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

Old Zhao was taken aback. "Zhang Qianxing, we're not urging him anymore?"

"I won't rush you anymore."

Old Zhao couldn't help but ask, "Zhang Qianxing, what did you figure out?"

Zhang Sanlang didn't waste any words, only saying, "Go back to the county office to check the records."

It was already afternoon when I returned to the county government office.

Zhang Sanlang went straight to the household registration office, pulled out the Chen family's records of property transfers over the years from the wooden shelf, and spread them out on the table in stacks.

Wang Tiesi leaned closer. "Zhang Qianxing, is there any progress on the Chen family matter?"

Zhang Sanlang didn't reply, but turned the pages of the file one by one.

Qian Laohei handled a total of seventeen land transfers, and copies of the deeds for each one were attached to the back of the file. He took out the copies of the deeds he brought back from the Chen family and compared them one by one.

Three of the seventeen signatures do not match the original documents. The fifteen mu of land near Guangji Bridge, the sixteen mu of land in Liushugou, and the eight mu of dry land in the east of the city were all handled by Qian Laohei.

He pulled out the three pages, stacked them together, and went to Tao Yasi's signing room.

Tao Cheng sat behind his desk, a business tax register from this year spread out in front of him. He took the three pages Zhang Sanlang handed him, read them through one by one, and placed them on the desk. "What do you want to do?"

Zhang Sanlang thought for a moment, "Investigate further. Find out exactly how these three transfers were done. We can bring Qian Laohei and Donkey Three, who is serving in the state capital, back for questioning."

Tao Cheng picked up his teacup, took a sip, and put it down. "Investigating these two requires official documentation from the Ministry of Justice, and Kong You'an might not agree. If we can't interrogate them, what do you plan to do about the Chen family's debts?"

Zhang Sanlang tucked the scrap paper into his pocket. "The matter of the arrears is simple. I'll ask County Magistrate Xu for an official document, and the Chen family will naturally pay the taxes they owe."

Tao Cheng glanced at him, somewhat surprised. "Since you're confident, go ahead and do it."

After leaving the household office, Zhang Sanlang headed straight for the county magistrate's office.

Xu Kai sat behind his desk, his lean face expressionless. He simply closed the file and placed it on the corner of the desk. "Zhang Qianxing. Is the Chen family matter finished so quickly?"

Zhang Sanlang walked in, stood on the bench in front of the table, and took out the copies of the contracts and the comparison papers from his sleeve, spreading them out in front of Xu Kai.

"County Commandant Xu, these are copies of the deeds for the transfer of three plots of land in Chenjiazhuang, along with the household registration records. The signatures on the copies don't match the records; someone copied them from the originals. The person in charge was Qian Laohei."

Xu Kai picked up the papers and looked at them one by one. After finishing, he placed them on the table, tapping his fingers lightly twice on the paper. "Qian Laohei? What do you want me to do?"

Zhang Sanlang folded the papers together. "I want to ask County Lieutenant Xu to issue a formal document, citing the investigation into fraudulent land transfers, and send it to Chen Family Village. There's no need to interrogate anyone; I just want Chen Youde to know that the county magistrate's office is investigating this matter."

Xu Kai leaned back in his chair, his gaze sharp as he stared at Zhang Sanlang. "You're in charge of the household registration office; you're responsible for collecting taxes. I'm only in charge of arrests and maintaining order; I don't interfere with land taxes. Isn't it inappropriate for you to ask me to issue a document?"

Zhang Sanlang met his gaze and said, "The person who handled the transfer of Chen Youde's land was Qian Laohei. Everyone knows he's Kong Yashi's man. His right and left hands are Donkey Three and Scarface Feng."

"The document found on the body of Steward Chen, the victim in the dock murder case, was about the transfer of ownership of fifteen mu of paddy fields near Guangji Bridge. Where did this document come from? Steward Chen had been drinking with Qian Laohei before he died."

"County Commandant Xu has been investigating the dockside murder case for so long, but he's been stuck on Qian Laohei's trail. If County Commandant Xu were to use the pretext of investigating land fraud to put pressure on Chen Youde, he might just alert him and gain some unexpected benefits."

