The life of the Xianyu family through books

Chapter 922 Who can we rely on?

Yan Yu received the news that Xiao Ni had found her.

This girl is really capable. She escaped from the den of human traffickers on her own, found the Taipusi (Imperial Stud) government office, and was then sent to the Kyoto Prefecture government office by the officials of Taipusi.

Following the scent, Yan Lao Er's group arrived at the yamen around the same time as Hu Xiao Ni.

The county magistrate acted in accordance with the regulations.

Notify Hu Da and Hu Da's wife to come and pick up the person with their household registration.

Hu Er and the others had no choice but to wait outside the yamen.

Fortunately, Hu Xiaoni is a sensible and good child. Knowing that her second uncle and the other uncles and elders in the camp were outside, she did not cry or make a fuss. Instead, she politely thanked the adults from the Imperial Stud and squatted down with her hands in her pockets.

Yan Lao Er held the title of Commander of the Royal Guard of the Prince of Ying's Palace.

Its own grade is also sufficient.

They were qualified to meet the head of the Kyoto Prefectural Government in person.

My impression can be summed up in just two words.

Slippery.

Quite slippery.

He seemed enthusiastic and flattering, spouting praises of the King of England's achievements, such as pacifying the borders and protecting the people, and deterring villains. However, after Yan Lao Er tentatively mentioned the attack outside the city that day, although he righteously declared that he would investigate thoroughly, he did not inquire about any details or clues of that day.

When Yan Lao Er informed him that many more children had been abducted and were hidden in the city, he appeared compassionate and seemingly anxious, repeatedly ordering a search. Yan Lao Er clearly saw that the yamen runners did not send out many people.

On the contrary, the clerk was very meticulous in handling both internal and external affairs, especially in terms of documents.

Yan Lao Er had actually worked and learned his duties in the government office.

He could see through the trickery at a glance.

The meticulousness and neatness on the paper are so fine that no one can find fault with it.

But when it comes to actually doing something, they just go through the motions.

According to Hu Xiaoni, the cellar was almost full of children who were abducted together.

How many children must there be, how many families shrouded in the shadow of losing a child?

In the words of this magistrate, it means that I am deeply worried, feel the same way, and wish I could find the children immediately, bring them home, and reunite them with their families...

Yan Lao Er was also a man who had been through a lot.

But facing such a powerful magistrate of Kyoto Prefecture, he really couldn't manage a smile.

I felt that the dough had its own ideas, so I wanted to keep it in check.

Even its mouth has its own thoughts, secreting saliva as if it wants to spit it all over his face.

If an official doesn't serve the people, he might as well go home and sell sweet potatoes!
Yan Lao Er suddenly remembered the incompetent official he had met in a county town on his way out of famine after leaving his hometown. The official was full of righteousness and morality but did nothing but talk a good game.

What did his older brother say back then?

"He was incompetent in governing his superiors and accomplished nothing in governing his subordinates."

These people who cling to old ways believe that doing nothing is good enough, and they are unwilling to take even half a step more.

He acted with impartiality and moderation, without committing any major mistakes. He remained the same person he was when he arrived in a region; the common people called this kind of official a "clay statue of a bodhisattva."

He encountered another clay Bodhisattva, untouched by a single leaf!
With so many children missing in the capital, Yan Lao Er refused to believe that no one would report it to the authorities.

The child certainly wasn't lost in just one or two days.

But what did this lord do?
Even if you can't find the child or catch the perpetrator, at least you should issue a warning. When the child first went missing, inform the people of Beijing that there were kidnappers around and to keep an eye on their children.

With precautions in place, would child traffickers still succeed so easily? It's worrying that so many children have fallen into the hands of criminals.

At worst, just post a notice.

The people will see it for themselves and spread the word.

Yes, the inaction of the Kyoto Prefectural Government was due to two reasons: first, incompetence in failing to apprehend the kidnapper and recover the child quickly; and second, a desire to avoid causing panic among the people and to avoid being reprimanded by the authorities.

That's the downside of being an official right under the emperor's nose; any little movement will not escape the emperor's notice.

Yan Lao Er finally understood everything.

