Chapter 61: Miao Kitchen Chapter 61: The Blade Falls

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Protagonist:

Song Miao

While waiting for everyone to come over, Han Li briefly explained the matter of the Song Family Eatery house sale and handed over those few documents.

Qin Jie had been an official for several years and naturally understood the accumulated abuses of the government office; after flipping through those few copies, he quickly reacted.

He had originally been half-leaning against the back of his chair, but now he suddenly sat up straight and said, "Who bribed someone to tamper with it?"

But after a moment, he shook his head again and sighed, "Pity it's just a wrong date. The Archives Library can brush it off with a two-month salary deduction for a single careless word; otherwise, using it as a pretext would indeed be a good excuse."

"But it doesn't matter. Since there is one, there must be two. I'll have someone find all the clerks who signed and sealed this document, then check the files they handled before."

By this point, Qin Jie's spirits were lifted: "One can be brushed off, but if it becomes ten or twenty, not even the Archives Library, let alone Prefect Zheng, would be able to say anything!"

As he spoke, Qin Jie couldn't suppress the smile on his face.

The Archives Library had never given him face.

It was just a matter of finding a few documents; they either pushed this or pushed that.

Subordinates had complained countless times; when he went to remind them personally, the Guan Kou officials didn't take it seriously at all. By today, they even required him to sign personally to check anything and to declare several days in advance before they would help retrieve the files.

If he could endure such difficulties, how could he establish his authority in the future?

Qin Jie had already been thinking of finding a way to regain his standing, but he had no leverage in the Archives Library and didn't understand its operations; for the time being, there was no suitable pretext.

Who would have thought that this pretext would be delivered right to his door!

For a moment, his gaze toward Han Li changed, and he couldn't help but say, "No wonder everyone praises Zheng Yan for having a capable assistant. Your eyes are indeed more than a bit sharper than others."

The compliment in his words was many times more sincere than before.

But Han Li shook his head and said, "Too slow."

"Qin Xiong's subordinates are already short-staffed; where would they find so much idle time to check old files?"

Qin Jie frowned and said, "If we don't check old files and gather evidence, how can we make that Guan Kou official yield? And how can we make them sort out the process themselves, as you said?"

"Qin Xiong, do you really want to sort out some process?" Han Li stopped beating around the bush. "This matter doesn't fall under the Left and Right Military Patrol Academy's jurisdiction. Qin Xiong insists on it only because various places refuse to follow orders."

"As long as you grab the handle and kill enough chickens, others will see it and naturally obediently open the door of convenience. As for the rest of those so-called processes, not being in the position, not planning the politics—doing too much, reaching too far, would Prefect Zheng agree? Would he be happy?"

He completely disregarded Qin Jie's face.

While Qin Jie felt embarrassed, he couldn't refute it. After a moment of silence, he said, "But just one wrong date isn't enough weight."

"Then find a few more—since we know this document is forged, could there be only one loophole?"

"And even if there's only one loophole, can't we use the opportunity to cause trouble?"

Han Li said while pointing to the Song Family Eatery land deed address on the desk: "This eatery is exactly where Censor Xin is staking out today. If nothing unexpected, there's a gambling den secretly set up across from it."

"Qin Xiong, since you know how to be an official, how could you not know how to tell stories? Among gamblers, how could there be no lawbreaking?"

"Since the gambling den is set up across from the Song Family Eatery, and there's now a forged document, why couldn't it be that the eatery designed it for villains, trying to seize it to hide the gambling den?"

"So many people went missing during this Lantern Festival; the case is huge. Even if it can't be solved for a while, can't it be used as a raft, as a pretext?"

"Since there are villains in that gambling den, why couldn't they be the villains who robbed and abducted women and children watching lanterns during the Upper Yuan Festival?"

"You only said you've had your eye on that gambling den for a long time. Now suspecting that villains bribed the Guan Cha, trying to hide themselves under the name of buying and selling houses, obstructing the lower-level censors from handling the Lantern Festival major case—such a crime, wouldn't the clerks of the Archives Library be afraid?"

