Chapter Ninety-Four: Discovery

Upon hearing this, Caisheng was deeply moved. He had not expected Goule to agree so readily to his request, and what moved him even more was that Goule would still give him an additional fifteen taels each month for household expenses. This only strengthened his resolve to follow him.

It was time for supper, and because Goule had repeatedly insisted that things should remain as they usually were, the meal on the table was plain and simple. For a village boy, such food was utterly ordinary. Goule ate with evident relish, showing not the slightest hint of disdain. Only then did Caisheng finally feel at ease and nod to his wife.

At that moment, a sound came from the door outside. Caisheng hurried out to answer it, and from beyond the threshold came Dali’s booming voice. “The weather has been changing too fast these days and nights alike. I’m frozen through. Caisheng, is there any food left?”

“Come in quickly. The shopkeeper is here, eating inside. We’ve been waiting for you,” Caisheng replied.

No sooner had he finished than the sound of brisk footsteps followed, and Dali entered the room. Seeing Goule and Yun Niang, he grinned. “Master, Madam, what brings you here together?”

As Yun Niang invited Dali to sit, she said, “You’ve sent no word home at all. We had to come on Xiao Die’s behalf to see whether you were all right. You’ve been gone for days, and not even a message back.”

Dali scratched his head and answered awkwardly, “I’ve been busy lately, so I completely forgot to send word.”

Goule went straight to the point and asked, “You’ve been here so many days. Have you found anything?”

Dali chewed on a steamed bun and mumbled, “Yes, Master. I’ll report everything to you one by one.”

Goule smiled. “No rush. Eat properly first. When you’re done, we’ll talk in your storehouse. Caisheng and I will be leaving shortly, so we won’t disturb you any further.”

“The shopkeeper may as well stay the night. I can have my mother move into my room. The three of us and the child can manage in close quarters, and you and Madam can stay in my mother’s room,” Dali said.

Goule waved his hand. “No need. Yun Niang would not be used to it. You go about your business. Once we’re done talking, we’ll leave. There are still other matters waiting for us back in the village.”

Seeing that Goule was determined, Caisheng said no more.

After Dali finished eating, Goule took Yun Niang and followed him to the storehouse. Dali shut the door and began at once. “Master, these past few days since I came to the county seat, I’ve inquired in many directions and indeed discovered something.”

“Go on, I’m listening.”

“Master, ever since Magistrate Qin took office, he has presided over many wrongful cases here in the county. Many merchants and gentry have committed all sorts of offenses, yet Magistrate Qin has suppressed every one of them. The common people were angry but dared not speak. Since the merchants and gentry paid some compensation, the matter was allowed to die down. But that is not all. There is something else you should know. The grain allotted from the county granary was mixed with miscellaneous grain in half of every ten measures. The common people had grievances but dared not voice them, so they endured in silence. I strongly suspect that Magistrate Qin has tampered with the grain collected from the people.”

“So I went every day to the place where the grain was being collected to investigate. And guess what, Master? After the grain had been stored away, I saw the granary doors open again in the middle of the night, and cart after cart was hauling the grain out to a grain warehouse not far from the county seat. I saw all the grain being put there, and then the merchants and gentry came over and gave the grain transporters silver. I could not tell exactly what it was, but it was a small chest, and I guessed it must have contained money or valuables.”

Goule let out a cold snort. “Using grain collected from the people for private trafficking and profiteering—Magistrate Qin, you truly have a bold and reckless nerve.”

“But it doesn’t end there,” Dali went on. “At first I thought that was all, but later I discovered this was only one of Magistrate Qin’s affairs. Last winter, it was said that several merchants and gentry hosted a banquet for Magistrate Qin at the Welcoming Inn, a place even larger than Drunken Immortal Tower. There was a maid there whom, they said, Magistrate Qin took a liking to. No one knew what happened in the room, but rumor has it that the maid died. That night her body was hurriedly carried away, and the very next day the inn was sealed shut. Everyone involved vanished without a trace. I felt there must be some hidden story, so I visited many places and asked around until I finally found the maid’s father.”

“And did he tell you anything?”

Dali sighed and shook his head. “It’s a pity. He was already mad and knew nothing anymore. He only kept muttering about Little Red. That must have been his daughter.”

Goule stared solemnly out the window and asked in a low voice, “Anything else?”

“Well, after that I didn’t keep investigating. I had planned to look for the people who had been at the Welcoming Inn, but they seemed to have disappeared from the county altogether. It’s said they moved away the day after the incident. As for the third matter, it was only hearsay, but I believe there must be something behind it. I heard from an old woodcutter that five years ago there was a plague in Blackwater Village, and many people died. There must surely have been some event there.”

Upon hearing the words Blackwater Village, Goule’s eyes flew wide open. He turned around and asked excitedly, “That old man—have you seen him again?”

“Master, I only heard it in passing. I didn’t pay it much mind at the time. I thought the brothers surnamed Guo had already gone there, so I didn’t ask any further.”

“You, you missed the most important person. Tomorrow morning, go back to the place where you met that old man and look for him again. If you see him, you must bring him to the Gu residence at once, then notify me. I will come immediately. You’ve worked hard these past few days. Take these twenty taels to cover your expenses for the time being. When you have a moment, go to the market and buy the child a few decent sets of clothes, and get some rice and flour for the family as well. You’ve been troubling them by staying there; you should bring something in return.”

“Master, the silver you gave me earlier hasn’t even been used up. There’s no need to give me more.”

“Take it if I give it to you. And remember to buy Xiao Die some rouge when you go back. A girl hasn’t seen you for so long; at least bring her something when you return. Also, make sure you handle a few things in the next few days. First, find out who all the people involved in those wrongful cases are. Second, determine where the granary grain was secretly transported, who the participating merchants and gentry were, and who all the people involved are. And write down that madman as well; investigate if you can, and if not, let it be. Third, that old man—ask whether there are others who know more about Blackwater Village. This matter is extremely important. When you investigate, don’t leave behind any traces. Be careful. Safety first. Safety first! Do you understand?”

Goule still trusted Dali to get things done, but after all that had come to light, the matter involved far too many people. He feared that if Magistrate Qin discovered Dali, the man might be placed in danger.

Dali gave a grin and pulled several sheets of paper from beneath the bed. They were densely filled with names, and many circles and marks had already been corrected. “Master, these are the names and events I’ve found so far.”

Goule smiled. “You ought to spend more time learning characters from Caisheng when you have a chance. Look at all these circles and crosses—what a mess. All right, you should get some rest too. We’re leaving.”

Just as he finished speaking and the two of them were about to go, Dali called out, “Master, wait.”