Mojing, the city that never sleeps
Zhang Gusheng said this, appearing to be concerned about Ding Can, but secretly he wanted to know whether Furong Film's business would be affected in the future.
Xia Jialian knew what was going on: "To be honest, the four of us joined the profession at the same time, which is why we're working together, solving cases in various places."
"We have more autonomy and are not constrained by those in higher positions. All we have to do is do our best to resolve injustices we face."
When he reached this point, he sighed almost inaudibly.
"Ding Can was kidnapped, and everyone feels guilty about it. But as I just said, besides having more freedom, if we really encounter difficulties and want to use Feishu to find someone for help, it will take too long on the road, and it will be difficult to get a timely response, so..."
Gao Wenwen sighed, "After all, the detectives are scattered everywhere. How can the headquarters have so much energy and manpower to deploy?"
Zhang Gusheng was a shrewd man, so he naturally understood the deeper meaning of their words.
Although they were considered to be members of the imperial court, they were not subject to the constraints of their superiors. Except for a small number of assigned tasks, they were basically free to act.
Correspondingly, when help is needed, no one from the court will come to respond.
This means that even if Ding Can disappears and they have nowhere to find him, they will only rely on their own strength to solve the problem and will not allow more forces to enter Mojing.
Then he felt relieved. He was just temporarily depressed. Once he figured out how to resolve the issue between his daughter and Yang Pu, the prospects would still be bright.
Zhang Gusheng showed concern: "In that case, please don't hesitate to help me if you need any help."
Xia Jialian nodded: "Then I'm sorry to bother you during this period."
The special day has passed, and today they were arranged to stay in the guest room in the front yard, and the three of them were settled in the townhouse far away from the front hall.
The next day, perhaps knowing something important was happening, they all got up very early.
When Gao Wenwen pushed open the door, he saw Shi Yan stretching her body under a tree and practicing Tai Chi.
"Exercising." The air in the early morning was still a little chilly, and he trotted over with his sleeves tucked into his pockets.
Shi Yan did not respond immediately. He first retracted his hands and feet, stood still again, exhaled, and then turned around.
“It’s rare to have an opportunity like this since I got here.”
When I was in the training camp, I was already in the dungeon as soon as I opened my eyes every day. I had no time to face the possible dangers around me, so how could I have the mood to do such things?
But today is different. Everyone is confident and doesn’t have to worry anymore. It is a very pleasant leisure time.
"Old Xia hasn't woken up yet?" Gao Wenwen looked at the still closed door.
Shi Yan twisted her neck a few times: "He went out to discuss something with Zhang Li earlier than you. After all, we have to go out and continue looking for people today to complete the show."
Gao Wenwen was feeling a little smug when he got up early, but he didn't expect that his two brothers and sisters had already done so many things.
As he was speaking, he saw Xia Jialian coming back, followed by another person.
Judging from his clothes, age and build, he doesn't look like a bodyguard.
He was dressed in silk and satin, about forty years old, a bit plump and with a big belly.
Xia Jialian introduced him, "This is the shopkeeper appointed by Butler Zhang. He's familiar with many of the merchants in the city. He can take us with him later, and we'll continue our search based on the clues about the drug."
Xia Jialian walked fast, so it took some effort for the shopkeeper Hu to keep up with her.
Now it was his turn to speak, his breathing was a little unsteady, but he still introduced himself with a smile: "My last name is Hu, you can just call me Old Hu. The boss has instructed me that I will take you to investigate several major pharmacies in the city later."
"Boss Hu, thank you for your help today." Gao Wenwen greeted him with a smile and shook his hand in a friendly manner. "When are we leaving?"
Old Hu said considerately, "I guess you haven't had breakfast yet. I'll wait in the front hall until you're all ready, and then we can set off."
"Oh, no need. We usually investigate cases and have to sleep outdoors. When we go out later, we can just buy some snacks on the road. Let's go first."
In fact, it is not particularly urgent. The main worry is that if the government officials come later, they will definitely take the entire Zhang family under control.
If they stayed here, they would have to explain, which would take more time. It would be better for them to find a reason to leave and then find an opportunity to slip away.
Anyway, the boss had instructed that these detectives should take priority in everything. Besides, there were only a few large herbal medicine shops in the city, so if they went early, they could return early to take care of the shop's affairs. Old Hu had no objection and set off with the three of them.
This time there was no need to walk, as the carriage was already waiting at the door of the mansion. Lao Hu asked them to get on first, and then he sat in the outermost seat.
"Let's go to Baicaotang first. It's the largest medicine shop in the city. I heard from Butler Zhang that some of you were also there yesterday to investigate the matter of the aphrodisiac incense. Have you been there?"
Xia Jialian spoke freely, "Yesterday we first searched some remote small medicine shops. The main reason was that since it was a drug, people wouldn't go to a store to buy it openly, so we needed to conceal our identities."
"What the gentleman said makes sense. However, in fact, the big shops actually have more connections, but they just don't display them openly. It's a good thing you didn't go there. The shop assistants will definitely not reveal anything to you because they don't know you."
