Be a small county magistrate in ancient times

Chapter 328 Guess
Meng Changqing was busy outside until the afternoon. Only after he had settled Zhong Ming and the newly hired gentleman did he have time to return to the yamen.

Just as he sat down and was about to ask Bafang to find something to eat, Zuo Datou and Cheng Guang came over at the same time.

"What happened?" Seeing their serious expressions, Meng Changqing's leisurely mood just now disappeared immediately.

Zuo Datou spoke first, "The matter I told you last night, after investigation, it was found that Song Xiyu and his grandson Xiao falsely reported progress, falsified accounts and ate empty salaries, set up gambling games privately, and lured the people in the county and the brothers in the government office to gamble together."

He handed over several account books that could be used as evidence to Meng Changqing. "Song Xiyu has been detained by my subordinates, and Sun Zixiao has not been caught yet. He went to the new village. In order to avoid causing a commotion, my subordinates did not arrest him rashly, but asked people to keep an eye on him and arrest him at any time if he makes any unusual movements.

The few people who were gambling have also been controlled and are being held in the cell where we are on duty."

Meng Changqing quickly looked through the marked areas and asked, "Are these the only two with ghosts?"

Zuo Datou said truthfully: "I made many inquiries and only found solid evidence against these two people."

Meng Changqing understood what he meant. "You did a great job and discovered it in time. Please delay a little tonight and ask the brothers in charge of road repair to gather at the government office. I have something to say."

"Yes." After receiving the order, Zuo Datou immediately returned to the construction site to inform everyone.

Meng Changqing looked at Cheng Guang next to him again, "Is there something wrong with mother?"

"Sir, what I want to say is also related to Song Xiyu." Cheng Guang told him about Zheng Xidong.

After listening to this, Meng Changqing sneered twice, "Great, I'm so busy that he's enjoying himself first. Bafang, bring Song Xiyu over."

"Yes."

Knowing that Meng Changqing was going to interrogate Song Xiyu, Cheng Guang did not go to the back court, but directly took over Bafang's work, "Sir, I'll go get the person!"

Seeing Meng Changqing nod, he walked out quickly.

Bafang handed a towel to Meng Changqing and said, "Wipe your face." Soon, Song Xiyu was tied up and thrown in front of Meng Changqing.

Meng Changqing picked up the teacup at hand and drank his tea calmly, letting Song Xiyu kneel in front of him for a stick of incense.

Song Xiyu knelt on the blue bricks, feeling a dull pain in her knees and calves. She was panicking, but couldn't help but hold on to hope, hoping that the person sitting above didn't know much.

Meng Changqing finally spoke, but he asked: "Do you know where you went wrong?"

Song Xiyu tried to play dumb and put on an innocent face, "I don't know what I did wrong..."

"Let me remind you," Meng Changqing interrupted, "How I deal with you later will depend on what you say now. Think about it before you speak."

Song Xiyu understood that if he didn't explain everything completely, he would be completely finished.

He had experienced and heard about the methods and temper of the person in front of him. He heard that after the bandits were executed, she picked up the bodies one by one and examined them. She was so cold-blooded that she ignored human life at such a young age.

"I was instigated by my grandson to embezzle the money from the construction site." Song Xiyu's hands were tied behind her back, but she still knocked her head to the ground and cried, "I was deceived by my grandson, so I did a stupid thing. I am willing to return all the money I embezzled. Please let me go this time!"

After listening to him cry, Meng Changqing scratched his ear and asked, "Is that all you're going to say?"

Song Xiyu's body trembled, and his eyes moved rapidly in his eye sockets. "I want to report that my grandson Xiao Na opened a gambling game and instigated many people to gamble with him. He gave me money and asked me to help him conceal it. I have been trying to persuade him to get back on the right track, but he didn't listen to my advice." At this point, he raised his head and looked at Meng Changqing with a sincere look. "I am ready to report him, but I just want to give him another chance. I am being too soft-hearted."

Meng Changqing listened to the self-blaming words he uttered and didn't believe them at all.

"Shut up." Meng Changqing scratched his ear, "Don't say these useless words, just say what I want to hear."

Song Xiyu asked, "What do you want to hear, sir?"

Meng Changqing took a bite of the biscuit, chewed it up and swallowed it before replying with two words, "Guess."