Huaxi Chronicle

The light in the room was dim, and an old man who was unconscious was lying on the wooden couch on the east side.The black girl was holding a handkerchief, helping the old man wipe the sweat from his forehead.

When the black girl heard the sound of the two approaching, she raised her head and gave them a forced smile.

Xun Feibai stepped forward and patted her on the shoulder: "I have asked Langzhong to decoct the medicine, and the young man in the village will bring it later. You can take care of your mother at ease."

The black girl glanced at her gratefully, and called out with a hint of crying in her voice, "Ms. Xun."

Xun Feibai saw that the corners of her eyes were red and she was weeping.With such an appearance, Xun Feibai couldn't help but think of himself when A Niang was seriously ill.At that time, she was helpless and prayed to the gods every day to make A Niang's condition better.

And the child in front of him is only eight or nine years old, four or five years younger than himself.Xun Feibai couldn't bear it, he leaned over and hugged the little girl into his arms, comforting him softly: "Don't be sad, everything will be fine."

The black girl who was held in Xun Fei's arms in vain was startled at first, maybe because the embrace was too soft and comfortable, and there was a wave of warmth coming from her body, so the black girl couldn't help but relax.She leaned on Xun Feibai's shoulder, and with a nasal voice, she replied softly: "Yes."

Seeing the two of them like this, Yan Yuanjin seemed to feel the sadness of the black girl.She stretched out her short hand to cover the arms of the two of them, and comforted her in a milky voice, "Xiao Hei and mother, don't be sad." After speaking, she kissed each of their faces again: "Xiao Hei It's alright, dear Jin."

The somewhat heavy atmosphere was broken by this villain's unskilled comfort, both of them raised eyebrows and smiled at each other.

Xun Feibai hugged Yan Yuanjin in his arms, kissed her little face, and the little man giggled happily.

Thinking of the salt block she saw outside the house, she looked at the black girl and asked, "Where did you get the salt block on the stove outside the house?"

Hei Niu didn't know why she asked about the salt block. Although she was puzzled, she still said truthfully: "The salt block was brought by Aunt Li from the village for me in the market. Although it was dirty, it was cheaper than the ones sold in shops." Half the price."

Xun Feibai then asked: "The market? Where is the market?"

Hei Niu replied, "It's the Xunxiu market, right there at Taohua Ridge."

Hei Niu said so, but Xun Feibai remembered something. I heard from Mrs. Wang that there would be vendors from all over Taohua Ridge every ten days off to set up stalls, rice, oil, salt, whole grains, cooked tea, fruits, and even farm tools. There are all kinds of sundries, and the prices are much cheaper than those in the county shops.It's just that the market is some distance away from the west of the city, and you need to get up early to go to the market, which is really difficult for Xun Feibai, so she has never been there.

Xun Feibai thought for a while, then asked again: "Aunt Li? Are you talking about Mrs. Li in the kitchen?"

The black girl nodded: "It's her."

The black girl rolled her eyes and said worriedly, "Miss Xun, what's wrong with that salt?"

Xun Feibai patted her on the shoulder, and said seriously: "There is something wrong with the salt, don't buy it again next time."

Hei Niu didn't know why she said that, but she trusted Xun Feibai, so she nodded in response.Then he glanced at the eldest mother on the couch, turned around and went to wash the silk handkerchief again.

Xun Feibai didn't stay any longer, and took Yan Yuanjin out of Hei Niu's house. She said to Yan Yuanjin in her arms, "Mother remembers that I still have something to tell your aunt today, so we won't play in the village today." , how about going back to the villa directly?"

Yan Yuanjin nodded obediently, and discussed with her again: "Okay, then mother will bring me to find Xiao Hei tomorrow, okay?"

Xun Feibai nodded the tip of her little nose, and replied with a smile, "Yes."

Xun Feibai went back to the villa, handed Yan Yuanjin to Chunlai, and went directly to the study to find Yan Cong'an.

When Yan Cong'an saw her enter, he was a little puzzled and said, "Didn't you take Xiao Jin to the village, why did you come back so soon?"

Xun Feibai told her in detail what happened just now.

When Yan Cong'an heard her talking about the salt block, his eyebrows frowned slightly, and he asked suspiciously, "Does Fei Bai suspect that someone is selling private salt in that market?"

