Chapter 210: Do a Favor
This was reason enough for Ding Gaochang to believe that Zhuang Qingning had a good plan.
"Miss Zhuang, is there anything you want us to prepare?" Ding Gaochang asked.
"Find two or three strong men who are familiar with water and can serve as backup. In addition, prepare a small boat and a bamboo cage that can hold people."
Zhuang Qingning said: "Also, the person who is swindling and cheating people out of their money must be present at the time."
"These are not problems." Ding Gaochang nodded: "It's just..."
"I wonder how Miss Zhuang is going to catch that water ghost?"
"Water ghosts are a myth. You must know that there are no water ghosts in this world. There are only ghosts in people's hearts. At that time, you may as well..."
Zhuang Qingning said in a low voice.
Ding Gaochang listened carefully to Zhuang Qingning's words. His brows were furrowed at first, but finally relaxed completely. "This is indeed a method."
"I have reached a dead end. I was only thinking about how to deal with the water ghost, but forgot to start with the human. I am ashamed, extremely ashamed."
Ding Gaochang truly spoke these words.
Since he became the county magistrate, he had handled many urgent and important cases. Every time, he thought he handled them properly and had his own way of solving cases. He was quite proud of it, but this time he really got stuck in a dead end.
"You are the county magistrate, and you have to take into account much more than I do. Not only do you have to deal with the case, but you also have to consider the well-being of the people. Naturally, you have to consider the impact of this matter on the people. I only have to think about the water ghost, so I have nothing to worry about, so I can go straight in."
Zhuang Qingning smiled.
Ding Gaochang smiled slightly and said, "As Miss Zhuang said, it is indeed the case. It is precisely because of this that we are cautious and dare not act rashly."
"Miss Zhuang's method can indeed let the people know the evil deeds of the charlatan and see his true face, but there are always people who are bewitched and indulge in it, and the man's cousin is also fanning the flames. I am afraid that even if the charlatan admits his guilt, there will still be people who are obsessed with it."
"The charlatan had demonstrated to the villagers the techniques of standing chopsticks in water, taking copper coins out of an oil pan, and drawing water with a bamboo basket. The villagers believed him without a doubt and thought he was a real person who had achieved enlightenment through spiritual practice and would become an immortal after reaching his goal."
"Miss Zhuang is well-informed and knows the tricks of these quacks to capture and kill ghosts. I wonder if there is any way to prove that these things are just bluffs?"
“These…”
Zhuang Qingning suddenly burst into laughter.
When she was young in her previous life, she had seen some people walking along the streets to defraud others of their money using these tricks. She never expected that these things actually existed in ancient times. What she didn't expect was that after a thousand years, those deceptive techniques had not improved at all.
I really don’t know whether I should say that the people in ancient times were smart, or that the people nowadays are stupid.
Zhuang Qingning couldn't help but shook his head slightly.
"Could it be that Miss Zhuang has no other solution?" Seeing this, Ding Gaochang's face was covered with a layer of gloom.
If even Zhuang Qingning had no idea what to do, then he really wouldn't be able to find anyone who could solve the problem for a while.
"That's not the case." Zhuang Qingning explained hurriedly, "These are just the most common scams, but I don't have them in my hands at the moment. If I want to explain them to you, I'm afraid I still can't."
"How about this... I'll prepare the necessary things tonight. Tomorrow when Lord Ding goes to Cuiwei Lake to handle the case, I'll go with him and explain a little to the villagers. I think after seeing this, they'll understand the tricks of this charlatan. If someone is still superstitious, then after seeing this, they'll think I'm also a person of great Taoism. Then I'll say that this wasn't caused by a water ghost, but by human beings, and that'll be fine."
"Thank you very much, Miss Zhuang."
Ding Gaochang was overjoyed to see that Zhuang Qingning had come up with a plan for him and was willing to go with him. "This matter concerns the well-being of the people. Miss Zhuang's actions can be said to benefit the people. After this, I will report this to the county magistrate and reward Miss Zhuang. I will definitely not treat her unfairly..."
Perhaps because he was too excited, there was a slight tremor in Ding Gaochang's voice.
"Your Excellency is too kind." Zhuang Qingning said with a smile, "Master Ding also said just now that this move can be regarded as benefiting the people. So what I am doing is a good deed to accumulate virtue and blessings, which is what I am most looking forward to."
Ding Gaochang is dedicated to serving the people, and what he admires most are people with broad minds and noble character. Now that he sees Zhuang Qingning being so upright, he has a little more admiration for her.
After talking for a while and agreeing on the time to pick up Zhuang Qingning tomorrow, Ding Gaochang stood up and said goodbye.
"Then I will come to pick up Miss Zhuang tomorrow. It's getting late, and there are still many official business to be handled in the county government. I will not disturb Miss Zhuang's business."
"Goodbye, Lord Ding." Zhuang Qingning sent Ding Gaochang and others out of the tofu shop, watched them get on the carriage and leave, and then returned to the shop.
"Sister, what is Lord Ding doing here?" Zhuang Qingsui asked, "Is he here to ask about Feng Ershu's incident?"
"Yes, but let me do him a favor. Tomorrow, Lord Ding and I will go out to do something. We should be back in the afternoon. You can wait for me at the tofu shop by then."
"Oh." Zhuang Qingsui blinked.
Since Zhuang Qingning was going to do some work, it must be because he had something important to do. She didn't need to think too much about it. She just followed Zhuang Qingning's instructions and waited patiently in the shop.
"Aunt, Qingsui will be left to you and Qiuying to take care of tomorrow." Zhuang Qingning reminded.
"Don't worry." Cao wiped her hands and replied, "When I was at home yesterday, my brother said that he would go catch some river shrimps today if he had time. I guess they would be sent home in the evening. I also said that I would make some river shrimp, leek and egg dumplings for lunch tomorrow. Now you can't eat them."
"Then save some for me. I'll make fried dumplings when I get home in the evening." Zhuang Qingning said with a smile, "When I went to Fushunlou to deliver something in the morning, I saw that they had river shrimps. I've been thinking about the taste of this. Fortunately, my aunt will make river shrimp dumplings tomorrow."
"No matter what you say, you have to eat it."
"Then I'll pack more for you and you can take it home to eat in the evening." Cao narrowed her eyes and smiled.
People came into the store to buy things one after another, and the shop became busy. The wheels creaked as they moved forward, the carriage swayed, and the hot weather made people feel drowsy.
Ding Gaochang, however, was not sleepy at all. Instead, he was so excited that he wanted to jump off the carriage and run for a distance before he could calm down a little.
"After you go back, start looking for a few good swimmers among the yamen runners, and go to Cuiwei Lake together tomorrow. Prepare the boats and bamboo baskets as well."
Today is already the 29th~ (End of this chapter)
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