Chapter 200： Do what you like

Chapter 200 Match what he likes

"Toxic?"

Ma Laifu frowned in fright, frowned tightly, and said in disbelief: "This is impossible, Sibao, you can't talk nonsense."

As he spoke, he tore open the shortbread, and said kindly to the little guy, "Sibao, can uncle help you tear the cake?"

"OK."

Little Sibao obediently leaned in front of him, waiting for him to tear up the cake and feed it into his mouth.

I didn't expect that the big and the small got along so well, Chu Nanzhi was surprised, and Ma Laifu asked with a smile: "Sibao, did you see the deer that uncle prepared for you when you passed by uncle's house?" Meat?"

Sibao nodded: "Yes, Grandpa Ma also stewed a deer leg for Grandpa County Magistrate and all of us to eat."

"What, that old guy."

Ma Laifu was about to curse angrily, but then he thought that it was because his uncle wanted to curry favor with the county officials, and the family had just slaughtered a cow so that no one would notice.

Anyway, it was also brought to the Chu family, just to make the group of servants cheaper.

Listening to the conversation between the two, Chu Nanzhi suddenly remembered that Ma Laifu had just said that there might be a problem with the salt in the dish, and immediately interrupted him: "Laifu, why do you think there is a problem with the salt in the meal?"

"There are so many people and officials appointed by the imperial court, and Yicheng has the courage to dare not poison. Sister Zhi thinks it's not a pot problem, so it can only be a salt problem."

Ma Laifu had a serious expression on his face, fixedly staring at the couple, and explained in detail:

"This Haikang County is not like Luyan Port. Because it is close to the sea, it is also a salt-producing area. I heard from my uncle that before the fish ponds were dug, the fish in the river and sea could not be salvaged a year. There is little land for planting, so each family concentrates on digging wells and boiling salt. This is used to support the whole family."

After a pause, he changed the topic immediately: "But the methods of making salt are all uneven, especially after the official operation of Yantie in these years, the government banned sea salt drying yards and sealed many unqualified salt wells. In order to survive, there are still many desperate people who open salt wells, process illegal salt, and even find some illegal salt dealers near the sea salt field."

"Oh, the government doesn't care about processing private salt under the eyes of the government?"

Chu Nanzhi is well aware of the importance of ancient salt and iron to the government's tax revenue. Now that it has a monopoly, it is inconceivable that it can still ignore these private salt dealers.

Ma Laifu curled his lips in resentment: "Well, of course we have to. They impose salt tax on these private salt dealers. The salt tax is too high, and the cost of well salt is higher than that of sea salt. Naturally, the salt dealers can only make salt. The method is opportunistic, in the past, everyone could not trust the salt sold by the government, but now as long as they hear that it is private salt, everyone is terrified, and no one dares to buy it."

Chu Nanzhi thought about it and nodded: "From what you said, there is indeed a possibility."

"you do not say."

Ma Laifu replied: "I used to sneak to see the salt wells of those private salt dealers in Sanghai Sea. The conditions are really simple. When encountering floods, many salt wells are filled with seawater, and the salt produced has a bitter taste. Now Some people have even found a way to sell this rough private salt to the Yandao Yamen, and now everyone doesn’t know who’s salt is good and who’s salt is bad, so it’s common to eat bad stomachs.”

Hearing this, Lin Jinxiao couldn't help showing deep worry in his eyes, faintly feeling that the people here were extremely unstable.

Although the management right of the salt and iron government is in the hands of the government, the production still depends on the salt people. The salt people would rather take risks and sell the private salt that has been squeezed deeply than produce salt for the government. This shows that the government treats the salt people The depth of the squeeze.

Through his thoughts, he suddenly thought of Zhu Xiancheng who was murdered, looked at Ma Laifu with a solemn expression, and asked slowly: "How much do you know about Zhu Xiancheng?"

Since it is a problem of salt, whether it is sea salt or well salt, if there is a problem, one meal or two will not kill people. It may not be a matter of one or two days to solve it, but the death of Zhu Xiancheng is an imminent problem to be solved.

He and Chu Nanzhi have a different way of thinking about problems, he likes to hit the key points directly, while Chu Nanzhi always finds out clues slowly by tapping around first.

Hearing him mention Zhu Xiancheng, Ma Laifu couldn't help showing admiration: "He is a rare good official, he is righteous, and he is willing to show compassion for us lower-class people. I often communicate with him at my uncle's house, and I also take him around the county. patrolled."

Bringing the topic to this point, Lin Jinxiao did not continue to ask, but looked at Chu Nanzhi with gentle eyes, and said meaningfully: "I'll go and see Mr. Hu and ask them about their situation. You and Lai Let's have a good talk about Zhu County Chancellor."

These days, he has understood that his wife is addicted to investigating cases. Since she can't stop what she wants to do, he might as well do what she likes and support her silently.

Chu Nanzhi saw him get up and leave, for some reason, that cold and aloof figure gradually warmed her heart at this moment.

Watching Lin Jinxiao disappear from his sight, Chu Nanzhi gradually recovered and continued to think about the case.

Looking for clues from Zhu Xiancheng is also in her plan, otherwise his relics will not be seized, but as far as the current progress is concerned, that step has not yet been reached.

Since Lin Jinxiao started this topic, Chu Nanzhi followed up obediently and asked, "How is Zhu Xiancheng's relationship with these officials in the county government, Laifu, do you know some of these things?"

"Hey, although I have never been an official, but the twists and turns in it are all the same, one thing on the surface and another thing on the secret."

Ma Laifu smiled wryly and said: "An official who is always looking for the welfare of the poor people, and he is a newcomer, how can he be better than the old fritters in the county government, and he respects them on the surface and fears them secretly."

"You know the world very well."

Looking at his mature and prudent appearance, Chu Nanzhi couldn't help laughing, and suddenly thought of the relics that she had seized, and motioned: "Let's go to Zhu County Chancellor's room to have a look."

"Okay, Sister Zhi, I know the room Master Zhu lives in, I'll take you there."

"it is good."

Ma Laifu got up happily, took Sibao out and ordered: "Sibao, uncle will take you out to play, but you have to promise uncle not to touch things randomly."

"Well, Uncle Laifu, I know, A Niang said that if something in someone else's house is damaged, you have to pay for it."

Little Sibao replied obediently, and looked at Chu Nanzhi with a smile.

"Well, our four treasures are always the most obedient."

Chu Nanzhi happily bent down to touch Sibao's little head, and went out together.

As soon as he went downstairs, he saw Kang Mingyuan and Tan Miao leading a group of yamen servants blocking the door, while Lin Jinxiao and Hu Maoxi were sitting at the side, listening to Kang Mingyuan scold Yicheng.

Chu Nanzhi strolled closer, and when he reached several people, Hu Maoxi couldn't hold it back anymore, and hurriedly got up and ran outside without caring about the official prestige in front of everyone.

Kang Mingyuan looked at the yamen servants and even the county magistrates in Luyan Port being so embarrassed in the posthouse in this county, he rubbed his hands in a state of desperation, then glared at Yicheng angrily, and shouted loudly: "Tan Yicheng, you If you don't investigate the matter thoroughly today, this official will definitely kill you."

(end of this chapter)