Chapter 114

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Protagonist:

Song Miao

The slaughterhouse had its door open.

The patrol soldiers went up and found the manager, identified themselves, and the other party was not nervous at all, only somewhat impatient, saying: "My lords, you've already searched back and forth many times, why search again?! How are people supposed to do business!"

Han Li did not wrangle with him, only asking: "Is your master in or not?"

The other party said: "These past few days the rain hasn't stopped, he's gone back to his hometown."

Han Li nodded, signaling the Chai Guan to lead the patrol soldiers and patrol officers into the courtyard to search.

A moment later, the leader came back to report, and indeed nothing was found.

The manager had a look of both anger and not daring to be angry, saying: "My lords, this little one knows you're looking for that bad meat jerky, but it truly has nothing to do with our household, who can withstand being searched back and forth like this? Can business still be done? Better go look elsewhere, don't let the bad person get away!"

Han Li ignored him, bringing people along according to the position Xiao Lian mentioned, conveniently going to the kitchen first.

The kitchen was very large, empty inside with not a single person, but there were fully five or six large stoves, over ten pots, the pots all extremely deep and large, and also large-sized spatulas, sticks and other kitchen utensils.

The manager followed step by step, trailing behind, and seeing Han Li looking at the pots and stoves, immediately explained: "It's for when killing pigs and sheep, used to boil hot water, for scalding hair and skin."

Han Li then went to look at the various cabinets.

However they were all ordinary kitchen supplies, but there was no rice or flour, all were spices.

The spices were not only many in variety, but also large in quantity.

The most numerous was fermented black beans.

Fermented black beans weren't even stored in cabinets, but directly piled in the kitchen corner, one large bag after another, fully over ten bags.

Han Li stepped forward and opened several bags to inspect.

The manager hurried to help, even scooping some out in a bowl to show everyone present, saying: "They're all fermented black beans! If my lords like them, I'll pack some for you to take back!"

Han Li let go, shook his head, and asked: "You buy this much, can you finish eating it?"

The manager said: "Originally the master wanted to do a grocery business, it didn't get off the ground, leaving many things, the rest were all disposed of, but these fermented black beans couldn't be sold, fortunately they keep well, with those unsellable offal and lean meat, stir-fry and boil with this, everyone is happy to eat."

Better not to speak, the more he spoke, the more mistakes he made.

No rice or flour at all, just dry-eat meat?

Such a kitchen, even if there were no clues before, stepping in now, a few questions and answers, seeing the flaws inside everywhere, it was simply like a stark naked burly man standing before you, baring his hairy chest and belly and three legs, still pinching an orchid finger, pinching his throat to call himself a little woman, a slave girl.

But Han Li only nodded, and did not speak.

He brought people toward the back courtyard.

The back courtyard was very large, very empty, only two or three people rinsing the slaughtering platform, cleaning up filth.

A patrol officer asked: "Where did all the people go?"

The manager stepped forward and said: "It's exactly mealtime, they've all gone to eat — these past days there's been much rain, fewer pigs and sheep killed, normally three or four gates' worth enter, now only one or half a gate, originally noon also needed a kill, now after killing at night there's nothing to do, the cook's hometown was flooded, went home to move things, everyone just has to eat on their own."

With veiled insinuation he said: "This business is hard enough as it is, only hoping to provoke less trouble, otherwise my lords come knocking every three days, the master's days are hard, and us workers down below have it even harder!"

Han Li did not respond, walking straight ahead along the wall side.

Before long, he smelled a stench.

Carefully distinguishing, it seemed like rotten meat smell mixed with urine stench.

But the slaughterhouse is originally very smelly, ordinary people coming would only cover their mouth and nose, hurry past, not necessarily feeling there's any problem.

The back courtyard was open-air, the ground pitted and uneven, many places had standing water.

Soon, Han Li stopped at a corner of the courtyard, turned and asked the manager: "Isn't it too smelly here?"

The manager laughed: "My lord, a place for killing pigs and sheep, where is there one that doesn't stink?"

Speaking he sniffed, then looked left and right, saying: "This is where our courtyard dumps dirty hair and stinky water, recently rain has been plentiful, indeed a bit smellier, this is downwind, my lords don't stand here, lest you get a foot full of filth!"

