Mojing, the city that never sleeps
"You, why are you crying?" Yang Pu was a little at a loss.
He is obviously the one who suffered the most, so why does Zhang Shutang look more aggrieved?
He thought the other party was afraid, so he put the dagger away and stood beside the couch with his back straight.
"I just feel sorry for those children." Zhang Shutang took a breath, raised a finger, and gently wiped the tears from his cheeks.
"I'm not afraid to tell you, I was even more surprised than you when I found out that my father was secretly producing Hibiscus tablets. My father treats me very well, and because of that, I don't want him to make the same mistake again."
Yang Pu was stunned: "What do you mean?"
"I will help you, but you have to agree to one condition of mine." Zhang Shutang lowered his eyes, and a few crystal water droplets could be seen on his fine eyelashes.
"Tell me first."
"We're trying to find evidence of my father's crime, but you have to hand it over to me first. At least give me a chance. Then we can ask my father if he's willing to stop."
Zhang Shutang still thought that if they collected all the evidence and forced his father to admit his mistakes, the punishment would definitely be reduced.
Seeing such a resolute yet fragile face, Yang Pu chose to believe her.
The two men agreed to work together to investigate and then find an opportunity to meet and exchange information.
Sneaking into the mansion was always risky, so they decided to meet at Zhaoxia Tower in the city.
It was a rare occasion that his daughter wanted to go out, so Zhang Gusheng naturally would not refuse. So every time there was a new song and dance performance, it was an opportunity for the two to meet in the private room.
However, Zhang Gusheng seemed to have never kept the accounts and documents related to the Furong tablets business at home.
Zhang Shutang sneaked into the study several times but found nothing.
The same thing happened on Yang Pu's side. He alone could not find any more in-depth information except for knowing that there were several distribution leaders who were familiar with Zhang Li.
That day, he accidentally intercepted a letter and learned that a new batch of products was under development. According to the plan, it would be completed in about three months and would be sold in large quantities in Mojing.
After discussion, Zhang Shutang came up with the idea of using the disappearance of female relatives to alert his father.
Perhaps by fabricating the news that the Zhang family is haunted by ghosts and spirits, my father could temporarily stop and suspend the sale of Furong slices.
The three missing people are Lan Yao, Xiao Ying and Jin Ran.
They were all sent to the mansion by her when she was young, and they even played together in childhood. Even though they were transferred to different positions, the friendship they had since childhood remained for so many years.
Zhang Shutang was sure that they were his own people and would definitely help if they asked for help.
The reason for choosing them is that the three of them are not locals. Even if they disappear, no family members will come to their homes to make a fuss, or they will still be walking in the city and be seen by relatives and friends they know, which will ruin the plan.
Lan Yao was the first one who sneaked out on the night of the sixth day of the first lunar month when the guards were lax.
Xiaoying and Jinran were both picked up by Yang Pu outside and climbed over the wall to escape.
However, they did not expect that even with so many rumors spreading in the city, they still found out that Zhang Gusheng had not stopped and was continuing to push forward the release of a new batch of Furong films.
Zhang Shutang decided to use himself as a test subject.
Her "disappearance" was caused by the help of Yanzhi, the abbot of Duxi Temple.
People in the Buddhist community have always been compassionate and kind-hearted. After hearing their request, they quickly agreed.
So Zhang Shutang went to his father and suggested that since the people in the mansion were in panic, they might as well hide in a temple.
Yanzhi was able to arrange accommodation for the staff and had made a hole in the kang in his room in advance. When Zhang Shutang checked in alone, he hid in the secret passage of the fire pit. After he was found missing the next day, everyone left.
Zhang Shutang took this opportunity to leave, and the kang was sealed again so that the yamen runners who came to investigate would not find any clues.
As for her personal maid Xiao Zhi, she has always known all this.
Zhang Shutang told her everything only after arranging for her father to quit taking Furong tablets, and sought his forgiveness.
Therefore, when the official questioned her, Xiao Zhi simply concealed the fact and did not make it public.
Zhang Shutang and his group of four lived in this bamboo garden. It was located in a remote area and had never been discovered.
*
After listening to her story, Ding Can couldn't help but admire her.
Zhang Shutang was actually able to play such a big game in secret, he should not be underestimated.
She somewhat understood what Xiaoying had said just now. Even if Yang Pu and she had developed feelings for each other while getting along, they would never express it openly.
Every new development pushes the two people further apart.
Zhang Shutang couldn't possibly be with someone who might have put her father in jail. She couldn't convince herself that every time she saw Yang Pu, she would remember that her father was punished because of him.
As for Yang Pu, he would often think of the bodies of the children in the dilapidated house that were gradually turning cold before his eyes.
They just want to taste the sweetness of the candy.
There are thousands of obstacles between the two of them, but none of them is a reason they can accept with peace of mind.
"I will find my companions and try to find the factory that produces Hibiscus slices and the warehouse where they are stored. But before that, I have another question."
Ding Can looked at Zhang Shutang: "When we were at the Zhang family, I noticed that Xiao Zhi seemed to be looking at the security officer Xu Linfeng frequently while answering questions. Does he know anything about what you did?"
