Miao Chu

Chapter 123 Black Mole
Han Li had only been on leave for two days when he was suddenly summoned back. He naturally knew that something had happened. As soon as he entered the back office, before Kong Fuyang could come up to report the news, the other patrolmen had already pulled him aside and reported the matter.

Then someone who was familiar with Xin Feng couldn't help but say, "Old Xin has really messed up this time. He worked so hard to get here. If Judge Qin hadn't protected him, he might not have gotten any credit for this trip and might even have been reprimanded."

But those below didn't understand as well as Qin Jie.

Han Li then asked, "What exactly happened? If they had already found the body, it would be one thing if they had escaped, but how did they get injured?"

Qin Jie looked very dissatisfied and said, "The letter says that Lü Mao is cunning and ruthless. In my opinion, it's probably also because Xin Feng is too arrogant. This man has always acted recklessly and refused to follow the rules. He is also self-righteous and thinks that he is the only one in the world who can do things properly."

He clearly had a long-standing grudge against Xin Feng, and now that he had a pretext, he began to complain.

"But then he reported his injury and is now recuperating in Yanjin County, leaving me with nowhere to vent my anger. I have to arrange for someone to take over his work!"

As he spoke, Qin Jie handed over the documents beside him.

Han Li reached out to take it, and said, "Inspector Xin is straightforward and perhaps a bit reckless. If he hadn't been truly desperate, he wouldn't have reported his injury as long as he still had a breath left."

"Regardless of Xin Feng's true intentions or whether he works hard or not, Lü Mao has already escaped. He is in charge of leading the search this time, so I can say a few more words for him. However, whether the yamen will agree is uncertain. In the end, he may still be punished."

Han Li didn't speak, but just looked down at the document.

The document was written in a very vague manner, and he found it strange after reading it carefully. He said, "I don't know the details either. At this moment, it's a small matter to hold someone accountable. The most important thing is to bring the person back first. Do you have any clues?"

Qin Jie shook his head and said, "It's not that easy! We've already arranged for people to search upstream and downstream. If there's any progress, we'll have already sent word back."

He added, "I have borrowed another five hundred patrolmen. We set off early this morning to search along the river, hoping to find this person."

He glanced at Han Li and said, “Zhengyan, we’re on the same side, so I’m not afraid to tell you the truth. Xin Feng has been in the yamen for a long time and is quite unruly. I’ve tried to discipline him a few times, but he hasn’t changed. This time he’s made things so ugly. Although I want to help, I’m in a difficult position. In the end, I may have to let go.”

"I called you here today because I know you've been working with Xin Feng for a long time and have had many interactions with him. I was afraid that if you found out about the subsequent handling of the matter, you might feel resentful. So I'm giving you a heads-up so you're aware of the situation."

Han Li frowned and asked, "We don't even know the details of the matter, nor have we caught the culprit, yet you're already rushing to take action?"

Qin Jie said, "You know best how closely the Censorate is pursuing this case. Although it's not urgent in a day or two, we can wait until the end of the month at the latest. If there's still no news, we have to give an explanation first, otherwise I won't be able to deal with Prefect Zheng."

Having already said all that, Han Li originally wanted to say a few words in defense of Xin Feng, but seeing Qin Jie's attitude, he simply decided not to waste any more time.

He said he was waiting for news, but he wasn't actually optimistic.

The search was certainly useful, but judging from Lü Mao's past actions and this encounter, he was clearly bold and meticulous. If we couldn't catch him this time and instead startled him, things wouldn't be so easy afterward.

If things continue this way, and they can't catch the person, Qin Jie most likely won't cover for them.

In the end, an old inspector would follow two cases from beginning to end, working day and night until his shoes were worn out. Not only would he not get any credit for his hard work, but he would also be reprimanded.

Since arriving at the Kyoto government office, Han Li has worked with Xin Feng and learned a lot from him.

Although this person is impatient and sometimes says hurtful things and does reckless things, his character and personality are impeccable.

Thinking of what the other party had said when they set off for the search of the capital, Han Li really didn't want his passion to end up like this.

He simply nodded, indicating that he understood, and took his leave without wasting any more time.

After leaving the house, he inquired about some information from people inside the government office.

The returned letter was vague and unclear, and the messenger seemed clueless about everything; it contained absolutely no useful information.

He simply returned to the Imperial Academy, made arrangements for the things he was busy with, and the next morning, he rented a horse and went straight to Song's Restaurant.

At that time, Song Miaogang had just prepared the dough to make pancakes when she heard the noise. She answered the door and was quite surprised to see people standing outside. She hurriedly invited them in.

Han Li did not enter, but exchanged a few simple pleasantries before saying, "I have a few things to tell Mr. Song about today. I need to go out of the city for a while, which will take a day or two, or three to five days. After I return, it will probably be not long before we set off."

He asked Song Miao to slowly prepare her luggage over the next two days, adding, "There will be a carriage this time, so it's best to pack more than less. The situation ahead isn't good, and many things may not be easy to buy."

