C86

Xiaowan was no longer as afraid as she was in the past. She could make the county magistrate lose his mind for once and that would make him lose his mind for the rest of his life. It was just that he was confused as to what the county magistrate was thinking and could take anything from Ling Chaofeng.

"Husband, I'll wait for your return." The Xiaowan was more and more calm, this made Ling Chaofeng very pleased, and he smiled at her indifferently, "I'll be back soon."

When they left, Susu saw that nobody was nervous, especially the Xiaowan. She didn't dare show her face, so she quietly accompanied the Xiaowan and waited together.

When Ling Chaofeng arrived at the town's yamen, the county magistrate was already standing in front of the yamen as he shouted loudly. He said that within three days he would definitely give an explanation to all the villagers, and hearing that, Ling Chaofeng had a plan in his mind.

He placed the blame on Ling Chaofeng, saying that if his underworld path was open, there must be a way for him to find out more about those people, and allowed him to hand over the clues of the thieves within three days, if possible, he could capture them immediately.

While they were talking, Master had already registered the names of all the victims. The dozens of families who had been cheated for buying antiques had suffered a loss of five hundred silver taels. The county magistrate frowned.

The Grand Master said, "But in the past two days, hundreds of families have been robbed. Each family has their own coffins, some hundreds of silver taels, some even dozens of silver taels. They are all crying and crying because they want you to be the judge for them."

Unexpectedly, that county magistrate snorted lightly. "I didn't expect that in this small county, the families of the commoners would be rich, no wonder the Prefect Liang was so angry at me. When he was serving as the county magistrate, he was always trying to get something out of it."

Ling Chaofeng listened on the side with an indifferent expression, while the Grand Master used all his strength to give the county magistrate a look, reminding him to be careful with his words.

The county magistrate then said coldly, "I've instructed you to take care of this matter. You will be taking care of it now, since this inn is in charge of my Baisha Town and is protected by the yamen. Now is the time for you to repay my gratitude."

Master was very polite, he went up and said: "Manager Ling, if there is anything you need assistance with, just tell me."

Ling Chaofeng said indifferently: "Three days later, this little one will see Master again."

The county magistrate waved his hands, telling him to investigate the case as soon as possible.

When Ling Chaofeng walked out of the main entrance, a large majority of the people had already left. Just now, the place was extremely crowded, it was possible that in three days, this group of people would barge into the Ling Xiao Inn with jealousy, and they could tear down the inn.

Although the county magistrate did not say it out loud, his goal must be the inn. If he could not catch the thief, he would treat the inn as his accomplice, and the Prefect Liang would naturally not allow him to do so.

Ling Chaofeng laughed coldly, this idiot, how did he suddenly become enlightened, could it be that someone was giving him some advice from behind the scenes, was it the Grand Master, or was it …

"Manager Ling!" Suddenly, he heard a familiar voice, and it was also the voice that Ling Chaofeng loathed. Seeing Madam Xu running out from the crowd, when she saw her, she was surprised.

It was as if he had aged ten years in just a few days, and no longer had the aura of acuteness. When he saw Ling Chaofeng, he cried and wailed, "Our family has been robbed, Xiaowan's betrothal gift has been stolen, Xiaowan's father's savings from so many years of work has been gone as well …"

She sobbed and pleaded, "Manager Ling, I beg you, you have seen too much. Do you know how to catch a thief? Without money, what will our future be like? Xiaowan's twin brothers and sisters are going to starve to death … "

The pity was pitiful, but Ling Chaofeng didn't have that much sympathy to give to her. He indifferently looked and listened, and after seeing that Madam Xu had finished crying, he took care of himself and left.

"Aiya, I'm not going to live anymore …" Madam Xu sat on the ground as she cried out, "You beast of the Heavenly Demon Realm, how am I going to live if you steal my money …"

Ling Chaofeng had already left. The yamen runners had come to drive away the remaining commoners, so it was naturally intolerable for Madam Xu to do this. No matter how spicy she was, she was afraid of the board that was in yamen runner's hands.

Madam Xu cried as she dragged her legs weakly. Suddenly, someone stopped her.

Inside the tavern, Susu was looking around. When she saw the shopkeeper, she immediately shouted to the Xiaowan: "The shopkeeper is back."

Although she was no longer afraid, how could she not think about her husband? She quickly rushed forward and tightly hugged him.

"Idiot, Susu should be laughing at you." Ling Chaofeng took a whiff of the fragrance coming from Xiaowan's hair and hugged her, "If you reply in such a way, then I won't dare to go out anymore."

"That's not the same." Xiaowan touched Ling Chaofeng's body, "They didn't do anything to you, right?"

"I'm fine. No one can hurt me."

Ling Chaofeng brought Xiaowan back to the inn, and the whole family sat down to discuss it.

How could this be accomplished within three days? Those scammers had already gone missing for two days, and there was still a two days' journey to go.

The Uncle Biao said hatefully: This unconscious official, even if this matter passes, I'm afraid that he will have more things to deal with in the future.

