The Lucky Farmgirl
Chapter 735 - 724: Capture

Chapter 735: Chapter 724: Capture

The three of them were thrilled beyond measure.

With their limited experience, most cases had them playing a supporting role; just getting a mention when rewards were distributed was good enough, let alone significant credit.

They moved to the courtyard, unable to resist whispering among themselves, "Do you think we can really catch the guy?"

"You should be asking if the person is really from around Dagong Ridge," one of them said. "If not, forget five days, even if we waited five hundred, it would be useless."

"Since Lord Tang said so, it must be the case," another argued. "When have you ever seen him mess up a case?"

"Never, that’s true."

"Exactly, we just have to go and wait. If we spot someone, knocking them out and bringing them back counts as a success."

"So are we heading to South Ridge or East Ridge?"

"Are you dumb? We have three people; just spread out and stake out. If he’s alone, which one of us brothers would be scared to take him on? Besides, we have knives on us," said a bailiff. "If he’s not alone, we mark the spot and then ambush near there later. When it comes to gathering firewood, people like to stick to the same place. If he went there once, he’ll definitely return."

The other two thought he made sense, so they clapped each other on the shoulders, planning to go back and discuss further.

However, as soon as they exited the yard, they were quietly led out through the back gate by a servant waiting outside.

They then remembered that County Magistrate Tang had mentioned this matter was to be kept secret, so not only must they not talk about it, but it was also best not to group together and to leave the city separately.

Bailiff B couldn’t help but whisper in complaint, "All this caution, could it be that our County Governmental Office has spies?"

Bailiff A thoughtfully said, "Not necessarily spies, but don’t forget, there are bailiffs in the office who are quite familiar with people from Dagong Ridge. For this case, because they knew them well, Lord Tang initially sent them to investigate, thinking they’d be able to talk easily since they knew the local people. But look what happened..."

Their words trailed off, but all three could feel County Magistrate Tang’s fury.

Having followed County Magistrate Tang for two years, they knew his usually cheerful appearance belied a formidable temper when aroused.

On the rare occasions he got angry, didn’t the entire County Governmental Office tremble with fear?

But this time County Magistrate Tang seemed angrier than ever because he didn’t even lose his temper but instead spoke to them with a smile.

The bailiffs who had been entangled in the villages around Dagong Ridge withdrew and began investigating elsewhere. After two days, it seemed like the coast was clear.

The person staking out East Ridge finally spotted one of the bandits, but with two others beside him, he dared not make a move.

The next day, all three of them camped out at East Ridge. Sure enough, as soon as the sun came up, three men came up the mountain to chop wood and one of them was the person from the portrait.

To be sure, Bailiff A pulled out the portrait for comparison several times.

They exchanged glances, tucked away the portrait, and then lay still behind the bushes.

After waiting a long while, the three men finally dispersed a bit to each choose a tree and start chopping down branches.

Bailiff A watched as the bandit climbed down to drag the cut branches and cautiously glanced at the other two men still busy on their trees.

As it happened, they were both sitting with their backs to them, chatting idly.

Bailiff A signaled to his partner with a look, gripped his knife and stepped forward, but then thought better of it and sheathed the knife quietly, creeping up behind the big figure of the bandit.

The bandit was squatting down, stripping leaves from the cut branches and tying them together when he sensed someone behind him. As he turned, he was struck on the forehead with a smack from a knife scabbard...

He began to cry out instinctively, but the moment he made a sound, someone pounced on him and clamped a hand over his mouth...

He couldn’t help but moan, kicking and struggling.

Then, someone lifted his neck forcefully and hit him again with the knife scabbard. His eyes rolled back in pain, but he did not lose consciousness.

The bailiffs hadn’t expected him to be so tough. Noticing that the men on the trees seemed to realize something was amiss, they quickly covered his mouth and dragged him behind the bushes by the feet and hands.

They were not sure what he hit, but suddenly, the bandit’s eyes rolled back and he passed out.

The men on the trees had already turned around and, seeing no one behind them, couldn’t help but call out loudly, "Third, Third, where did you go?"

The three bailiffs hiding behind the bushes were sweating profusely. Though the bushes were thick, the men were now sitting on the trees, and if they stood up, they would surely be spotted.

Bailiff A had to pinch his voice and mumble vaguely in response, "I’m just taking a piss..."

The man who turned around then sat back properly, his back to them again, and shouted, "Hurry up, we’re low on firewood at home. We’ve already lost several days; it’s going to get cold soon..."

The three bailiffs had already hoisted the bandit and quickly slipped away.

The men talking from the trees, not hearing a reply, began to suspect something was amiss. Another man on a nearby tree also caught on and shouted, "Big brother, Third didn’t talk back?"

The talker immediately turned around and saw the silence behind him where Third should have been, and couldn’t help but call out again, "Third, Third—"

Only his echo responded in the forest, apart from the chirping of birds.

The brothers sitting in the trees turned pale, realizing something was amiss, and hurried down the trees to look for their companion.

The bailiffs carried the man all the way to the official road, casually stopped a passing cart, showed their badges, and raced back to the city.

Lord Tang truly had divine insight; having said that they would find someone at East Ridge or South Ridge, they really did.

The three, excitedly dragging—or rather, carrying—the bandit, returned to the County Governmental Office.

County Magistrate Tang, after seeing the man they brought back and listening to their detailed description of the capture, smiled in satisfaction and praised them, "Well done. You have worked hard these past few days. Go rest now. Once I close this case, I will commend you for your efforts."

Their eyes lit up, and they quickly bowed and lowered their heads, saying, "You overpraise us, Lord. It’s merely our duty."

These were just courteous remarks, of course. If County Magistrate Tang genuinely didn’t commend them, they would likely be grumbling inside.

After they left, County Magistrate Tang stared at the lying bandit for a while, then beckoned to the bailiff standing beside him, stunned into silence, and ordered, "Go, summon the county constable, and also send for the village chiefs from around Dagong Ridge to come here."

County Magistrate Tang paused then added, "And make another trip to Jishi Hall to invite Young Doctor Zhou."

He smiled faintly, saying, "It wouldn’t be right to leave him unconscious without care, especially considering she is also a family member of the victim. It’s best she comes."

The bailiff shivered as he left, feeling that County Magistrate Tang was rather strange today, almost as if he were angry but also pleased.

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