The joy of finding Xiao Ni was greatly diminished.

He took his leave and found Hu Xiaoni waiting at the entrance of the government office for her parents to come and pick her up.

He also crouched down, squatting with his hands tucked in.

"Uncle Commander, when are we going to rescue the young lady and the young man?" Hu Xiaoni asked earnestly. The moment she saw her second uncle, Uncle Commander, and the other uncles, Hu Xiaoni stopped clamoring to go home.

She's home.

Yan Lao Er watched the constables moving around inside the yamen.

"Xiao Ni, you also think they won't be able to find them, right?"

Hu Xiaoni tilted her head. "Huh?"

"We still have to find it ourselves!" Yan Lao Er seemed to be talking to Xiao Ni, but was actually talking to himself.

"The waiter said that it's best to keep armed forces in your own hands in this world, and that makes perfect sense!"

"If you hadn't managed to hide, how would any of us have found you?"

"Shouldn't they be treated the same as those parents who reported it to the authorities or those who didn't?!"

"Who can we rely on? These people? I just laugh!" Yan Lao Er couldn't help but spit out a vulgar curse: "Fuck your mother!"

Xiao Ni had difficulty listening to it; she didn't quite understand.

But the child was clever and realized that the leader seemed to want to speak for himself without her answer, so she listened while muttering to herself.

"The bad guys didn't notice me, but Nini ran away. Will the bad guys notice? No way? There are too many older brothers and sisters, I can't count them all, I really can't count them all. If the older brothers and sisters move around, the count will get messed up, and we'll have to start counting again..."

A soft gurgling sound interrupted Yan Lao Er and Hu Xiao Ni's rambling.

Yan Lao Er asked, "Are you hungry?"

Hu Xiaoni nodded.

She said with a pitiful look, "I didn't get to eat the sugar tiger."

Yan Lao Er rubbed her soft little head.

"Come on, Uncle will take you home for dinner."

Hu Xiaoni quickly stood up and even reached out her little hand to try and pull Yan Lao Er.

Just kidding, Yan Lao Er isn't some old codger; he stood up nimbly on his own.

"Waiting for my parents?" Hu Xiaoni remembered very clearly that she wanted her parents to come and pick her up.

"Let's not wait any longer, let's listen to Uncle and go!"

Yan Lao Er suddenly understood.

He was a dignified sixth-rank official, though he was a subordinate, and the commander of the Prince of Ying's personal guards.

He has a higher official rank and a powerful backer, so why is he acting like a pushover?

He just took the kids and left, so what!
The guard stepped forward, about to say something, when Yan Lao Er glared at him fiercely.

The constable behind him secretly tugged at him.

The yamen runners awkwardly stepped aside.

"Are you stupid?! Why are you stopping him?"

"Didn't the clerk say that the child's parents needed to bring their household registration documents..."

"Don't you even need to use your rusty brain to think about it? That person is the commander of His Highness the Prince of Ying's personal guards. Who can be the commander of the Prince's mansion? He must be a confidant of the Prince! The kind of person who would entrust his life and fortune to him."

"His Highness Prince Ying is no longer someone who has just returned to the capital. He has taken up a post in the Ministry of Rites and it seems that he will be residing in the capital permanently, just like the other princes!"

Why are you so eager to offend people? Even if the clerk were here, would he dare to stop you?

……

The familiar cry of an eagle swept across the sky.

Yan Lao Er reacted with lightning speed, looking up.

"It's Jiuxiao!" he exclaimed joyfully.

As if hearing his voice, the Nine Heavens above turned gracefully in the sky before flying off in another direction.

Yan Lao Er was stunned for a moment, then laughed and cursed: "This hairy beast, you little rascal, you're ignoring me when you're looking for the waiter, aren't you?"

"Hu Er, take Xiao Ni home first. Let Lu Xiaozi wait here for Hu Da and his wife. The child is hungry, buy her something to eat on the way."

"The rest of you, come with me to meet up with Xiao Er."

Although Yan Lao Er has many shortcomings, he has really improved compared to before.
He wasn't exactly a smart guy; his greatest contribution was simply giving birth to our little one, hehehe~~~
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