Chapter 225 - Chapter 225: Unreliable!
Chapter 225: Unreliable!
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
There were not many items in the light gray bag.
Two books and an exquisite black wooden box.
Fortunately, the two books were wrapped in a layer of parchment paper, so the books were not frozen.
‘Third Brother, I can’t read very well, so I don’t know what’s written in these books. Why don’t you take a look?” After Second Brother Shen picked up the two books, he subconsciously looked at Shen Yao.
Shen Yao nodded slightly. When he took the book, he realized that it was not a book at all, but a register.
Many people’s names were recorded on it. There was even a red label behind each name.
After flipping through two pages, Shen Yao had a rough idea.
‘This wooden box should have been made by Brother Wu himself.” Second Brother Shen looked at the pattern of the acacia flower carved on the wooden box and could not help but sound a little disappointed.
Inside the exquisite wooden box were two strands of black hair tied together with a red string.
“I didn’t expect this Miss Fengdie’s belongings to be these.” Ji Zhao couldn’t help but sigh. “As the saying goes, a married couple with their hairs entangled together can love each other without any doubts. I think this Miss Fengdie and Brother Wu’s relationship is really good.”
‘That’s right!” Second Brother Shen nodded repeatedly. ‘Brother Wu and Miss Fengdie came from the same hometown. They were childhood sweethearts. Unfortunately, later on, their hometown flooded and many villages were drowned.”
‘Later, they unexpectedly reunited in Thunder Mountain County. It took Brother Wu more than three years to persuade Miss Fengdie. The two of them discussed that when they had saved enough money to redeem Miss Fengdie, they would return to their hometown and get married. However, the world is unpredictable…”
Who would have thought that both of them would die in an accident?
‘Second Brother, is this Miss Fengdie very famous in the Wind and Moon Restaurant?” Shen Yao quietly put away the two ledgers and asked softly.
‘Yes.” Second Brother Shen nodded. “1 heard that this Miss Fengdie is the courtesan of Wind and Moon Restaurant. No one can compare to the pipa she plays.’
‘Moreover, I heard that the county magistrate of Thunder Mountain County likes to listen to Miss Fengdie play the pipa. He often goes to the Wind and
Moon Restaurant.”
Thunder Mountain County, County Magistrate, Miss Fengdie, the ledgers.
Shen Yao lowered his eyes gently and sorted out all the clues in his mind.
‘But didn’t the brothel madam insist that Second Brother took Miss Fengdie’s savings?” Zhao Lanhua frowned worriedly. “I keep feeling that this matter is not simple.”
‘Her words alone can’t explain anything.” Ji Zhao quickly comforted her.
‘Mother, don’t worry. We will definitely find a way to solve the problem.”
“1 hope so!”
Zhao Lanhua did not dare to say that ever since this morning, her right eyelid had been twitching non-stop. Today, she originally wanted to visit the other neighbors in the village to pay New Year’s greetings, but she had always felt uneasy, so she did not go out.
‘Second Brother, these two books are quite interesting. Why don’t you lend them to me for two days?” Shen Yao looked at Shen Zhang and asked with a smile.
‘Okay.” Of course, Second Brother Shen would not be stingy with his younger brother.
After Ji Zhao accompanied Shen Yao back to their own room, her gaze landed on the budding plum blossom plant placed in front of the window. “1 smelled a fragrance when I walked in just now. Only now do I know that it’s actually plum blossoms? Shen Yao, when did you pluck the plum blossoms?”
‘After waking up in the morning, I was walking around the courtyard when I happened to see a plum blossom. I couldn’t help but pluck it.” Shen Yao smiled at her and explained gently.
‘You must pluck the flowers when they bloom, lest they wither and you are left with empty branches,” Ji Zhao said with a smile. “This budding plum blossom is really beautiful. ”
‘IAS long as Ah Tao likes it.’
‘Shen Yao.”
‘Yes?”
“What are you thinking about?” Ji Zhao walked up to him, her gentle eyes filled with concern. “There’s something wrong with you.’
‘Ah Tao, why do you say that?” Shen Yao was stumped by her question.
‘We found Second Brother’s bag. This should be something to be happy about, but…” Ji Zhao thought for a moment and her gaze landed on the two books in his hand. “Shen Yao, these are not books. They are ledgers and also evidence, right?”
A trace of shock flashed across Shen Yao’s eyes. He subconsciously looked around, then closed the door and windows. He tried his best to take a deep breath and suppress the uneasiness that surged in his heart. “Ah Tao, how did you know?”
“When Second Brother asked you to read these two books just now, your expression was a little off.” Ji Zhao gently held his hand, her tone filled with gentleness and comfort. “I was standing beside you, so I naturally saw this book.. No, the contents of this ledger.
‘Second Brother said that Miss Fengdie is the courtesan of the Wind and Moon
Restaurant and is famous. More importantly, even County Magistrate Sun of Thunder Mountain County favors her. On the surface, the brothel madam of the Wind and Moon Restaurant is here for Miss Fengdie’s belongings, but in fact, what she wants should be the ledger in your hand.”
“1f I’m right, there’s a good chance this ledger is a list of bribes or embezzlement?”
Listening to Ji Zhao’s calm analysis, the panic in Shen Yao’s eyes was gradually replaced by amazement—
His Ah Tao was smarter than he had imagined!
‘Ah Tao, you’re really too smart… If you were a man, I’m afraid I wouldn’t be as good as you,” Shen Yao looked into her eyes and said seriously.
Pfft-
Ji Zhao was amused by his serious expression. She tiptoed and gently tapped the tip of his nose. “What nonsense are you talking about? If I become a man, how can I become your wife? Besides, in my eyes, Shen Yao is the best!”
Her voice was sweet, and the smile on her face was bright.
At this moment, Shen Yao’s heart skipped a beat uncontrollably.
How could his Ah Tao be so beautiful?
‘Shen Yao, let’s get back to the topic.” Seeing that he was still in a daze, Ji Zhao flicked his forehead helplessly and asked softly, “What should we do next?”
‘That brothel madam doesn’t seem like someone who would give up easily.” Ji
Zhao frowned awkwardly. ‘Shen Yao, shouldn’t we think of a way to help Second Brother?”
‘The county office will only open again after the eighth day of the new year.” Shen Yao subconsciously tightened his grip on the ledger in his hand, his eyes dark. “Ah Tao, let’s go visit County Magistrate Ma after the eighth day of the new year.
‘County Magistrate Ma?” Ji Zhao raised her eyebrows in surprise. ‘Shen Yao, you want County Magistrate Ma to appear? But I heard that he has always been on good terms with County Magistrate Sun of Thunder Mountain County. How can he agree to our plea? Perhaps he and County Magistrate Sun have long been in cahoots. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have let Ji Huai go after County
Magistrate Sun greeted him!”
Ji Zhao really felt that this Magistrate Ma was unreliable!
‘Ah Tao, there are no eternal friends in the bureaucracy. There are only eternal benefits.” Shen Yao lowered his eyes and chuckled..