"No need to make a scene before Prefect Zheng; he'll weigh it himself. If it blows up, even better. Can the Archives Library withstand a thorough investigation?"

It was rare for Han Li to say so much; how could it be ineffective?

Hearing this, Qin Jie hesitated no longer and immediately decided: "Then I'll do as Zheng Yan said. I'll use this Song Family Eatery as the pretext! Bring that Guan Kou You from the Archives Library here!"

Han Li stopped him: "Qin Xiong, why go find him? Can't you wait for him to come find you?"

Qin Jie was still pondering the meaning of these words and hadn't reacted yet when he heard footsteps outside the door, followed by knocking.

Han Li said "Please enter" while telling him, "Official, go inside and attend to your official business. Leave this place to me to handle."

As he spoke, he stood up and made a "please" gesture to Qin Jie.

Just then, the person outside entered in response, bringing in an old clerk from the Archives Library.

The old clerk entered and first saluted Qin Jie, calling him "Judge Qin," then asked, "Official Qin, did you call me here regarding the matter of file access?"

He didn't wait for Qin Jie to speak, but hurriedly said, "This matter has already been reported to Guan Kou You. I'm just following orders. Official Qin, if you feel there's anything improper, you can discuss it with Guan Kou You. I'm just a low-ranking clerk with no say."

This man kept saying he had no say, yet not a word was missing. Lightly and skillfully, he pushed the whole matter cleanly upward.

Even though Qin Jie was used to the tactics of clerks, today he was first slighted by a subordinate, then reprimanded by Zheng Boqian, and now had to be perfunctorily dismissed by this old clerk in front of him. He couldn't help but feel anger rising.

He naturally couldn't argue with an old clerk.

But if he went to find the Guan Kou You the other party mentioned, there would surely be more wrangling. Dragging it on, it would either fizzle out or blow up, reaching Zheng Boqian, and most likely he, the newcomer, would suffer. So he only "humphed" and silently noted the matter.

Seeing Qin Jie's lack of reaction, Han Li beside him couldn't help but shake his head secretly.

The main reason Qin Jie was constrained everywhere and couldn't do anything was naturally the complex personnel of the Capital Prefecture Office, but also because he acted too indecisively and hesitated.

They say a new official burns three fires upon taking office.

Qin Jie's first two fires didn't catch; some were stomped out by colleagues, and some were persuaded to be extinguished by Prefect Zheng Boqian himself.

But no matter how they were extinguished, not catching meant not catching.

Which clerk in the government office isn't a shrewd person?

Looking on coldly, every one of them knew that the new Judge Qin's words and deeds couldn't be counted on.

Since it was so, no wonder others tripped him up.

Han Li would stay here for a few more months. If he wanted to act according to his own will, he naturally couldn't let Judge Qin's back remain so soft.

He glanced at Qin Jie, then asked him to return to the inner room to work. After the person entered, he confirmed the clerk's name and identity, and finally said: "Today I invited you here not for the matter of file access approval."

He continued: "I am surnamed Han, courtesy name Zheng Yan, seconded from Taixue. By Official Qin's order, I've come specially to understand the Archives Library's file storage and access procedures."

That clerk listened, but he didn't take it seriously.

Since entering the Second Month, the people under this Qin Jie, Qin Pan, have been inquiring about the situation everywhere, wanting to sort out the procedures.

But within the Capital Prefecture Office, just the minor offices with their own regulations number ten or twenty, and below them, the clerks and runners are countless, deeply entangled.

A few young people who have just arrived, even just familiarizing themselves with the relationships between the various departments and their respective duties, would have to spend no small effort; to want to sort it out, how could it be easy?

Qin Jie, a mere Pan, really takes himself for the Capital Prefect?

To speak an ugly truth, even if the Capital Prefect came in person, he would have to weigh things a few parts, lest he cause dissatisfaction among the subordinates.

He let out an "oh," and said: "You ask."

