Transmigrating to the Qi Family - Chapter 177

The Datong Grain Store and the Datong Trading Firm, which come to do business last year, are part of the same group. They purchase mountain goods from the people at low prices and sell grain at high prices, profiting from the difference. Over the past few years in Cangzhou, they make a fortune.

If that store is truly supplying grain to those mining stones illegally, it means that their presence in Cangzhou isn’t just about monopolizing business to earn profits. There must be a deeper scheme at play.

“Maybe those villagers are deceived by the Datong Trading Firm,” Jiang Miao suggests. Based on the testimonies of these people, they seem to fall into a pre-laid trap. It’s akin to modern pyramid schemes, where sweet talk and tempting conditions lure you in. Once you’re in, the true nature of the operation reveals itself. Such scams can deceive even the educated in modern times, let alone the simple, uneducated common folk of the past.

“That’s likely the case.”

While the two are talking, Old Tan already examines all the stones mined here. He asks, “When can we head back?”

“Old Tan, have you figured out what kind of stones these are?” Jiang Miao inquires.

“I’ll need to conduct some tests after we return to reach a conclusion,” Old Tan replies. He is clearly a man of science. Even if he is 80% certain, he doesn’t state anything definitive until he has results.

“Then let me take you back now,” Jiang Miao offers, eager for answers.

Pei Che says, “Wait a moment. I will go back with you after I finish organizing matters here.”

He calls over two yamen runners. To one, he gives instructions to continue interrogating the guards captured yesterday, suggesting a one-by-one approach. He refuses to believe they are all unyielding. To the other, he assigns the task of questioning the deceived stone miners to see if they remember anything about the people who trick them into coming here. Additionally, he orders a full inventory of the stones produced by all the quarries here.

After delegating these tasks, Pei Che brings his team and leaves with Jiang Miao.

On the way back, Old Tan is engrossed in studying several stones he carries. Jiang Miao weighs each one in his hand, noting that they are all heavy.

“These should be ore, right? Ordinary stones don’t seem this heavy.”

“Possibly. But we don’t yet know what kind of ore it is.”

“Do different types of ores result in different levels of punishment?” Jiang Miao asks curiously.

“According to the laws of Daliang, if it’s just ordinary stone mining and they fail to report it to the authorities, all participants will have their family property confiscated, receive 100 strokes of the cane, and be sentenced to 10 years of hard labor. However, for cases like this where the mining has been ongoing for an extended period, the punishment is appropriately increased.

“If it involves mining and smelting ores such as iron, copper, tin, or lead without reporting it to the authorities, anyone involved within three generations of their family is executed without pardon. Those within nine generations are all exiled 1,000 miles away.

“If it involves gold or silver mines, all nine generations of the participants’ family are executed.”

After hearing Pei Che lay out the sentencing standards, Jiang Miao falls silent. At this moment, he deeply realizes that the world he is in now is one where imperial authority reigns supreme—a time when lives can be easily taken away. He also understands why the court places such importance on resources like salt and iron. Interfering with these is akin to shaking the foundation of the nation, almost no different from rebellion.

“Do the villagers who are tricked count as participants?” Jiang Miao asks, his tone heavy.

Pei Che shakes his head. “They are coerced and held here against their will. How could they be considered participants? However, the guards—knowing full well that this is illegal and immoral—choose to assist in the crime. They deserve the same punishment.”

Jiang Miao sighs. Now, everything depends on what type of ore these stones are.

“I’ve already written a report and submitted it. The Chengtian Prefect should be arriving soon. All I need to do is report the situation. As for sentencing and further investigations, it’s up to the higher authorities,” Pei Che says. As a low-ranking prefect, his role in such major cases is limited to this.

After entering the city, Jiang Miao and Old Tan continue on to test the stones’ properties, while Pei Che leads his team straight to the Datong Grain Store.

When they arrive, the store looks the same as before, its doors tightly shut, giving the impression that it has ceased operations. However, upon closer inspection, every corner is meticulously maintained, clearly indicating that the place isn’t abandoned.

Pei Che orders his yamen runners to block both the front and back doors, ensuring not even a fly can escape from the Datong Grain Store.

It is mid-morning, and the spectacle naturally draws the curiosity of the townsfolk. They gather at a distance, eager to see what crime the Datong Grain Store has committed.

Speaking of the Datong Grain Store, the citizens of Cangzhou hold nothing but resentment for this store. If it hasn’t closed early, it might have been torn apart by angry mobs. Now, seeing it surrounded by officials brings them a sense of satisfaction.

