The Lucky Farmgirl
Chapter 553 - 542: Interrogation Part Two (Adding five more for all the crowdfunding alliance leader’s readers as a reward)

Chapter 553: Chapter 542: Interrogation Part Two (Adding five more for all the crowdfunding alliance leader’s readers as a reward)

Xiao Erlang still wore his white garb and had his hair disheveled, looking even more haggard after a night of fear and trepidation, almost indistinguishable from a ghost.

County Magistrate Tang scrutinized him, then nodded, "No wonder some people mistook you for a ghost."

He slammed the ceremonial mallet down and barked, "State your name and crime at the dock! Confess at once!"

Xiao Erlang sobbed pitifully, "Your Honor, I am Xiao Erlang from the Xiao Family on Kangxue Street. I shouldn’t have feigned illness to impersonate a ghost to scare people, please spare my life, Your Honor."

County Magistrate Tang had already been briefed by the night watchmen earlier that morning and scoffed, "Are you sure the crime you’ve committed is feigning illness?"

"Yes, yes, Your Honor. I’ve had this illness since I was young. I did not mean to frighten anyone on purpose."

"Then let me ask you, who opened the vegetable garden within the Yan Family’s property?"

"I don’t know, Your Honor. When I’m ill, I just like to cry, wander around, and burn paper money. Beyond that, I know nothing."

County Magistrate Tang scoffed once more, glanced at the bailiffs who were jailed separately, then slapped the ceremonial mallet, "Fine, let us assume what you say is true. Bring him here, gag him, and hold him down here in the hall. Bring up Xiao Dalang."

The bailiffs obeyed and fetched Xiao Dalang.

No sooner had Xiao Dalang entered the hall than County Magistrate Tang slammed the mallet and roared, "Drag him out and beat him with ten heavy planks!"

"Yes!"

Xiao Dalang hadn’t realized what was happening before he was dragged out into the courtyard, had his clothes lifted, and was promptly and resoundingly beaten.

Manbao was startled and instinctively covered her eyes, while Zhou Silang, fearing she would be frightened, quickly embraced her.

Bai Shanbao and Bai Erlang, while not new to witnessing beatings, were still not accustomed to such sights and slightly turned away, too.

It was then that County Magistrate Tang noticed them, and during the lull of the beating, pointed at them and asked, "And who might they be?"

The bailiff, sensing the displeasure of his lord, promptly bent over and answered, "They are witnesses, Your Honor. They were the ones who caught the ’ghost’ last night."

"Ah, it’s them," County Magistrate Tang’s expression softened somewhat, curious. The ghost of Kangxue Street had been causing disturbances for two years, and during that time he had not only sent people to investigate but had gone himself, all to no avail.

Moreover, since the disturbances hadn’t led to any serious incidents and he himself hadn’t even heard any crying or such, after the investigations, he simply considered it superstitious behavior of the locals.

That these five managed to catch the ’ghost’ was quite impressive, especially since the ones standing at the forefront were two young men and a girl.

Thus, County Magistrate Tang motioned with his hand, "Bring them up here; I have a few questions to ask them."

The five quickly approached the platform, with Manbao and the other two standing at the forefront, bowing to County Magistrate Tang.

Xiao Dalang was howling from the beating in the courtyard, but County Magistrate Tang paid no heed and inquired curiously of Bai Shanbao and the others, "Was it you who caught the ’ghost’?"

Bai Shanbao responded with a bow, "Yes, Your Honor."

"How did you come up with the idea of catching a ghost, and how did you manage to catch it?"

Bai Shanbao glanced at his two companions and answered, "Your Honor, a few days ago we heard a woman ghost crying at home, saying that she died unjustly, so we wanted to ask her what her grievances were. Therefore, last night, we hid in a haystack. As soon as he appeared, we went to look at him, and he startled and started screaming."

County Magistrate Tang looked at them skeptically. A person who had been playing ghost for years should be vigilant. How could he be startled by the sudden appearance of three people?

He surveyed the three and asked, "What were you wearing at the time?"

Bai Shanbao replied without change of expression, "Just ordinary clothes."

Manbao and Bai Erlang nodded rapidly in corroboration.

In just a few exchanges, the beating of Xiao Dalang had been completed, and he was dragged back in by the bailiffs.

The beatings in the yamen were no trivial matter; even though it was just ten heavy planks, they weren’t administered lightly. Xiao Dalang lay on the ground, pale-faced, utterly baffled.

County Magistrate Tang waved Bai Shanbao and the others off to the side and slammed the ceremonial mallet again, "Xiao Dalang, do you admit your guilt?"

Xiao Dalang’s eyes bulged as he quickly shouted, "Your Honor, what crime should I confess to? While I knew of my younger brother’s lunacy, I never thought he would trespass into the Yan Family’s property..."

County Magistrate Tang sneered, "Xiao Erlang has confessed everything. He claims that you ordered him to work in the Yan Family’s garden while he was out of his mind. Who else would want such trouble for themselves? The work Xiao Erlang did in the Yan Family’s vegetable garden was not easy, but you must have made quite a bit of money, right? Xiao Erlang is a fool, not doing these things by his own volition. The most culpable is you, the mastermind behind the scenes."

Upon hearing that everything had been pinned on him, Xiao Dalang couldn’t help being frantic. He tried to turn his head to look at Xiao Erlang in the courtyard, but as he did so, County Magistrate Tang slammed the mallet down again and interrogated, "Xiao Dalang, won’t you confess the truth? Must I resort to further torture?"

"No, Your Honor, I am wrongfully accused. I am not the instigator," Xiao Dalang, terrorized at the threat of torture, quivered and quickly added, "My younger brother is not mad; he orchestrated this whole affair, and it has nothing to do with me."

Xiao Dalang continued, "It all started two years ago when he slipped into the Yan Family’s property to plant crops and pretended to be a ghost to scare people, all without our involvement."

Xiao Erlang, who was gagged and held in the courtyard, became so infuriated that he began to struggle violently.

County Magistrate Tang watched and smiled slightly, "It seems Xiao Erlang has something different to say. Bring him in."

After speaking, he quietly instructed the bailiffs, "Also fetch the two elders from the Xiao family into the courtyard. Gag them too, and don’t let them make a sound."

The bailiffs acknowledged and left.

Manbao watched in amazement and could not help but turn back to glance at Bai Shanbao.

Bai Shanbao was equally impressed, turning to return her gaze.