Chapter 49: One Died
The county yamen jail was not crowded.
Baozhu, who was still an intern, leaned against the doorway in boredom.
He did not like this job.
Prisoners only stayed for a while before they could move on—either to a different cell or to be taken away for execution.
Only he had to stay permanently.
He was even more miserable than the prisoners.
Fortunately, the head of the jail was his uncle, so he could occasionally slack off, or even leave the door open for some fresh air.
He envied playboys like Jiang Feng, who could wander the streets, enjoy the breeze, bask in the sun, and boast.
But his neighbor, Aunt Wang, said his job was good—no need to endure wind and rain, and he would have food and clothing for a lifetime.
Aunt Wang’s daughter, Xiaohuan, was very pretty.
Inside the jail, The Peddler and his wife were on the verge of death.
Their injuries were severe.
The Little Peddler had also been bitten by some unknown venomous insect, causing pain all over his body, and he groaned from time to time.
Since they were both on death row anyway, no one bothered with them.
Suddenly, the jail cell door opened.
Baozhu hurriedly stood up.
“Uncle, why are you here?”
“I’ve told you several times, don’t call me Uncle in the yamen; call me Head Constable Liu.”
Head Constable Liu brought in someone who looked like a doctor, and Baozhu followed curiously.
“Uh, Head Constable Liu, aren’t these two Kidnappers supposed to be sentenced? Why are you finding a doctor for them?” Baozhu asked curiously.
Head Constable Liu scoffed and said, “They’re just lucky. Some distinguished person interceded for them, so they won’t die. You keep an eye on them too, don’t let them die.”
The Peddler and his wife thought they were doomed, never expecting they would be saved.
“Husband, husband, we’re saved, we don’t have to die.” The woman excitedly pushed her husband.
The doctor disdainfully examined the dwarf.
He checked his pulse and said, “Looks like he was bitten by ants. Just apply some herbal medicine, and it will be fine. As for the other wounds, as long as the bleeding has stopped, it’s fine.”
The woman was still a bit skeptical; how could it be ant bites? Could ants bite so many times, as if a whole swarm had attacked him, and be so venomous?
The Little Peddler grabbed his wife’s hand, stopping her from complaining.
Instead, he turned his head to the Yamen Runner and said, “We want to lodge a complaint against those who hurt us. They weren’t rescuing anyone; they were highwaymen, robbing us on the road. They hurt us and then framed us. We are just a disabled man and a woman; we couldn’t resist.”
Young and impulsive, Baozhu wanted to spit on the ground right then and there.
The doctor dropped the herbs and left, feeling it was bad luck.
Head Constable Liu said, “Our Master will naturally get to the bottom of the case. You just stay here.”
As the Head Constable went out, The Peddler and his wife seemed to see the Yamen Runners outside escorting a person—it was the very youth who had hurt them yesterday. They were incredibly excited; retribution, retribution, he deserved it.
They were saved.
The Little Peddler regretted that he hadn’t strangled that infant at the very beginning, which wouldn’t have led to their current predicament.
Juaner helped her husband apply the herbs to his body, muttering, “Thank you to the distinguished person for saving our lives. May the distinguished person’s whole family live a long life, a long life.”
After applying the medicine, the couple huddled together, relying on each other.
As long as they didn’t die, they weren’t afraid. They would definitely be able to go back and take care of Kuanger.
Outside the jail, the sun was bright.
After coming out, the doctor stopped by the Herb Preparation Bureau in the side room to see Xiao Jiang.
He was very familiar with Xiao Jiang. The herbs that needed to be supplied by the Herb Preparation Bureau were limited, and the surplus could be sold to pharmacies at a low price. Although this money didn’t go to Xiao Jiang, Xiao Jiang made things convenient, so they could take advantage of it.
“I knew at a glance it was ant bites. The Peddler must have picked up an ant nest somewhere onto his body. That ignorant, stupid woman actually doubted my medical skills. Both of them are evil and vicious; I don’t know what the County Magistrate is thinking, sparing the lives of such people.”
After chatting for a while, the doctor took away two packs of herbal tea.
Jiang Changtian slowly drank the remaining half cup of tea in the bamboo tube. It had gone cold and was even more bitter, but his mind was clearer.
Jiang Rong sat in the secretary’s room drinking tea.
It was a crude celadon cup filled with ordinary tea; he took one sip and didn’t touch it again.
Normally, if a guard had gone missing, he wouldn’t have come to the yamen in person.
But hearing that they had captured Jiang Feng, he wanted to come and see.
There was no helping it; he was born disliking Jiang Feng. He hated him and couldn’t stand the sight of him.
While he was drinking tea, a Yamen Runner hurried in and whispered a few words to the secretary.
The secretary hurriedly stood up, glanced at Jiang Rong, and said, “Young Master Jiang, please make yourself at home.”
Then he rushed off to find the County Magistrate.
Damn it, he thought it was a small matter, but he didn’t expect it to cause such big trouble.
The County Magistrate was such an ambitious person; if he found out he had caused trouble, there was no telling how he would deal with him.
Sure enough, when the County Magistrate heard the secretary’s words, he immediately smashed a teacup onto his head.
“You idiot! Go ask door-to-door about the whereabouts of that Jiang Family guard. The county town is only this big; how could he just disappear? Find him for me immediately!”
