Conspiration

"Sir Bao, please have mercy, if the fire really because of my mistake, I will compensate you for that"

"Mister You, aren't you heard what officer Ling said just now? The cause of the fire is already found, if you don't want to compensate me, just said so. I will submit a complaint to the court and let them decide. Is that what you want?"

"No, please don't Sir Bao. I will compensate you, but I don't have much money right now"

"How much you have right now?"

"Only eight hundred silver tael, Sir Bao, but I need them to support my family since I can't work for a while"

"Fine, give me seven hundred tael silver and I consider these matters finish. One hundred silver tael is enough to live for couple months right? Consider that I'm still merciful to you"

"Yes, thank you, Sir Bao. Wife, take seven hundred silver tael from our saving to compensate Sir Bao"

My mother goes to take what my father asks. And under officer Ling witnessing, my father and Mr. Bao write an agreement for that compensation.

Before leaving, Mr. Bao still speaking something to my father

"Mister You, actually I glad to have you as a tenant, you always pay the rent on time. but I can't let a reckless person like you to rent my shop again. I don't want my properties caught on fire again. So when you recovered, don't find me to rent a shop again"

After saying that, Mr. Bao left our house, leaving us that still mourning about what happens to my family.

---------

After receiving the compensation money, Mr. Bao walks with officer Ling back to their respective place.

"Officer Ling, thank you very much for your assistance. Without your presence, I don't think this compensation thing will go smoothly like that"

"Nah, it's my duty as Fire officers Sir Bao. This case also can solve fast because we have eyewitness so we can make a deduction about how the fire started"

"But without officer Ling presence, I think that mister You will refuse to pay. As my thanks, can I offer you a ride to your office, officer Ling?"

"I can't receive money for my duty, but for a ride…why not"

Officer Ling and Mr. Bao get into Mr. Bao carriage that waiting outside and move toward officer Ling's office in the governmental district.

After dropping officer Ling there, Mr. Bao returns to his house in the upper-class residential district, a place where rich and aristocrat's people live. When he steps down from his carriage, his servant already approaching him and bring the news

"Master, there are two guests waiting for you already"

"Who are they?"

"They didn't say their names, they only mention they come here for the work business"

"They waiting in where?"

"In the guest room, master"

"Good. I take them personally, no need for tea or something and don't let anyone approaching guest room when I'm meet them"

"Understand master"

Mr. Bao immediately goes to the guest room to see his visitor. In there already waiting two men who stand up from their seat when seeing Mr. Bao coming.

"You! Didn't I tell you not to coming here before I told you to come?"

"I'm sorry Sir Bao, but I have another job waiting and I want to receive the rest of my payment"

"Fine, take your money and leave. You and I never meet and you never know me before"

Mr. Bao takes a sack with money from his pocket and throws it to that man. The man accepts it and starts counting the money inside.

"Good, the number is correct. Nice to do business with you, Sir Bao. But can I ask you something?"

"Say it"

"Why you order me to burn your own shop? I usually accept an order to burn enemy properties from my client, but only this time I accept an order to burn someone own property"

"That shop is already old, I want to demolish it and build a bigger and better one. The problem is the tenant, I still have the contract to rent him that shop for another year. With you burn it, I can demolish the shop while getting compensation money. After that fire, I can build a new shop for my own restaurant, you know, my son is just accepted as a cook in the Palace kitchen. His reputation as the royal cook will bring customer for my new restaurant, and I can't wait until that tenant's rent time ended. So I hire you to burn my own shop and hire you to give false testimony"

"But sir, what happens if that tenant doesn't have money to compensate you?"

"He has the money since he asks the price of that shop. If he wants to buy it, he must have the money, right?"

"Really smart…this one only can admire Sir Bao excellent thinking"

"Hahaha…you already get what you want, you can leave now"

"Yes, goodbye Sir Bao"

After that, the two men left Bao residence silently and disappear within crowds in the street.