The Lucky Farmgirl
Chapter 873 - 851 List

Chapter 873: Chapter 851 List

Daji patted his shoulder and said, "You just focus on recovering. County Magistrate Tang will question you later. Just answer his questions truthfully."

Erji looked somewhat dazed as he asked, "Big brother, can this case really be solved?"

He muttered, "It’s been twelve years."

Daji reassured him, "It’s possible."

Erji then lay down, motionless.

Seeing his elder brother rise to leave, Erji opened his mouth and called out softly, "Brother, does Miss Man truly not hate me?"

Daji sighed, smoothed the quilt with his hand, and said in a low voice, "She doesn’t hate you. Miss Man said the fault lies not with you but with the murderer, and that you are also a victim."

Daji paused before adding, "She is a very smart and kind-hearted child."

"Just like her parents?"

Daji nodded and replied, "Exactly, like her parents."

After that, Erji said no more.

Daji stood up to leave the room and saw his son aiming a slingshot at the trees in the courtyard. He smiled faintly and walked over to ruffle his son’s hair.

Bo’an shook his head and, with a slightly flushed face, called out, "Dad."

Daji nodded and asked, "How is your schooling going?"

Bo’an just stood on his toes without speaking.

Daji then said, "If you really can’t keep up with your studies, just go to school for two more years, learn what you should, and then I’ll send you to learn martial arts."

"Grandpa and grandma want me to study."

Daji knew that pain well, the pain of not being able to remember a single article despite trying hard. His wife had people write to him, saying Bo’an stayed up all night studying, yet his performance was still mediocre. Every few weeks, the teacher would come over, and every time he did, Bo’an would become utterly nervous.

This reminded Daji of his own childhood, when he would study alongside the young master. Back then, he was just a servant; it didn’t really matter whether he was good at reading. Being able to recognize a few characters, serving well as a book boy, and being good at fighting were enough.

Yet, other hopes had been placed on his son.

Daji thought for a while and then said to Bo’an, "It’s fine, your younger brother is still there. Let him go for the examinations, and if you can’t keep up, just go learn martial arts. In the future, whether you escort goods or farm at home, it will be fine."

Bo’an’s spirits lifted, and he asked, "Really?"

Daji furrowed his brows and asked, "How about Two’s studies?"

"Good, mom says the second brother takes after her. He has a good memory and studies much better than I do."

Daji breathed a sigh of relief and nodded, "Then let Two go for the examinations. Later, I’ll ask Old Madam for her help. Once you recognize all the characters and can write articles, you can go learn martial arts."

Bo’an became excited and enthusiastically grabbed his slingshot and jumped up.

Daji couldn’t help but smile, yet his mind began to drift to Bai Shan and Manbao. He thoughtfully watched Bo’an and opened his mouth, but in the end, said nothing.

Manbao and Bai Shan found it hard to sleep. The gifts for Qi Jue had already been placed on the table, but Manbao had already come out of her heartache by now.

As the night deepened and the yard quietened, Manbao’s mind kept replaying her encounter with Erji and the things she heard earlier. Finally, she couldn’t bear it any longer and got up in the dark to light the oil lamp.

Lijun had gone home, and this room was now hers alone, so she didn’t need to worry about disturbing anyone. Manbao took out a stick of ink and ground it on the inkstone, then picked up a brush and wrote down her parents’ names on a piece of white paper, adding Bai Qi’s name beneath them.

Manbao was just about to write more when she paused; still, she continued to write down another name: "Former Assistant County Magistrate of Shu County, Deputy Magistrate He."

Erji had said that many other people had died that day, not only their Bai Family’s guards but also clerks from the County Governmental Office...

Living in the room next to Manbao, Bai Shan was also not asleep. He lay in bed thinking even more about those names. He knew some of them, but most he did not. And now, he couldn’t properly investigate them nor could he likely pay respects...

Bai Shan sighed, turned over, and continued to stare at the wall.

County Magistrate Tang was also not asleep; the lamp in his study was still on. He spread out the scrolls he had found and meticulously copied every name onto a piece of paper.

Bai Qi, Zhou Yin and his wife Ms. Xia, Assistant County Magistrate He Ziyun, their eldest son He Chang, Clerk Du Zhisong...

As more names were written, County Magistrate Tang felt his heart growing heavier.

After copying the last name, County Magistrate Tang finally put down his pen. Sounds from outside reached him, "Madam, the master is busy working; perhaps you should return first, and I will inform the master."

Madam Tang was rarely stopped by Mingxi, so she paused instead of barging in, handing the food box she was carrying to Mingxi, "I don’t have anything important. It’s just the chill of early spring now, make sure to add a layer of clothing for him. There’s soup here; let him drink it and go to sleep early."

Mingxi bowed in response.

Madam Tang looked up at the silhouette reflected on the window, seeing him still holding a pen and standing at the desk, and then she turned away.

County Magistrate Tang, meanwhile, listened to the noises outside. After Madam Tang had walked away, he picked up his pen again and added, word by word, behind that list of names, "Affected by the dam breach at Wei Tail in the tenth year of Da Zhen, thirty-eight thousand..."

The final character was as sharp as a blade. County Magistrate Tang looked at the large piece of paper covered densely with names and slowly closed his eyes. When he reopened them, there was renewed determination.

He put down his pen and waited for the paper to dry before folding it and placing it aside, then picked up his pen again to write a letter.

Mingxi, carrying the food box, came in and took out the soup, "My lord, please drink some soup."

County Magistrate Tang shook his head and asked, "Has the case detective arrived?"

Mingxi calculated the time, "He should return tomorrow."

County Magistrate Tang nodded, sealed the two letters he had written, and handed one to Mingxi, "Give this to him when he returns tomorrow, and have him send it back to the capital to my father."

Mingxi complied.

County Magistrate Tang put away the other letter, glanced at the soup, thought for a moment, but decided to place the letter in a box and lock it. After securing it, he stood up and said, "I won’t drink it, I’m going back to the main house."

Mingxi complied, hurriedly escorted County Magistrate Tang back to the rear courtyard. Madam Tang, evidently yet awake, smiled at him when he returned and asked, "Are you done?"

County Magistrate Tang answered without betraying any emotion, "I’m done."

Madam Tang didn’t inquire about his business, and instead mentioned, "Young Master Qi of the Qi family is celebrating his birthday tomorrow. Are you going?"

"That young fellow is only sixteen or seventeen, what’s there to celebrate?" County Magistrate Tang unthinkingly shook his head, "No, I’m not going."

"He’s just turned sixteen. It’s common for teenagers of this age to discuss marriage and certainly to meet more people."

"I have matters at the office tomorrow," County Magistrate Tang said. "There’s a case in the countryside that I need to inspect. You go on my behalf, and just give my regards to Madam Qi."

Madam Tang, curious, asked, "A homicide?"

County Magistrate Tang coughed lightly and replied, "No, it’s a theft. Now that the spring farmwork is starting, such issues are sensitive. The villagers gather together and, if not handled properly, might even start fighting, which could lead to fatalities."

Madam Tang didn’t suspect a thing and nodded.