Chapter 42

When Cai Hu and the shorty Lao Liu, along with the other defeated soldiers, were carried away in a carriage in a sorry state, the villagers of Liu Family Village erupted in cheers. The anger that had been suppressed for years was finally unleashed. Even the injured villagers showed excited smiles.

The villagers quickly cleaned up the battlefield. In this group fight, nearly half of the villagers were injured, most with only flesh wounds, but five or six had more serious injuries, including broken bones.

Doctor Xu became the busiest person in the village that day.

A great victory lifted the spirits of Liu Family Village, and every household was bustling with activity. By dusk, several constables arrived from the county town, heading straight to the Feng family residence.

Lu Bao had already disappeared, and even the servant and cook in the Feng family residence were nowhere to be found. Only Feng Ergou's corpse lay in the main hall, ignored by everyone.

Liu Tianfu sent someone to report to the county office before dawn. According to the time, they should have arrived by noon at the latest, but these constables were late, seemingly avoiding the fight.

The constables called the village head of Liu Family Village and the involved woman, Huahua from the Tie family, to the Feng family residence. They also summoned a few other villagers, but the rest, including Chu Huan, had to wait outside.

It wasn't until nightfall that Liu Tianfu came out and called a few women who could cook to prepare dinner for the constables. The Feng family residence had its own stock of wine and meat. After the constables had their dinner, the villagers waiting outside finally saw them come out. Two strong villagers used a door panel to carry out Feng Ergou's corpse.

Seeing people come out, the villagers immediately surrounded them. The constables shouted to push them back. A constable, who seemed to be the head of the group, with a sharp face and a mustache, loudly said, "Feng Ergou broke into a woman's house at night, intending to rape her. Do you know about this?"

The villagers immediately responded, "Sir, Feng Ergou has been doing evil deeds in the village, and his crimes are heinous. His breaking into someone's house is a fact, and everyone in the village can testify to it!"

The constable nodded slightly and said, "I heard there is someone named Zhao Bao here. Is there such a person?"

"Yes!"

"Where is Zhao Bao now?"

"Last night, Zhao Bao accidentally killed someone and fled in fear of the law. No one knows where he is now!" the villagers replied.

The constable frowned and sneered, "Let me tell you, concealing the truth and attempting to cover up is a serious offense. According to my information, Zhao Bao seems to be a close confidant of Feng Ergou. How could he kill his own master? What's the real story here? You'd better tell me now." He scanned the villagers coldly and said, "If you confess now, I might be lenient. Otherwise, when you face the county magistrate, it will be too late... Some of you have probably experienced the beating in the county office!"

Liu Tianfu bowed and said, "Constable Huang, this was indeed done by Zhao Bao." He paused and continued, "I have already explained that from start to finish, it was Zhao Bao who led us. The coroner has examined the body, and the fatal wound is on the head. There were seven or eight of us there, and we saw it clearly. The fatal blow was indeed dealt by Zhao Bao!"

As soon as Liu Tianfu finished speaking, several villagers chimed in, "That's right, we can all testify that Feng Ergou was killed by Zhao Bao!"

Constable Huang's expression darkened, and he remained silent for a moment. He knew this was a difficult case to handle. The villagers were united in saying Feng Ergou was killed by Zhao Bao, and they even brought the wooden stick used by Zhao Bao. Seven or eight people were willing to testify, and even Huahua insisted that Feng Ergou intended to assault her and was killed by Zhao Bao. There was both physical and testimonial evidence, and the most damning fact was that Zhao Bao had fled, clearly indicating his guilt.

Chu Huan, standing in the crowd, watched Constable Huang with a cold smile. Seeing his dark expression, Chu Huan knew he was reluctant but that the villagers of Liu Family Village were united. The death of Feng Ergou was indeed too strange, and even the constables couldn't find any other flaws.

After a while, Constable Huang ordered Liu Tianfu to hitch a cart and take Feng Ergou's body to the county office. He also asked Liu Tianfu and Huahua to go to the county office to give their statements.

Huahua was afraid, but Liu Tianfu knew this was a necessary procedure. He comforted Huahua and a few other villagers volunteered to go as witnesses. Constable Huang took them away that night.

After they left, the villagers gathered in front of the Feng family residence, discussing the events. Chu Huan didn't say much and went straight home. As soon as he entered, Su Niang hurriedly asked, "Have the constables left?"