Speaking he tried to lead everyone to one side.

Han Li only shook his head, saying: "The stench is wrong."

He pointed toward the empty ground ahead, saying: "Dig this place open and have a look."

The manager's face changed, just now wanting to stop them, but the patrol soldiers and patrol officers behind all responded in unison, already stepping forward.

When everyone came they had already brought iron hoes and iron shovels, at this time each took one, and started shoveling right there.

Compared to other places, this patch of muddy ground Han Li selected was even more miry, even more rotten, everyone dug one shovel of rotten mud, dug again and another shovel of water.

Seeing everyone dig for half a day, underneath still just ordinary muddy ground, the manager accompanied with a smile: "My lord, already dug about a chi deep, is it about enough?"

Han Li said: "If there's nothing, naturally I'll have the soil filled back for you, no need to worry."

Speaking, he himself also took an iron hoe, went over and dug the ground together with everyone.

The manager could only smile embarrassedly, stood for half a day, staring at everyone's movements.

Seeing it was already nearly two chi deep, still nothing, but whether patrol soldiers or patrol officers, not a single one complained half a bit, no sign of stopping hands, the manager suddenly quietly retreated two steps, turned and was just about to leave, already reached the courtyard gate, was stopped by the gate-guarding patrol soldier, asking: "Where are you going?"

"I... this little one's belly hurts..."

The manager hurriedly covered his belly: "This little one needs to go to the toilet!"

The patrol soldier said: "I'll go with you."

But the two had only walked a few steps when suddenly from behind in the courtyard someone shouted: "Dug something up — what is this?"

"So much meat!"

"Ugh, what meat, stinks to death!"

"Where's that manager's person just now?"

The manager at first still covered his belly, steps staggering, hearing the sound from behind, instantly took off running.

Not only him, but the two or three men in the courtyard who had been slowly rinsing the ground and tidying the yard also immediately threw down what they were holding and ran after him toward the outside of the courtyard.

The whole group of patrol soldiers and patrol officers grew excited at once.

Someone immediately blew a whistle.

They had been impatient for a long time.

Digging this deep in the rain and finding nothing — if it weren't for the fact that they had previously followed Han Li to crack the gambling house case and trusted him deeply, and that he was now leading by doing it himself, everyone would have stopped work long ago.

But once something was dug up, and they now saw people in the courtyard fleeing outside one after another, it was as if the crowns of their heads had opened up — they couldn't be more invigorated!

There's definitely something wrong!

If there's nothing wrong, why are you running?

Be they patrol soldiers or patrol officers, on ordinary days they simply never get to see any major cases — petty theft and brawls are the daily routine.

Digging earth is not their forte, but catching thieves and people is as simple as eating and drinking!

"Halt!"

"Run again and we'll arrest you!"

"Thief, don't run!"

The whole group also threw down their shovels and iron hoes and gave chase.

Men had been stationed at the front and rear gates long ago; hearing the whistle, they immediately shut the doors.

Like catching turtles in a jar — that steward had his hands twisted behind his back by two patrol soldiers and could only cry "oh oh" and beg for mercy.

The remaining few only wanted to run; seeing they couldn't escape, they were about to resist, but hearing Han Li shout "Resisting arrest adds one degree to the crime," they all instantly lowered their flags and silenced their drums — not a single one struggled — and one immediately turned and shouted: "Sir Official, this matter has nothing to do with me, I'm just a handyman!"

Once someone started begging for mercy, the rest rushed to confess as if racing to be reborn — you one mouth, me one mouth — they shouted desperately.

"I don't know anything!"

"Wronged, Sir Official!"

"I have elderly and young at home, this time it's not my doing, Sir Official, I'll confess everything, can you not send me to prison??"

Before long, the things buried in the back courtyard were all dug open and brought up.

Large chunks of meat, wrapped in rotten mud, after being rinsed with water, surprisingly looked bright red and very fresh — but lean in close for a sniff and it's an extremely strong stench of corpse rot, making one retch.

"What meat is this?" Han Li asked.

"Horse meat!"

"Horse!"

Everyone answered in unison, vying to be first; that steward hesitated a few breaths, was a step slow, and regretted it so much he stamped his feet.

"Where did the horse meat come from, and why was it buried here?"

