Chapter 186 187 Trial

Ruyi said to Zhou Jia: "Master, don't waste your time. It seems that he wants to have a taste of washing. I'll let someone prepare for it!"

"No," Manager Ouyang begged, "I'm really here to deliver goods, please let me go!"

Zhou Jia patted Steward Ouyang's cheek and said in a conspiratorial tone: "It seems that you really want to taste the taste of iron brush cleaning meat! Look at your pitiful appearance, I will give you a hint. Your surname is Ouyang, from Qingzhou Come here, even if you don’t tell me, I will send someone to check and I will know who you are working for, Ruyi! He will be left to you!"

After hearing this, Steward Ouyang felt as if his heart was pressed down by an invisible boulder, his mouth kept trembling, and his mind went blank.

Zhou Jia said coldly: "Say! As long as you tell the truth, I will let you live. If you don't tell me, I have many ways to make it impossible for you to survive and die!"

Steward Ouyang trembled with fright, came to his senses, and whispered: "I told you, are you really not going to kill me? My family members are all in Qingzhou, can you keep them safe?"

Zhou Jia said warmly: "Don't worry, as long as what you tell is the truth, I will send people to Qingzhou to protect your family. The premise is that what you tell is the truth and is not adulterated."

Steward Ouyang shook his head and said: "Don't dare to adulterate. You will know as soon as you check. The young man's name is Ouyang Yongchun. He came from Qingzhou Prefecture and is the general manager of General Huang's grain store. He was ordered to come here to collect grain. Originally, he was going to Those who went to Hutou Village were robbed here by you."

Zhou Jia looked at Steward Ouyang angrily, "It seems that those who came to Qingchuan to suppress bandits in the past were also General Huang's men, right?" Steward Ouyang nodded tremblingly. Zhou Jia pointed at Steward Ouyang angrily, "Do you know that for your own selfish interests, you guys You have caused misery to the people of Qingchuan. Where are the ledgers that show you have colluded with bandits and robbed people of their food all these years?"

"Uncle, the account books in the shop are at General Huang's house, but I also have a private account, which is kept with my wife. I have a key with me. You can take it to my wife and she will give it to you. !Uncle! I am just a servant and can only follow orders. I have told you everything you want to know. I also ask you to keep your word and help me get my family out. If the general knows that I betrayed him, how many members of my family will be killed? His life is gone.”

"Where will the people from Hutou Village meet you?"

"Tomorrow, they will pick me up at the Sitong Inn in the town."

Zhou Jia asked Steward Ouyang to place his fingerprints and said to Ruyi: "Untie him, take him to wash, and give him some food."

Ruyi nodded and untied Steward Ouyang. Steward Ouyang glanced at Zhou Jia and the others, lowered his head and took a key from his neck and handed it to Zhou Jia, "Sir, here is the key. Please get my wife and child out." "Zhou Jia took the key, nodded, and asked Ruyi to take Steward Ouyang up.

When the couple returned to the main room, Zhou Jia said to Li Yu: "Yu'er, I'm going to ask Xu Dong to send a letter to Sihai Bank immediately, get the evidence that General Huang is collaborating with the bandits, and save Guanshi Ouyang's family."

"Okay, I'll have people prepare food and salutes for him immediately, and let him set off immediately."

Zhou Jia wrote down the situation, put it in a bamboo tube, and asked Steward Ouyang to write a letter and bring it to his family. He called Xu Dong and said to him: "Master Xu, please send this to Qingzhou immediately and give it to Chu." Shopkeeper, tell him it's urgent."

Xu Dong nodded and said: "Mr. Zhou, don't worry, leave it to me, I will never miss anything."

Xu Dong took the luggage from Li Yu, went out, mounted his horse and galloped away.

Ruyi brought Steward Ouyang to the main room. Zhou Jia said to him: "Don't worry, I have sent someone to pick up your family. You also know that General Huang conspired with the bandits to rob taxes and committed the crime of confiscating the family and exterminating the clan." , as long as you do your job well, I will save your life."

After Ouyang made the honest recruitment, he realized that he had no way out. With a plop, he knelt in front of Zhou Jia and kowtowed: "Thank you, sir. I will do my job well. Thank you for not killing me!"

Zhou Jia said cheerfully: "Get up! I will let Ruyi protect you and go to Hutou Village together. In order not to arouse the suspicion of the people in Hutou Village, you and Ruyi should go back to the inn!"

Steward Ouyang got up, bowed and said, "Sir, don't worry, I will cooperate well with you."

Ruyi and Steward Ouyang went out from the back door and walked towards Sitong Inn.

Zhou Jia returned to the room and saw Li Yu combing her hair in front of the bronze mirror. He took the comb from Li Yu's hand and helped her comb her hair. By the way, he told Li Yu about Shijiacun and said, "It turns out I We are also worried that we are short of manpower. Now that we have captured Steward Ouyang, there is no need for us to go to Shijia Village. After the bandits hand over the grain to Steward Ouyang, we can just bring the grain back and return it to the villagers."

"You have to make it clear to the Stone Tribe boss first. Also, I want to buy a piece of wasteland and hire people to open up the land after the busy farming season. I also need to repair the city wall. Otherwise, it will be too late when winter comes."

"Okay, I'll put up a notice tomorrow and hire people to repair the city wall." Zhou Jia knelt down and looked at Li Yu with a fawning smile, "Yu'er, let's discuss with you. First, get some money from our house to pay for the work. OK?"

Li Yu looked at Zhou Jia's flattering look, hooked Zhou Jia's chin and teased: "As long as Mr. Zhou serves me well, I will allow you."

Zhou Jia looked at Li Yu, her eyes burning with fire. She hugged Li Yu and whispered in her ear with a low and hoarse voice, "Xiao Xi will take good care of my wife."

Zhou Jia got up with a happy face. After dinner, he asked Tie Zhu to carry the money at home, and called Mr. Qian and Tu Dianshi to go to the dilapidated yamen. The silver and jewelry collected from the bandits were placed on the table.

Tu Dianshi stared at the money in his bag with gleaming eyes, and thought to himself: I didn't expect Mr. Zhou's family to be so rich at such a young age.

"This is the first time I have seen so much money. Master Zhou brought this money to show off, right?"

Mr. Qian also looked at Zhou Jia with a puzzled expression. Zhou Jia smiled and said: "I asked my wife to get these silver coins. The gold was a reward from your majesty. The silver was saved by my wife's hard work. Let me take it." Come on, repair the city wall first, and let’s make it clear first! It’s not for us to use for free, and it will have to be returned to her when the county government has money.”

Tu Dianshi looked at Yinzi with red eyes, Oh my God! We finally have a father-in-law in Qingchuan who loves his people like his own son! Tu Dianshi bowed his head towards Zhou Jia and saluted: "Master Zhou, I would like to thank you and your wife very much, thank you!"

Zhou Jia helped Tu Dianshi up and said, "Tu Dianshi doesn't have to be like this. I am the parent officer of Qingchuan County. I should do these things as I should."

Tu Dianshi wiped away his tears and said: "I'm going to gather the people in the city and ask everyone who has money to contribute money and work hard to repair our Qingchuan city wall!"

Zhou Jia looked at Tu Dianshi and said sternly: "Tu Dianshi, please make it clear to the people that the workers are not paid much, only ten cents a day. When the money is used up, I will issue an IOU to them. The county The government will not default on its debts."

Tu Dianshi responded respectfully: "Yes, sir."