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

He Lantou squatted on the stone pier of the dock, intently twisting hemp rope.

One of his subordinates came running over, panting. "Boss, we found out. The guy spreading rumors at the dock is called Lin Laogui, a lowly jailer from the prison camp. He took leave to go home and was waiting for a ship at the dock, gossiping with some porters."

He Lantou stopped pulling the rope in his hand. "Lin Laogui?"

"Yes. I found out. He's from Beihe Village. A few years ago, he injured someone and was sentenced to five years in prison. He was transferred to another prison last year. He couldn't control himself after drinking a couple of ounces of liquor!"

He Lantou stood up, patted the dust off his knees, and said, "Oh, we need to take a ferry across."

He Lantou led the clerk towards the pier and jumped onto a small boat.

The boatman was squatting at the stern, munching on a coarse grain pancake. Seeing him, he quickly stood up, stuffing the pancake into his robes. "He Lantou, are you crossing the river?"

"Beihe Village".

The boatman untied the mooring rope, pushed off with his pole, and the boat left the shore. "Hold on tight."

He Lantou squatted at the bow of the boat, squinting at the opposite bank.

The boatman uses a pole at the stern to push the boat in and out of the water, moving it several meters with each gentle push.

As the boat reached the middle of the river, the boatman hesitated for a long time before finally asking, "He Lantou, are you going to Beihe Village to handle a case?"

He Lan didn't turn around. "Don't ask questions you shouldn't ask."

The boatman quickly shut his mouth and pushed off even faster with the pole.

About fifteen minutes later, the boat docked.

Beihe Village was originally a small fishing village with only a dozen or so households, with mud walls and thatched houses. When strangers came, the barking of dogs could be heard from the east to the west of the village.

An old man sat under the big locust tree at the village entrance, mending fishing nets. He Lantou walked over and asked, "Old man, where does Lin Laogui live?"

The old man raised his eyelids, glanced at him, then lowered his head again, his shuttle in his hand not stopping. "Go straight ahead, the third house from the back. The one where half the courtyard wall has collapsed."

He Lantou nodded, took out a coin from his sleeve, and placed it on the stone stool next to the old man.

The old man was stunned. Before he could say anything, the two had already left.

He Lantou walked along the village road. Every now and then, a yellow dog would peek out from over the wall, bark at him a few times, and then retreat back inside.

Before long, they found the Lin family.

Sure enough, half of the courtyard wall collapsed, the adobe bricks were scattered all over the ground, and grass grew there.

The gate to the courtyard is crooked, and it's anyone's guess which day it will completely fall apart and collapse.

A middle-aged man was squatting in the courtyard, lost in thought. He looked up when he heard footsteps.

He Lantou stood at the courtyard gate, not going in. "Are you Lin Laogui?"

The man rubbed his hands together, his voice a little hoarse, "So it's He Lantou, and I'm Lin Laogui."

He Lantou wasn't surprised by this; many people knew him. "Who gave you permission to say those things you said at the dockside tea stall?"

Lin Laogui's Adam's apple bobbed.

He didn't answer immediately, but turned around and glanced at the earthen house behind him.

A muffled, indistinct chanting came from inside the house, barely audible.

It sounded like someone was cursing, but also like someone was crying.

His voice was hoarse, intermittent, and unclear.

He Lantou frowned.

Lin Laogui squeezed out his voice from his throat, "He Lantou, I haven't been home for five or six years. I came back today because I wanted to see my mother. Why don't you come in and sit for a while?"

He Lantou frowned, glanced at the courtyard gate, and carefully walked into the courtyard.

The courtyard was even more dilapidated; the stove had collapsed, and weeds had grown on the woodpile.

The door of the main house leaned crookedly against the wall, and half a faded peach wood charm was pasted on the door frame, making a clattering sound in the wind.

A gaunt old woman sat on the threshold, her hair completely white and disheveled. She gestured with her hands in the air, muttered to herself, and stared blankly ahead.

"Mother," Lin Laogui called out.

