To support exiled officials, start by worshipping the God of Wealth

The people were all kneeling, so as long as one person stood up and ran away, it would definitely be seen. This was the most direct relationship of hierarchy between officials and the people.

Jiusu said: "The person who set the fire must be covered in oil, especially his hands. Oil will float up when he puts them in water, and there may be traces of blackening on his clothes."

Magistrate Zhang had to admit that this woman was indeed smart.

It’s a pity that I can’t become a member of the Zhang family.

"I think so too, but who should I start investigating? Manager Fang, who do you have a grudge against?"

"Qi Ba." said the shopkeeper Fang.

Scanning the crowd, the soldiers soon caught Qi Ba, who was almost lying on the ground. After he was rescued, Qi, the shopkeeper, knelt on the ground and kowtowed, asking, "Sir, are you looking for me?"

Magistrate Zhang said, "Bring a basin of water and have him put his hand in to see if there is any oil."

At this moment, the officers and soldiers also found unburned firewood around Fangxing Building and brought it over as well.

"Sir! Physical evidence!"

The basin was placed in front of him.

Shopkeeper Qi wanted to wipe his hands on his clothes, but was caught by the soldiers. They forced his hands into the basin, and the water became turbid and greasy.

Magistrate Zhang scolded.

"Qi Ba, you still refuse to plead guilty! Tell me, why did you burn Fangxing Tower?"

"Your Excellency is wise. I didn't do that. I also run a restaurant and I know how difficult business is. How could I hurt my friends?" Shopkeeper Qi kowtowed and explained.

snort!

Madam Fang came as soon as she got the news. She bowed slightly and said, "Your Excellency the County Magistrate, I have brought some evidence with me. We dare not be the friends that Shopkeeper Qi mentioned."

County Magistrate Zhang took a look at the conversation between the two.

I was really shocked. There was a fight, swearing behind people's backs, breaking into Fangxing Building to threaten people, tripping people up, and even poisoning.

As he read further, his memory became clearer.

Have you ever heard these things before? Are they true?

"Qi Ba, you are too bold!"

The yamen runner reminded him, "Sir, it seems that he has informed you of these matters in advance. There are three or four thousand taels of silver in the mansion, which is his gift to you as a gift."

Magistrate Zhang came back to his senses.

It seems so.

However, this time it was Shopkeeper Fang who gave the money first, so he must be biased towards the money. "Come here, give Qi Ba thirty lashes. If he doesn't admit his guilt, keep beating him!"

Confessed under torture? It was a relief at this moment.

Madam Fang looked at the burned-down restaurant and said distressedly, "This damned bastard is so cruel. Why didn't the bastard burn down his own restaurant?"

Snapped!Snapped!Snapped!

Qi Ba was pressed on a bench, and the officers and soldiers beat him with a stick from the left and right. The man screamed in pain, and no matter how Qi Ba bribed the two men, they remained unmoved.

The county magistrate didn't even give any hints, so they didn't dare.

It was useless for Madam Qi and Qi Yaer to kneel down and plead for mercy. Qi Ba shouted, "I confess! I confess!"

The officers and soldiers carried Qi Ba and threw him in front of the adults, then stood on both sides with sticks in their hands, which was very scary. Qi Ba shrank back.

After not being beaten, my butt calmed down.

But once I calm down, I feel both pain and itchiness.

Magistrate Zhang said coldly, "Why don't you tell me now? Do you still want to be beaten?"

Qi Ba was disheartened: "I was jealous of Fang Xing Lou's large customer flow, and I was tempted to set fire to his restaurant. But, I regretted it and wanted to put out the fire, but the fire had already started!"

Shopkeeper Fang grabbed him by the collar and yelled.

"Qi Wangba! You are so cruel. The restaurant is on fire and everyone is eating. What if someone gets burned to death? What do you think we should do?"

"Who made you earn more than me?" Qi Ba's face was filled with hatred. He stood up and pressed against his fist, "Why is your restaurant better than mine?"

