Chapter 29 The Murderer Jinlian
Looking at the big silver ingot in his hand, Wu Song couldn't help but frown.

After listening to Yang Chang's introduction last night, Yun Ge's experience is very similar to mine, except that Wu Song is strong and aggressive, while Yun Ge is sweet-mouthed and perceptive. Both of them make a living in the market.

Five taels of silver, and you're not tempted?

This is not reasonable.

After pausing to think for a moment, Wu Song handed the silver to Xu Silang again and said solemnly, "There is more than one Yun brother in Yanggu County. You are also a local of Yanggu. Go find other idlers on the street. I don't believe that no one will take the silver."

"The power of the leader is actually unnecessary"

Xu Silang was about to refuse, but Wu Song forced it into his hands.

"I don't care about money, it's easier to get things done with money. I just want to know who is spreading rumors. As for how to spend the money, I can decide for myself. If it's not enough, I can add more."

"Enough, enough"

Wu Song only wanted results at this moment, and no matter how Xu Silang spent the money, he had no intention of taking it back.

Watching Xu Silang walk out of the county government office, Wu Song turned around and saw Yang Chang seemed to be in deep thought, so he reminded him, "That Yun brother is a little strange, I hope he has done nothing wrong."

"Brother, what do you mean? Are you suspecting him of spreading rumors?"

Yang Chang was shocked when he heard this, and immediately waved his hand and said, "Brother Yun and Big Brother are friends. He must have misunderstood me too deeply, so he is unwilling to help."

"Sanlang thinks it's simple."

Wu Song frowned and shook his head, explaining: "My brother sells cakes with a pole on his shoulder, and he sells fruit with a basket. We are familiar faces on the street, but we are not really friends. If I were his family, I would not mind being robbed of 200 coins and beaten up, but this man refused to accept it. Don't you think it's strange?"

"I don't think so." Yang Chang swallowed and murmured, "There must be a bottom line in life."

"Forget it, Brother Yun is not important."

Wu Song patted Yang Chang on the shoulder and said, "Let's go. Let's go see En Xiang first. With Ximen Qing's evidence and confession, we can bring him back for interrogation. The truth will soon be revealed."

"Oh"

Yang Chang felt dizzy and continued to follow Wu Song forward.

After a while, the two walked out of the lobby.

Wu Song asked Yang Chang to wait outside the door, and went in alone to present the neighbor's testimony, then clasped his fists and said, "Wu Song bought a coffin for my brother today. I chatted with the neighbors on Zi Shi Street and got a lot of clues related to my brother. Please take a look at it."

"Oh? Captain Ma has been investigating for two days without any clues, but when Captain Wu was buying a coffin for his brother, he actually found a clue?"

The magistrate smiled as he reviewed the testimony, but soon his face tensed.

Wu Song added, "It turns out that Wang Po's teahouse is connected to the back door of my brother's old residence. We had already checked and recorded it when we investigated the case before. It must be that Ximen Qing and his sister-in-law had committed adultery, and my brother went to ask for an explanation and was seriously injured. He eventually died."

"No." The magistrate denied it and then frowned and shook his head: "I remember that your brother has divorced his wife. Even if Ximen Qing and Pan had an affair, Wu Zhi had no reason to come and harass him. Besides, the testimony did not mention Ximen Qing."

"My Lord, there are only an adulterer and an adulteress in the room, who else could it be but him?"

"Yeah, that's right."

After Wu Song reminded him, the magistrate twirled his goat beard and nodded slightly, then slapped the testimony on the table and said righteously: "Since we have important clues, let Ma Dutou arrest the person for questioning. You should avoid suspicion and take care of your brother's funeral. I will definitely handle it impartially!"

"Thank you, Enxiang."

Wu Song bowed to the magistrate and said goodbye, then went out and returned to the mourning hall with Yang Chang.

They met acquaintances from time to time on the road. Yang Chang wanted to remind them but didn't find the opportunity. He waited until the soldiers were sent away from the mourning hall before he whispered, "Brother, I was waiting outside the door just now. I heard that the county magistrate seemed to be protecting Ximen Qing. Will this matter change?"

"Even if Ximen Qing is rich, En Xiang is a very sensible person and has always treated me well. Now that the evidence is in front of us, he has no reason to protect me, so don't worry."

