Chapter 60

Without waiting for Li Wenjun to ask, Sun Baicao took the initiative to speak about another matter.

"Wenjun, I'm really sorry. You asked me to help find news of your parents, but there has been no news at all so far. I haven't spared any effort in printing missing person notices or asking for help, but the results have not been significant," Sun Baicao said.

Li Wenjun's expression darkened, and he asked, "Uncle Sun, is there really no news at all?"

Sun Baicao shook his head and said, "In the county, there are over three hundred people who frequently travel outside for business. I have visited each and every one of them, and they all clearly told me that there is no news."

"Could something have happened to them?" Li Wenjun muttered.

Sun Baicao hurriedly said, "Wenjun, don't worry. In a vast sea of people, trying to find a few individuals without any leads is like looking for a needle in a haystack. The chances of finding them in a short time are very small. But good people will have good fortune. As long as we don't give up and keep searching, we will eventually find your parents and your siblings."

Li Wenjun nodded and said, "I escaped from the drought-stricken area, and that kind of hardship is unbearable for anyone. I hope what you say is true, that good people will have good fortune."

"It will be," the Sun family father and son said in unison to comfort him.

"I hope so," Li Wenjun managed to force a smile and said, "By the way, Uncle Sun, I have another favor to ask."

Sun Baicao quickly said, "What is it?"

Li Wenjun said, "I would like to ask you to keep an eye out for medicinal herbs that are a hundred years old. If you find any that are even older, that would be even better. Please spread the word that as long as the herbs are genuine, of the right age, and in good condition, the price is negotiable. I will pay more than the market price, not less."

Sun Baicao nodded. Last year, Li Wenjun had asked him to find a hundred-year-old medicinal herb. Zhang Tao, another herb gatherer, had found one, but it was forcibly bought by the county magistrate's daughter, Wu Xuemei. Sun Baicao didn't know what happened after that, and he certainly didn't know that Li Wenjun had later taken the wild ginseng.

Sun Jianing interjected, "Brother Wenjun, it seems that every favor you ask us to do is not easy."

Li Wenjun laughed and said, "If it were easy, I would have done it myself. I wouldn't dare to trouble Uncle Sun. Jianing, do you have time now? If you do, come with me to do something."

Sun Jianing, who had been cooped up in the herbal shop for a long time, was eager to get out. He quickly said, "Sure. Brother Wenjun, where are you taking me? What are we going to do?"

"We're going to the county office. I've done something earth-shattering, and I want you to be a witness," Li Wenjun said with a smile.

"What big thing? Could it be that you've found a sister-in-law for me, Brother Wenjun?" Sun Jianing's question was a bit absurd.

Li Wenjun chuckled and said, "It's not that I'm getting married, but that I've killed someone. The notorious bandit, Wang Yonggui. Do you remember him? He's dead, and I killed him."

The Sun family father and son were stunned, their eyes wide open as they looked at Li Wenjun.

"Wenjun, this is no time for jokes," Sun Baicao said.

"I'm not joking. Uncle Sun, it's almost dark. Close the shop quickly. After closing, you and Jianing can accompany me to the county office to see the magistrate," Li Wenjun said.

Sun Baicao was skeptical, but if it weren't for Li Wenjun's usual calm and steady demeanor, he might have raised doubts. Despite his skepticism, Sun Baicao followed Li Wenjun's instructions and closed the shop with Sun Jianing.

It took about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea for the Sun family to lock up the herbal shop. Then, the two of them accompanied Li Wenjun to the county office.

Sun Jianing was excited and was about to shout out, but Sun Baicao pulled him back and shook his head. Sun Baicao had his reasons; it's easy to gather a crowd, but if the head Li Wenjun brought out wasn't Wang Yonggui's, Li Wenjun would become a laughingstock.

If it wasn't Wang Yonggui, there would be a very real problem: murder is a crime. If the head was revealed in public and it wasn't Wang Yonggui's, it would mean Li Wenjun had killed someone else, breaking the law. The county magistrate would investigate, and the problem would be serious.

If there were no outsiders present, he could try to negotiate and bribe the magistrate, and maybe the matter could be smoothed over. But with many outsiders watching, there would be no room for negotiation.

Li Wenjun ignored Sun Baicao's actions. Whether he announced it now or waited a few days, the effect wouldn't be much different, just a delay of a day or two.

The county of Sanshan wasn't very large, and it didn't take much effort for Li Wenjun and his companions to reach the county office. It was already getting dark, and lanterns were lit at the entrance, with two guards standing under them.

Just as Li Wenjun was about to approach the guards to speak, Sun Baicao held him back and whispered, "Wenjun, you are the boss, and you should maintain your dignity. Let me handle this rough work."

"Then I'll trouble you, Uncle Sun," Li Wenjun agreed and stopped. He wasn't thinking that his status was higher than Sun Baicao's, but he knew he was far less experienced in dealing with officials. He just wanted to get the matter done smoothly without any complications.

Sun Baicao walked up to one of the guards, who shouted, "Hey, what are you doing? The county office is a restricted area; you can't just barge in."

Sun Baicao bowed and said, "Sir, I am Sun Baicao, originally a herb gatherer. I opened a herbal shop just before the Spring Festival. At that time, I came to the county office to complete the necessary procedures. That is our shop owner, Li Wenjun, and beside him is my son, Sun Jianing. We have come to see the magistrate today. Please inform him."

"Do you see what time it is? The magistrate has worked hard all day and needs to rest. Besides, he is a person of high status, not just anyone can see him," the guard said with a sneer.

"I understand, I understand," Sun Baicao said with a smile, taking out a string of copper coins and placing them in the guard's hand. "A small token of my appreciation, please have a good cup of tea, sir."

The guard weighed the more than a hundred copper coins in his hand, his face breaking into a smile. "Alright, wait here. I'll go and inform him."

After a while, the guard came out, his smile gone, and he said sternly, "The magistrate has ordered that he has very important matters to attend to and no one is to disturb him, or they will break their legs. Have you heard? Leave now."