Han Li then invited him to sit, and had someone serve tea, only then asking in detail: first asking which department the Archives Library belonged to, which storehouses it managed, how many staff each storehouse's structure was allocated; then asking how many people there currently were, how posts were allocated, and what the responsibilities were.

That clerk, worthy of his many years in the Capital Prefecture Office, knew the situation inside and out, not flustered in the least, answering one by one; among them some answers were detailed, some were brushed over casually.

Han Li then brought up those few questions that had been brushed over and asked again.

He asked in great detail; for instance, that such-and-such department and such-and-such department had not merged in such-and-such year, and had reduced one staff position, so why was it still fully staffed at this time.

Then asking about such-and-such responsibility, originally it should have belonged to such-and-such bureau, what is it now divided under such-and-such office's management.

That clerk at first still had his legs crossed, slowly drinking tea, answering as he drank, but seeing that Han Zhengyan asked on one hand and had called someone to record with paper and brush on the other, his heart couldn't help but start beating a drum.

"Qin Pan attaches great importance to this matter; for the sake of having evidence, human memory is not as good as written notes, it is still better to write it down."

That Han Zhengyan finished explaining, and then said: "No need to worry; after asking, we will verify again; only after verification will we ask you to sign on it."

Hearing this sentence, that clerk's heart nearly jumped into his throat.

The Archives Library is not the Left and Right Military Patrol Office; it merely manages archives, documents, and account books; where would it have seen such an interrogation-like method.

It just so happened that Qin Jie, Qin Pan, was sitting in the inner room; he couldn't even find a pretext to take his leave, nor could he find someone to help report back.

Because he didn't know what purpose the other party ultimately had, and those questions were truly extremely targeted, this clerk answering towards the end no longer had his legs crossed, no longer drank tea, sat upright properly, listened honestly, answered slowly, not daring the slightest distraction, fearing that if he misspoke he would give the other party a handle to seize.

He always felt that what he faced was not a young person, but a clerk who had similarly done affairs below for many years.

One question one answer, it took a full half a shichen.

Seeing it was about to wrap up, that clerk heard the Han student opposite ask again: "How many people does your Building Affairs Office usually have on external duty, and how many guard the storehouse?"

This time, he answered much more easily.

The Building Affairs Office originally only managed official residences; later it was merged into the Huchao, and then assigned to their Archives Library; currently it manages the documents and archives of large and small housing properties in the Capital.

But that place only deals externally, not internally, and has almost no opportunity to deal with the Left and Right Military Patrol Academy; naturally there is no chance to offend, and it's not its turn to be grabbed by the pigtail.

"Usually four people on external duty, two people guarding the storehouse."

"If commoners have housing transactions and come to register, how many people does the Building Affairs Office need to verify?"

"One person confirms, one person verifies."

"Who issues the contract, house deed, and land deed? Is there re-verification? Are there signatures and seals?"

"All issued by the Building Affairs Office; one person issues, one person re-verifies; all have signatures."

"Are the documents standardized?"

"They are standardized."

"Are the standardized documents hand-copied, or printed by a workshop?"

"We go find a workshop to print; only the housing addresses inside are filled in by us afterward."

"Are these documents printed once a year, or printed when used up?"

Reaching this point, this clerk actually laughed, and said: "Young Master Han doesn't know; in the government office, all matters involving money must have people 'buy the bid'; after competitive bidding, a public notice is made, changed once a year; no one can get their hands on it."

"These housing property documents are the same; moreover, because property is the people's livelihood, not a bit of carelessness is allowed; therefore when printing they all have serial numbers, and when collecting they must be registered, extremely strict; only when the old ones are used up are new ones swapped in."

"Then when was the last time they were swapped?"

"They were swapped this month." This person said, "Every year it's swapped in the second or third month; last year the documents were used up quickly, they were all collected by early Second Month, and the new workshop was urged to print them urgently; it was personally handled by me!"

"After the new printed documents were swapped in, would there still be leftover old documents? Would the leftover documents still be valid?"

