Practice starts with skill points.

Chapter 23 Life is fucked up

"You were the one who committed the murder last night, weren't you?"

The words suddenly rang out in Zhong Lin's mind like a thunderclap. Zhong Lin quickly put on a panicked expression, his voice trembling as he said, "Sir... Sir, please don't say anything nonsense. I'm an honest citizen!"

"Good citizen?"

The middle-aged yamen runner looked sharp and slammed the table.

"I know you. You're the painter who sells paintings next to the Shi Ding Building. You sell a painting for three taels of silver. You made over ten taels of silver in just one afternoon. That street is run by Qin Yong, so he definitely wouldn't let you, a cash cow, go. He extorted money from you, and you harbored a grudge against him, sneaking into his house at night and killing the three of them, right?"

Zhong Lin said with a face that looked like he was about to cry, "Sir, I dare not say that. I just settled down in Heishan County. I don't even know who Qin Yong is, so how could I kill someone? Besides, I haven't left since I returned home yesterday afternoon. My neighbors can all testify for me."

"You still dare to quibble? I think you won't cry until you see the coffin. Come, capture him for me. I don't believe I can't pry open your mouth."

Following the middle-aged yamen runner's scolding, the young man next to him slowly stood up.

At this moment, another yamen runner ran to the door and whispered a few words. Then the three of them showed joy on their faces and quickly followed him out.

As he was about to leave the door, the middle-aged yamen runner turned around and shouted at Zhong Lin, "Wait here first. Don't leave without my order."

With the three people leaving, Zhong Lin was the only one left in the room.

Zhong Lin was brainstorming. The government office couldn't possibly know that he had killed Qin Yong and the other two. They must have said that just now to trick him.

But Zhong Lin suddenly thought of something. This era is not the society with sound laws like in his previous life. Everything depends on evidence. Sometimes it is common to force confessions under torture. Even in his previous life, there was "great memory recovery technology", let alone here.

Zhong Lin lowered his head, his eyes uncertain, as he thought about what to do next.

You can't run away. This is the county government office, not the wilderness. Besides, Xiao Shitou is still at home.

"屮."

Just when Zhong Lin was panicking, he heard footsteps outside the door. It was the young yamen runner who had just arrived.

"Are you a painter?"

"Yes, sir, what do you want?" Zhong Lin said quickly.

"follow me."

The young yamen runner led Zhong Lin directly to the lobby of the county government office.

Zhong Lin also looked around while walking. The lobby was spacious, with two rows of wooden racks on both sides, on which wooden sticks, bronze gongs, treasure umbrellas, ceremonial objects, weapons, etc. were neatly placed.

In the depths is the lobby desk, which is fully equipped with documents, signature slips, pen holders, and inkstones.

There were several people standing in the lobby, including the middle-aged yamen runner who had just cheated him, but everyone was led by an old man sitting on the armchair.

The old man was dressed in official clothes, with a solemn expression and an official air that made people afraid to look at him for too long.

"Why don't you go and pay your respects to the county lieutenant?" the young yamen runner reminded.

Zhong Lin did not dare to neglect and quickly bowed and said, "I am Zhong Lin, your humble servant, and I pay my respects to the County Lieutenant."

The county lieutenant is the assistant officer of the county magistrate, mainly responsible for public security, inspection, arrest and other forms of work, and his status is second only to the county magistrate.

"Okay, let's paint!"

The county lieutenant waved his hand, signaling Zhong Lin to act quickly.

The middle-aged yamen runner said, "Zhong Lin, the yamen is giving you a chance to redeem yourself. Draw the thief's appearance based on his description. Hurry up."

Zhong Lin took a deep breath. There was nothing he could do at this moment. The only thing he could do was to obey orders.

He walked towards the writing brush, ink, paper and inkstone that had been prepared nearby, and a man dressed as a pharmacist apprentice began to introduce the thief's appearance.

As the other party explained, the image of the thief quickly formed in Zhong Lin's mind. A moment later, Zhong Lin picked up his brush and began to paint. Within a stick of incense, the image of a bearded man appeared on the paper, his eyes filled with ferocity, as if he was about to step out of the painting at any moment.

"That's him, that's him."

The pharmacist's apprentice pointed at the person in the picture and shouted.

The surrounding constables and the county lieutenant were also shocked by Zhong Lin's paintings.

The main thing is that Zhong Lin’s three-dimensional painting skills are really shocking when they suddenly appear. They are vivid and lifelike, just like a photo, as if they are about to walk out of it at any time.

"Old Fang, go and send the arrest warrant! Don't let the thief get away."

"Yes."

The middle-aged yamen runner bowed and picked up the portrait that Zhong Lin had just painted. He blew hard to dry the ink that was still wet, then turned and left the hall.

"Your name is Zhong..."

"Little Zhong Lin."

"Zhong Lin?" The county lieutenant nodded and said, "Mr. Zhong, your painting skills are very realistic. If you can come to the county government office to help draw the portraits of wanted individuals, it will definitely greatly improve the public security in our county. I wonder if Mr. Zhong..."

"I am willing to do so. Thank you, County Lieutenant, for your appreciation."

Zhong Lin agreed decisively, and was even more ecstatic in his heart. The solution had come.

"Sir, the constable just now said that I was involved in Qin Yong's death. I..."

The county lieutenant looked puzzled: "Who is Qin Yong?"

"Sir, Qin Yong was one of the victims in yesterday's home invasion, robbery and murder case."

There was a constable whispering an explanation nearby.

"He's just a rogue. Let the Blackwater Gang find him themselves."

The county lieutenant snorted coldly, stood up and left, leaving Zhong Lin still confused.

"Brother Zhong, congratulations. We are colleagues from now on. My name is Chi Yan. I am a few years older than you. Just call me Brother Yan from now on."

Chi Yan, the young yamen runner who had just brought Zhong Lin in, greeted Zhong Lin with a smile on his face.

"Brother Yan, what did the county lieutenant just say? Am I okay?"

Zhong Lin asked carefully.

"Haha," Chi Yan laughed and patted Zhong Lin on the shoulder. "You were fine to begin with. Old Fang was just trying to trick you. It's just a gangster who died. The government doesn't care about gang feuds. The inquiry is just a formality. If they want to find the murderer, let the Blackwater Gang investigate on their own."

Gan!
He really was trying to trick me. I almost got scared to death.

Thinking of the middle-aged yamen runner named Lao Fang, Zhong Lin wanted to shoot an arrow through his heart.

"Come on, I'll take you to the job."

As he spoke, Chi Yan put his arm around Zhong Lin's shoulders and walked towards the office.

The yamen had six clerks, whose offices were located in the rooms on both sides of the lobby.

Chi Yan led Zhong Lin inside and found an old official to input his name and place of origin, and then gave him a badge.

When the two men walked out, Zhong Lin's eyes were still a little dazed. From the moment he entered the county government office until now, his mood was like a roller coaster. Who would have thought that he would end up becoming a staff member of the government office.

This life is so fucking funny.

(End of this chapter)