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Under Xia Zheng’s pressure, Li Chang carried out his duties with unprecedented efficiency, rushing to the yamen without a moment’s rest; he called out for the secretary and all the yamen staff even before he had the chance to sit down and rest. Despite inquiring at length, nobody knew that the Fuman Building had been burglarized the previous night.

Li Chang scratched his head, having lived a good part of his life and spent not an insignificant amount of time in Zhuma Town. He had truly never heard of anyone so short-sighted as to dare steal from the Fuman Building.

But if not because the Fuman Building was robbed, why else would Young Master Xia be so angry, even sending his trusted aide to have him make an arrest?

While he was pondering, a seemingly insignificant government official timidly stepped forward from a corner, whispering, "Sir, I have heard something, but I am unsure whether or not it should be said."

Li Chang, vexed to no end, had no time to consider the words of a minor official.

However, the cautious secretary gave a nod, signaling him to continue.

With permission granted, the government official’s courage grew, and he said, "Yesterday, there was a pastry shop that opened on West Street.

My mother went to join the crowd. I heard that the shop was quite impressive, and even Shopkeeper Liu from the Fuman Building and the young lady from Jin Ji Vinegar Workshop personally went to offer their congratulations. "

A shop opening in the town? How was it he hadn’t heard of it? Li Chang’s brow furrowed.

The secretary, seeing his expression, knew what he was thinking. Whenever there was a shop opening in town, or if a wealthy family was getting married or having children, they would come to the yamen to invite Li Chang, the Master Magistrate, to grace the event with his presence.

To attend was but a pretense; the real purpose was to give gifts.

It seemed that the owner of this pastry shop was either a foreigner who didn’t know better or a fool deliberately challenging the Master Magistrate.

The secretary, hands tucked into his sleeves, watched with amusement, knowing that the pastry shop owner was about to have a very hard time because the Master Magistrate had taken a disliking to him.

The minor official, oblivious to the subtle exchange between Li Chang and the secretary, continued on with his secretive report: "Not only that, I heard from my mother that even the Young Master of the Fuman Building personally delivered a golden, glittering God of Wealth statue! It was, it had to be this big!"

The minor official gestured with his hands, as if he had seen it himself, claiming it was nearly half his height!

If Lin Yuan were to witness such a comical scene, she would likely bend over in laughter.

A God of Wealth statue from the Young Master of the Fuman Building! Even if it were only palm-sized, that would still be of the utmost honor!

In the main hall, quite a few people who heard the story started chattering amongst themselves, each claiming that what they had seen or heard was true, dismissing others’ claims as false.

In any case, the more they talked, the more outlandish the tales became and the more magical the owner of Rice Flower Fragrance seemed.

Li Chang, standing in the hall, was now soaked in cold sweat that had permeated his official robe. The secretary, too, started to mop his brow with his sleeve.

Just a moment ago, who was it that was unhappy with the owner of Rice Flower Fragrance for not registering with them? Good thing they hadn’t caused any trouble for the shop owner; otherwise, it was questionable whether they could keep wearing their hats!

"What is the name of this pastry shop? Who is the owner? Do they have any background?" Li Chang slapped the table, urgently asking.

A few minor officials, not expecting Li Chang to be genuinely interested, quickly started speaking all at once.

Li Chang wiped his forehead and murmured to himself, "Rice Flower Fragrance, a little girl surnamed Lin? Are there any rich and noble families in town with such a person?"

The secretary beside him shook his head in confusion, "Not just the town; it seems there isn’t a wealthy family with the surname Lin in the villages below either."

How strange!

Li Chang tapped the table, suddenly recalling something. The first time Xia Zheng barged into Li Mansion demanding he find someone, there had been a little girl with him!

Could it be that the little girl was this Miss Lin!

The minor official suddenly added, "Sir, I also heard from my mother today that Rice Flower Fragrance was burglarized last night and is not open for business today. My mother was planning to buy some pastries to treat me, but now she won’t be able to."

Burglarized?

Li Chang was greatly alarmed and finally understood why Xia Zheng wanted him to hunt down thieves; it was all for this young girl!

"Quickly, secretary, gather the men, and arrest all the thieves in the town for me! Oh, and prepare a generous gift; I, I shall personally pay a visit to offer consolation at Rice Flower Fragrance," he commanded.

Although the secretary was not fully aware of Xia Zheng’s identity, he was clear about the incident of him galloping into Li Mansion; naturally, he understood that Xia Zheng was not an ordinary man.

He quickly summoned everyone to carry out the orders, selected a gift from the storeroom, and hurried out following Li Chang.