After two months of hard work, it was easy to earn a hundred taels of silver, and it turned out that it was back before liberation. Even Li Ling, who was a man in two lifetimes, couldn't accept such a result, and he only felt that his mentality was about to collapse. And her sister Li Yue'er broke the defense on the spot, crying and blaming herself: "It's all because I'm useless, the silver is gone, and my brother was injured...... What can I do......"

Seeing this, Li Ling had no time to be annoyed, and hurriedly stepped forward to comfort his sister: "Yue'er, don't cry, just throw away dozens of taels of silver, the sky can't fall yet." The most important thing is that we are okay. ”

"What Brother Li said is that it's okay if people are fine, a few dozen taels of silver......" Xu Cang also followed the persuasion, but as soon as the words came out, his face was stiff, all in disbelief, as if his mouth was hot: "How many ...... Dozens of taels of silver...... "This number is too big, isn't it?" Is opening a bookstore really that profitable?

Li Ling was still softly comforting his sister, and only nodded, but Gu Yuezi helped explain: "Li Gongzi's silver was all earned by himself, and the volumes of "Romance of the Fengshen" that are now popular in my Jiangcheng County are from him, and this is the manuscript fee he deserves, and I am the owner of the Gujia Bookstore." ”

Xu Cang then understood, and looked Li Ling up and down again, he had also heard from his classmates how beautiful the book of Fengshen was, he thought it was written by a cultivator, but he didn't expect it to be such a bookstore owner who was younger than himself. But the question is, why did he bother to write books to make money? If you really have this kind of cultivation and knowledge, wouldn't it be better to participate in the imperial examination and gain fame?

For this question, it was not until Yue'er fell asleep that the three of them went out and stood in the courtyard to talk, and Xu Cang knew the answer from Li Ling's mouth. Originally, Li Ling didn't want more people to know about this matter, but since Xu Cang was kind to his family, the two were closer, and there was no need to hide it, so he briefly explained his own situation.

After listening to the narration, Xu Cang sighed and admired Li Ling more and more. He thought that his family was poor, and it was really sad that the imperial examination was only a child. But now it seems that the Li family brothers and sisters are even more miserable, at least their family does not owe such a huge debt. And Li Ling still worked hard under such circumstances, and he was able to earn a hundred taels of silver that he couldn't even think of in just two months, compared to one, he was really useless.

Then, Xu Cang asked with concern: "Brother Li, in this way, you will not be able to repay the foreign debts you owe on time." I heard that Uncle Zhuang Qiang Zhuang is a powerful person, once the money owed to him is not paid, the light one will suffer greatly, and the heavy one will ruin the family......" In the end, he was even more scolded.

Even Xu Cang was worried at this time: "Li Gongzi, the contemptible people really have the heart to help you, and I believe that as long as you are given time, you can pay back as much silver." However, you also know that my bookstore is also in a hurry to ask for money now, and I am afraid that I will not be able to come up with two hundred taels of silver for a while. ...... like this," he said, he took out the twenty taels of silver he had brought from his arms and handed them to Li Ling, "You take these twenty taels of silver first, and I will raise another one hundred taels to borrow from you in two days, as for the rest, there is nothing you can do." ”

Li Ling is not a hypocritical person, seeing that he said sincerely, he did not refuse, immediately took the silver, hugged his fists and said: "Thank you Boss Gu for your help, I, Li Ling, promise you that I will definitely return the silver to you as soon as possible." ”

Gu Yuezi smiled, touched his beard and said, "I naturally trust you Li Gongzi with this." It's just a few dozen taels of silver left, do you have a way? ”

"The only way to do this is to report to the official, I hope the yamen can help me catch the thief and recover the silver." Li Ling said his plan. The robbed silver is not only the manuscript fee, but also the deposit of more than ten or twenty taels of customers to borrow books, all of which have to be repaid.

"The official ......" Gu Yuezi wanted to say something, but in the end he didn't say much, only nodded and said: "In this way, I will go to the yamen with you tomorrow to report to the official, so that I can be a witness." ”

"Count me in." Xu Cang also took the initiative to say that he was a child anyway, and even if he went to the county office, it would be of some use.

Li Ling thanked the two again, and then persuaded them to go home, after all, it was now past the second watch, and the city was already silent. At that moment, the two of them said goodbye and left, leaving only the bookstore guys here to take care of one or two, after all, no one dared to guarantee that the thief would not go and return.

Li Ling has been by Yue'er's side this night. The little girl was injured and frightened this time, and she was awakened by nightmares several times at night, but thanks to Li Ling by her side, she was relieved. It wasn't until the morning that Li Ling took a nap.

Around the clock, the three of them came to the county government at the same time as agreed, and looking at the appearance, the three of them did not sleep well last night, and they were all in high spirits. It wasn't until they really walked in front of the solemn and solemn county yamen that everyone gathered up and explained their intentions to the messenger who blocked their way.

