My Promotion Story Through Time Travel

Chapter 82 Silver Notes

"Xiao Lin, quickly bring me a bowl of water." Old Huang hadn't even entered the house yet when he loudly called for Lin Ziping to bring him water.

Lin Ziping did not get up, but casually pointed to the table in the courtyard, indicating that the yamen runners should fetch water themselves.

"Old Huang, how's the situation?" Shi Yong asked with concern as he walked out of Hu Xinhua's main room.

"They're all here, take them and look at them yourselves." Old Huang took out a stack of papers from his pocket and handed them to Shi Yong.

Lin Ziping handed the cloth bag he found on the roof beam to Lao Huang.

"This gold hairpin is really beautiful! Wow, and so many silver notes too!" Old Huang opened the cloth bag and asked in surprise, "Where did these come from?"

“Ziping found it at Hu Xinhua’s house,” Shi Yong said. “We’ll go back and have someone check which family made this hairpin, and see if we can find out anything.”

Old Huang patted Lin Ziping on the shoulder and praised, "Little Lin is not bad."

Lin Ziping pursed his lips and didn't say anything more.

Old Huang took out a silver note and examined it carefully: "This is a seven-year-old note from the nineteenth year of the Shunhua reign. Shi Yong, do you think this logo is from Baotong Money Shop a few years ago?"

Shi Yong took the banknote and held it up to the light, examining it carefully. After a while, he said, "Two dragons fighting for a treasure, that's right. This is indeed the design from the old banknotes of Baotong Money Shop. I remember they didn't use this design two years ago. Baotong Money Shop is a famous money shop in Zezhou. How could Hu Xinhua's family have this?"

Lin Ziping took it and examined it; it was indeed shaped like two dragons. He had seen people collect banknotes, stamps, and other items before; they were worthless at the time, but their value increased several times over in a few years.

"Take this back with you and ask at Baotong Money Shop," Old Huang said.

"Old Huang, isn't this unnecessary? It takes two days to go to Zezhou and back. The case seems quite clear now, why make another trip?" a constable next to him asked doubtfully.

Old Huang glanced at the constable with dissatisfaction: "The higher-ups have ordered us to thoroughly investigate this case, which means that no question can be overlooked."

Shi Yong nodded in agreement and said, "After we get back tomorrow, please have the Zhuangban brothers go to Zezhou and ask around. Old Huang, what have you found over there?"

"We went out for a walk today and didn't find anything useful. Everyone in the village thinks Hu Xinhua is an impeccable, perfect man. Tsk tsk, what a bunch of fools," Old Huang said contemptuously.

Shi Yong said, "It can only be said that Hu Xinhua disguised himself too well. However, the Zhang Ershun family next door can confirm Hu Xinhua's true colors."

"Is Zhang Ershun next door?" Old Huang asked in surprise. "Where's his son?"

Lin Ziping replied, "Zhang Ershun said he went to help out at a relative's house in the next village and isn't home."

"The next village? Which village? I'll go ask." With that, Old Huang stood up and headed towards Zhang Ershun's house.

"Hey, Lao Huang..." Lin Ziping looked at Lao Huang's back and turned to Shi Yong, saying, "Isn't he taking anyone with him?"

Shi Yong chuckled lightly: "Let him go, Old Huang knows what he's doing."

Several constables brought back a basket of cakes from somewhere. Having not eaten for almost a day, Lin Ziping squatted at Hu Xinhua's door and ate them with great relish.

"What did you eat?" Old Huang asked with a smile as he came out of Zhang Ershun's house and saw Lin Ziping squatting at the door.

Lin Ziping swallowed what was in his mouth and handed over the uneaten pancake in his hand: "They brought this back from outside, here you go."

"For me?" Old Huang asked.

Lin Ziping didn't dare go into Hu Xinhua's kitchen. He had been drinking only cold water all day. He didn't know what was wrong with his body; he suffered excruciating pain during his period every month. He was afraid to see a doctor and could only endure it. Eating this pancake without water was too dry, so he decided to give the extra one to Lao Huang. Lin Ziping nodded and said, "I took two, but I can't eat anymore. This one is for you."

Old Huang smiled and took the cake, saying, "Thanks."

Old Huang and Lin Ziping squatted down side by side and said, "Xiao Lin, come with me to Xinping Village next door tomorrow."

Lin Ziping turned to look at Lao Huang with a puzzled expression and asked, "Zhang Xiaohu is in Xinping Village?"

Old Huang nodded and smiled mysteriously: "You'll find out when you get there."

Lin Ziping pursed his lips and said, "Say it or not, I already guessed it. I came with you this morning. Are we going back now? There's not enough room for everyone at Hu Xinhua's house."

Seeing this, Old Huang laughed heartily: "Aren't you afraid of the recent death in Hu Xinhua's family?"

“Being a worker isn’t like enjoying a life of luxury; you can’t choose for yourself.” Lin Ziping sighed. “It seems none of you are going back. What am I supposed to do if I go back alone? If I don’t go back, I have to find a place to stay. Sigh, I’m afraid there’s no way.”

Seemingly surprised by Lin Ziping's words, Old Huang sat down on the ground and sighed, "It's not easy for anyone to earn a living."

Perhaps it was the effect of the flatbread that made Lao Huang and Lin Ziping suddenly become much more familiar with each other, and Lao Huang even found a straw mat for Lin Ziping to sit on.

As darkness fell, the other constables found places to rest, while Lin Ziping and Lao Huang sat at the door to cool off.

Old Huang pulled open his clothes, found a palm-leaf fan somewhere, and fanned himself, saying, "Xiao Lin, aren't you hot, still wrapped up so tightly?"

It was hot. How could it not be hot? Lin Ziping felt her clothes were soaked with sweat and smelled terrible. She missed the short-sleeved dresses of the past. But in this era, she had to disguise herself as a man, endure the heat, and be careful not to give herself away or let others see through her disguise.

Seeing that Old Huang Lin Ziping did not reply, he continued to fan himself with a palm leaf fan and said, "I understand. It is said in the play that scholars should be particular, that they should be particular about the integrity of scholars and not be impolite. But I don't understand, Xiao Lin. You are already a scholar. Why don't you study hard to pass the imperial examination and come to this godforsaken place, Fuchun?"

Lin Ziping said, "Uncle Huang, to be honest, I ranked among the last few in last year's prefectural examination. I'm not good at either academics or martial arts, so I won't compete with others on the narrow bridge. Besides, my parents died early, and I've been living with my uncle since I was a child. I've already caused them a lot of trouble, so I'm really embarrassed to continue bothering them."

Old Huang looked at Lin Ziping with sympathy and comforted him, "It's alright. Now you just work hard, save money, and in the future you can marry a wife, have a big, healthy son, and take good care of your uncle."

Lin Ziping...

"Getting married and having a healthy son is completely unnecessary," Lin Ziping thought with a bitter smile. She had never planned to get married, and in her current state, she didn't know when she could regain her female identity. Besides, even without dressing as a man, she couldn't bring herself to use someone else's body to have a romantic relationship with another person. She couldn't help but sigh; it seemed that no matter where she was, she would always be alone.

"Don't think too much. I'm going to take a walk around the area. Do you want to come?" Old Huang asked.

"Let's go, let's go to the village head's house and ask if there's a spare room we can stay in for the night." Lin Ziping got up, dusted off his clothes, and left with Lao Huang.