The villagers pointed at Aunt Wang and accused her, but she kept her head down and said nothing. She didn't admit her fault, nor did she throw a tantrum or cry.

Xu Xingchen looked at her reaction and felt strange.

Just when everyone thought Aunt Wang would continue to make a fuss, she rubbed her hands and apologized obediently, shocking everyone.

Not only everyone else, but Xu Xingchen was also alert. Something was wrong, very wrong.

The village chief just thought that Aunt Wang was crazy again and was looking for trouble with Xu Xiaoniang. After she apologized to him, he didn't want to scold Aunt Wang anymore. He just asked Aunt Wang to make a promise to Xu Xiaoniang in front of everyone that she would never bother her again.

Aunt Wang was naturally reluctant, but she made a guarantee under repeated pressure from the villagers.

After dealing with Aunt Wang, the village chief comforted Xu Xingchen and Jun Haoyue and asked them to go back first. He still needed to talk to Aunt Wang.

Xu Xingchen and Jun Haoyue had to go back first, and the villagers dispersed.

On the way back, Xu Xingchen frowned, she always felt something was wrong.

When they got home, the gate to the yard was open. Xu Xingchen asked Jun Haoyue, "Jun Haoyue, did you leave the door unlocked before you left?"

Jun Haoyue also frowned, "I locked it."

There's a thief in the house!

The two thought at the same time.

After entering the house, as expected, the tables and chairs were overturned and the house was in a mess. It seemed that the house had been ransacked.

Xu Xingchen went to the laboratory to check it out immediately. Fortunately, the laboratory lock was an independent modern lock that could not be opened with the technology of this era.

Jun Haoyue was checking for lost items in the house.

When the two of them reunited, Jun Haoyue said nonchalantly, "Xingchen, the box is missing."

Xu Xingchen didn't understand what box meant at first, "What box?"

"You brought that back from the cave."

"What!?"

Xu Xingchen immediately rushed into the inner room, and sure enough, the wooden box she had placed in the cabinet was gone.

She rushed out again, and was about to rush out. Jun Haoyue held her back, "What are you going to do?"

Xu Xingchen replied anxiously, "Go find the box!"

Jun Haoyue pulled her back, stroked the back of her hand with his big palm, soothed her emotions, and asked in a light tone: "Do you know who stole it? Go out and find it."

As if the soothing hand took effect, Xu Xingchen gradually calmed down. She frowned, "Jun Haoyue, you don't think Aunt Wang is abnormal. It's obviously a simple matter, but she insisted on making a fuss to the village chief. It seems like..."

"Lure the tiger away from the mountain?"

Jun Haoyue spoke first. Xu Xingchen was slightly stunned before nodding, "Yes, she deliberately did it to lure us away so someone else could steal things."

"Well, your analysis makes sense."

Xu Xingchen was dissatisfied with his calm attitude. "This is not analysis, this is a fact. Why are you not anxious at all? Didn't you say that the box must not be known to others?"

Jun Haoyue didn't answer her, but just said, "I'll take care of it from now on. You stay home and don't run around."

"No, do you know something?"

Xu Xingchen keenly sensed that he was hiding something from her.

“...No, it’s just that it might be a little dangerous later, you...” Jun Haoyue felt helpless and wanted to persuade her to let him handle it.

Xu Xingchen wouldn't buy it. "No matter what, I'm going too. I picked up the box. It's mine. I'm going to find it myself."

Xu Xingchen insisted again and again, and Jun Haoyue had no choice but to agree that they could go together, but he repeatedly reminded her not to leave his sight.

The two of them came to Aunt Wang's house and knocked on the door, but no one answered. It had been some time since they went back, so it was impossible that Aunt Wang had not returned yet.

Xu Xingchen and Jun Haoyue looked at each other and decided to go in directly.

When they entered the yard, it was quiet and there didn't seem to be anyone there. Jun Haoyue felt something was wrong and pulled Xu Xingchen to his side. Xu Xingchen was a little dissatisfied that he treated her like a child and struggled a few times but couldn't break free.

Suddenly a figure rushed past, "Stop!--" Xu Xingchen shouted immediately.

By the time they caught sight of the figure, it had already climbed over the courtyard wall, leaving only a fragment of clothing to flash by.

Jun Haoyue was tall and had long legs. He rushed out first and soon reached the courtyard wall.

Xu Xingchen hurried to follow, but tripped. She looked down and saw that it was Aunt Wang. She exclaimed in surprise.

“Aunt Wang——?!”

Jun Haoyue, who was about to climb over the wall, heard the scream and immediately returned to Xu Xingchen.

Aunt Wang was crawling by the well with a pool of blood under her. Xu Xingchen was tripped by her outstretched leg and she squatted down to check on Aunt Wang.

She placed her hand on Aunt Wang's neck and exhaled after a few breaths, "There's still a pulse."

After Xu Xingchen investigated, he found that Aunt Wang was knocked unconscious and the blood was flowing from the back of her head. There were no scars on her body.

Xu Xingchen thought about it and turned the person over. Aunt Wang's face was pale and her expression was still frozen with surprise.

At this time, someone shouted "Aunt Wang". Jun Haoyue glanced at Xu Xingchen, stood up and stood in front of her. The voices were getting closer and closer.

It turned out to be Jin Wangshan. When Jin Wangshan came in and saw Jun Haoyue, he was stunned at first, then he looked down and saw the blood on the ground. His face was full of fear.

Xu Xingchen was eager to save the man. She pulled Jun Haoyue away and said to Jin Wangshan, "You've come just in time. Go call the doctor!"

Jin Wangshan turned and ran, shouting, "Widow Xu and her cousin killed someone!——"

Wow! This is a huge misunderstanding!

Xu Xingchen immediately stood up and wanted to chase after her, but Jun Haoyue stopped her, pursed his thin lips, and looked at her with deep black eyes.

"It's too late."

She was still wondering what Jun Haoyue meant by 'too late'.

Jin Wangshan had already rushed in with the villagers, "Everyone, look! Widow Xu and her cousin beat Aunt Wang to death! Look at the blood on the ground!"

The villagers rushed into Aunt Wang's small yard and saw Aunt Wang lying in a pool of blood. They all gasped.

It was true that Aunt Wang had just offended Xu Xiaoniang that morning, but she wouldn't have beaten her to death.

Xu Xingchen's hand was still on Aunt Wang's neck. Feeling her pulse weakening, she anxiously shouted, "She's not dead yet! Someone, go get a doctor!"

Jin Wangshan kept on shouting, "Widow Xu is still alive, and you're trying to strangle her to death! You're still strangling her!"

Xu Xingchen withdrew his hand, feeling very disappointed. Human life was at stake, and what were these people still hesitating about?

"What nonsense are you talking about! I told you Aunt Wang is still alive, go call a doctor!" She shouted so loudly that her voice became hoarse.

"Let's get out, what happened, let's get out."

The village chief pushed through the crowd and was shocked when he saw the scene in front of him. He had just scolded Aunt Wang in the morning, and now she was dying.

Jin Wangshan saw the village chief coming and pointed his finger at him, immediately shouting, "Village chief! Widow Xu ordered her cousin to beat Aunt Wang with a hoe! Widow Xu is indeed an unlucky person, just as Aunt Wang said. She wants to kill all the villagers in our village."

"I ordered Jun Haoyue to do this. Should I just sit here and wait for you to catch me?" Xu Xingchen almost wanted to swear.