Chapter 148: He Guizhou

Ruan Fengshan changed into new clothes, sat in a small blue-cloth sedan chair, and walked into the County Government Office when the sky was fully bright.

Judging from the information interrogated from Zhou An, this matter was stirred up by him and the Gang Leader of the Bitter Fate Gang, Yu Wenlong. As for that yamen runner who set off a Sky Lantern and signaled at the South City gate, his name is He Guizhou, and this person is a childhood friend of Yu Wenlong.

A "Rice" character Sky Lantern means the gold has left the city, everything is as usual, and proceed according to plan!

A "One" character Sky Lantern means there is a change in the situation, evacuate immediately!

Knowing that the person involved in this matter within the County Government Office was only a small leader of the city gate yamen runners, the worry that had been in Ruan Fengshan's heart finally dissipated.

If the people involved in this matter within the County Government Office were too deep, he would not be prepared to pursue it further, but if it were only a He Guizhou, how could he tolerate him?

Seeing that the sky was already bright, He Guizhou stood at the window of the duty room and yawned; from the window of the duty room, one could see the Official Road outside the South City gate.

On the clean-surfaced Official Road, there were only a few scattered pedestrians, like black dots...

"It seems things are progressing quite smoothly..." He Guizhou glanced at the "One" character Sky Lantern by his feet and muttered to himself.

Last night, he had carefully inspected everyone leaving the city and did not find any suspicious people, and up to this moment there was no abnormality; it seems the cart of gold that left the city has already been successfully obtained.

Just at this moment, noisy sounds began to come from outside; it was the team of yamen runners coming to change shifts.

He Guizhou immediately flashed out of the duty room, patted the leader of the shift-changing yamen runners, and laughed: "Lao Guo, thanks!"

"What are you thanking for? Isn't changing shifts a common thing? Who doesn't have an urgent matter!"

"After the shift ends tonight, I'll treat you to a drink!" He Guizhou laughed.

"That would be great!" The yamen runner called Lao Guo said happily: "These past few days, my alcohol cravings have been surging!"

The two chatted for a few sentences, and He Guizhou was preparing to finish his shift and go back to wait for Yu Wenlong's news, but just at this moment, Yang Zhen suddenly brought a few Constables over and arrested He Guizhou.

"Yang Zhen, we are all brothers who see each other every day, what are you doing?" He Guizhou shouted at Yang Zhen.

Yang Zhen cupped his fists and said: "Leader He, I am also acting under orders. Please forgive me for any offense!"

"Orders? Whose orders?"

"The County Magistrate!" Yang Zhen shouted.

Upon hearing this, He Guizhou's complexion changed!

"Take him away!" Yang Zhen shouted at those few Constables, while he himself rushed into the duty room, scanned it with his eyes, and looked toward the corner of the wall.

Yang Zhen walked over, picked up the "One" character Sky Lantern that had not yet been released, and walked quickly out of the duty room.

Yang Zhen led the Constables to escort He Guizhou directly to the main hall.

When He Guizhou arrived at the main hall, he saw Shen Yanliu sitting behind the large desk with a gloomy face, while Ruan Fengshan was sitting on a grand armchair, seated right to the right of the large desk.

He Guizhou's heart suddenly skipped a beat.

As soon as Shen Yanliu saw He Guizhou, he shouted coldly: "He Guizhou, do you know your crime?"

He Guizhou's eyes rolled, and he immediately knelt down and said: "Since I took the post of city gate leader, I have been too lazy, and I have been lax in disciplining the yamen runners under my command! If there are any lapses, I ask the County Magistrate to punish me!"

Shen Yanliu was angered into a laugh by He Guizhou's evasive and nonsensical attitude; his gaze swept over Yang Zhen behind him, and Yang Zhen threw the "One" character Sky Lantern in his hand in front of He Guizhou.

"I ask you, what is the secret signal of this 'One' character Sky Lantern?" Shen Yanliu said coldly.

"Secret signal?" He Guizhou put on a surprised expression and said: "This was a Sky Lantern I made a few days ago for the Grain Full festival; it's just that this one was left in the duty room and I forgot to release it..."

Shen Yanliu slapped the gavel with a 'bang' and said angrily: "He Guizhou, you still dare to spout nonsense? Speak! Are you and that Yu Wenlong childhood friends, and how did you plot this?"

Seeing that Shen Yanliu had directly pointed out Yu Wenlong, He Guizhou's heart suddenly became a bit panicked.

Just at this moment, Ruan Fengshan suddenly said: "A 'Rice' character Sky Lantern means the gold has left the city, everything is as usual, and proceed according to plan! A 'One' character Sky Lantern means there is a change in the situation, evacuate immediately! He Guizhou, is this true or not?"