Song Miao agreed.

Han Li then said, "There is another matter I need to tell you, so that you will have some idea."

He recounted how Xin Feng arrested people in Yanjin County and how the bandit leader escaped. He added, "It was thanks to your reminder that the gambling den was eradicated. Because of the gambling den incident, we also uncovered Lü Mao. The yamen later started keeping watch on this restaurant. Although we told them not to spread the word, there are still some hidden dangers."

"I already asked the Zhuque Gate patrolmen and soldiers to come and patrol this area more often. It's been raining a lot lately, so unless it's urgent, for safety's sake, Mr. Song, it's best not to go out alone."

He handed over a letter.

Song Miao opened the package and found several portraits of Lü Mao in different outfits, along with a copy of a wanted poster.

“I guessed that Lü Mao would definitely disguise himself again, so I drew a few more copies based on his original appearance…” Han Li pointed to one of the paintings, “Although the probability of him returning to the capital is not high, please ask Mr. Song to take a close look. If you see any suspicious people there, even if they don’t look like Lü Mao, they may be remnants of his faction. At that time, don’t think about anything else, just find the soldiers on the spot and protect yourself.”

After he finished explaining everything, Song Miao had no choice but to agree to each and every one of his requests. Seeing that he was in a hurry and had his horse behind him, she hesitated for a moment before asking, "Is Young Master Han going to see Inspector Xin?"

Han Li nodded and said, "I'll go to Yanjin County to see how Inspector Xin's injuries are."

Song Miao asked about the journey and silently calculated it in her mind.

Even at top speed, Yanjin County is at least half a day's journey from the capital. With the current rain and difficult roads, it might take even longer, perhaps more than half a day.

She glanced at the sky and then at the horses behind her, saying, "I'm afraid there will be a lot of rain along the way, making the road difficult to travel. There may not be many shops to stop and eat at. If you're not in a hurry, young master, why don't you lead your horse to the backyard to drink some water, eat some wheat, and comb its coat? Wait a moment, and I'll make some pancakes."

At first, it was just a casual mention, and she thought he was going to try to persuade her. But to her surprise, the man on the other side agreed without hesitation and led his horse around the outer wall of the restaurant towards the back.

Song Miao hurriedly called out to Cheng Erniang from afar, asking her to help open the courtyard gate before turning back to work.

She had originally planned to make pancakes that morning, but now, thinking of bringing some dry rations for Han Li, she had many other considerations. Ideally, they would taste good cold, be flavorful, keep for a day without spoiling, and not be dry or hard.

—Why not make a scallion pancake with layers of oil paste?

Her pancakes were made with a semi-scalded dough, and by now the dough had risen to about 70-80%. With the fire ready, she put lard into the pot, heated it up, then added flour and ground peppercorns, quickly stirring it into a paste – this was the oil-based pastry.

Brush the dough with oil paste; this layer prevents moisture from escaping, keeping the dough from drying out.

Just like when drinking soup, if there is a thick layer of oil floating on top, the soup will never cool down, and even after half a day, it will still be so hot that people will grimace – the oil prevents the steam from rising and taking away the heat.

Moreover, the dough is very fragrant when the lard is hot, and when the lard cools down and solidifies, it makes the dough more flaky and layered, giving it a tearable and soft texture. Each type of dough has its own unique appeal.

After the oil paste was cooked, Song Miao rolled out the dough into thin, round sheets, brushed them with the oil paste, sprinkled them with salt, added chopped green onions, and then sprinkled a small handful of white sesame seeds.

After washing the scallions, dry them thoroughly with a cloth, making sure there is no water left, otherwise it will ruin the effect of the oil.

Now, make a quick cut from the center outwards, roll it out into a long, umbrella-shaped roll from the cut to the other side, press down at the tip, let it rest a little, and you're done making the pancake.

Use only a little oil for the pancakes, as they are meant to be eaten cold; too much oil will make them greasy. After frying both sides until fragrant, gently sprinkle a little water along the edge of the pancake, cover the pan, and let the steam cook the inner layer of the pancake. Only then should you uncover the pan and continue frying until you have a crispy outer crust.

At this moment, the pancake is full of scallion aroma, golden brown on the outside, and so crispy that it crumbles when you bite into it. Inside, it is incredibly soft, with hundreds of layers. With a gentle pull of your teeth, it can be torn into thin strips.

The scallions have been fried until fragrant, losing their pungent scallion smell and becoming purely aromatic. The scallions taste sweet, and the flavors are a blend of lard, wheat, and scallion, along with the aroma of scallion oil. It's slightly salty, and you can eat three to five sheets without feeling overwhelmed.

The large pancake maker could fry several at a time, and soon Song Miao had fried a large plateful. After the pancakes cooled, she wrapped them in dried lotus leaves and then in oil paper before sending them to Han Li in the backyard.

