This was the first time that he was praised as a good official.
In this regard, Lu Bai felt a little proud.
Zhuang Jinyiwei led the way, and they walked into a wide street with stalls on both sides of the street. There was a small river in the middle, and there were awning boats on the river. On the awning boats, there were lotus pods, fruits and vegetables and other agricultural products, which were very fresh.
The people in the boat were trading ship to ship or trading with people on the shore, creating a lively atmosphere.
Soon, they stopped in front of a vermilion gate. Zhuang Jinyiwei pointed at the gate and said, "This is the courtyard."
Lu Bai looked up and saw a plaque on the vermilion door with the words "Guanzhai" written on it.
It can be seen that this family is either rich or noble.
Lu Bai asked someone to knock on the door, and soon a servant opened the door cautiously. After hearing their story, the servant opened the door, welcomed them in, and led them to the living room to sit down.
The maid had just served tea when a haggard woman walked in and bowed her head, "I've met your lord."
Lu Bai was wandering around the hall.
It can be seen that this family is wealthy, and many of the objects decorated in the living room are also found in the wine house. They were specially purchased by Lu Qinghuan to highlight his status, and they are all valuable.
He has a big salt gang, supported by several salt mines, so he can be so luxurious. This family is also so luxurious, so they are probably not ordinary people.
After hearing the woman's answer, he came back to his senses and smiled, "Madam, we are here today for your husband's case."
After the woman nodded, Lu Bai asked a few questions, "What does your husband-in-law do?"
The woman hesitated for a moment and then replied: "Shuiguan Supervisor."
Lu Bai was stunned, "Good guy, is the Shuiguan Supervisor so rich?"
The woman hurriedly said, "No, no, my husband used to be in the silk business, but later - he became the water customs supervisor."
Seeing her hesitating, Lu Bai suddenly understood.
This Shuiguan Supervisor will definitely be able to make a lot of money, and this official also has a shady background. "The official bought it, right?"
The woman remained silent.
Lu Bai didn't find it strange that his official background was not righteous. Of course, because there was a god-sister there, others couldn't find fault even if they wanted to.
"How long have you been an official?" Lu Bai asked again.
The woman pondered for a moment, "Almost three years."
Lu Bai nodded, sat down on the chair, and asked the woman to tell the story of how her husband was taken away by the Jin Yiwei.
"About ten days ago, a Jin Yiwei knocked on the door and came to my house. As soon as he entered, my husband-in-law pulled him into the study. They didn't know what they were talking about. When I went in and knocked on the door to deliver tea, I only heard the Jin Yiwei saying that at least
One thousand taels of silver." When the woman said this, she hesitated again.
Lu Bai didn't say anything and motioned for the woman to continue speaking.
"Then they got into a fight for some reason, and I wanted to get closer and ask, but my husband-in-law shouted back. After a while, it was time to eat, and I went to treat them to dinner, but who knew that the Jin Yiwei took my husband-in-law outside?
——" The woman sighed softly, "Since then, I have not seen my husband again."
After the woman said this, Fang Qianhu raised his eyebrows but said nothing. He could tell that this was most likely a blackmail case.
Lu Bai thought for a moment and then took a sip of tea, "How can I say that your husband and that Jin Yiwei are old acquaintances?"
We are not old acquaintances, and we would not talk for so long in the study.
The woman shook her head, "I don't know. My husband-in-law used to be a businessman, and he was surrounded by businessmen. As for this Lord Jinyiwei - I have never seen him before."
"After you become an official, you will inevitably have friends and colleagues in the officialdom, but you have never met them?" Lu Bai asked.
The woman smiled bitterly and shook her head, "To be honest with you, since I arrived in the capital, my husband has been out on the Qinhuai River for business and official entertainment, and I don't know if I recognize this Jin Yiwei."
If it weren't for the fact that he had a big business in the capital, had several concubines, and the family was restless, and needed her as the eldest lady to take charge, she might still be in her hometown now.
"Where is your hometown?" Lu Bai asked curiously.
"Lin'an." The woman replied.