Granny Lin seemed not to hear and continued muttering.

She kept repeating the same few phrases: "Kill them...kill them all...leave no one alive..."

Lin Laogui squatted down and reached out to take her hand.

She shrank back abruptly, crossing her arms over her chest and shrinking back against the doorframe, muttering, "When my Lao Gui comes back, he'll kill you all... Lao Gui, come back soon..."

Lin Laogui took out a cloth bag from his pocket, untied it, and inside were several dozen copper coins. He squatted down and stuffed the coins into the old woman's hand.

Granny Lin clutched the copper coin, muttering, "Kill them... Old Gui, come back soon..."

Having exhausted all other options, Lin Laogui turned around, shook his head, and smiled bitterly. "He Lantou, what did you ask me just now?"

Naoshi stepped forward and snorted, annoyed. "Who told you to say those things?"

"Liu the jailer. Liu the jailer in the prison camp. He's one of Kong Jieji's men. He said that all the students in the state school say so, it's a sure thing."

Lin Laogui paused for a moment, "After I served my sentence, the jailer thought I was honest and hardworking, so he gave me a job as a junior jailer and assigned me to work under Jailer Liu."

"A couple of days ago, I wanted to go home to visit. Liu Laozi knew I was from Zhencheng, so he taught me those words and told me to find some porters at the dock to help me out."

He Lantou asked the question he wanted to know, and without lingering any longer, he gave a few perfunctory replies and turned to leave.

Lin Laogui stood at the door and watched the two leave. He turned back and gave Lin Pozi a deep look before slowly walking to the village entrance.

The old fisherman was still mending his nets. Seeing Lin Laogui, he stopped spinning the shuttle. "Laogui, have you seen your mother?"

Old Lin squatted down, not answering, "Uncle Li, do you know where my two girls went?"

The old fisherman sighed, placing the shuttle on his lap. "You've really hit the nail on the head. Old Gui, listen to what Uncle Li said—it's a tragedy! You went to the prison, and your mother kicked them out right after!"

"You know your mother's temperament; who would dare take her in? The two girls were freezing and starving at the village entrance for two days and almost died. Heaven have mercy! Luckily, Ma Dashou and his wife from Chenjiazhuang came to visit relatives."

"Madam Ma is kind-hearted. She had no children of her own, so after learning the reason, she adopted them. I heard recently that Ma Dashou was beaten to death, and the two girls' whereabouts are unknown. You should go to Chenjia Village and ask around."

Upon hearing this, Lin Laogui stood up, swaying slightly. He steadied himself and bowed to the old fisherman, saying, "Uncle Li, thank you."

He stood there for a moment, then turned and walked out of the village.

My steps quickened compared to when I returned. My trouser legs were filled with wind, swinging loosely. My fists remained clenched at my sides.

The barking of the dogs gradually faded into the distance behind us.

County government office.

The door to the house was open.

Zhang Sanlang was checking accounts at his desk when he saw He Lantou enter and smiled, "You found it so quickly?"

He Lantou nodded with a smile, "The person spreading the gossip is called Lin Laogui, from Beihe Village in this county. He's now a lowly jailer in the prison town. He says he was taught by Jailer Liu. That Jailer Liu is one of Kong You'an's men."

Zhang Sanlang showed no surprise upon hearing this.

He Lantou glanced at him. "Zhang Qianxing, it seems this matter is also aimed at you."

Zhang Sanlang leaned back in his chair. "I understand."

He Lantou caught a glimpse of Liao Tiesi waiting outside the door with documents in his hand, and quickly bowed to take his leave. "I still have matters to attend to at the dock, so I'll be leaving now. I really can't get involved in the prison situation."

Kong Youan.

Zhang Sanlang sat at his desk and recited the name in his mind.

Mountains and rivers may meet again!

Liao Tiesi walked in, holding an official document in his hands. "Zhang Qianxing, this was just issued by the prefecture."

He placed the official document on the table.

Zhang Sanlang unfolded the document and read it through, his brows furrowing. "Commander? One-armed? Retired?"