Chapter 34: The Young Porter

  Before long, the woman came out of the mortuary in tears and knelt down to Bao Zheng, saying: "I beg you, sir, to avenge my husband's death. You must find that murderer!"

  It was thus confirmed that the woman was Dong's wife and the deceased was Dong Cheng.

  Bao Zheng slightly nodded and did not mention the affair between this woman and other men, but instead took out the luggage of Pang San and Shou Si and showed it to Madame Dong, asking: "Is this your husband's thing?"

  Mrs. Dong took a glance and immediately said, "That's right, this is indeed my husband's stuff. Four days ago, my husband said he was going to another place to purchase a batch of rice, so he brought these money with him. Originally, this trip was supposed to last for half a month, so when I first heard that my husband had been killed, I still had some doubts... but after seeing the body, I realized it was really my husband."

  Mrs. Dong acknowledged that the package belonged to Dong Cheng, and Judge Bao nodded slightly, thus implicating both Fat Three and Thin Four in the case.

  Just from Mrs. Dong's words, Bao Zheng couldn't ask anything else. Dong Cheng went to do business and was killed by someone shortly after leaving the city. Now the only two suspects are Fat Three and Thin Four, but to prove whether they are the murderers or not, it is necessary to wait for the yamen to investigate clearly whether they came from Tianchang County a few days ago.

  Seeing Bao Gong speechless, Hua Lang stepped forward and said: "Brother Bao, may I ask a few questions?"

  Bao Zheng was worried and didn't know what to do next. Now that Hua Lang had something to ask, he naturally felt delighted and hastily said: "Brother Hua, go ahead and ask your questions without any hesitation."

  Hualang nodded and then looked at Mrs. Dong and asked, "Mr. Dong went to buy a batch of rice, I suppose there should be a horse cart, isn't that so?"

  When asked by Hua Lang, Mrs. Dong hurriedly nodded and said: "That's right, there is indeed a carriage, but my husband thinks that our family's carriage is expensive, every time we go out of the city to the suburbs, we rent Ma Xiao Liu's carriage."

  "What kind of rental method is this?" Huā Láng continued to ask.

  Mrs. Dong was straightforward and replied, "Not five taels of silver, but after deducting the cost of fodder for the horses, my husband only gave Ma Xiaoliu four taels of silver, and then my husband went alone by carriage to purchase goods."

  "Horses weren't always available, I suppose every time Old Man Dong went to stock up, he would have to inform Ma Xiaoliu in advance?" Huā Láng looked at Mrs. Dong and continued to ask.

  Mrs. Dong's eyes widened in surprise, nodding repeatedly: "That's right, it's always like that, you're really amazing."

  Hualang smiled faintly, thinking that such flattery was a bit low-level. He thought for a moment and then said to Baoqiang: "I think Brother Bao should send someone to Ma Xiaoliu's house to bring him in for questioning."

  Bao Zheng nodded, he thought that Hua Lang was right to some extent. If Dong Cheng informed Ma Xiao Liu every time before going to purchase goods, then Ma Xiao Liu would definitely know that Dong Cheng had a large amount of silver on him. If he wanted to get those silvers, for example, he might ambush Dong Cheng along the way.

  This is a clue, but there's one thing that can't be explained: Dong Cheng's silver wasn't taken by Ma Xiao Liu, but was picked up by Pang San and Shou Si. Why is that?

  Was it that Ma Xiaoliu's hands were about to grab the silver and run away, but suddenly discovered someone was coming, he was so frightened that he didn't have time to take the silver, and ran away, and those silvers finally fell into the hands of Pang San and Shou Si?

  Anyway, it's necessary to review Ma Xiaoliu now.

  Just as two bailiffs went to the suburbs to capture Ma Xiao Liu, the bailiff who went to various inns to gather information came back and reported: "We have asked all the inns, and Ah San and Qi Si only stayed at one inn, which is the inn where the master caught them. According to the owner of that inn, the two men arrived there for lodging just last night."

  After listening to the yamen runner's words, Bao Gong looked at Hualang and said: "It seems that the person who killed Dong Cheng is not Fat Three and Thin Four."

  Hualang nodded: "If they arrived in Tianchang County the night before last, then they can't be the murderers who killed Dong Cheng. In that case, this case is going to be a bit troublesome."

  The case is complicated. Everyone naturally understands what it means. The murderer killed Dong Cheng, but did not take the more than 1,000 taels of silver in his hand. This is inexplicable in any case.

  The murderer killed someone, but what was his purpose, everyone is confused.

  It would take some time to catch the little donkey, Ma Liu, outside the city. During this time, Hua Lang carefully sized up Madame Dong. Her figure wasn't very good, slightly plump, but her charm remained, still able to attract many men. Thinking of what the yamen runner had just said, Hua Lang decided to probe a bit.

  After all, if the murderer didn't kill for money, then it must be for something else, such as Dong Cheng's very charming wife.

  "Does Boss Dong often go on business trips to purchase goods?" Hu Lang asked indifferently, looking at Mrs. Dong.

  Mrs. Dong didn't think much and replied directly: "We have to go at least once a month."

  "Is it always half a month?"

  "About that, it's always around ten days."

  Hualang smiled faintly: "So, I suppose Madam Dong is very lonely at home by herself?"

  Suddenly hearing Hua Lang say this, Madame Dong's face changed slightly, and she said angrily: "What do you mean by this?"

  Hualang shrugged and looked at Mrs. Dong, saying: "There is no other meaning, it's just that when the county yamen's officer came to call you, he found a man with his clothes in disarray sneaking out of your back door. I really want to know what relationship you have with that man, who is that man?"

  After Hualang said these words, Mrs. Dong became even more furious. She stared at Hualang with her big eyes, but didn't say a word, as if she was determined not to answer him until death.

  Seeing Madam Dong like this, Hua Lang didn't get angry either, and still spoke in a very calm tone: "It seems that the man is undoubtedly the murderer. In order to be with Madam Dong for a long time, he had no choice but to kill Dong Cheng, this obstacle, right?"

  "You're talking nonsense, it's not like that at all! He...he would never be capable of murder!" Madam Dong blurted out in agitation.

  When Mrs. Dong said this, Hua Lang laughed disbelievingly: "Oh, is that so? You won't even say who the man is, how do you know he's not the murderer? I think he's the murderer. Brother Bao, it shouldn't be hard to find that man and bring him in, should it?"

  At this time, the official hastily cupped his hands and said: "It's not difficult, I've seen that person's face clearly."

  The official said so, and Mrs. Dong was suddenly frightened. If she didn't speak out and was found out by the county government, then he would be in a difficult position to defend himself?

  "After some thought, Mrs. Dong suddenly spoke up and said: 'I'm saying, I've already said.'"