Red Dust Daqian

Under the intimidation and beatings from Zhou Sen and Zhao Tiechui, Shopkeeper Jin finally became submissive.

Zhou Sen asked coldly, "Where is the title deed of the Xiao Family Ceramic Kiln Factory? Take it out quickly." Shopkeeper Jin replied tremblingly, "Good man, it's not that I won't give it to you. It's just that I really can't take it out. The Xiao Family Kiln Factory has been sold by our pawnshop." Xiao Zhuyu said angrily, "The redemption date has not passed yet. On what basis do you sell my Xiao Family Kiln Factory? Who did you sell it to, and how much silver did you sell it for?" Shopkeeper Jin replied helplessly, "The kiln factory was sold to the Shen family for 3000 taels of silver." Zhou Sen said angrily, "Your pawnshop is operating in violation of regulations. No matter who you sell it to, it is unreasonable. Now we want to redeem the Xiao Family Kiln Factory. According to the rules, we only need to pay the principal plus interest, and then you return the title deed of the Xiao Family Kiln Factory to us. As for how you sold the kiln factory, you can take it back the same way. The rest has nothing to do with us." Shopkeeper Jin cried, "Good man, Miss Xiao, although I am the shopkeeper of Houde Pawnshop, this transaction involves huge funds, and I really can't make the decision. You need to find the big boss behind the scenes."

Zhou Sen asked curiously, "Who is the big boss behind Houde Pawnshop? Ask him to come over." Shopkeeper Jin replied hesitantly, "Our big boss is Shangguan, the magistrate of Changnan County. Good man, don't tell me that I told you. Shangguan never comes to the pawnshop. If he has a request, he just sends someone to pass on a message."

No wonder the shopkeeper is so lawless and arrogant. The boss behind the pawnshop is actually the county magistrate Shangguan Wuhou. Shangguan Wuhou is so good that he opened a black shop in the county under his jurisdiction, forced buying and selling, bullied the market, and the shopkeeper and the clerk were all arrogant and domineering. It is really a clean magistrate for ten years, 100,000 silver coins, and he can make a lot of money in just a few years.

A powerful dragon cannot defeat a local snake. Zhou Sen still wanted to open a glass kiln factory in Changnan County, so he couldn't fight with Shangguan Wuhou directly. Besides, his strength was not strong enough to fight with the county magistrate. He could only go back with Xiao Zhuyu and Zhao Tiechui and make plans later. Shopkeeper Jin begged, "Good man, good man, can you help untie the rope before leaving?" Zhou Sen and the other two ignored the shopkeeper and went home directly.

Xiangcao and Madam Xiao arrived at the Tianshi Mansion early. When they saw Zhou Sen, Xiao Zhuyu and Zhao Tiechui coming back, they all looked embarrassed. Madam Xiao asked with concern: "Zhuyu, what happened to you? Didn't you go to the pawn shop to redeem the kiln factory? How come you are in such a mess?" Xiao Zhuyu said a little aggrievedly: "Our kiln factory was sold by the pawn shop a long time ago, and they just wanted to snatch our pawn ticket!"

Xiangcao was worried that Zhou Sen was injured, so she quickly went up to Zhou Sen and asked, "Mumu, are you okay?" Seeing the embarrassed Zhou Sen, Xiangcao felt very distressed, and wanted to rush to the pawnshop with her sword to get back at Zhou Sen. Xiangcao always put Zhou Sen first, and couldn't bear to see Zhou Sen being wronged. Zhou Sen stopped Xiangcao and said, "Senior sister, it's okay, I'm not injured."

Xiao Zhuyu hurriedly continued, "Fortunately, Taoist Mu brought drugs with him and knocked out all the people in the pawn shop."

