Chapter 108 Blackmail Letter
"Ouch! Who are you? Why did you break into my widow's room in broad daylight?!" Widow Ma screamed in fright at the sudden appearance of several people.
"Shut up, we are here to find Shao Si." Ma Pingan's eyes were like knives, which scared Widow Ma into silence immediately.
Several people searched inside and outside, but could not see any sign of Shao Si.
"You...who are you?" Widow Ma asked boldly.
"We are here to arrest Shao Si. He has committed a crime. You are his concubine, but do you know where he is now? If you don't report the knowledge, you are hiding a criminal. You are a widow but do not follow the rules of women. Do you want to parade in the streets? ?" Ma Ping'an pointed to the men's and women's entertainment objects they found. It was obvious that the widow was used to being romantic.
"Oh, Mr. Qingtian! But it has nothing to do with the slave family! This Shao Si once pestered the slave family, but the slave family did not agree with him..." Widow Ma pretended to be a serious person and did not look like a serious person at all.
She regarded Ma Pingan and others as incognito official servants and hurriedly distanced herself from them.
"We don't have time to listen to your nonsense," Ma Pingan lowered his face, "If you don't want to be blamed, just tell the truth where Shao Si is, otherwise we will arrest you first!"< br>
He knew that these people were most afraid of officialdom. Since Widow Ma made a mistake, it would be better to push things along.
"Don't, don't, don't!" Widow Ma waved her hands repeatedly, "I know a little bit, but I'm not sure. That Shao Si is ungrateful. If you have money, you won't want me anymore. He's hooking up with Sun Wanju's wife outside the city. What's more important She is the daughter of the Sun family, that little goblin, who is only sixteen or seventeen years old, and has learned to seduce men..."
The more Widow Ma spoke, the angrier she became, and she even forgot her previous fear.
"Don't be nagging! I'm just going to ask you where is Widow Sun's home?" Ma Ping'an asked.
"Huh?" Widow Ma was stunned for a moment when asked, then she understood and explained, "Sun Wanju is still alive, and his wife is not a widow. It's just that Sun Wanju is a born bastard, and he has been a living bastard since he was young. He lets his wife seduce men and enjoys the food and drink he earns.
Now that he has his daughter, he is even more proud. He used to seduce his wife, but he didn't go to their house very often. , unlike me...ahem..."
Widow Ma realized that she had made a mistake, and quickly changed her words: "Their family lives in Sunjiazhuang in the northwest of the city. I once had a quarrel with that prostitute. I found out that her family lived in an isolated household in the east of the village. There was a plant at the door. There is a big camphor tree.”
Ma Ping’an thought there was something interesting when he heard it. Now that Shao Si had money, he looked down on Widow Ma, but he was attracted to the daughter of the Sun family.
Their family lives in a remote place, and even if they live there for a few days, it is not easy to be discovered.
He said to Widow Ma: "If Shao Si is really there, you have made a contribution, and you will be rewarded later. Remember not to talk nonsense. If Shao Si learns the news and runs away, he will look for you later. Settle the account!"
Coming out of Widow Ma's house, Ma Ping'an threw a piece of silver to An Xi: "You have to know what to say and what not to say."
An Xi nodded and bowed: "Uncle, don't worry! I have the strictest mouth, little old man."
Ma Ping'an was afraid that he would not have enough people, so he returned to the house again.
He truthfully reported all the information he had gathered for a long time to Wen Mingqian and Gong Xu.
The people who were sent out to check on Qi Dabeard also came back and said: "The young man found Qi Dabeard's residence, but he is no longer there. I heard from the people in front of him that he was overjoyed a few days ago. , saying that his brother had become rich and asked him to accompany him to have a meal, drink and have fun. So he locked the door and left. He didn't say where he went, but it probably wasn't far away, because the house he rented was not returned. "
"So, these two people should be together," Wen Mingqian judged, "probably in Sunjiazhuang."
"Young men, let's leave the city now. If everything goes well, we can bring the people back before the city gate closes." Ma Ping'an knew it was too late.
But there has been no reply from Zhang Ma, so she is probably still looking for it. In a blink of an eye, it’s time to turn on the lamp.
Gong Xu sat there with a frown on his face. He was naturally worried about Gong Changan, but he didn't know what else to do.
"Master, Madam, dinner is ready, please have a bite!" Yunying also looked worried, "Fourth Young Master is auspicious and will definitely come back safely."
"You serve the master and eat! I have to go to the old lady and have a look, otherwise she will be suspicious." Wen Mingqian stood up.
Gong Xu said hurriedly: "I will go there with you."
"Master, it's better not to go there," Wen Mingqian stopped him immediately, "They say that a wise child is like a mother, and I will never show the slightest trace of it. The old lady will notice when something is on her mind."
"That's fine, just go there alone!" Gong Xu felt that Wen Mingqian was right, "Sang Er, please support Madam."
Here Wen Mingqian went over to deal with Mrs. Gong, leaving Gong Xu to eat dinner alone and moodily.
"Madam...Master!" Lao Huang hurriedly ran in. Seeing that Wen Mingqian was not there, he went straight to Gong Xu, "Someone sent this!"
He was holding a box in his hand, two His hands were shaking like chaff.
Gong Xu didn't hesitate to ask any more questions, and took the box. As soon as he opened it, he threw it out as if he was frightened.
Fortunately, Yunying caught it quickly with quick hands and eyes, but she was also shocked.
The box contained a bloody finger.
"There is another letter in this box!" Yunying covered her chest and took out the letter from the box.
Although the letter paper was soaked with blood, the words on it were very clear: If you want your young master to be safe, prepare thirty thousand taels of silver as soon as possible, and leave the city when the lantern is turned on tomorrow, and go to Baihu Bridge to take a boat to the east. , own arrangements. Only one person can go there and no deception is allowed.
The boy with the book has one of his fingers cut off. If he doesn't obey, his body will be collected later.
"This...who sent this letter?" Gong Xu was shocked.
“The messenger was a fool, a dandy dog who often wanders around this area,” Lao Huang sighed. “He said someone gave him a piece of shortbread and asked him to deliver this box. Old slave I also asked him what he looked like, how old he was, how tall, short, fat, and thin he was, but he couldn’t explain them all.”
"It seems that this finger belongs to the Fourth Young Master's student He Ming," Yunying said, "He followed the Fourth Young Master out today."
Wen Mingqian originally speculated that these people would pretend to be kidnappers and extortion, but now Sure enough, he asked for money.
Wen Mingqian was at the old lady's side, waiting on the old lady before coming out after dinner.
When I got back here, I learned that someone had sent a blackmail letter, threatening a ransom of thirty thousand taels.
It is obvious that the other party not only wants money but also lives, and the purpose is to make the Gong family lose money.
"The situation is really dangerous now." Gong Xu said, "If it doesn't work out, I'd better go find Song Xiang! Tell him face to face that if my son has any shortcomings, I will make his whole family die!"