Xu Kai was silent for a moment, then his eyes lit up. "You mean, use the investigation of land ownership to intimidate Chen Youde and Kong Youan, forcing them to take action? Like silencing Qian Laohei?"

"Exactly. Chen Youde is on good terms with Kong Youan, and he can't escape involvement in the land issue. In his view, Xu County Magistrate's investigation into the land is a new development in the investigation of the dock murder case. This investigation might force him to take action again."

Xu Kai put down his teacup, picked up his brush, pulled a blank sheet of paper from the corner of the table, and laid it out in front of him. "How do I write a document?"

Zhang Sanlang stood up, walked to the table, and looked at the blank document.

"The County Magistrate's Office is investigating this matter. Someone has reported that the land transfer deed for Chen Family Village is suspected of being forged. We hereby summon Chen Youde and the person in charge to the court for verification. You are hereby ordered to cooperate without fail."

Xu Kai picked up his brush, dipped it in ink, and began to write, one character at a time.

The handwriting was neat and the writing was neither hurried nor slow. After finishing, he picked up the official seal from the corner of the desk, dipped it in ink, and stamped it at the end of the document.

He picked up the document, blew on the ink to dry it, and handed it to Zhang Sanlang. "Take this. If Chen Youde asks, just say that the county magistrate's office received the initial report and is conducting a routine investigation."

Zhang Sanlang took the document, folded it, and put it in his pocket. He then cupped his hands in thanks to Xu Kai, saying, "Thank you, Magistrate Xu."

Xu Kai waved his hand, "Once the Chen family's matter is settled, remember to return the official document. Documents from the county magistrate's office cannot be allowed to circulate outside."

Zhang Sanlang nodded, understanding that this document would not be archived; it was merely a way for him to make an example of Chen Youde, forcing him to seek action from Kong Youan, and incidentally helping him recover the Chen family's debts.

The next day, Zhang Sanlang went to Chenjiazhuang for the second time.

Chen Youde took the document and read it once, and the smile on his face completely disappeared.

He placed the document on the table and remained silent for a moment. "Zhang Qianxing has some impressive methods. First he checked the accounts, then the files, and he even brought out Xu County Magistrate's document."

"The Chen family has been operating in Juancheng for over a hundred years, and I've never seen a tax collector so persistent. Always leave room for maneuver, so you can meet again later. Why is Zhang Qianxing being so insistent?"

Zhang Sanlang tucked the document back into his pocket, gave a forced smile, and cupped his hands in greeting. "Master Chen, this year's new debt, plus the accumulated debts from previous years, totals sixty-three shi of grain. You can pay it in cash, twenty-five guan."

"If you acknowledge it today, I'll go back and settle the matter. If you don't acknowledge it today, I, Zhang, won't come to collect the debt again; it'll just be the county constable's archers who will come next."

The main room was quiet for a moment.

Chen Youde's expression gradually changed. He picked up the teacup again, lifted the lid, blew on the tea foam, and his fingers trembled slightly.

He took out a silver ingot weighing about ten taels from his sleeve and placed it on the table. "Zhang Qianxing, this is a small token of my appreciation. Could you please make an exception for me?"

Zhang Sanlang glanced at the silver ingot, but didn't reach for it. He just looked at the other person with a smile on his lips.

Chen Youde's lips twitched.

He tucked the silver ingot back into his sleeve, leaned back in his chair, and twirled the two walnuts in his hand, making a crackling sound. "Sixty-three shi (a unit of dry measure), I'll take it. Deliver it to the county granary within three days."

Zhang Sanlang stood up, cupped his hands in thanks to Chen Youde, and said, "Thank you, Master Chen."

He turned and walked out. As he reached the door, Chen Youde's voice came from behind him, "Zhang Qianxing, you're too meticulous in your work. Meticulous people usually don't last long in government offices."

Zhang Sanlang didn't turn around. "I also want to give Master Chen a piece of advice: if you walk too much on the dark side, you might run into a ghost!"