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

Wang Qiang felt a little uneasy when he heard Ma Saner's screams outside, but he still pretended to be calm.

He knew that as long as he didn't betray his boss, his boss would definitely remember his kindness. Stealing wasn't a serious crime, usually just a beating with a stick and a few days in jail.

Wu Deyong continued to ask: "Where do you live? Who else is in your family?"

Wang Qiang replied, "Your Excellency, I am an orphan. I have no family and no home."

Wang Qiang's flashing eyes did not escape Wu Deyong's eyes. He knew that Wang Qiang was not telling the truth. Wu Deyong also noticed a detail, that is, Gao Guangtian and Gao Xiaoli both called themselves common people, while Wang Qiang and Ma Saner both called themselves juniors.

From the way they called themselves, one could tell which household Wang Qiang and Ma San'er belonged to. Because habit had become second nature, they had already developed a servile nature.

Wu Deyong snorted coldly: "Humph... If you don't accept my toast, you'll have to drink the penalty..."

"Come here... drag me out and beat me..."

At this time, a yamen runner in the hall looked at Wu Deyong from time to time. He hesitated for a moment and said softly, "Sir, I know this person."

Wu Deyong looked at the yamen runner and asked, "Do you know this man?"

"Yes, sir, he is a waiter at Zui Xiang Lou."

"A waiter from Zui Xiang Lou?" Wu Deyong asked, "Are you sure it's a waiter from Zui Xiang Lou?"

The yamen runner confirmed, "Your Excellency, I went to Zui Xiang Lou with a few colleagues to drink, and I saw this man serving food to the guests there."

Wang Qiang felt bad.

At this time, Ma San'er outside was a little overwhelmed after being beaten with more than ten boards. "Stop beating me... I'll tell you... I'll tell you..."

The yamen runner dragged Ma San'er back to the hall, and Wu Deyong asked, "Are you willing to tell the truth?"

Ma San'er was sweating profusely from the pain. He said in a trembling voice, "I'll tell you everything..."

"I am a servant of Ding, the shopkeeper of Zui Xiang Lou. Ding asked me to go to Daping Village to inquire about the matter."

"What do you want to know?"

Ma Saner replied: "Go and find out if Wang Qiang has been to Daping Village."

Zhang Hulan was not surprised by Ma Saner's words. She guessed that it was probably Ding Mingao who sent someone to go, because Ding Mingao had contacted her.

But in this way, the fig leaf between her and Ding Mingao was torn off, the matter was brought to light, and she and Ding Mingao officially became enemies.

Zhang Hulan thought to herself again: It seems that I need to make some preparations. It would be fine if Manager Ding just gave up, but if he did anything else, don't blame me for being cruel.

Wu Deyong looked at Wang Qiang and then at Ma Saner.

Both of them were the shopkeeper's men and were instructed by the shopkeeper. This was no simple theft, but a targeted crime.

Wu Deyong thought that Zhang Hulan was now making braised meat, and Zui Xiang Lou was a restaurant. Wu Deyong roughly guessed what the owner of Zui Xiang Lou was trying to do.

Wu Deyong glanced at Zhang Hulan, then ordered, "Tian Wu, go call the owner of Zui Xiang Lou."

"Yes, sir!" Tian Wu immediately took two yamen runners to summon Ding Mingao.

Wu Deyong looked at Wang Qiang again and said, "I'll give you one more chance. Do you have anything to say now?"

Wang Qiang lowered his head and still refused to speak.

Wu Deyong snorted, "Humph, you are a protector of your master."

Ding Mingao had been waiting anxiously. Wang Qiang had been out for three days and still hadn't returned, and the people he had sent out today hadn't come back either. He was a little worried that something had happened.

Ding Mingao looked towards the door from time to time, but did not wait for Wang Qiang and Ma Saner to come back. Instead, he waited for the yamen runners.

Ding Mingao immediately came out from behind the counter with a smile, "Hey, why is Tian Bantou here?"

Tian Wu stepped forward and said, "Manager Ding, come with us. The county magistrate has something to ask you."

Ding Mingao's heart skipped a beat, and he felt bad. He smiled and bowed, "Captain Tian, ​​what does the county magistrate want to see me about?"

Tian Wu said, "Don't waste time. The county magistrate is waiting. You'll know what's going on when you get there."

The other two yamen runners stood behind Ding Mingao, ready to take action if he didn't walk on his own.

Ding Mingao took a deep breath and followed Tian Wu to the county government office.

When Ding Mingao saw Wang Qiang and Ma Saner at the lobby of the county government office, he knew that there was some trouble.

He glanced at the two of them. Wang Qiang blinked twice at Ding Mingao, but Ma Saner lowered his head and did not dare to look at Ding Mingao.

Ding Mingao calmed down a bit and immediately knelt down and kowtowed to Wu Deyong, "Your humble servant Ding Mingao greets the County Magistrate."

Wu Deyong said, "Ding Mingao, do you know these two people?"

Ding Mingao nodded. Just as he was about to speak, Wang Qiang suddenly spoke up, "Sir, I know I was wrong. I'm willing to confess."

Wu Deyong nodded, "Then tell me."

Wang Qiang said, "Sir, the shopkeeper approached Zhang a while ago and wanted to buy her braised meat, but she didn't agree.

The business at Manfulou has been booming these days thanks to its braised meat. The shopkeeper asked me to talk to Zhang again about collaborating with her.

"The little one was obsessed with it, and instead of talking to Zhang, he wanted to steal her braised pork recipe to show his credit to the shopkeeper. So after finding out her location, he planned to sneak in at night to steal the recipe."

Ding Mingao's eyes flashed with a smile when he heard Wang Qiang's words. Then he cursed, "You son of a bitch! I told you to talk business with Boss Zhang properly, but you did something like this. I'm really blind."

Ding Mingao then said to Wu Deyong, "Sir, it is my fault for failing to discipline my children properly. I beg you to punish me."

Wu Deyong looked at Wang Qiang. This man was truly the head of the household. He had taken the responsibility for everything himself. In this way, it had nothing to do with the owner of Zui Xiang Lou.

Although he knew that Wang Qiang was lying, he had admitted it himself, so he had no choice but to close the case.

Torturing Wang Qiang would probably be useless. He wouldn't betray his master even with his legs broken, and he probably wouldn't tell the truth even if he were tortured. If the torture was too harsh, it would be suspected of forcing a confession, and he couldn't do such a thing.

Zhang Hulan didn't say anything. As long as she knew it in her heart, that was enough.

Ding Mingao then bowed to Zhang Hulan and apologized, "Boss Zhang, I'm truly sorry. I never thought a servant would do such a thing. As a token of my apology, I'm willing to compensate Boss Zhang."

Zhang Hulan said, "Manager Ding, you're being too kind. This was the private behavior of Manager Ding's servants and has nothing to do with Manager Ding."

Ding Mingao continued, "Boss Zhang, Wang Qiang's father has been with me and is loyal to me. I've watched Wang Qiang grow up, and I consider him my adopted son. I'm also very angry that he did this."

I also bear some responsibility for this matter, so I am willing to make compensation. I hope Boss Zhang will show some leniency and give him a chance. I will definitely discipline him strictly in the future."