Chapter 47: Chapter 47: Going to Bring Chen Yutian
The finger clamp, made from bamboo, was a tool specifically designed to pinch the fingers. As the saying goes, "The ten fingers are connected to the heart," so one can imagine the pain of having one's fingers pinched.
Seeing this instrument, Yang Dazhi finally became frightened and shouted, "Magistrate, please have mercy! I am from Wugongling, from Wugongling!"
Wugongling!
Hu Fan hesitated for a moment, but then remembered that He Lao Qi had told him this was something that Liu Rumei had specifically arranged. Thinking of this, he slammed the gavel down. "What does it matter if you're from Wugongling? Why did you break into a private residence? Is it for rape or theft?"
Yang Dazhi looked pitiful. "Replying to the lord, I am neither a rapist nor a thief. I was ordered by the chief of the bandits to help someone named Chen Yutian."
Yang Dazhi hesitated. However, when Chen Xiaobei heard the name Chen Yutian, his heart skipped a beat. This was Chen Ermao's father.
Sure enough, Yang Dazhi faltered and said, "I went to help Chen Yutian, but ended up taking a life from someone named Chen Xiaobei."
Ah, originally it seemed like either rape or theft, but now it turns into a murder case.
Hu Fan's face turned pale with anger.
"Is what you're saying true? If there's even the slightest lie…"
Yang Dazhi hurriedly nodded, "If there is even a single lie, Hu County Magistrate, you can chop off my head."
Hu Fan nodded, looked at He Lao Qi, and ordered, "Immediately go to Hetou Village and bring Chen Yutian here."
After saying this, Hu Fan waved his sleeve and stood up.
Then, a constable stepped forward and took Yang Dazhi away.
Chen Xiaobei stood up and caught up to He Lao Qi, taking five large copper coins from his pocket and handing them to him.
Since he had promised to treat Chen Ping and the others to meat buns, Chen Xiaobei had brought along some copper coins.
"Seventh Master, thank you for your hard work."
He Lao Qi held the five copper coins in his hand, slipping them into his sleeve without changing his expression, and laughed heartily, "What are you talking about? Ziming and I are half-brothers from different mothers."
"Your business is my business. You wait here, and I'll be back by morning."
The sound of horse hooves echoed as He Lao Qi left with his men.
Chen Xiaobei had originally planned to take Chen Ping and the others to have meat buns when they had the chance, but seeing them lying on the donkey cart, soundly asleep, even the loud sound of He Lao Qi's departure and the horse whinnies didn't wake them.
Alright, if they're sleeping, I'll take a nap too.
As the sky began to brighten, Hetou Village became lively.
Chen Yutian and his wife were still in a deep sleep when a group of constables came and dragged them out of bed.
Without saying a word, they pressed Chen Yutian onto the horse and turned to leave.
The village head, Chen Anbang, hurried out upon hearing the news. Seeing that they had come to arrest Chen Yutian, his heart skipped a beat, but he forced himself to stay calm and stepped forward, cupping his hands. "Gentlemen, I am the village head of Hetou Village. May I ask what crime Chen Yutian has committed?"
He Lao Qi nodded. "We are acting under orders to take Chen Yutian to be a witness. Please, Village Head Chen, allow us to proceed."
Chen Anbang understood well. They said it was to be a witness, but he had never seen a witness being tied up and thrown onto a horse directly.
He had a rough idea of what was happening but pretended to remain unfazed as he turned to Chen Yutian. "Once you're there, speak properly. Don't worry about the household matters. When Ermao returns, I will take care of everything."
Chen Yutian certainly understood the underlying meaning.
At this moment, he was filled with frustration but had to put on a grateful face.
"Thank you, Village Head."
He Lao Qi mounted his horse. "Brothers, let's go!"
With a crack of the whip, they rode off.
Watching them leave, the villagers discussed amongst themselves, still unsure of what was going on. It seemed that the honest Chen Yutian had gotten himself into some trouble.
Chen Anbang, with his hands behind his back, slowly walked toward the edge of the village, where he would pass by Chen Xiaobei's house.
As he reached the entrance of Chen Xiaobei's house, he coincidentally ran into several members of the village defense team heading out. It was daylight now, and according to Chen Ping's arrangements, their shift was over.
"Hey, Village Head, you're up early. What brings you out?"
Chen Daqiang greeted him with a smile.
"It's you, Daqiang. What are you all doing here?" Chen Anbang asked.
Chen Daqiang sighed. "Sigh, last night someone came to Chen Xiaobei's house. We caught him and sent him straight to the county office."
Chen Anbang gasped. "Oh, who was it? Did you manage to get anything out of him?"
Chen Daqiang shook his head. "That guy was tight-lipped, didn't say a word. But I recognized him. He's Chen Yutian's nephew."
That matches.
It must have been Chen Yutian, having listened to his hints, sending someone to take action, but it seems like things didn't go as planned.
Hearing this, Chen Anbang silently cursed. What was Chen Ping thinking? How could he recklessly follow Chen Xiaobei to the county without reporting back home?
Now the situation had become somewhat irreversible, and the only hope was that Chen Yutian would take the blame. He had already given him enough hints earlier.
Of course, that wasn't enough. Chen Anbang hurried home, hooked up the donkey cart, and rushed to the countryside.
The village chief Zhao Facun was a distant relative of Chen Anbang's wife, and it was because of this connection that Chen Anbang had solidified his position as the village head of Hetou Village.
When Zhao Facun saw Chen Anbang arrive, he still looked confused. "Old Chen, what's going on so early this morning?"
Chen Anbang hesitated for a moment. "Sigh, something big has happened in the village. A villager actually hired a killer to commit murder. I'm worried that the county magistrate will place the blame on me..."
Hearing this, Zhao Facun laughed. "You're the village head, not his father or mother. If he's involved in a hired murder, what does that have to do with you? Just go back, if anything happens, I'll take responsibility for you."
"But what if he falsely accuses me of being the one who instructed it?"
Zhao Facun looked at him suspiciously. "Tell me the truth, does this have anything to do with you?"
In the end, Chen Anbang gritted his teeth. "No, absolutely not. How could I do something like that?"
Zhao Facun nodded. "Alright, then there's nothing to worry about. Go back."
After leaving Zhao Facun's office, Chen Anbang felt a bit more at ease. Now, he could only keep up appearances and wait for Zhao Facun to mediate and possibly resolve this crisis.
…
As promised, He Lao Qi came through. By the time the sun had fully risen, he had brought Chen Yutian and his wife.
Upon entering the county office, seeing that Chen Xiaobei was unharmed, Chen Yutian was instantly dumbfounded.
"You..."
Chen Xiaobei shot him a cold look. "Didn't expect me to still be alive, huh?"
Chen Yutian fell silent.
Soon, news came that Hu Fan had risen from his seat again. Yang Dazhi, Chen Yutian, and Jia Shi were all brought up.
Hu Fan looked at Chen Yutian and then pointed at Yang Dazhi. "Do you recognize him?"
Chen Yutian hesitated and didn't speak.
Yang Dazhi, however, couldn't stay silent. "Big sister, you have to testify for me! You were the ones who told me to kill Chen Xiaobei! I have no enmity with him!"
Jia Shi and Chen Yutian exchanged a look. Suddenly, Jia Shi began to wail loudly.
"County magistrate, we can't live like this! My son had some conflict with Chen Xiaobei, and not only did he drive my son away, but he also threatened to kill us! We had no choice!"
Chen Xiaobei, hearing this, couldn't help but laugh in disbelief. Even if they were the ones who started the trouble, you can't go and make up a story like this!
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