Chapter 57

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Protagonist:

Song Miao

Don't friends on the channel get to see when the Author has something to say?

Food Friends, please take note! Although I update one chapter a day, my word count is always that of two chapters, sometimes even three! Look at the word count, Food Friends, look at the word count o(╥﹏╥)o

The people in the Song Family Eatery each had their arrangements, while a few streets away, the situation in the Zhuque Gate Patrol Station was quite another matter.

Patrol Officer Ma led people in searching outside for half a day, finally returning after shirking his duties.

He had taken Diao Zi's money, and was actually thorough in seeing things through; as soon as he returned, he called the patrol officer on duty over and asked, "Has that young lady from the Song Family Eatery been summoned? How did the questioning go?"

The patrol officer at the head was unsure of his superior's intentions, so he said, "I summoned her early this morning according to your arrangement, intercepting her at her family's main gate. But there's an academy right next to the eatery, and for some reason, students actually came out from inside today. Fearing too many people coming and going, that young lady made a scene, so we didn't dare force her, and simply brought her along with the cart."

Patrol Officer Ma didn't bother with these details, but upon hearing the word "academy," his heart tightened, and he hurriedly asked, "Didn't those Taixue students see her?"

"They didn't see her..." the patrol officer said, hesitating for a moment before continuing, "But I really want to ask, is this matter concerning Miss Song a big one or a small one?"

Patrol Officer Ma naturally wouldn't pass on the subsequent situation to his subordinates, only asking, "What happened?"

"Today we few brought Miss Song back, and after asking just a few questions, those Taixue students came to our door."

"Nonsense!"

Patrol Officer Ma slammed the table at once.

"If she wasn't seen, how could they come to our door? These students rely on knowing a few characters, meddling in everything all day—does running the patrol station mean we have to put up with their meddling?!"

He cursed a few words, but was still anxious, and hurriedly asked again, "Where is she? How many people came? Did it blow up? Have they been sent away? If not, see if we can notify the Taixue instructor and ask someone to come help suppress it!"

The patrol officer at the head then said, "They said they ordered breakfast from her, and it wasn't delivered for half a day, so they came to the door."

He added, "It didn't blow up; only one person came, but he brought people from the Capital Prefecture Office with him."

Patrol Officer Ma's eyebrows twitched, and his voice dropped considerably as he asked, "Who from the Prefecture Office?"

"I don't know him; he only showed a waist plaque from the Left and Right Military Patrol Academy, and claimed his surname is Qin, named Qin Zong."

Patrol Officer Ma hurriedly asked about the visitor's appearance, then asked again about the other party's attitude.

Upon learning there were three people in total, two of whom were actually government runners, and both were hired by the Taixue students, with one surnamed Qin even wearing official boots, full of pomp, Patrol Officer Ma's expression instantly turned ugly.

The patrol officer observed his expression and advised, "I think the leader doesn't look like an ordinary runner; he probably holds some position. Those Taixue students are already very troublesome; even if they themselves have no ability, who knows if this teacher or that friend might know some high and mighty official?"

He added, "Wasn't there a student surnamed Han recently who cursed even royal ministers and nobles? In our little place, if it's not truly necessary, isn't it better not to cross them?"

"I'm thinking of them, not wanting to bring them trouble!" Patrol Officer Ma said angrily, "I'm just afraid those students, upon seeing a young lady, won't be able to leave, each learning to be a hero and sticking their necks out, turning a small matter into a big one—that's why I called people over!"

"The people from the Capital Prefecture Office aren't easy to deal with either. I asked around afterward, and it seems the Prefecture Office recently appointed a new judge surnamed Qin."

"That young lady is indeed very pretty; I'm afraid some student took a liking to her and asked relatives and friends for help. I'm afraid she might talk nonsense, but I can't press her too hard. Coincidentally, patrol soldiers came today, and we bought everything from the stall in the back courtyard in one go, and even told her to set up her stall in our back alley in the future, so she won't gather with those students—Patrol Chief, what do you think?"

Patrol Officer Ma, upon hearing the three words "Qin Pan," felt a tightening in his heart.

If it weren't that Diao Zi's money was truly generous, and if he hadn't known she was truly just an orphan girl with nothing to rely on, how could he have lent a hand over a few coins so easily?

Now that he sensed something was wrong, he immediately changed his tone, saying, "Students' tempers are also hard to deal with! Since the Capital Prefecture Office has come knocking, that young lady is nothing much anyway; as long as she doesn't go around talking nonsense, let her be!"

Just like that, he lightly and deftly brushed the matter aside.

