The whole afternoon, Xu Zhen was not idle.
He changed into casual clothes and first went to the area near Old Man Li's house to collect information about Old Man Li and his daughter. Through questioning, he learned about the scholar who participated in the firefighting that day.
That person's name is Liu Wenbin, a scholar from Linxian County. He is currently studying at Xuanwu Academy in Yanping County and is preparing to take the provincial examination next year.
By chance, Liu Xiucai and Miss Ailian fell in love at first sight, and they fell in love with each other. No matter in the eyes of old man Li or the neighbors, they had already been in a tacit relationship as lovers.
No wonder Liu Xiucai cried so sadly on the day of the fire that he was almost killed by a collapsed beam.
Through Xu Zhen's many inquiries, it has been confirmed that under the leadership of Liu Xiucai, more than a dozen of Li's relatives and neighbors have followed him to the county government to file a complaint.
Not only do they want to sue Qiu Batiancao for killing people, but they also want to sue Yanping County Government for harboring criminals, colluding with criminals, and conspiring to kill Old Man Li and his daughter.
Although the county government is also wary of the forces behind Qiu Batian, Xu Zhen believes that they will not just sit idly by and at least send someone to go through the procedures.
Otherwise, once these people sue the state capital, it will be even more difficult to deal with.
Next, Xu Zhen went to several restaurants and inns owned by Qiu Batian to inquire about news about Qiu Batian.
Although the clerk in the store did not dare to talk nonsense, the shrewd Xu Zhen was still able to trick him out of many words and get a lot of useful information.
For example, there used to be a diligent old housekeeper in Qiu Batian's family, but for some unknown reason, his legs were broken by Qiu Batian and he was kicked out. Now he is reduced to a beggar.
Also, what unconventional methods did Qiu Batian use to acquire so many restaurants and inns?
He spends all his time wandering around the Flower House and Jiaofangsi. What type of woman does he like the most?
Also, his family situation, his relationship with the other three bullies, etc...
After inquiring about the information, Xu Zhen went to several places non-stop, such as buying paper money and incense, going to a tomb in the suburbs to burn incense and worship; going to the cattle dealer Jia Yi's house to check on the situation, etc...
It wasn't until the sun was setting that he bought a pack of honey-osmanthus cake and hurried to Jinxiu Study.
The time was just right. As soon as Xu Zhen arrived at the door of the study, he saw his second cousin, Wen Wenxin, coming out of it.
Wen Wenxin has the standard willow eyebrows, red phoenix eyes, small cherry mouth, and Qiongyao nose. Although her slim waist looks a little weaker, her unique elegant temperament still makes her stand out.
Accompanying Wen Wenxin was Gao He, a little book boy about ten years old.
Gao He hugged a pile of books and followed Chen Wenxin naively.
"Cousin?" He Wenxin was a little surprised when he saw Xu Zhen, "Why are you here?"
"Law and order have been bad recently," Xu Zhen said casually, "I'm here to escort my cousin."
With that said, he handed over the honey-osmanthus cake.
"My cousin is really thoughtful," Qing Wenxin happily took it and said, "It's just a two-step journey, and there are familiar neighbors along the way, so there won't be any danger.
"I see..." Second cousin Bingxue was smart and said with a knowing smile, "My cousin is looking for me. Is there something wrong?"
sharp!
Xu Zhen secretly gave a thumbs up. He didn't expect his second cousin to be so observant. It seemed that he had found the right person.
However, if you don’t show off, you will easily be looked down upon, so Xu Zhen asked, “Second cousin, should I ask you this?”
"Oh?" Sure enough, the pretense effect was instantly full, and Qi Wenxin asked curiously, "How can you tell?"
"Look," Xu Zhen explained, "you just came out of the study, your eyes were staring at the ground at a 45-degree angle, your eyes were focused, your expression was solemn, and you were mumbling something, you were clearly worried. Why, have you fallen in love with some young master?"
"Poor talk," the second cousin scolded, and then became curious, "But you guessed it right, but what does the forty-five-degree diagonal angle mean?"
"My cousin's guess is really accurate," Gao He, the book boy behind him, interrupted, "My husband was really thinking about something just now, but he was only thinking about poems and verses. He was not a wishful man, haha... "
Because Chen Wenxin teaches in the study, even though she is a woman, she is also called sir.
"Poetry couplet?" Xu Zhen raised his eyebrows, "What kind of poetry couplet? Tell me about it? Maybe I can do it too!"
"Okay, cousin," He Wenxin filtered directly and asked, "What do you want to see me about? You'd better just tell me directly. I... I still have some private money at home. How much do you need?"
It seems that Chen Wenxin thought that Xu Zhen wanted to borrow money from him again.
Hearing this, Xu Zhen was filled with emotion and emotion. His second cousin knew clearly that his gambling debt was a bottomless pit, but he still chose to help him without hesitation.
Therefore, I must work hard to make progress in the future and not let down my cousin's good intentions.
"No, it's not a loan." Xu Zhen glanced at Gao He first, then pulled Qian Wenxin aside and said something in her ear.
"Ah?" He Wenxin was shocked after hearing this and waved his hands hastily, "This... this is impossible, this is a serious crime..."
"Shh..." Xu Zhen quickly told her to shut up, and then tried to persuade her second cousin in her ear.
Gao He frowned. Although he was not very old, he still felt that Xu Zhen's cousin was not very reliable through Xu Zhen's beaming expression.
However, in the end, it seemed that Xu Zhen got through to Xu Zhen's heart and fell into hesitation.
After hesitating for a long time, her eyes finally lit up and she said to Xu Zhen: "In this case, how about seeing God's will?"
"Ah?" Xu Zhen was surprised, "What do you mean?"
"I happen to have someone right here," Qian Wenxin said, "As long as my cousin can match you, then I will promise to help you, how about that?"
"this……"
"It's impossible," Gao He murmured to himself at the side, "Even the owner of the restaurant said it was absolute, and sir, he thought about it all afternoon. It's impossible for anyone to match it, let alone..."
He looked at Xu Zhen with his immature eyes, obviously saying: What's more, you are a clueless detective?
Xu Zhen's ears were sharp and he heard all Gao He's words, and he suddenly became curious. It seemed that what the second cousin had been thinking about just now was the right match.
"Okay," Xu Zhen said, "How about you come and listen?"
"This is the absolute given to our study by Xuanwu Academy," Gao He explained at the side, "Since it is absolute, it seems there is no second line! Hmm... um... metal and wood... metal, wood, water, fire and earth, um..."
Obviously, Gao He wanted to say the first couplet, but he didn't remember it clearly at all.
"When an iron rod lights up a stove, it is difficult to distinguish between metal, wood, water, fire and earth." In the end, it was He Wenxin who said this absolute first couplet...
…
