At noon, Fang Zian and Shen Ling'er entered Wuhu City. On the streets of the city, people were bustling with people, and it was very lively. They didn't want to show off on the streets, so they found a small inn to settle down in a remote alley.

At noon, the two of them came to the front hall of the inn to eat. There were not many guests in the small inn, and there were only two or three people eating, so it was quite quiet. However, although the inn was small, the few side dishes cooked were delicious.

Very soon, the shopkeeper brought over a plate of Yangtze River specialty fish called anchovies. It was extremely delicious. Fang Zian and Shen Ling'er both nodded while eating.

When paying the bill, Fang Zi'an gave him dozens of coins as a reward, and took advantage of the old shopkeeper's joy to talk to the old shopkeeper of the inn intentionally or unintentionally.

"Shopkeeper, we came from the west to visit Jiangling Prefecture and passed by Wuhu. But I don't know if there are any interesting places in Wuhu City. We two brothers can stay here for a few days and enjoy some scenery."

The old shopkeeper put away the dishes and said with a smile: "I can see that your accent is not that of our Wuhu. There is nothing interesting in our small town of Wuhu. My ancestors have lived here for generations. This small town is as big as a palm.

I've been everywhere, but I don't think there's any place worth visiting. You two are from out of town, so I'm afraid the only things you can do are see the river, go for a walk in Zhe Mountain, and visit Guangji Temple. As for the other things, I don't think so.

It’s also commonplace. However, our Wuhu is famous for its snack dishes. It relies on the water to draw water. Our fish and shrimp are the freshest in the river. The crab roe buns and fish rolls are all delicious. If you are brave,

If you want, you can go to Wangjiang Tower on Zhong Street to eat pufferfish. But the pufferfish is poisonous, so you have to be brave."

Fang Zian smiled and said: "That's okay, as long as there is delicious food. My brother and I go out to visit the mountains and rivers, eat, drink and have fun. Shopkeeper, you said you have lived in Wuhu City all your life, then I will follow

If you ask about someone, I don't know if you know him or not."

The old shopkeeper waved his hand and said: "I may not know them. In recent years, many people from the north have settled here. With so many people, I don't know them all."

Fang Zian said: "The person I'm talking about is very famous. He is the new top scorer in this year's imperial examination. His name is Zhang Xiaoxiang. Have you heard about the shopkeeper?"

The old shopkeeper was stunned and frowned: "Sir, why are you asking him? Do you know him?"

Fang Zian said: "It's a close friendship. I met him once in Beijing years ago, and we had a very good conversation. Later I heard that he won the first prize in the exam. No, I happened to pass by Wuhu this time, and I wanted to visit him by the way.

Visit him."

The old shopkeeper frowned and said: "I'm afraid your guest is confused. Why would you stay at home if you won the top prize? Then don't you have to go to the capital to find him?"

Fang Zian was stunned for a moment, then suddenly said: "Oh, look at my brain, am I not confused? If I win the first prize, I will definitely stay in the capital as an official. How can I be idle at home? I am really confused."

The old shopkeeper laughed and turned to leave. Fang Zian said: "But since he is here, it is okay to visit his parents, and it is not a waste to make friends."

The old shopkeeper's body froze, and after a long while, he finally turned around and whispered: "Two guests, I don't want to interfere with your business, but since you two live in a small shop, I have to tell you.

Some things. It’s better that you two don’t go to the Zhang family. Not only don’t you go, but you also don’t mention Zhang Xiaoxiang’s name in this city.”

Fang Zian's heart moved, and he pretended to be confused and asked, "Why is that?"

The old shopkeeper smacked his lips and said: "That's all, it doesn't hurt to tell you.

Just think of it as a good thing. You are from out of town, so you probably don’t know what happened to the Zhang family. Zhang Xiaoxiang’s father, the magistrate of Wuhu County, has committed a serious crime. He...he killed his sister-in-law and has been arrested by the government.

Take it and send it to the capital for trial. He may lose his head. Although Zhang Xiaoxiang is the number one scholar, but his father killed someone, he may also be implicated."

"Ah? Is there such a thing? This is really...unbelievable." Fang Zian exclaimed.

"Hey, who didn't say, this is an unexpected situation. Who would have thought that such a thing would happen? In the next year, the Zhang family will be the number one scholar, and the people in the whole city will go to congratulate, and everyone's face will be bright. Who can

To think that something like this happened in the blink of an eye." The old shopkeeper shook his head and sighed.

Fang Zian said softly: "Why did Mr. Zhang kill his sister-in-law? Since he is the county magistrate, he should know the laws of the country. Doesn't he know that killing someone requires his life? Will he also ruin the future of the number one scholar?"

The old shopkeeper rolled his eyes and said: "Then the old man doesn't know. Now there are rumors everywhere. Some say that there is an adulterous affair, and some say that the Zhang family collaborated with the enemy and was discovered by his sister-in-law, so they killed him and silenced him. In the old man's opinion,

, these are all nonsense from boring people.”

Fang Zian asked: "Does the shopkeeper know Mr. Zhang?"

The old shopkeeper smiled bitterly and said: "He is an official, old man, and I am an ordinary citizen. How can he know me? But the old man does know him. He is the magistrate of our Wuhu County. He often moves around the city, so we naturally know him."

Fang Zian said: "In your opinion, how is Mr. Zhang doing with others?"

