Chapter 18
The sun rose above the horizon, piercing through the thick morning fog. As the sky brightened, the county government office staff began to report for duty one after another. Lin Shuge brought Xie Chen to the prison. The prison was damp and dark. As soon as he entered, a shabby and damp smell hit him in the face. When the officer saw that it was Lin Shuge, he immediately nodded and bowed, "Lin County Magistrate, why are you here? Is it because of Hei San?"
The news spread in the county government office that Hei San had kidnapped the young master of Qian Wancai's family, and also kidnapped the younger brother of County Magistrate Lin. However, County Magistrate Lin was very capable. His other younger brother was also a capable person. He single-handedly rescued the young master Qian and his younger brother, and killed the culprit, Manager Cheng.
"Well, did you find out anything during the interrogation?" Lin Shuge asked.
"Hey, I thought he was a tough guy, but he confessed immediately after being tortured. At that time, the county magistrate ordered the arrest of those Ziqian family members, so it was inevitable that there would be fish that slipped through the net. Look, Hei San happened to be caught, and the first trial has already come out. County Lieutenant Zhang has been ordered by the county magistrate to arrest him."
"County Magistrate Lin wants to..." the officer hesitated.
"I have something to ask Heisan. Please lead the way."
"Okay, this way please."
The guards led the way. When the prisoners in the jail saw someone coming in, they became excited and shouted to Lin Shuge and the others, "Sir, I am innocent." "Sir, is anyone from my family here to see me?" "Let me out."
The officer picked up his whistle stick and slammed the prison door several times. "Be quiet, County Magistrate Lin, this way."
The cell suddenly became quiet, except that the prisoners were all staring at Lin Shuge. Walking all the way to the depths, Lin Shuge saw a figure lying quietly on the ground. The officer looked at the cell and said, "Hei San, the master wants to ask you a question."
Hei San turned around. Lin Shuge thought that this desperado must have an extremely ferocious appearance, but who knew that Hei San actually had an honest face, the kind that would not be noticed even in a crowd of people.
Yes, if someone kidnaps people for ransom, he would definitely not attract attention if he were walking on the street on a normal day.
"Hei San, why did you conspire with Manager Cheng? Was it just for money?"
Hei San narrowed his eyes and saw Lin Shuge's appearance. "Who are you? Oh, you are the brother of the boy I tied up, right? You two look a bit alike."
"Of course it's for money. Ever since my master was captured by you, I haven't been able to get any business from him. Manager Cheng came to me and said he had a big deal and asked me if I would do it. He offered me a sum that I couldn't refuse."
It turns out that Heisan used to specialize in debt collection. Unlike the woman and Manager Cheng that Lin Shuge met when he first came to this world, Heisan usually did dirty jobs that were extremely difficult to collect, so his methods were ruthless. This was also the reason why Manager Cheng found him.
Seeing Xie Chen again, he snorted coldly and said nothing.
"It was me. It was me who suggested to the county magistrate that your master be arrested." Lin Shuge replied.
Hei San suddenly stood up, looking at Lin Shuge fiercely, and regardless of his serious injuries, he came towards Lin Shuge. When Xie Chen saw his move, he immediately protected Lin Shuge.
Lin Shuge patted his shoulder and said, "Zhongxuan, it's okay." He had been tortured and had a leg injury, making it difficult for him to move. Xie Chen knew this, but he was just too concerned.
"It seems that you have deep feelings for your master."
Hei San might be about to die, and he suddenly wanted to talk, "My master has been very kind to me. I am just a beggar. If it weren't for the master giving me food, I wouldn't be alive today. It's a pity that I don't have the ability to repay the master's kindness."
This era still retains the concept of "a gentleman will die for his friend" from the pre-Qin knights, but no matter how loyal and righteous one is, one cannot help the tyrant to do evil. Hei San speaks in high-sounding words, but only he knows what he is actually thinking. After all, when he conspired with Manager Cheng, he only had money in his eyes.
"Don't worry, you will be reunited with your master soon, oh, and Manager Cheng." Lin Shuge sneered.
Hei San finally changed his calm and composed attitude. He looked at Xie Chen with fear. The move that killed Manager Cheng frightened him. "If it weren't for him, your brother would have been killed by my sword long ago. How could you still be so shameless in front of me at that time?"
Before Lin Shuge could say anything, Xie Chen was furious when he heard him being rude to Lin Shuge. He was about to attack, "Zhongxuan, let him be proud of the grasshopper in autumn for a while."
"Heisan, don't worry. With me here, there will be no more of you Qian family members in Ganzhou County. Just wait and go down to reunite with your master as soon as possible."
"By the way, I have something to return to you. Since Manager Cheng is no longer here, you have to bear it on his behalf." He slapped Hei San twice in the face with lightning speed.
"This is what we owe to my Ah Yuan. We will pay it back double. Zhongxuan, let's go." After saying that, he strode out. Xie Chen was stunned for a moment, then hurriedly followed him. Heisan touched his aching face, pounded the prison door hard, and started swearing, but was stopped by the officer.
"Brother, wait for me, you just...let me do this kind of thing, be careful your hand will hurt." Xie Chen raised his right hand and saw that it was indeed a little red and swollen.
"It doesn't matter. If I hadn't thought about the suffering Ayuan has endured, I would have wanted to cut them both into pieces."
"Being cut into pieces, is this a form of punishment?" Xie Chen asked.
I also forgot that this punishment did not exist in this dynasty and only appeared in later generations.
