The rice is ready, it's a bowl of hot noodles with a fried egg and some green onions floating on top.
Next to it is a small plate of pickles.
Tao Yulian lowered her head and stood by the dining table, "This is all I have left at home, so I'll make do with it for now. I'll weigh the meat and bring it back when it's time for dinner."
Bai Yu felt very sad and didn't know what to say, so he sat down silently and ate noodles.
Seeing that she was still standing next to him, not daring to move, Bai Yu scolded He Zhiyu, how powerful was he at home?
He was entangled in his heart and didn't know what to do.
If he followed He Zhiyu's example and showed off his authority at home, he would definitely be able to hide his identity better, but he really couldn't bear to treat a good woman like this.
On the contrary, if he is nice to Tao Yulian, it will not be in line with He Zhiyu's prestige at home, and it will be easy for Tao Yulian to recognize his identity.
After thinking for a moment, he decided to treat Tao Yulian better, even if there was a possibility of exposing his identity.
"How has the family been doing these years when I have been away?"
Bai Yu asked softly, trying to keep his voice gentle.
Even so, Tao Yulian still trembled, "It's... not bad."
Bai Yu looked at her strangely. It seemed that He Zhiyu's "prestige" at home was more powerful than he imagined.
It may be true that he is "righteous outside and has good relations with his neighbors".
Frequently "buying small gifts for my wife" may be just for showing off to outsiders, but in fact, it is a domineering act at home.
Bai Yu ate the noodles in silence for a while, then slowly spoke, "In the past years when I left home, I thought a lot about the warmth of home, your kindness, and how I didn't treat you well before. I felt regretful from time to time.
From now on, I will never be like before, and I will treat you well."
I say this specifically so that his "personality change" will not make Tao Yulian too surprised and suspicious.
Tao Yulian glanced at him blankly, then quickly lowered her head.
Bai Yu asked, "Can you give me a chance to change my ways?"
Tao Yulian's voice was like a mosquito, "Yeah."
Bai Yu thought to himself that maybe she wouldn't be able to accept it for a while, so there was no need to rush it, she would adapt slowly and naturally.
As soon as he finished his meal, Tao Yulian made tea and brought it over, then put away the dishes and chopsticks and took them to the kitchen to wash them.
Bai Yu took a sip of tea, left the living room, walked into the kitchen, opened the lid of the rice vat and took a look. There was a little rice left, and the only vegetables were a jar of pickles, a few green vegetables and two eggs.
When she noticed him coming in, Tao Yulian lowered her head and washed the dishes stiffly.
Bai Yu explained, "I haven't been back for so many years. I have to find out about the situation at home... In addition to this little food, how much money does the family have?"
"I'll get it."
Tao Yulian put down the bowls and chopsticks in her hands and went to the house to get the money.
"No need to give it to me..." Bai Yu waved his hand, "I'll just ask."
Tao Yulian had no choice but to continue washing the dishes and said softly, "Two hundred and thirty-two pieces."
Bai Yu sighed, two hundred and thirty-two articles, such an accurate number, I remember it so clearly, I really live a careful life.
Five hundred coins in the Daqian Dynasty meant that five hundred copper coins were equal to one tael of silver. He knew this, which meant that the family still had less than half a tael of silver.
Thinking of the two taels of silver he spent on the boat on the riverside in Linfu County, he felt a twinge of pain in his heart.
"After I left, didn't the yamen pay any salary?"
"It started to appear in the first year, but then it disappeared."
"Where's the child?"
"Study in the academy and come back once at the end of every month."
"I will find a way to get some money back. I have worked hard for you all these years."...
Almost every time Bai Yu asked a question, Tao Yulian answered, as if interrogating a prisoner, and she didn't dare to say a word of gossip.
That's fine. If the wife is too enthusiastic, he really doesn't know what to do. If he can't control her, wouldn't he become a thief?
