County Magistrate Zheng couldn't help but sit up straight. He had been in Rongcheng for so long, but he often felt powerless in conveying matters, and the people around him often pretended to obey but actually disobeyed.

According to his investigation after taking office, the wealthy families in Rongcheng were controlled by the Qian family who ran a restaurant, the Tang family who ran a cloth shop, and the Zhao family who ran a rice shop.

Among them, the Tang family who ran a cloth shop and the Zhao family who ran a rice shop were related by marriage. The daughter of the Tang family married the son of the Zhao family.

Thinking of this, County Magistrate Zheng couldn't help but get excited. If he wanted to break the deadlock of being controlled by others, the Tang family would become the breakthrough point!

County Magistrate Zheng: "I don't care if the Tang family's patriarch personally instructed his subordinates to sell this cotton-padded jacket mixed with reed fluff. As long as this clothing came from the Tang family's Xiuyun Cloth Shop, he cannot escape responsibility for this matter! As a parent official, I must seek justice for the people!"

Li Erlang: "But you still need to come up with a perfect plan to collect evidence for this matter. These people dare to sell adulterated cotton clothes so blatantly. They must be extremely careful to catch the thieves and seize the stolen goods. If we don't handle it well and they get wind of it and destroy the evidence, it will be difficult for us to catch them then!"

After hearing what Li Erlang said, County Magistrate Zheng couldn't help but start to think deeply. These old foxes in business have a keener sense of smell than anyone else. If you alert them, it will take a long time for them to find a handle next time!

County Magistrate Zheng couldn't help but look at Li Yan who had been in deep thought: "Miss Li, do you have any good ideas?" For some reason, just a few short sentences of communication made County Magistrate Zheng very convinced of Li Yan!

After hearing County Magistrate Zheng's question, Li Yan pondered for a moment before asking, "No one has discovered this matter yet. My Lord, who do you think they will sell these reed-cotton coats to?"

This question stumped County Magistrate Zheng, who couldn't help but look at Li Yan again.

Li Yan replied slowly, "If you think about this clearly, you can guess that Xiuyun Cloth Shop wouldn't dare sell large quantities of cotton-padded clothes mixed with reed fluff, let alone sell these adulterated clothes to wealthy families. I suspect they must have sold these clothes to powerless people. Even if the people found out and came to them with the clothes to ask for an explanation, they would deny it. They might even turn around and say that the people framed them! If they really encountered those fearless people, they would just give them some money and they would be sent away!"

County Magistrate Zheng angrily said, "These profiteers! So this is what they're up to! They know the people are afraid of the powerful, but how many of them would believe what they say?"

Li Erlang stepped forward and said, "Sir, these merchants dare to act so recklessly in Rongcheng. They must be relying on someone! We must make this matter a done deal and silence them. We can't give them time to destroy the evidence!"

County Magistrate Zheng thought for a moment and said, "How about this? I can send someone disguised as a poor citizen to Xiuyun Cloth Shop to buy two cotton-padded jackets. These can be used as evidence in court later!"

The county government was like a sieve, with holes everywhere. Li Erlang was worried someone might find a way to get in, so he asked, "Does your Excellency have any trustworthy personnel?"

County Magistrate Zheng: "Is the Yang family brother feasible?"

Li Erlang shook his head: "Not to mention that they are always by your side, anyone with a keen eye would definitely recognize them. They also don't look like someone who can be easily deceived!"

County Magistrate Zheng said, "How about I spend some money to hire a beggar to buy two coats?"

Li Erlang still shook his head in denial. "I wonder if they'll become desperate and accuse us of framing them? They'll unite with other wealthy families to boycott you. If that happens, you'll be even more passive and it'll be difficult for you to gain a foothold in Rongcheng!"

County Magistrate Zheng was furious. "This won't work, and that won't work. Are we really going to let them get away with it?"

Li Yan then spoke up, "Sir, it's not impossible to hire someone to go to Xiuyun Cloth Shop to buy a jacket? But who will take care of it?"

County Magistrate Zheng said hurriedly: "Miss Li, if you have a solution, just tell me directly. Don't make me anxious and angry anymore!" After saying that, he coughed twice symbolically!

Li Yan: "Sir, what you lack right now is power. If you hire anyone to lure people into the trap, they will easily become desperate and turn around and accuse you of framing them. By then, you won't be able to explain yourself even if you have a mouth, and you will be in big trouble!

My Lord, you can take advantage of this situation. The most powerful person in Rongcheng is...