Traditionally, businessmen have always valued profits, and no matter what they do, they will always look at the benefits first, and often in order to gain some convenience in the yamen, many businessmen will take the initiative to establish a good relationship with the county commander and his family.

In ordinary times, it is naturally common to entertain relatives and friends from afar in the county order. It's just that the current county magistrate Zhang Youwei is a complete freak, even if it is a small gathering of female dependents, the gifts are also clearly divided, all antique calligraphy and paintings are not accepted, gold and silver jewelry are not accepted, jewelry and utensils are not accepted, only worthless snacks and some pen, ink, paper and inkstone.

So for Zhang Youwei to suddenly come to the door with someone, Liu Wengui was really a little surprised.

You must know that a few days ago, he had a stiff quarrel with this soft and hard Lord Zhang. Even, he felt that he would probably tear his face with this county magistrate.

And now, he came to the door, which made Liu Wengui vigilant.

But he didn't want to return in his heart, but he couldn't help but go to greet him.

Sure enough, it is the house of a wealthy family, and the proximity to the state city is indeed much deeper than the rich people in the county I have seen before. Zhang Youwei took Xiao Qinglang and Xu Chu to follow the housekeeper all the way in, the eaves corridor and pavilion are full of dazzling colors, the moon pavilion is lined with hundreds of steps, and the verandah connected to the hanging flower door also divides the scenery in the courtyard.

Xiao Qinglang was silent, while Xu Chu looked at it a few more times. Xiao Xie flowing water, meandering and shallow, it seems that Liu Wengui also makes people lead the living water like a garden. Such a secluded and deep garden is really the only elegant place she has ever seen.

"Steward, I wonder where the water from this pond comes from? Look at it is really clear, and the fish inside are still so alive. When passing the landscape bridge in the courtyard, Xu Chu exclaimed curiously, and then said to Steward Liu, "I thought that there was only hot spring water, but it would not freeze on these cold days, and I could still raise so many fish." ”

Steward Liu glanced at the surface of the water and sighed: "The girl really has good eyesight, this is the pond formed by the hot spring water mixed with the lake water from outside. My wife loved fishing when she was alive, and my lord let people dig this pond in order to make his wife smile. It's a pity...... Alas......"

Xu Chu nodded, and just as he was about to sigh a few words, he saw a few subordinates fishing in the pond with nets. Looking at the way he was dressed, he looked like a kitchen person. She felt strange in her heart and continued to ask, "What are those people doing?" ”

"Oh, and because the water in the pond is drawn from the outside farms, there is often an influx of wild grass carp and crucian carp. Some time ago, somehow, the barrage set up under the water in the house broke, making the pond full of big fish. My lord was annoyed, so he asked the kitchen staff to come and fish from time to time, wanting to catch those foreign fish as soon as possible. ”

Xiao Qinglang and Xu Chu glanced at each other and didn't ask any more questions.

It wasn't until he saw Liu Wengui that Xu Chu frowned. In Zhang Youwei's description, this person should be an extremely sleek businessman, with extremely high business skills, and often get trading opportunities that are difficult for ordinary merchants to achieve. It is said that he should be on the fat side, and he smiles at everyone as if he has no temper.

But now that he saw it, Xu Chu was slightly surprised. At this time, Liu Wengui was quite different from Zhang Youwei and even the image recorded in the dossier. The body is thin and even a little weak, and the whole person is extremely depressed. Xu was because he believed that his beloved wife had died unexpectedly, but Zhang Xianling was pedantic and stubborn, and refused to let him receive the body, so that he missed the reason for the first seven and two sevens, and as soon as he saw the faces of several people, his face became more and more ugly, and even a little irritable.

"Why did you come this time? If it weren't for the fact that I would go to the Yamen to receive the corpse, I would not be able to accompany me. His tone was not good, especially when he looked at Zhang Youwei, his eyes were full of hostility.

Zhang Youwei was just about to speak, when she saw that Xu Chu had already stepped forward, she blessed her body first, and then got up and said: "Master Liu, don't be angry, one is that after the county ordered the lord to re-examine the autopsy, he found that the corpse had been found new. The second is that the head of the corpse has never been found, even if you are really asked to go to the corpse for burial, wouldn't there be no whole corpse? The yamen pays attention to the beginning and the end of the case, and it can't take on Master Liu's case, but it ends hastily...... Therefore, I also ask Master Liu to make it convenient, so that the yamen can solve the case as soon as possible to comfort the soul of the deceased in the sky. ”

What she said is reasonable and well-founded, so that people can't make mistakes, even if Liu Wengui has the intention to continue to attack, but in her clear and indifferent eyes, she is not good to scold again.

"Crowning! But since you say so, I can't go against the government anymore. It's just that if you can't give me an explanation before Chinese New Year's Eve, don't blame me for going to the prefect of Jinzhou City to shout injustice! He snorted coldly, although his attitude was still not good, but in the end he still softened his attitude and said, "I don't know much about the events of the day, if the adults have anything to ask, just send someone to the backyard stable to find the coachman to ask." For the rest, if you have any questions, just go straight to the housekeeper. I really don't have the energy to deal with you politely, and you don't need to say anything about some official words. ”

Seeing that he wanted to walk away, Xu Chu simply took a step to block his way, and said, "Since Master Liu cooperates, then I won't say anything else." Dare to ask Master Liu, where were you when Mrs. left the house that day? Do you know where she went? Before the accident, Mrs. Ling was abnormal, and the maid next to her was suspicious? ”

"What do you mean by that, do you doubt me?" Liu Wengui looked directly at Xu Chu angrily, and said coldly, "Where did the little lady come from, she is messing around here, could it be that there is no one in the yamen?" ”

His words were very harsh, but he still had some weakness in his heart. But I don't know why.