This time, the others couldn't answer, yet they vied to speak up.

"It was all meat the steward found people to haul back!"

"Meat the master had brought back, I'm just a handyman, I truly don't know!"

The steward who was named hurriedly tried to clear himself, saying: "This lowly one is also just someone who follows orders — took men to the place to receive the cargo, received it and handed it to others to process into goods, the rest I also don't know!!"

"How was the meat handled after it was brought back? Were those roe deer jerky and venison jerky made by you?"

"We did make some, but the meat jerky we made wasn't those meats."

"After receiving it, we buried it for several days, then dug it up and boiled it with fermented black beans and other spice water — boiled for a day and a night — then someone came to haul it away — the rest, we truly don't know!"

"Exactly, we've done this for so long and there was never any trouble — this time people suddenly died from eating it, it's definitely not the same stuff!"

Everyone shouted their innocence.

Even that steward cried bitterly: "I only helped transport and deliver goods — everything else I don't know!"

Han Li asked where the goods were collected and where they were delivered, first arranged men to notify nearby patrol soldiers, then had men stay to guard this place, finally took the physical evidence, covered the heads and faces of everyone including the steward, bound their hands and feet with shackles, and had them all sent back to the government office.

By the time the transport carriages arrived, a courtyard full of patrol soldiers and xunpu gathered together, all very happy.

"Brother Han, shall we investigate further down the line?!"

"The source must be right here — it can't escape; the boiled meat probably still needs a place to sun-dry — this place is too conspicuous, that's why they moved it out!"

"I heard many a censor searched for a long time and couldn't find this case — yet we got to take part and dug it up in less than half a day — that's really giving us face!" someone bragged.

"What's it got to do with you? You and I just dug dirt — it's still Brother Han leading well!"

"Can't I dig dirt well? Where did I say wrong? Isn't it very face-giving? Heh!"

Han Li smiled, cupped his fists at everyone, made a round of bows, and said: "Many thanks, everyone — that's enough, no need to investigate further — after all, it's the Left Courtyard's case, we're all extra-staff — we ate the meat, we must leave soup for others, otherwise even benefits will be hard to ask for."

Someone was a bit disappointed, sighed: "What a pity — such a big case, even if no merit is shared later, I still wanted to follow through to the end to see what the real story is."

But immediately someone comforted him: "It's not bad either — even if merit isn't easily shared, today we've broadened our horizons and gained face!"

Soon the carriages arrived, and Han Li assigned the men — who would stay on guard, who would escort the suspects, who would go report to the nearest censor.

Everyone accepted their orders respectively.

After giving instructions, he then said: "At most two hours, someone will definitely come to take over this place; as for those reporting the news, after the errands are done, all return to the government office and assemble — after roll call, if the hour is still early, everyone go home and rest early; if the hour is late and there's no other urgent matter, I'll treat everyone to a meal, so you don't go back and disturb your families — everyone worked hard today!"

He also asked what dietary restrictions they had and what they wanted to eat.

Everyone was quite embarrassed.

"Brother Han is still a Taixue student — if there's treating, it should be us treating!"

"Though a student, the ability to earn money is still there." Han Li smiled.

So someone said: "Government office business is never that fast — there's still handover afterward — if we're released by the hai hour that's already not bad — this rain is stifling, there's really no appetite — a bowl of soup noodles or soup rice noodles to settle the stomach will do!"

Everyone immediately agreed, all saying this was quick and they wanted to eat this.

Han Li naturally knew this was everyone not wanting him to pay too much, so he smiled: "I'll only advance the payment — later back at the office, I'll first ask the Patrol Commissioner to reimburse; if he's unwilling, Judge Qin will certainly be happy to pay this sum; if both sides refuse, Han is not so poor that he can't even afford to treat a good meal!"

Though he said so, seeing everyone insist, he didn't keep nagging, only planning to find a way to give a subsidy later.

A group of men escorted the carriage carrying the suspects toward the government office.

Rain poured without cease along the way, and standing water covered the road; in places the water rose even above the wheels and cart body, and the horses could not go on, so they had to take a detour.

Many people were detouring, stopping and starting all the way, and sure enough it was blocked.

While everyone was waiting, a patrol officer suddenly tugged the person beside him and said, "Hey, hey, look—isn't that Song Xiaoniangzi?"

