After receiving the report, Chen Qiudao hurried to the living room. Seeing the judge in Xiangyang sitting there, he came forward to ask for information.
The signer Yao Hua saluted. Said: "I'm bothering the Councilor today. There is actually a reason for this. Councilor, don't blame me."
Seeing Yao Hua's solemn expression, Chen Yuyi did not dare to neglect, and hurriedly ordered tea to be served, and asked Yao Hua to take a seat at the guest seat.
After serving tea, Chen Qiu said: "I have a rest today and signed a contract at my house. I wonder what's going on? If there is official business, can't you wait for a day?"
Yao Hua pondered for a while and then said: "This morning, a dispute occurred in the South Industrial Zone. Xu Qi, a member of the opening committee, suddenly ran to the inspection department there and said that the two people following him were chasing gamblers. Debt. Last night, because he was deceived, he went to a gambling boat on the Han River and lost 3,000 yuan in one night on the boat. He didn’t bring enough money, so he wrote an IOU. The name of the IOU means that he ate on the boat. A meal. Including wine and food, plus rewards for singing girls, etc., the total is 2,900 guan."
Chen Qiudao couldn't help but shook his head after hearing this. Said: "Although the painted boat on Hanshui River is expensive, it is obviously wrong to say that it cost 2,900 guan in one night. If you lie like this, who would dare to believe him?"
Yao Hua nodded: "The counselor is right. The inspection there also felt something was wrong, and guessed that it might be a gambling debt. Two thousand nine hundred dollars a night, this case is not small. I immediately took the person and sent him to Xiangyang County . After interrogation in Xiangyang County, I didn’t expect that there would be a big shot behind me. The small county government didn’t dare to make the decision, so they sent it to the mansion. I and the palace officials had already asked about it, so I came to the mansion—”
Hearing this, Chen Qiudao already felt something was wrong. He asked in a deep voice: "Is this gambling case related to my family?"
Yao Hua nodded: "Zheng Yiren, the manager of your residence, is one of the bosses of the gambling boat."
Looking at Yao Hua, Chen Qiudao didn't speak for a long time. After a while, he said: "Is this true? Zheng Yiren has been by my side for many years since we were in Kaifeng Mansion. He has always been prudent in doing things, and he will not make such a big mistake, right?"
Yao Hua said: "Now it's just a confession. The counselor is an unusual person, so I had to come to the house in person, hoping to bring Zheng Yiren to justice."
Looking at Yao Hua's appearance, Chen Qiudao knew in his heart that Zheng Yihui would probably not be able to escape his involvement. My mind turned over and over again, and I didn’t know what to do for a moment. After a while, he said: "It's just that Zheng Yiren is related to the case, and no other members of my family are involved, right?"
Yao Hua said: "This will only be known after the trial."
Chen Qiudao nodded. He said: "Sign the verdict and wait a moment. I'll go in and ask for details, and I'll send you out later."
Yao Hua said: "The counselor is my boss, so I will naturally obey orders. However, the affairs of Xiangyang Mansion cannot be hidden from Commander Jies. I dare not hide them from Commander Jies. We have been waiting here for a long time. If Commander Jies gets the news, what will happen to us?" Neither is good.”
"I understand." Chen Qiudao nodded, his face turned gloomy for a moment. When I stood up, my feet slipped and I almost fell.
Back in the back hall, Chen Qiudao leaned on his chair and closed his eyes for a while to recover. Then he said to the people around him: "Ask Zheng Yiren to come see me immediately!"
After a while, a middle-aged man in his forties came in. Seeing Chen Qiudao's face ashen and his eyes staring at him like lightning, he was so frightened that he knelt on the ground involuntarily. His whole body was like sieve chaff, shaking incessantly.
Chen Qiudao asked in a deep voice: "Yao Xuan from Xiangyang Prefecture is sitting outside now. He said that you and others were accomplices in running a gambling boat on the Han River. Now that you have committed the crime, you will be brought before the official. Tell me, this is Were you involved?"
Zheng Yiren heard that Chen Qiudao's tone was not good, so he lay on the ground and kept kowtowing.
Chen Qiudao said: "Liu Lang, when I became an official, your father personally handed you into my hands. These years of wandering around, you have suffered a lot by my side. But now, you have caused me misery!" "
Speaking of this, Chen Qiudao slammed the chair with mixed feelings in his heart.
Zheng Yiren kowtowed repeatedly. Said: "I was confused for a while, thinking that I could easily make some money, and think about it for the rest of my life. Official, I have always been cautious in doing things. Those who lost money on the gambling boat were either businessmen or factory owners, and there was no such thing as People in officialdom. In the eyes of officials, what is this big deal? Just tell Xiangyang Mansion and tell them not to investigate."
"Hahaha, you said it so easily!" Chen Qiudao laughed angrily after hearing this. "I am the Councilor of the Department of Construction. You are right. I won't let the Xiangyang Mansion investigate. How can they continue to investigate? But you forgot, I am just a councilor! Who dares to hide the affairs of the Xiangyang Mansion? Handsome! Do you think Jieshuai will pretend that nothing happened?"
Having said this, Chen Qiudao stood up and walked back and forth several times. He suddenly turned around and asked: "I just want to ask you, in my family, who else is involved besides you? Are any of my sons involved?"
Zheng Yiren said hurriedly: "Officials, several people in the small house are studying peacefully, and no one is involved in this matter. There are only a few servants who are familiar with me. They were greedy for money, so they did this thing together."
Chen Qiudao said: "Now that the incident has happened, there is no other way. You can go to Xiangyang Mansion to see the official. Don't worry, I will take good care of your family, as we have done as master and servant over the years. Don't think about other things, just be honest confession!"
After saying that, regardless of Zheng Yiren who was kowtowing on the ground, he quickly walked out of the room. Two servants came in, grabbed Zheng Yiren, took him outside to the living room, and beat him to the ground.
Chen Qiudao cupped his hands to Yao Hua and said, "I asked just now that this rebellious servant was actually involved in the boat gambling. Just go ahead with the signing and take him away. There are several other servants who participated. I'll take you to Xiangyang Mansion."
Yao Hua said: "Counsellor, since I'm here, of course all the prisoners will be taken away together. Forgive me!"
Chen Qiudao sighed secretly. It was hard to say anything, and he ordered his family to find those few. Together with Zheng Yiren, Yao Hua and others were taken into custody. As I watched, I felt mixed emotions in my heart.
After taking the prisoner, Yao Hua said to Chen Qiudao: "I have official business, so I will take my leave now."
Seeing Yao Hua and others leaving, Chen Qiudao was a little distracted for a moment. I have been an official for many years and have always been diligent and diligent. I never thought that this kind of thing would happen. As the head of the civil affairs officials under Wang Xiaolie, how should I talk about this matter!
Back home, I just had a few sips of tea. Suddenly, family members came to report that Councilor Chen Yuyi had sent a message asking Chen Qiudao to go to the Zhizhi Envoy Office immediately.
Chen Qiudao suddenly remembered that Wang Xiaolie's rules were different from those in other places. Zheng Yiren is his servant, and it is not an ordinary employment relationship, but a relationship of living together and sharing wealth. In such a relationship, if Zheng Yiren committed a crime, how could he stay out of it? Now Chen Yuyi's duty is to supervise officials. What good thing can he do if he is allowed to appoint envoys?
