Hearing Ma Saner's screams outside, Wang Qiang felt a little uneasy, but he still pretended to be calm.
He knew that as long as he didn't betray his boss, his boss would definitely remember his kindness. Stealing was not a serious crime, and usually the punishment was just a beating and a few days in jail.
Wu Deyong continued to ask: "Where do you live? Who else is in your family?"
Wang Qiang replied: "Your Excellency, I am an orphan, I have no family and no home."
Wang Qiang's flashing eyes did not escape Wu Deyong's eyes, he knew that Wang Qiang was not telling the truth. Wu Deyong also discovered a detail, that is, Gao Guangtian and Gao Xiaoli both called themselves common people, while Wang Qiang and Ma Saner both called themselves juniors.
From the way they called themselves, we could tell which mansion Wang Qiang and Ma San'er belonged to. Because habit became second nature, they had already developed a slave mentality.
Wu Deyong snorted coldly: "Humph...if you don't accept my toast, then I'll have to drink the wine for you..."
"Someone... drag me out and beat me up..."
At this time, a yamen runner in the hall looked at Wu Deyong from time to time. He hesitated for a moment and said softly: "Sir, I know this person."
Wu Deyong looked at the bailiff and asked, "Do you know this man?"
"Yes, sir. He is a waiter at Zui Xiang Lou."
"The waiter of Zui Xiang Lou?" Wu Deyong asked, "Are you sure he is the waiter of Zui Xiang Lou?"
The yamen runner affirmed, "Your Excellency, I went to Zui Xiang Lou with a few colleagues to drink and saw this man serving food to guests at Zui Xiang Lou."
Wang Qiang felt bad.
At this time, Ma Saner outside was a little overwhelmed after being beaten with more than a dozen boards, "Stop hitting me... I'll say... I'll say..."
The guard dragged Ma San'er back to the hall, and Wu Deyong asked, "Are you willing to tell the truth?"
Ma Saner was sweating profusely from the pain. He said in a trembling voice, "I'll tell you everything..."
"I am a servant of Ding, the shopkeeper of Zui Xiang Lou. Ding asked me to go to Daping Village to inquire about the matter."
"What do you want to know?"
Ma Saner replied: "Go and find out if Wang Qiang has been to Daping Village."
Zhang Hulan was not surprised by Ma Saner's words. She guessed that it was probably Ding Mingao who sent someone to go, because Ding Mingao was the one who had looked for her.
But in this way, the fig leaf between her and Ding Mingao was torn off, the matter was brought to light, and she and Ding Mingao officially became enemies.
Zhang Hulan thought to herself: It seems that I need to make some preparations. It would be fine if Shopkeeper Ding just gives up, but if he does anything else, don't blame me for being ruthless.
Wu Deyong looked at Wang Qiang and then at Ma Saner.
Both of them were the shopkeeper's men and were instructed by the shopkeeper. This was not a simple theft, but a targeted crime.
Wu Deyong thought that Zhang Hulan was now making braised meat, and Zui Xiang Lou was a restaurant. Wu Deyong roughly guessed what the owner of Zui Xiang Lou was trying to do.
Wu Deyong glanced at Zhang Hulan, then ordered, "Tian Wu, go call the shopkeeper of Zui Xiang Lou."
"Yes, sir!" Tian Wu immediately took two yamen runners to summon Ding Mingao.
Wu Deyong looked at Wang Qiang again and said, "I'll give you one more chance. Do you have anything to say now?"
Wang Qiang lowered his head and still refused to say anything.
Wu Deyong snorted, "Humph, you are a protector of your master."
Ding Mingao had been waiting anxiously. Wang Qiang had been out for three days and had not returned yet. The people he had sent out today had not returned either. He was a little worried that something had happened.
Ding Mingao looked towards the door from time to time, but did not see Wang Qiang and Ma Saner come back, but did see the yamen runners.
Ding Mingao immediately came out from the counter with a smile, "Hey, why is Tian Bantou here?"
Tian Wu stepped forward and said, "Manager Ding, come with us. The county magistrate has something to ask you."
Ding Min'ao's heart skipped a beat, and he felt bad. He smiled and saluted, "Captain Tian, what does the county magistrate want to see me about?"
Tian Wu said, "Don't waste time. The county magistrate is still waiting. You will know what it is when you get there."
The other two yamen runners stood behind Ding Mingao, ready to take action if Ding Mingao didn't walk on his own.
Ding Mingao took a deep breath and followed Tian Wu to the county government office.
When Ding Mingao saw Wang Qiang and Ma Saner at the lobby of the county government, he knew that there was some trouble.
He glanced at the two of them. Wang Qiang blinked twice at Ding Mingao, but Ma Saner lowered his head and dared not look at Ding Mingao.
Ding Mingao calmed down a little and immediately knelt down and kowtowed to Wu Deyong, "I, Ding Mingao, greet the county magistrate."
Wu Deyong said, "Ding Mingao, do you know these two people?"
Ding Mingao nodded. When he was about to speak, Wang Qiang suddenly said, "Sir, I know I was wrong. I am willing to confess."
Wu Deyong nodded, "Then go ahead."
Wang Qiang said, “Sir, the shopkeeper approached Zhang a while ago and wanted to buy her braised meat, but Zhang did not agree.
The business of Manfulou has been very good these days because of the braised meat. The shopkeeper asked me to talk to Zhang again and hope to cooperate with him.
The little one was obsessed with it, and instead of talking to Zhang, he wanted to steal her braised meat recipe to win credit from the shopkeeper. So after finding out the location of her house, he planned to sneak in at night to steal the recipe.
After hearing what Wang Qiang said, Ding Mingao's eyes flashed with a smile. Then he cursed: "You bastard, I told you to talk business with Boss Zhang properly, but you did something like this. I was really blind."
Ding Mingao then said to Wu Deyong, "Sir, I failed to discipline my children properly. Please punish me."
Wu Deyong looked at Wang Qiang. This man was really the owner of the household. He took care of the matter himself. In this case, it had nothing to do with the owner of Zui Xiang Lou.
Although he knew that Wang Qiang was lying, he had admitted it himself, so he had no choice but to close the case.
It would be useless to torture Wang Qiang. He would not betray his master even if his legs were broken, and he would not tell the truth if he was tortured. If the torture was too harsh, it would be suspected of forcing him to confess. He could not do such a thing.
Zhang Hulan didn't say anything. As long as she knew it in her heart, that was enough.
Ding Mingao then bowed to Zhang Hulan and apologized, "Boss Zhang, I'm really sorry. I didn't expect that a servant in my family would do such a thing. As a token of my apology, I am willing to compensate Boss Zhang."
Zhang Hulan said, "Manager Ding, you are too serious. This is the private behavior of Manager Ding's servants. It has nothing to do with Manager Ding."
Ding Mingao said again: "Boss Zhang, Wang Qiang's father followed me and was loyal to me. I watched Wang Qiang grow up and I regarded him as my adopted son. I was also very angry that he did such a thing.
I am also partly responsible for this matter, so I am willing to make compensation. I hope Boss Zhang will give him a break and give him a chance. I will discipline him strictly in the future."
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