After seeing the people off, Patrol Officer Ma still felt something was off, so he found someone else to ask, and indeed it was much the same as what the previous patrol officer had said.

He turned and left Zhuque Gate, heading toward Zhou Bridge, found an acquaintance to exchange news, and only asked whether the newly arrived Qin Pan had brought anyone with him to take office.

That acquaintance had an old friendship with him, thought for a moment, and said, "He did bring a few people, but it's nothing important—the Prefecture Office is piled with miscellaneous affairs, and with just those few men of his, what use are they? Don't they still have to rely on us old-timers?"

Patrol Officer Ma asked him again if he knew where the people Qin Pan brought had been assigned, and what their backgrounds were.

"I don't know about that," the acquaintance said, "But there's a young man inside who also surnames Qin, named Qin Zong; I don't know what relation he is to Qin Pan. He was assigned to the Left and Right Military Patrol Academy, and is said to be a young master from a wealthy family, spending money very freely. The last time he treated us to drinks, he put it on my tab outside my Second Gate."

Patrol Officer Ma's hands trembled for a moment; he thanked the acquaintance and immediately turned back.

He hurried along, immediately had Diao Zi called out, returned that heavy cloth bundle of silver cakes, said nothing else, only saying that there were many matters at the patrol station lately, patrol soldiers coming and going, the higher-ups were watching closely, and he couldn't free his hands, so he couldn't help with this favor.

After returning the silver cakes, Patrol Officer Ma breathed a sigh of relief, returned to the Zhuque Gate Patrol Station, called the previous duty patrol officer over, and instructed, "Forget it; I meant well but got no thanks. If that young lady from the Song Family Eatery wants to set up her stall at the Taixue Gate, still let her go; don't bother with it anymore. These students—can't get involved with them at all!"

The patrol officer, upon hearing this, let out an "Ah."

"Since it's setting up a stall, isn't it the same wherever she sets it up?" He couldn't help but advise, "Today it was already settled to have that young lady come set up in our back alley; many brothers say her glutinous rice and steamed wheat cakes are made well. In my opinion, there's no need to manage it; still have her come, set up her stall for a few days. Who knows, as she sets up, she might just feel our place is good and refuse to return to Taixue!"

"By then, we'll have good breakfast to eat, she won't go looking for trouble, and you can breathe easy—isn't that good?"

After hearing this, Patrol Officer Ma was stunned.

He couldn't help but look at his subordinate opposite him, secretly thinking: This man—is he really helping me share my worries, or speaking up for the Song family's daughter, just greedy for a bite of her food?

Patrol Officer Ma of Zhuque Gate, as long as he returned the silver, was like throwing away a hot potato, feeling completely at ease.

But Diao Zi, clutching that heavy silver cake, was like clutching a big armful of hot potatoes, simply not knowing what to do.

Last time he had been scolded by the boss pointing at his nose, he didn't dare use such a penny-pinching method again, so he had to hire a Lawsuit Master to help sort out the day's deed documents; indeed, many problems were dug out, and many omissions were found on the contract.

Once problems were found, they naturally had to be corrected.

But this time, the experienced clerks at the Capital Prefecture Office opened their mouths like lions, demanding eighty strings of cash right off the bat.

Originally asking a sky-high price and then settling on the ground, he merely tried to haggle, but the other side directly flipped their faces, only shouting, "Don't stand there; I won't deal with you; call your Boss Liao to talk."

Failing to handle the matter properly and still needing a superior to step in, Diao Zi naturally feared being scolded. He hadn't even had a chance to speak when Patrol Officer Ma's shirking was added on top, making things even more deadly.

He could only put on a bitter face, tighten his belt, and go find Boss Liao.

This time, Boss Liao didn't slap him; with a backhand, he splashed the still-steaming tea water onto his face and cursed, "Good-for-nothing!"

Diao Zi was scalded until his face hurt, but he didn't dare wipe it; he could only half-kneel and smile, saying, "Boss, calm down! Calm down! This lowly one didn't expect it would turn out like this—everything was fine before; this time I thought the young lady would be easy to handle, who would have known..."

Boss Liao was so angry the flesh on his face trembled; he shouted, "Even a donkey is smarter than you! To save that little bit of money, how much trouble have you caused me?!"

He asked again, "So what are we going to do now?"

Diao Zi's scalp went numb; he said, "Best... best to redo three copies of the contracts; the house deed and land deed both need to be quickly transferred, and additionally, that deed document needs to have the Tower Affairs Department's seal stamped on it."