"Then I'll trouble Shopkeeper Hu to take care of it later."
Old Hu waved his hand: "No, I told you not to be so polite to me."
The carriage had already reached the main street. Gao Wenwen was just thinking about exchanging some flattery with him when he heard a noise and a few horse neighs coming from outside.
"The authorities are investigating the case, get out of the way!"
The steadily moving carriage also slowed down at the same time, as if it was avoiding the side of the street.
Gao Wenwen lifted the curtain and looked over. A line of soldiers were coming towards him at a very fast pace, with two of them on horseback leading the way.
Pedestrians on the road were afraid of being kicked by horse hooves, so they retreated to the sides of the street, craning their heads to look in the direction the soldiers were heading.
Old Hu looked at the huge procession and wondered, "What happened again?"
"Maybe there's a big case in the city, and we want to go and take a look."
Of course, Shopkeeper Hu had no idea that these soldiers were about to rush to his boss's house.
"Ah?" Compared to the scene outside the car, what puzzled Lao Hu even more was what Gao Wenwen said.
You just picked up the person, why are you rushing to another case? Are all of you criminal detectives so energetic?
Gao Wenwen patted his shoulder and made a move to lift his shirt to get out of the car. "It's the duty of a criminal detective to see a case and not care about it. You know, I always feel like I want to do something. So, you go to Baicaotang first, and we'll be there soon."
He bent over, took a big step to the front of the car, jumped down, and landed his feet steadily on the stone road.
Then he raised his arm to catch Shi Yan who was following closely behind. Her injured arm had been treated by Yang Pu in Zhuyuan yesterday and was almost healed.
However, Gao Wenwen was still worried that the wound would be pulled, so he helped the person down.
Xia Jialian was the last one, but he moved very quickly.
In short, when Lao Hu came to his senses and stuck his head out, he found that the three detectives had disappeared into the crowd, and he didn't even have time to ask the time.
How long will I have to wait in Baicaotang? He doesn’t even give me a definite answer.
The three of them went around the alley and returned to the official's mansion. When they arrived, the soldiers had already rushed in, leaving only two guarding outside the door.
The onlookers crowded around the door.
Some latecomers were whispering, "What's going on in this mansion? Is someone missing again?"
"He disappeared yesterday. I just heard it clearly. They said they were going to search his house for evidence of producing and reselling Hibiscus tablets. The Zhang family is in big trouble this time."
"Hibiscus slices? No wonder so many people have disappeared one after another. To do something so harmful to others is a punishment from heaven. You can't tell at ordinary times that Mr. Zhang is such a person."
“Who says it’s not?”…
The news spread quickly in the city, and everyone knew immediately that Zhang Gusheng was Chang Gong, who was in charge of the hibiscus slice business in the city.
The pottery factory under his name in the south of the city has also been sealed off, and a large amount of hibiscus slices and raw materials in production have been seized.
Such people are more terrifying than those who are so vicious as to kill people with a knife.
Not only does it take a person's life, but it also destroys the entire body and mind.
Throughout the morning, officers and soldiers continued to appear in the city, and ox carts pulled out cartloads of goods from the pottery factory and delivered them to the government office.
Zhang Gusheng's previous image in public was that of a businessman who helped the people and had good character.
He is a friendly person who often donates money to temples. He also builds porridge shops to help disaster victims who flee to Mojing.
He is a very good person and is loved by the people in the city. He has nothing to do with hibiscus slices.
But no matter how impossible it is, facing several pieces of evidence appearing before his eyes, he cannot remain indifferent.
At first, some people were still unable to believe it and thought it was just hearsay, but now they have changed sides and are wondering why they had respected such a person before.
When the tree falls, the monkeys scatter. When Zhang Gusheng was escorted out of the Yuanwai Mansion, he was cursed by the crowd. The attitude towards him was completely different from before.
Zhang Gusheng's hands and feet were already shackled, which was very heavy. Even if he just walked normally, he couldn't walk fast at all. He could only endure it silently.
The shackles around my ankles rubbed against the stone slabs, making a teeth-grinding sound.
He put the shackles on his hands in front of him, looked straight ahead, and just walked forward.
As for his journey to the prefectural government office, a tightly enclosed small carriage was arranged, which was located not far from the door, and the officers and soldiers were taking him there.
Seeing that Zhang Gusheng could actually ride in a carriage instead of being escorted in a prison van, some people could no longer contain their excitement.
"Why doesn't he have to serve as a prisoner's car? Did the government accept some kind of bribe?"
"Exactly, this is too enjoyable. I can't even throw the vegetable leaves I just found in his face."
…
Seeing the indignant people about to rush forward, the leading officers and soldiers frowned, did not draw their swords, but stretched them forward slightly as a threat.
"This man still has a lot of evidence to confess. My Lord, this is to prevent any unexpected situations from happening along the way. Please stop talking!"
No one was brave enough to confront the government officials head-on, and many people who were angry about this scene could only watch from where they were.
And when the curtain was lifted, Zhang Gusheng noticed a figure sitting inside. It was his little daughter whom he had not seen for a long time.
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