Song Yi

Chapter 356 The Mysterious Disappearance Case

Du Wenhao glanced at him, saw that his face was full of pleading, he must be asking for something, nodded, and said to Pang Yuqin, "Wait a minute."

Pang Yuqin saw that Ke Yao had gone to find Li Pu and the others, and said, "It's okay, you go ahead and call me if you need anything, I'm in the room." After saying that, she turned and went upstairs.

Du Wenhao followed the shopkeeper Leng to the backyard.

There were several people standing in the back garden, one of them was a fat old lady who looked like a few family servants, standing with her hands down with a humble face.

Treasurer Leng introduced: "Mrs. Han, this is Mrs. Du, the imperial physician. — Mrs. Wang, this is Mrs. Wang, the wife of Treasurer Han of the 'Xianyun Restaurant' halfway up the mountain. She has something to ask you ..."

The fat old lady hurriedly lifted up her robe and knelt down: "Young one kowtows to the judge!" A group of family servants behind her also knelt and kowtowed.

Du Wenhao was a little curious. People in ancient times had to kneel when they met an official, unless they were in the court, because the official in the court represented the imperial court, and they didn't need to kneel on weekdays. They just bowed their hands and bowed.The fat old lady should have something important to do with such a big gift.At the moment, Void supported each other: "Mrs. Han, please get up."

The servant girl behind her hurriedly stepped forward to help her up, but she pushed her away, put her hands on the ground, and began to cry, with snot and tears, and said: "Mr. Make the decision."

"Let's talk when we have something to say!" Du Wenhao frowned.He couldn't stand women crying.

But the fat old lady still couldn't get up, and said in a sobbing voice: "My lord, our lord is gone, and I don't care if I report to the government. Make the decision."

Du Wenhao couldn't laugh or cry: "Your master is missing, do you want me to help you find it?"

"No, no, no!" The fat old lady shook her fat hands wildly in a hurry, "I wouldn't dare to labor for this even if I beat you to death. It's just that the villain suspects that our two masters have been murdered by... Already! Woooooooo..."

The fat old lady burst into tears again, and the servants behind her also cried loudly.

"Okay, okay! Don't cry, what's going on, let's talk about it!—Bring a chair!" Du Wenhao said helplessly.

The shopkeeper Leng hurried to bring a chair, and another waiter brought a coffee table to make fragrant tea.

Du Wenhao lifted his robe and sat down: "Speak!"

The fat old lady was almost crying at this time, and she kowtowed and continued: "It's like this. Half a month ago, our master brought 300 taels of silver and a shop assistant to the city to buy. As a result, a To go or not to come back! Woooooo..."

This time, Du Wenhao didn't drink her off. He could understand the anxiety of missing relatives. He waited until she was almost crying before saying, "Why did he bring so much money to buy?"

300 taels is equivalent to RMB 30, which is not a small number.
The fat old lady choked and said, "Our master went to pay the bill this time and buy goods by the way. Our Xianyun Hotel and various shops buy goods every six months, so we bring more silver taels when we pay."

"300 taels is so much money, in addition to buying goods, if you go out for sightseeing, it's enough. Is this money his money to run away from home?"

"Impossible!" The fat old lady looked left and right, knelt and climbed two steps forward, and she was almost at Du Wenhao's feet. She lowered her voice and said, "Master buys cash and takes cash. He really wants to abandon his family and children." If you leave alone, you should bring bank notes. Besides, although our family is not one of the largest households in Hengzhou, our family is still very well off. Not to mention 300 taels, we have 3000 taels. If you don’t bring only 300 taels, you can How long will it take?"

"Oh, your analysis is very reasonable, so did he suddenly go to find a teacher to visit friends? Or was he caught by something?"

"We went to the yamen to report to the officials, and the master Zhizhou said the same thing, but it won't happen. Our master was good before, treated people kindly, and the whole family was harmonious. He never had any enemies. If you owe money, you don’t need to go out to hide from your enemies and creditors. Our master does not prostitute or gamble, never enters brothels or gambling houses, and there are no women who are good friends outside. After much deliberation, the only result is being murdered! My lord, please Make the decision for us!"

