"Your Excellency, this matter may be difficult to investigate."
The person who received the order cupped his hands and said softly,
"Meng Hua City is in chaos, many are dead, many have fled, it's hard to get through the pass."
The county magistrate paced back and forth. This matter was truly difficult to handle. Even he didn't know how to deal with this farmer who claimed to have suffered a bitter fate, yet was forced to this point.
"Your Excellency, how about investigating matters within Nanming City? What testimony can we trace right now?"
The person beside him, holding a ledger, kept recording and flipping through it. "For example, some cooks who followed Qian Youjin, if we find them and ask, we'll know what happened in Meng Hua City."
"Mm." The county magistrate stroked his beard, deep in thought.
"Everything I say is the truth. Qian Youjin brought cooks from Nanzhou County, Ma Ce Ming and Qin Da Yuan, twice into Meng Hua City to host banquets. Below them, there were five helpers and waiters."
Qian Shi added,
"I don't remember the names of these five clearly, as they were all newly hired and hadn't been with us for even a month."
The scribe beside him quickly took notes; these were important clues. "Your Excellency, Ma Ce Ming and Qin Da Yuan are both from Nanzhou County. Why don't you send someone to investigate?"
"Yes, we must issue a letter of request to the authorities in Nanzhou County for their cooperation."
The county magistrate sighed. Nanzhou County was now a place that struck fear into people's hearts. Fortunately, he heard recently that there was a solution, and many people had been saved.
This letter should be easily approved. If it were a month ago, it would be unthinkable.
A Jiu's expression was somber. She didn't think Qian Shi had done anything wrong; she could understand her feelings. However, the cause of the illness was still a loose end.
"County Magistrate, why don't you let this Qian Shi stay in the village? Our巡察使's men come here often anyway. If there's anything, just summon us, and I will personally deliver the person."
Tuoba Yan, seeing A Jiu's state, quickly stepped forward to volunteer.
The county magistrate glanced at Tuoba Yan and smiled. He quite liked this child. He was articulate and diligent. If not for him leading people to search, there might have been major incidents in several villages under his jurisdiction.
"Alright, this matter is entrusted to your 巡察使's men. When I'm free, I'll definitely go find your 巡察使 for tea."
Tuoba Yan suddenly turned and looked at A Jiu with a mischievous grin.
His smile quickly faded. Why wasn't A Jiu smiling?
She had been watching the magistrate's carriage and escort team disappear before finally retracting her gaze.
"Hui'er, Mother wants a hug."
Qian Shi's eyes held anticipation.
But Hui'er had been in a daze for a long time. For a child, this news was too terrifying.
The scene that flashed through her mind was: "Daddy, you're back!"
Daddy would squat down, arms open, "Quick, Daddy hug you, lift you high."
"Daddy, your beard tickles me so much."
"Really? Then should Daddy shave and then kiss you?"
Then, she saw Daddy's body in a long rectangular wooden box, tied up by Mother with ropes, and dragged all the way up the mountain.
From then on, she never heard her father's voice again.
"Mother..." Hui'er bit her lip and threw herself into her mother's arms, hugging her tightly, but felt the warmth in her embrace was not as warm as before.
Only then did Qian Shi break into tears.
A Jiu didn't disturb the mother and daughter. In fact, Hui'er was very good. She could pierce through the haze in her heart and still accept her mother, something impossible for someone her age to understand.
It was very good.
"A Jiu, why are you still not happy?" Tuoba Yan had already dispatched people to search the mountain for clues.
However, at the moment, he didn't quite understand A Jiu's thoughts.
"It's nothing. I just feel this epidemic is very strange." After discovering the human factor yesterday and hearing Qian Shi's account today, she had many doubts but couldn't untangle the threads.