"You came to report to the police that a thief broke into the house last night and injured people and took money? This is a big case, so let's write a pleading. The leading officer smacked his teeth, smiled without smiling, and rubbed his right index finger and thumb a few times.

Before Xu Cang could figure out what this meant, Li Ling had already taken out a string of copper coins and handed it over: "Trouble this poor master, please prepare some pens, ink, paper, inkstones and other things for us." ”

After taking the string of copper coins, the officer's attitude became a little kinder, and he smiled: "Wait...... In this way, you can wait in the ear room, and it is not a problem to be blocked at the entrance of the yamen all the time. ”

With him leading the way, the three of them were finally able to enter the county yabian gate and wait in a small ear room. When there were only the three of them left, Xu Cangcai whispered angrily: "This is too unreasonable, these county officials are openly asking for bribes!" And Brother Li, how can you give them money, this is fueling their arrogance, it is really not a gentleman's doing! ”

Looking at him with an angry look, Li Ling and Gu Yuezi looked at each other and smiled bitterly, and only a nerd like Xu Cang would take certain rules and regulations as a guideline. With a sigh, Gu Yuezi persuaded: "Young Master Xu, many things in this world are not what are described in those saints' books. There is a way that the eight-character yamen is open outward, and there is no reason to come in without money, that's the truth. If Li Gongzi hadn't given the money just now, I'm afraid that you and I wouldn't even be able to enter the door of the yamen. ”

After a pause, he looked at Li Ling again: "Also, with only more than 100 yuan, things are still difficult to do." Now that the new county lord of our Jiangcheng County has not yet arrived, the people below are naturally more lazy. ”

When Li Ling heard this, his eyebrows were also raised, is there such a thing, it is really unfortunate.

While talking, someone came over, and the three of them naturally shut up. But at last an officer brought them pen and paper, and then the paper used for writing paper had to be paid separately. It should be for the sake of the more than 100 copper coins, this person still instructed Li Ling on how to fill in the above items in a few sentences, and the service is in place.

Just waited for Gu Yuezi to ask: "I don't know when the fourth master of this case will be able to interrogate?" , but the other party replied casually: "This is not good, you should know that the county government is busy with official business, and the fourth master has a backlog of cases on hand, who knows when he will be able to find time to handle this case." ”

The so-called four masters of the county yamen are the classic history of sitting in the fourth chair in the yamen and being in charge of the crime and prison robbery. It can be said that at this juncture when the county order has not yet arrived, any case big or small is decided by the canonical history, and its status is even higher than that of the public security chief and court president of later generations.

"But what we reported was a big case of burglary......" Xu Cang finally couldn't help but be dissatisfied.

The messenger glanced at him: "It's just that you are waiting for one side, and you can't do it accurately." Everything in the yamen has to be done according to the rules. As he spoke, he took the paper rather unhappily and was about to leave.

Li Ling was also angry when he saw this, saying that there is still such a public servant in modern times, even if he is already mentally prepared, but after spending the money, he still has such a result, which is really unacceptable.

Xu Cang hurriedly stepped forward at this time and grabbed the other party: "Poor master and go slowly, please be sure to let the fourth master take the time to investigate this case, after all, it is related to the safety of the people of Jiangcheng County, and I have to work." ”

The servant was still a little annoyed, but suddenly, the anger on his face quickly dissipated, a smile also appeared, his hand shrank, and he said haha: "You have already said this, don't worry, let's go and ask the fourth master, we will definitely let your grievances be avenged as soon as possible." With that, he walked briskly inside.

"This is ......" Li Ling immediately understood: "Boss Gu, have you given him benefits again?" ”

Gu Yuezi turned around and said with a wry smile: "I wanted to say it yesterday, once I report to the official, if I can't get the silver back, I will be able to pay it back, and it will be inevitable to post a few taels of silver." The hundred dollars you just gave can also enter this yamen, so they are willing to contribute to you, and even let the fourth master investigate the case, and there will be some blood in the back. As far as the two taels of silver I just gave him, I'm afraid it won't be enough. ”

"What? And thou hast given him two taels of silver? Xu Cang screamed in surprise, with a pain in his flesh, which was enough for half a month's expenses for a few people in his family.

"Hey, who made us all just small people. If there is a famous talent, that's another matter. Gu Yuezi smiled bitterly and sighed.

Li Ling was also speechless for a while, so it seemed that the decision he made was still too hasty. After all, this is not China in the 21st century, and these yamen are not really people's policemen who can really serve the people. But now, the money has been spent, and I can only hope that it will really come true.

They only waited in the ear room for more than half an hour, and finally someone came to take them to the second hall to see the fourth master and explain to him the crime that happened yesterday......