Chapter 28 Hongmen Banquet

The two of them discussed a countermeasure, but could not implement it immediately.

Although Wu Song was "notorious", he was still the head of the infantry in Yanggu County.

When his brother died, he set up a mourning hall. Even if it was ridiculous in a thousand ways, he was still the host of the funeral. Colleagues and comrades all came to pay their respects after hearing the news, so Wu Song and Yang Chang had to entertain the guests and return the gifts, and had no time to go out to investigate.

When the shift was over in the afternoon, Ma Dutou also came to pay homage.

Wu Song asked about the progress of the case. Ma Dutou said that it had snowed in the county in the past two days and the thief who hurt Wu Da could not be found in the ruined temple. He said that he would continue to investigate.

"Brother, Ma Dutou went outside the city to investigate. Isn't this the same as asking a blind man for advice?"

"So you can't trust outsiders. You have to redress your own grievances yourself. You help guard my brother for a while. I'll go to the classroom to pick a few people, and we'll go to Zishi Street tomorrow."

"it is good."

Wu Song first offered incense and burned paper money, then kowtowed three times to Wu Da before striding out of the mourning hall and returning only after settling everything down.

We have to do some serious work tomorrow, and the lamp in front of the coffin must be kept lit at night.

In order to stay energetic, the two men agreed to take turns to guard the morning and night shifts. When Wu Song was about to go to bed at midnight, he suddenly sat up again just as he lay down.

"Brother didn't sleep last night, so don't keep up. I'll be watching over you at night."

"There is something I forgot to mention. I just went to the class room to select people, and I gave Xu Silang a task. He will go to Qingshi Lane tomorrow. In addition to investigating the source of the rumors, he will also help Sanlang resolve the misunderstanding."

"I'm in no hurry."

Yang Chang waved his hand and reminded: "Brother's affairs are more important, don't let Brother Yun be disgusted"

"It doesn't matter. Xu Silang used to be a neighbor of the Qiao family. His words should work."

"Well, brother is going to sleep soon."

"Sanlang has worked hard, I will go to sleep now."

After Wu Song finished speaking, he fell on the mat and soon began to snore softly. He was indeed a little tired in the past two days, but with Yang Chang by his side to share the burden, he could now sleep peacefully.

The next day, after the check-in, the person Wu Song arranged came to the mourning hall to "take over", and he changed out of his mourning clothes and went to the street with Yang Chang.

It was a sunny day with warm sunshine in the sky.

The shops on Zi Shi Street were all open early, but when they saw Wu Song and Yang Chang, they acted as if they had seen a ghost and immediately hid in their own houses.

Everyone was feeling guilty and dodged, but Wu Song was not angry but happy instead.

He strode to the paper horse shop, and Zhao Zhongming hid in the back hall and did not come out.

"Manager Zhao, why are you open for business? Wu Song just saw it."

"Uh no."

Zhao Zhongming saw that he couldn't avoid it, so he went out to greet him, and with a smile on his face, he said, "Captain Wu, you misunderstood. I just happened to have something to do. What do you want to do today?"

"Buy some incense, candles, paper money, and a coffin for my brother's funeral."

"Ah? Good."

He thought Wu Song was joking, but seeing his serious expression, Zhao Zhongming was immediately worried. Was Wu Dalang dead? Was Zishi Street so weird?

Wu Song selected the funeral objects and decided on the coffin. He used the excuse of thanking the neighbors for their care for Wu Da and forced Zhao Zhongming to have a drink at Zhang Gong's inn. Zhao Zhongming had no choice but to go.

Hu Zhengqing, who sold cold wine next door, and Yao Wenqing, who ran a silver shop opposite, were both invited by Wu Song to go there in the same way. Together with Zhang Gong, who sold steamed buns, the four neighbors were complete.

Just now when Wu Song went to the paper horse shop, Yang Changze went to the steamed bun shop to set up the feast. He used the food from Zhang Gong's shop and Hu Zhengqing's cold wine to set up a simple "Hongmen Banquet".

Yang Changhe bolted the door to guard the main door, while Wu Song sat on a stool to the east of the table, blocking the way to the back door.

Seeing that everyone was trembling with fear, Wu Song raised his wine bowl and bowed, saying, "Don't be afraid, my neighbors. It was inevitable that my brother would bother me when he was alive. Today, Wu Er dares to invite you to the table. It is mainly to thank the neighbors for taking care of me. Don't be ashamed to sit at the same table with Wu Er. The rumors in the market are all malicious slander. I am upright and I am not afraid of my own shadow."

"I don't believe it either. How can a tiger-fighting hero like Wu Dutou disregard human ethics?"

"Captain, please accept my condolences. The dead cannot be brought back to life."

"Da Lang, really."

The neighbors were talking at once, sighing or asking questions.