“Where is the manager of the Datong Grain Store?” a loud-voiced yamen runner calls out three times, but no one responds.

Pei Che summons the constable to his side and whispers a few words. The constable nods, then stands at the store entrance and announces loudly:

“By this evening, if the manager does not come forward, the authorities will immediately seal the Datong Grain Store, and all goods inside will be confiscated!”

He repeats this statement three times to ensure everyone nearby hears it. Afterward, they station guards in front of the store, preventing anyone from approaching.

Pei Che returns to the government office, where it should be lunchtime. Instead, the office is packed with people. As soon as they see Pei Che, they swarm forward, speaking all at once:

“Lord Pei, where were you yesterday?”

“Lord Pei, we heard there’s a major case in the outskirts of Cangzhou. Why didn’t you assign us to handle it?”

“Lord Pei, we’re more than willing to help lighten your burden!”

Their overly enthusiastic demeanor is unsettling, but Pei Che understands the reason behind it. They act this way because they feel they missed out during the Cangzhou Green venture. Previously, they hadn’t been optimistic about the tea mountain and had refused to take on the task when Pei Che assigned it. As a result, he and Jiang Miao had to handle it on their own. Later, when the tea is sold for a significant profit, they aren’t involved and can only watch as Pei Che decides how to allocate the large sums of money, leaving them filled with regret.

Now, having caught wind of another potential opportunity, they can’t resist trying to get a piece of the action.

Pei Che isn’t one to monopolize authority. Besides, sharing the workload on such matters is preferable to him guarding the secrets alone. After all, if higher authorities pursue accountability for years of negligence, his less-than-one-year tenure as prefect wouldn’t bear much blame. These officials, however, have been deceived once before, embarrassing the court with their oversight. This time, their negligence could cost them their positions. Giving them a chance to redeem themselves seems fair.

With a smile, Pei Che invites them into his study and discloses the investigation he has been pursuing, along with the secrets he has uncovered. At first, the officials react with mixed emotions of surprise and delight, followed by stunned expressions, and finally, utter despair. Their rapid changes of expression are almost as dramatic as a Sichuan opera performance.

If they had known that these seemingly inconsequential disappearances would escalate into such a massive case, they would have ordered a thorough investigation from the start—even if it meant turning the mountains around Cangzhou upside down. They wouldn’t have allowed those people to run rampant here. Unfortunately, what’s done is done, and there’s no undoing it now.

Already dejected, they listen as Pei Che mentions the Datong Grain Store situation. This leaves them even more deflated, like eggplants hit by frost. They slump completely.

Having purchased low-cost grain from the Datong Grain Store for years, it’s hard to deny any connection with the establishment. While they have had almost no dealings with the store since its closure, if the Datong Grain Store truly turns out to be behind the illegal mining operations, their careers will be over.

“Lord Pei, please guide us onto the right path!” All eyes, filled with hope, turn toward Pei Che.

Pei Che responds, “The best course of action right now is for everyone to work together and handle this case properly. If we succeed, we might be able to atone for our mistakes and persuade His Majesty to show leniency.”

The officials exchange uncertain glances, but they have no choice but to comply.

After sending them off, Pei Che rises and heads home.

At his house, the family is already eating. Xiao Shitou and Pei Mu are not picky eaters, and over the past few months, they have grown like bamboo shoots in spring. Pei Che feels they seem taller even after just a few days apart.

The two children are delighted to see Pei Che. After chatting with him for a while, they reluctantly return to their rooms for a nap at Jiang Miao’s subtle urging.

“How’s Old Tan doing?” Pei Che asks.

“Still working,” Jiang Miao replies. “I think he wants to refine the stones himself to see what they produce.”

“He knows how to refine stones?”

“Of course! He’s worked at mines for so long. As long as he has the right tools, refining stones is nothing to him,” Jiang Miao says, giving Pei Che a look of mock disdain. “If it weren’t for Aunt Zhang mentioning him to me before, we might not have found someone this skilled in time.” Jiang Miao still enjoys listening to neighborhood gossip, just as he did back at the Bai family yard.

Pei Che can’t help but laugh at Jiang Miao’s smug expression. “Indeed, I have to thank my capable assistant for the help.”

“Good that you know,” Jiang Miao replies, ignoring his teasing. “Now hurry up and eat. We’ll go check on him after you’re done.”

Pei Che quickens his pace and finishes his meal.