County Magistrate Hu invited Chu Nanzhi to take a seat again. Then, he said slowly with a frown,
"I believe Madam Chu must have heard that someone in the county has gone missing recently."
Chu Nanzhi bit her lips and nodded slightly.
She had not expected him to really invite her because of this matter.
"Ever since the case was reported, I've dispatched people to search the entire city and put up notices everywhere. Nearly 10 days have passed since then, yet I haven't found the slightest trace of the child."
As County Magistrate Hu was speaking, Chu Nanzhi could not help but interrupt him.
"I wonder which family's child went missing and caused you so much worry?"
Missing people were inevitable in her era, let alone in this era. There were many cases every year.
As public servants, they could not cover all the bases in looking for every missing person. They could only do their best.
At this moment, County Deputy Sun, who had been silent for a long time, finally spoke up.
"If he were just a child from an ordinary family, we would not be so worried, but that young man is the only descendant of the Zhao family."
"Mr. Zhao?"
Chu Nanzhi vaguely remembered such a person, but she did not have much specific information. She only knew that he was a very rich person.
"That's right. Elder Zhao is the richest man in our county. His first wife, Madam Wu, was the biological sister of Governor Wu of Pingning County. She died young, leaving behind only one son. Although Elder Zhao remarried many years ago, his second wife has been childless. His family dotes on this only son very much. I heard that the Governor invites the child to his residence every year."
When it came to the details, County Deputy Sun seemed to know more than the county magistrate, and was very talkative.
Chu Nanzhi saw that Magistrate Hu's brows were tightly knit and grew a little curious. "No matter how rich and powerful Elder Zhao is, the adults can't be blamed for losing the child."
"Says who?"
Magistrate Hu's expression was gloomy as he rubbed his hands anxiously.
"I've tried my best to search for him. But when I couldn't find anything, Elder Zhao insisted that I'm incompetent. Now, he's spreading the news that bandits have entered the city and kidnapped his child."
"The bandits rob for money. Even if they had kidnapped the boy, they should have sent a ransom letter."
"Of course, that makes sense. Moreover, I've already gotten rid of all the bandits since I took office. How can there be bandits? I think that Elder Zhao has a feud with someone who wants leave him with no descendants. But I have to be careful of what I say."
County Magistrate Hu narrowed his eyes helplessly.
"It's almost autumn. When the year-end assessment comes, the Assistant Head of the prefecture will visit our county. I originally wanted to use this tax case to get a promotion, but if Elder Zhao were to use this matter against me and say that I let bandits into the city, I'm afraid that my position that I just regained will be lost again."
"So that's what you're worried about."
She knew very well that for an official to achieve anything politically, the security of a place was especially important. It would be a black mark against him if there were bandits causing trouble.
When she thought of that, she could not help but smile wryly. "However, I'm afraid that I can't help you."
"You're too modest, Madam Chu."
County Magistrate Hu walked around her with his hands behind his back and vowed,
"I still remember how you solved the tax case that day. It was really an eye-opener. If you can't help me with this case, I'm afraid no one else in Luyan Harbor can help me solve this problem."
"Sir, you're flattering me."
Chu Nanzhi was not trying to be humble. Cases of this type were very difficult.
After all, this was not her era where there were surveillance cameras and information systems were advanced.
The conditions here were terrifyingly primitive.
Even a leg wound could kill a person, let alone anything else.
"Madam Chu, your efforts won't go unrewarded."
County Magistrate Hu was afraid that she would refuse, so to prevent that, he immediately said,
"Elder Zhao's family is one of the richest families in Luyan Harbor. If we can find the child, everyone will naturally be happy. There will definitely be a generous reward. Besides…"
As he spoke, he asked County Deputy Sun to bring four silver ingots and place them on the table. He continued, "I've already prepared twenty taels of silver for Madam Chu. I will cover all the expenses incurred during the investigation."
"Oh, there's silver… there's silver…"
Chu Nanzhi stared fixedly at the twenty taels of silver.
The way these rotten officials socialized.
How annoying!
She smiled happily. "If there's silver, then we can discuss matters"
In these times, no ordinary woman could earn that much silver. It was almost three months' worth of Lin Jinxiao's salary.
It would be a waste to let it go.
So, she was a temporary employee of the county office?
Moreover, she only had to work once and she would earn more than Lin Jinxiao and Li Ce.
Looking at the glittering silver ingots, her tone suddenly became serious.
"Please bring the dossier for me to read. I'll try, but I can't guarantee that I can give you a satisfactory explanation."
"It's fine. I'm already extremely grateful that Madam Chu is willing to share my burden."
The county magistrate and county deputy were delighted that she was willing to look at the case.
After all, she was an extraordinary woman who had solved the tax case. They were filled with anticipation.
Over the past few days, although they had braved the storm and turned the entire county upside down, they had not found a single clue. The Zhao family was growing more and more urgent, and they were really anxious.
While County Deputy Sun went to get the case file, County Magistrate Hu pushed the silver in front of Chu Nanzhi and gestured generously.
"Madam Chu, please accept this silver first. If you can help the Zhao family find the boy, I will reward you handsomely."
Chu Nanzhi had not even read the case file and she had no idea how to go about the case. She did not dare to accept the silver.
Just as she was hesitating, Magistrate Hu pushed the silver in front of her again and smiled sincerely.
"I've said before that I won't let your efforts go unrewarded. Actually, I shouldn't have troubled you to come here and be seen in public. But I've been really anxious and uneasy because of this matter and I had no choice. So you must accept this little gift from me."
Chu Nanzhi stared at his earnest and sincere expression and knew that this time was different.
If she did not accept the silver, he would definitely think that she was patronizing him.
After some thought, she felt that she had to take the silver to put him at ease. "Thank you, my lord."
However, if the entire county office was helpless, it must be very difficult case.
She was not completely confident.
Not long after, County Deputy Sun brought over all the dossiers.
As he handed the files to Chu Nanzhi, he explained,
"This is all the information recorded since the case happened, including the statements of everyone in the Zhao family, as well as the bailiffs who were on patrol that night, and the information obtained over the past few days. Not a word is missing. Madam Chu, please take a look."
Well, it was quite comprehensive.
Chu Nanzhi nodded in satisfaction and skimmed through the file.
The dossier was divided into two volumes:
The first volume recorded Young Master Zhao's personal information and described the entire Zhao family before and after his disappearance.
The second volume recorded the details of the bailiffs' patrol on the night of the incident and some important information that they had obtained over the past few days.
In summary, Young Master Zhao was ten years old. He was filial, benevolent, intelligent, and healthy. Eight days ago, he had disappeared in the morning. There had been no disturbance in his residence the night before. The city was peaceful.
The servants of Zhao Mansion discovered that their young master had gone missing between 5 and 8 am. They had reported the case to the county office at 7:00 am. By 9 am., the county office had locked all four gates and closely interrogated anyone trying to leave. They also sent out three groups of bailiffs to search the city. Right on the heels of that, they posted notices and interviewed travelers in all the villages.
A very important piece of information recorded in the case file attracted Chu Nanzhi's attention. The night before the incident, there were no reports of theft or robbery in the county.
From this, she could conclude that the bandits had not entered the city to kidnap Young Master Zhao.
Just as she said, if he had been kidnapped, the Zhao Residence would have received a ransom note long ago.
However, no such note was recorded in the dossier.