Chapter 119: Clue

The next day, Li Lin arrived at the county government office and found Huang Yan.

"County Lieutenant Li, what business brings you to this official?" Huang Yan said in a gentle tone.

Li Lin clasped his hands and said, "During my patrol yesterday, I discovered that Xingzhuang has a phenomenon of clandestine prostitution at night."

Hearing this, Huang Yan frowned slightly, then said, "Whether it is open prostitution or clandestine prostitution, just turn a blind eye. They are all people with bitter fates; do not collect taxes from them."

"But their limbs are incomplete, every single one of them."

While Li Lin spoke these words, he observed Huang Yan's expression.

Huang Yan raised his eyebrows, anger in his eyes: "Your meaning is... someone is organizingly forcing women into flesh trade?"

Li Lin nodded: "That can only be the conclusion."

Huang Yan narrowed his eyes slightly; he said in a calm tone, "This official knows nothing of this matter. It seems there is a power within this county town that I do not know of, and someone is helping to cover it up. Who do you think it is?"

Li Lin said, "Actually, it is not hard to guess. You, the County Magistrate, could not possibly do this. I have just become County Lieutenant and could not possibly do this either, so..."

"The County Assistant." Huang Yan snorted.

The County Assistant is the second-in-command of a county; theoretically, he should have considerable presence.

But the County Assistant of Yulin County is exceptionally low-key.

Li Lin rarely sees him; most of his time is spent in the 'Rites' office.

When the time comes, he goes home to rest.

He almost never manages affairs.

It seems he is just waiting until he reaches the age to retire and take a leave.

"Go investigate. If it is not the County Assistant, continue investigating downwards." Huang Yan's face turned cold: "I would like to see who is so bold as to do such things under my very nose."

Li Lin turned and left.

At this moment, Huang Yan's expression changed from cold to gentle; he was very satisfied with Li Lin's ability.

Only on the second day of his appointment, he had already found a major matter for himself.

He knew very well that he had managed Yulin County for over ten years, yet such a major matter was secretly lurking within.

If, upon actually taking office in Jincheng, this stain were to explode, the impact on his future career path would be significant.

"Is this the so-called lucky star?" he said with a smile.

Li Lin arrived at the Military Office, preparing to lead men on patrol, but unexpectedly discovered that the government office Runners staying in the Military Office courtyard had a somewhat strange atmosphere.

He counted the number of people and found one less than yesterday.

That young government office Runner who had 'suggested' to him to go look at Xingzhuang.

"Who is missing?" Li Lin asked.

"Xiao He is missing." Someone answered for him.

"Full name."

"He Shangjin."

"Did he request leave?"

"No."

Li Lin had a bad premonition in his heart, but he said with a normal expression: "Same as yesterday, divide into five patrols."

The other four patrols immediately left the courtyard; they felt the atmosphere was somewhat wrong and decided to leave first.

Li Lin smiled: "Who will lead the way? We will patrol to Xiao He's home to see what he is doing."

Then a middle-aged government office Runner was 'pushed' out.

"County Lieutenant..." the middle-aged government office Runner smiled very ingratiatingly.

"Lead the way."

"Okay."

Two incense sticks later, the middle-aged government office Runner led the group of men to a private residence.

Through the low courtyard wall, one could see someone moving inside.

"Xiao He, Xiao He!"

The middle-aged government office Runner shouted loudly.

Not long after, a young girl walked out from inside; her hair had the pale yellow hue of malnutrition, and she was very thin and small.

Seeing so many government office Runners standing outside when this girl came out, she immediately became frightened, trembling slightly, and kept her head down, daring not to look at people.

"Little girl, where is your brother? Why haven't we seen him come to work? The superior officials have come looking."

"Uncle De..." Hearing the word 'official' here, the girl became even more afraid; her voice became trembling: "Brother... is inside... unconscious."

Hearing these words, the government office Runners' expressions became even stranger.

