Chapter 189: Cooperation
When Xiao Yanci heard that Cui Rong was implicated in a murder case, he recalled an incident from his past life.
In his past life, Cui Rong also encountered this situation. The difference was that no one testified for him, so he couldn’t clear his suspicions, and the government could only hand him over to several other purchasing officials.
Those purchasing officials took him to Capital City and imprisoned him in the Ministry of Justice Prison under the charge of being a murderer. The Cui Family spent a huge sum to redeem him, but by the time he came out, he was already mad and soon drowned in the river. Due to this incident, the Cui Family relocated and later went to a neighboring country, becoming prominent merchants there.
In his past life, Su Yaoguang worked in the Rouge Shop, spinning like a top all day without a chance to go out, so naturally, she didn’t meet Cui Rong. In this life, Su Yaoguang’s small effort not only proves that Cui Rong was not present at the crime scene, but also that the time of the victim’s death doesn’t match Cui Rong’s departure time, leading to his acquittal.
With the current progress of the government’s investigation, clearly, it is not easy to find the real murderer. However, Xiao Yanci has experienced this once and knows who the murderer is. If he shares this information with the Cui Family, it would be a favor to them, making it easy for him to seek a livelihood under the Cui Family, earn silver to make ends meet, and go to the Capital City for exams.
"I want to meet your Young Master," said Xiao Yanci.
"Our Young Master is not at the residence," said the clerk. "What’s your business?"
"Tell your Young Master that I know who the murderer is and can help him find the real culprit, completely clearing his suspicions."
"So that’s why you came," the clerk said after hearing Xiao Yanci’s words. "No need to trouble yourself. Our Young Master went out to catch the real murderer."
"He knows who the murderer is?" Xiao Yanci was shocked. "Impossible."
"Why impossible?" The clerk, displeased, said, "Our Young Master has already found evidence and is now leading the government officials to arrest the real murderer."
Xiao Yanci couldn’t believe that Cui Rong could find the murderer; even he only accidentally discovered the secret later on. Based on his past life, the murderer hid very deeply and wouldn’t easily reveal himself.
However, when he arrived at the government, the case had already been adjudicated.
The real murderer was none other than Cui Rong’s brother-in-law.
Ultimately, it was another internal matter within a wealthy family.
The Cui Family was large and prosperous but had only Cui Rong as the sole heir. If Cui Rong were gone, his brother-in-law would become the sole heir. With such a large family estate, who wouldn’t be tempted? So, when he learned of the discord between Cui Rong and purchasing official Gong, he quickly arranged for his trusted subordinate to kill purchasing official Gong after Cui Rong left and framed Cui Rong.
"Case closed. Adjourned," Magistrate Chen announced in court.
Cui Rong left the county government and looked towards Zhou Wangshu, who was standing not far across the street, and cupped his hands in a respectful gesture.
Standing beside Zhou Wangshu was the old steward from the Cui Family. The steward took out a stack of silver notes from his chest, handed them over to Zhou Wangshu. The latter quickly slipped them into his chest and turned away.
Xiao Yanci happened to see this scene, his face turning grim.
It seems that Zhou Wangshu is involved in this matter.
How could Zhou Wangshu know who the real murderer is? Could he also be reborn?
Xiao Yanci thought that there was no Zhou Wangshu in his past life, and in this life, he had emerged from nowhere, gradually replacing him.
"Old steward, how did you know who the murderer is?" Xiao Yanci asked.
The old steward scrutinized Xiao Yanci, with an insincere smile: "Why do you ask, sir? What does this have to do with you?"
"I’m merely curious. The government couldn’t find the real murderer, yet you all found him yourselves; this indeed seems rather unbelievable."
"What’s strange about that? As long as it’s done by humans, there will be traces. Thanks to the Young Master Zhou from Taoyao Square, if he hadn’t suggested that the murderer likely targeted the young master, we wouldn’t have suspected the people around us." The steward finished speaking and said to Cui Rong, "Boss Su saved the young master, and Boss Su’s young lord also offered advice to the young master, that’s twice the kindness, the young master should naturally prepare a generous gift of thanks."
Cui Rong awkwardly said: "We wanted to invite her to dinner, but didn’t she refuse?"
"The young master must sincerity; even if she refused once, you can invite her again. When Boss Su senses the young master’s sincerity, she will naturally agree."
"Mr. Cui, chief steward, do you happen to need an accountant at Jinle Square? I have some understanding of mathematics and can do some accounting."
Seeing the two were about to leave, Xiao Yanci could no longer achieve his previous goal and could only directly offer his service.
"We don’t need accountants at our store; you’d better find another place!" the chief steward said and then pulled Cui Rong away.
Cui Rong’s voice came from behind: "Aren’t we indeed short of accountants?"
"The accountant position is extremely special and can only be held by trusted aides. This person is somewhat famous in the city, but the reputation isn’t good. You must remember, young master, that even if someone’s capability is important, it’s not more important than their character. If someone’s character is flawed, they can always cause trouble behind your back."
The city may seem large, but it isn’t overly so; any rumor spreads quickly, especially bad news, which travels faster than the wind.
Su Yaoguang just heard the customers in the shop talking about the case being heard in the county government, still relieved that she hadn’t saved the wrong person, when a stack of silver notes appeared before her.
Su Yaoguang looked up along the silver notes and saw Zhou Wangshu’s magnified handsome face.
"What’s this?"
"Take a look."
Su Yaoguang took it over and counted the silver notes, stunned, "One thousand taels, why so much?"
"I helped Young Master Cui find the murderer; he gave me this reward."
"How did you know who the murderer is?"
"Remember Feng Chaoyang?" Zhou Wangshu saw her nod and continued, "That day he happened to be at the theater and accidentally saw someone enter that box room after Cui Rong left. Although he didn’t see who it was, he could tell from the figure it was a man. Furthermore, that man disguised himself as Cui Rong, making everyone think it was Cui Rong’s doing. Purchasing official Gong had just arrived in the county and probably had no enemies. Such a clearly premeditated matter was obviously targeting Cui Rong. Young Master Cui, while having quite a few quirks, doesn’t have many people who would want him dead; just focus on those with vested interests in him, and it wasn’t hard to find clues."
"I sold him this information, helped him sort through the people around him, and after a little investigation, it’s almost possible to guess seven or eight parts. I solved such a big difficulty for him that naturally he’d pay me some reward."
"Since it’s your reward, keep it. You might need it someday."
"I eat at home and use the family’s things; now that I’ve earned money, I should naturally contribute to the family." Zhou Wangshu said, "I surely cannot live off my family forever."
He has many ways to earn money, but other sources of silver cannot be publicly disclosed. This silver, with a clear source, he naturally used it to show off.