Han Li had been sitting on his horse, and at these words he immediately turned his head.

He only glanced once, and found the right person in the crowd.

—Sure enough, not far away, Song Miao and Cheng Erniang each carried a basket on their backs, waiting in line to cross a floating bridge.

A patrol officer beside them said, "We were in too much of a rush this morning and didn't have time to return to the Xunpu before coming straight to the government office, and I don't know who got the meat shaomai and sweet cakes I ordered yesterday at a bargain!"

"Song Ji will be closed for the next few days and won't deliver breakfast—you've lost out big, and who knows when you'll get to eat again!"

Seeing the line ahead moving very slowly, Han Li simply dismounted, handed the reins to a patrol officer beside him, went straight forward, and walked up to Song Miao's side, calling out, "Song Stall Owner!"

Song Miao and Cheng Erniang had been detouring for half a day and were waiting to go to the meat shop ahead; hearing someone call, she turned and saw it was Han Li, smiled and answered, then asked, "Young Master Han, why are you here?"

Han Li smiled and said, "It's a long story."

He didn't explain much, only asking, "I heard you won't be setting up your stall tomorrow—do you have plans tonight? Can you spare some time?"

Song Miao said directly, "Young Master, please speak."

Han Li told her about wanting to treat the Xunpu and patrol soldiers to a meal, and added, "It'll probably be very late; everyone's been feeling stifled lately and has no appetite, so I'm asking Stall Owner to prepare some soup noodles or soup vermicelli—all old acquaintances of ours, anything at all, as long as it's appetizing and filling."

While speaking, he pulled a cloth bundle from his sleeve.

Song Miao took it, unwrapped it, and said, "Young Master left silver money with me last time; you don't need this much."

Han Li said, "Last time was my own expense; this time is for treating guests. With flooding everywhere today, meat and vegetable prices will surely rise—just take it, and if there's anything left, we can use it next time."

He added, "I might be back late, so please bear with the wait a little, or perhaps stay up late."

With business to do and money to earn, who would fear staying up late?

"Not setting up the stall tomorrow means no need to rise early," Song Miao said. "Young Master looks after my family's business—I can't thank you enough; what hardship is there? I'll definitely prepare everything and just wait for you to come!"

Her voice was very light and cheerful; as she spoke, she looked up again, saw several patrol officers in the distance looking over and waving, so she nodded back in return, offering a greeting gesture, and two shallow smile dimples floated onto her cheeks.

Meanwhile Han Li was ordering dinner for everyone; in the Left Courtyard of the Capital Prefecture Office, the judge was chewing rice with meat and vegetables of unknown flavor, eating while giving orders.

After arranging his subordinates' tasks, he urged them excitedly, "All of you, perk up! Since we've got usable clues, search properly this afternoon! The Right Courtyard cracked two major cases at once—if our Left Courtyard can't solve a single one, how can we face anyone? The Patrol Commissioner even borrowed a Taixue student from over there—are we going to let a student laugh at us?! I'm embarrassed for all of you!"

Just as he was speaking, someone hurried in from outside, standing at the doorway, hesitating whether to enter.

"What are you doing?"

The man hemmed and hawed for a while.

After searching all morning and finally getting some usable information, he was rushing people to verify it quickly, seeing the case as good as solved; the judge burned with impatience, having no patience at all, and snapped, "What are you hemming and hawing about? Speak quickly!"

The man had no choice but to say, "Sir... word came from outside that there's news from Chengdong—that... that Han Li, leading some people, found a slaughterhouse and dug up a lot of rotten meat, and is now sending the suspects and material evidence over..."

?? Food Friends, good evening; I heard that if you can climb to a relatively high position on the monthly ticket list, there will be an operations subsidy next month.

? If everyone has extra monthly tickets after voting for books you like, can you give them to Xiao Miao?

? I want to try to win some operations funds to help Operations Official Xiao Tu run events (although I still don't know what this event is about); I saw many other books where voting monthly tickets lets you join in grabbing point coin benefits—although not much, it seems very atmospheric—but giving to Xiao Miao has none, and I'm quite embarrassed QAQ.

? I only ask for the extra ones; everyone, please please don't scrape together monthly tickets just to vote ahhhhh!