Chapter 96 - Chapter 96: Chapter 096 Different now (An additional chapter as a reward of 10,000 coins by Panni)

Chapter 96: Chapter 096 Different now (An additional chapter as a reward of 10,000 coins by Panni)

Translator: 549690339

At the same time, he felt that this Chu Jinnian was indeed intriguing.

Calling a lake where people have died a good scenic spot?

Could it be that he has a strange preference and only thinks places where murder has occurred are good?

After all, he works in the Ministry of Justice…

Perhaps over time, he developed this taste.

However, Xu Zhengping did not want to think too much or spend too much time with this high-ranking official from the capital city. Seeing that Chu Jinnian didn’t plan on keeping him, he hastily took his leave.

“This Xu Zhengping, doesn’t seem to be completely useless.”

After Xu Zhengping’s departure, Ning Feng poured a cup of tea for Chu Jinnian.

The newly gifted Longjing tea from the palace, some Princes, including the Fourth Prince, had received shares from the Emperor.

The Fourth Prince was not stingy and gave Chu Jinnian a large portion.

Chu Jinnian didn’t keep it in his mansion and brought all of it here. Paired with the spring water from the local mountain, the scent of the tea was strong and aromatic.

“Mhm.” Chu Jinnian took a sip of the tea and nodded: “His abilities are somewhat mediocre but he’s not a bad person.”

Xu Zhengping’s official uniform had washed white, his boots show sign of wear and tear, his face was dark and red due to the sun, a stark contrast to his neck’s color. It could be deduced that Xu Zhengping often visits the common people.

With the summer harvest approaching, this is the time when crops grow. How well the crops are growing and how properly the irrigation channels are working are matters of great importance. As a county magistrate, he must personally ensure the long-term stability and bountiful harvest of the county.

“In officialdom, there are many cunning and deceitful people. If a person is of good character, and a bit slow, can still serve as county magistrate.”

Chu Jinnian lightly tapped on the teacup with his slender fingers.

But, that’s about it.

Moving up further is probably impossible.

Just from the words he heard about being worried about the case but not showing any joy at gaining any rapport with him, it is clear that Xu Zhengping is not a man who is good at dealing with people.

However, such a person, if dedicated to his work and the welfare of the people, can still be seen as a blessing for the county.

Much better than those who only know about power struggles, and never care about the lives of the common people or the lives of others.

“The young master is right.” Ning Feng nodded in agreement and added: “Young Master, although this case happened to come across you, it looks like a typical murder case.”

“Are you really planning to wait for the case to be solved before returning to the capital city? If that’s the case, I’m afraid…”

I’m afraid it will delay Chu Jinnian’s business in the capital city.

“It doesn’t matter, send a message there, just say I got a cold, and I’ll be a few days delayed.” Chu Jinnian said without much concern.

“But, in these few days…”

Probably not enough, right? It’s a bit difficult to check out a person with an unknown identity, let alone finding out all the reasons.

Ning Feng felt that, a few days, would definitely not be enough.

Chu Jinnian’s eyes dimmed: “Enough, once this person is found, he must be dealt with as soon as possible, just wait and see. In at most two days, we will know this person’s identity.”

Ning Feng was shocked.

He was surprised at how certain Chu Jinnian was, looking as if he already knew everything.

“You’ll know in a couple of days.” Chu Jinnian raised his hand: “Where are the things that were found on his body?”

“Here.” Ning Feng ordered someone to bring it over.

Since it was an item from the dead, Ning Feng was very careful. He wrapped it in a cloth and placed it in a wooden box before showing it to Chu Jinnian from a distance.

It was a bean pod-shaped jade pendant, the size of a thumb, hanging on a thin red string.

When it was found, this small jade pendant was hidden in the man’s hair bun, tightly wrapped in his hair.

Probably because it was so well concealed, it wasn’t taken away by anyone and became the only thing that could help identify him.

As it happens, he recognized this item.

Indeed, some things and some people are different from before.

Chu Jinnian frowned for a moment before finally releasing it: “Let’s go, it’s getting late, Jinzhou is probably anxiously waiting in the garden.”

Having spoken, he stood, and walked towards his carriage.

Ning Feng quickly had the others hurry along, after tidying up, they hastened the carriage on its way back.

After finishing the lunchtime bustle, when he had a free moment in the afternoon, Zhang Yongchang made a trip to the county town to tell the old friends that tofu would be available from the next day.

After returning from the county town, Zhang Yongchang thought about it and headed for Changji Tofu.

At that moment, Changji Tofu, just like before, was busy pouring the decent tofu curds into the mold, ready to press them into tofu.

Although the shop manager of Changji Tofu was Chang Yuanda, he mainly went around and looked around, responsible for selling tofu everywhere. The tofu making mainly relied on the hired old master. Therefore, even if he was not there, the tofu shop could normally operate.

In the past, the tofu from Changji Tofu shop was made in the early morning, but because Zhuang Qingning and the others bought tofu in the town early in the morning, it was hard to sell Changji’s tofu. If it was kept until the evening, it was even colder, so they simply changed it to sell tofu in the evening, and they could sell a lot of it hot.

“Brother-in-law.” Mrs. Xiao Wu happened to be in the tofu shop. When she saw Zhang Yongchang coming, she lifted her eyelids, “Why do you have time to come to the tofu shop today?”

Neither cold nor hot, even somewhat unkind.

“Didn’t Fushun Tower stop using tofu from Changji a long time ago? Are you here today to see how our tofu can’t be sold?”

Xu Zhengping was dissatisfied with Zhang Yongchang’s decision to stop using tofu from Changji Tofu. Naturally, Mrs. Wu was also not pleased.

Her resentment was even deeper than that of Chang Yuanda.

“After all, we are in-laws, but you even turn a blind eye to us. And now, you’re even helping outsiders suppress our family’s business. I really don’t know what you’re thinking.”

“Why, these past few days, I heard that you went to the county town and helped that peddler girl sell a lot of tofu? I find it strange, what benefits did the girl promise you? That you help them sell tofu so eagerly, regardless of the difficulty of our own business?”

“If my sister hadn’t passed away, I would really ask her how did she get such an ‘affectionate’ brother-in-law who can do such things.”

Being berated, Zhang Yongchang’s face didn’t look so good.

“We have always used what is good.. If the tofu from Changji Tofu Shop is not as good as others, should I not be able to use others’?”