Chapter 374 The Magistrate's Office is indeed not simple.
Sheng Sheng blinked: "Hmm... However, Sheng Sheng has already sent Zhu Yue to investigate..."
But speaking of which, why hasn't Zhu Yue returned yet?
Just as he was pondering, a series of hurried footsteps suddenly came from outside the courtyard. Looking up, he saw Zhu Yue flying in, looking travel-worn.
As soon as Zhu Yue stepped into the courtyard, she spoke up, clutching something wrapped in oiled paper in her hand: "Miss, the magistrate's mansion is indeed not simple!"
Sheng Sheng and Xie Yun exchanged a glance. Although she had already guessed, Sheng Sheng still felt a strange sense of excitement.
It's like changing your plans on the way home, not taking the usual route, but choosing a side road, only to unexpectedly discover a treasure on that side road.
Coming to Jinzhou City was not part of their plan, but Sheng Sheng's sudden decision to visit the Empress Dowager brought them an unexpected surprise—they suspected they had caught a corrupt county magistrate!
"Quick, quick, tell me, how is it not simple?"
Xie Yunyang also held his breath and listened intently.
"As instructed by Miss, I first sneaked into the magistrate's kitchen to investigate. Sure enough, I discovered that many of the ingredients were simply beyond the means of ordinary officials."
The seemingly ordinary earthenware jars labeled "millet" actually contain *Gexianmi* rice, not millet! The rice jars also hold top-quality "Rouge Rice," and even the water used to soak the shiitake mushrooms is spring water specially transported from the mountains.
Ge Xian Mi (葛仙米) is not a grain; when dried, its grains are round and closely resemble rice grains. Wild Ge Xian Mi can fetch prices almost a hundred times higher than millet, while cultivated Ge Xian Mi can be dozens of times more expensive.
"I also found several receipts for purchasing Changbai Mountain ginseng from the manor. The shop wasn't in Jinzhou City, but in a small county town on the outskirts of Jinzhou City. I found this strange, so I went to that county town to investigate. That's why I returned so late."
Zhu Yue took out the receipts he mentioned and handed them to Xie Yunyang.
"My subordinate went to the dried goods shop that the magistrate frequents, and after threatening the shopkeeper a few times, he confessed. The shopkeeper said that the magistrate's government comes to buy two catties of Changbai Mountain ginseng or other precious items every month, and this alone is almost equivalent to half a year's salary for him! The reason for going there to buy them is to cover up the truth. Magistrate Nong has been serving as magistrate here for two years, and his reputation in Jinzhou City has always been very good. No one has ever discovered these things."
Xie Yunyang pinched the ginseng whiskers peeking out from the oil paper package, his eyes darkening: "Half a year's salary to buy ginseng? His money is indeed suspicious."
Sheng Sheng said righteously, "Yes, brother, how could a mere county magistrate be so rich? Although the imperial court treats its officials well, providing many rewards in addition to their salaries, it's impossible for them to be as extravagant as this peasant county magistrate."
Just the presence of that 'Ge Xian Mi' rice and the fresh spring water transported from the mountain streams doesn't seem like the style of a poor student who has worked his way up from the bottom.
How could someone act like this if they didn't have enough money?
But where did the county magistrate's money come from?
Sheng Sheng pondered deeply everything she had heard today about this county magistrate.
The Empress Dowager said that although Jinzhou City was small, the county magistrate was a good official.
The local people at the clinic also said that Magistrate Nong was a good official.
etc!
Sheng Sheng remembered that when they were at the clinic, the couple said that they didn't have enough money because last year's grain was damaged by rodents and insects, resulting in heavy losses. This was why the farmers didn't make any money and even lost money.
But Jinzhou City has a climate that is neither dry nor humid, so how could such a rodent and insect infestation occur for no reason?
Before I knew this county magistrate was acting strangely, I didn't think anything was wrong, but now it just seems really odd.
Perhaps we can start here.
"Alright, don't rush. We'll go down the mountain and investigate this matter again tomorrow."
Sheng Sheng nodded, "Mmm!"
The two talked for a while longer, then took Shi Tou, who had had enough of a walk, and headed back.
Anyway, I'll be staying in Jinzhou City for several days, so there's no rush.
However, when Sheng Sheng thought about this before going to sleep, she still felt it was somewhat strange.
The next day.
After accompanying the Empress Dowager to the morning prayers at Putuo Temple, the brother and sister descended the mountain and headed to the dried goods shop where they had been gathering information the previous day.
The reason for going to the dry goods store instead of the county magistrate's office was that Zhu Yue had received an important message from the store owner yesterday—today was the day the county magistrate's people came to purchase supplies for next month.
Therefore, Xie Yunyang made a quick decision to start from this point and stake out the place to find out what was going on.
The small county town was very close to Jinzhou City; it only took half an hour to get there.
Zhu Yue handled things properly. The owner of the dried goods shop, fearing the power of the county magistrate, kept his mouth shut. But he was even more afraid that the sword in Zhu Yue's hand would take him to the underworld. Under Zhu Yue's coercion and enticement, he had already become a "spy" for the county magistrate.
Therefore, as soon as the group entered the dried goods shop, the shop owner saw Zhu Yue and very eagerly stepped forward to report the situation.
"My lord, you've arrived!"
The boss greeted them obsequiously, "And who are these gentlemen?"
"These two are my masters. Don't ask any other questions," Zhu Yue said coldly. "Has anyone from the county magistrate's office arrived?"
"Yes, yes, yes." The dried goods shop owner quickly led the group to a back room and had a servant serve them tea. "Please don't worry, gentlemen. The magistrate is very cautious. He always sends people who have no connection with the magistrate's office to buy the goods on his behalf. They then pass through several hands before reaching the magistrate's steward, who finally brings them back to the magistrate's office. Judging by the time, someone will arrive in about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn."
As they spoke, the dried goods shop owner couldn't help but glance at the two aloof and self-possessed people.
There's no other reason than that these two people have such outstanding temperaments that, despite not wearing much makeup, they can't hide their noble air from within.
This person, as bright as the moon in the sky, is clearly not from this small place, nor does he seem to be from Jinzhou City. What kind of deity has this County Magistrate offended?
Noticing the probing gaze fixed on Sheng Sheng, Xie Yunyang glanced over indifferently. The dried goods shop owner was startled and quickly smiled apologetically, no longer daring to look around.
The county magistrate kept buying those expensive items from the dried goods shop. The shop owner knew that, in principle, a county magistrate like Nong could have money, but not that much.
The dried goods shop owner had kept this matter quiet for so long, partly because the county magistrate was like a local tyrant within the city, and he couldn't afford to offend him.
Secondly, it was also because he was a merchant. Who wouldn't want to make money? Who cares where the county magistrate's money came from? As long as there was money to be made, that was enough.
Whether to risk your life to report a local tyrant for having an abnormally large amount of money, or to pretend you know nothing and quietly make money, any normal person would know which to choose.
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