After settling the business, Magistrate Ling said, "Since these potatoes and sweet potatoes have already been taken out of the warehouse, why don't I take them back and study them carefully?"
"Rest assured, I will absolutely not take credit for your work."
The steward, who was standing next to Magistrate Ling, rolled his eyes helplessly. He knew his master's little tricks all too well. He just didn't get enough last time and wanted to take some back to satisfy his craving.
Since it was Magistrate Ling who had spoken, Yan Qingqing naturally couldn't refuse, so she asked Li Xiangping to go to the warehouse and get some more potatoes and sweet potatoes.
Magistrate Ling accepted it with a smile. He thought to himself that this Lady Yan was indeed a sensible person.
Just as Magistrate Ling was about to take his leave, Yan Qingqing spoke up: "Lord Ling, I have a case here that I would like to ask you to help me."
It's said that one is obligated to accept gifts and cannot refuse those who offer them. Magistrate Ling, having just accepted the potatoes and sweet potatoes from Yan Qingqing, found it difficult to refuse.
So he said, "Tell me your grievances, and I will certainly do my best to help you."
So Yan Qingqing told Magistrate Ling everything about the poisoning of the chickens and ducks at her family's farm.
Upon hearing this, Magistrate Ling angrily exclaimed, "Who is so audacious as to be unable to bear seeing others live a good life!"
"Rest assured, I will definitely investigate this matter thoroughly and provide you with an explanation."
Yan Qingqing smiled and said, "Lord Ling, there's no need to trouble yourself. This matter has already been resolved."
I believe it won't be long before we catch the mastermind behind this.
The woman only hopes that the magistrate will handle the matter impartially.
Magistrate Ling was surprised to find such a good thing. He didn't need to investigate himself; he only needed to handle the matter impartially.
So he replied matter-of-factly, "Don't worry about that. As long as the culprit is caught, I will handle it impartially."
After seeing Magistrate Ling off, Yan Qingqing and Li Kaishan talked for a while longer before Li Kaishan got up and went home.
Li Kaishan's state when he came out of Yan Qingqing's house was completely different from when he went in.
I practically scrambled in, my legs were weak. I came out with my hands behind my back and my head held high.
Many villagers dared not crowd around Magistrate Ling, but as soon as they saw Li Kaishan, they started asking him a barrage of questions.
Of course, Li Kaishan remained silent about the magistrate's purpose in coming. This matter directly concerned the interests of their Canghe Village, and they couldn't afford to let the news leak out to him.
Furthermore, he couldn't possibly reveal that Yan Qingqing had asked Magistrate Ling for help. In fact, he also really wanted to catch the culprit who poisoned Yan Qingqing's chickens and ducks.
Of course, Li Kaishan didn't hide anything about other questions. For example, did he meet the county magistrate? Was the county magistrate kind and approachable?
Seeing Li Kaishan's smug look, everyone knew that he must have struck up a conversation with the county magistrate.
In the evening, Li Xiangping and Li Xiangan came to Yan Qingqing's room.
Yan Qingqing asked, "Tell me, what have you two found out recently?"
Li Xiangping replied, "I've inquired about it repeatedly from the sidelines. Tie Tou's family has recently acquired quite a few things."
Just a few days ago, someone saw Tie Tou's younger brother and sister eating dried meat.
I also went to the pharmacy where Tie Tou usually gets his prescriptions. He recently had the doctor adjust the prescription and added ginseng rootlets and some blood-tonifying and qi-boosting herbs.
Grandma Wang next door also said that Tie Tou's mother looks much better lately.
Yan Qingqing's expression grew increasingly grim after hearing Li Xiangping's words.
Seeing this, Li Xiang'an chimed in, "I also heard that Tie Tou went to the city to buy New Year's goods on the 28th of the twelfth lunar month."
But on the first day of the Lunar New Year, he went to the city again, and I heard that he seemed a little absent-minded when he came back.
According to my analysis and that of my second brother, the poison in our farm was most likely caused by Tie Tou.
But I really don't understand why he did this. Our family has treated him quite well.
Yan Qingqing sneered and said, "What else could it be for? People die for money, birds die for food."
It's simply because someone gave him a benefit, plus his own jealousy got the better of him.
Li Xiangping asked, somewhat puzzled, "But we haven't offended anyone, have we?"
Yan Qingqing shook her head and replied, "Although we have never made enemies with anyone, we might just be blocking someone's path to wealth."
"You two keep a close eye on Tie Tou these next couple of days; he's bound to make a move."
Li Xiangping and Li Xiangan nodded simultaneously, indicating that they would definitely keep a close eye on Tie Tou.
Sure enough, the next day Tie Tou sneaked out of the village.
The brothers Li Xiangping and Li Xiang'an quietly followed behind him.
Tie Tou seemed very anxious and walked very fast. Li Xiangping and his brother almost lost him.
When Li Xiangping followed Tie Tou and the others to a secluded alley, he saw Tie Tou talking to a middle-aged man he didn't know.
Tie Tou said, "I've done the job. Shouldn't you pay me the rest of the money?"
The middle-aged man replied dismissively, "Is this what you call getting things done?"
Not only was it discovered, but now it's become common knowledge.
I heard that the county magistrate went to your village to investigate a case.
I'm warning you, the investigation will eventually reveal that you poisoned him because you were vain and jealous that your good brother was doing better than you.
Tie Tou looked at him incredulously and said, "How can you say that? You didn't say that when you asked me for a favor."
You said that those powders would only make the chickens and ducks weak and wouldn't cause much harm.
He also said that he would give me one hundred taels of silver as long as I put those medicine powders into the chicken and duck feed.
If I had known it was poison, I definitely wouldn't have…
The middle-aged man scoffed and said, "Nothing will happen? Do you even believe what you're saying? When it comes to ruthlessness and repaying kindness with enmity, I'm ashamed to admit it."
Enraged by his words and seeing that he intended to renege on his debt, Tie Tou said fiercely, "I'm telling you, you'd better pay me the rest of the silver obediently."
Otherwise, I'll turn myself in to the authorities. Anyway, I'm just a worthless person. Ever since I did something wrong to my aunt's family, I've been feeling terrible.
If I get arrested by the authorities, your Chen family won't have an easy time either.
Seeing the iron-haired man's fierce expression, the man forced a smile and said, "Young man, I was just joking with you, don't take it seriously."
Don't worry, Chen's will never renege on our debts.
Here's the remaining fifty taels of silver. Keep it safe. From now on, we're even.
Tie Tou took the silver note, examined it carefully to confirm it was fifty taels, and then turned and left without saying anything more.
But when he turned around, he saw the Li Xiangping and Li Xiangan brothers.
Tie Tou, somewhat flustered, quickly stuffed the silver notes into his sleeve and stammered, "You, how did you get here?"
Li Xiang'an said sarcastically, "If we hadn't come, we wouldn't have known that my silly third brother considered his best brother to treat him like this."
Tie Tou was so ashamed that he couldn't speak.
The middle-aged man reacted quickly, saying, "Don't talk nonsense. We're just discussing some business deals with this young man. What betrayal? We have no relationship whatsoever."
Li Xiangping was immediately angered by the middle-aged man's shameless words and said, "We heard everything, and you still want to deny it?"
"You two are coming with us to the government office now!"
The middle-aged man scoffed, "Why should I? Why should I go to the government office with you for no reason? What good will it do you if you hear me? Do you think we'll admit it?"
Li Xiangping and Li Xiang'an exchanged a glance. Even if they went to the authorities, the two might not admit it. How would they explain it to their mother then?
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