Wu Song did not answer or explain. Instead, he raised his bowl higher and said loudly, "Let's talk later. Let's drink first."

The neighbors were trapped in a jar and had no choice but to drink with Wu Song.

Just as he put down the bowl, Wu Song picked up the jar and sifted it himself.

"You are too polite, we will do it ourselves."

"Please sit down. Wu Er has the strength to fight a tiger, and his hands are not sore from lifting the jar and filtering the wine." After drinking seven or eight bowls in a row, Wu Song saw that everyone was getting impatient, so he put down the jar and got down to business.

"My brother had bruises on his chest and broken ribs. He died in a dilapidated temple in the west of the city the night before yesterday. Since you are neighbors, you should know some useful clues. I hope you can tell me the truth today."

"What clues can we have? Dalang moved away several days ago."

After Hu Zhengqing finished muttering, he lowered his head, not daring to look Wu Song in the eye.

Wu Song put the wine jar on the table, then said slowly: "If I don't leave some useful words today, I'm afraid I won't be able to get out of this door."

"Wudutou you."

Before Hu Zhengqing finished speaking, Yang Chang suddenly came forward and pointed at Mr. Zhang, the host, and said, "Don't worry, Mr. Zhang said it very well yesterday."

"I do not."

Zhang Gongzheng wanted to deny it, but he saw Wu Song staring at him, so he waved his hand and changed his words: "I was far away and didn't know much. I only said a little bit."

Just a little bit? Who would believe it?

"Then come one by one? Otherwise, just sit there all the time?"

Seeing that Zhang Gong had given up, everyone no longer cared about Ximen Qing's threats and started reporting one after another, rushing to tell how Wu Da and Pan Jinlian were harassed, how the couple quarreled behind closed doors, and when they would move out of Zi Shi Street.

The most important clue is that the house that Wu Da rented before and the teahouse where Wang Po bought the corpse were both bought by Ximen Qing's follower Dai'an.

Finally, Yao Wenqing, who had not yet "explained" the problem, became anxious. Seeing that the others had said everything they could say, he could only reveal a bombshell.

After Wu Da divorced his wife and moved away, Pan Jinlian moved back to her original house, while Ximen Qing often went to the teahouse.

Yang Chang and Wu Song were both shocked when they heard this, thinking that the back doors of the two houses were connected, and Ximen Qing used this to commit adultery with Pan Jinlian?

At this moment, Zhang Gong's hands suddenly trembled.

Wu Song noticed something was wrong, and quickly grabbed his wrist, saying in a deep voice, "Mr. Zhang seems to have something to say, too?"

"I do not."

Seeing Zhang Gong waving his hands in panic, Yao Wenqing frowned and said, "We have said so much, but you said nothing. Wu Dutou can't be partial to one and ignore the other!"

"you"

Mr. Zhang was so angry that he was gasping for breath. Then he threw the jar and said, "Well, I remember it was the evening of the 22nd day of the first lunar month. Your brother suddenly returned to Zishi Street in a hurry and banged on the door of his original room like crazy. Finally, he staggered away holding his chest. At that time, Zhao Silang was about to close the door. He should have seen it clearly."

"What are you talking about?"

Zhao Zhongming was so angry that he swore. He didn't expect that Yao Wenqing would drag Zhang Gong into the water, and the old man would take revenge on him.

"Manager Zhao? Do you still have reservations?"

"no no."

Wu Song was staring at him fiercely in front of him, and Yang Chang put his hand on his shoulder from behind. Zhao Zhongming swallowed hard and said, "There have been a lot of things going on in the shop recently. I really didn't remember it just now. Dalang was kicked by someone."

"Who kicked him? Ximen Qing?"

"No, no, it was dark and I couldn't see clearly."

Even though he was threatened by the two, Zhao Zhongming did not dare to give a positive answer. Seeing this, Yang Chang stopped Zhang Gong and asked, "No one else entered the teahouse that day, right?"

"No."

"Xi Men Qing didn't leave either?"

"without"

Zhang Gong lowered his head after he finished speaking. Yang Chang reminded Wu Song and said, "It seems that the facts have been clarified. It was Ximen Qing who seriously injured my brother."

"Got it. Go get some paper and pen. Ask Mr. Hu to copy the testimony and sign it."

"it is good."

Half an hour later, the door of Zhang Gong's inn opened.

Wu Song breathed a sigh of relief after receiving the testimony, and took Yang Chang straight to the yamen to see the county magistrate.

As soon as the two arrived at the gate of the yamen, they saw Xu Silang waiting there.

"You've done it?"

"No, Yun Ge said he didn't know and didn't want to be paid to find out."

Wu Song mistakenly thought it was a double harvest, but Xu Silang took out silver and said that he had messed up.

(End of this chapter)