Chapter 57: The Case of the Disappearance of the Wanderer Early the next morning, another person came to the government office to beat drums and complain, asking the county magistrate to help him find his missing family members.
It must have been the man who reported the crime yesterday who made publicity, saying how the people in the county government bravely defeated the kidnappers and saved their children? With this, the Huai County government officials, who had always been looked down upon, suddenly became the protection of the people.
god?!
"This is the blessing of the people of Huai County!" Ke Han was very happy after hearing the comments from the people.
In the lobby, Ke Han put down the gavel and said to a kneeling old man in the hall: "Old man, please get up quickly. Don't be impatient. Tell me slowly. What's going on?"
The old man refused to get up. He still knelt down, wiped a handful of tears, and said tremblingly: "The old man's surname is Wei. He is a fisherman from the fishing port at the east end of the street. My wife passed away early, and I have a son who lives with me. He goes in and out all day long.
Between the Huaihe River and the fishing port, I made a living by fishing. A few days ago, I couldn't go fishing due to illness, so I rested at home. My dog went out fishing alone in a boat. Unexpectedly, I didn't come back for many days after I went out. I asked people to look for me everywhere, but I couldn't find it.
The news was so urgent that I became seriously ill and bedridden! However, kind-hearted neighbors often came to my home to offer condolences, and I was very grateful! I thought that the fishing boat must have been in trouble, but it was a sunny day and no one had ever seen an empty boat floating.
, I was worried that something had happened or had been robbed? I was particularly panicked! Yesterday, I heard that a boy was kidnapped by gangsters. His family reported the case and he was rescued. So I was hopeful and came to the Yamen when I was sick, begging adults to help! I can’t thank you enough..."
All the villagers stood aside and listened, sighing and expressing their deep sympathy. At the same time, they also begged Mr. Ke Han to come forward and help solve the problem for the old man.
Ke Han also felt the pressure. This lost person came to me for help?
There are really enough things that the county magistrate has to take care of. At this moment, I wish I could have Sun Houhou's ability and transform into another version of myself!
Just as he was about to randomly send two team members to assist in the investigation, a few more people came outside, and they all echoed in private: "It's really strange. In those few days, the common vagrants on the street have also disappeared. It seems that
It’s like they disappeared overnight, how come it’s such a coincidence?”
"Oh? Is there such a thing?" Ke Han slapped the alarm and said, "Everyone, you might as well come together one by one to see if there is any connection between them!"
So, the noisy hall became quiet again
The few people who interrupted later were called in.
"Report to the lord!" A man in a turban and an apron looked like he was a pastry businessman. He was the first to say to Ke Han, "I am a sesame seed maker in the south of the city. I make it every morning.
I was delivering snacks to the "Tian Tian Ju" hotel. I passed by the Yamen after delivering snacks today. Seeing so many people, I came over to watch the bustle for a while. Only then did I realize that it was Uncle Wei's son who reported the disappearance of his son and asked for help. I also said what I thought by the way.
Something strange is that the beggar who often comes to my pastry shop to beg for food has also mysteriously disappeared! It’s not that I’m overly concerned, maybe you want to say that this beggar is a homeless person, and it’s normal not to see him for a few days.
The strange thing is that he even left his begging belongings at the entrance of the bridge. He has not been seen for more than ten days. Oh, by the way, and I heard from the waiter at Tiantianju that I stayed at their hotel.
The two businessmen once had contact with several vagrants on the streets of Huai County, including the beggar who lived in Qiaodong. Later, they both disappeared at the same time. We just listened and didn't take it to heart. But today, Uncle Wei reported the case.
The incident reminded me that those few beggars are probably missing? Those few beggars who never said a word to each other have not been in contact with each other for a long time. It is impossible for them to get together and wander somewhere else at the same time! Besides, why are those beggars like that?
Why did a few beggars disappear en masse after coming into contact with the two businessmen who were staying at Natural Residence? This must be said to be a bit strange!"
Everyone watching Ke Han's trial was talking a lot
Some people say that the people who make sesame seed cakes are too suspicious, and they are just like ducks. They are making a fuss out of a molehill. There are so many coincidences in the world, so there is no need to worry about them like this!
Some people say that these days, it’s hard to say that something will really happen.
At this time, another aunt came over, bowed to Ke Han, and said seriously: "I also saw the beggar who often came to the shaobing shop to beg for food. He had an argument with two strangers. It seemed that that day
The 16th, yes, it was a good day. It happened to be my mother-in-law's 60th birthday. So, I remember very clearly that I went to the river to wash clothes. When I saw the beggar at the entrance of the bridge, he was being twisted by someone, as if he was saying that I was not good enough.
We were going or something, but we didn’t quite understand that our custom here is to share longevity noodles. At night, my mother-in-law told us to bring a bowl to the beggar. When we went, the beggar was gone. But,
His tattered clothes, tattered mat, dog-beating stick, and broken porcelain bowl and basin were all still there. We took his bowl to the river and washed it, then poured longevity noodles into his bowl, and then went home.
But for several days, there was no sign of the beggar. However, the longevity noodles we poured for him were eaten by wild cats. We didn’t dare to tell my mother-in-law about this. The longevity noodles were eaten by wild animals, which is always embarrassing.
It’s so comfortable…”
When the villagers heard this, they all smiled kindly, and then fell silent again.
"The 16th? Are you sure it's the 16th?" Ke Han asked the aunt after listening carefully.
"Yes, I'm sure it was that day. I remember my mother-in-law's birthday clearly!" the aunt replied without hesitation.
