The Lucky Farmgirl
Chapter 555 - 544: Interrogation 4

Chapter 555: Chapter 544: Interrogation 4

Xiao Erlang had never thought there would be a problem, because in the two years he had been pretending to be a ghost, each time he appeared, if anyone saw him, they would flee in terror, rolling and crawling away. Moreover, he was always alert and could hide at the first sign of trouble.

He never imagined there were people like Bai Shan and his company in this world, who, even upon seeing a ghost crouching on the ground burning paper money, would still approach it.

But maybe it was also because he hadn’t pretended to be a ghost for half a year, his "business" had become somewhat slack.

However, now that it had come to this, Xiao Erlang felt he had to confess something. So, pointing to Bai Shan and the two others beside him, he said, "Your Honor, on that night, all three of them also had their hair disheveled and were dressed in hemp clothes, obviously also pretending to be ghosts."

County Magistrate Tang glanced at the three youngsters and asked Xiao Erlang, "How long have they rented the Yu family’s house?"

"Six days."

"And how long has Kangxue Street been haunted?"

Realizing something, Xiao Erlang let his shoulders slump and said, "Two years now..."

County Magistrate Tang slapped the sounding block and said, "Let’s leave other matters aside. I only ask you, as to the charges of seizing government property, breaking into residences, and scaring people by pretending to be a ghost, do you admit guilt or not?"

Hanging his head, Xiao Erlang replied, "I admit it, but Your Honor, I really just followed my parents’ and elder brother’s instructions. I, I wasn’t the mastermind."

County Magistrate Tang slapped the sounding block to silence him, then turned to ask a languid Xiao Dalang, "Xiao Dalang, do you admit your guilt?"

Xiao Dalang opened his mouth, and upon seeing Magistrate Tang’s brow raise, the bailiffs beside him cracked their sticks with a ’thwack,’ and he immediately said, "I admit it, I admit it."

County Magistrate Tang, satisfied, ordered the bailiffs to drag Xiao’s parents up.

Manbao watched with unflagging interest. She hadn’t expected them to be of no worth at all, no need for evidence, and they were directly convicted by County Magistrate Tang.

She pulled at Bai Shanbao, and the two of them, along with Bai Erlang, quietly slipped away.

County Magistrate Tang caught a glimpse of them, but did not stop them, letting them go.

The five of them sneaked out of the County Governmental Office, clicking their tongues, "The Xiao family is really something, farming inside for two years."

"Insatiable greed," said Bai Shanbao, "if they weren’t so greedy and only farmed a small area, using a portion of the finds, perhaps they could have gone unnoticed for ten or even twenty years."

After all, a deceased official’s house is not so easily sold. Even if the government office were willing to sell at a low price, with an unlucky aura and rumors of hauntings, no one would buy it.

A decay lasting ten or twenty years is quite common, but like them, having gained one, they want two; having two, they then think of getting three. Even without their ghost catching, they would have been caught one day.

Bai Shanbao furrowed his brow, "I wonder what will happen to them."

Manbao also didn’t know, "Shall we flip through the laws when we get back?"

Thinking of those thick, numerous law books, Bai Erlang immediately felt a headache and said, "Even the law books aren’t written in detail. It’s better to ask the teacher. With so many books, how long will you have to search to find what you’re looking for?"

Bai Erlang asked, "And did you bring any law books?"

Manbao pointed to Bai Shanbao, "He brought them."

Bai Erlang then looked at Bai Shanbao, "Have you gone mad?"

"You’re the mad one, we’ll be tested on them at the prefectural school. Do you think I want to read those?" Bai Shanbao said, "I hate reading the law books the most. Every time I finish, my head spins."

Manbao didn’t like reading law books either, but she found some of the content quite interesting, so she said, "I don’t like most of the law books."

Bai Erlang let his shoulders slump and said, "Well, that’s settled then. If you both dislike it so much, it must be tough. Am I going to hate it when it’s my turn to study?"

Li Erlang, coming over, said, "... Are the law books of Great Jin so difficult to read?"

Manbao and the others turned their heads in unison and were somewhat surprised to see him, "Mr. Li Er, what are you doing here too?"

Li Erlang cleared his throat with a smile and said, "I heard that the County Governmental Office was presiding over a most peculiar case today, so we came to take a look. Did you capture the ghost from inside?"

Manbao and the others nodded demurely, thinking that it was getting late and they should return home to report to their teacher.

Seeing the expression on their faces, Mr. Li Er smiled and said, "I’m new to Yizhou and still unfamiliar with the area. I hear the Ganxiang Pavilion in Yizhou is quite good. Why don’t I treat you to lunch?"

The trio, who had been about to take their leave, paused. They looked up at Li Erlang, then their gazes irresistibly met.

Seeing this, Li Erlang smiled broadly, "Meeting again is fate, after all. Besides, I owe you for your assistance earlier. Let’s go—the flatbread paired with the mutton soup at Ganxiang Pavilion is especially delicious."

Unable to resist, Manbao swallowed hard, and soon all three were following Li Erlang.

The four people trailing behind Li Erlang couldn’t help but chuckle under their breath.

Zhou Silang hesitated, then quickly pulled Daji to catch up. He felt it wasn’t proper for his younger sister to be so easily enticed away by a meal. What if he was a bad person?

But by the time he came to his senses, they were already seated in a private room at Ganxiang Pavilion, a full table of ten people.

Li Erlang was no stranger to dining at Ganxiang Pavilion and knew what was delicious, so he ordered plenty of dishes.

After the tea was served, Li Erlang finally broached the subject of ghost catching. He was very curious about how exactly they managed to capture the ghost.

It wasn’t that there was anything secretive about it, it was just inappropriate to discuss in front of the people from Kangxue Street, as Xiao family had lived there for generations.

If they knew that they had also pretended to be ghosts to catch the Xiao family, with a little instigation from the Xiao family that night, they could be in trouble.

But in front of Li Erlang and the others, there was no need to hold back.

So they told the story of how they hid in the firewood dressed in hemp clothes, waiting for the ghost. Manbao even asked Li Erlang, "Mr. Li Er, you have more experience than us; have you ever seen a ghost?"

Li Erlang: "...No."

Manbao expressed her pity, "You haven’t seen one and neither have you. What about you guys?"

The other four eyed by her hesitated, then shook their heads in unison.

"See, I told you," Bai Shanbao shrugged, "there really are no ghosts in this world. You just wouldn’t believe me, insisting on searching for ghosts."

"They are only part of the population. There are many who claim they’ve seen ghosts," Manbao countered. "It’s a pity that they are all too timid. They didn’t talk to the ghost or seek proof at the time."

Li Erlang felt he might be getting too old to keep up with their line of thinking.

Clearing his throat to bring the conversation back, Li Erlang said, "What do you think of the County Magistrate of Huayang County?"

Manbao nodded, "Very impressive."

Bai Shanbao also nodded, "Quick in handling cases. Our teacher said before that a case like this couldn’t be resolved in three or four sessions, but it was sorted out in just one."

"Have you heard of this county magistrate before?"

"No," the trio answered crisply, "We’ve only seen two magistrates, both from our own county."

Li Erlang then asked with a smile, "So are those the only officials you have heard of? That would be quite a narrow view."

Manbao thought for a moment and then said, "Not just them, I’ve also heard of the Prince of Yizhou. The Prince of Yizhou is an official too, right? And a high-ranking one at that."