Transmigrated into a minor official in a county government, with children at home waiting for rice t

Zhang Sanlang glanced at the silver ingot and couldn't help but laugh. "A mere fraction of what I have left—a linen jacket. How much is that worth? Ten taels of silver could buy dozens of these."

Yu Shoufen chuckled ingratiatingly, "Officer Zhang, the jacket isn't worth much. However, your son is lively and your daughter is intelligent. I must have startled them when I went to your residence. Consider this a token of my respect! If you don't accept it, I won't be able to explain myself when I get back."

Zhang Sanlang reached for the silver ingot, weighed it in his hand, and deftly stuffed it into his pocket. "Alright. Thank Clerk Kong for me. Tell him the matter of the jacket is over, and no one will mention it again."

Yu Shou breathed a sigh of relief, cupped his hands in greeting, and left.

In the evening, He Lantou knocked on the gate of the old house.

Zhang Sanlang was teaching Qingge to write inside the house when he heard a knock on the door. He put down his pen and got up to open the door.

He Lantou stood at the door, a hemp rope tied around his waist, and a bag in his hand.

He first peeked into the courtyard and saw Ximei busy at the stove and Qingge lying on the low table before stepping inside. "Officer Zhang, I heard about Uncle Sun's release. Thank you for your help."

He placed the package he was holding on the stove; it was wrapped in oil paper and smelled like braised food.

Zhang Sanlang glanced at it and said, "He Lantou, you're too kind. Uncle Sun is from my old residence, so it's only right that we do this. Besides, this matter was originally caused by me."

He Lantou squatted down by the stove, pulled a straw rope from his waist, and began to weave it haphazardly. After a couple of strokes, he raised his eyelids and asked, "Officer Zhang, is Qian Laohei's case closed?"

"It's settled. The plaintiff has withdrawn the lawsuit, and the case has been closed in the criminal division."

He Lantou nodded, tying a knot in the straw rope in his hand. "Zhang Tiesi, there's something I'm not sure if I should say."

"Just keep talking, He Lantou."

He Lantou stood up, chuckling, and handed Qingge'er a grasshopper he had casually woven. "Kong Yashi is the kind of person who hates disobedience the most. He might not be happy that he failed to get you this time."

"The clerk in charge of posting notices works at the county government office; you'll see him all the time, so be extra careful from now on. Although your residence has many people, there are mostly elderly, weak, women, and children; you should be extra vigilant."

Zhang Sanlang nodded. "Thank you for your guidance, He Lantou."

He Lantou waved his hand. "By the way, some unfamiliar faces have recently appeared at the docks. They say they're from Puyang and specialize in buying river seafood. I've had someone keeping an eye on them. If Zhang Si has time, could you find out more about these people for me?"

Zhang Sanlang glanced at him, "Don't worry, He Lantou."

He Lantou left.

The courtyard gate closed, and the footsteps disappeared into the alley.

happy Mei'er carried over a bowl of porridge and placed it on the low table. "Dad, what brings Uncle He here?"

"Delivering something. Just wanted to say a few words."

happy Mei glanced at the packet of braised food on the stove. "Dad, you've been seeing more and more people lately. Nobody used to come to see you."

Zhang Sanlang picked up his bowl of porridge. "Before, no one came, so it was peaceful. Now that more people are coming, it'll be lively."

Qingge'er looked up from the low table, porridge stains still on his lips. "Father, is it because you became an official?"

"My father isn't an official. He's just a minor official."

"Isn't the 'Tiesi' an official?"

"no."

"Then why did someone come looking for you?"

Zhang Sanlang took a sip of porridge. "Because they think their father is useful."

Qingge tilted his head and thought for a moment, "What use is a father?"

Xi Mei gently patted the back of his head. "How could your father be useless? Unlike you, a little brat who just eats and sleeps all day, and is utterly useless."

Qing-ge rubbed the back of his head, pouting and not daring to argue.