"Uncle Wei, if you think about it carefully, when was the day your son disappeared?" When Ke Han asked the old man, he walked over and gave him a hand, which moved the old man deeply.
Uncle Wei shed tears and said: "I remember it rained on the 14th. I rested at home for one day and the next day. The weather hadn't cleared up yet. I really felt too busy, so I mended the net at home. I usually dry it on sunny days.
Internet, you are used to doing things and can't stop. You are always thinking about making enough money to marry a wife, and you don't dare to delay. For some reason, I suddenly got a fever and my whole body is bloated and painful. My son is also very anxious. Please
I came to the doctor and grabbed some medicine for me. The next morning, he cooked breakfast, fed me some medicine, and told me to have a good rest. After I took the medicine, I went fishing... I didn't expect that it turned out to be...
…”
The old man was so heartbroken that he couldn’t talk anymore.
"After this calculation, it's also the 16th?" Ke Han's heart tightened, and he turned around and walked to the case. He straightened his black gauze hat, shook his sleeves, slapped the gavel, and shouted, "Here comes someone!"
"
Ma Changfa stood aside. After hearing the master's call, he quickly raised his fists in front of his eyebrows, bowed and said, "Yes!"
"Master Ma, listen to the order. Go to Tiantianju immediately and invite the boss here. I have something to consult, sir, so make sure there is no mistake!" Ke Han ordered, but he was afraid that Marshal Ma would misunderstand, so he repeated, "Invite me!"
Ma Chang's voice was like a loud bell, and he responded cheerfully: "I have been ordered, and I will go at the end of the day!"
——Although "Tiantianju" is small, it is definitely an elegant, quiet and unique place. The two-story small building stands simply at the street entrance. It can be seen from the front. There is a horizontal plaque on the lintel. The plaque reads "Keshang Tiantianju" written in official script.
"!
Ma Changfa sighed: "It turns out that this place is called 'Tian Ya Ju'. Unexpectedly, I no longer patrol, and even the little changes in this street are not clear! However, now 'Tian Tian Ju' is really
It is much cleaner and brighter than before! It seems that the owner of this store really put some thought into it!..."
While Ma Changfa was thinking about this, he looked up at the plaque. He also knew a few Chinese characters, so he read it in a low voice. Unexpectedly, the waiter who solicited the guests was nosy and casually said to Ma Changfa: "Hey, guest, sir,
Try reading it backwards and see."
"A guest in a natural place, actually a guest in the sky?" Ma Changfa, a rough man, couldn't help but exclaimed when he saw it, "It's really wonderful!"
Originally he wanted to show off his authority and act boldly, but after seeing a very impressive plaque, Ma Changfa changed his mind (he still respected cultural people) and asked the waiter politely:
"Excuse me, is the boss of your store here? I am Ma Changfa, the assistant inspector of the county government. If the county magistrate has something to do, please ask the boss to come over!"
"Oops, it turns out it's an official. I'm disrespectful! I'm disrespectful!" The waiter laughed and let Ma Changfa into the hall. He quickly moved a chair, took off the towel on his shoulders, and dusted the already clean towel vigorously.
Chair, he said in panic, "Sir, please sit down and wait for a moment. My master just walked out."
While they were talking here, a middle-aged fat man who looked kind-hearted came in from outside. He was carrying a wooden sword and stepped across the threshold in a familiar manner.
Ma Changfa seemed to have seen this fat man somewhere, but he couldn't remember it for a while. Just when he was in a different place, he heard the waiter shout respectfully: "Oh, the master is back from his morning exercise? This uncle wants to see you for something."
"Oh?" The man was surprised, put the wooden sword on the table of the Eight Immortals, and said with a steady smile, "Did our little 'natural residence' get into any lawsuits? She is really a big girl when dealing with the government.
It’s my first time getting on a sedan chair!”
"The assistant officer of Xiahuai County is inspecting Ma Changfa. On the order of the county magistrate, I came to invite the boss. If you have something to do, please go to the county government office. Please forgive me for the rudeness!" This Ma Changfa has been with Ke Han for a long time.
I also learned a little bit of rhetoric and didn’t embarrass Ke Han!
The fat man chuckled, sat down at the Eight Immortals table, and ordered the waiter to bring sesame seed cakes and hand-ground soy milk. Then, holding a porcelain bowl, he took a sip of soy milk, took a bite of sesame seed cakes, squirmed his cheeks and said to Ma Chang:
"How about I send you some as well?"
That's right, the biscuits that the fat man ate were given by the pastry chef who was giving testimony in the Yamen.
Ma Changfa couldn't help but feel a little angry. If he didn't respect the elegance and uniqueness of this place, I'm afraid the fight would have started long ago. Why are you so verbose? He secretly scolded this fat man for being so lazy. What strength did he have to show off with a government servant? But when he thought of Ke Han
I was always told about "civilized law enforcement", but I still tried my best to hold back.
He waved his hand gently, and then, very gentlemanly and decisively, he stretched his hand towards the door, bowed and said expressionlessly: "Please! -"
"Since the county magistrate has invited me, then I have to go even if I don't go?!" Although the fat man was unwilling to do so and his behavior was not straightforward enough, he was still a sensible person.
Ma Changfa still stood quietly at the door waiting, not saying another word.
Seeing this, the fat man had no choice but to put the sesame biscuits that he had taken two bites back on the plate. It seemed that he was going to save them for another meal. Then he took another sip of hot soy milk, and then wiped his mouth with a towel, very easily.
He patted his sleeves, shrugged indifferently, and said to Ma Changfa, "Then let's go!"