That clerk heard Han Li ask, and specially emphasized once more, saying: "The Archives Library upper and lower have always done things according to regulations; the Building Affairs Office naturally is the same; only when the old are used up are the new used; every portion has registration; the outsider practice Young Master Han speaks of simply cannot happen."

Han Li nodded, had someone invite the other party to the side room to verify the answers just recorded, and called the next clerk in.

This time, he no longer asked too many questions; in three moves and two divisions, in just a small quarter-hour, he finished asking what he needed to ask; the key points were still the Building Affairs Office document replacement situation, and the verification and confirmation responsibility attribution.

A total of three clerks were found, questioned one by one; by the time the last one was questioned, it was already the hour to leave the office.

Just at this moment, sure enough outside there was a burst of chaotic footsteps, and also clamorous voices; not long after, one person almost kicked the door open and entered.

That person entered inside, first swept a circle around, first saw Han Li opposite, then saw his own subordinate with his back to him; he didn't ask them, didn't answer either, only shouted loudly: "Qin Jie! Qin Pan! Good Qin Pan! Come out!"

And scolded: "I heard you detained my subordinate for half a day and wouldn't release him — what, you want to come snatch my Guan Kou official to serve as?"

Sure enough it was that Archives Library's You Guangou coming in person!

Qin Jie sat in the inner room for half a day; although Han Li told him to just handle the errand and not mind the outside, though he agreed, in his heart he originally didn't have full certainty about the method of pinching the Archives Library through this matter; hearing the questioning outside, he was truly concerned; how could he focus on other things?

But he had served as an official outside for two terms over several years; his experience naturally wasn't something those few juniors below could match; by the time he heard halfway, he gradually felt much more at ease.

This Han Li, still has some substance in him!

Same is questioning, he can ask both accurately and ruthlessly.

Just from today's several clerks' answers, as long as those documents are studied properly, and a bit more effort put in afterwards, they will definitely be able to find quite a few faults.

By the time that You Guangou came to the door, his heart had completely switched to an attitude, becoming extremely at ease.

Walking out from the inner room, Qin Jie said: "You Guanren comes at just the right time; this official has business to find you."

As he spoke, he called Han Li: "Zhengyan also come in."

That You Guangou coldly laughed, and said: "You detained my people, and now you can still be so righteous — if you don't give a good explanation, I'll stake this official robe and go before Prefect Zheng to demand justice!"

Speaking, he kicked the stool and slammed the door entering the inner room.

However, once inside, upon hearing Qin and Han lay out the Suanzao Alley deed document copies and house deed, land deed copies one by one before him, and speak of the opposite gambling den matter, that face full of anger slowly retracted.

As an official, how would he not know what his subordinates are like.

He had first wanted to help cover it up, saying: "It's possible the date was simply written wrong by mistake……"

Qin Jie said: "If it was written wrong, that's best. If not, so many people went missing during the Lantern Festival, and you know what state Prefect Zheng was driven to——I'm carrying such a heavy burden on my back, and finally made some progress. If it turns out the yamen clerks were truly bought by villains, and the thieves were thus released……"

"Isn't what Judge Qin says illogical? The thieves knew there were yamen runners in the house, they could barely escape, how could they possibly go buy that house?"

That You Guangou questioned him on one side, yet panicked inside, his voice gradually growing quieter.

Han Li watched coldly from the side, and at this moment finally interjected, saying: "We are ultimately not villains, who knows how villains think? Moreover, this matter is so great, You Guanren need not argue with Judge Qin. Wasn't it just said you wanted to find Prefect Zheng? While people are still around, why not take the documents and go together, and see what Prefect Zheng says."

He raised the point, and Qin Jie immediately agreed: "Exactly, You Guanren, let's go, you and I will go find Prefect Zheng together."

As soon as these two spoke, You Guangou instantly changed his tune, hurriedly stopping them: "Wait! Wait! Matters that you and I can settle privately, why bring them before Prefect Zheng? If it truly involves the thieves, and it blows up, letting people escape, neither of us will escape responsibility!"