The old shopkeeper said: "Master Zhang is a good official. I'm not talking nonsense. The people in Wuhu County all think so. He has no airs and is easy-going. Every year when he leads the people to strengthen the riverside dams, five

A man in his teens took the lead in carrying the soil and digging, and never complained. When the city was flooded and it snowed in winter, he always brought people to clear the way and express condolences. Anyway, in our opinion, Mr. Zhang is a good official."

Fang Zian said: "Since he is such a person, how can he kill people? He is so good to the people, how can he kill his sister-in-law? Boss, do you think there is any strange misunderstanding here? Is there any information about this in the city?

Where’s the gossip?”

The old shopkeeper frowned and looked at Fang Zian and said: "Guest sir, who are you? Why do you keep asking me so many questions? How do I, old man, know these things? I haven't even said a word to Mr. Zhang. You are here for fun.

What? Why are you interested in these things? If you want to ask, go to the Yamen and ask. I don’t know anything."

Fang Zian realized that he had asked too eagerly and too openly, which had aroused the suspicion of the old shopkeeper. The old shopkeeper seemed to know very little, and in fact he couldn't ask anything. So he smiled and said: "We are just curious.

, just ask, after all, it is about Zhang Xiaoxiang, and I have some friendship with Zhang Zhuangyuan, so I asked more. I won’t ask, I won’t ask again, okay?”

The shopkeeper said in a deep voice: "You two gentlemen, you'd better not ask more about these things. Listen to the old man. If you want to eat, drink and have fun here, just eat, drink and have fun here. Don't mention the Zhang family's affairs. You won't cause any trouble."

Fang Zian smiled and nodded, saying yes repeatedly. After the old shopkeeper packed the dishes and left, Shen Ling'er whispered: "Sir, what should we do next?"

Fang Zian whispered: "To find out this matter, we have to go to Zhang's house first. Let's go to a spot later to see the situation. In the evening we will go to the murder scene to look for clues."

Shen Ling'er said softly: "But who can you see when you go to the crime scene now? It has been many days.

, the deceased was also buried, Master Zhang was also taken to the capital, there should be nothing left inside."

Fang Zian shook his head and said: "If it is really the scene of a murder, we can find clues. I'm afraid it's not a murder scene at all."

Shen Ling'er nodded slightly. The two drank a cup of tea, got up and went back to the room, rested for a while, changed their clothes and went out. When they went out, the old shopkeeper specially warned Fang Zian again.

The two of them left the inn and walked along the alley to the street. According to the address provided by Zhang Xiaoxiang, the two of them walked along the street in the northeast direction, and then turned into an old-looking alley lined with trees. Zhang Xiaoxiang said that his home is in this alley called Yanjiang Lane in the northeast of Wuhu City. This is actually the oldest old town in Wuhu County, and the Taotao Yangtze River lies just outside the city to the north.

The Zhang family's mansion is located in the middle of the alley. It is a large house with two doors and four doors. The Zhang family is from a scholarly family, with a well-off family and a large number of people. After Zhang Qi overthrew Wuhu, he bought this big house to live in. .Looking from the outside wall, you can see the lush green trees, the continuous canopy, and the flying corners of the verandah. It really looks like what a wealthy family should look like.

The two of them did not get too close, but watched the situation from a distance. The courtyard door of the house was closed, and two white lanterns were hung under the eaves of the door. They were lanterns that would only be hung when someone in the family died. The lantern paper was still very new. It can be seen that it was not hung up for a long time. Calculating the time, it has only been six or seven days since the incident. It was obviously hung up by the Zhang family, which means that there are still people living in the house. However, Fang Zian and Shen Ling I watched for more than half an hour, but didn't see anyone entering or leaving the house. It looked lifeless. I didn't know if all the Zhang family had been arrested. But seeing that there was no seal on the courtyard door, Fang Zian also denied this. idea.

Of course, Fang Zian was more concerned about whether there were any guards in the Zhang family. After taking Shen Ling'er around the house several times, he was sure that there were no guards here, and Fang Zian felt relieved. This was also in line with Fang Zian's expectations. , the people have been captured, and there is no point in keeping the police here. Unless it is to monitor the residence of the Zhang family’s women and children, it is actually unnecessary. According to Zhang Xiaoxiang, the Zhang family is composed of women and children except Zhang Qi and himself, so it is simply impossible. escape.

After observing for a while and seeing clearly the location of the house and the arrangement of the buildings, Fang Zian and Shen Ling'er left Yanjiang Lane and came to the street.

Shen Ling'er said: "Sir, let's go in from the west wall at night. There are several big trees outside the wall, and you can use the tree trunks to climb up the wall. Although you can also enter from the east and north, one is facing the street and the other is on the city wall. I saw it, so it’s not safe.”

Fang Zian nodded and said: "That's right. Let's go in through the west wall. If anything happens, you and I can leave separately from the southwest and mix into the city and meet at the inn."

Shen Ling'er said: "What are we going to do now?"

Fang Zian said: "Didn't the shopkeeper say that there are many delicious food in Wuhu County? Let's go eat delicious food. I'm afraid you rarely have the opportunity to go out and play. This time I will take you to have fun. What do you want to eat? Then he said, please don’t be polite to me.”

Shen Ling'er smiled and said, "Okay, I want to eat puffer fish."

Fang Zian was startled and said hurriedly: "Let's not take that kind of risk. The pufferfish can poison people. Let's eat something else."

Shen Ling'er said: "I just want to try it. If it's poisonous and others eat it, it must be delicious. But since you don't like it, that's it. Then eat something else."
Chapter completed!