After the whole family was swept away, I lay down flat

Chapter 923 Inquire
There were not many words written on the paper. Apart from the name "Qiao Fu", there was a place name, a shop name, a person's name, and an address on Zhengyangmen Street written in small characters.

Haijiao recognized it at a glance. The address was exactly where the shop was, and the name was not unfamiliar. When Ma Shangyi asked someone to send Fang's mother and daughter from Yongping Prefecture to the capital, the leader of the caravan was called this name. He was the adopted son of a father-in-law. Haijiao remembered that his family opened a pawn shop and a grocery store.

Did Ma finally get news about "Brother Qiao" from Fang and Hai Baozhu? But is this all they know about him?
Ma sighed and said, "Baozhu has something on her mind. She doesn't want to see me and doesn't care about being sick. Her mother has seen it for a long time and has tried to persuade her in every way, but she has failed to persuade her to tell the truth. This time your cousin was sick and Baozhu was taking care of her. Seeing that her mother did not forget to persuade her even when she was sick, she finally understood her mother's painstaking efforts and was willing to speak up about this person!"

Hai Baozhu knew the real name of "Brother Qiao" and she didn't know how they could communicate with each other without being seen by so many people during the short journey. In short, Hai Baozhu fell in love with Qiao Fu, and Qiao Fu was not completely indifferent to her, but he refused to show it. He always insisted on the difference in status in front of Hai Baozhu, treated her with courtesy, and tactfully advised her not to have any expectations of him.

But the more Qiao Fu said this, the more Hai Baozhu felt that he was honest and reliable. She actually had no other expectations for her future husband, and she didn't want a rich marriage with a wealthy family. She just hoped that the other party would be an honest and reliable person who would not lie to her and could protect her, so that the two of them could live a quiet life. Even if the two of them could only have plain tea and simple meals, it was better than living in a wealthy house with fear every day.

Hai Baozhu knew very little about Qiao Fu. Although she was willing to confide in her mother Fang, the information she could provide was too little. Although Fang also recognized Qiao Fu, she had not taken the caravan guard seriously in those few days. At most, she would only think that he was a good young man. How could she observe him carefully as a candidate for a future son-in-law? Now she only knew that the young man was named Qiao Fu, a native of the capital, who often worked as a bodyguard and escort for others. The shop he most often dealt with was the shop opened by the son of Ma Shangxin's old friend.

She had sent someone to the shop to try to find out Qiao Fu's whereabouts. However, the shop assistant said that Qiao Fu was only occasionally hired to work as a guard at his home, and he had another job on weekdays. At the moment, the shop didn't know where he was, nor did they know his background or who else was at home.

Fang didn't know where to find him except for the clue of the shop. However, she felt that Qiao Fu was very familiar with the people in the caravan during the days they traveled together, and had a good relationship with the leading merchant. It was impossible that he was just hired by chance. She suspected that the people in the shop actually knew Qiao Fu's whereabouts, but did not know her intention, so they refused to disclose the information. She didn't know anyone in the capital, and when Ma went to visit her, she could only ask her second aunt for help.

Ma thought that if Haijiao could help in this matter, it would be better to help as much as possible: "There is nothing wrong with this young man, but who asked Baozhu to like him? You can help to ask around. If he is already married, or his social status is too far behind and it is impossible to get married, tell Baozhu later and she will give up. Otherwise, she will always be thinking about this man and will not go to see him at all. How many years can she delay at her age? She really can't afford to delay. If this young man is a good person and his family background is not too bad, but he has done his current job because his family is poor and he has no connections, then we can also think of a way to arrange a better future for him. If he is a man who can be cultivated, it will not be a disgrace for Baozhu to marry him. Why don't you fulfill Baozhu's wish?"

Haijiao put the paper away and said, "I understand. Grandma, don't worry. I will find the person after I finish my work in the palace. Tell your cousin and Baozhu not to worry. No matter what the result is, I will give them an explanation."

Ma was relieved to see that he agreed, and said with a smile: "You don't have to rush. Your own work is more important. After you finish your work, it won't be too late to ask someone about Qiao Fu. Anyway, it's a national mourning now, and there won't be weddings in the capital for several months. Baozhu herself is not in good health and needs to be recuperated. There is no need to rush."

Haijiao agreed with a smile. Of course he would not be in a hurry, as he still had to work in the palace. He could just tell Zhang Lurong to find someone. Qiao Fu was a spy of the Imperial Guard anyway, so how could the Imperial Guards themselves be afraid of not being able to get the news? As for himself, he had recently taken the opportunity to get close to Qiao Fu's superior, the captain of a thousand households, while on duty in the palace. When he finished his work in the palace, it would probably be about time, and he could ask the captain of a thousand households for someone, and it would be convenient for him to arrange anything later.

After accepting this request, Haijiao advised Ma: "It's cold and windy outside. If grandma is worried about my cousin's condition, just send someone to check on her every day, and don't go out alone all the time. If you really want to go out, you should harness a carriage or hire a sedan chair, and don't walk there on your own, otherwise the wind will give you a headache and you will get sick again. Grandpa, second uncle and I will all be on duty outside. If they knew you were sick, how could we still work with peace of mind?" Ma smiled and said, "How can I be so squeamish? I'm in good health! It's just a short distance. By the time the servants have harnessed the carriage and hired the sedan chair, I'll have arrived at the destination. Why bother and spend money? Don't worry, I'm dressed warmly when I go out. Your sister always reminds me to wear a big cloak and a thick felt hat so that I won't be blown by the wind."

Haijiao turned to look at his sister. Haitang winked at him: "Don't worry, brother, I'm here with grandma. How can I let her get sick?"

Haijiao couldn't help but laugh and said no more.

He chatted with his grandmother for a while before leaving. Haitang followed him to his room and asked in a low voice, "Brother, are you sure about Qiao Fu?"

Haijiao nodded: "I have already made friends with Qiao Fu's immediate superior, and we get along pretty well. I have lent him money twice and have not asked him to pay it back. He owes me a favor and thinks I am knowledgeable and sensible. How can he refuse me if I ask him for one or two inconspicuous spies? But now everyone is still in the palace, so it is not convenient for the time being, and it is difficult to find an excuse. When I leave the palace, I will find an excuse to investigate the case in Jinyiwei and say that I am short of manpower, and then I can ask him."

Haitang was curious: "Does the captain need money? Why is he asking my brother for money?"

Hai Jiao sneered, "This group of senior captains all have the habit of drinking and gambling in private, but it has never interfered with the main business, so the higher-ups turned a blind eye. They can't drink in the palace, and occasionally have a gambling game at night to have fun. If they are unlucky and lose all their money, they have to find ways to borrow money from everywhere. The captain who is in charge of Qiao Fu is a henpecked husband. He is under the control of a tigress at home. He dare not let his family know that he lost money, but he has to pay back the gambling debts he owes. I helped him at this time and didn't make it public. Naturally, he was grateful to me and always said that I was his good brother when we met." In fact, in terms of age, the other party could be his uncle, so what kind of brother is he? They were all bought with silver.

But although this brotherly relationship is virtual, it is enough to be used in small matters. It is also thanks to Qiao Fu that he is not taken seriously by the other party, otherwise Haijiao would not be able to grasp it!

Haitang didn't expect that her brother knew so much about his colleagues: "Is this information known to you in your previous life?"

Haijiao raised the corner of his mouth: "How dare a small spy ask about the affairs of the Qianhu Lord's family? Of course, I found out recently. Zhang Lurong is an expert in this kind of thing!"