"Have you sent someone to look for it?"

"I've looked for it. I've asked all relatives and friends, and even painted portraits. I've also asked all the inns and restaurants in nearby towns and towns outside the city of Hengzhou, including brothels and gambling houses. They all said no. I have seen the master. Mr. the criminal officer, tell me, isn’t this murdered?”

"Where's the guy with him?"

"It's gone too! It's possible to say that our master disappeared because he eloped to avoid debts or went out to visit mountains and rivers on his own, but my buddy Li Wangzu also disappeared!"

"Did you go with your master?"

"This is absolutely impossible! Wang Zu is a dutiful son. His grandparents, parents, and parents are all still there, and they are all supported by him. He will never leave them and run away by himself. Besides, he is also engaged. We are about to pass the door during the conversation, how can we leave at this time?"

Du Wenhao thought for a while, and asked again: "Do you know where your master buys goods? Have you asked?"

"I have asked, and I have also asked several shops that often do business with our restaurant, and they all said that the master has never been there."

"That is to say, your master disappeared before the purchase?"

"Yes. They heard that our master is missing, so they helped to ask. They have asked about similar shops in the city, but they have never seen our master go."

"This is strange. After you asked, who was the last time you saw your master?"

"It's the city gate officer who guarded the city. He said that on the day the master disappeared, he saw the master and his assistant Wang Zu entering the city, and he even said hello to the master. But he didn't see the master and the others go out. We asked about several other city gates The city guards and armored soldiers also said they hadn't seen it."

"Do they all know your master?"

"I know them all. These city guards take their families to Mount Heng to cool off in summer, and they have to rest at our Xianyun Inn when they go up and down the mountain. They also have a lot of credit in our hotel. How could they not know each other?"

Since the rebellion of the White Clothes Society, all states and counties have strengthened their city defenses. This shopkeeper Han seems to be a well-known local wealthy businessman, and the city gate officials all know him. If what they said is true, then this shopkeeper Han will enter the city. He never came out after entering the city, so he should have disappeared in the city.

Du Wenhao carefully looked at the expression of the old lady, the anxiety and heartache did not seem to be a lie, this shopkeeper Han has no good friends with his enemies and creditors, and there is no motive to abscond to other places, and he has searched everywhere for portraits. No one has seen him leave the local area, especially, the guy who accompanied him also disappeared at the same time, and from all the signs, it really looks like he was murdered.

Du Wenhao pondered for a moment, then asked: "You go to report to the officials, what did Master Zhizhou say?"

"Master Zhizhou said that this kind of case where no one is alive but no one is dead, can only be regarded as a disappearance, and the case cannot be filed for arrest. Let us continue to search. Only when the body is found and it is confirmed that he was murdered, the yamen will take care of it. My lord Listen, they don’t care about our lord’s life at all! Old lady, I really have nothing to do. I heard from Shopkeeper Leng that you were in his inn on the mountain, so I dared to ask the lord to make decisions for the villain. ah. woo woo woo”

Du Wenhao said: "Your conjecture just now is indeed somewhat reasonable. However, purely from the perspective of the criminal law, what Master Zhizhou said is correct. It is true that a case cannot be filed before the murder is confirmed. How about it, this officer Helping you out with ideas, maybe it can help you find the whereabouts of the two masters."

"Okay, thank you, sir!" The fat old lady kowtowed.

Du Wenhao pondered for a moment, then slowly said: "If——what I said is if, if your master is killed..."

"It must have been murdered! It's been half a month since I went down the mountain and into the city. I've searched everywhere. Where else can I go if I'm not murdered? Woooooo..."

"Don't cry, just listen to what I have to say."

"Yes, yes! My lord."

"According to what you said, he has no grievances or enmities with anyone, nor does he owe anyone money, let alone a love debt. That is to say, the person who murdered him is unlikely to be a vendetta, and he has 300 taels of silver on him. Therefore, the most likely thing is to kill for money! Of course, there are other possibilities. To solve the case, we must start from the most likely place. Kill for money, after getting the money, the murderer will definitely use the money. Now, first investigate Do you know what valuable things your master brought with you? Then conduct a targeted investigation to see where these things appear, and then follow the clues to find the real culprit!"

