The peasant girl has a private space, and her husband is handsome.

Dog Egg finally arrived in the capital with the Xu family.

He discovered that the capital city was truly vast.

I entered the city through the south gate at noon, and by the time I reached the Ministry of Justice, the sun had already set. The city was larger than ten times the size of Qinghe County.

The gate of the Ministry of Justice was particularly imposing, with two enormous stone lions standing outside it.

The lanterns on both sides of the gate were exquisitely painted with ladies in palace attire, far more refined than any small local government office could match.

He was able to become an official under the emperor's nose thanks entirely to Miss Su's help.

Dog Egg dusted himself off, straightened his chest, and resolved not to embarrass Miss Su.

By this time, most officials had already left the yamen, but before they had all left, Dong Yong, a sixth-rank official in the Ministry of Justice, came out and saw Gou Dan in front of him.

Without asking why, Dong Yong stopped Gou Dan directly, speaking rather rudely, "Go away, go away, this is a government office, beggars are not allowed to enter."

Dog Egg looked at his clothes with self-doubt. Although he looked travel-worn, his clothes weren't torn. How could he be mistaken for a beggar?

Gou Dan felt very sorry for Miss Su's guidance. He was able to work at the Ministry of Justice in the capital thanks to Miss Su, but now he had embarrassed her.

"I am not a beggar. My name is Li Gou Dan. I am here to work as an official in the Ministry of Justice. I have a letter of introduction. I cannot embarrass Miss Su."

Dong Yong burst out laughing when he heard the name "Gou Dan" (Li Gou Dan). "Li Gou Dan? What a vulgar name. Does he think the Ministry of Justice is a place where just anyone can come in?"

As for the girl Li Gou Dan mentioned, he didn't care at all. What remarkable person could there be in a small place like this?

Dong Yong loves painting. In his eyes, the most talented girl is that genius painter who lives far away in Jiangnan. It's a pity that the genius painter is too far away from the capital, otherwise he would go and meet her in person.

Dong Yong took the letter of introduction handed to him by Gou Dan and glanced at it. He found that it was actually genuine. How could the Ministry of Justice use such a person?

This kid must have had some incredible luck to catch a serious criminal in the Ministry of Justice and get this great opportunity to become an official in the Ministry of Justice.

"Li Gou Dan, right?"

"Yes, sir, my name is Li Gou Dan."

Dong Yong glanced at Zhang Xiaoniu, who was guarding the gate, his eyes darting around as he thought of a good place for Li Gou Dan.

"Li Gou Dan, you'll be in charge of guarding the gate with Zhang Xiao Niu for now."

Dong Yong wore a mocking expression, feeling that his arrangement was very appropriate. The two of them, Xiao Niu and Gou Dan, were a perfect match, with Niu and Gou guarding the gate together.

Gou Dan wasn't angry at all. He kept in mind that Miss Su had asked him to help find the person. He thought that being a gatekeeper was a good job. He could take out the portrait at any time and ask people coming and going if they had seen the human trafficker Zhu Laosan. Maybe he could catch the person sooner.

Gou Dan pulled out a portrait of Zhu Laosan from his pocket and asked Zhang Xiaoniu with a smile, "Young man, have you seen this person in the painting? He's a human trafficker."

The picture in Gou Dan's hand was given to him by Su Qianqian. He felt that he owed his success to Su Qianqian, so he was determined to help Su Qianqian catch the human trafficker Zhu Laosan in order to repay her.

Before Zhang Xiaoniu could even see what was in the painting, Dong Yong snatched it away.

Dong Yong stared in astonishment at the painting in his hand. This was an original work by a genius painter! "Li Gou Dan, where did you steal this painting from?"

Dong Yong had seen this kind of painting in the Wang family's calligraphy and painting shop. It used to sell for more than a thousand taels of silver a piece, but now it has been speculated to be more than three thousand taels.

Moreover, Wang's calligraphy and painting shop refused to sell the last few paintings even for a fee, saying they were only there to attract customers. If you wanted to buy the works of this genius painter, you would have to wait until next spring.

Although Dong Yong came from a prominent family, he was unable to snag a single piece, and he was extremely disappointed.

So how could a lowly constable from a poor mountain village afford such an expensive painting?

Li Gou Dan definitely stole it! The three words "wanted criminal" on the painting are exactly the same as the ones he saw in Wang's Pen and Ink Shop.

Dog Egg was afraid that Dong Yong would ruin the painting, so he quickly tried to snatch it, but he was no match for the tall and strong Dong Yong.

"Lord Dong, I really didn't steal it. This was a gift from Miss Su. The person in the painting is a human trafficker, and Miss Su asked me to help catch him. Please be careful and don't damage the painting."

Dong Yong didn't need Gou Dan's reminder at all. He especially admired that genius painter, so naturally he wouldn't ruin the painter's painting.

"Come on, Li Gou Dan, come with me to Wang's shop. I will definitely prove that you stole this painting."

Dong Yong still believed that Li Gou Dan's painting was stolen, so he immediately dragged Gou Dan to Wang's Pen and Ink Shop.

Lord Dong squeezed into the shop because it was bustling with business and packed with people.

