrupting the salt route; she has ulterior motives!"

Sun the salt merchant's voice was sharp and grating, as unpleasant as fingernails scratching a blackboard.

His face was plastered with a fake smile, but his eyes gleamed with a sinister light, like a venomous snake eyeing its prey.

The air was filled with a strong scent of cosmetics, which mixed with the faint aroma of tea in the teahouse, creating a strange smell.

A hint of hesitation flashed across Magistrate Li's face. He subconsciously rubbed his hands together, his eyes shifting back and forth between Su Yunlan and Salt Merchant Sun.

The atmosphere in the teahouse instantly became tense; you could hear a pin drop. The only sounds were the gurgling of the boiling water in the teapot and a few distant barks of dogs, which added to the oppressive atmosphere.

Su Yunlan remained calm and composed as she took out a scroll from her sleeve and slowly unfurled it. It depicted a brand-new salt route, with various data densely marked on the side.

Pointing to the route on the map, she said clearly and firmly, “Sir, this new salt route avoids the treacherous mountain roads and shortens the transportation distance. It can not only reduce costs but also increase production. Ultimately, the people will benefit.”

Her voice was not loud, but it was firm and resonant; every word seemed to carry power, striking the heart of Magistrate Li.

As Magistrate Li looked at the route on the map, his brows gradually relaxed. He reached out and took the scroll, examining it carefully. His fingers lightly traced the map, making a rustling sound.

"Nonsense!" Sun, the salt merchant, panicked. Fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead, and his face turned pale.

He pointed at Su Yunlan and stammered, "This, this is all fake! She, she's just a woman, what does she know about the salt road!"

Su Yunlan sneered, her gaze sharp as she stared directly at Sun, the salt merchant, and said clearly, "Mr. Sun, are you so agitated because you're afraid this new salt route will cut off your source of income?"

Sun, the salt merchant, felt guilty under Su Yunlan's sharp gaze. He stammered and couldn't speak for a long time, and beads of sweat on his forehead kept glistening in the sunlight.

His clothes were soaked with sweat and clung tightly to his body, making him look extremely disheveled.

Magistrate Li put down the scroll in his hand, his eyes becoming deep. He looked at Salt Merchant Sun, his tone carrying a hint of authority: "Mr. Sun, do you have any objections to what Madam Su said?"

Sun, the salt merchant, opened his mouth but couldn't say anything. He could only lower his head dejectedly, not daring to look Su Yunlan in the eye again.

Seeing this, Su Yunlan secretly felt smug.

“My lord,” Su Yunlan smiled slightly, his tone carrying a hint of confidence, “why not…”

"My lord, why don't we let this woman try out a small-scale transportation operation first? If it can really reduce costs and benefit the people, then it won't be too late to promote it on a large scale." Su Yunlan's tone carried just the right amount of request, neither too aggressive nor too firm in expressing her determination.

As soon as she finished speaking, she felt Xiao Yuhan gently grasp her hand, conveying silent support.

Magistrate Li lowered his head in thought, his fingers tapping lightly on the table, making a rhythmic sound, like the beads on an abacus in his mind.

Sun, the salt merchant, stood to the side, his face so gloomy it seemed as if ink was about to drip from it, his small eyes fixed on Magistrate Li, as if he were exerting pressure with his gaze.

The teahouse was completely silent, all eyes fixed on Magistrate Li, awaiting his decision.

After a moment, Magistrate Li raised his head, a shrewd look on his face. He cleared his throat and said calmly, "I can consider what Madam Su has said. However, the salt route is of great importance and cannot be taken lightly. I will send people to supervise the entire process, and I will not tolerate any mistakes!" He paused and added, "Madam Su will be responsible for all expenses and security issues incurred during the transportation process."

Su Yunlan had anticipated this. She smiled slightly and bowed gracefully, "Your Excellency is wise. I will do my utmost to live up to your expectations." She knew that this was only the first step, and many more challenges awaited her.

When Sun, the salt merchant, saw that Magistrate Li had actually agreed to Su Yunlan's request, he was so angry that he trembled all over. He suddenly flicked his sleeve, making a crisp "smack" sound, glared fiercely at Su Yunlan, and said through gritted teeth, "Hmph! You just wait and see!" After saying that, he turned around and left without looking back, his fat body casting a shadow at the door.

Watching Sun, the salt merchant, leave in a disheveled state, Su Yunlan felt an indescribable sense of accomplishment, like a ray of warm sunshine in winter, dispelling the gloom in her heart.

She knew this was just the beginning, and the real challenges were yet to come, but she was confident that with her wisdom and abilities, she would be able to make a name for herself in this ancient world.

After leaving the county government office, Su Yunlan did not relax at all; she immediately began to prepare for the transportation of the new salt route.

She called Young Master Xiao and Escort Zhang together and carefully explained the precautions for the transportation process.

Young Master Xiao excitedly waved his fist, eager to try, while Escort Zhang frowned and raised many concerns about safety.

Su Yunlan patiently answered his questions and presented a plan she had prepared in advance to ensure everything went smoothly.

In just a few days, the transport team took shape, and everything was developing in a positive direction.

However, on the very day Su Yunlan was preparing to officially set off, an unexpected incident occurred.

When Su Yunlan arrived at the assembly point at dawn, the scene before her eyes enraged her.

The transport vehicles were smashed to pieces, supplies were scattered all over the ground, salt bags were ripped open, and white salt was scattered all over the ground like falling snowflakes.

The surrounding area was a mess, as if it had been ravaged by a wild beast.

The air was filled with a pungent smell of paint, which had been deliberately splashed on the wheels to prevent the car from running properly.

Su Yunlan's eyes were icy. She slowly walked to a wooden cart that had been smashed and deformed, reached out and gently stroked the rough wood, feeling a cold sensation on her fingertips.

Her gaze swept around and finally settled on a piece of cloth on the ground. It was an inconspicuous piece of black cloth, which seemed to carry a special fragrance. It was very faint, but it made her instantly alert. She picked up the cloth and sniffed it lightly.

Xiao Yuhan stepped forward, looked at Su Yunlan's furrowed brows, and asked with concern, "What's wrong?"