Chapter 37: Xia Liu Investigates the Case

  This is a narrow and long alley, although not very wide, but also can pass a car. The alley did not have stone slabs laid out because it rained last night, the ground was very muddy, and the chaotic footprints of pedestrians were still clearly printed on it. Xia Liu looked at the walls on both sides that grew with moss, and then looked at the narrow and long alley, saying: "The ground has been damaged by pedestrians, but if the villain had vehicles ready in the alley, the wheel tracks would not be completely invisible, so the woman should have been intimidated or carried away."

  "What's the use of seeing these?"

  Modern people may not think much of it, but back then, people understood how terrifying it was to be in a strange place and have the local tyrant on the opposing side, with the possibility of having the backing and support of the authorities. Therefore, Xia Xun agreeing to stay behind somewhat alleviated Peng Zhiqi's bad impression of him, even bringing about a faint sense of joy. However, upon hearing him boastfully talk nonsense, he couldn't help but lose his temper again.

  Xia Fu smiled slightly and said patiently, "This explains one thing, the scoundrel who kidnapped Tang's daughter actually doesn't live far from here."

  "Oh?"

  "Firstly, if the residence is far away, they can take advantage of the fact that Tang's wife and daughter-in-law are not familiar with Pu County town, bring them closer to their residence before kidnapping the woman, and then take the old lady on a wild goose chase until dawn. By then, the old lady won't even be able to recall where her daughter-in-law was kidnapped from. Wouldn't that be perfect? Secondly, this alley can accommodate cars, and the main street opposite is also paved with stone slabs. Even if there are wheel tracks in the alley, they will disappear once on the main road, and any mud stains will be washed away by the rainwater. Therefore, if the distance is far, the kidnapper's car can stop inside the alley. It's only when the culprit lives nearby, within this eastern district, that using a car becomes unnecessary. In that case, it would actually be counterproductive to use a car, as it might attract unwanted attention."

  "Oh, it seems reasonable." Peng Ziqi's face began to change.

  Xia Yu said, "The Tang family is poor, but the kidnapper hired carriages and horses, used a lot of money to bribe people, so it's not likely that they kidnapped her for wealth. The Tang family just arrived in Putai, their son makes a living by mending pots and selling knives, often traveling around, and the two women stay at home and rarely go out, so it's unlikely that they would have made enemies with anyone in such a short time. Therefore, it can only be for lust. Even if someone who is lustful tries to cover up their reputation, there will still be rumors about their romantic affairs. This can serve as a clue to find the suspect."

  Peng Ziqi's eyes began to show some surprise, although she had also vaguely guessed some of the reasons, but couldn't say it as clearly, the "Yang Wenxuan" standing in front of her and the idle rogue she knew seemed to be worlds apart, his face with that serious, confident expression... was very captivating.

  Xia Liu didn't notice her thoughts and continued to think aloud: "Although the Tang family's mother-in-law and daughter-in-law are midwives, they have just arrived and not many people know them. They can only rely on their neighbors to spread the word, so there aren't many people who know about their practice. Even fewer people have seen the young mistress of the Tang family, so those with ill intentions must be from nearby households or perhaps from families where the Tang mother-in-law and daughter-in-law have delivered babies before."

  "This is a small county town, and those three rascals are all local people. The real culprit is in Putai County, and those three rascals are being used by him. It's impossible that they wouldn't know each other. But they're acting so fearlessly, it's clear that they have something to rely on. Either the mastermind behind the scenes is a powerful local figure, and they don't dare offend them, or they'd rather take the fall themselves. Or maybe, as you said, the person behind the scenes has strong backing and can collude with the authorities. Once the storm passes, they'll be able to get them out. Either way, it proves that this family has considerable influence."

  "So, we need to find that scoundrel. The location can be locked down to the eastern part of the city. This person must have a high social status, either wealthy or noble, and has some reputation for being a ladies' man in this county. In that case, finding the murderer shouldn't be too difficult, should it?"

  Peng Ziqi smiled and said: "It turns out that people who have read books really understand many principles. I thought you...you..., hmm, so what do you think we should do?"

  Xia Jing blinked and said: "You insisted on staying behind, you must have had a plan already. I was just about to ask, what's your solution?"

  Peng Ziqi puffed out his chest: "I don't have as many twists and turns in my belly as you do, I think very simply. Tonight, I'll sneak into the county prison wearing a mask, find those three rascals, and after a round of severe torture, they won't dare not confess!"

  "And then?" Xia Xun asked vaguely.

  Peng Ziqi's expression also became bewildered: "Then there was nothing."

  Xia Liu rubbed his nose and smiled wryly: "Indeed, it's very simple."

  Peng Ziqi said with a pleased smile: "Of course."

  Xia Fu asked: "Is it easy to sneak into the county prison?"

  "The county yamen's prisons are all relatively simple, except for the cells of death row inmates and serious offenders, the guards are very lax, it's not difficult to communicate with people in prison or even sneak in, when I was in Qingzhou my family..."