This kind of expression had actually appeared yesterday when He Shangjin 'reported' the matter.

Li Lin naturally noticed it.

He frowned slightly, walked into the courtyard, and entered the room.

The room was not large; because the windows were small and low, the inside appeared very dim.

However, one could still see a person lying on the bed.

Li Lin walked over and found the person's face pale; reaching out to feel, his breath was faint and dying.

Li Lin's medical ability was now quite good; he grabbed the person's hand to take his pulse and found He Shangjin's pulse very weak; the main reason was that his essence and qi were almost empty.

"Is there any ginseng or similar in the house..."

Li Lin stopped halfway through his sentence.

Looking at the furnishings of this room, he also knew it was impossible to have any.

So he walked into the courtyard, took out a piece of broken silver, and said: "Who is willing to run to the pharmacy and buy a few ginseng roots back?"

"Me." It was still that middle-aged government office Runner.

"What is your name?"

"Reporting to my superior, Yu Tong."

"Good, I have noted it."

Yu Tong accepted the silver with both hands and ran quickly to a nearby pharmacy.

Li Lin's gaze swept over these government office Runners, he smiled slightly, and said nothing.

Li Lin's expression looked perfectly normal, yet anyone with even a modicum of emotional intelligence knew Li Lin was not to be provoked right now.

That young girl hid back inside the room, not daring to come out.

A group of government office Runners instinctively stood in formation, none daring to look at him.

The atmosphere grew quieter and quieter, and more and more oppressive.

After a while, Li Lin said: "Why are you all standing there dumbfounded? Go inside and help with some chores. It seems there are only two people in the Xiao He household; he is lying down, and his sister is still young... she cannot do much work. As colleagues, helping out is not excessive, is it?"

The government office Runners breathed a sigh of relief and immediately began working.

Some went to the well to draw water, others helped chop firewood.

At this moment, someone said: "County Commandant, that is not Xiao He's sister, it is his child bride!"

Li Lin scratched his head; the girl's call of 'Brother' had misled him, but for a child bride raised together from a young age, calling him 'Brother' was normal.

Not long after, Yu Tong returned with three ginseng roots.

He wanted to hand over the remaining dozen copper coins to Li Lin, but Li Lin did not take them, saying: "Keep it as your running fee."

The middle-aged government office Runner gratefully accepted it.

A crowd squeezed into the small house.

The ginseng roots were sliced, and two pieces were placed under He Shangjin's tongue; not long after, he woke up.

His face remained deathly pale; his gaze swept around the surroundings, saw Li Lin, and he tried to sit up.

Li Lin pressed him down, saying: "Lie down... what happened to you, why have you become like this?"

"Last night I stayed home the whole time, I did not go out..."

"But you are clearly lacking in vitality and spirit."

A government office Runner laughed out loud, but immediately covered his mouth.

He Shangjin thought for a moment, then said: "Last night I had a dream; in the dream there was a very beautiful woman who kept doing that with me..."

"I understand, rest well."

Li Lin left the room, looked around, and said: "Leave five people nearby to watch over Xiao He; if anything happens here, tell me immediately."

The result... no one was willing to stay.

Li Lin turned to look at them, smiling: "Judging by your looks, it seems you know what Xiao He's situation is all about! Can you tell me?"

A group of government office Runners hesitated and said nothing.

Li Lin did not get angry, turned around, and left, continuing his patrol.

As for Xiao He... he went to find Zhao Hao.

Zhao Hao's injuries had healed; he had only returned from Jincheng to Yulin County yesterday.

He first congratulated Li Lin on becoming the County Commandant; upon hearing Li Lin's request, he immediately agreed, secretly protecting Xiao He.

And Li Lin returned home.

He had a feeling that clues should appear tonight.

Indeed!

By nightfall, a stone was thrown from the direction of the backyard into his home.

The stone was wrapped in paper, and on the paper three characters were written crookedly.

Head Constable Yan!

(End of this chapter)