Zhang Shutang shook his head: "Xu Linfeng was someone we rescued on the way when my father took me out of the city a few years ago."
At that time, the eldest daughter of the Zhang family had not yet married. It was a nice autumn day, and Zhang Gusheng took his two daughters for an outing and was returning home.
On the way, Zhang Shutang heard the sound of fighting. After lifting the curtain of the carriage, he found a young man being beaten and kicked by several people.
She couldn't bear to see anyone being bullied like this, so she ordered the guards and coachman around her to check and rescue the person.
At that time, Zhang Shutang had just reached the age of 15, and still had some of the girl's beauty and liveliness. Although she was in poor health, she was still in good spirits.
When she jumped off the carriage, the group of people gathered together had been pulled apart, revealing the face of the boy in the middle.
He was only a few years older than me, looked malnourished, and seemed even thinner than me.
He was beaten black and blue, with blood oozing from the corners of his mouth. He looked a bit scary and people were afraid to get close to him.
Zhang Shutang was not afraid of the dirt on his body. He walked straight over and squatted down in front of him.
"How are you?"
The boy's eyes became swollen and his vision narrowed a lot. He first saw the white skirt hem spreading out in front of him.
He was subconsciously afraid of dirtying the other person's clothes, so he carefully withdrew his hand. Not wanting others to see him in such a miserable state, he even lowered his head.
Just murmured: "Thank you, thank you."
"Tang'er, what happened?" Zhang Gusheng noticed the noise behind him and rode back from the front of the team to see what was going on.
Zhang Shutang raised his head and smiled: "Dad, this man was beaten, and I don't know if he can get to the clinic by himself. Let's take him with us."
"I'll listen to Tang'er."
As a result, Xu Linfeng was taken to the Zhang family for treatment. Since he had nowhere else to go, he stayed at home and worked as a security guard.
Over the past few years, he has continued to grow and has become the current manager of the Yuanwai Mansion.
For Xu Linfeng, he was able to keep his life because of Zhang Shutang's kindness.
What really made his wandering life stable was Zhang Gusheng's approval.
If Zhang Gusheng hadn't nodded, nothing that happened afterwards would have happened.
So in his heart, the two of them, father and daughter, are equally important.
Zhang Shutang was not sure how Xu Linfeng would feel after telling him about this, so he did not tell him the truth.
However, she had hinted to Xu Linfeng many times that Xiao Zhi was a maid whom she valued very much, and he should take good care of her when she moved around the mansion.
It was just to ensure that Xiao Zhi, who knew the truth, could be protected when he left.
So when Ding Can had seen him and Xiao Zhi seem to have a good relationship before, it was actually just because Xu Linfeng listened to Zhang Shutang, so he would pay more attention to Xiao Zhi.
It's no wonder that Xu Linfeng was so respectful to Zhang Gusheng during the conversation, as he was the one who once changed his destiny.
Ding Can understood: "We have special tracking techniques. We will follow Zhang Li closely and go to the Lingxi Ghost Market to see if we can find more useful clues."
It's already the second day. You have to know that as tourists coming for the immersive experience, they can only stay here for three days.
If we are unable to take over all the hibiscus slice business in this city by then, it will still be a question whether we can pass the customs normally.
Yang Pu said seriously, "It's inconvenient for Shu Tang and the others to show up in the city too often, so I'll go with you."
Ding Can smiled and said, "We criminal detectives don't like outsiders to interfere. You just stay in the bamboo garden and wait for good news. Anyway, you already told me everything you know, didn't you?"
In her heart, she actually hoped that the lovers could spend more time together.
After all, when everything is settled, I'm afraid there will be no reason for them to meet again.
Also, if you need to use props, you have to take the trouble to explain it to him.
Zhang Shutang frowned, then relaxed slightly, as if he understood her intention: "Okay, but if you need anything, you must tell us."
*
After leaving the bamboo garden, the first step is to meet up with Shi Yan and the others.
Everyone was drugged by the incense last night, and they must have only discovered that I was missing after waking up in the morning.
The entire Yuanwai Mansion might be in a panic now.
Even the detectives who came to the house disappeared without reason. Compared with ordinary people, officials are always different, and they must be more afraid.
But she didn't hide it yesterday, and many people in the mansion had seen her. Maybe if she walked around the city openly, someone would recognize her.
When leaving the bamboo garden, Jinran handed her a bamboo hat with white gauze hanging down the entire edge, so that others could not see her face clearly.
She walked out a few steps casually and saw a beggar begging at the corner of the steps outside a shop not far away.
He was dressed in tattered clothes, holding a crooked branch in his hand, with a broken porcelain bowl at his feet. He sat cross-legged on the ground with one leg, and his hair was messy.
She took out a handful of copper coins from her purse and put them into the porcelain bowl. They collided with each other, making a crisp sound.
The beggar's half-closed eyes opened shrewdly. He immediately took the money in his hand, wiped it, and then put it into the secret pocket of his clothes, laughing.
"Thank you for the tip, young lady."
The beggar had his head down the whole time, but the figure in his sight showed no intention of leaving. He then raised his head to look, pushed aside his hair from his forehead, revealing a somewhat dirty face.
Ding Can said with a smile: "Hey, little brother, I need your help. This is your reward."
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