Chapter 33: The House of Yin Reality

  After returning to the Wen Mansion, Wen Meng eagerly told Wen Yidao and Yin Wucuo about today's events. After listening, they all felt that today's events were thrilling and exciting, and their admiration for Hualang increased even more.

  As dusk fell and the afterglow spread, in the living room, Wen Yidao looked at Hualang and asked: "There are a few words I'd like to ask my virtuous nephew, and I hope you won't think I'm being nosy."

  Everyone saw Wen Yidao suddenly say this to Hualang and became interested. What did Wen Yidao want to ask Hualang?

  Hualang saw this and hastily replied: "Uncle says where words, uncle has words but asks no harm, young nephew knows nothing unspoken."

  Wen Yidao nodded slightly and asked, "You and my daughter's matter has been settled, but I don't know what you plan to do. Don't tell me you want to spend the rest of your life like this, without any ambition?"

  Wen Yidao asked himself this question, and Hualang was also a little confused in his heart. Living in the Wen Mansion like this was indeed not a solution, but if he moved out to live elsewhere, he really didn't have the money to buy a large mansion for Wen Meng. Now that Wen Yidao was considering his daughter's future, he should consider it too.

  Wen Meng saw that Hua Lang's face looked a bit unsightly, so he hastily said: "I quite like the current situation and don't want to change it, Father shouldn't force Hua Lang anymore."

  Wen Yidao furrowed his brow and said, "You're a woman, it's fine to maintain the status quo, but Hu Lang is a man, he must have some achievements, how can he be idle every day?"

  Wen Meng wanted to say something else, but Hua Lang hastily said: "What Uncle said is absolutely right. You will entrust Wen Meng to me for care, and I naturally have to think about her future. Originally, as a scholar, the imperial examination is the proper path, but before my father passed away, he repeatedly warned me that if I couldn't pass the imperial examination, I wouldn't be able to enter officialdom through other means in this life. Since I have no hope of passing the imperial examination, becoming an official is impossible."

  After listening to Hua Lang's words, Wen Yidao couldn't help but let out a long sigh. Originally, he thought that as a scholar, Hua Lang would take the imperial examination and become an official after being assigned a position by the court, which would be considered a success, so he had agreed to marry his daughter to him. But now that Hua Lang was uninterested in pursuing an official career, it was very disappointing to him.

  "If you don't enter the imperial court as an official, then what do you want to do?" Wen Yidao still refused to give up and continued to ask.

  The young master thought for a moment and said, "I have some experience in solving cases, so I want to be a private detective to earn a living for my family."

  Everyone was hearing the term "private detective" for the first time, and Wen Yidao hurriedly asked: "What is a private detective?"

  The young man didn't want to explain too clearly, because explaining too clearly would only lead to misunderstandings. He thought for a moment and hastily replied: "A private detective is someone who helps others solve difficulties that they can't solve themselves, and these difficulties are often cases of some sort. After I help them solve their difficulties, I collect a certain fee."

  This explanation is clear and easy to understand, but after listening to it, everyone feels that it's not very reliable. Wen Yidao thought carefully and said: "In life, you will indeed encounter all kinds of difficulties, but are they willing to ask for your help? If it's a big case or a dispute, they'll go to the government office to file a complaint. Is there a big market for what you're doing?"

  Hualang smiled slightly after hearing Wen Yidao's words and said, "Uncle's analysis is correct in one way, but many people don't like to deal with the authorities when they encounter difficulties in life. Some difficulties are beyond the capabilities of the authorities, just like the difficulty you encountered a few days ago, have you ever thought of going to the authorities?"

  When asked by Hua Lang, Wen Yidao also felt that there was some truth to it. Some things couldn't be made public, yet they had to be resolved, so they could only ask a private individual for help. However, he still had one more question.

  "But who would ask for your help? People here have never heard of a private detective?"

  Hualang smiled faintly and said, "Indeed, being a private detective is not easy to do, but once I make a name for myself, everything will go smoothly. At that time, I'm afraid I'll still need Brother Yin's help."

  Yin Wucheng smiled and said, "Brother Hua, what's on your mind? Just say it straight out." As he spoke, Yin Wucheng couldn't help but sneak a glance at Hua Yu'er, and seeing her radiant face made him even more determined to get along well with Hua Lang.

  Hua Lang has his own plans, and Wen Yi Dao no longer asks. What's important for a young person is what kind of dreams and ambitions he has, not how unrealistic they are.

  That night was uneventful, and the next morning, Hua Lang invited Yin Wu Cuo and Wen Meng to accompany him to the county government office to watch Bao Gong's trial. Hua Wan'er was bored staying at the Wen residence, so she also went along with them.

  Wen Meng was indeed very interested in the suburban murder case, but she didn't understand why Hua Lang was so concerned, so she asked: "Are you worried that Bao Da Ge won't be able to crack this case?"

  The Flower Gentleman smiled faintly and said, "Bao Gong will definitely crack this case. With my help, it might just be a bit faster. And I'll go help Man Busy, so that he can make a name for himself and then have business to attend to."

  Reputation is important, Wen Meng nodded slightly to indicate that she understood.

  After arriving at the county government office, Bao Zheng did not treat Hualang and Wen Meng as outsiders, so he hurriedly told them about their investigation.

  "The identity of the deceased has been verified as Dong Cheng, the owner of the grain store in East City. I have gone to ask his wife to come and answer some questions, she will arrive shortly."

  Hualang nodded slightly, people who do grain business are certainly wealthy families, having over a thousand taels of silver on them is normal. Now if you want to know more clues, you can only wait for Madame Dong to arrive.

  Without saying much, two bailiffs led a middle-aged woman with a fortunate appearance, plump in figure but still very charming, to the county government office. The woman's eyes were red at the corners, as if she had just cried a lot. After arriving at the county government office, she cried out and asked to see her husband. Bao Zheng and Hualang saw this and knew that this woman was Dong Cheng's wife.

  However, for caution's sake, Bao Zheng still sent a yamen runner to lead her to identify the body, and only after confirmation would he conduct an inquiry.

  While a yamen runner led Madame Dong to identify the body, another yamen runner came up to Judge Bao with a puzzled look and said: "Your Honor, I've discovered something. I don't know if I should say it or not."

  Bao Zheng's eyes widened and he said: "Speak directly."

  The official received the order and hastily said: "When I went to call that woman, I found a man fleeing in a hurry from her back door, and his clothes were disheveled. I suspect that this woman may have been involved with other wild men."

  The official finished speaking, and everyone was shocked into silence.