Chapter 230 - Black Marketing
After getting ready, Sheng Li and Ying Lili went to the Fu Imperial Gates where Jian Guozhi was waiting. Seeing Ying Lili there, Jian Guozhi was surprised. "The Crown Princess is also coming with us?" Jian Guozhi astonishingly queried, looking at Sheng Li.
"Yes," Sheng Li replied and turned to Ying Lili. He put the fake mustache above her upper lips, pressed it, and stepped back. Looking back at Jian Guozhi, Sheng Li said, "She knows better than us. That's why taking her would be wise."
Xiao Zhan came there with the fake IDs that they had to carry with them. He handed their respective IDs to them. "Your highness, for safety purposes, our soldiers will be there in disguise," Xiao asserted.
"Zu Tao, Junior Rank 7 officer in the police department," Ying Lili read her fake name. She lifted her eyes and asked Sheng Li his fake name.
"Hu Shan, Senior Rank 2 officer in the police department," Sheng Li replied and looked at Jian Guozhi.
"Li Zhuang, Senior Rank 2 officer in the police department," replied Jian Guozhi. The three hopped on their respective horses and left for Shuanxi village.
Soon, they reached the village, but because the roads were filled with mud, they decided not to ride their horses and got down from them. Villagers who were coming across their way were looking at them when Jian Guozhi asked one to help them.
"We are from the police department. Help us in finding a stable for these horses," Jian asserted.
"Master, there is no stable in this village. Why don't you tie them up on the trees over there? If you want, I can guard them," the villager replied. Jian Guozhi looked at Sheng Li who gave a nod.
Sheng Li tied Kongqi to the tree himself and told the villager that he would be rewarded later. The villager was happy to hear that and assured Sheng Li about the safety of the horses. Sheng Li walked away with Ying Lili and Jian Guozhi.
"Why is this route so muddy? Even a forest route is better than this," Sheng Li muttered.
"Two months earlier, an order was passed to reconstruct the main routes of the villages and towns, but I think they did not do the work," Jian Guozhi stated.
"Brother is absolutely right. They think that no one will come to check these things from the Palace. I wonder where they spent the money which would have been provided for this particular village," Ying Lili raised a doubt.
"Village Headman is not working properly. Brother Nianzu has reported this to me but at that time the Crown Prince was not here, so I could not do the work," Jian Guozhi proclaimed. Ying Lili observed how poorly the huts were made.
"We will replace the Village Headman today. He is no longer needed here," Sheng Li pronounced. The people there were glancing at them and whispering among each other.
Suddenly, they heard the shouts of a young girl. The people were going to the source of the voice when Ying Lili stopped one of the men. "What is going on here?" Ying Lili said in a manly voice.
"I do not know, master," the person replied. Ying Lili looked at Sheng Li and Jian Guozhi.
"Let's go there," Sheng Li asserted.
The crowd could be seen in front of a hut. A young girl was being dragged away along with a young boy by four men. They had worn the soldiers' uniforms. There were two Police officials as well, but they were smiling.
"Master, please give us a week. I will repay the entire debt that I have taken from the respected landlord. Do not take away my children. I beg you," the father of those children was crying and pleading with the police officials.
"You were given a time of over a month and still you couldn't pay your debt. Now, your slave children will do that," one police official said.
"Father, please save us," the young girl says with teary eyes.
"I will become the slave of the master. Let my children go. They are young," the man tried to convince them.
"Take them away," the other police official commanded the soldiers who dragged the two children. The father held the feet of the police officer to stop him, but he kicked him away.
"You filthy man!" The police officer shouted at him and kicked him again.
Ying Lili stepped forward when Sheng Li caught her wrist, thus stopping her. She looked with inquisitiveness at Sheng Li. "Let him show his strength!" Sheng Li whispered in her ear.
"What is your name?" Sheng Li suddenly asked, looking at the police officer who was beating the man.
He looked at him and saw the dress he was wearing. A black dress with red stripes, showing his rank was above him.
"I am Yao Ming," the police officer replied. Sheng Li looked at the other one who also told his name.
Sheng Li looked at Jian Guozhi who was introduced. Who ordered you to do this?" Jian Guozhi asked them.
"Landlord Qian," replied Yao Ming.
Jian Guozhi smiled. "Keep doing your work," he said and looked at Sheng Li. The three left from there, but Ying Lili could not understand them. "Why did we not punish them?" Ying Lili was baffled.
"Because we need to first check what other wrongs are going on in this village," Jian Guozhi opined.
"Hmm." "We asked for their names, so we can take action on them. Let's first check the other things too," asserted Sheng Li. Ying Lili nodded and calmed herself down. She looked back and saw how the young girl and boy were being taken away from there. "What if something happens to them? That landlord can do anything to the young girl. We should do something for that," Ying Lili suggested.
Jian Guozhi and Sheng Li looked at the girl. "Nothing will happen. Xiao Zhan is here, so he also knows what must be done in this situation," Sheng Li assured Ying Lili who nodded.
"Brother, we need to check if the Food and Basic Supplies Department is working," Jian Guozhi told Sheng Li who nodded, and they left.
After fifteen minutes, they reached the Food office. A long queue for basic grains could be seen there. "The godown still needs to be refilled. Come tomorrow for ration," the announcement was made.
The people were frustrated to learn about that. "We grow so many crops but we are still not able to get anything. Every month, the ration supplies are delayed, and we are forced to buy at higher costs," a man conversed with the other.
"I think we shall go to the Palace to complain about this," another said.
"I went once, but the gatekeeper did not let me in. We are destined for this miserable life." he heaved a sigh and walked away.
Sheng Li, Ying Lili, and Jian Guozhi heard them. They decided to check the godown. "I will check the entries of supplied ration to this village in the ledger. You two shall check the godown," Jian Guozhi suggested to them and went inside the office.
In the godown, Sheng Li and Ying Lili were shocked to see the grain sacks. "Black marketing is taking place," Ying Lili said. Sheng Li agreed with her.
Seeing the police officers there, the head of the godown came and asked about their sudden visit. "I am Hu Shan, Senior Rank 2nd officer and this is my junior, Zu Tao, Junior Rank 7 officer. We are newly appointed for this village, so we thought of checking every office in the region," stated Sheng Li.
A worker came there and whispered something in the head's ear of godown who frowned upon hearing that. "I would love to talk to you, but something urgent has come up. You two can go upstairs to check the office work," proclaimed the godown head.
Sheng Li and Ying Lili nodded so, took leave from there. They met Jian Guozhi who told them about the fraud that was being done by the officers in the department.
"So much corruption is going on!" Sheng Li remarked. By late noon, they checked the other departments in the village. They decided to have their meals in a restaurant of the market before going to the residence of Landlord Qian.