After Master Deng walked out of the county master's study, he quickly left the county government office and walked towards a mansion in Jiangdu City.
After Master Deng knocked on the door, a small door was opened at the side door of the mansion and Master Deng was let in.
Master Deng stayed in this mansion for the whole morning, and it was not until almost noon that he came out of the mansion.
After leaving the mansion, Master Deng hurried back to the county government office without even having lunch. When he returned to the county government office, the county master was having dinner in the side room of the county government office. Master Deng walked to the dining table, bowed his head and saluted: "See you. After all, ma'am."
Seeing the master coming back, Mr. Feng County Zun waved to the master and said with a smile: "Master is back. You haven't eaten yet. Can we have something together?"
Master Deng walked respectfully to Magistrate Feng, bowed his body slightly, lowered his head and said, "Master, my subordinate has eaten outside."
"oh?"
Feng Lu looked at Master Deng with a half-smile but asked, "Do you still care about Master Deng's food outside?"
Hearing these words, Master Deng was a little embarrassed.
Because the Fan family didn't care about his food.
But for someone like him, the embarrassment only lasted a moment. Master Deng moved a stool and sat opposite Magistrate Feng, and said in a low voice: "Master, my subordinates have already thought about what you asked this morning. "
As he said that, the master looked at the county magistrate's wife who was eating beside him, then lowered his head and said nothing.
Magistrate Feng stood up from the dining table, stretched out his hand to touch his bulging belly, smiled at the lady beside him and said, "You are full, you are full. Madam, please take it easy. I will discuss something with my master for my husband."
The county magistrate's wife was a girl from an ordinary family, so she was quite obedient to Magistrate Feng. After hearing this, she nodded and said, "Master, just go and do your work."
In this way, Magistrate Feng brought the two masters to the study. After Magistrate Feng sat down on his seat, he looked at Master Deng and asked, "How did the master consider it?"
Master Deng quickly lowered his head and said: "Master, you are very aware of everything. The things you asked are certainly not false. I am the only one who will follow my lead."
Having said this, Master Deng groped in his sleeve for a moment, then took out a beautifully styled note and handed it to Feng Zhixian with both hands.
"Sir, the Fan family knows that you went to the prison to interrogate the case in the middle of the night, just to clear Mr. Fan's innocence. We are very grateful, so we asked my subordinates to bring you some tea."
This note is not a banknote, but an exchange ticket.
The main currency in circulation in this era was precious metals such as gold, silver, and copper. However, the circulation of metals was naturally very inconvenient because they were too bulky, and it was also inconvenient to exchange them with each other. At first, you could only go to the government to exchange silver for copper coins. Over time, it became common among the people. Some money shops and banks appeared.
At first, these money shops could only exchange precious metals for copper coins, or exchange copper coins for precious metals. But over time, some functions similar to banks appeared, such as storage.
After depositing the money, the money shop will issue a bill and pay against the bill.
This is the exchange of votes.
Of course, because the credit system is seriously imperfect, in this era, this kind of bank is still localized. For example, the currency exchange issued by the local money shop in Jiangdu Prefecture can only be used in Jiangdu Prefecture. Outside Jiangdu Prefecture, others I won't ask for it anymore.
Only a few banks in the capital have larger businesses and can be used and circulated in big cities across the country.
It’s worth mentioning that this kind of storage does not earn any interest. Instead, the bank has to pay a fee to help you keep and store your money.
What was placed in front of Feng Zhixian was a redemption note issued by a local currency shop in Jiangdu Prefecture. The redemption note clearly stated one thousand taels of silver.
One thousand taels of silver is already a considerable amount. Even a county magistrate like Feng Lu may not have this much income in a year.
Feng Zhixian picked up the cashed ticket on the table and looked at it, then put it back on the table and said calmly: "It is the responsibility of this county to decide the case and review it. There should be no hard work. No reward for no merit. This is I can’t ask for money.”
Feng Lu was not an upright official.
In fact, after serving two terms as an official in Jiangdu County, he had already filled his pockets, but this county man clearly knew what money should be taken and what money should not be taken.
Take the Ganquan Academy case as an example. If Shen Yi pleads guilty and is executed, and this case is a dead end, let alone one thousand taels. Even if the Fan family gives him two thousand taels or three thousand taels, he will be blind. Accept it with a wink.
But now, the case isn't that solid.