My sister's hands may be small, but they hurt a lot when she slaps you!

The next morning, Zhang Sanlang arrived at the clerk's office.

When Fang Zhong'an saw him come in, he put down his pen, his face filled with excitement that he had been holding back all night. "Zhang Sanlang, have you heard? There's been some activity in the torture chamber today."

Zhang Sanlang sat down and picked up his pen. "What's that noise?"

"In Qian Laohei's case, Clerk Kong found out that it was Lv San who did it. He said that Lv San was greedy and cut off Qian Laohei's finger to frame you. He was sentenced to twenty strokes of the cane and exiled to the prison in this prefecture to serve one year of hard labor."

Zhang Sanlang paused for a moment with his pen.

Fang Zhong'an leaned closer and lowered his voice, "I heard that Clerk Kong interrogated him personally last night, and Donkey Three confessed. Old Qian also admitted that he was also deceived by Donkey Three."

Ma Tiesi raised his head from the corner. "Donkey Three is Qian Laohei's man. How could he cut off his finger? Three strings of cash may be a lot, but it's not worth it, is it?"

Fang Zhong'an spread his hands. "Who knows? Anyway, Donkey has made three moves, and Qian Laohei has admitted it. The case is closed."

Zhang Sanlang lowered his head and continued copying the documents.

Seeing that he didn't respond, Fang Zhong'an remembered the words he had advised him a while ago, and quickly shrank back and picked up his pen.

The office fell silent.

After finishing his shift, Zhang Sanlang did not go straight home.

He turned into the main street, bought two strings of honey-glazed glutinous rice balls at the street corner, wrapped them in dried lotus leaves, and tucked them into his pocket.

When we reached the entrance of Kujing Alley, Old Sun was squatting on the edge of the well, sharpening his knife.

A blue stone, a kitchen knife, sharpened with a whooshing sound.

Uncle Sun.

Old Sun looked up, saw it was him, and grinned. "Sanlang's back. Business was good at the docks today; we made over 180 coins."

"Good news." Zhang Sanlang squatted down. "Uncle Sun, what did the people in the torture chamber ask you about that packet of smuggled salt?"

Old Sun paused for a moment, then continued sharpening his knife. "They asked me a whole bunch of questions. They asked me where the salt came from, and whether it had anything to do with me. I said I didn't know, that Grandma He bought all the salt I used. They didn't believe me and kept asking me the same questions over and over."

"And then?"

"Later, Clerk Kong came. He asked me if I knew Donkey Three. I said no. He then asked if I knew Old Black Qian. I said I had seen him at the dock, but we weren't very familiar."

Old Sun flipped the knife over and continued sharpening it. "Then he had me released. He said they had investigated and found that the smuggled salt had nothing to do with me."

Zhang Sanlang nodded and stood up.

According to the county government's procedures, County Lieutenant Xu was responsible for arresting people, but the case was initially tried by the criminal investigation department.

When Kong Yashi sought peace with him, he naturally stopped detaining Old Sun.

"Uncle Sun, if anyone causes you trouble at the docks again, just come to me."

Old Sun looked up at him, nodded, and then lowered his head to sharpen his knife.

Zhang Sanlang pushed open the door of the old house.

In the courtyard, Ximei was collecting the clothes that had been drying.

Qingge squatted at the stove opening, stuffing firewood into the firebox.

"Dad's back!" Qingge'er stood up, patted the dirt off his knees, and ran over.

Zhang Sanlang took the packet of honey balls out of his pocket and handed it to him.

Qingge took it, tore open the lotus leaf, picked up a bunch, and took a bite. The sourness of the hawthorn mixed with the sweetness of the sugar frosting exploded in his mouth. He squinted and mumbled, "Sister! Dad bought some honey berries!"

happy Mei walked over, took another skewer, took a bite of one, and put the rest away.

Zhang Sanlang sat down at the low table, poured himself a bowl of hot tea, and gulped it down.