"Just this small matter, and Liu Er dares to demand one hundred twenty strings of cash from us."

Hearing one hundred twenty strings, Liao the Master also showed some surprise, but quickly said: "It's just money, give it to him."

Diao Zi froze, hurriedly saying: "Master, it's not that I'm stingy, but if we open this mouth, once word gets out, won't everyone compare to this standard when handling other matters in the future?"

He added: "Moreover, today you didn't personally see his ugly face; telling this lowly one to scram would have been fine, but he actually demanded you personally go see him — that's too arrogant!"

He still wanted to speak further, but heard Liao the Master ask: "Then can you handle it?"

"Handle what?"

"Change the name on that deed, and add the Tower Affairs Office seal."

Diao Zi shut his mouth at once.

"You also know you can't handle it? Now you know you can't handle it?! What were you doing before!" Liao the Master cursed while kicking out with one foot.

Diao Zi tilted his head back, wasn't kicked squarely, but still took half a blow, only feeling his face in severe pain, kicked and spat a mouthful of blood, licked his tongue, and his front teeth were actually somewhat loose.

He was startled, hurriedly used his tongue to probe, felt them looser, and dared not move again.

"Told you long ago to be careful, don't be unwilling to spend money! Hurry and clean up the loose ends, send that woman to Wu Yuanwai's residence — that's the proper business. You delay further, watch me not twist your head off to use as a chamber pot!"

"Liu Er is eyeing that residence thinking it was worth money before, but doesn't look at what it was like before and what it's like now; with no students anymore, it's not worth a fart's money! If the gambling house wasn't across the street, hard to avoid, who the hell would bother with him!"

"However much, give it all to him. Once this matter is settled, watch how I clean him up!"

The Master had spoken, Diao Zi naturally dared not nag further, seeing the other party was in a rage, even more dared not mention the Taixue student and Patrol Officer Ma, could only tuck his tail and hurriedly go find that Liu Er at the Capital Prefecture Office to handle matters.

Diao Zi was busy going to the Capital Prefecture Office, and Song Miao was also just on the road setting out.

She had only walked half a street out of Sanzao County Alley when she saw Han Li sitting at the entrance of a tea shop ahead, a teapot before him, holding several pages of paper, reading them on and off.

Song Miao pretended not to have seen, walked straight out a stretch of road, looked back, and saw the other party was already following far behind her.

The two went like this, one before the other, and arrived at the Capital Prefecture Office.

Han Li went to report on his own, while in the Tower Affairs Office, that clerk verified Song Miao's name, told her to wait, went to the rear storeroom, but after searching half a day, did not find the house deed or land deed on the corresponding shelf, found it strange, and hurriedly sought the Grain Manager to ask.

The Grain Manager heard this and was also startled, hurriedly went to find a colleague on the same shift.

The other party, hearing it was the Sanzao County Alley residence, clearly showed some panic, only saying: "This morning it seemed Brother Liu said he wanted to check something, came and took it away."

Both were yamen runners who had handled affairs for many years; who didn't know there must be inside story.

That Grain Manager became somewhat displeased, said: "We two are on duty, he checks something, doesn't it have to go through my hands? No registration either?"

Added: "Now the house owner has come, what to do?"

That Assistant hurriedly said: "Rest assured, your share won't run off, talk again in a moment."

Added: "I'll go urge him!"

While speaking, he ran off extremely fast.

The clerk and Grain Manager waited half a day, only then did that Assistant and Liu Er rush over hurriedly, indeed bringing back the property deed of a certain house in Sanzao County Alley, also a house purchase agreement and the original deed.

The Grain Manager was just about to verify, but was pulled by the hand by that Assistant at the side, instantly understood, merely glanced over cursorily, said nothing more, and handed back to that arriving clerk.

The clerk took the documents, just as he was about to leave, that Liu Er quietly passed a small cloth bag to the Grain Manager, heavy in the hand.

The Grain Manager opened a look, indeed all were strings of copper coins, a full bag.

He silently accepted, then asked: "Who is it this time, is it reliable? Don't bring trouble onto yourself."

"My work, you just rest assured." Liu Er laughed heartily, "Only changed a name or two, added a few documents, that family has no people left either, can more or less count as ownerless property, the rest has all been properly arranged."

Up front, Song Miao who had waited long, finally saw the archives of her family residence stored in the yamen.

Besides the house deed and land deed, there were actually brand new house purchase agreement and original deed, all complete.

If going by these archives, the Sanzao County Alley residence now no longer bore the surname Song.

Song Miao was not anxious at first, only carefully compared that purchase document.