Zhou Sen told Xiangcao and Madam Xiao in detail what happened in the pawn shop today. Madam Xiao lamented, "The Xiao family kiln factory has been sold by the pawn shop, and the owner of the pawn shop is the county magistrate Shangguan. As the saying goes, people should not fight with officials. What can we do?" Xiangcao was chivalrous and wanted to get rid of harm for the people. She did not take Shangguan Wuhou seriously and said angrily, "Why don't we go directly to Shangguan Wuhou to settle the account? At worst, I can go to the county government to pick on this corrupt official." Zhou Sen stopped Xiangcao's recklessness and explained, "We still have to build a glass kiln factory in Changnan County. It is not easy to directly conflict with the county government now. We still have to settle the account, but not now. At this time, we should first think of a peaceful way to get the Xiao family kiln factory back."

In the Changnan County Yamen, Zhou Sen and Xiangcao, dressed in Taoist robes, were politely welcomed into the back hall by the yamen runners.

When the county magistrate Shangguan Wuhou saw the two Heavenly Masters Mu and Xiangcao approaching, he hurriedly stood up and bowed, saying, "Two Heavenly Masters, your presence is a great honor to our humble office! I wonder why you two come to the county office today?" Zhou Sen made some pretentious remarks to Shangguan Wuhou, then said, "I am here today because I have something to ask of you."

Shangguan Wuhou replied hypocritically: "Master, if you have something to say, please speak directly, and don't be polite to this county. This county magistrate will definitely help wherever I can." Zhou Sen said directly: "Master Xiangcao met a sister in Changnan County, named Xiao Zhuyu. This woman has a good relationship with my Taoist sect." Shangguan Wuhou thought in his heart, Xiao Zhuyu, why does she sound familiar. Zhou Sen continued: "This woman and her daughter depend on each other for survival, which is very pitiful. Yesterday, Miss Xiao came to the Tianshi Mansion and found Master Xiangcao, saying that she asked Master Xiangcao to escort her to Kyoto to file a complaint."

When Shangguan Wuhou heard that someone wanted to file a complaint to the emperor, he suddenly sat up straight and asked solemnly: "Filing a complaint to the emperor? What grievance do you have that requires you to go to Beijing to file a complaint? Can't this county solve it?" Zhou Sen replied calmly: "Yes, I thought at the time that Magistrate Shangguan is an upright and honest official and has good ways of governing the county. What problem can't be solved in this county that requires you to go to Beijing to file a complaint to the emperor? So I asked Miss Xiao in detail about what specific grievance she had." Shangguan Wuhou nodded vigorously.

Zhou Sen continued, "It turns out that Miss Xiao's father had previously pawned the Xiao family's ceramic kiln factory at Houde Pawnshop in this county. But before the redemption date had passed, the pawnshop forcibly occupied the kiln factory and sold it to someone else. Miss Xiao went to redeem the kiln factory, not only was she unsuccessful, but she was also beaten up by the people in the pawnshop, who threatened to warn her, saying: It's useless to sue the officials, because their big boss behind the scenes is Shangguan County Magistrate. In Changnan County, they are the king. They killed Miss Xiao's idea of ​​redeeming the Xiao family kiln factory, and then beat up the Xiao family's redeemer."

Listening to Zhou Sen's story, Shangguan Wuhou was sometimes green and sometimes black. You are so good, Xiao Zhuyu, no wonder your name sounds so familiar, it turns out that you were the one who caused trouble in my pawnshop yesterday. I haven't found you to settle the score yet, but you actually found Xiangcao Tianshi and wanted to go to the capital to file a complaint.

Zhou Sen used his acting skills to the extreme, and showed concern for Shangguan Wuhou and said: "When I heard that County Magistrate Shangguan was the boss behind the black pawnshop and occupied the Xiao family kiln factory, of course I didn't believe it. It's impossible. I know the character of Lord Shangguan. It is impossible for him to do such unscrupulous things. Someone must have deliberately slandered him. So I persuaded the mother and daughter of the Xiao family to temporarily give up the plan of going to Beijing to file a complaint. Today, Taoist Xiangcao and I came to the county government to verify and prove Lord's innocence. We can't let Lord's reputation be ruined because of the false accusation of a villain, right?" County Magistrate Shangguan was quite grateful to Zhou Sen when he heard these heartfelt words from him.