Then the County Magistrate hurriedly straightened his official robes and trotted out to welcome them.
It was not Jiang Feng’s first time seeing the County Magistrate.
Before, he had only seen him from afar.
He only felt that he had great official authority and was incomparably mysterious.
But today, seeing him walk out with a smiling face, greeting Meng Shaoxia and Brother He warmly…
It was as if an ignorant village woman found out you had become successful and was trying to claim kinship with you.
He spoke with great seriousness.
“This humble official passed the imperial examination in the 24th year, three years apart from your uncle, but we had the same mentor.”
He suddenly wanted to laugh.
So this was how the world was.
Even the dignified County Magistrate would bow.
His smile was gentle, like a spring breeze, not at all scary.
Refined, kind, and polite.
Jiang Feng also acted like an ignorant child; when the County Magistrate humbled himself, he followed suit and called out, “Hello, Uncle.”
The County Magistrate was embarrassed for a moment, tugging at his beard, not knowing how to respond.
Young Master He Chen and Meng Shaoxia both found it funny.
They had encountered many officials in small places along the way, and they were indeed all like this.
But they hadn’t expected Jiang Feng to be so honest that he believed whatever others said.
Being too honest makes it easy to be deceived.
Meng Shaoxia thought to himself, his sister was the same—silly and easily deceived.
A group of people chatted warmly.
Jiang Rong was waiting impatiently. Didn’t they say they went to catch someone? Where is the person?
The County Magistrate was already talking about hosting a dinner party, never once asking about the case from beginning to end.
It was as if Jiang Feng had just come to visit with friends.
Until a Yamen Runner rushed in: “Report, report to the Master, the corpse of the missing Guard Wu Liu has been found at No. 46 West Street. He is dead. The cause of death was poisoning. The murderer has been caught. It is the husband of Guard Wu Liu’s mistress.”
According to the murderer’s confession, Guard Wu Liu and his wife had conspired to poison him. He discovered it and instead poisoned Guard Wu Liu to death. After all, his wife was the Mother of his child, so he didn’t kill her, but he beat her half to death, and she was lying at home.
Meng Shaoxia and Young Master He Chen had not expected to actually witness a murder case.
And when Jiang Rong received the news and came out, he was also shocked, especially when he saw the corpse of Guard Wu Liu displayed at the yamen; he took several steps back.
Guard Wu Liu died of poisoning, and his appearance was terrifying—unrecognizable, his whole body rotting, and he smelled terrible.
Jiang Rong remembered Guard Wu Liu telling him that Jiang Feng would definitely die, but Jiang Feng didn’t die—Guard Wu Liu did.
Because of the homicide, a crowd of onlookers gathered at the entrance of the yamen.
Everyone was amazed.
The seller who sold meat buns also ran over to watch the excitement, sharing with those around him, “It’s scary to think about. Our shop is nearby, and it’s already stinking, yet we didn’t smell anything.”
“Old Wu is a decent guy. Him poisoning the adulterer shouldn’t be considered a crime, right?”
“Old Wu is also ruthless. I heard he broke his wife’s leg and then put her and the adulterer on the bed to eat and sleep together, until the adulterer started to stink.”
“If it were me, I couldn’t help it either. I heard that woman was very despicable; whenever she did those filthy things, she would lock her child in the woodshed.”
The murderer had been found, so Jiang Feng was naturally released without charge.
He wanted to hurry home and tell his family this good news.
That Guard Wu Liu had met his deserved end; he had actually been killed.
It was dark.
Jiang Feng waited for Father, and they walked home together.
In front of Father, he was no longer the Jiang Feng who pretended to be mature and steady outside; he revealed his youthful nature, walking with a light, skipping gait.
Jiang Changtian didn’t buy meat buns today because the meat bun seller had gone to watch the excitement.
Along the way, he listened to his son talking animatedly about the stories of those two young masters from the capital and the politeness of the County Magistrate; the youthful spirit was strong.
He was better than he had been in his youth; he had dreams, and he dared to dream.
“Father, do you think I can be an official one day?”
“Father, do you think bad people get their just deserts?”
“Father, will I become very powerful one day?”
“You can.”
“They do.”
“You will.”
Jiang Changtian responded.
In reality, he thought, “Child, you cannot be an official. You have a scar on your face, and your Father is unfilial and brotherless, so you have no qualifications for the imperial examinations. Unless you join the army and start as a low-ranking soldier. In battle, you would be the one charging at the front, facing swords and traps. You have no connections, so you would die very quickly. There are thousands of withered bones on the wilderness; there is only one triumphant general.”
Bad people do not get their just deserts. If you don’t kill them, they will remain at large. He hurt you and received a lot of rewards, and he will hurt you again next time. He has no grudge against you, but because he hurt you, he gets money. Because he hurt you, he deserves to die.
I don’t know if you will become very powerful, but I hope you live, healthy and safe.
The mountain road was very long.
The night wind was very warm.
Jiang Changtian thought, at least he would be a good Father.
He would walk behind his child, send him forward, and clear away all the thorns for him.
For the sake of his child, he was willing to stain his hands with blood and be filled with evil, and he would not regret it in his heart.
Jiang Feng was talking excitedly when he suddenly felt that Father hadn’t kept up. He turned his head and shouted, “Father, hurry up! Mother and the sisters are waiting for us at home.”
Jiang Changtian nodded: “Coming.”