The seller was indeed Song Dalang, and there was his signature and pressed fingerprint.

She carried with her copies of the family land deed and house deed, and also copied that day's Song Dalang name-change document; the script and fingerprints were copied exactly in form, but empty in substance; now taking them out to compare one by one, even the naked eye could see they were completely different.

But now Song Dalang was long dead with no counter-evidence, naturally unable to use script and fingerprints to prove.

However precisely because Song Dalang died with no counter-evidence, this document had another even more obvious error.

Song Miao's gaze fell on the end of that purchase document.

There was written the date this contract was drafted.

The eighteenth day of the first lunar month.

This date Song Miao remembered all too clearly.

It was both the day Song Dalang's coffin was laid out, and the day a gang of local ruffians came demanding the residence.

And the day before, the Coroner had issued the verification document that Song Dalang died from falling into water.

Tell me, how can a dead man in a coffin still buy and sell property?

Furthermore, even if he himself pried open the coffin board, climbed up and forced a sale, the house owners at this time were still Song Huai Zhou and Song Miao, two people, unrelated to him, and he had no way to sell.

But can one reason with yamen clerks?

Song Miao tried.

"Sir." She asked, "My elder brother and I are the house owners, currently unaware, but the residence has already been sold; may I ask who to find to correct it?"

That clerk frowned: "You say you're the house owner, do you have evidence?"

Song Miao took out that copied duplicate for the other to see, and explained the family situation.

That clerk heard it through, indeed threw the copy back, saying: "Here I only recognize yamen archives; as for your family matters, purchase disputes, they have nothing to do with me. If unsatisfied, first find a Lawsuit Master to file a lawsuit at the yamen for a year or half, wait until you win, take the judgment and come speak to me — any other explanations are useless."

Finished speaking, he urged Song Miao again: "Have you finished reading? If finished, don't delay time, there are still crowds waiting behind, I need to put away these house and land deeds."

He urged three or four times in a row, tone worse each time.

Since ancient times it's said the yamen gates open wide, with reason but no money don't enter.

Song Miao's remaining time was not much, her purse embarrassed, even more impossible to pin hopes on a lawsuit.

According to her previous plan, after confirming things now, she would wait until the Taixue Public Examination ended, then go find those Taixue students and ask them to help inquire about this house matter — whether there was any solution, and where exactly the problem lay.

This was borrowing influence; it did not require them to truly resolve the matter.

Those Taixue students, or the students from Nanlu Academy behind them, after eating this glutinous rice, shaomai, many were warmhearted, and some were on good terms with her — especially Cheng Zijian and the others, whose character was truly excellent; even though they lacked power and influence, it did not hinder their hot-blooded enthusiasm and kind hearts.

Perhaps someone would go find friends, find teachers, find fellow disciples.

If enough people were sought out, as long as the word spread widely, momentum would be created — then the people behind the scenes would have to show some apprehension.

Once she saved up a bit more silver, she could also go buy some essays — perhaps she wouldn't even need to buy them, as there would be people willing to voluntarily help write them.

With many essays circulating, and much discussion in the streets and alleys, could it be that those above still wouldn't know?

This is the Capital, after all!

A single essay could make Cao Xianggong voluntarily request a salary deduction penalty.

Even if she couldn't move that Han Li, with ten or eight essays spreading outside, just seeking a fair outcome — surely it wouldn't be that difficult?

This is one method.

If it truly doesn't work, she still has other follow-up moves; as long as she tries them one by one, she's not afraid the commotion won't grow large in the end.

Either way, right now she is the one truly barefoot; those who want the house, who want her life, are the ones wearing shoes.

At this very moment, being urged and driven away by that clerk, Song Miao was neither panicked nor hurried.

Since the official document has a problem, and she is an orphan girl who understands nothing, she naturally must find someone to consult!

The Taixue students are currently taking the examination; originally she would wait until they finished before speaking.

But right now, isn't there one who doesn't need to take the examination?

This very noon he ate her pomelo peel stuffing, bamboo shoot stuffing, looking very satisfied, and was even polite, wanting to join her for meals.

Since he likes to eat, she can make more.

He likes stuffed vegetables, right?

Whatever — luosu jia, lotus root stuffing, field snail stuffing, tofu skin stuffing, bottle gourd stuffing, and those other miscellaneous vegetables — when the season arrives, they can all be made.

Taking someone's hand makes it short; eating someone's food makes the mouth soft.

Young Master Han, you ate my food, answering a few questions isn't too much, is it?

I'll have to start by consulting you.