Chapter 71: The Last Shrew

  Upon arriving at the county yamen, Bao Zheng hastily bowed to Hua Gong and said: "Thank you, Brother Hua, for your help. I, Bao Heizi, will remember this kindness."

  Bao Gong was so polite that Hua Lang felt a bit embarrassed and repeatedly said it was something he should have done himself.

  After the most polite conversation, everyone sat down in the living room. Bao Zheng looked at Hua Lang and asked: "Now that the murderer is still on the run, can we release Yan Feng and Lu Ming? They are innocent and have been locked up in prison for a long time, I'm afraid something will happen to them!"

  "Now, if we let them out, it's probably not suitable. I think we can't just let the two of them out, but also need to catch Ah Gui and Zheng Bing. Only then will the real culprit relax his vigilance and continue to commit crimes."

  After hearing Hualang's words, Bao Zheng's face looked somewhat unpleasant. He sighed and said: "If the murderer really strikes again, wouldn't that mean another person will die? This...this is probably not very good."

  Bao Gong's concern was understood by Hua Lang, but if they didn't do this, the murderer would not commit another crime, and how could they then capture him?

  After a long time, Hua Lang finally spoke up and said: "Brother Bao's consideration is very thorough. If we can find out who the murderer will target next, perhaps we can prevent it from happening."

  Everyone was silent, which is a good way, but they knew too little about the murderer and didn't even know who the next victim would be.

  Just then, a yamen runner rushed over and said, "Your Honor, we've investigated clearly. Now there's only one shrew left on West Street."

  Everyone who heard this was overjoyed. If there was only one shrew, then they could keep an eye on that woman all day long. In this way, it would be difficult for the murderer to make a move.

  "Quickly tell me in detail about the woman's situation."

  The official obeyed the order and said, "That woman lives in a lane on West Street. Her husband is called Mao Xiaobao, and everyone calls her Mrs. Mao. This Mrs. Mao has a very fat and tall figure, while Mao Xiaobao is very thin. When they stand together, the contrast between them is extreme, and they are often ridiculed behind their backs. Moreover, Mrs. Mao has a bad temper and often beats and scolds Mao Xiaobao and the neighbors, so everyone is afraid of her and rarely associates with her."

  The yamen runner finished speaking and stood aside waiting for further instructions. Bao Zheng thought deeply for a long time, then said: "If there is only one shrew left on West Street, namely the widow of the Mao family, we can send someone to keep an eye on her and thus ensure her safety. And if the murderer strikes again, we can also catch him in the act."

  The yamen runner hastily cupped his hands and said: "This subordinate will immediately dispatch someone to keep an eye on Mao Shi."

  The official was about to leave, when Hualang hastily shouted: "Wait a minute, let me observe for a while before making a decision."

  Hualang and others followed the official to Xijie Street, after arriving at Xijie Street, the official pointed out Mao's residence to Hualang, it was a small workshop selling tofu. Hualang and others could see the situation in the yard, at this time Mao was sitting under the tree shade eating peanuts, while Ma Xiaobao was grinding tofu with a millstone. Ma Xiaobao was indeed very thin as the official said, but also very tall, he was pushing the big millstone with great effort, sweating profusely, even so, he did not dare to stop, nor even dared to wipe his sweat.

  After seeing this, Wen Meng couldn't help but get angry and scolded: "This Mao Shi is really too detestable, actually letting her own husband be used as a donkey, on such a hot day, making him pull a mill, it's really cruel. Never mind about her, let her be killed by the murderer."

  Wen Meng said that no matter how badly a person treats others, they should not be killed as long as they are human. The county government and the Hualang Temple have a responsibility to ensure her safety.

  The yamen runner glanced around and then said to Hualang, "Young Master Hua, this is a west street alley. The Mao family's house is at the end of the alley. If we want to keep an eye on it, we can hide inside the alley. I think the murderer will not find us."

  The yamen runner finished speaking, and the flower boy replied: "Hiding in the alleys might work, but I think it's not a good idea to catch the murderer. From the way the murderer kills people, he is very cautious and will definitely check his surroundings before acting. So if we want to catch the murderer, it's better to be more open and daring."

  "How blatant?" Everyone who heard this was somewhat puzzled. Just now, the flower boy didn't say that the murderer wouldn't dare to act because there were people here? If they are so blatant, then the murderer would be even less likely to act, right?

  Hualang nodded and said, "That's right, it's blatant. However, we must declare to the outside world that in addition to the Mao family on West Street, there is also a shrewd woman. We need to divide people into two groups for protection."

  After everyone heard what Hualang said, they suddenly understood and thought it was a good idea.

  After this was settled, the gate of the Mao family suddenly had many more yamen runners and police officers. The people nearby saw this and had a lot to discuss, but although they discussed it, they didn't understand what was going on.

  Mrs. Mao and Mao Xiaobao were frightened when they saw so many people suddenly appearing in front of their house, thinking that they had come to arrest them. Mrs. Mao hid in the house and refused to come out, but she urged Mao Xiaobao to go ask what was going on. Mao Xiaobao was afraid of his mother, and finally had no choice but to come out and ask what was happening.

  Mao Xiaobao was tall and thin, due to the fact that he often pulled a millstone, when walking on the road, he always liked to lean forward with his upper body, looking like an old man over 70 years old. He came to Hua Lang and asked in fear: "Officer... sir, we... haven't committed any crime, why are you all guarding my house?"

  Hualang and Mao Xiaobao spoke almost in a whisper, Hualang glanced at Mao Xiaobao and cautiously said: "According to our investigation, the killer's next target is likely your wife or Zhangshi from Xijie Street. We are here to protect your wife."

  Tianchang County had a murder case, and Mao Xiaobao and Mao Shi also heard about it. After Mao Shi heard the news from Mao Xiaobao, she was suddenly frightened, quickly closing the door tightly and using a chair to block it. However, she still felt unsafe, so she ran to the bed, not even caring about the heat, wrapping her plump body tightly in the sheets, but keeping her eyes fixed on the door.

  "Madam, don't worry. With those yamen runners and constables outside, the murderer wouldn't dare to come in and kill you. Besides, I'm here, how could they possibly harm you?"

  The Mao family looked at Mao Xiaobao with a terrified gaze and asked: "Really?"

  Mao Xiaobao nodded: "Of course it's true. Even if I die, I won't let the murderer touch you."

  For a moment, emotion swept over her head, and Mao's terrified eyes slowly became moist.