Qin Jie put on a hesitant look.

You Guangou knew he was acting, yet had to play along, hurriedly looking at Han Li, saying: "Han Younger Brother, you also persuade Guanren Qin!"

Han Li said: "If we don't go find Prefect Zheng, how should this matter be resolved?"

"Just find the person and ask clearly!"

You Guangou said this, yet still held a bit of hope, only wishing this document was indeed copied wrong.

Qin Jie brought Han Li and two trusted aides, and You Guangou also brought several subordinates; the group hurried to the Louwu Si.

By this time, the Louwu Si had already closed its doors and locked up.

You Guangou gave an order, and the duty runner immediately came to help open the door.

Lamps were lit in a moment, and someone took out the Song Family Eatery property sale document, contract, and property deed.

Han Li said from the side: "The Louwu Si changed the property deeds in February; does that property deed have a blank text?"

You Guangou couldn't help but glance at him again, and ordered someone to bring out the new blank text.

Han Li added: "It would be best to also have an old one."

This time, without You Guangou ordering, the clerks below followed Han Li's directive and took out last year's documents.

The Song Family Eatery's files were placed on the far left, this year's new blank text in the middle, and last year's on the far right.

Three documents: the left and middle were clearly of the same format and paper, while the rightmost was of another format and paper.

Han Li said: "The seller of the Song Family Eatery fell into the water on the sixteenth of the First Lunar Month; on the seventeenth, the yamen issued a verification document, and this sale contract was signed on the eighteenth."

"Even if the date was filled wrong, it should originally have been a First Lunar Month date, accidentally written as February, but who knows where this new text printed in February during the First Lunar Month came from?"

He said, and pointed to the middle blank text, saying: "The Louwu Si changed the new text in early February. According to what the several Chai Guan just said, every document issued is registered, but who knows who took these two, and which house was registered?"

You Guangou stood to the side with a dark face, almost shouting at his subordinates: "Why aren't you going to check!"

He also cursed: "Judge Qin is here, are you just watching? Can't even serve two cups of tea?!"

While speaking, he actually went to the side himself and moved a chair over for Qin Jie and Han Li to sit, then said again: "Qin Xiong, please don't be anxious. This matter is my oversight; I will certainly give you an explanation. Between us brothers, don't stand on ceremony!"

He also praised Han Li: "Han Younger Brother, indeed a Taixue Xue Shi is not ordinary—reads well, writes well, and handles matters like this!"

Saying this, he personally served tea.

Qin Jie took the tea, did not drink it himself first, but turned and handed it to Han Li at the side.

After Han Li took the second cup, he neither hurried nor urged, but sipped it slowly and savored it, feeling that after coming to the Capital Prefecture Office for several months, even the top-grade white tea brought from home did not taste as good as this cup at this moment.

Soon, the clerk who went to check the files returned.

"It was Liu Jin who took it out and copied it, Zhang Ji who double-checked, and it was just taken today!"

After leaving the yamen, Liu Jin asked his partner Zhang Ji to find a high-class Jiu Lou, opened a private room, and ordered a table of fine dishes.

Zhang Ji laughed: "Yo, what wind blew today?"

Liu Jin laughed: "Don't worry, someone is treating, not me!"

Just as they were speaking, the waiter led a person in.

That person saw a table full of food, his eyes twitching several times, then stepped forward and said: "Liu Er, what matter is so urgent that you had me come over in such a panic?"

After the waiter left, Liu Er threw two sheets of paper on the table, saying: "The date in your text is written wrong—the Louwu Si is different from other government offices; it was closed on the fourteenth of the First Lunar Month and not open to the public."

"If the fourteenth of the First Lunar Month is filled in, and someone finds out, I'll be in big trouble. I changed it to the eighteenth for you. Take it back and ask Housekeeper Liao if it works. If it doesn't, there's nothing to be done. If it needs changing again, you'll have to pay another one hundred strings."