  She suddenly realized that she had misspoken, and quickly changed the subject, saying: "With my skills, sneaking into a place as laxly guarded as this would be easy."

  Xia Fu Dao said: "Very well, you use severe torture to interrogate the culprit, and he confesses obediently, confessing that a Zhang Dage or Li Laoye is involved. What do you do next?"

  "Then... then..." Peng Ziqi's face quickly turned red, stuttering and unable to speak.

  Xia Xun Dao: "Even if you use torture and not a single prison guard can see, the three rascals will confess honestly without implicating others. Then you'll take out the Ghostly Eyes Knife, charge into Mr. Zhang's or Mr. Li's house, killing anyone who blocks your way, and slaughter them until they're all dead. After that, you'll return triumphantly with Tang's young daughter in your arms?"

  Xia Liu's mocking tone was so obvious, Peng Qi's face was already red enough to fry an egg, and her beautiful big eyes were staring wider and wider, as if she wanted to stare Xia Liu to death.

  Xia Yu continued to chatter: "Using military force to violate the ban is itself a destruction of order. Even if there were people who encouraged you to use military force to violate the ban when you didn't have control over the world, once they grasped the power to control the world, they would absolutely not allow anyone to destroy the order and rules they established. Moreover, can those who use military force to violate the ban guarantee that their ideas are good and what they do is beneficial?

  What if you found the culprit, but accidentally injured innocent people when you rushed into his house? What if you went alone and couldn't find Tang's daughter, but instead alerted the culprit, who moved her away, and now there's no evidence to be found? What if the officials and bandits are indeed colluding, and they frame you as a great thief, cut off your head, what then? Even if you're extremely lucky and none of these problems occur, and you successfully rescue the person, wouldn't the authorities still prosecute you for usurping authority and violating the law? In that case, I'll just have to bring a small basket to visit you in prison, Great Hero Peng!

  Peng Ziqi was talked to like a shrimp that had been cooked in a pot, and even his ears turned red. He roared angrily: "So much nonsense, isn't your mouth dry?"

  "Thank you, I'm not thirsty."

  Peng Ziqi's toes moved slightly, wanting to kick him, but he restrained himself and asked irritably, "So what do you suggest we do?"

  Xia Liu's eyebrows slightly furrowed: "My method... is very dangerous..."

  Peng Ziqi immediately found a sense of superiority and sneered: "What, are you afraid?"

  Xia Xiao slightly shook her head, pointing to the tip of her own nose and said: "I'm not in danger." Then she pointed at Peng Ziqi and said: "You're the one who's in danger..."

  ※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※

  Tang Yao hurriedly carried a pole and rushed back to Putai County Town with excitement.

  This trip has been very rewarding, and many Christian friends who were scattered all over the place have been found. Ma Lao Si even came from afar from Xieshizhang Village to make contact with him. From now on, he will settle down in Shandong Province. With so many Christian friends scattered all over the place and having made contact with them in a timely manner, he will be able to reopen his pulpit in Shandong before long and pass on the White Lotus incense that has been passed down from his ancestors.

  He had just returned home in high spirits when, like a bolt from the blue, he heard the news that his wife had been kidnapped. Tang Yao knew that his wife was dignified and gentle, and she would never run away with someone, so he put down his carrying pole and rushed to the county government office in a huff, beating the drum of complaint.

  He was a rootless outsider, and County Magistrate Single would not be as polite to him as he was to Xia Yu. He casually brushed him off with a few words and hurried him away. Tang Yaoju refused to give up, speaking in a confrontational tone for several sentences. County Magistrate Single became enraged, pulling out a black sign and throwing it down, charging him with disturbing the court, and beating him forty times with a large board, beating Tang Yaoju until his buttocks were covered in bruises, entering standing but leaving lying down.

  There were over a hundred Huaiyang people living in Putai County, among whom more than ten households were disciples of Tang Yaohui's Xiangtang Hall. When they heard that the Tang family was in trouble, they all rushed to the Tang family to ask about it. These people accompanied him to the county yamen, and when they saw Grand Master Dan venting his anger, they dared not speak out in anger, but waited until Tang Zhu had finished his sentence before helping him home with suppressed anger.

  Someone went to fetch some golden wound medicine and carefully applied it to him. A large crowd surrounded him, chattering and discussing, with some worrying about the safety of Tang's daughter and others cursing the corrupt county magistrate, but they couldn't come to a conclusion. Tang Yao lay on the kang, thinking that his wife Huang had been taken away for a whole night, her chastity probably already lost, and his heart was cut like a knife. He also thought that his daughter had always been chaste and virtuous, and if she had been violated, she might want to take her own life, which made him even more furious.

  But now even if he wanted to risk his life and sacrifice his old mother to fight with others, he couldn't find any trace of the Avenging Family. Lying on the kang with a pale face, Tang Yao clenched his teeth and said fiercely: "Wang Hongguang, Yang Cai, remove the door panel and carry me out. Luo Li, lead the way in front, let's go see Lin Old Boss."

