Chapter 38 Borrowing Money Without Repaying

  Seeing Mr. Zhang's entanglement, Hualang smiled lightly: "Mr. Zhang doesn't have to worry too much, just say whatever you want to say, whether it's useful or not, I'll decide for myself."

  At this time, Yin Wu also somewhat impatiently said: "What is it, you'd better say it out first."

  Mr. Accountant had no choice but to say, "Once I helped Mr. Dong copy his account book and found a note inside that said Zhu Yougui owed him 1,000 taels of silver for business, promising to repay after the goods were sold."

  "Can you see clearly?" Huā Láng asked excitedly.

  Mr. Zang nodded: "Of course it's clear."

  After that, there was nothing more to ask, so Hualang and the others left Dong Cheng's rice shop. After leaving, Wen Meng said: "This Zhu Yougui is undoubtedly a murderer. He didn't want to return the money, so he killed Dong Cheng, then stole the IOU to avoid his debt of one thousand two silver."

  A thousand taels of silver is no small sum, and it's entirely possible that someone would kill for this amount of money.

  Although it is so, there is still a point that cannot be explained. If the murderer was indeed Zhu Yougui and he killed Dong Cheng for money, then why didn't he take away Dong Cheng's one thousand two silver coins?

  Everyone else is also confused about this point, but for now, they still go to see Zhu Yougui's good.

  Zhu Yougui was in the silk business, and his store in Tianchang County was quite well-known. It wasn't hard to find his shop either. As soon as Hualang and a few others entered Zhu Yougui's silk store, someone immediately came up to ask what they needed. Hualang looked around and said, "We're looking for Old Man Zhu, is he in?"

  At this time, a voice came from inside: "Who wants to find me?"

  Hualang looked around, and only saw that Zhu Yougui was of medium build, neither fat nor thin, with a few good looks. After he came out from behind, he bowed to Ye Xing and said: "I don't know who you are, what can I do for you?"

  Hualang's expression changed slightly, and he said: "We are from the government office. We have come to find Mr. Zhu because we want to ask you a few questions about the murder of Dong Cheng."

  Zhu Yougui's face showed disbelief, and he said: "You are people from the government office, it's impossible. I know all the people in the government office, but I've never seen any of you before."

  The young man saw through the lie, but he didn't rush, saying: "That day, the magistrate of Chang County was replaced, you should know that?"

  Zhu Yougui nodded: "I know this."

  Hualang coldly smiled: "One day the Son of Heaven, one day a minister, naturally, a county magistrate is also to be replaced, don't waste words, honestly answer my question."

  Zhu Yougui didn't believe it, but he also didn't dare disobey, so he had no choice but to let Hualang ask him questions.

  "I heard that Old Zhu owes Dong Cheng over a thousand taels of silver, is that right?" Hua Lang asked, then stared intently at Zhu Yougui to observe the changes in his expression.

  Zhu Yougui was startled, and then calmly asked: "Who did you hear from? My silk shop is doing well, do I need to borrow 1,000 taels of silver from Dong Cheng? You say I owe Dong Cheng 1,000 taels of silver, do you have any evidence?"

  Zhu Yougui seemed to have made preparations long ago, guessing that Hualang and others had no IOU, no evidence, and did not dare to do anything to him.

  After hearing Zhu Yougui's words, Hualang suddenly felt that he was a bit too hasty. Now, the only one who has seen the IOU is Mr. Zhang of the accounting house, but the IOU has disappeared, and relying solely on Mr. Zhang's few words is useless.

  Now they can't force Zhu Yougui to hand over the IOU, or maybe Zhu Yougui has already torn up the IOU, and they can't find it at all.

  Hualang was sweating profusely, but he didn't bother to wipe it away, fearing that if he did, people would think he had run out of options and didn't know how to deal with Zhu Yougui.

  Zhu Yougui saw that Hualang was speechless, so he coldly smiled: "If you gentlemen don't want to buy fabric, then please leave immediately. We still have business to attend to here. As for whether or not you are officials, I will send someone to investigate later."

  Wen Meng heard Zhu Yougui's impolite words and suddenly became angry, ready to fight. Just as he was about to take action, Hua Lang stopped him. If they really fought, they would be in the wrong.

  Wen Meng saw Hua Lang blocking her way and angrily asked: "Why won't you let me beat him?"

  At this time, Yin Wu was also very angry and said: "Why don't we teach him a lesson first and force him to tell the truth?"

  They spoke with impunity, as if they didn't take Zhu Yougui seriously at all. After listening to their words, Zhu Yougui sneered and said, "You want to beat me? Come on! If you hit me, you'll be in for it. I'm telling you, don't abuse your power."

  Zhu Yougui said with a pleased expression. Hualang saw this and smiled faintly: "We won't hit you, but there's something that requires you to go to the yamen with us."

  Zhu Yougui didn't mind at all and said: "Alright, I'll go with you on this trip, but can you tell me what's going on first?"

  Hualang nodded: "Dong Cheng's account book was stolen, I suspect it was you who stole it, so we need to take you to the county government office for an investigation."

  Zhu Yougui listened to Hualang's words and suddenly became very excited, saying: "Nonsense! When did I steal Dong Cheng's account book? Don't slander me, what makes you suspect that I stole Dong Cheng's account book?"

  Seeing Zhu Yougui still stubborn, Hua Lang couldn't help but shrug his shoulders and said: "I've already asked the shop assistant at Dong Cheng's rice store, only you have been there and stayed inside for a while, and for a whole minute, no one was watching you. With so much time, you had ample opportunity to commit the crime, can you refute this?"

  Zhu Yougui sneered coldly: "I did go to Dong Cheng's grain store, but I didn't steal his account book. If you don't believe me, I'll go with you to the county yamen again."

  Hualang saw his goal achieved and immediately smiled: "Good, Master Zhu, please!"

  Zhu Yougui saw that Hualang was really going to take him to the county yamen, and he had no choice but to go with a stiff upper lip.

  On the way to the county government office, Zhu Yougui behaved very naturally, as if he had no guilt at all and was being framed by Hualang and others.

  But Hualang and others didn't pay attention to him, they were secretly thinking of ways to make Zhu Yougui admit that he had stolen Dong Cheng's account book and owed Dong Cheng more than a thousand taels of silver.

  If Zhu Yougui has already burned all the account books and IOUs, then this matter will be very difficult to handle. There is no evidence, and it's impossible to rely solely on the word of an accountant.

  Yin Wuchang's brow furrowed as he said, "Do you want me to sneak into Zhu Yougui's house and search for the account book?"

  Hualang listened to Yin Wuchuo's words and shook his head slightly: "The account book is probably gone, it's useless even if we go."