After traveling through time, I led the whole village to become rich!

"Please wait a moment. I will go and inform the county magistrate." The bailiff went to report.

"Sir, Zhang Hulan from Daping Village has come to report another crime. She said her house was robbed and she has arrested four people."

Wu Deyong just came back from outside. Recently, he has been going to the countryside almost every day to check on the situation in each village. He is considered a very qualified official.

When Wu Deyong heard that Zhang Hulan had come to report the case again, he was stunned for a moment, then said, "Let's go to court."

A yamen runner shouted loudly in the lobby: "Court is open..."

Immediately afterwards, the sound of slamming sticks on the ground and the mighty voices of yamen runners were heard from the lobby of the county government office.

The bailiff walked to the door and summoned Zhang Hulan and the others in.

Zhang Hulan, Zhao Guoliang, and the three people who were tied up all knelt and saluted, "Greetings, Your Excellency the County Magistrate."

Another person did not kneel, but could only sit on the ground and salute, saying, "Please forgive me, my legs are broken, and I cannot kneel down and salute you."

Seeing the man in pain and the scars on his face, Wu Deyong asked, "Who hit him?"

Zhang Hulan replied, "Your Excellency, it was I who beat him."

Wu Deyong glanced at Zhang Hulan for a second longer. This woman seemed to enjoy beating people up. And she loved hitting people's legs, often breaking them. She seemed ruthless...

Wu Deyong slammed the gavel and asked loudly, "Zhang Hulan, you said that the four of them broke into your house and robbed it. Please tell us the details."

Zhang Hulan pointed at the man who was first arrested and said, "Sir, this man disguised himself as a peddler and came into the village to sell things the day before yesterday, but he was actually scouting the area. That night he sneaked into my house and tried to steal something, but I discovered him and caught him.

The woman was worried that they were a gang, so she did not report the case immediately, hoping to use him to lure out the others.

As a result, three more peddlers entered the village this morning, and they were caught by the villagers.”

After Zhang Hulan finished speaking, Wu Deyong hadn't said anything yet when the old peddler immediately shouted, "Your Excellency, we are wronged... We are just selling goods in the countryside, not thieves."

Wu Deyong slammed the gavel and shouted, "Don't interrupt me when I tell you to. Speak only when I tell you to."

After Wu Deyong scolded the old peddler, he sorted out the situation and asked, "Zhang Hulan, how do you know they are in the same group?"

As soon as Wu Deyong finished speaking, the young peddler said, "That's right, we don't know them."

"Shut up..." Wu Deyong glared at the young peddler, "I didn't ask you."

The young peddler's head shrank and he quickly shut up.

Zhang Hulan said, "Sir, I'm not sure if they're in the same group. It's normal for a village to have traveling merchants, but it's unusual for several to come every two or three days."

I used the first person I arrested to lure out his accomplices. I'm suspicious of any strangers in the village. So I arrested the next three and brought them here for your investigation. If I've arrested the wrong person, I'll apologize to them in person."

Wu Deyong nodded, then looked at the tied men and asked, "What do you have to say? I'll give you a chance to explain."

"Sir, I'm innocent..." the old peddler said immediately, "Sir, my father and I are honest businessmen. We arrived at their village this morning, and as soon as we entered, they tackled us and tied us up before we could even say a word."

The young peddler kowtowed repeatedly. "I explained to them that we're just selling goods, not thieves, but they wouldn't listen. They're being unreasonable. I beg the Magistrate to investigate."

Wu Deyong asked, "What proof do you have that you are peddlers?"

"Sir, I have proof." The old peddler puffed out his chest and said, "Sir, I have a merchant certificate issued by the government in my arms. You can check it."

The yamen runner stepped forward and took out a folded paper from the old peddler's arms. After opening it and looking at it, he handed it to Wu Deyong, "Sir, this is indeed a certificate issued by our county government."

Wu Deyong looked at it and nodded, "Your name is Gao Guangtian?"

The old peddler nodded immediately, "Yes."

The old peddler pointed at the young peddler and said, "His name is Gao Xiaoli, and he's a commoner's son."

Wu Deyong nodded again and said, "This is indeed a merchant certificate issued by the county government."

Wu Deyong then looked at the other person and said, "What about you? What's your name? What's your proof?"

The man stammered, "Sir, my name is Ma San'er. I haven't had time to get a merchant certificate yet..."

"Not in time to do it?" Wu Deyong sneered, "I see you haven't even thought about doing it yet?"

"Come here, check their shoulders. Peddler has to carry loads all the time, so his shoulders must be covered with calluses."

The old peddler and the young peddler cooperated with the inspection honestly, and both of them did have calluses on their shoulders.

The man named Ma Saner kept moving his body, not daring to let the yamen officer check him. The yamen officer hit him with his scabbard and said, "If you dare to move again..."

The bailiff tore off Ma Saner's clothes from his shoulders. His shoulders were white and smooth, without a single callus.

The man whose leg was broken was also examined, and there were no calluses on his shoulders either.

Ma Saner was still trying to argue, "My Lord, I've only just started learning how to do business, so I haven't developed calluses on my shoulders yet. That's why I haven't applied for a business permit yet. I want to try and see if I can do business. If I can, I'll go to the government office and get a permit."

Wu Deyong said, "You have some truth in what you said. Where do you live? Who are your family members? I will send someone to inquire about the situation. You want to do business. Your family is willing to know, right?"

"Little one, little one..." Ma Saner hesitated again.

"Bang..." Wu De slammed the gavel down. "How dare you lie to me?"

"Come here, drag him away and beat him until he tells the truth..."

Two yamen runners came forward and dragged Ma Saner out to be beaten with a stick.

Wu Deyong then looked at the man whose leg was broken, "What's your name?"

The man replied, "Sir, my name is Wang Qiang..."

Wu Deyong asked, "You were caught burglarizing a house. Do you have anything to say?"

Wang Qiang replied, "I have nothing to say. I accept the punishment."

Wu Deyong asked again: "Was that man your accomplice?"

Wang Qiang shook his head, "No, I don't know him."

Wu Deyong narrowed his eyes slightly and examined Wang Qiang. "You really don't know him? If you tell me who your accomplices are, I can give you a lighter punishment. If I find out that you are colluding, I will definitely increase the punishment. Think carefully before you answer."

Zhang Hulan remained silent, allowing Wu Deyong to interrogate her slowly.

"Your Excellency, I really don't know that person." Wang Qiang's eyes flickered and he didn't dare to look into Wu Deyong's eyes.