  He mentioned that the three people were also Huai Xi people who moved to Putai County, and they all held certain positions in his Xiang Tang. They were his confidants. As soon as he gave the order, Luo Li immediately became tense: "Master, do you want...to borrow Lin Lao Zhu's power?"

  "What's wrong... what else can we do?"

  "Master, that Lin old fellow didn't have any good intentions towards us. Last time he came to visit..."

  Tang Yao sighed and said: "A dragon stranded in a shallow pool is teased by shrimp, a tiger fallen into a flat land is bullied by dogs... Now is not the same as before, we are outsiders, haven't yet stood firm on our feet. Your sister's life or death is still uncertain, I can no longer care about so much, carry me away!"

  Luoli could not help but hatefully stomp his foot and growl: "What are you still standing there for, go remove the door plank!"

  ※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※

  Xia Yu led Peng Qi away from the borrowed residence, checked into a hotel, put down their luggage and came to the front hall. They sat in a secluded corner, ordered a few dishes of wine and food. As soon as they sat down, Peng Qi asked eagerly: "What's your plan? Tell me quickly, saving people is like putting out a fire!"

  "Someone was kidnapped last night and now it's already noon. If there was a fire, it would have burned everything by now..."

  "You..." Peng Ziqi had an urge to grab the wine jug and hit him on the head, but Xia Jiu continued: "At this moment, what should have happened has already happened. What we can do is not different from this half a moment. Calm down, eat something first. However, I want to say it again, my idea is very dangerous for you."

  Peng Ziqi raised an eyebrow and said resolutely, "You tell me, what do you want me to do? To climb a mountain of knives or descend into a sea of fire, I'll furrow my brow and I won't be a good man."

  Xia Liu Dao said: "Above Knife Mountain and below Fire Sea, that's not necessary, it's just... I need you to take a risk and lure those evil people into revealing their true intentions."

  Peng Ziqi exclaimed: "Me? How can I lure that wicked person out?"

  Xia Fu said: "That scoundrel only because the Tang family's daughter has a few points of beauty, is willing to pay the price, and does such a thing, it is clear that he is a lustful person. If suddenly in Puyang County there appears a beautiful and lovely big girl, who is also an outsider coming to visit relatives and friends, but unfortunately did not find any relatives, and once lost, no one will care about her, do you think he will make another move?"

  "It goes without saying that he's already eaten the grass around his nest, would he let a young woman from outside get away? However, where can we find a family with a pretty and lovely daughter to come? Even if we found one, an ordinary family's daughter, once she enters that wolf's den, what if... what if... wouldn't it be harming her?"

  Looking at Xia Jie's somewhat strange gaze, Peng Ziqi gradually came to a realization, hesitantly pointing to his own nose and stammering: "You... you're not... talking about me, are you?"

  Xia Jiang hastily said: "I'm saying women dressed as men, women dressed as men, not not, I'm saying men dressed as women, men dressed as women..."

  Just as Peng Ziqi was about to make his move, someone slammed their hand on the table and shouted: "In broad daylight, under the clear sky, such a thing as kidnapping a civilian woman actually happened in Putai County! It's truly unbelievable!"

  Xia Yu and Peng Ziqi turned their heads to look, only to see the two people who had just sat down by the window. The one speaking was twenty-three or four years old, wearing a Confucian robe, with a square face, thick eyebrows like ink, and eyes that shone brightly. Although he was dressed as a Confucian scholar, his angry and indignant expression showed a somewhat bold and daring air.

  The person sitting opposite him was also wearing a Confucian robe, about the same age as him, with a square face, straight eyebrows, and a refined complexion. He had an elegant demeanor and spoke in a calm tone: "Brother Ji, at present, the case is not clear, and it's not necessarily true that she was abducted. From the interrogation on the platform, it's also difficult to say that the woman didn't have an affair with someone in Huai Xi and now came to your door, trying to elope with her."

  "Ha ha, Xian Ning, you're too straightforward and naive. The county magistrate's nonsense can deceive you, but not me, Ji Gang!"

  ※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※

  Everyone, great power! Yesterday at this time, we were 3900 votes behind the first place in the recommended list. Now we are only 200 votes away. Please vote with all your might, let's reclaim the top spot on the weekly chart! Don't waste chapters, every click counts, and more recommendations mean more quality votes. I'm going to go add some quality votes for everyone now, please keep voting!

  There is also an event where the starting point has organized a large PK activity for author fans, and participating readers can receive 50 experience points. The author with the highest number of forwards can get a chance to be recommended on the homepage.

  A few days ago I posted it and hundreds of readers forwarded it, but probably because of my operation error, it can't be seen in my broadcast.

  I've re-posted a post, whether you've forwarded it before or not, please go ahead and forward it now. Just click on "monthly pass" on my book page or enter my personal center through the "Li Guanyu" in the book review area, then click on the "forward" button under the topic broadcast with #my fans come from all over the world#, input your name in the dialog box and confirm, that's it. Simple operation, 50 points are easily obtained.