Chapter 777 Madam is about to expose the truth
"We've given all ours in silver!"
Muxiang had already given the silver just now, and the master gave her a lot of silver.
"Is it fair to say that I have paid for the goods?"
Hearing this, the shopkeeper's wife looked at the officials and said, "Sir, they have indeed given the silver. Do you see?"
She must have selfishly wanted to sell it to Jiang Wan and the others, after all, she could make some money.
If I give them all away, I'm afraid I'll lose money.
The constable also wanted to do the shopkeeper's wife a favor, so he looked at the officer tentatively.
"Brother Zhao, what do you think?"
"no."
The officer standing behind the constable had a stern face, probably the brother Zhao he was talking about, "You won't starve to death, the soldiers need these more."
"In that case, forget it."
The shopkeeper's wife did not dare to offend them and could only explain to Jiang Wan and the others apologetically.
Jiang Wan and Song Jiuyuan naturally would not blame them, but they were both curious in their hearts. Could it be that the national treasury was depleted to this extent?
The new emperor had just ascended the throne, so he must have considered every aspect of the soldiers very carefully.
What's more, when she met her uncle and aunt that day, her aunt did not mention anything about the border to Jiang Wan.
Mu Xiang stamped her feet anxiously, "Master, if we don't have these cotton-padded clothes and quilts, what will we do?"
She didn't blame the master for throwing the things into Sanqing Temple, but she blamed the officials for being heartless.
She murmured quietly, and Brother Zhao raised his eyes and looked at Muxiang, his eyes were quite sharp.
"Your idea is wrong. If it weren't for the soldiers at the border who risked their lives to protect the people, how could we have the peaceful days we have today?"
His voice rose high enough for everyone to hear what he said, and for a moment everyone looked at Muxiang with disapproval.
"That's right. We civilians can go without food, water, or clothes, but we can't let the soldiers down."
"This little girl has such low quality, she only cares about eating and drinking."
"Isn't it just some cotton clothes and quilts? Judging from what she's wearing, she shouldn't be short of anything."
“…”
The cold words made Mu Xiang's face turn pale. Jiang Wan pushed the person behind her, and Song Jiuyuan spoke in a cold voice.
"Muxiang did not stop them from giving away cotton-padded clothes and quilts. Rumors are sharp swords. What if your own daughter was said like this by others outside?
Don’t you feel bad? We never said anything to disappoint the soldiers!”
A few words made the onlookers shut up.
"Yeah, she just sighed."
Jiang Wan narrowed her eyes and looked at the man called Brother Zhao, "And if I remember correctly.
This year, the new emperor ascended the throne and issued a special order to send supplies to the soldiers at the border. Even if it is not enough, there are people who collect donations.
This is the first time we've seen you forcibly taking us away like this, so it's normal to have some doubts, right?"
She just wanted to test the other party, but she saw Brother Zhao's eyes flash and he gave a cowardly rebuttal.
"This is an order from above. You common people naturally don't know it."
Having said this, he obviously backed off and asked his subordinates to leave with their cotton-padded clothes and quilts.
After all, he was also a little worried that Jiang Wan and Song Jiuyuan would expose them.
After the people walked away, the onlookers naturally dispersed, and Mu Xiang's eyes were red.
"I'm sorry, Master. I shouldn't have said that."
"I don't blame you."
Jiang Wan raised her hand and rubbed Mu Xiang's hair. She did not express her doubts. She and Song Jiuyuan looked at each other, and they quickly understood each other's meaning.
The shopkeeper who was smiling just now now sighed with a sad face, "Oh, how can I live like this?"
"I'm sorry, sir. As you can see, we don't even have any stock in our shop right now. We have to close for the time being."
While the shopkeeper was comforting the shopkeeper's wife, he lowered his head and explained to Jiang Wan and the others. They were also worried that Jiang Wan and the others would cause trouble.
"Boss, does your town often collect food and fodder like this?"
Jiang Wan glanced at the officials who were going to the grain shop opposite, and his brows were furrowed.
The shopkeeper frowned and said nothing, but the shopkeeper's wife was so angry that she lowered her voice and said:
"It's only been winter this year, and this is the second time. If it continues like this, we won't be able to keep the shop open."
The shopkeeper's wife's eyes were red when she spoke, and she was stopped by the shopkeeper, "Sir, my wife was just angry and said nonsense, don't take it to heart."
"They don't seem to have any official credentials. How can you be sure that these things will be sent to the border?"
Song Jiuyuan's eyes were cold. He had been on the battlefield. If these people used the names of the soldiers to make money, he would never let them go.
"They are all familiar faces, the town's constables and the county yamen's officers, they can't be fake."
The shopkeeper didn't want to talk to Song Jiuyuan and the others, fearing that he would get into trouble, so he just urged:
"Sorry, we have something else to do at home, so we have to close the store."
Several people were tactfully driven out. Jiang Wan and Song Jiuyuan stood side by side. Although Mu Xiang didn't understand any of this, she was aware of something unusual.
"Master, do you think they are using the names of the soldiers to cheat everyone?"
"Shh..."
Jiang Wan tapped her forehead unhappily and said, "Keep your voice down. Even if we want to investigate, we have to keep a low profile."
"Is there anything I can do to help?"
Muxiang grinned. She just couldn't stand the arrogant look of those people. It would be great if she could get rid of them all at once.
"No need. Go back the same way you came to find Song Yi and book a few rooms at the inn first. Then let him come to find us. You can wait for us at the inn."
Jiang Wan didn't want to take Muxiang with her because she was young and impatient. Although Muxiang also wanted to go, she didn't insist in the end.
As soon as she left, Jiang Wan turned her head to look at Song Jiuyuan beside her, "What do you think?"
It has to be said that she knows Song Jiuyuan very well.
If it were something else, he would definitely not care so much, but this is related to the reputation of the soldiers.
The new emperor had already allocated military pay, so even if he wanted to buy food and fodder, he would not take it from the people for free.
"Wanwan, I'll go check it out first."
Song Jiuyuan made a solemn decision. Jiang Wan: ...
She had just sent Muxiang away, but now she was going to be sent away too?
"Okay, let's meet at the inn later."
Jiang Wan knew that there was an inn near the noodle shop, and she thought that Song Yi and the others would choose the same one.
After all, there are not many inns in the town.
It would be better if they acted separately, as she was actually quite curious about who was the troublemaker.
Song Jiuyuan thought Jiang Wan listened to him and left quickly without hesitation, but Jiang Wan took a step after him.
She quietly found a small alley and disguised herself. She ran to the space and transformed herself into an old woman, then changed into shabby clothes.
Jiang Wan then asked on the street about the address of the county government office and the county magistrates. However, she did not expect that when she used her special powers to quietly arrive at the county government office, it was empty and there were no people there.
She went to the county magistrate's house again, but it was still deserted. Just when she thought she would get nothing without the magistrate, she heard a violent cough coming from the room.
“Cough cough cough…”
"Master, please get well soon, or the lady will make a scene."
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