Seeing her daughter hurried back home, Mrs. Lin asked curiously, "Why are you back so soon? What happened?"
Li Yan walked into the house with a serious expression and told Li Erlang what had just happened.
Li Erlang angrily threw the book on the table and pounded the table angrily: "These people are really hateful. I will report this matter to the county magistrate!" After that, he stood up and limped to the door!
Lin stepped forward to stop her husband and asked worriedly, "Your foot?"
Li Erlang held his wife's hand tightly and said, "Wan'er, this matter must be reported to the county magistrate as soon as possible, otherwise the ordinary people in the northwest will suffer!"
Lin looked at her husband's determined eyes and slowly lowered her arms that were blocking him.
Li Yan: "Dad, don't be impatient. They say to catch the thief and seize the stolen goods. This is just our one-sided statement. They can easily turn around and accuse us of slander!"
When Li Erlang heard his daughter say this, he thought she must have an idea by now, so he asked, "Do you know how to deal with this?"
Li Yan nodded. "Father, let's report this to County Magistrate Zheng. Given his character, he'll definitely investigate thoroughly. We can ask you to send someone disguised as someone to go to Xiuyun Cloth Shop to buy cotton-padded clothes. Will they still be able to make excuses?"
Li Erlang pondered his daughter's suggestion for a moment. Catching the perpetrator red-handed was indeed a good idea! Just as Li Erlang was about to respond, Zhao Da's voice called out from outside the door.
Li Yan urged, "Dad, let's go first. When I came back, I told Uncle Zhao to harness the carriage. We should be here by now!"
The two of them left the room and saw Zhao Da driving a donkey cart. Lin sent Li Erlang to the cart and said, "Go slowly. Be careful with everything you do. You are still injured!"
Li Erlang patted his wife's shoulder to comfort her, and then told Zhao Da to drive the car.
The donkey cart wobbled to the front of the county government office. The gatekeeper saw Li Erlang limping along, supported by someone. He asked with concern, "Didn't you tell me a few days ago that you were injured? You haven't recovered yet, so why are you here?"
Li Erlang: "Is the county magistrate in the county office? I have something important to report!"
The officer nodded and said, "The master has been leaving early and returning late every day to inspect the disaster. He is now in the clerk's office. Please remember to persuade him to take care of his health!"
Li Erlang nodded and said, "Thank you!" and went to the clerk's office with his daughter.
When I arrived at the door of the clerk's office, I saw Yang Dalang standing guard outside.
Li Erlang stepped forward, bowed, and asked, "Officer Yang, is it convenient for you to see me now? I have something important to report to you!"
Yang Dalang: "My lord is discussing the resettlement of disaster victims with the county magistrate and the chief clerk right now! Please wait a moment!" After he finished speaking, he heard the sound of porcelain breaking from the house.
Then two figures came out of the clerk's room one after another and walked away with big strides!
Li Erlang stood outside the door, hesitating for a moment before finally knocking on it: "Sir, I have something to report!"
Hearing the familiar voice, County Magistrate Zheng ignored his anger and hurriedly asked someone to come in: "But Li Wenzhi? Come in quickly!"
Li Yan supported her father and they walked into the official office.
County Magistrate Zheng looked at Li Erlang's limping steps and said worriedly, "Since your foot hasn't healed yet, you should rest well at home. There's no need to rush to the yamen. Don't let the disease develop a long-term effect. Sit down!"
Li Erlang found a stool and sat down, then said to County Magistrate Zheng, "What happened just now, sir? I see that both of you look very unhappy!"
When mentioning this, County Magistrate Zheng became furious and cursed: "These two old bastards who are just sitting in their positions and doing nothing do nothing. Let them find a way to provide some help to the people affected by the disaster, but they are pretending to be deaf and dumb!" After that, he started coughing heart-wrenchingly again.
County Magistrate Zheng picked up the teacup on the table, took a sip of tea to suppress the itching in his throat, and asked, "I forgot to ask, what is it that brings you to see me?"
Li Erlang looked around and said, "Sir, I have come here specifically to report the Xiuyun Cloth Shop in the city! They are cheating, selling inferior goods as good ones, and disregarding human lives!"
Upon hearing this, County Magistrate Zheng sat up straight. According to his investigation, this Xiuyun Cloth Shop seemed to be related to the head of the yamen by marriage. County Magistrate Zheng suddenly raised his hand to stop Li Erlang from saying anything next, and called out to the outside, "Yang Yayi?"
Yang Dalang, who was standing outside waiting, said: "I'm here!"
"Don't let anyone get close to the clerk's office!" said County Magistrate Zheng. He then gestured for Li Erlang to continue the previous topic.
Li Erlang: "Sir, a woman in our village passed away yesterday. She was usually in good health. Her family was shocked but could do nothing. Until today, when they were sorting through her belongings, they discovered that the cotton-padded jacket she had been wearing was actually made of reed fluff! Sir, it's been snowing heavily these days, and it's been very cold even during the day. Even a healthy person wouldn't be able to withstand a cotton-padded jacket made of reed fluff, let alone a woman in her seventies!"
Upon hearing this, County Magistrate Zheng stood up in shock and slammed his hand on the table angrily: "Is this really happening? These unscrupulous businessmen are only concerned with making money and don't care about the lives of the people! I will definitely take their lives!!" After that, he was about to take people to search the cloth shop!
Li Yan hurriedly said, "Sir, wait a minute!"
Upon hearing this, County Magistrate Zheng stopped in his tracks and looked at Li Yan, who had spoken, in confusion. "Sir, since Xiuyun Cloth Shop dares to so brazenly sell cotton-padded clothes mixed with reed fluff, they are either fearless or stupid! Obviously, they are not stupid. I heard that Xiuyun Cloth Shop has been open in Rongcheng for many years. Logically, the owner of the cloth shop should not be so short-sighted as to ruin his own reputation!"
After hearing Li Yan's answer, County Magistrate Zheng signaled her to continue.
Li Yan continued, "But this cotton-padded jacket did come from Xiuyun Cloth Shop. I'm afraid there must be some internal family strife here!"
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