"Government officers, where is Duan Siyuan?"
"He's being held here, and will be taken to the county tomorrow."
The Li family, known for their wealth in the town and nearby county, as well as their scholarly accomplishments, commanded the respect of the stationed patrol leaders who had to speak courteously.
Chen Yi spoke up, "Who is being held inside?"
"The whole Duan family is in the mansion, more than thirty people,"
said the patrol leader with a long horse-like face, sizing up Chen Yi,
"Young man, you must be from out of town."
"Just passing through. Can I go in to see the people inside?"
Chen Yi gazed at the mansion before him. The town wasn't a county, so there was no county jail to hold people; those caught typically had to be confined locally and then sent to the county the next day.
The constables were known for their strict adherence to rules and, seeing that Chen Yi wanted to see someone without offering a bribe, their stance became uncompromising.