Just then, the horse finished combing its hair, drank half a bucket of water, and ate a bowl of bran—we dared not let it eat more, because if it ate too much, it would refuse to leave.

She delivered the cakes, but didn't exchange many pleasantries with the other party. She then saw them out to the backyard before returning to her room to tell Cheng Erniang and her daughter what had happened.

Both of them knew the gravity of the situation, so they readily agreed that they would be extra careful.

Song Miao then took out the picture and the arrest warrant, and first carefully examined them with the two of them. Then, she taught them to read the words in the arrest warrant.

In addition to the arrest warrant, Han Li also gave him a list of Lü Mao's characteristics that he had compiled himself.

This person's birthplace is unknown, but he speaks with a Minzhou accent. Leaving aside his other appearance, he has one unique feature—three opposing black moles on his right wrist and the back of his hand.

Inside the Song family's eatery, the three were studying Lü Mao's characteristics. Meanwhile, Han Li, who had taken a scallion pancake, left Suanzao Alley and, taking advantage of the fact that it was still dark and there weren't many pedestrians on the road, quickly left the city and headed towards Yanjin County.

He set off early in the morning, stopping only once along the way to change horses and eat a few flatbreads with water—which were indeed delicious—but the road was so difficult that by the time he arrived at his destination it was past noon.

Han Li asked people along the way and arrived at the official post station in the county.

Yanjin County is a large county, and it took a long time for an old courier to come out and greet us after we entered. When he learned that we were looking for Xin Feng, he said, "Inspector Xin is in the back courtyard."

He gave his number, and seeing that Han Li had a different demeanor, even though he heard that the other party said he had no official position, he did not want to be negligent. He said, "I have a lot of things to do - many people ahead are urging me to give them things, and I need to deliver water, food and vegetables, and also take care of things. Young master, you should go find the patrol inspector yourself!"

Han Li responded and left.

Xin Feng's room was crammed into the last one in a corner of the post station.

He knocked on the door, and after a long while, a weak voice came from inside, saying, "Who is it? The door isn't locked..."

As soon as Han Li entered the room, he saw Xin Feng lying on the bed. His upper body was fully clothed, but he was only wearing a pair of shorts, revealing his two dark thighs.

Xin Feng had a long face, but when he looked up and saw that it was Han Li who had entered, he was both surprised and delighted. His dark face lit up, and he tried to call out, "Brother Han, what brings you here!"

He cried out and struggled to get up.

It was a pity that Xin Feng, who used to be full of energy, couldn't get the sound out of his throat after shouting. Instead, he coughed weakly.

Han Li hurriedly stepped forward and pressed the man down. He was about to pour water when he saw that the teapot in the room was empty. Just as he was about to go out to ask for some, Xin Feng said, "There are only two people in this official post station. Several superiors have come and gone, so we don't have time to deal with this place."

His tone was quite pitiful.

Han Li then took the kettle, went to the kitchen to fetch hot water, and came back to pour Xin Feng a cup of water for him to drink. He first asked about his injuries and learned that he had been stabbed in the ribs. Although he had lost a lot of blood, his lungs and internal organs had not been damaged. He had not been well for the past two days, but he had woken up yesterday and was in better spirits today. He had also fallen and broken his right leg.

Just as he was about to offer a few words of comfort, Xin Feng hurriedly said, "Brother, you've come at the right time! If I wasn't there, those idiots might have let the person go—go and keep an eye on them!"

Han Li took the opportunity to ask questions and learned the whole story.

It turned out that Xin Feng had taken two people with him to search the area around dusk the day before yesterday. When they found a large ship moored at the shore, they saw a man of unknown origin. When questioned, the man answered fluently, but there were a few details that didn't seem right.

Xin Feng has been handling cases for many years and is naturally experienced.

He had been following the case for a long time and had interrogated many suspects. Although he had never met Lü Mao in person, he was quite familiar with his features. At that time, he carefully examined the other party. Although there seemed to be some differences in age and appearance, they were not too different. In particular, their figures were similar. He then made an excuse that someone had lost a valuable item. On the one hand, he used the pretext of preparing to search the person to keep everyone on the ship calm, and on the other hand, he secretly sent someone back to report the news.

But the person who went did not return. Xin Feng instructed his companion to search the people in the cabin. The companion had only been in the government office for a few months and was eager to make a contribution. He couldn't wait any longer and went to check the suspect first. Sure enough, he found a black mole on the suspect's right wrist.

The officer in the same group could not hide his excitement and was about to arrest the man when Lu Mao suddenly sprang up, a knife hidden in his sleeve, and grabbed the officer to threaten him.

Taking advantage of an opening, Xin Feng rushed forward and engaged in combat with his opponent.

There was a moment of panic on the ship.

One person acted without restraint, while the other was hesitant to act for fear of harming others; the outcome was predictable.

In the end, Xin Feng was stabbed and then had his leg broken by a fellow officer who threw him over. Lü Mao took the opportunity to turn over and jump into the river to escape.

(End of this chapter)