Seeing so many scholars in the capital city so infatuated with Miss Su's paintings, Gou Dan sighed inwardly, thinking that scholars in big cities were not as fortunate as those in small places like Qinghe County.

The scholars in Qinghe County can not only see Miss Su's paintings, but also the orchids she cultivated, as well as her orchid paintings.

Lord Dong carried Gou Dan to the counter and said to the old shopkeeper sitting inside, "This man stole the work of your shop's genius painter."

The old shopkeeper looked puzzled: "But not a single work by our genius painter has been lost."

Coincidentally, Wang Qian happened to be in the shop, and Wang Qian recognized Gou Dan.

He had seen Miss Su speaking kindly to a young constable several times while eating at Gu's restaurant. That constable was none other than Gou Dan, so he knew that Gou Dan held a high position in Miss Su's eyes.

I never expected Gou Dan to come to Beijing. I must get on good terms with him.

"Brother Gou Dan, what brings you to the capital? Has Miss Su come over?"

"No, I'm here in the capital to take up a position at the Ministry of Justice..."

Dong Yong knew that Wang Qian was the next heir of the royal merchant Wang family. Although he did not hold an official position, he was not to be underestimated. Therefore, he believed what Wang Qian said.

After listening to Wang Qian's description, Dong Yong learned that Gou Dan was indeed friends with that genius painter, and they had a very good relationship.

The painting in Gou Dan's hand was actually a gift from a genius artist.

Good heavens, how could this poor kid have such good luck!

Dong Yong was filled with envy and quickly apologized to Gou Dan, "Brother Li, I'm so sorry, I misunderstood you earlier, please don't take it to heart."

It was the first time Gou Dan had been addressed as Brother Li, and he felt a little uncomfortable, especially since the other person was a high-ranking official. Was it appropriate for him to address him as a brother?

Dog Egg remembered what his father often said to him, telling him to do a good job for Miss Su, and sooner or later he and his family would rise to prominence.

Dog Egg thought his father was right; he was now experiencing the joy of "even his chickens and dogs rising to heaven."

Who did this Mr. Dong look down on before? Everyone has a powerful backer! Now you're scared, huh!

Dong Yong put his arm around Gou Dan's shoulder, looking at him like two buddies, "Hey, Brother Li, why didn't you tell me you knew a genius painter sooner?"

Dog Egg: I've been explaining, but you just won't listen.

Dong Yong said with a fawning smile, "Brother Li, you must be exhausted from coming all the way from Qinghe County. Come on, let me treat you to a big meal to welcome you back."

After a few rounds of drinks, Dong Yong got a little tipsy and said, "Li Gou Dan, what makes you, a country bumpkin, a friend of a genius painter?"

After a while, he pleaded in a low voice, "Brother Li, please, let me see your painting one more time."

Gou Dan dared not take out the painting at this time. Dong Yong was already drunk, what if he vomited on the painting?

This painting is to be kept for catching human traffickers.

The next day, Dong Yong sobered up and waited at the gate of the Ministry of Justice early in the morning.

Zhang Xiaoniu was very diligent and started work early. When he saw Dong Yong standing outside the gate with an expectant look on his face, he thought that the guy looked like a sycophant.

Even the Minister of Justice, who is in charge of the Ministry of Justice, has never been treated like this by Lord Dong. Could it be that some important figure is coming to the Ministry of Justice today?

As a result, Zhang Xiaoniu discovered that as soon as Li Gou Dan arrived, Lord Dong immediately took out an oil paper package from his pocket and enthusiastically presented it to Li Gou Dan.

"Brother Li, these are Huang Ji soup dumplings that I bought specially. They're very famous. I was afraid they'd get cold, so I've been keeping them warm in my clothes. Please try them."

Zhang Xiaoniu looked at Lord Dong with a puzzled expression. Just yesterday, Lord Dong looked at Li Gou Dan with disdain and even said he would take Li Gou Dan to see the official. How come he's suddenly fawning over him today? And he's even calling Li "Brother"!

They even used honorifics like "you" (您).

There's a problem, definitely a problem.

Lord Dong comes from a prestigious family and is very good at reading people, so Zhang Xiaoniu guessed that Gou Dan must have a powerful backer!

I never would have guessed that Li Gou Dan, who looks so ordinary, actually has a powerful backer.

Dong Yong smiled very sincerely, "A person who can be friends with a genius painter must be very outstanding. Brother Li, it's too much of a waste of your talents to arrange for you to work as a gatekeeper. I'll arrange a leisurely clerical job for you later."

Zhang Xiaoniu was shocked to hear this; it turned out that Li Gou Dan was actually friends with the genius painter.

Good heavens! I never dared to dream that someone in the Ministry of Justice would be friends with a genius painter. If word got out, people in other government departments would be green with envy.

I've heard that a single painting by a genius artist can sell for several thousand taels of silver.

The painting Li Gou Dan received yesterday was supposedly a gift from a genius artist. Wow, Li Gou Dan is rich!

It's not just Lord Dong who loves painting in the Ministry of Justice; Vice Minister Du is the real painting fanatic!

With his relationship with the genius painter, Li Gou Dan is likely to be able to do whatever he wants in the Ministry of Justice from now on. It's truly enviable.

Zhang Xiaoniu decided that he must curry favor with Li Gou Dan from now on.