Chapter 124

·

·

·

Protagonist:

Song Miao

Han Li hadn't even rested for two days when he was urgently summoned back; naturally he knew something had happened. Upon entering the rear government office, before Kong Fuyang could come forward to report, the other Censors had already pulled him aside and briefed him on the matter.

There were also those familiar with Xin Feng who couldn't help but say: "Old Xin has really fallen into a pit this time. He ran himself ragged outside on this trip, and if Magistrate Qin doesn't protect him, not only may this merit not fall to him, he might even be reprimanded."

But the subordinates ultimately didn't understand the situation as clearly as Qin Jie did.

Han Li asked: "What exactly happened? Since the search had already succeeded, letting someone escape would be one thing, but how did he get injured?"

Qin Jie's expression was very displeased. He said: "The letter says Lv Mao is cunning and ruthless. In my view, it's mostly because Xin Feng himself was overconfident — this man has always acted crudely, refuses to follow regulations, and is stubbornly self-righteous, thinking he's the only one in heaven and earth who knows how to do things."

He had clearly been dissatisfied with Xin Feng for a long time, and now that he had a pretext, he began to complain.

"On top of that, he reported an injury, and is now recuperating in Baima County, so I can't even vent my anger, and still have to arrange people to take over his duties!"

Speaking, Qin Jie handed over the official documents at hand.

Han Li reached out to take them, and said: "Censor Xin is upright by nature, perhaps a bit reckless, but if it weren't truly beyond remedy, as long as he had a breath left, he wouldn't report an injury."

"Regardless of Xin Feng's true intentions or how hard he works, right now Lv Mao has escaped, and since he led the search team, he bears primary responsibility. I can speak a few more words for him, but whether the government office agrees is uncertain, and in the end, some punishment may still come down."

Han Li didn't speak, only lowered his head to read the documents.

It was unknown who had written this thing; it was very vague. He read it carefully but still found it strange, and said: "The inner details are unclear, but assigning blame is a small matter right now. The most important thing is to catch the person back first — are there any clues?"

Qin Jie shook his head: "How could it be that easy! People were arranged early on to search upstream and downstream; if there were progress, word would have been sent back long ago."

He added: "I've already borrowed five hundred Patrol Soldiers, who set out this morning to search along the river, just hoping to find this person."

He glanced at Han Li and said: "Zheng Yan, you and I are our own people, so I'm not afraid to tell you the truth. Xin Feng has been in the government office a long time and is rather unruly. I've knocked some sense into him several times, but he never improved. This time he's made such a mess of things, and though I want to help, it's difficult. In the end, I may have to let go."

"I called you here because I know you've been partnered with Xin Feng for a while and have much interaction. I feared you'd harbor resentment upon learning the follow-up handling, so I'm giving you a heads-up in advance, so you have a clear idea in your heart."

Han Li frowned and asked: "We still don't know the full story, nor have we caught the chief culprit, so are we rushing to handle it first?"

Qin Jie said: "You know best how tightly the Censorate is pressing this case. Though it's not urgent in these one or two days, at most we wait until month's end. If there's still no news by then, we must give an account, otherwise I can't answer to Prefect Zheng."

The words had been spoken to this extent. Han Li had originally wanted to say a few more things on Xin Feng's behalf, but seeing Qin Jie's attitude, he simply didn't waste any more time.

He said he was waiting for news, but he actually wasn't optimistic.

Searching is naturally useful, but judging from Lv Mao's past conduct and this confrontation, he is clearly bold and meticulous. This time they failed to catch him and even alerted him, so the follow-up won't be so easy.

Following this development, if they can't catch the person, Qin Jie is eight or nine times out of ten not going to help cover for him.

By then, an old Censor who has followed two cases from start to finish, running day and night until his shoes wear out, will return without even credit for hard work, and still be reprimanded.

Ever since coming to the Capital Prefecture Office, Han Li had worked with Xin Feng, and learned many things from him.

Although this man's temperament is impatient, and he sometimes says unpleasant things and does reckless deeds, his character and integrity are beyond reproach.

Thinking of the words Xin Feng spoke when he set out for the Capital Region to search and inspect, Han Li truly didn't want this passion to end up like this.

But he only nodded, indicating he understood, and didn't waste more time there, taking his leave first.

After leaving, he inquired about news inside the government office.

The letter sent back was vague, and the messenger knew nothing when asked, so there was basically no useful content.

He simply returned to the Taixue, first arranged the matters he had on hand, and early the next morning, went to rent a horse and went straight to the Song Family Eatery.

At that time Song Miao had just proofed the dough and was preparing to make pancakes. Hearing the movement, she answered the door and looked, saw the person standing outside, and was quite surprised, hurriedly wanting to invite him in.

But Han Li didn't enter, only exchanged a few simple pleasantries, then said: "I've come this time to explain a few whereabouts to Stall Owner Song — I have business to leave the city for a trip. Quickly, one or two days; slowly, three to five days. After I return, I'm afraid it won't be long before it's time for you and me to set out."