Susu looked at everyone in fear. Xiaowan had told her before that there was nothing much to be afraid of when she came to the inn to work, but she was afraid that something bad would happen someday. A few days ago, when the mountain was full of people, they were still watching the commotion, but it suddenly became their problem.

It really didn't make sense.

"No matter what, I have to think of a way. If it doesn't work out, we will pay the villagers." Ling Chaofeng said, "I heard it at the yamen. Three thousand silver taels are prepared, it should be enough."

Susu's eyes widened, three thousand taels of silver was a gigantic sum of money. Even in the capital, selling off her previous family and her house was not even worth three thousand taels, and many of the rich and powerful families in the capital were living off the salary of the imperial government.

But in this small tavern, Manager Ling was actually able to take out three thousand taels of silver in one go.

Susu raised her head and looked over the entire inn again.

Aunt Zhang said angrily: "This idiot did not do anything, he threw the blame onto us, not to mention three thousand gold, he wouldn't even give us three coins."

Ling Chaofeng said: "He's not stupid this time, he knows he can't go against me openly, but the angered citizens are not to be trifled with, as long as he incites his fellow villagers to come at us with anger, he can rest easy. "Our reputation was not good to begin with. Everyone here believes in us."

The atmosphere in the shop was heavy, the Xiaowan sat by the side in silence, Susu seeing her like this, did not dare to casually interrupt.

Ling Chaofeng, on the other hand, was very calm. He first warned Ershan to not meddle in other people's business and to focus on studying in the house. He would invite Uncle Biao and Aunt Zhang to watch the tavern. He would like to avoid entertaining guests for the next few days, and only open the door to do business after the commotion had passed.

Then he said to Susu: "Maybe one day the villagers will come over. You can stay at home for the next few days and don't have to come to work. In a few days, Xiaowan will naturally come to notify you."

Susu pursed her lips and did not utter a word, only the shopkeeper saying to Xiaowan: "Tomorrow, let's go out together and think of a way."

Xiaowan nodded, but asked: "Is there any way?"

Ling Chaofeng said: "They should be planning to move on to another location, let's go further away and ask."

The Aunt Zhang was so mad that she slammed the table and said, "It's only been a few decades since the Daqi and the local officials have already started to do whatever they want. Are they preparing to go down in the country if they don't get more than three generations? "

Xiaowan was a country girl who had never thought of saying such disrespectful words before, but Susu had stayed in the capital before, and when he heard her, she became even more frightened. How could she know the origin of Aunt Zhang?

The Aunt Zhang was afraid that it would scare the children and left angrily.

Uncle Biao said, "No matter how angry you are, you have to eat. I'll go cook for you guys and when you're full, I'll take the Pig Slaughtering Knife and sit in front of the door. I'll see who dares to cause trouble."

On the way home, Susu said what she had to say and Da Qing said angrily: "This new county magistrate really isn't anything good. You know, he is still taxing at the pier, not even sparing our pitiful wages."

Susu sighed: "The shopkeeper told me not to go to the shop for the next few days, he was afraid that the villagers would cause trouble and hurt me, but I cannot hide, I am also a part of the inn, I still need to go, tomorrow morning, come and pick me up, alright?"

Da Qing quickly agreed and said: "I won't be going to the pier tomorrow. These few days, I will be staying at the inn too.

Susu's heart grew hot, she took out a handkerchief and handed it over: "The sky isn't hot yet, look at the sweat on your head, wipe it."

Da Qing did not dare to accept it, and casually wiped it with his sleeves: "Your handkerchief is so clean, do not let me dirty it."

Susu could not help but pout, and threw the handkerchief at him: "A handkerchief is used to wipe the skin, if not it would be used for nothing, you can just wash it and give it back to me."

Da Qing laughed and kept the handkerchief.

As they talked, they quickly returned to the village. The majority of the Baisha Village were for women and children, and those who were deceived and left empty doors were more than any other village. At this hour, there were very few people who cooked, the children were crying from hunger, Auntie Chen made some bread and sent it from house to house.

As the night fell and the inn closed, Ling Chaofeng suddenly realized that the Xiaowan was not in front of him.

Ling Chaofeng walked up the stairs and pushed the door open. Seeing that Xiaowan had stood up from the window, and seemed to be kneeling down there, young lady's expression was relaxed, his eyes shining brightly, it made him feel at ease.

"What are you doing?" Ling Chaofeng asked.

"Nothing." Xiaowan placed her hands behind her back and shook her body. She gently stroked the Jade Ring on her right hand.

Ling Chaofeng looked at her curiously. "Are you making a wish to the heavens?"

Xiaowan ignored him. "Don't ask, don't ask."

It was a peaceful night, and on the morning of the next day, Da Qing and Susu left the house before daybreak. They wanted to protect their Ling Xiao Inn, but the moment the carriage arrived at the door, it frightened them all.

"Shopkeeper … Shopkeeper …" Xiaowan was still dreaming when she was awakened by the commotion downstairs.