Free Web NovelChapter 390: Chapter 153: Discussing the Move
The elderly Shi couple and the trio of Chen Song, Zhao Jing, and De’an arrived at the Chen family home, one right after the other.
The elderly Shi couple, seething with righteous indignation, grabbed hold of Chen Song and demanded he see that justice was done.
"Despicable, simply despicable! The imperial envoy is still in town, and yet someone dares to murder the niece of a court official! Is there no law and order? In-law, you must bring the culprit to justice! You must get justice for our Wanyue!"
Everyone in the room was shocked.
The main branch of the Chen family had severed all ties with the third branch; this was a fact known to just about everyone in Qingshui County.
The only reason they still bothered with Li’an was because, despite his minor scheming, he wasn’t a bad person at heart. They didn’t want to see a decent young man get dragged through the mud, so they always tried to lend a hand when they could.
However, while they might have a soft spot for Li’an and Shou’an, they would absolutely never extend that same sympathy to Chen Wanyue.
Chen Wanyue was vicious and ungrateful. The very fact she could trash her own uncle’s house and smear filth all over it, inside and out, showed just how cruel and ruthless she was.
To show her mercy would be to show themselves cruelty.
Everyone in the Zhao Village knew this, which was why no one ever brought up Wanyue in their presence.
’And yet, look at what these two were doing right now.’
They were using Chen Wanyue as a pretext to quickly curry favor with this powerful relative, all to achieve some ulterior motive.
With every other word being "in-law" or "dear niece," they weren’t just playing dumb; they were indulging in a fool’s fantasy.
Chen Song said nothing. He simply picked up a stool and smashed it violently onto the floor.
The stool shattered to pieces. The room fell so silent you could hear a pin drop. The minds of the elderly Shi couple, which had been addled by those two words, "powerful relative," were finally clear.
Chen Song looked at them. "Can you speak properly now?"
The old couple trembled, their backs bent so low they resembled branches broken under heavy snow. "We can, we can. We’ll speak properly now."
Chen Song tossed aside the piece of wood in his hand and sat on a stool, his posture imposing. "Then speak."
The elderly Shi couple didn’t dare to delay and quickly explained what had happened.
Apparently, Chen Wanyue had wanted to eat some water caltrops, so she went to a small river on the outskirts of the city to pick them. She didn’t manage to get any, however, and was instead suddenly pushed into the river, where she nearly drowned.
Upon hearing this, Chen Song and the others exchanged glances. The news was truly unexpected.
Chen Song could no longer see the elderly Shi couple as mere scoundrels; now they were plaintiffs. "If something this serious happened, why didn’t you report it to the government office?"
The elderly Shi couple hemmed and hawed. ’What other reason could there be? They were just trying to use this as an opportunity to cozy up to her influential uncle.’
’At the government office, with so many people around, they wouldn’t have been able to get a word in edgewise. Coming to his home was so much better. They’d cry and make a scene, Chen Song would surely soften, and then they could ride his coattails right up the social ladder. They’d have this powerful connection in the bag.’
’But who would have thought? Chen Song was as stubborn and foul-tempered as a stone in a cesspit. Not only did he refuse to play along, he outright terrified them. They were so scared their hearts were still pounding, and they couldn’t stop shaking.’
Chen Song frowned and asked them, "Is Chen Wanyue awake now? Did she see who pushed her? Who pulled her from the river, and did that person see the assailant?"
The elderly Shi couple hurriedly replied, "Wanyue is awake now. She can’t swim, so she was just flailing about after she fell in. She didn’t see who exactly pushed her, only that the person was wearing a yellow skirt. As for the one who saved her, it was a passing peddler. That peddler had just arrived in the county town today. He was planning to rest by the river and have a drink of water when he saw Wanyue struggling in the water and immediately jumped in to save her..."
The elderly Shi couple held nothing back, telling him everything they knew.
After listening to their account, Chen Song felt the case was a tricky one.
’It was either a premeditated attack by someone who was targeting Chen Wanyue, or it was a random act of violence.’
’If it’s the former, that’s one thing. But if it’s the latter, we’ll probably have to canvas the whole town for clues.’
But regardless of which it was, now that a report had been made, they had to go to the scene of the incident to investigate immediately.
’If we get there early, we might still find something useful. If we get there late, the scene will likely be compromised, and solving the case will be next to impossible.’
At this thought, Chen Song didn’t dare to delay. He stood up and headed for the door.
"Let’s go. First, we’ll register this at the government office. Then you’ll take us to the scene of the incident."
"W-We’re leaving? Just like that?"
"What else? Did you expect us to ask you to stay for dinner?"
It was De’an who spoke last, side-eyeing the Shi Family with clear contempt.
’A whole family of shameless scoundrels, trying to use this to claw their way up. They’re dreaming.’