When Manager Fang and King Qi first met, they were quite friendly.

Once interests are mixed between people, will they become enemies?

He said bitterly, "You always want to go against me. If you had focused on the dishes and the customers, you would not have chosen to starve rather than eat at Zhenxinglou. Qi Ba, the way you and your restaurant are now has nothing to do with me or anyone else, but it has everything to do with you!"

Mrs. Fang added with a cold face: "If you have bad intentions, you can't do anything!"

Qi Ba's body went limp, and he sat on the ground, tears streaming down his face. What should he do? If he was caught setting the fire, would he still be the envied restaurant owner?

Magistrate Zhang sentenced the Qi family: "Deliberate arson and injury to others. I hereby sentence the Qi family to pay for the reconstruction of Fangxinglou and the losses of the customers. Fortunately, no one was killed. All the Qi family's property shall be confiscated and they are forbidden to do business again!"

"Woooooooo..."

The Qi family's sobbing sounds came one after another.

Jiusu felt hatred, she looked up and saw that it was Qi Yaer. The corners of her mouth curled up, thinking that it was time to settle the score, and she took out the confession written by Qi Yaer.

"My Lord, I have also suffered a grievance. I hope you can see clearly."

"Master Jiu, you are too polite. Who dares to bully you? I will take charge!" Magistrate Zhang acted like a 'good official', which shocked the people around him.

When did the county magistrate become so 'good'?

Jiusu said: "Qi Yaer once hired someone to kill me. After I found out, this is the confession she wrote."

After reading it carefully, County Magistrate Zhang looked up at the daughter of the Qi family and said, "Oh my god, it's really hard to raise girls and villains. How cruel! He actually hired a murderer."

He asked in confusion: "Why did Master Jiu take it out only now?"

Jiusu smiled mysteriously and said, "If I had reported it to the police at that time, would the adults have given me justice?"

In fact, the answer in both of their minds is very obvious.

Even if she reported it to the police, Zhang Tu wouldn't care.

But now it was different. Magistrate Zhang said seriously, "I will definitely judge the case seriously and give you justice."

"It's not too late now." Jiusu nodded slightly, indicating that he could start the performance.

When Qi Yaer saw the confession letter, she kowtowed and cried until her voice became hoarse. The Qi family had already been ruined, and she couldn't let anything happen to her again. She pointed at Jiusu and said anxiously.

"My Lord! She forced me to write it!"

"Don't lie to me!" Magistrate Zhang put his hands behind his back and analyzed, "At that time, Lady Jiu was just an ordinary peasant girl, and General Chen had not yet returned. How could she force the Qi family?"

Qi Yaer had nothing to say. She bit her lips tightly and looked at Jiusu with hatred in her eyes.

Magistrate Zhang sentenced: "You hired a killer to kill someone. Qi Ba, you have a good daughter. Someone, take Qi Yaer to the prison and keep her there for half a year. She will be beaten with ten boards every day!"

"No! No!"

"..."

The matter was resolved, and County Magistrate Zhang did not want to stay any longer. He did not want to deal with Jiusu. This woman was too shrewd and difficult to control.

The onlookers were surrounded by officers and soldiers and remained in fear. As soon as the county magistrate left, they all went home and calmed down.

Fang Yu shouted: "Dad, Mom! Are you okay?"

The seven-foot tall man put his arm around their shoulders and looked at the tears in their eyes, feeling very sad. When he got the news, he ran back, but he didn't expect that Fangxing Building had been burned down.

This is the hard work of my parents!

Mrs. Fang lowered her head and choked up, "It's okay. The money your father earns is enough for you to spend for the rest of your life."

Manager Fang was much calmer: "Go back to the academy. You should study hard now. You don't have to worry about your family. When you grow up, you can be a good official, and your parents won't have to suffer any grievances."

Thinking of the silver I just gave to the county magistrate.

He is obviously the victim, but he still has to give gifts to get justice. It makes me feel heartbroken just thinking about it.