Records of the Cattle and Horses of Chang'an

Outside Qichun Tower, at the beginning of the Yin hour, the usually bustling Pingkangfang has become quiet. The brilliant lights are still on, but the sound of stringed instruments has stopped at some point.

"Shaoqing, shall we continue?"

Cui Bianxu rubbed his brows, still feeling exhausted. He simply let go of the reins, raised his hands and rubbed his temples. After a moment, he exhaled and said, "Let's go back first."

He wasn't particularly tired after not getting any rest for the whole night, but staying up all night like this wasn't good for his health. He might as well go back and see if Ding Yuan had any gains, and eat something to fill his stomach.

"Go check on those people the maid just mentioned. Find out what they were doing on the 30th. If there's any witness, get some food..." He paused, remembering that the kitchens at the Dali Temple were closed for the holiday. He felt a little sad. Yes, he was not even as good as the cook...

Wang Leisheng's eyes were dull, and he had no desire to live. At his age, he really couldn't stay up late. After this night, he was almost exhausted. "Yes, Shaoqing."

When the two arrived at the Dali Temple, they remembered that the chef was on vacation and there was no one to prepare breakfast for them!

After working all night, he couldn't even get a warm, filling meal. Who could stand this? Wang Leisheng was about to say he'd go buy some, but then he realized that no stalls were open at this hour, so he rubbed his stomach and sighed. He barely had the energy to keep his eyelids open with his forehead wrinkles.

Fortunately, the guards at Cui Bianxu's house, noticing that he hadn't returned home all night, came looking for him and waited for him inside the Dali Temple. Upon seeing him, Cui Bianxu immediately ordered him to go home and fetch some food: "Bring more."

I'm afraid Ding Yuan and the others must be hungry after working all night.

The guards were about to leave. Cui Bianxu remembered the current food crisis and thought, "Did they send horse feed to the Jiang family?"

"Yes, it has been sent, don't worry Jiulang."

"Well, go back when it's daybreak. Tell Miss Jiang that the chef from the Dali Temple has gone back to his hometown for vacation, and ask her to come over and work as the chef for a few days."

Seeing the guard agreed and was about to leave, he couldn't help but add: "Be smart and find a way to invite people here, okay?"

"Yes."

At the Jiang family's house, everyone was sleeping in when the door was slammed. After being woken up, except for Jiang's mother and Jiang Shangxian, the other three people's faces were worse than each other. As long as they thought about the dishes served by the Lai family that day, which might be human meat, they couldn't help but feel disgusted. Although they didn't eat it, according to the Lai family's financial situation, they must have cooked the meat first, didn't wash the pot, and used the remaining meat flavor to stir-fry dishes.

This is how poor people always live.

Old Madam Xia had to endure it again and again last night before she could refrain from going to the Lai family to curse in the street. Jiang Shangxian was right. The officials had not yet revealed this matter. If it were to be revealed from their family, it would be bad.

Anyway, no matter whether this matter can be concealed or not, it cannot be leaked from the Jiang family.

The guards of the Cui family all wore the same black uniform with three slender amber leaves embroidered on the hem.

"But what's the matter?" Jiang Shangxian couldn't understand what Cui Bianxu could want to talk to him about today.

The guard remembered what his husband had told him, and his expression suddenly became extremely serious, which made Jiang Shangxian unable to help but look up at the sky - the sky didn't fall?

"Miss Jiang, my Jiulang didn't come home last night."

Jiang Shangxian raised an eyebrow. He actually had such connections? Cui Bianxu didn't go home and came to report to him?

She didn't think that guy could be in any danger. Tsk tsk tsk, a good man wouldn't stay out all night. This kid...

"The case has been transferred to the Dali Temple, and the Dali Temple Minister has asked Jiulang to take charge of the case."

Huh, Jiang Shangxian breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, his eyes were not damaged. But Zhao Shan’s bad words really came true, right?

"The chef from the Dali Temple is not in Chang'an these days. Shao Qing would like to invite Miss Jiang to help cook for a few days. I wonder if you would be willing to help?"

Jiang Shangxian was a little embarrassed: "I am going to Lexian Tower today. Shaoqing should know this."

The guard had already anticipated several possible rejections on the way here, and upon hearing this, he immediately said, "Then let's start tomorrow! Don't worry, Miss Jiang, I will escort you back and forth every day."

Jiang Shangxian didn't agree right away. It was a dismemberment case, and she didn't want to be dismembered. So she hesitated and said, "I'll discuss this with my family first. Please wait here for a moment."

Jiang Wangri was also staying in Jiang's mother's room. He had nightmares last night and his eyes were dark blue.

"Going to work at the Dali Temple?" Jiang's mother immediately refused: "No, it's too dangerous outside now. Let's just stay inside."

She was prepared to stop operating both stalls at home until the case was fully investigated. Although she had not seen the meat with her own eyes, she felt scared just by hearing about it.

It was Old Lady Xia who stood up again: "Nian Nu, go call that person in."

"Mother, why did you call him in?" Jiang's mother was anxious. What was her mother trying to do? Wasn't it her who had been tossing and turning in nightmares last night?

Old Madam Xia's eyelids were heavy, and her age was evident. She did not answer, but waited for the guard to come in before she spoke: "If your Cui Shaoqing wants my granddaughter to work at the Dali Temple for a few days, it's not impossible."

The guard was overjoyed: "Thank you, old lady!"

Madam Xia waved her hand and said, "Don't be so quick to thank me. You have to agree to something first. Otherwise, there is no need to say more about this matter."

"I don't know what the old lady wants, but as long as I can do it, I will go through fire and water for it!" The guard said it in a loud and clear voice. How big a deal could it be for an ordinary old woman?

Old Madam Xia didn't make any excessive demands. She just said, "You are too few to go alone. Go and tell Cui Shaoqing that my young slave needs four people to escort him back and forth every day. Only then can the family rest assured."

When Jiang Shangxian heard the word "four people" and thought about the image of the Cui family guards, he suddenly felt much safer.

The guard's expression relaxed upon hearing this request. "I was indeed inconsiderate in this matter. The old lady is right. This is what we should do."

There are only four of them, and the thing they have the most in their house is guards!

After agreeing to pick up Jiang Shangxian early the next morning, the guard left immediately as he still had to take care of his husband's meals for the day.

When Jiang's mother heard about the four guards, she didn't say anything else. Four guards! It's safer than being at home!

"That's right, Nian Nu, I'll go with you and help you." After thinking it over, Jiang's mother decided that she had to go and watch.

Jiang Shangxian didn't refuse. Even if her mother hadn't told her, she didn't want to go to the Dali Temple alone. Deep down, she was a little resistant to going to jail, probably because she had never been there in her two lifetimes.

Look at those who have been to prison twice, three times, or four times. They all treat the police station as their own home.

She originally wanted to ask Jiang Wangri or Xia Zhenying to accompany her, and she would get 30% of the money earned, but the two children looked a little listless, so she gave up.