The fat old lady immediately saw hope and nodded repeatedly, her chubby face was full of snot and saliva and she didn't care to wipe it off.

Du Wenhao said: "Remember now, when your master left, what valuable things did you bring with you?"

The fat old lady knelt on the ground and raised her head and thought for a while: "When the master left, he brought 300 taels of silver." The fat old lady blinked and turned to look at the servants kneeling behind her, " What else did the master bring? Think about it, what are you doing kneeling stupidly?"

The fat old lady's son interjected, "Mother, father has a jade pendant on him!"

"That's right!" The fat old lady hurriedly turned her head and said to Du Wenhao: "When our master left, he had a jade pendant on his body. It was bought when he married me in the early years, and it cost 400 taels of silver!"

Du Wenhao suddenly became interested: "Jade pendant? What does it look like?"

"It's a little pig. Our master is a pig. There is also engraved on the back the good and auspicious day we chose for marriage. It was specially made by a jade craftsman before we got married."

"Oh, if the murderer is smart enough to sell this kind of item with personal characteristics, he won't dare to sell it for a while, at least he won't sell it near Hengzhou. Is there anything else?"

A maid said: "Old Madam, Master still has a finger puller in his hand, which was bought from the capital a few days ago."

"That's right!" The fat old lady said to Du Wenhao: "The master still has a jade wrench on his thumb. He bought it when he went to the capital to buy goods in the spring of this year. It only cost less than 30 taels. worth it."

"Oh?" Du Wenhao pondered for a moment, and said: "The value of this finger ring is not very high, and it is a common jade accessory bought in a jade shop. There is no specificity, and the murderer may sell it. However, since this jade finger ring It was bought from the capital, and it should be rare in Hengzhou. It can be used as a clue for the search. Is there anything else?"

The fat old lady and the others carefully recalled the clothes of shopkeeper Han at that time, as well as the small items they carried with them, including the items carried by the shop assistant Wang Zu.

Du Wenhao said: "In this way, you immediately organize family servants who have seen the objects of the master and Wang Zu to go to the shops in the city and near the left township to inquire about whether you find these things. Once you find them, you must keep your face , come and inform the officer immediately!"

The fat old lady agreed repeatedly.He took a brocade box from the butler behind him, opened it, and it was full of taels of silver.Offered with both hands: "This is a little thought from a villain, please accept it with a smile."

Du Wenhao waved his hand and said: "I can't accept this. If my help can help you find your master, and he is fine, then you can talk about the reward. If your master is really killed, I will give you some advice. In prison, arresting the real culprit is the responsibility of this official, I have already received the imperial salary, and investigating and handling cases is my duty, and I cannot receive any payment."

The fat old lady listened to what Du Wenhao said, and she was afraid of offending the elder, so she didn't dare to insist. She closed the lid and handed it to the housekeeper. After kowtowing in thanks, she staggered away with the support of her family's servants.

Shopkeeper Leng waited for them to go far away, and said to Du Wenhao: "My lord, I have caused you trouble. Their shopkeeper Han and I are good friends, so I took the liberty to bring you here."

"It doesn't matter. Those who can help will of course help. Besides, if this case is really murder, I will propose some punishment. It is my duty to investigate this case. The murderer must be arrested and brought to justice."

"That's right, it's really a blessing for us to be the master for the people." Shopkeeper Leng said with a smile.

"Okay, I have nothing else to go back."

"My lord, please stop." Shopkeeper Leng took two steps forward and clasped his hands, "I still have some private matters, so I want to ask my lord to help me."

"Oh, is it related to your wife?" Du Wenhao immediately thought of it.

Shopkeeper Leng laughed dryly: "Yes, sir, there were so many people yesterday that it was hard to talk. What the doctor Qian said was actually exactly what the villain thought. I have been sick for many years, but we have looked for all the doctors we can find." , They all say that there is no cure, the old man is an unrivaled genius doctor with a kind heart, and the little one begs the adults to treat the sickness, as long as it can cure the sickness, no matter how much money you want."

