He Zifeng said calmly, “After my house burned down, my eldest brother immediately brought over 20 taels.”
His words targeted Wan Hai, who had earlier incited Liangzi’s mother to accuse him of murder. Wan Hai had left no room for reconciliation, so He Zifeng saw no need to hold back.
The old town chief pondered this, his gaze shifting to Wan Hai, who inexplicably grew tense. It felt as if the old man could see right through his petty schemes.
Wan Hai, flustered, snapped, “What are you implying, He Zifeng? Is it wrong to show brotherly concern? You really can’t be kind to people these days.” Wan Hai, once regarded as a promising youth in the village, carried himself with an air of authority.
His harsh tone might have intimidated others, but He Zifeng stood firm. “I haven’t said a word about you. Why so defensive? Or could it be… you’re the one who killed Liangzi?”
Wan Hai’s face turned pale, and sweat began to bead on his forehead.
The entire village gathered closer, though they quietly ushered their children away—the stench of the corpse and its bloody state were too much for young eyes.
The coroner, brought by the town chief, began setting up his tools, but Liangzi’s mother continued to disrupt the proceedings. She clung to the idea of seizing He Zifeng’s yet-to-be-finished house and refused to allow the examination.
The town chief warned, “This is to seek justice for your son. If you don’t allow the examination, the case will be closed, and your son’s death will remain unresolved.”
Liangzi’s mother, an unruly woman, ignored his words, even urging him to leave.
At this point, Liangzi’s older brother, Daliang, stepped forward. “Town chief, village heads, my mother is overwhelmed with grief. Please don’t hold it against her.” He then grabbed his mother firmly, saying, “I agree—go ahead with the examination!”
The coroner seized the opportunity and began his work. Liangzi’s mother, furious at being stopped by her son, lashed out, “How could you! How can your brother rest in peace like this?”
Daliang retorted, “The town chief brought people to handle Liangzi’s case—people we could never afford to hire. What nonsense are you spouting? Liangzi was my brother, and we must find out who killed him!”
His words earned him newfound respect from the villagers. Though Daliang was usually quiet and avoided due to his troublesome family, his rational stance showed there was still some decency in their household.
But Liangzi’s mother, blinded by the lure of the 20-tael house, shouted, “This has everything to do with He Zifeng! Why else would Liangzi target his house specifically? It takes two to tango!”
Qiu Yu snapped, “Why don’t you come over here, and I’ll show you if one hand can clap!”
Known for his gentle nature, Qiu Yu rarely confronted others. But those who mistook his kindness for weakness were in for a surprise—his father had been a hunter, and Qiu Yu had a fierce side.
He Zifeng added, “Liangzi and I barely crossed paths. Why would he burn my house unless someone instructed him to?”
Wan Hai’s heart sank as he felt the crowd’s eyes turning toward him. He nervously wondered if He Zifeng knew the truth. But after some thought, he reassured himself—if He Zifeng knew, his hot-headed nature would have caused a major uproar by now.
Still, Wan Hai couldn’t stop his heart from pounding wildly.
The town chief called out, “Wan Hai, come here.”
At these words, Wan Hai felt a chill run down his spine, his legs rooted to the ground.
Even Dian Gongzi, who had been observing quietly, noticed something unusual.
The town chief, however, acted as if nothing was amiss. “This is one of Chishui Village’s most promising young men,” he said. “Back when Old Xu was village head, he recommended Wan Hai to me several times. I even considered finding him a better opportunity outside the village.”
This revelation startled everyone.
The neighboring village heads looked at Wan Hai with a mix of admiration and envy. The town chief was highly respected, and many young men he recommended had gone on to work in county offices. Such an endorsement was rare and valuable.
He Zifeng recalled that in his previous life, Wan Hai indeed became a constable, a coveted position for a farmer. It opened doors to influential connections.
But now, that bright future was in jeopardy, overshadowed by suspicions of involvement in a murder.
The town chief, an astute judge of character, compared Wan Hai and He Zifeng. Wan Hai lacked He Zifeng’s upright demeanor and steady gaze. Though He Zifeng’s life was modest, his righteous spirit and strong physique made him stand out. The town chief had seen men like him before, and they often achieved great things.
Pity, he thought, that He Zifeng had a disgraceful father and a family that couldn’t support him. Even after improving his circumstances, he was now embroiled in a murder case—a clear sign that fate was testing him.
White Village’s head asked, “If they had no dealings, why would Liangzi target his house?”
“Could it be a hired arson?”
