Chapter 36: Hope for Revenge

  What Hualang said makes sense. From the confessions of these people, if you want to verify whether what they said is true or not, just send someone to investigate and it will be clear. After investigating, it will naturally become clear whether they are the murderers or not.

  Bao Gong had been eager to know who the murderer was, and he had forgotten about obtaining evidence from Feng Ji. Now that he heard Hua Lang's words, he suddenly realized something and immediately sent someone to Dong Cheng's rice shop to investigate.

  While the yamen runner was on his way to Dong Cheng's rice store, the yamen runner who had been sent to verify Ma Xiaoliu's words rushed out in a hurry.

  Bao Zheng asked upon seeing this: "How is the investigation going?"

  The yamen runner cupped his hands and said, "Marshal, we've investigated clearly. On the morning of the day Dong Cheng was killed, Ma Xiao Liu was at home waiting for someone, and his neighbors can testify to that. In the afternoon, Ma Xiao Liu went drinking with a few friends, which is also true, and didn't return until late at night."

  After listening to the words of the official, Bao Gong looked at Hualang and said: "It seems that Ma Xiaoliu is not the murderer!"

  Hualang nodded: "This is very good, Bao brother has ruled out another suspect."

  Hualang thought it was good, but Bao Zheng didn't think so. If all these suspects were excluded, then who was the murderer? Wouldn't he have to go find clues again?

  Although it was just that, Bao Zheng did not dare to be careless. These were all related to the lives of one person after another. He would never let innocent people suffer unjustly. Even if all suspects had been eliminated and no murderer had been found, he would not frame an innocent person.

  This is a matter of principle, Bao Gong sighed and felt somewhat melancholy in his heart.

  Before long, it was already noon, and everyone had been tired for a whole morning, so they were all a bit hungry. Bao Quan told his attendant, Bao Xiao Fei, to go tell the chef at the county yamen to prepare a few good dishes.

  Hua Lang saw this and hastily stopped him, saying: "Brother Bao is too polite, Brother Bao came to our Tianchang County as the county magistrate, by right we should give Brother Bao a welcoming feast, these past few days have been busy with cases, and I forgot about the welcoming feast, how about we go to Ju Xiang Lou today at noon?"

  After listening to Hualang's words, Baoqiang hesitated for a moment. If he were to go to the Fragrant Pavilion as a friend, there would be no harm in having a meal together. However, given his current identity, going to the Fragrant Pavilion with Hualang and others would inevitably lead people to suspect that he had accepted some benefit from Hualang and was doing something for him.

  Everyone saw Bao Zheng's hesitant expression and was somewhat disappointed for a while. The flower boy smiled faintly and said, "Brother Bao, are you worried about gossip from idle people?"

  This remark dispelled Bao Zheng's worries, and he nodded repeatedly: "Now that I have this identity, it's probably not suitable for me to go eat with you. Of course, I'm not worried about my own reputation, but I'm afraid the common people will think too much, thinking I'm a corrupt official, and in the future they won't dare come here to seek justice."

  After learning of Bao Zheng's worries, Hua Lang hurriedly smiled and said: "Brother Bao is overthinking, whether an official is good or bad is not seen in what he eats or with whom he eats, but rather in how many things he does for the people, and how many injustices he rectifies. If Brother Bao can fearlessly wield his power to do practical things for the people of Tianchang County, who would suspect him just because he had a meal with me?"

  Hualang's words were reasonable and persuasive, and Yin Wucheng and Wen Meng felt refreshed after listening. Bao Zheng was suddenly enlightened and said, "Brother Hua is absolutely right, let's go to Ju Xiang Lou."

  They changed out of their official robes and after a quick wash-up, they headed towards the Fragrant Pavilion.

  It was noon, the sun was scorching hot, and there were not many pedestrians on the street. However, in Juxiang Building, there were many guests. The weather was too hot, and anyone with some private money didn't want to cook at home. It was great to come to Juxiang Building to eat, just take out the money, and the waiter would immediately bring over the prepared dishes. It was convenient, and besides, the dishes in Juxiang Building were not very expensive, very suitable for ordinary people to eat.

  They entered the Fragrant Pavilion, but there were no empty seats inside. Fortunately, a table of guests had just finished their meal and were about to leave. The shopkeeper wiped down the table and hastily invited Hua Lang and his companions to sit down.

  After sitting down, Bao Zheng looked at the bustling Juxiang Building and said to everyone: "With such a good business, the food here must be very good!"

  Hualang has only been here twice, so he's not very clear about it. But Wenmeng nodded repeatedly and said: "This is natural, the masters of Juxiang Building are all great chefs, the dishes they make are very delicious, and the price of Juxiang Building's dishes is not expensive, business is naturally good."

  As they spoke, the dishes were brought up, all of which were very suitable for summer and wouldn't make people sweat profusely and lose their appetite.

  Just as everyone was about to start eating, Ye Xing suddenly stopped because he saw a person standing outside the Ju Xiang Lou, occasionally looking inside with an anxious face, as if there was something very important.

  And Hua Lang knew that person, so he naturally also knew what he wanted to do.

  Hualang hastily got up and said to everyone, "I'll be right back." As he spoke, Hualang left his seat and came to the outside of the Fragrant Pavilion. The person outside was about to leave when Hualang suddenly shouted, "Wu Jun."

  Wu Jun suddenly turned around and saw Hua Lang. He rushed over and said, "Brother Hua, I'm feeling a bit better today, so I came out for a walk. I heard that Zhou Si Ping was dismissed from office by the imperial court, and the new county magistrate is named Bao Zheng, right?" As Wu Jun spoke, he glanced around inside the Fragrant Incense Building with his eyes.

  Hualang nodded repeatedly upon seeing this: "What you said is not wrong at all, a new county magistrate has indeed arrived in Tianchang County. I'll take you to see him right now, and your grievances will definitely be redressed."

  As he spoke, Hua Lang led Wu Jun to the Fragrant Pavilion and told Bao Zheng about Wu Jun's grievances in detail. After listening, Bao Zheng held his chopsticks for a long time without putting them down. It wasn't until much later that he finally said with great indignation: "This Bai Wutong is really bold, actually taking someone's life over an article of clothing, and to make matters worse, he has the protection of Official Zhou Si Ping, this is simply unforgivable."

  Wu Jun, after hearing Bao Zheng's words, hastily knelt down and asked Bao Zheng to avenge him. Bao Zheng helped Wu Jun up and said: "Don't worry, I will definitely avenge you."

  Wu Jun was overjoyed that Bao Zheng had agreed to help him seek justice, and his gratitude towards Hua Lang grew even stronger. It was Hua Lang who had helped him get home and comforted him last time, and now it was Hua Lang who had introduced him to Bao Zheng. All of this was thanks to Hua Lang's efforts.

  Wu Jun thought to himself, if Bao Zheng can really avenge his father for him, he will definitely repay Hua Lang in this life, even if it means giving up his own life.

  After such an exhortation, Wu Jun hastily left the Fragrant Pavilion and went home to prepare the petition papers, in order to go to the county government office to file a complaint.