Lu Bai nodded, Lin'an is a big city with a West Lake and fertile fields, which is not inferior to that of Gusu.
"Do you still remember what the Jin Yiwei looked like?" Lu Bai asked again.
After hesitating for a moment, the woman nodded firmly, "If you were to identify him face to face, I should be able to recognize him."
Lu Bai thinks this is a method. The only drawback is that this method is very stupid.
Fang Qianhu approached Lu Bai and whispered: "Sir, there are tens of thousands of Jinyi guards in the capital. It would be a bit difficult for her to identify them one by one."
Lu Bai waved his hand to tell him not to speak.
He also knew that summoning all the Jinyi guards in the capital for her to identify was tantamount to finding a needle in a haystack, and even if he wanted to do it, Beizhen Fusi would stop him.
"Is your husband on duty at Dongshuiguan or Xishuiguan?" Lu Bai asked.
"Xishui Pass."
It was the water pass when Lu Bai entered the city.
Lu Bai then asked where his husband-in-law often went to socialize.
The woman blurted out without thinking, "Red Mansion."
Red Mansion?
Lu Bai heard this name, and after thinking about it for a moment, he realized that the red girl also came from the Red Mansion.
"Okay, I understand almost everything." Lu Bai stood up and was about to leave, but as soon as he made progress, he turned around again and asked, "Do you know how your husband bought an official position?"
The woman shook her head, "No, I don't know. I, I also vaguely knew that he was an official."
Lu Bai knew that nothing could be gained from this question.
They left the Guanzhai and stood on the small pier. Lu Bai looked back at these people and sighed. He couldn't count on anyone. He couldn't trust anyone. Lu Bai didn't know how to investigate the case.
Fang Qianhu came up and took the initiative to relieve Lu Bai's worries, "Sir, were you embarrassed to speak just now?"
Lu Bai doesn't understand, what should he say?
Fang Qianhu rubbed his hands and gestured for the money.
Lu Bailai was happy, "Do you think I am you? What I am worried about is that I don't know the way to buy an official position, otherwise I will buy a royal guard commander Dangdang——"
"Uh-" Fang Qianhu thought to himself that if there was such a way, it would be morning.
Lu Bai added, "Also, I never extort money from the poor. If I do, it's to extort money from sinners and evil people. For example, you--"
Fang Qianhu laughed sarcastically, "You are just joking, how can I be a villain?"
Lu Bai ignored him.
He thought for a while and greeted: "Our troops are divided into two groups. Lao Zhuang, you take people to Xishui Pass to check and ask Xiaguan Supervisor who he usually associates with. I will take Fang Qianhu to the Red Mansion. Let's
Meet at the Yamen in the afternoon."
Fang Qianhu felt something was wrong and suggested: "Sir, I think I can go to Xishui Pass."
"Just do whatever I ask you to do. There's so much talk, and I'm still waiting for you to pay the bill." Lu Bai put his hand on Fang Qianhu's shoulder and waved to a awning boat coming over.
Fang Qianhu looked sad, and he knew that he had to pay for the money to go to the red building.
Before boarding the boat, Lu Bai slapped his forehead and said, "By the way, I forgot. Lao Zhuang and the others have no money to take the boat to Dongshui Pass. Lao Fang, please support me."
"Me? Why!" Fang Qianhu was reluctant.
"Lao Zhuang, go back and investigate Lao Fang carefully. This is our second case. We will fight to the death and swear that we will not be human unless we find out something -"
Lu Bai was mid-sentence when he was stopped by Fang Qianhu, "I'll pay, why don't I just pay the bill?"
He painfully took out a piece of silver and said, "I don't have zero -"
Lu Bai took the silver in his hand and threw it to Zhuang Jinyiwei, "It's fine, we don't think it's too much. Lao Zhuang, you take the brothers to have a meal and keep accounts."
Zhuang Jinyiwei took it and looked at Lu Bai and Fang Qianhu. He didn't know who to thank for a moment.
Lu Bai had already pulled Fang Qianhu onto the awning boat.