Even if this matter is completed according to the opinions of Master Lu and Magistrate Chen, who can guarantee that there will be no trouble in the victim Chen Qing's family afterwards?
Who can guarantee that there will be no trouble in Qian Tong’s family who was singled out for the crime?
With so many unstable factors, the money collected was not safe. Feng Lu never accepted money that was not safe.
Seeing Magistrate Feng's firm refusal, Master Deng was stunned for a moment, then silently collected the cashed tickets and said with a smile: "My subordinates understand what I mean."
The county gentleman sitting on the chair lowered his head and sighed: "This county doesn't ask for anything now, I only ask for four words."
"Let the trouble be settled."
These four words were the request given to him by Magistrate Chen, and were also the current personal appeal of County Master Feng.
He just wanted this matter to be over as soon as possible, and then just pretend that nothing had happened and there would be no more disturbances.
Master Deng bowed his head deeply: "Master, I believe that the matter will be settled in peace."
………………
In the county jail, a man and a woman stood at the door of Shen Yi's cell.
This man and woman are both in their twenties. The man is Shen Yi's third brother Shen Ling, and the woman is Shen Ling's wife, Shen Yi's third sister-in-law.
Mrs. Shen picked up a food box and handed it to Shen Yi in the cell.
She is an emotional person. When she saw Shen Yi in the cell, who was devouring food and looking embarrassed, her eyes turned red and she almost shed tears.
"Shichiro has suffered a lot these days."
Shen Yi's father, Shen Zhang, works in the capital and does not return to Jiangdu very often. Therefore, Shen Ling and his wife take care of Shen Yi brothers on weekdays. Mrs. Shen has been married to the Shen family for four or five years. It can be said that she is watching. Shen Yi grew up, and when he saw Shen Yi's face covered with dust and blood stains everywhere on his body, he naturally felt distressed.
Shen Yi in the cell put down his chopsticks, smiled at Mrs. Shen, and said, "Sister-in-law, don't cry. My little brother is fine. If nothing happens, he should be able to be released from prison and go home in a few days." .”
Outside the cell, Shen Ling, the third master of Shen, was shocked when he heard this. He looked at Shen Yi and asked, "Old Qi, is this what Master Lu told you?"
Shen Yi shook his head.
"I guessed it myself."
He smiled at Shen Ling and said: "Originally, the third brother and the third sister-in-law were not only unable to see my face, but they could not even send anything into the prison. Now, not only can they see my younger brother, but they can also send food to them." Coming in shows that the yamen’s attitude has changed.”
Having said this, Shen Yi wiped his mouth with his sleeve and asked: "By the way, third brother, did you tell Heng'er about my imprisonment?"
Shen Heng, Shen Yi's younger brother, is less than twelve years old this year.
For the past ten years, the two brothers grew up living in the same courtyard. Since their parents were not around, it would be an exaggeration to say that they were dependent on each other. It was not until Shen Yi was admitted to Ganquan Academy last year that the brothers separated.
"The child was still young, so I never told him."
Third Young Master Shen looked at Shen Yi and sighed: "Fortunately, the situation has improved now. If something happens to you, Old Seven, I won't even know how to talk to him."
"Since you haven't told him, then don't mention it to him."
Shen Yi lowered his head slightly and said slowly: "When I go out in the future, I will talk to him again when I have a chance."
Shen Ling nodded, then suddenly remembered something and said, "By the way, Lao Qi, fourth uncle will be able to return to Jiangdu tomorrow, or the day after tomorrow at the latest."
Shen Ling's fourth uncle Shen Zhang is also Shen Yi's father.
Since Shen Yi was young, his father Shen Zhang had been working as a steward in a palace in the capital, and could only return to Jiangdu once or twice a year.
However, the treatment from the palace should be good. Shen Zhang would send a lot of money back every year, which was enough for him and his younger brother Shen Heng.
This time he was imprisoned, Shen Ling sent a message to the capital immediately, but it always took time. Shen Yi has been in prison for four or five days now, and his father Shen Zhang is still on his way back.
Hearing this, Shen Yi sighed silently.
"Let fathers and brothers worry about it."
"What is this nonsense?"
Shen Ling said in a deep voice: "We are a family, why bother? No matter what, the most important thing is that you live well."
"Brother, don't worry, I will live well."
Although Shen Qilang in the cell looked embarrassed, he had a very confident smile on his face.
"I will live better than anyone else."