Although he felt that there was nothing wrong with being a Cao thief, he had to take his time and let the feelings come naturally, otherwise he would not be able to overcome this hurdle in his heart.
"By the way, I heard that some scoundrels are harassing you?"
Bai Yu thought of this, "Who is it?"
Tao Yulian's pretty face turned pale instantly, and she knelt down tremblingly, crying, "Master, I swear I have never done anything wrong to you. Your sworn brother and the others helped fight those people away."
Bai Yu held her arm and helped her get up, "I didn't say you did anything sorry for me, I just asked who are those scoundrels?"
Tao Yulian hesitated for a moment, "Zhang Qicai and those people."
Which Zhang Qicai? Bai Yu didn't ask, but he could always find out, "Okay, I get it."
He took out the hosta he just bought and gave it to Tao Yulian. He also gave Tao Yulian some snacks that he had originally bought for his children. Women should also like to eat them.
Tao Yulian quickly took the hosta, ran into the house, looked in the mirror and put it on, then ran out and stood in front of him to show him.
"It looks good." Bai Yu smiled, but secretly scolded He Zhiyu for showing off his power at home. Every time he bought a small gift for Tao Yulian, he had to wear it immediately, otherwise Tao Yulian would not be so "conditioned".
reaction.
After chatting with her for a while, Bai Yu said, "I need to go out for something." He went into the house, changed into regular clothes, and walked out of the yard with his hands behind his back.
Tao Yulian looked at his back in concentration, her eyes slightly red, she wiped her tears and continued to fetch water and wash clothes.
Bai Yu came to a deserted corner, switched the character card, and turned into a rogue state, which was his original handsome appearance.
After a little inquiry, I found out that Zhang Qicai was just a gang of rogues in Qifeng County who often bullied the weak and molested women from good families.
"Two ways."
"First, at night, I will go directly to their homes and blow their heads off one by one. I can also take away their money and property, creating the illusion of robbing their homes. The trouble is that the Yamen will investigate."
"Two, use the connections in the yamen to deal with them."
Bai Yu thought for a while and chose the second method. If you can use Yang, there is no need to use Yin. If you can use light, why use dark.
He changed his patrol role card back, returned home, changed into official clothes and came out.
Tao Yulian looked at him strangely, lowered her head and did not dare to ask any more questions.
What a wonderful woman... Bai Yu sighed and went straight to the Yamen of Qifeng County.
The result can be imagined. In ten years, the county magistrate has been changed three times, and the director, edicts, officials, and patrol inspectors have also been changed two or three times. They are no longer the same colleagues as ten years ago.
"It's better this way. I don't have to deal with them."
Bai Yu didn't come to the Yamen just to find them. He didn't need these people to deal with a rogue like Zhang Qicai.
He went directly to the arrester in the yamen.
It is worth mentioning that there are high-level official positions in the county government, and they will be mobilized and adjusted by the superiors, but there are no high-level subordinate officials. These people are usually locals who have worked in the county government for a lifetime, and when they get old, they
, a son inherits his father's legacy, and can also take over and pass it on from generation to generation.
Therefore, most of the subordinates and detectives are still the "old people" from ten years ago, and Bai Yu is still a bit thin-faced.
"Just now, when I was patrolling the streets, I heard that Mr. He was back. I still didn't believe it. Now that I saw him, I had to believe him. He is really as young as he was ten years ago."
Like the others, the head catcher was also surprised.
Bai Yu didn't bother to beat around the bush and went straight to the point, "I'm here to see you. I have something to trouble you with."
The catcher pondered for a moment, "It should be because Zhang Qicai and those people once harassed my sister-in-law."
As expected of a head catcher, Bai Yu said with a clean heart, "Yes, I want them to know the consequences, and also let the entire Qifeng County know, otherwise, where can I put my face?"
Why arrest the head? "When I learned that they were harassing my sister-in-law, I wanted to kill them because Mr. He had taken care of me. However, I had difficulties and it was hard to touch them."