"Yes, I have read it in a book. Zhongxuan, I will go to see Magistrate Li in a while. You go to the official residence and wait for me first."
"good."
But I have never seen it in any book. It turns out that my brother is very well-read.
When Lin Shuge arrived at the county government hall, County Magistrate Li was looking at the blueprints of the papermaking workshop. When he saw that it was Lin Shuge, he said, "You came just in time. I was just about to discuss this with you."
"My Lord, I have something to explain to you."
Magistrate Li saw that his face was very serious. "What's the matter? Why are you so serious?"
"Sir, my brother was so eager to save people that he accidentally killed the kidnapper. I hope you will consider his meritorious service in saving people and give him a lighter sentence."
After all, Xie Chen killed Manager Cheng in public. Although there were reasons for it, Lin Shuge had to explain it in front of Magistrate Li.
"Oh, I've heard about this, too. Your brother is very brave. Zhou Du has already told me that if he hadn't acted quickly, Butler Feng would have died at the hands of the kidnappers. Don't worry, I'm here. Your brother is fine, but I'd like to see this young hero in person."
It turned out to be Zhou Du. No wonder no one from the county government summoned Zhongxuan and Ayuan. They owed him a favor.
"Zhongxuan is in the official residence. Let him see you later."
"Okay, but are you done with your story? Let me take a look at this blueprint."
"The papermaking workshop is located in the eastern part of the city. It is a wasteland where no crops can be grown and there are few people. It is just the right place to build a workshop. The waterway has already been dug and will be repaired in a few days."
Papermaking requires rinsing and soaking, and waterways are essential.
Lin Shuge took a look at the blueprint and found the place to be good. "When does Your Excellency plan to summon those merchants?"
"I've released the news today. I guess they're all eager to make a move after hearing the news. I'll meet them tomorrow. If they knew they could become shareholders, they would definitely vie for this opportunity. Then we can carefully select them and let our craftsmen teach them well. Then they will be able to do it themselves."
"However, those core skills cannot be passed on to them completely."
Businessmen are profit-driven and will seize business opportunities at the slightest sign of trouble, not to mention that this is a highly profitable business. And if the profits are very substantial, you can be sure that someone will have bad intentions.
"Okay, then you go down. I'll arrange for someone to notify all the major merchants. By the way, ask your brother to come see me." County Magistrate Li waved his hand and gave the order.
"Yes, sir."
When Lin Shuge returned to the official residence, Xie Chen was playing with Lin Shuge's pen out of boredom, while Zhou Du was working hard next to him. "Zhongxuan, the county magistrate wants to see you."
"Brother, I'm going."
Fearing that he might be scared, Lin Shuge added: "Don't be afraid, just answer whatever the county magistrate asks, and don't hide anything."
"Okay, I'm not afraid." Xie Chen said with a smile.
After Xie Chen left, Zhou Du had a sly smile on his face, "Don't be afraid," he deliberately raised his voice and called out "brother" again, laughing at Lin Shuge wantonly, obviously laughing at the way he and Xie Chen got along.
"You won't spoil him like this. What brother would want you two to be so close to each other? It's good enough if you don't fight."
"Zhongxuan lost his father when he was young and fled here alone. It's normal for him to act like a spoiled child and cling to others. I'm a few years older than him, so what's wrong with me being a little more partial to him? It's nothing to make a fuss."
Zhou Du said speechlessly: "That brat is a person of strong character. He still needs your pampering. Be careful that he may get in your way one day."
"You worry too much." Zhongxuan, like his twins, is well-behaved and obedient. Modern teenagers are rebellious children in puberty, and they are all spoiled at home.
"By the way, this is for you."
"What?"
Naturally, Lin Shuge also brought a gift for Zhou Du, which was a few brushes. For those of them who do clerical work, brushes are always the most expensive, because most of the time they don't know where they are lost.
"Hey, it's Yan's pen. Thank you."
Yan's Brush is a famous brush-making workshop in the northwest. The owner is very mysterious and only sells for three hours a day before closing. However, due to the high quality of the brushes, they are always in short supply. Lin Shuge also waited for a long time before he could buy one.
"What are you thanking me for? I haven't thanked you for helping Zhongxuan and the others yet."
"Isn't that what should be done? Your brother saved someone, he didn't kill anyone intentionally, and your family is considered a victim."
The two of them were talking and laughing when Xie Chen walked in. "Brother, what are you talking about that makes you look so happy?"
"Nothing, are you done asking questions?" There was still a smile in Lin Shuge's eyes, and his eyebrows were smiling, which was very moving.
Xie Chen glanced at Zhou Du suspiciously. Zhou Du smiled at him provocatively, walked over and put his hand on Lin Shuge's shoulder, "We were talking about the gift your brother gave me." He also emphasized the word "gift".
Xie Chen's eyes moved slightly, and his gaze drifted lightly over Zhou Du's hand on Lin Shuge's shoulder, "Brother, the county magistrate greets you, let's go home, I'm hungry."
"Are you hungry? It's my fault for forgetting the time. It's past dinner time. Let's go home and have dinner. I'll make your favorite mutton noodle soup today." Lin Shuge shook off Zhou Du's hand on his shoulder and asked with concern.
Xie Chen raised the corner of his mouth into a perfect smile, "Okay." He glared at Zhou Du where Lin Shuge couldn't see.
Zhou Du’s provocation failed and he silently touched the corner of his mouth. This kid is really good at pretending.
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