“Let’s not jump to conclusions without evidence,” another replied. If it was proven to be a hired arson, the He family would be the prime suspects.
The villagers grew more curious. Normally, He Donglai was boisterous and attention-seeking. But now, with everyone denying contact with Liangzi, the sole clue pointed to the arson incident.
The two main suspects in Liangzi’s murder both had ties to He Donglai’s household—one was his biological son, He Zifeng, and the other his adopted, pampered son, Wan Hai. Yet He Donglai remained silent.
Someone approached him and asked, “Who do you think did it?” Everyone knew he disliked He Zifeng and expected him to point fingers at him again.
But to their surprise, He Donglai snapped irritably, “How should I know? If I had that kind of skill, I’d be the town chief by now!”
This unprovoked outburst annoyed the nearby villagers. “Why do you always speak so unreasonably?”
“Get lost! I’m in no mood for your nonsense,” He Donglai barked, shooing them away.
The tense atmosphere grew heavier as time passed, and Wan Hai was visibly struggling under the pressure.
Moments later, the coroner’s apprentice whispered something to the town chief, whose brows furrowed deeply.
Everyone held their breath, sensing the revelation of a crucial clue.
The town chief announced, “We now know who the murderer is. The corpse has spoken, revealing the identity of the killer. The culprit is among you. If you step forward now and confess, I will show leniency.”
The crowd was taken aback. The town chief’s words echoed those of Liuzi the village head earlier, but the chief’s commanding presence made them far more intimidating. Even the innocent found it hard to meet his gaze.
He Zifeng stepped forward and declared, “I’ll make my position clear—it wasn’t me! Thanks to the town chief’s kindness, I’ve been able to start a new life. Why would I jeopardize that by committing murder?”
The villagers found his statement reasonable. They had seen how much his life had improved, and there was no logical motive for him to kill Liangzi. After all, he had even sent his son to school recently.
However, the same reasoning seemed to absolve Wan Hai, who frequently boasted about his plans for his son’s future. If Wan Hai had no motive, the case would remain a mystery.
Still, everyone remembered the town chief’s earlier claim that the corpse had revealed the killer’s identity.
“Corpses can talk?” someone murmured.
“What did it say? I didn’t hear anything.”
“Maybe we should call a shaman and ask the spirits.”
The town chief’s gaze fell firmly on Wan Hai, making it clear that he was next to speak.
Wan Hai said tersely, “It wasn’t me.” He offered no further explanation.
Liuzi urged the town chief to stop prolonging the suspense and share the findings.
The town chief nodded to the coroner, who began his report. “The deceased was struck on the head with a stone and dragged to the location where he was found. The killer delivered two more blows, rendering the victim unconscious but not dead. The fatal injuries were inflicted by wild animals, which were drawn to the smell of blood.”
The villagers shuddered at the horrific account. The thought of someone being mauled alive by wild animals was terrifying.
Wan Hai felt a wave of relief—it wasn’t him who had dealt the killing blow, absolving him of the full weight of guilt.
The town chief then revealed, “However, Liangzi clutched a piece of the killer’s clothing in his hand.” He held up the evidence: a piece of blue, fine cotton fabric. Though not unique, such material was only affordable for relatively well-off or respectable villagers.
Wan Hai’s mind went blank. In his panic during the attack, he hadn’t noticed Liangzi tearing a piece of his clothing.
The town chief’s eyes never left Wan Hai as he revealed the fabric, and Wan Hai’s reaction confirmed his suspicions. His initial 60-70% certainty rose to 90%. “Search Wan Hai’s house,” the town chief ordered.
Liuzi led two men to Wan Hai’s house before he could protest, and Wan Hai found himself surrounded.
The villagers, while shocked, trusted the town chief’s judgment.
Minutes later, the search team returned with a garment. Its sleeve bore faint bloodstains.
The town chief tossed the shirt at Wan Hai’s feet. “What do you have to say for yourself?”
Wan Hai clenched his fists. “It wasn’t me! That shirt—I lost it. Someone must be framing me!” He glared at He Zifeng.
He Zifeng retorted, “I’m too busy working to waste time on such schemes. Be a man and own up to your actions!”
At that moment, a fourteen-year-old boy named Luzi spoke up from the crowd. “I saw Liangzi and Wan Hai heading into the mountains together on the day of the incident.”
Liuzi exploded with anger. “Why didn’t you say this earlier? I’ve asked over and over!”
Luzi stammered, “I… I was scared! Even if I said something, no one would believe me, and I didn’t want to make enemies.” His conscience had finally overcome his fear after seeing the evidence.
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