Xun Feibai said affirmatively: "The official salt in the south of the Yangtze River has always been the well salt produced in Yantian County. The well salt particles are small and white in color, but the salt block I saw at Hei Niu's house was slightly yellowish and the grains were thicker. I tasted it. After a while, there is still a faint smell of the sea, which must be sea salt. Since it is sea salt, it can only be sold by someone privately."

Yan Cong'an frowned and said, "Selling private salt is a serious crime of beheading. It's a bit bold to dare to sell it directly in the market."

Xun Feibai thought for a while, then hesitated and said, "Cong'an, I want to go and have a look on the day of the market."

Yan Cong'an already knew that this person knew about this matter, and wanted to find out, and would not let it go.She didn't answer, just glanced at Xun Feibai lightly.

Xun Feibai hurriedly explained: "I don't have to take care of this, I just go to the market to see, but it's really so rampant, I just report to the officials, I won't step forward to intervene."

Yan Cong'an took a sip of tea and said, "You don't have to worry about this, I'll let the treasure box take a look."

Xun Feibai saw that although she didn't allow him to intervene, but after all she sent the treasure box to investigate, he didn't refute, and nodded with a smile.

Seeing that she agreed, Yan Cong'an relaxed a little, and joked, "I think Fei Bai will become an official in the future, so don't be a doctor of the Imperial College, he should be a chancellor of Dali Temple."

Xun Feibai knew that he was in the wrong, so he didn't dare to answer the question, he just smiled, picked up the teacup and drank tea silently.

Five days later.

A carriage slowly stopped in front of Lanxi Villa, the carriage stopped firmly, and two people got off the carriage.The servant waiting at the side stepped forward, bowed and asked, "Are you Cui Dalang and Cui Xiaoniang?"

Cui Jiaze smiled and said, "But Fei Bai told you to wait here for the two of us?"

The servant said respectfully: "Exactly, both of you, please come with me."

Yesterday Cui Jiaze sent someone to bring a letter to Xun Feibai, telling her that he would come to the villa to look for her before today.Xun Feibai was very happy when he found out, the two hadn't seen each other for nearly two months since she got married, so they sent a servant to wait at the door early in the morning.

When Xun Feibai saw Cui Jiamu who was behind Cui Jiaze, he was taken aback for a moment, then came back to his senses, smiled and beckoned them to sit down.

Cui Jiamu saw her stunned just now, but naturally smiled and joked: "Does Fei Bai not like me coming to look for you?"

Xun Feibai heard her teasing, and replied with a smile: "It's just that Jiaze didn't mention it in the letter yesterday, and he was a little surprised when he saw Xiao Mu." He picked up the teacup beside him and said, "Feibai didn't mention it in the letter yesterday." Tea replaces wine, sorry, Xiao Mu, don't take it to heart."

Seeing that she was serious, Cui Jiamu waved his hands and said, "I'm also joking, don't take Fei Bai to heart."

Xun Feibai poured tea for the two of them, and asked suspiciously: "You two came together today, but do you have something to tell me?"

Cui Jiaze picked up the teacup, took a sip, and said solemnly, "I have two things to tell you today. I heard that a few days ago in your village, your Lanxi Villa turned away two thieves who kidnapped and trafficked children to the county government. Is there a matter?"

"It's true. These two abducted a girl from the village. Unexpectedly, a girl from the village and Xiao Jin ran into him. The man got malicious and wanted to capture both of them. Thanks to the girl's cleverness, He led Xiaojin into the mountains and escaped. Afterwards, Cong'an sent people to seal the village, so the thief never had a chance to escape."

After hearing this, Cui Jiaze and the two also felt that it was extremely dangerous. If the thief was allowed to succeed, the consequences would be unimaginable.

"The two of them have already been sentenced?"

Cui Jiaze put down the teacup, pondered and said: "Then Li Si is nothing special, the thugs in the gambling house usually work under Gou Erlang's command, and he does everything according to his orders. It's just that Gou Erlang is not simple." He paused After a pause, he lowered his voice and said: "Father found out during the interrogation that this Gou Erlang was not the first time to kidnap and traffic young children, this person has been doing this illegal activity since the year before last. Steal six or seven children."

