When he heard that he was from the county government, the old master's face turned slightly pale, but he still checked Yang Liang's waistband meticulously.
"It's too late. In order not to disturb other teachings, if you want to know anything, you might as well ask me directly.
My surname is Tang. I live alone and rarely leave the academy. On this three-acre land, I know a little bit about all the big and small things. Is that feasible?"
Yang Liang looked embarrassed and looked at Xu Luo, who had been silent.
Xu Luo stared at Mrs. Tang with a cold look for a moment, then suddenly chuckled.
"Since the old man has the beauty of adulthood, then I won't bother him."
After so many killings and battles, the look in Xu Luo's eyes is not something that ordinary people can bear, but Master Tang's eyes are not evil. Apart from surprise and confusion, his eyes are as clear as water.
Xu Luo didn't believe that someone with such eyes would have evil intentions.
The decoration in Mr. Tang's wooden building was simple. Apart from an old wooden table and a few chairs, there wasn't much. The most conspicuous furnishing was the bookshelf that stretched from the wall to the top, almost filled with all kinds of old books.
As soon as Xu Luo walked in, he smelled the tangy incense mixed with a hint of mold.
Inviting the two of them to sit down at the table, Mr. Tang slowly and carefully put away the open books beside him, and then put the oil lamp on the table.
"Whatever you want to ask, just ask, I will tell you everything I know!"
"I heard that Wang Shoju's kid didn't strive for advancement in the academy and was extremely naughty. I wonder what Mr. Tang thinks of that?"
Xu Luo got straight to the point as soon as he came up, his eyes fixed on his every move.
Master Tang was stunned, obviously not expecting him to ask such an irrelevant question, but he hesitated and sighed.
"Well, that kid Shuju is learning to read in my elementary school class. Although he is not successful in his studies, to be honest, he and I were still getting along well as a teacher and student.
That kid has a smart mind, but he doesn’t put any thought into studying.
Because of this matter, I have gone to see Wang Mazi several times, but that bastard is obsessed with money, and what he usually teaches the children is just stupid and flattering things.
However, although Wang Shouju is a bit naughty, he is extremely proud and strong-tempered, and he particularly dislikes plotting.
Once I went there, the child would be beaten once. As time went by, the child misunderstood me and thought that the old man didn't like him either, so he became more and more rebellious.
In the past few months, I have had some physical inconveniences, so I have been going less often.
But we never thought that after school was over three days ago, the child never appeared again. It was not until Wang Mazi came to the academy that we knew that the child was missing."
Master Tang had obviously kept these words in his heart for a long time. When Xu Luo asked, he immediately rambled on a lot.
Xu Luo also listened quietly until he picked up the cold tea on the table and was about to drink it.
Xu Luo suddenly reached out his hand and held down the teacup.
"Master, I'm getting older. Drink less cold drinks and take more care of yourself!"
After saying that, he glanced at Yang Liang next to him. He immediately picked up the teapot and went out to fill the hot water.
"Listening to Master's words can be regarded as clearing up the doubts in Xu Luo's mind, but there are still two things that I don't understand. I would like to ask Master to clarify them.
First, has the child ever played truant before? Why didn't he come to school for three days, but there was no movement at the academy?
Second, when this child entered the academy, were there any students..."
Having said this, Xu Luo paused for a moment before continuing: "Or maybe it wasn't just the students who bullied him?"
Master Tang smiled helplessly and showed a hint of gratitude in his eyes for Yang Liang's move.
He organized his words and then said in a deep voice.
"I can guarantee that before Shuubi, I have never skipped class all day long.
In the past few decades, I have been teaching and educating people, and I have never had a day off. I know this best. As for the bullying..."
His tone was hesitant at this time, but he persisted.
"Indeed, there is, but that child has a strong temper, but he has never been mentioned to me in front of me. Sometimes, I can't even see it and take the initiative to ask, and he doesn't say a word for a long time, eh!"
"As for the academy not realizing that something is wrong, as a rule, the next day is the student's break, so it is normal not to come to the academy.
On the third day, it was indeed the college's carelessness. It was not until Wang Mazi came to find out something was wrong in the afternoon. After that, I and Wang Mazi went to find Ma Tongqiu. Unfortunately, there is no news until now."
After hearing this, Xu Luo pondered for a moment, until Yang Liang picked up the teapot, then he used his crutches and walked out.
"Then I won't bother you today, Master. Let's go look for clues elsewhere and say goodbye!"
Yang Liang hurriedly put the teapot on the table and followed him out.
It wasn't until the Qingniu cart drove out of the academy that he asked in confusion: "Master Luo, if you just left like this, what clues could you find?"
Xu Luo looked back at the academy and chuckled: "It probably has nothing to do with the academy. Staying here is just a waste of time, but this trip is not fruitless and it is a worthwhile trip."
Harvest, what harvest?
Yang Liang's face became more suspicious, but Xu Luo had no intention of explaining. Instead, he pondered for a moment and asked.
"Is this the only way back to Osmanthus Alley from here?"
Yang Liang suppressed his doubts and answered without thinking.
"Of course there is more than this one, but this road is the widest and easiest to walk on. It is crowded and lively, so most people will subconsciously take this way."
"Then take me to another path and take a walk!"
Xu Luo turned the cart around, slowed down, and let Yang Liang lead the way.
As Yang Liang said, most of this trail is a narrow alley that can only accommodate one vehicle. It is extremely cramped.
From time to time, the wide body of the car would scrape against the walls on both sides, and pedestrians who happened to meet on the opposite side would also hurriedly avoid it. Yang Liang hurried forward in front of him, familiar with the road, while explaining to Xu Luo behind.
"Most of the people living in this area are farmers from outside manors. Those people dispersed their wealth and sold acres of property in exchange for a small piece of land in this county.
But living in a county town is not easy, and most of them, apart from scrambling for some hard work, will probably not survive this winter!"
Xu Luo looked solemn, looking at the low thatched houses on both sides with sharp eyes, showing a sudden look.
"On weekdays, few people come here. No wonder it's so chaotic."
At this time, not far in front of the two of them, a dull sound of sticks came from around the corner.
Hearing the sound of the carriage, a dirty head with messy beard and hair popped out and looked over fiercely.
When they saw Yang Liang walking in front, wearing the uniform of a police officer, and the green bull cart that always exuded a faint sense of coercion, the two of them looked like they were not easy to mess with.