Chu Huan nodded and recounted the events. Su Niang, a bit worried, asked, "Did Uncle Liu go with them?"

"Don't worry," Chu Huan smiled. "We have both witnesses and evidence, and Zhao Bao has fled. Uncle Liu and the others will be fine. With a murder case, the county office can't ignore it. They will have to investigate. Once Uncle Liu and the others explain everything, it will be fine!"

Chu Huan knew that Liu Tianfu and the others would insist that Zhao Bao killed Feng Ergou. Since they were present, they would not let the blame fall on themselves. Huahua knew the truth but would not change her story to protect her innocence. She would only say that Feng Ergou intended to assault her and was killed by Zhao Bao. As long as she didn't mention Chu Huan, the case would not implicate him.

Su Niang felt relieved and then coldly said, "That Tie family woman, always dressing up and showing off, as if she wants everyone to know she's a flirt...!" She stopped herself, not wanting to say more. She continued, "She should have known that with a bad guy like Feng Ergou in the village, he would target her. I think she got what she deserved...!" She felt she had said too much, considering Huahua's uncertain fate at the county office. Though she and Huahua were at odds, she felt a bit worried. She asked Chu Huan, "Will they be beaten at the county office?"

Chu Huan squinted, unsure of the outcome. Seeing Su Niang's worried face, he comforted her, "Su Niang, don't worry. No matter what, the truth is on our side. Even if the county magistrate is a bit foolish, he won't beat people without reason. Qingliu County is only forty to fifty miles from Yunshan City. If he acts recklessly, the governor will find out, and he will lose his position!"

Su Niang thought for a moment and nodded, "You have a point!" Suddenly, she noticed a piece of skin exposed on Chu Huan's shoulder, where his clothes had been torn during the fight.

It wasn't that someone had hit him, but after the victory, the villagers celebrated, patting his shoulder and pulling his arm, treating him like a hero. His clothes, already not very sturdy, were torn by someone with a bit too much strength.

"Are you hurt?" Su Niang, seeing his torn clothes, thought he was injured in the fight. She asked anxiously, "Did you go to Doctor Xu?"

Chu Huan shook his head and smiled, "No, it was torn by someone celebrating. I'll just patch it up later!"

Su Niang said, "Then take it off, and I'll sew it for you..." She turned to get the needle and thread. When she returned, Chu Huan had already taken off his shirt. In the lamplight, his body was strong and well-proportioned, with a healthy tan.

Seeing Chu Huan's body, Su Niang exclaimed, "Oh!" and blushed, turning away. She threw the shirt she had just found at him, scolding, "Who told you to take off your shirt?" Her heart raced, and her breathing quickened, her chest rising and falling.

Chu Huan was taken aback. He wasn't a pure ancient person and had a more relaxed view of propriety. He didn't expect Su Niang to react this way. He caught the shirt and hurriedly put it on, smiling, "Didn't you just tell me to take it off so you could sew it?"

"Did I tell you to take it off in the main hall?" Su Niang's eyebrows furrowed. "Can't you find a place yourself?"

"Find a place?" Chu Huan was embarrassed. "There are only three places in this house. Mother is already asleep, and I can't disturb her. I can't go into your room, so where else can I change?" He looked outside, where it was still drizzling, and laughed, "You're not going to make me change outside, are you?"

Su Niang, seeing Chu Huan's logic, glared at him and handed him the needle and thread, saying, "If you're so capable, sew it yourself!" She turned and went back to her room.

Chu Huan was surprised by Su Niang's quick temper. He had only defended himself and didn't know what had upset her. He shook his head and sighed, "Sigh, a woman's heart is as unpredictable as the bottom of the sea..."

Su Niang, with her sharp hearing, heard this as she entered her room. She immediately came out, hands on her hips, eyebrows raised, and coldly asked, "What did you say?"

Chu Huan quickly smiled, "Nothing, I just... I just haven't used a needle before and don't know if I can sew it well!"

"If you can't sew it, don't wear it!" Su Niang turned away, ignoring him.

Chu Huan sat by the oil lamp. He had never done needlework before and held the torn shirt, unsure where to start. Su Niang, hiding by the door, saw his puzzled look and found it amusing. She bit her lip and, swaying her round bottom, went over, took the needle and thread and the shirt, glanced down at Chu Huan, and went back to her room.