As an official, what's wrong with raising a few monsters?

Chapter 22 The Magistrate Invites
"Have you heard about it? Have you heard about it?"

"The Li family was wiped out!"

"I heard it, the fire is still burning!"

"Who did this?! Our county hasn't had such a big case in a long time."

"I heard it was done by a group of bandits. All the people in the Li Mansion were killed overnight."

"Well done! Those beasts are rich but ruthless, bullying others by taking advantage of their power. There are few good people in their family, and Li Lao Er is even more evil."

"Evildoers will be punished by heaven, and those who do evil will perish by themselves!"

"It's a rumor, I heard... that dude messed with someone he shouldn't have messed with... and the body was chopped in half..."

……

In the inn and tavern, the diners were whispering and talking.

They were either sighing, curious, angry, terrified, or applauding...

In a county town that was neither big nor small, a wealthy family was uprooted at night. This could be said to be the biggest news at the moment, and it would naturally attract people's discussion.

"Tsk tsk tsk~ Brother, drinking so early in the morning is not good for your health."

In a place where no one was paying attention, Mingchen, who was dressed neatly, teased Ling Yu who was drinking beside him.

This silly sister really loves to drink.

It’s great to be young.

"What an early morning."

Ling Yu glanced at the sun hanging high outside and couldn't help rolling his eyes at his lazy brother.

Both of them seemed to have forgotten what happened last night, and tacitly did not mention this hotly debated topic.

Ling Yu shook his wine glass and looked at Mingchen's gourd with burning eyes: "After drinking my wine, drinking these ordinary drinks tastes like swill, bitter and hard to swallow."

"Tsk tsk~ Brother, are you trying to trick me?"

"I'm not, I didn't, you're talking nonsense."

"I'm talking nonsense? Well, since you're not trying to trick me, then let's not drink."

"Forehead……"

Is this considered a confidant?

Ling Yu looked at her brother who was laughing and joking with her, and unconsciously revealed a faint smile.

They had only known each other for one day, but they had such a tacit understanding, closeness and harmony that they felt like old friends from the moment they met.

She had never felt this way before.

She loves it!

Master often said that having one true friend in life is enough, and now it seems to be true.

The two of them said a few words, and at this moment,
A man hurried over, bowed and said to the two men, "You two, the magistrate invites you."

"Would you please come with me for a walk?"

He was wearing casual clothes, not the official uniform of a yamen runner.

His behavior is also quite humble.

This is a private matter, not a public one.

"Oh?"

Mingchen raised his eyebrows and exchanged glances with Lingyu.

He immediately stood up and said, "Please!"

"please!"

……

We have been friends for a long time and finally met.

Mingchen didn't seem surprised by this invitation.

At the magistrate's residence, all his followers had left, leaving only three people in the room.

Mingchen looked at the man in front of him and bowed, "I am Chen Ming, and I am honored to meet Mr. Zhang."

Ling Yu on the side played the role of guard very well. He stood behind Mingchen without saying a word, silently looking at this local official who had a bad reputation but was highly regarded by Mingchen.

In front of them was a man about fifty years old, dressed in yellow. He was not tall, thin, with a goat-horn beard and a calm expression. It was impossible to guess what he was thinking. While Mingchen was sizing up the magistrate, the magistrate was also sizing up Mingchen.

He is so dignified and energetic, and although he is so young, he looks much more brilliant than his own unfortunate child.

Zhang Boxing sighed inwardly, then extended his hand and said, "Heroes emerge young."

"Mr. Chen, please don't be polite."

He led Mingchen to a seat, poured him tea, and asked, "From your accents, you two don't sound like locals. I wonder where Mr. Chen is from?"

It's not just Lao Li who can't figure out Mingchen's bottom line.

The magistrate also didn't know who this young man who suddenly appeared was, so he tried to test him.

Mingchen didn't respond to the other party's question, but simply said, "I am going to the capital. I wonder what Lord Zhang wants me to do for you?"

"Hahaha... I see that Master Chen has an extraordinary bearing and is definitely not an ordinary person. I just want to invite the two of you to meet him. This is a private matter, not a business one."

Mingchen raised his teacup and said with a smile, "Is that so? I've also been in a spiritual relationship with Master Zhang for a long time."

Zhang Boxing paused when he heard this, then shook his head slightly, his eyes filled with inexplicable emotion: "I am just an ordinary local official."

"Master Zhang is a man of great talent. No ordinary local official could govern a county like Wangyang."

"With this stigma, I can't be clean and honest with a clear conscience. Master Chen, thank you for your praise."

It's ridiculous and sad that the people don't understand him, not even his own son understands him.

On the contrary, this mysterious young man had been in spiritual communication with him for a long time and could see everything clearly.

Mingchen shrugged. "Why would you be an official if you're incorruptible? Besides, no one in the world can have a clear conscience."

"Hahaha~ Mr. Chen, are you willing to have a drink with me?"

The old man only drank a few sips of the tea before throwing it behind him. He looked at the young man in front of him and a smile appeared on his calm face.

"It's my wish, but I dare not invite you."

Why do these people nowadays love to drink?
Mingchen glanced at Ling Yu beside him and complained inwardly.

"I heard that you have some good wine, could you please give it to me to try?"

Mingchen: ...

Well, I was wrong about you, you shameless old man.

Still a white-collar party.

Ling Yu on the side stared with wide eyes.

You old waiter, you stole my wine.

"Good wine...good wine..."

"I haven't had a drink in twenty years."

The fragrance of bamboo filled the air. Zhang Boxing shook his head and said with emotion.

He paused and said to Mingchen, "Did Young Master Chen have a conflict with the Young Master of the Li Mansion yesterday?"

Good old man, are you trying to put the blame on me?

Mingchen narrowed his eyes and said, "It is true. Why, Master Zhang wants to mediate between us?"

Zhang Boxing quickly waved his hands and said, "No, no, no, Mr. Chen, don't you know? A serious crime was committed in the city yesterday. A group of bandits stormed into the Li Mansion and all 103 members of the Li family were killed."

"Oh?"

Mingchen smiled and said, "There's such a thing? That's great!"

"What a good thing this is!"

Zhang Boxing said sternly, "Human life is at stake! Master Chen, I am the local official of this county and must protect the people. Now that a murder has occurred, I must give an explanation to the people and the court."

"The whole city is searching for bandits right now. Mr. Chen, may I ask if you have any clues about the bandits?"

Zhang Boxing's words fell.

Ling Yu, who was beside Mingchen, missed a beat.

Has it been discovered?

Mingchen just smiled and shook his head: "Master Zhang, you are joking. I slept worse than a dead pig last night. How could I know the whereabouts of the bandits?"

"However, I do have some clues about the Li family."

(End of this chapter)