Du Wenhao was very straightforward: "Okay, there is no problem. Then go and have a look!"

"No, no, let's talk about it at night, the sickness of my wife..., I can't get close during the day. Besides, sir, don't you have something to do with your wife? I can't delay you."

"Okay then, let's go tonight!"

Du Wenhao came back with his hands behind his back.Lin Qingdai saw it, and came over and said, "Wen Hao, did you go to the backyard to see a doctor for Leng's wife?"

"Well, but I haven't watched it yet, I said I'll watch it at night."

Lin Qingdai looked around, lowered her voice and said, "I heard that Shopkeeper Leng's wife had some kind of madness, and Shopkeeper Leng locked her up just now. It's really pitiful."

Du Wenhao wondered, "Madness?"

Lin Qingdai: "Yeah, it's scary just looking at you with straight eyes, then falling to the ground and twitching all over."

Du Wenhao then remembered Li Pu's cry before, and couldn't help laughing out loud.

Lin Qingdai: "Wen Hao, what are you laughing at?"

Du Wenhao cleared his throat, and said, "Yesterday Li Pu surprised that woman like this."

"Really, can this disease be cured?"

"I don't know if I haven't seen it yet,—the disease can always be cured. If it is not cured, it is not that the disease cannot be cured, but that the person who treats the disease does not know the method.

In the evening, Ke Yao came back with Li Pu and some guards, bringing a basket of wild fruits, and the guards also shot two pheasants.Hand it over to the cook.This chef is good at cooking, and it is delicious and delicious.Du Wenhao couldn't help but take the money and have a few drinks together.The girls were also very interested, and they drank the two jars of old wine to a clean slate.

After dinner, Du Wenhao took the money and went to the backyard with the shopkeeper Leng. Ke Yao wanted to go too, but Lianer insisted on pulling her to accompany him for a walk. Du Wenhao thought that she had also drank some wine, and the patient Since we were talking about madness, in order to avoid irritation, I didn't agree, so I just took the money and left alone.

Lian'er took Ke Yao's hand out of the inn, and came to a flat grass, where Pang Yuqin was sitting on a big rock and looking at herself with a smile.

Only then did Ke Yao realize that it was Pang Yuqin who was looking for her, and turned to look at Lian'er.Lian'er smiled at Ke Yao apologetically, and said in a low voice: "Madam asked me to come over to you, saying that she wanted to talk to you, but she was afraid that the master would find out, so... I'm sorry, please talk slowly, I I'm leaving."

Seeing Lian'er's pitiful look, Ke Yao knew that she was also in trouble. Among Du Wenhao's four wives, Lian'er was the only one who didn't have her own opinion, and anyone could order her around. Thinking of this, Ke Yao said: "It doesn't matter, go get busy Bar."

Seeing Lian Er walking away, the mountain wind blows, and Ke Yao's wine is a little sober, she walks to Pang Yuqin, Pang Yuqin reaches out and pulls her to sit down on the boulder beside her, and asks with a sweet smile: "Sister-in-law, I have something to do with you , why don't you just say it directly?"

"It was inconvenient because there were too many people just now. That's why Lian'er called you. Actually, it's nothing, I want to chat with you. How old are you this year? Fifteen?"

Ke Yao hummed, and seemed to understand what Pang Yuqin meant by asking this question.

Pang Yuqin smiled and continued: "15 years old is not too young, it's almost time to ask a matchmaker for a kiss."

Ke Yao tilted his head and said with a grin, "Sister-in-law is so eager to marry me off?"

"It's a matter of course for a man to get married and a woman to marry. Women always want to marry. I'm not just asking a matchmaker to say we're going to marry. What I mean is..., you can pay attention, your brother and I both It's not unreasonable, even though the eldest brother is the father and the elder sister-in-law is the mother, we should help you make decisions about your marriage, but you have to make the final decision yourself."

"Thank you, sister-in-law." Ke Yao smiled lightly, looked into the distance, and asked leisurely, "Have sister-in-law decided who to marry Ke Yao to?"

(End of this chapter)