"Oh, okay." Yang Chang saw that the incense on the table was about to burn out, so he immediately stepped forward to light incense for Wu Da. While dipping oil in the incense, he was still muttering to himself: "Brother, this is all my fault. If I hadn't left Yanggu, or stayed in the capital to play, you might not have gotten into trouble."

"Hmm? What did you say, Saburo?"

Wu Song followed him and also picked up three sticks of incense to light them. He leaned against Yang Chang and said in a deep voice, "Sanlang, you are too serious. Brother is an adult, not a child. We don't need to watch over him all the time. The ancients said that marriage should be done in the right social class. If you want to blame someone, blame him for marrying an unvirtuous wife. Otherwise, there would be no disaster. Besides, he was injured on the 22nd day of the first lunar month. Even if we turned back immediately, we couldn't catch up with him after traveling hundreds of miles."

"My brother"

"Well, this matter has nothing to do with Sanlang. If you were still hunting in Jingnan Township, and your brother had that whore with him, something might have happened earlier. Men should act more freely!"

"understood."

Yang Chang's self-blame, which had been accumulating for many days, was resolved by Wu Song in just a few words.

Yes, if I hadn't shown up, Wu Da would have ended up drinking poison as well, and with Pan Jinlian's lustful nature, it was only a matter of time before she cheated on him. How could I possibly protect Wu Da for the rest of my life?

A man should act freely and look forward.

The magistrate sent Ma Dutou to interrogate the man, while Yang Chang helped Wu Song focus on the funeral.

In the remaining days, Zhao Zhongming sent funeral objects one after another, and hurriedly made a coffin for Wu Da to bury him. At the same time, he asked monks and Taoists to choose a burial date, which was scheduled for the 25th of that month.

After three or four busy days, it was already February 19th.

Wu Song had not gone to see the county magistrate for the past few days to give him time to review the case. Thinking that the results of the review should be out, he went to see the so-called benefactor. The answer from the benefactor shocked him.

Head Ma has arrived at Ximen Mansion to interrogate him. Ximen Qing admits to having an affair with Pan Jinlian, but he denies that he injured Wu Da, so he has not been taken into custody yet.

"What? Zhao Zhongming saw it with his own eyes, how can he allow this guy to deny it?"

Wu Song was so angry that he punched the table, and the county magistrate almost fell off his chair.

After he sat down and straightened his official hat, he frowned and reminded Wu Song: "Don't act rashly. Zhao Zhongming saw your brother being kicked, but he was not sure that the attacker was Ximen Qing. Fortunately, Ximen Qing also confessed the murderer, and it was Pan Jinlian, the divorced sister-in-law."

"she?"

Wu Song opened his eyes wide, not believing his ears. He then asked back with doubt: "That whore is just a woman. How could she break several of my brother's ribs? En Xiang, do you believe it?"

"It doesn't matter whether I believe it or not. The trial cannot be based on conjecture but on evidence. Ximen Qing identified Pan Jinlian as the murderer. Combined with Zhao Zhongming's testimony, the case is basically clear. Ma Dutou has sent people to arrest Pan Jinlian throughout the city. When Pan Jinlian is captured, I can make an exception and let Wu Dutou come to try her. What do you think?"

"Isn't the whore at Ximen Qing's house?"

"Ma Dutou has searched the area and found no trace of Pan. He must have fled because of the crime."

The magistrate saw the veins on Wu Song's forehead bulging, and then he whispered to comfort him, "I heard that the date of the funeral has been set? The captain should take care of the funeral first and let your brother rest in peace as soon as possible."

“How can we find peace when our grievances have not been redressed?”

Wu Song left a word and left angrily.

At this moment, Manager Li came out from the back hall. The magistrate turned his head and said worriedly, "From Wu Song's expression, he seems unwilling to give up. Will anything happen?"

"Don't worry, my Lord. The woman has been secretly sent to Tokyo. Wu Song can't do anything to Ximen Qing without evidence. Wait until Wu Da is buried and wait for a few days. Then you can recommend him to the government office in another state, and this matter will be over."

"Wu Song can beat a tiger with his bare hands, but I always feel uneasy."

"My Lord, please relax. No matter how powerful a tiger is, it is still a beast. Wu Song cannot defeat Ximen Qing. What are Grand Tutor Cai and Yang Jiedu?"

"All right."

(End of this chapter)