On the other side, Bao Tianlin still felt a little uneasy after Lu Baichuan left. He hurried home and went to the study room, wanting to see some of the account books he had hidden before. Unexpectedly, when the secret compartment was opened, it was empty.

Bao Tianlin was stunned for a moment. He remembered clearly that he put everything in this secret compartment.

This secret compartment was made by himself after hard work for more than half a month. Even his wife and children did not know the existence of this secret compartment. It can be said that the things placed in it are foolproof. .

But now, it’s gone.

Bao Tianlin couldn't bear it and took two steps back, but quickly reacted and shouted out a name through gritted teeth: "Lu Baichuan!"

It was definitely Lu Baichuan who did it!

Otherwise, why did Hao Duanduan go to his county office for a random check? He had not received any news before. He thought he was lagging behind in news, but he didn't expect that Lu Baichuan was here for him.

He closed the door of the secret compartment, slapped his hand on the table, and shouted: "Come here!"

Lu Baichuan must not be allowed to leave alive, at least He had to snatch back those account books and letters and destroy them. Otherwise, not only would his life be in danger, but the officials he had become friends with would not be able to escape either. By then, would his whole family be able to live a good life?

A boy ran in, and he lost control and said: "Take people to find out the whereabouts of Lu Baichuan. Bring more people. If you find them, kill them without mercy!"

The boy didn't. He knew what happened, but he did what his master told him to do and immediately went to check Lu Baichuan's whereabouts.

As the county magistrate, Bao Tianlin had information on everyone who entered the city, and it was not troublesome to check it. The young man immediately targeted the village where Lu Baichuan and the others settled, and led the people to chase them quickly. .

However, they were still a step slow. When they arrived at the village, Lu Baichuan and his party were already empty.

The boy who took the lead was very skilled. He grabbed a villager and asked fiercely: "Where did the people who lived here before go?"

That villager had sold tea. To the Emperor, he kept in mind the kindness of the Emperor, and when he saw that these people were not good people, he shook his head and said: "I don't know, I don't know them."

"If you dare to lie, I will kill you You!"

The boy threw the villagers to the ground. The villagers were frightened, but they still shook their heads: "I really don't know, that group of people came to the village to take shelter from the rain last night, and the rain stopped. Just leave now, sir, please forgive me!"

The road was very muddy, with all kinds of footprints and wheel marks. It was very messy and there were no clues. The villagers thought, this way they can't Go to the noblesTrouble.

Seeing him trembling with fear, the boy felt that he really didn’t know those people, so he stopped embarrassing him. However, he did not leave and asked the villagers to take them to the village chief’s house.

If an outsider enters the village, the village chief must know about it. It is best to ask the village chief.

The villagers did not dare to resist, thinking that the village chief was so smart that he would be able to think of a way to deal with it, so he took them there.

The courtyard door of the village chief's house was open. There was a little girl squatting and playing in the mud at the door. When she heard the noise, she stood up and looked at the person with some fear. She was about to run home. However, someone stepped forward and grabbed the collar and lifted it up, and the jade plaque hanging on his waist was ripped off.

The jade plaque has a very good color and luster. At first glance, it seems that it cannot be used by such poor people. However, there is no special engraving on the jade plaque. It was probably given to the child by Lu Baichuan.

Then, this just shows that Lu Baichuan must have been in contact with the village chief and his family.

"Where is the person who gave you the jade token!"

Cui Niu felt very uncomfortable being carried, and the person in front of her was so fierce, she bit her lower lip. Hold back your tears.

Her mother heard the crying and ran out to see her daughter. She was so frightened that her legs were weak.

"Sir, please forgive me, Cui Niu is still a child, please show your respect!"

She sharply saw the jade plaque in the man's hand, and she regretted not raising it in advance. Put away something so valuable.

Originally, I wanted to make Cui Niu happy and immerse herself in the nobility, and then I would take it off and put it away when I went to bed at night, but I didn't expect that this would cause trouble.

"If you want her to live, tell the whereabouts of those people, otherwise I will throw her to death!"

As he said that, he lifted Cui Niu high, Cui Niu Scared, I cried harder.

Cui Niu Niang was stunned, not knowing what to say for a moment. The villager who had just been forced to lead the way thought quickly and said: "Cui Niu Niang, let me tell these adults about those people. I came here to escape the rain last night and then left. The adults don’t believe it. Go and ask the village chief to come out and explain. Even if you give me ten courages, I won’t dare to lie!”

Little boy She glared at him fiercely: "Have I asked you?"

Cui Niuniang came to her senses and hurriedly went in to find her father-in-law. She quietly checked her confession with him.

The village chief doesn’t know who these people are, but the accent sounds like they are local, and looking at their clothes, although they are servants’ clothes, the fabrics are also of good quality. The power behind them is very Wealth means wealth. Thinking of what Lu Baichuan said about people from the imperial court coming to investigate, he thought of these people who were probably county magistrates and immediately said politely:"You adults have worked hard, why don't you come in and have a bowl of hot tea? The child is ignorant and bumped into the adults. She also asked the adults to disturb her once. I will teach you a lesson."

As a county magistrate, he would not easily fall out with the people unless absolutely necessary, and the village chief had a very good attitude. He shouted "Sir" from the left and "Sir" from the right, which made them feel a little carried away. Lu Baichuan happened to be chasing him and was also thirsty, so he took advantage of the situation. Cui Niu put it down and followed the village chief into the house.

After entering the house, the village chief asked Cui Niuniang to take Cui Niu back to the room to hide, and asked his son to make tea for these people. He sat down with everyone and told them what happened yesterday. Read it again.

"They came to take shelter from the rain. They thought my tea tasted good, so they bought it. When the master saw that my little granddaughter was close to her eyes, he gave her a jade plaque and accepted the jade plaque. , I stayed with them for a meal, and left after the rain stopped. As for where to go, I don’t know where to go.” He took out a small bag of tea leaves, held it in his hands and gave it to the young boy who took the lead, and said: "The adult liked it very much. He bought all the rest of the tea in the house, leaving only this small bag. If you like it, you might as well take it back." Want to try it?"

The boy accepted it unceremoniously, and the village chief asked tentatively: "I wonder what the adults have to do with tracking down those people? They can't be criminals, right? If so. , Didn’t that villain do bad things with good intentions? Our county magistrate is a good man, and I can’t do anything to disgrace the adults. If the adults are in need, I can call on the strong men in the village to help find..."

The village chief’s son said that he had learned from the side. With his father’s brain, being a village chief would be a waste of talent.

In a simple sentence, he cleared his suspicions and flattered the county magistrate.

How did his father recognize these people as county magistrates?

Those people really enjoyed it. After drinking tea, they didn’t bother them. They stood up and walked out, saying: "You should stay out of the government affairs and be more careful in the future!"