"Yes, you have a relationship with the county master. Can you say a few good words to my father?"
Xu Cai only now remembered that when the lawsuit was filed in court, the government official once said that these two people were distinguished guests of the county magistrate.
Since he is a distinguished guest, he must be able to speak well.
"No." Xiao Mu refused without any hesitation.
"We don't know yet what exactly your father has committed. Let me find out later."
As soon as he heard that Xiao Mu was going to the city, Xu Cai immediately stood up: "I'm going too."
"What can you do?" Xiao Mu frowned.
"Don't worry, I won't show my head when I go. I'll just follow you and listen to you to inquire about the situation." Xu Cai begged.
That was his father, and he really couldn't wait for others to give him news with peace of mind.
Ye Luoxin nodded towards Xiao Mu, and Xiao Mu could only say: "Okay, I'll take you there, just follow and don't say anything."
"Okay." Xu Cai responded.
Xiao Mu took out some medicinal materials from the warehouse and put them into a backpack, as if he was going to sell the medicinal materials.
Xu Cai covered his face with a big bamboo hat and carried a backpack on his body, pretending to be Xiao Mu's follower.
The two of them took Liu Er's ox cart to the county seat. Their first stop was the medical clinic.
When the manager of the medical clinic saw Xiao Mu coming, he rushed to greet him, "I didn't say you would come a few days late last time. Why did you come so soon?"
"I happened to have these medicinal materials dried at home, so I brought them here." Xiao Mu took the basket from Xu Cai's body and handed it to the waiter for him to weigh.
After the shopkeeper paid the money, Xiao Mu said again as if unintentionally: "My wife said she wanted to eat Xu Ji's pickled pork knuckles. I got the money today, so I just went to buy it for her."
"Hey, why didn't you say you were going to buy it a few days ago? If you go to buy it today, you won't be able to buy it!" the shopkeeper said.
"What's wrong? Can Xu Ji close down his business?"
"It's not closed!" Shopkeeper Xu came closer and said, "It's been sealed!"
Xiao Mu seemed to be startled and asked hurriedly: "What's wrong? Isn't it just a restaurant? Why is it still sealed? Is there anyone killed inside?"
"No, no!" Shopkeeper Xu waved his hand, "But, this matter is more serious than killing someone."
"That's it?" Xiao Mu made a listening gesture.
Shopkeeper Xu lowered his voice: "I heard that Shopkeeper Xu of the restaurant sells illegal salt."
Private salt?
In Daliang, selling illegal salt is a capital offense.
"Has it been verified?" Xiao Mu asked hurriedly.
"It has been verified. It is said that a stone of fine salt was unearthed from Xu Ji Restaurant yesterday. All of it is private salt."
"Impossible!" Xu Cai, who was standing behind Xiao Mu, had his fingertips turned white. Hearing this, he couldn't help but say, "It's impossible for him to sell private salt."
Shopkeeper Xu didn't pay attention to the person Xiao Mu brought, thinking he was his younger brother.
Hearing Xu Cai speak, he started to take stock.
But this man is wearing a hat. Can't see clearly at all.
Shopkeeper Xu had doubts in his mind. Could this man be dressing up like this on purpose?
Xiao Mu knew that shopkeeper Xu was a good person. He didn't want Xu Cai's identity to be exposed for the time being, so he said, "Thank you, shopkeeper, for letting me know. Since Xu Ji can't be sold, I'll go check it out elsewhere."
With that said, he greeted Xu Cai to leave.
Xu Cai followed Xiao Mu closely. The two of them walked very fast until they turned a corner and entered an alley. Only then did Xiao Mu stop.
"Didn't I say you weren't allowed to speak?"
Xu Cai lowered his head and said nothing. When he raised his head, Xiao Mu saw that his eyes were red.
"I'm sorry, I couldn't hold it back just now, but my father will definitely not sell illegal salt."
"He was able to send you away in advance. He must have had a plan in mind. If you say that he was completely unaware of this matter, I don't believe it." Xiao Mu said.
Xu Cai shed tears:
"My dad once said that it was not easy for him to raise me up alone. He told me to remember his kindness and respect him when I get old. When the time comes, he won't want any fine clothes and food, and he will have a small courtyard. , I am very satisfied if I don’t have to worry about eating and drinking every day.
He doesn't have such big ambitions, and he can't sell private money. "
"okay,"
Xiao Mu said: "It's useless to talk about this now. Think about it, has your father ever revealed anything to you, or has your father secretly told you anything? These might be able to help you."
Xu Cai wiped his eyes and thought carefully.
"When I left, my father didn't say anything to me. However, he once told me that the account books over the years are in the secret compartment of the study. If my father was selling illegal salt, he would definitely have accounts. I I want to go home and take out the ledger.”
"Your home is sealed now. There are officers and soldiers guarding it outside. How can you just enter if you want?" Xiao Mu said.
"I know there is a secret passage in my backyard, and there must be no one in that secret passage." Xu Cai still insisted.
"If something happens to my father, it must be related to the Xu family. I must find evidence."
Xu family, Xu Dynasty.
Ye Qingqing's acquaintance.
He was also the one who encouraged Xu Cai to cause trouble for them behind the scenes.
Now that the Xu family is involved, Xiao Mu wants to see how deep the water here is.
"I'll go with you." Xiao Mu decided.
The two walked through the narrow alley, avoiding the crowds as much as possible, and walked to the backyard of Xu's house.
Here, Xiao Mu finally saw the back door Xu Cai mentioned.
It is hidden among weeds and can only allow people to crawl past.
Isn't this a dog hole?
Xu Cai knelt down, pushed aside all the weeds next to the dog hole, and then knelt down: "I'll go in first, and you follow me behind."
Xiao Mu snorted and didn't answer.
When Xu Cai went through the dog hole with great effort, he saw Xiao Mu standing quietly in front of him.
"Wocao!" Xu Cai was startled, "How did you get in?"
Xiao Mu pointed to the wall.
"You can climb through such a high wall?"
Xu Cai admired him in his heart, but also felt a little worried. If he could rescue his father, he must ask him to make the wall higher, otherwise someone would easily jump in.
Xu Cai was very familiar with the roads in the courtyard. The two of them used trees and weeds to hide themselves and walked to the back of the study.
"There are two people guarding the front. What should I do if I can't get in?" Xu Cai was unwilling.
Go in and you might be discovered.
But if you don't go in, there's no way to get the ledger.
"I'll lure them away. The secret compartment is under the vase on the bookshelf. You can see the button when you pick up the vase."
This was his family matter, and he couldn't let Xiao Mu take risks.
He had no choice but to pin his hopes on finding the ledger on Xiao Mu.
Xu Cai was just about to move when his body was suddenly held down.
"Don't move, I'll go." Xiao Mu whispered to stop him.
After saying that, Xiao Mu walked around the corner, and after seeing the guard, he shrank back.
He picked up a stone on the ground and threw it gently. The stone hit one of the people on the head.
The beaten guard was stunned. He checked for a week and saw no one, and finally looked at his companion.
"What are you looking at me doing?" His companion was shocked by what he saw.
"Did you hit me just now?"
"I, why should I hit you?"
"There is no one else in this yard except you!"
"Who knows what's going on? Could it be that it's haunted?"
The two men turned their heads.
After a while, Xiao Mu threw another stone and hit the man on the head.
This time the person who was beaten said nothing, turned around and punched his companion.
