Chapter 196: Lure the Tiger Away from the Mountain
Pei'er asked Wen Yan, "Didn't Uncle Tian say that someone has been following us? What if we go to look for General Meng without any hesitation and get exposed?"
Wen Yan smiled and said, "Hiding in secret will only arouse suspicion. Let's go to the government office openly to help find the person."
Soon, the two arrived at the gate of the government office.
The gatekeeper immediately stepped forward to stop them: "This is a restricted area of the government office. No outsiders are allowed to approach. Leave immediately."
Pei'er said quickly, "Sir, we came here to visit our relatives, but when we got there, we found they no longer lived there. So we wanted to check the household registration at the government office to see if they had moved somewhere else or had already moved out of Jinyang Prefecture."
After Pei'er finished speaking, she winked at Wen Yan.
Wen Yan immediately slipped a purse into the officer's hand.
The officer weighed the purse, exchanged a glance with his companion, and said, "I can only take you in and ask, but I can't guarantee that we can find it."
"Of course." Wen Yan nodded in response.
The officers did not take them to the government office, but took them to a private house next to the government office.
"This is where the clerks of the government office handle official business. If you're looking for someone, you can find them here."
After saying that, he found a clerk, whispered something to him, and left.
"Who do you want to investigate?" The clerk stepped forward and greeted the two of them.
This clerk looked to be in his forties, with thick eyebrows, big eyes, regular features, and a patched blue shirt on his body.
The knuckles are thick and there are calluses on the hands.
There is also a faint herbal scent all over the body.
He is not wearing a white robe, so he must be a temporary or non-staff member.
Wen Yan took out a silver ingot and placed it on the table: "I have something I want to ask you for help."
"Check the household registration. Tell me their original address..."
"No!" Wen Yan interrupted him, "I want you to tell Magistrate Meng that I have some rice noodles that are perfect for making pork tripe and chicken soup-flavored snacks, and I'd like to sell them to him."
Meng Xiyan had only eaten pig stomach and chicken soup at Wen Yan's place.
After he hears it, he will definitely come to see me.
"Ah?" The clerk was confused.
Wen Yan placed another ingot of silver on the table. "Jinyang Prefecture is short of food right now. I don't think Magistrate Meng will push the food away! I'll ask you to go there."
The clerk was stunned for a moment when he looked at the two silver ingots on the table.
I thought about the deteriorating situation at home and my bedridden brother.
If he performed well enough, he might be able to catch the eye of Magistrate Meng and successfully transition from a temporary clerk to a formal one.
Even if I can't get a permanent job, these two ingots of silver are worth six taels, enough to buy medicine for my brother's medical treatment.
He immediately said without hesitation: "Okay, I'll report it for you. You guys wait in the corridor outside."
He grabbed the silver and stuffed it into his arms, and then made arrangements for Wen Yan and the other two.
He ran off to find someone.
Wen Yan and the others didn't wait too long.
The clerk came back with a man.
The man looked like a teenager. Wen Yan saw that he looked unfamiliar, yet familiar.
Wen Yan looked at him.
He looked at Wen Yan and the other two and asked, "Are you the rice noodle vendors?"
Pearl nodded reservedly: "Yes, we have a lot of rice noodles."
"Come with me." The boy turned and left.
Wen Yan and the other two followed.
Soon, they entered the government office through a corner gate.
After walking through the huge government office, they were soon taken to a tea room: "You guys wait here first."
They waited in the tea room for a while, and then the door was pushed open from the outside.
A tall man walked in with the young man.
The tall man was naturally Meng Xiyan.
Haven't seen you for months.
He had become much darker and thinner, but he was in good spirits and his eyes were bright.
Meng Xiyan's eyes swept over the two of them, finally settling on Pei'er: "Why are you here? Where's Wen Yan? Where's Chi Fei?"
Pei'er moved sideways and let Wen Yan out.
Wen Yan then straightened her bent waist and revealed her ugly face: "Brother Meng, I'm here."
"That voice, you are Wen Yan..." Meng Xiyan's pupils dilated and he took a breath, "What happened to your face? How did it become like this?"
The boy screamed in fright, jumped three feet away, and covered his mouth, almost vomiting.
Meng Xiyan glared at him unhappily.
The young man waved his hands quickly: "Sorry, I didn't mean to. I just saw it suddenly and was shocked, so..."
"Shut up!" Meng Xiyan shouted, interrupting him.
Wen Yan stroked her face and said sadly, "My face is not important. I have something more important to tell you."
Meng Xiyan opened his mouth, but ultimately did not mention her face again.
How can a woman not care about her appearance?
Mentioning it to her face would be like rubbing salt into her heart!
Meng Xiyan followed her lead and changed the subject: "You came all the way here. Did something important happen in the capital?"
Wen Yan shook her head. "Everything is fine in the capital. That bad guy, Sun Rulan, was thrown into prison because of the witnesses you found. He has been handed over to the Dali Temple for investigation."
"Then why did you come all the way here?" Meng Xiyan asked.
Wen Yan clapped his hands with his fist: “I was just about to tell you this.
There is a bandit's den near Qinggangao.
People from more than a dozen villages usually disguise themselves as ordinary people and receive relief from the government.
When merchants passed by, they would rob the caravan.
From what I've learned through interrogation, they've robbed over a dozen caravans and killed hundreds of people."
"How can this be!" The young man slammed his fist on the table in anger.
The cups on the table jumped up and made a clattering sound.
"Our disaster relief grain is used to provide relief to the victims, not to feed bandits.
If time goes on, it may become a disaster.
Brother Xiyan, I will mobilize the troops to wipe them out right now."
Meng Xiyan glanced at him lightly, then looked at Wen Yan and said, "You sent me away under the pretext of suppressing bandits. What do you want to do in Jinyang Prefecture?"
Wen Yan laughed dryly: "I am a good citizen who abides by the law. How could I have any bad intentions? Brother Meng, suppressing the bandits is the most important thing."
Seeing that she was unwilling to speak, Meng Xiyan chuckled twice and said, "You are right. Suppressing the bandits is the most important thing. Chief Yuan, you should lead the troops there immediately."
Wen Yan: "That group of people is very powerful. I'm afraid it won't work without Brother Meng leading the team!"
The young leader said unconvincedly, "Are you looking down on me? Do you think I can't handle those bandits on my own?"
Wen Yan suppressed her laughter.
Meng Xiyan covered his eyes, just wanting to tell the world that he didn't know this guy.
However, Meng Xiyan still did not give in.
He looked at Wen Yan steadily.
"I can't hide anything from you." Wen Yan's shoulders slumped as he admitted, "Wen Ruyue brought tens of thousands of dan of grain, and I want it."
"Is the newly opened Miaobizhai hers? Didn't the grains sprout and mold?" Meng Xiyan frowned slightly.
He also just received the news.
Moldy food can be deadly.
Wen Yan's eyes were wandering: "Sprouting is real, and getting moldy is a figment of the imagination.
I heard that they stored the grain improperly, allowing some of the medicine powder to seep into the grain, causing the musty smell."
Meng Xiyan looked at her with a half-smile: "You know it very well."
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