He asked Song Miao to slowly prepare her luggage these two days, and also said: "There will be a carriage this time. It's best to pack more rather than less. The situation ahead isn't too good, and many things may not be easy to buy."

Song Miao agreed.

Han Li added: "There is another matter I must tell you, so you have a bottom line in your heart."

He told of Xin Feng catching people in Baima County, and the thief chief escaping in the end, and said: "That day the gambling den was uprooted thanks to your reminder, and because of the gambling den matter, Lv Mao was dug out. Later the government office also kept watch at this eatery. Although they were individually warned not to leak it, there are still hidden dangers."

"Yesterday I already requested the Zhuque Gate Patrol Station and Patrol Soldiers to increase patrols in this area recently. Coincidentally, there's been a lot of rain lately. For safety's sake, if there's no urgent matter, Stall Owner Song had best not go out alone."

He handed over a letter.

Song Miao opened it to look, and it was several different disguise portrait sketches of Lv Mao and a transcribed Sea Capture Document.

"I guess Lv Mao will definitely disguise himself again, so based on his original appearance..." Han Li pointed at one of them, "I had a few more drawn. Although the probability of him returning to the capital isn't high, still please examine carefully, Stall Owner Song. If you see any suspicious person anywhere, even if they don't look like Lv Mao, they could be his remaining accomplices. At that time, don't think about anything else, just find a way to seek out Official Soldiers on the spot, and protecting yourself is paramount."

Hearing him finish explaining everything, Song Miao had to agree to each point. Seeing he was in a hurry, with a horse in tow behind him, she hesitated a moment, then asked: "Is Young Master Han going to find Censor Xin?"

Han Li nodded: "I'm going to Baima County to see how Censor Xin's injuries are."

Song Miao asked about the journey and silently calculated in her heart.

Even with a fast horse and whip, Baima County is at least half a day's journey from the Capital. With the current heavy rain and bad roads, it might take even longer — I'm afraid it will take most of the day.

She looked at the sky, then at the horse behind, and said: "I fear there will be much rain along the way, the roads are bad, and there may not always be shops to stop for meals. If Young Master isn't in a rush for this short while, why not lead the horse to the back courtyard to drink some water, eat a few mouthfuls of qumai, and have its mane combed — wait a moment, I'll make some biscuits."

This was just a suggestion at first; she thought she'd have to persuade him. Who knew the person opposite didn't even think, and agreed in one breath, actually leading the horse around the eatery's outer wall toward the back.

Song Miao hurriedly called to Cheng Erniang at the back from afar, asking her to help open the courtyard gate, then turned back to work.

In the morning she had originally planned to pan-fry pancakes. Now thinking of preparing dry rations for Han Li, she had many more considerations.

Best if they taste good cold, have flavor, can keep for a day without spoiling easily, and aren't dry or hard.

— How about making a Scallion Oil Pancake sealed with a layer of oil-su.

Her pancakes were originally half-scalded dough, and by now had proofed about seventy or eighty percent. The fire was ready, so she put lard into the wok, heated it, then added flour and ground Sichuan pepper grains, quickly stirring into a paste — this thing is oil-su.

Brushing oil-su on the pancake, with this layer in between, moisture doesn't easily escape, keeping the pancake from becoming dry and hard.

Just like when drinking soup, if a thick layer of oil floats on top, no matter how long the soup sits, it won't cool — half a day later it still burns the mouth. The oil blocks the steam from rising and carrying away the heat.

Not only that, the pancake is fragrant when the lard is hot, and after the lard cools and solidifies, it makes the layers separate and flake even more easily, giving a very pleasant tearing and soft texture — truly each has its own eating pleasure.

The oil-su fried well. Song Miao rolled the dough pieces into thin, round sheets, brushed oil-su, sprinkled salt, laid scallion grains, and sprinkled a small handful of white sesame seeds.

After the scallion granules are washed clean, they must be wiped dry with cloth, not leaving a single drop of water, lest it ruin the effect of the oil shortening.

At this moment, starting from the center and cutting outward with a casual slice, then rolling from one cut edge toward the other cut edge into a gathered long-umbrella shape, then pressing down from the pointed tip, pausing briefly, and then it goes to pan-fry.

Pan-frying uses very little oil, because it is meant to be eaten cold; too much oil easily becomes greasy. After both sides are fried fragrant, lightly sprinkle a bit of water along the pancake edge, cover with the pot lid, use the rising steam to simmer-cook the inner layers of the flatbread, only then uncover and fry again, frying out a crisp outer shell.

At this time this pancake is full of scallion fragrance, the outside golden yellow, one bite, crisp enough to shed crumbs, the inside yet seems to have a thousand hundred layers, extremely soft, teeth gently pull and it will be pulled into strands of flatbread.

The scallion granules have already been fried fragrant, gone is that pungent scallion bite, only fragrance remains; eating it the scallion is sweet, lard fragrance, wheat fragrance, scallion fragrance, and also scallion oil fragrance, faintly salty, eating three or five sheets at once still won't feel greasy.

