The next day's lunch was indeed at Sun Lianren's place. Of course, only Zheng Fan and Sun Lianren ate, as Siniang was on the side, using silver threads to test for poison on Zheng Fan's behalf. Nevertheless, Lord Zheng didn't eat much, just enough to signify his presence.
Sun Lianren was exceedingly hospitable, even offering his concubine to accompany Lord Zheng for an afternoon nap.
Lord Zheng naturally declined and continued on the journey.
Along the way, it was clear to see the Fan family's influence and control over the area from the Lian River to Mong Mountain.
Daring to smuggle obviously required official backing, or else they would sooner or later be captured and executed as an example.
Within this network, from boatmen to water fortresses to the squad leaders, squad leaders, centurions, and commanders of each fortress, most were standing in line to take a share of the smuggling profit with the Fan family.
Shared blood doesn't necessarily mean brotherhood;