Seeing that Ruan Fengshan had actually pointed out the secret signal he and Yu Wenlong had agreed upon beforehand in one sentence, his legs immediately went weak.

"You know my methods, do you want to undergo torture before confessing?" Shen Yanliu suddenly looked at He Guizhou with a cold gaze and said.

As soon as He Guizhou touched that gaze of Shen Yanliu, his mind trembled; when Shen Yanliu used torture, it was even more cruel than Xie Daohan.

He Guizhou knelt on the ground, kowtowing like a chick pecking at rice, and said: "County Magistrate, this lowly one was momentarily possessed by a ghost. That Yu Wenlong promised me five thousand taels of silver just to let me release a Sky Lantern. He said there wouldn't be any trouble... I was also deceived by him... County Magistrate..."

A look of disgust appeared on Shen Yanliu's face; he looked at Yang Zhen and said: "Drag him down! Skin him! Parade him through the streets!"

"Yes!" Yang Zhen cupped his fists and said; with a wave of his hand, two Constables rushed in and dragged away He Guizhou, who was as limp as a noodle.

Ruan Fengshan slowly stood up, cupped his fists toward Shen Yanliu, and said: "Thank you, County Magistrate, for upholding justice for me!"

"Manager Ruan, there is no need to be polite. Your reporting this is also helping me clean up my house, lest people think that I, this County Magistrate, am condoning such a piece of rat excrement hiding in the Ya Men?"

Ruan Fengshan naturally heard the malice in Shen Yanliu's words, so he immediately laughed: "County Magistrate, you have always loved the people like your own children, and your laws are strict! Who would dare to wag their tongues?"

Shen Yanliu sneered and said: "The cause of this matter still lies within the Yuanshun Escort Agency; it is what they call a disaster starting from within the walls. Manager Ruan, you must be observant!"

"Yes... yes..." A layer of cold sweat broke out on Ruan Fengshan's forehead, and he said: "I will definitely learn from this lesson and strictly investigate internal affairs!"

"That is very good!" Seeing Ruan Fengshan's attitude soften, Shen Yanliu's stern expression also eased a bit, and he said: "Manager Ruan, I have some newly picked Poria tea here; shall we go to the back hall and taste a cup?"

"Thank you, County Magistrate! The County Magistrate is busy with official business, I dare not disturb you any further! I will take my leave!" Ruan Fengshan said, and with a sorrowful expression, he retreated from the main hall.

Seeing Ruan Fengshan retreat, Shen Yanliu flicked his sleeves and went to the back hall himself.

Duan Rong slept until after noon before waking up; he spat out a breath of stale air, felt comfortable all over, hugged his blanket, and hummed happily.

Duan Rong dawdled on the bed for a good while before getting out of bed, picked the sleep from his eyes, and took the wooden basin in the corner to the well to wash up.

In his sleep, the lingering shadows of his dreams of Blue Star had already been completely cast to the back of his mind...

Isn't this the same as an adult thinking about childhood? Can you go back? If you can't go back, what's the point of thinking about it!

After washing up, Duan Rong stretched, then strolled out of the Escort Agency, preparing to go to the street to eat something; although he missed the food in the Middle Courtyard canteen, it was already past the meal time.

Just as Duan Rong walked to the entrance of the Escort Agency, the gatekeeper Ma Wentao suddenly darted out, greeted Duan Rong, and stuffed two pears into Duan Rong's arms, saying they were newly harvested pears and asking Duan Rong to have a taste.

That enthusiasm left Duan Rong stunned.

Eating the crisp and sweet pear, Duan Rong walked on the street, recalling Ma Wentao's expression, and said: "It seems this Ma Wentao is truly grateful to me. Also, after all, the wealth of his whole family is tied to that little child Ruan Jing..."

If Ruan Jing were really gone, it probably wouldn't be long before Ruan Fengshan would dismiss this gatekeeper; after all, seeing an object reminds one of the person, why keep an old person in front of one's eyes and make oneself unhappy?

On the street, Duan Rong ate two flatbreads and a large bowl of beef soup, with plenty of chili oil and vinegar added; he was so satisfied!

After eating this meal, Duan Rong suddenly felt as if he had been fully revived, and the faint happiness radiating from his stomach lingered in his body for a long time...

Duan Rong returned to the Escort Agency, while breaking off a thin twig to pick his teeth, he walked swaying; just as he walked to the Martial Arts Arena, a Guard came over and shouted: "Escort Duan, the Manager invites you to the Gathering Justice Hall in the Back Courtyard!"

Duan Rong spat out the bits of meat he had picked from his teeth and immediately asked, "What is it?"

"I was only keeping watch outside the door; I truly do not know what was being discussed in the hall," the Guard replied, his eyes darting around, his answer giving nothing away.

(End of chapter)