Xun Feibai was shocked when he heard the words: "There are so many, why did you only find out now?"

Cui Jiaze explained: "He took advantage of the convenience of the gambling house to collect debts, and ran around the villages near Huaxi County to commit crimes. Moreover, the children captured by this person were all beautiful children from poor families or without parents."

Xun Feibai thought of Qin Siniang and Orion in the village, a widow and a widower, and their family conditions were not very good.

Thinking of Qin Siniang, Xun Feibai asked aloud, "Then find out where those children were sold?"

Hearing her ask about this matter, Cui Jiaze lowered his voice and said: "That matter, Gou Erlang didn't say much, he just said that he sold it casually. He still gritted his teeth and kept silent when Dad was put on the torture instrument. He is so secretive, I I have a guess."

Although Cui Jiaze said it was conjecture, but Xun Feibai had known him for many years and knew what he said, so the facts are almost indistinguishable from what he said.She wondered: "What guesses?"

Cui Jiaze took a sip of tea, and then said: "In addition to abducting and selling young children, this Gou Erlang also works as a pimp in private, specifically looking for young boys and girls to be prostitutes for the entertainment of some aristocratic children in Huaxi County." He paused. After a pause, he continued, "I think those children should have been sold to those people by him."

In Liang Guo, if you want to open the Qinlou Chu Pavilion, you need to obtain documents from the government. The men and women who sell themselves in the building must be registered with the government before they are allowed to receive guests. These people are also called official prostitutes.The secret prostitutes that Cui Jiaze refers to refer to people who are not registered with the government but secretly work as prostitutes.

Secret prostitution is also explicitly prohibited in Liang State, and once found out, they will be used as military prostitutes and distributed to the frontiers.However, the profit of prostitutes is much higher than that of official prostitutes, so many people take risks and become prostitutes.

Xun Feibai thought for a while and said, "This man has done so many evil things, it is really not an exaggeration to be sentenced to death by hanging."

Cui Jiaze agreed: "The judgment statement written by my father is hanged. I wanted to send someone to Binzhou Prefecture in the past few days. If everything goes well, the verdict will be issued next month." As he spoke, his voice changed and he whispered Said: "But just yesterday, things changed."

Xun Feibai asked suspiciously, "What happened?"

Cui Jiaze suppressed his voice again and said: "Gou Erlang was poisoned to death in that prison yesterday."

Xun Feibai was startled when he heard the words: "Dead?"

Cui Jiaze nodded: "Father guesses that this person is so bold, there must be a lot of interests involved behind him, maybe someone wants him to shut up."

Xun Feibai asked suspiciously: "Then who poisoned him, and then we may be able to find out the truth if we continue to investigate."

Cui Jiaze shook his head and said: "That person pretended to be Gou Erlang's wife and sneaked into the cell to deliver food, but Gou Erlang didn't say anything to the jailer, and even ate the food straight after he left. When the jailer found him When he dies, the person pretending to be has already fled, so where can he find any traces."

He paused slightly, and then continued: "Father also found out that the gambling house where Gou Erlang was located, there may be some problems, but before sending people to investigate and deal with it, the gambling house has already been emptied, and there is no trace of it either." .Now that Gou Erlang is dead, I'm afraid the case will not be investigated any further."

Xun Feibai was dumbfounded after hearing this, he thought he was just catching a kidnapper who sold young children, but he unexpectedly got involved in so many evil things, he sighed deeply.

After talking about one thing, Cui Jiaze talked about another thing, which is the purpose of his trip: "My father received an order last month to go back to Kyoto to take up his post, and in a few days we will leave Huaxi County to go to Kyoto."

When Xun Feibai heard the words, he was surprised and said: "Why is it so sudden, when will you leave? I will see you off then."

Cui Jiaze smiled and said: "The date has not been set yet, if it is set, I will tell you." He thought for a while, and then asked: "Now that you have passed the provincial examination, will you go to the capital to participate in the autumn palace next year?"

"If there is no delay, we should go."

"It's so good. When you go to Kyoto, you will definitely look for me."

Xun Fei smiled and said, "It's only natural."

The three chatted for a while, brother and sister Cui Jiaze got up to say goodbye, Xun Feibai sent them outside the door, saw the carriage going away, and then returned to the village.