Large wok pan-frying pancakes, one batch can fry quite a few sheets, very quickly Song Miao fried out a large plate, waited for the pancakes to cool, wrapped them in dried lotus leaves, then wrapped again in oil paper, and sent them to Han Li in the back courtyard.

Just then the horse's mane had been combed finished, and it drank half a bucket of water, ate a bowl of sparrow wheat — not daring to let it eat more, eat too much and it won't walk.

She delivered the pancakes, also did not exchange much polite talk with the other party, again saw the person out of the back courtyard, only then returned to the room, and told the matter to Cheng Erniang and her daughter, the two of them.

Both knew the severity, naturally agreed in full to be extra careful.

Song Miao then took out that portrait sketch and the sea capture document, first carefully identified them together with the two, and then using that sea capture document, taught the two to recognize characters.

Besides the sea capture document, Han Li also gave a portion of Lv Mao's characteristics that he himself had compiled.

This person's birthplace unknown, but speech carries some Minzhou accent; remaining appearance set aside for now, yet there is one distinctive difference — this person's right wrist and back of hand have three black moles in triangular opposition.

In the Song Family Eatery, three people here studied Lv Mao's characteristics; the other side, Han Li who took the scallion oil pancakes, once out of Suanzao Alley, taking advantage of the sky not yet fully bright, road pedestrians not many, quickly left the city, heading toward Baima County.

He departed early morning, only stopped once on the road, changed horses once, just ate a few pancakes on the way — indeed delicious — even so, the road truly bad to walk, by the time he arrived at the place, it had already passed midday.

Han Li asked people along the way, went to the county government courier station.

Baima County is a large county, after entering the gate, yet it took a good long while before an old courier soldier came out to greet; learning he was looking for Xin Feng, he said: "Censor Xin is in the back courtyard."

He presented his tally badge, because he saw Han Li's temperament was different, even hearing the other party declare himself without official identity, he did not dare slight him, and also said: "My hands are truly full of matters — many people up front urging for things, also need to deliver water deliver rice deliver vegetables, also need to tidy up, Young Master go find that Censor yourself!"

Han Li acknowledged and went.

That Xin Feng's room was however squeezed in the courier station's corner, the very last room.

He knocked on the door, after a good while, inside only then came a weak listless voice, saying: "Who is it, the door isn't locked……"

Han Li entered the door, and saw Xin Feng lying on the bed, upper body clothes neat, lower half only wearing a pair of crotch pants, revealing two dark thighs.

Xin Feng originally wore a long face, until he raised his head and saw the one entering was Han Li, instantly both startled and delighted, that dark face brightened, forced out a call: "Brother Han, how did you come!"

While calling, he struggled trying to climb up.

Only pitiful this Xin Feng formerly always full of vigor, this time shouted a throatful, that voice actually didn't travel far from the throat before it couldn't go up, replaced instead by a bout of coughing, that cough also very weak.

Han Li hurried a few steps forward, pressed the person down, originally wanted to pour water, saw the teapot in the room was empty, just about to go out to ask for some, Xin Feng said: "In this courier station altogether only two people, plus several higher officials arrived, no leisure to attend to here."

Tone quite pitiful.

Han Li then took the water kettle, himself went to the kitchen to fetch hot water, returned and poured a cup for Xin Feng to drink, first asked about injuries, learned ribs took a knife, though lost quite a bit of blood, but did not injure lungs and viscera, first two days not too good, yesterday already woke up, today spirit also improved some, additionally right leg fell and broke, fractured bone.

He was just about to offer a few words of comfort, Xin Feng already urgently said: "Brother, you came at just the right time! I'm not there, that group of fools who knows how they found people, afraid they'll let the person go — you hurry go keep watch!"

Han Li took the opportunity to question, only then learned the full ins and outs of this matter.

Originally Xin Feng the day before yesterday evening, brought two people along to search, searched to a large ship docked by the shore, saw a person of unclear origin, questioned closely, that person answered fluently, yet several details not quite right.

Xin Feng handled cases many years, naturally seasoned.

He followed this case for long, interrogated many suspects, though never seen Lv Mao in person, already quite familiar with his characteristics, at that time carefully examined the other party, although age and appearance seemed some difference, yet also not too far off, especially build similar, so used excuse someone lost valuable item, on one hand in name of preparing body search stabilized everyone on ship, on the other hand quietly sent someone back to report.

But the one sent did not return, Xin Feng instructed the partner to together search the ship's cabin people, that partner had only entered the government office a few months, eager for merit, couldn't wait long, went first to check the suspicious person, result indeed discovered a black mole on the other party's right wrist.

That partner official runner could hardly contain excitement, just about to seize the person, who knew the other side Lv Mao suddenly erupted, sleeve concealed knife, casually grabbed that partner official runner to use as threat.

Xin Feng seized a gap and rushed forward, entangled in struggle with the other party.

On the ship a moment of panic and chaos.

One person utterly without scruples, one person hesitant to act for fear of harming the hostage, the result imaginable.

In the end Xin Feng took a knife, and was also smashed by the falling partner runner breaking his leg, that Lv Mao however took the chance to flip over and jump into the river and escaped.