"The Yamen can hire a servant, the law of the Great Zhou Dynasty does not stipulate whether the servant is a man or a woman, and the woman in front of you is the new female servant hired by this yamen." Xiao Qinglang couldn't tolerate others being so presumptuous, he didn't think about it, and said sharply, "Now that the adults have allowed us to investigate the case, if you insist on obstructing it, let alone trying to go to the state city to shout grievances, even if you go to the capital to face the saint, I am afraid that you will first bear the responsibility of despising the court officials." ”

Not to mention that what he said was reasonable or unreasonable, just that momentum and coercion made Liu Wengui chuckle in his heart. In this way, Liu Wengui also had to face up to the two rescuers who were invited by Zhang Youwei, and when he saw the clothes on the two of them, as well as the black fur, he was even more excited.

The man who opened his mouth was extraordinary, and I saw that his eyebrows were cold, and the dark light under his eyes was sharp and terrifying. Although the brocade robe is plain and unadorned with gold, stone and jade, you can guess that this person is either rich or expensive by looking at the black waist and Yunluo boots. Such a character, even if there is no bullying or any pomp and circumstance, is enough to be awe-inspiring. What's more, he only needed a look to force himself to dare not look directly.

Just a glance, Liu Wengui regretted the impulse just now.

Xu Chu saw that the atmosphere was condensed, and Liu Wengui was also shocked by Xiao Qinglang, so he opened his mouth to play a round.

"Master Liu, don't be suspicious, it really makes the matter of Mrs. carrying 100 gold that day be known by the bandits, and can accurately ambush, who does not rob and who does not rob, but only hurts the lives of the ancients. We guess that someone should have leaked the rumors about this matter, so we asked this question. ”

Liu Wengui was noncommittal to her words, but because of the sharp gaze on the side, he frowned and replied reluctantly: "I have been in business all year round and am not often at home, but the maids and servants around my wife are all born in the family, and I have been in the Liu family for many years, and I have never heard my wife mention anything unusual and suspicious." ”

"On the day of the accident, my wife went to the temple to make a vow, because we were pregnant with our two daughters. As early as two months ago, Mrs. had begged for an heir for her daughter in the temple to send her son Guanyin Niangniang, and as long as she wished, she would reshape the golden body for her mother and add 100 gold to make sesame oil money. Liu Wengui sighed tiredly and wanted to raise his hand to rub his forehead. Just as he was moving, he seemed to suddenly remember that there were three outsiders present, and such an action was really inappropriate, so he could only smile and then put down his arms.

"Because it is related to the reputation of the daughter's family in the in-law's family at this time, Mrs. is worried that someone will gossip that her daughter cannot have children, so this matter has not been publicized, and it is clear to a few close maids around her." After speaking, he was still full of sorrow and said, "It's also a coincidence, just a month ago we received a letter saying that our two daughters were pregnant. That's why I prepared the gold early and asked my wife to go to the temple on the 15th to make a vow. ”

"As for the usual ......," Liu Wengui frowned, as if thinking about it, and said, "Most businessmen are good at their own convenience, and many people who encounter robbery also believe in breaking wealth and avoiding disasters, so it is true that I have never encountered a matter of taking away a maid with someone's life." ”

"Old Man Liu's festival mourns." Xu Chu squinted his eyes and did not question his words.

After the housekeeper asked people to serve refreshments, she slowly said what she was puzzled about, "If Ling Yan is pregnant and can't come back, then I don't know where Liu Gongzi is now, and if he has got the news back?" ”

Liu Wengui was stunned for a moment, his lips moved, and he said haggard after a while: "I have already sent someone to deliver a letter, but the journey is far away, I am afraid that the road is delayed, and I should come back in the next two days." ”

"If it weren't for such a big incident at home, I'm afraid I wouldn't be so eager to let my son go home, after all, business is the most critical time for the New Year." He glanced at Xiao Qinglang and Zhang Youwei, shook his head and didn't say the rest of the words. But anyone with a discerning eye knows what he means, which is nothing more than the best opportunity to dredge up relationships and get through contacts around the New Year's Festival. The so-called people who don't stretch out their hands and don't hit smiling faces, especially in the name of New Year's greetings during the New Year, it is very easy to infiltrate some relationships.

Xu Chu doesn't care about the unspoken rules in the officialdom mall, the only thing she cares about is whether Liu Wengui has concealment in his words.

"That is, Mrs. Ling's vow, as well as the finances she brought with her vow, are unknown to outsiders."

"That's true, even if it's me, it was only after my wife got a letter from her daughter that she told her that she had made a wish of 100 gold."

"I'm so tired of Master Liu, and I will ask the housekeeper to show me the deed of sale of the maid who disappeared next to my wife. Besides, we probably need to meet the next person who is good friends with the maid. ”