Traveling to an ancient peasant family: I got rich by doing business

The wooden box was about two feet wide and one foot high. Han Zheng didn't let anyone else do it. He picked up the box himself and then dusted off the dirt on it.

He did not open it immediately, but instead ordered someone to invite Minister Pei.

As for the rest of you, just keep digging.

An officer said, "There may be more boxes in here."

Han Zheng lowered his eyes and looked at the wooden box: "I don't know, but since we found one, let's try again, maybe there is a second one."

The officers and soldiers thought what he said made sense, so they continued to do as he asked.

*

Minister Pei didn't expect that Han Zheng had really dug up something, so he hurried over from his residence.

Han Zheng saw him and stood up to make way for him. "Master Pei, this was dug from over there. There are marks on the map. Do you think we should dig the other marked houses as well?"

Minister Pei: "Let's take a look at what's in the box first. If it's related to the case, we'll continue digging in other places. By the way, we can't let the village chief and the county yamen runners know about this."

"Don't worry, Master Pei. There are people guarding outside. As long as we are careful, the news will not leak out."

Minister Pei nodded.

*

The wooden box must have been buried in the soil for quite some time, and the lock on it was a little rusty. Han Zheng found a whetstone and smashed it open.

There is a wooden box inside the wooden box. The box is one foot wide and half a foot high, and there is also a lock on it.

Han Zheng wanted to break it open, but Pei Shilang stopped him, "Let me try."

After saying that, he took off his purse and pulled out a piece of wire from it.

I inserted the wire into the keyhole and fiddled with it for a while. I don't know where it touched, but I heard a click and the lock opened.

Han Zheng was a little surprised, but didn't show it.

Minister Pei has been in the Ministry of Justice for many years and has faced all kinds of people, so it is not surprising that he has this ability.

The box was opened and inside was an account book.

It records the total tax collection records of Donghai Prefecture in the past three years.

"This account book is placed so secretly, it must be very important. I'll put it away first." Minister Pei looked through it for a while and put it close to his body.

Inside the house, the officers and soldiers did not dig out any more boxes. Han Zheng took a look and asked them to fill the soil back. As for the bricks, they could collect them if they had time today, and if not, they could deal with them in a few days.

*

To prevent any trouble, Han Zheng led the officers and soldiers to dig in the next marked kitchen. Minister Pei took the account book and left. They couldn't both stay here, it would be too conspicuous.

The chief clerk and the yamen runners of the government office heard the noise and ran over again to see what was happening.

"Lord Han, did you find anything in the bedroom just now?" Zhuang Zhubu looked shrewd.

Han Zheng looked at him expressionlessly: "Of course not, but what does Zhuang Zhubu mean? Why do I feel that you are unhappy?"

The village chief clerk laughed and said, "I am not trying to embarrass Lord Han, but Lord Han, you dug up all the houses in the backyard, which really doesn't look good."

"It's not like I didn't ask them to fill the dirt back." Han Zheng said, "Master Zhuang can rest assured. The backyard of the government office will remain the same as it was originally. I will never do anything without a beginning or an end."

Seeing his uneasy expression, Zhuang Zhubu hurriedly said, "Master Han, you are too polite. I just said it casually. You are investigating the case under the order of the emperor. Let alone digging up the house, even demolishing the entire backyard is no problem."

Han Zheng hummed calmly, and after a moment, seeing that Zhuang Zhubu had not left, he asked, "Why are you still here? Have you finished your work at the government office?"

Zhuang Zhubu had already received useful information and said with a smile, "No, I will get busy right away."

*

Han Zheng watched him walk away and ordered the officers and soldiers to speed up the digging.

They also chose the center of the kitchen, but they failed to dig out the material after choosing two plots of land.

The officers and soldiers went from being full of confidence at the beginning to feeling powerless.

"Sir, I'm afraid it's not in this room." said the soldier who found the wooden box in the bedroom.

Han Zheng didn't answer. He looked at the dug area and then looked at other places.

The kitchen is not big and there are not many locations to choose from.

If not in the center of the room, where would it be convenient and hidden to dig?

An idea flashed through his mind, and Han Zheng walked to the stove, moved the firewood piled on the ground, and pointed to the land and said, "Others stop first, and two people will dig here."

Two officers and soldiers immediately stepped forward.

They didn't hold out hope, but after digging less than half a meter, they unearthed a box.

This box is smaller than the one in the bedroom and also contains an account book.

Han Zheng read a few pages and put them away, then led everyone to the next marked place - the east wing.

*

The digging in the backyard continued non-stop, and the bailiffs in the government office were extremely curious.

A few wanted to go to the backyard to take a look, but were stopped by the village chief.

"Lord Han is investigating a case, why are you following him to join in the fun? Why don't you go patrol the streets? The situation in Donghai Province is special now, you must do your job well. If you don't do it well and get me scolded, watch out for your skin!"

The bailiffs immediately lowered their heads and responded, then filed out.

Only one yamen runner was walking slowly, seeming to be hesitant to leave.

Zhuang Zhubu glanced at him and said, "If you have anything to say, please tell me."

The bailiff pointed towards the backyard and said, "Sir, don't really dig anything out if you do this back there."

Zhuang Zhubu waved his hands, "We have already dug up this backyard, there is nothing there. Besides, look at the bricks and stones in the house, there is no sign of being dug up. The former prefect has only been here for a few years, if he had dug up the ground in the house, how could we not know?"

The bailiff thought it made sense and immediately felt relieved from the heavy burden on his heart.

*

Han Zheng and his men dug from morning to night.

In order not to arouse suspicion, except for the five places marked on the map, all other rooms were also dug up by the officers and soldiers. Of course, nothing was found in these rooms.

But overall, they gained a lot today.

Things were dug out in the five marked rooms, including three account books and two records of the relationship between the wealthy people in Donghai Prefecture and officials in the capital.

Fearing that the village chief clerk and the yamen runners might suddenly burst into the room, Han Zheng did not look carefully and only glanced at the relationship table.

On it, he saw the names of several officials from King Hui's party.

He handed the thing to Minister Pei, who showed a rare look of excitement.

"With these things, King Hui will definitely lose a lot of skin this time."

"But even though we have the evidence, we can't leave in the next few days. If we leave right after we finish digging, they will get suspicious." Han Zheng said, "I have a way to protect both the evidence and our safety. I don't know if I should tell you or not."

Minister Pei: "You say."

Han Zheng came closer and whispered something in his ear.

Minister Pei nodded as he listened.

*

After this day, Han Zheng and Minister Pei still led the officers and soldiers to wander around the provincial capital.

They just thought they had found nothing and were running around all day looking for a few clues.

In the capital, while Li Yu was waiting, Fang's mother and Madam Mu made the first pair of cotton dolls.