Chapter 70: River Village
After saying that, the old woman narrowed her eyes and raised her voice. “As an official, don’t you even know how to investigate a case? I asked you to investigate my son’s death. Why are you talking so much nonsense? Let me tell you, if you can’t get justice for my son, I’ll crawl to the capital and report it to the imperial court!”
The old woman spoke hysterically and her saliva was spraying everywhere.
She hid it well, but Wei Shilai could tell she was guilty of something.
Coupled with what Liu Sanniang had told him, Wei Shilai was furious. It was obvious that the seven girls were killed by their father.
That was seven lives, living beings. No wonder Liu Sanniang said that the man deserved to die. Such a person deserved to die. Even if he died a hundred times, it would not be enough.
Wei Shilai was extremely angry. He gritted his teeth, and asked. “Did they really die of illnesses? Lying is a serious offense!”
The old woman was stunned. She placed her hands on her hips. “Of course they died of illness. They died a long time ago? I think you’re just a stupid official. You don’t know how to investigate at all. You are not checking what you should!”
“I don’t think you can find justice for my son. Get out of the way. I’m leaving. If you can’t help my son, I’ll look for someone who can!”
The old woman turned around and wanted to walk out.
Wei Shilai gave Lin Zheng a look, and Lin Zheng stopped the old woman from leaving.
Wei Shilai said coldly, “What kind of place do you think the government office is? Do you think you can come and go as you please? I’ve found enough evidence to suspect that you’ve murdered seven people. Before the case is closed, you don’t get to go anywhere.”
The woman raised her hand threateningly. “You evil officials, you are abusing power. Oh my god, the evil official is trying to kill me…”
Lin Zheng grabbed her hand and subdued her.
Wei Shilai was already certain that the man had killed his seven daughters, and the man’s mother was his accomplice.
How ruthless was she to help her son kill seven innocent girls!
Wei Shilai asked the officers to take the old woman away.
“How can there be such an evil person?”
Officer Zhou’s eyes were a little red. He could not imagine what kind of fear and despair those seven little lives had experienced.
Officer Zhou lost his daughter and had been searching for her for so many years. He would always remember the child’s tiny face and crystal eyes. They were the best in the world.
At the thought of the dead man and his mother, Officer Zhou gritted his teeth in anger and felt sick.
“Miss Liu, that woman is still living in the village with her seventh daughter. She will definitely arrive very late. How about I get someone to pick you up tomorrow morning?”
Wei Shilai recalled what Liu Sanniang had said earlier and frowned.
The seventh daughter, who was already dead, had come back to life. What should he do with her? Just thinking about it made him feel extremely troubled.
Liu Sanniang shook her head. “There’s no need to wait until tomorrow. Let’s go now. I’m afraid something will happen if I wait until tomorrow.”
Liu Sanniang had a strong feeling that she could not wait.
Seeing how serious Liu Sanniang was, Wei Shilai’s heart skipped a beat. He immediately prepared the carriage and headed to River Village.
Soon, Liu Sanniang followed Wei Shilai to River Village.
The village was seven miles away from Yong County, so by the time they returned, it’d be very late.
Wei Shilai looked at Liu Sanniang. She had changed in her temperament.
Ever since the last time, he could tell that Liu Sanniang had been enlightened with Daoism, but she didn’t seem to realize it.
Lin Zheng looked at Liu Sanniang with great respect, and so did Officer Zhou.
Wei Shilai recalled his colleague suggesting that he recruit Liu Sanniang as an assistant. In the future, if he encountered a difficult case, he could ask Liu Sanniang for help.
Since she was destined to take the path, why not make best use of her power?
Wei Shilai decided to find an opportunity to mention it to Liu Sanniang. There was a reward for being an assistant of the government. With this reward, even if she did not marry for the rest of her life, Liu Sanniang would still be able to live well.
Liu Sanniang heard everything that was going through Wei Shilai’s mind. Her expression did not change, but she was thinking about it.
It was not a bad idea If she really took this path. With the money, her life would be better. Her parents would not have to worry too much about her in the future.
When they arrived at River Village, the carriage could only stop at the entrance.
A small river blocked them, so they could only park the carriage by the side of the road, leaving an officer to guard it. The rest of them crossed the river to the other side.
Lin Zheng and Officer Zhou walked in front while Wei Shilai walked beside Liu Sanniang. “Miss Liu, this river is where the man was drowned.”
“Most villagers in River Village have the surname Niu. The man who was drowned was called Niu Laoda. He was the only son of his family.”
Liu Sanniang looked at the river and frowned, but she said nothing.
Seeing Liu Sanniang frown, Wei Shilai was nervous. “Miss Liu, are you alright?”
Liu Sanniang looked at the village in the distance and asked. “Sir, in your eyes, what is justice?”
Wei Shilai did not know why Liu Sanniang suddenly asked this. He looked in the direction Liu Sanniang was looking. It was River Village. He felt that Liu Sanniang seemed to have seen something, which he could not see it.
Wei Shilai looked at Liu Sanniang and said word by word, “Miss Liu, in my eyes, justice is to not let the bad off and help the good.”
As a county magistrate, he often encountered cases where right and wrong were ambiguous. Sometimes, the victims were the evil people, and the criminals were just seeking justice for themselves. In such cases, justice became a confusing word.