Ruan Hai had calmed down. He got off his eldest son's back and said to the two constables, "I am the village chief of Ruanjia Village. Since a body has been found in our village, it is my duty as the village chief to go and see it."
The two constables looked at Shu Yu, who nodded. "I'll go up with Village Chief Ruan. Perhaps the village chief knows something."
The constable then stepped aside to let them in.
Ruan Hai and Shu Yu walked up the mountain, while the other villagers at the foot of the mountain whispered among themselves, all speculating about who the buried body was.
Upon arriving at the burial site, Ruan Hai closed his eyes, and sure enough, Cao Jiang had been discovered.
Jiang, the head constable, had already ordered a pit to be dug in the area and was questioning the first eyewitness, Ruan Chengqian, "Do you know this person?"
“I knew him. He was Cao Jiang from the next village. I had heard from his villagers that Cao Jiang had been missing for more than half a month. They guessed that he had run away because of gambling debts. I never expected that he was actually murdered.”
Jiang, the head constable, nodded and instructed the two constables beside him, "Go and bring the Cao family members here to identify the bodies."
Before the two constables could even respond, Ruan Hai hurriedly said, "Captain Jiang, I'll go. I know Cao's parents."
But Officer Jiang raised his hand and said, "No need. The body was found in your Ruanjia Village. It's best if the people in your village don't get involved."
Ruan Hai was taken aback, then his face darkened. "What does Officer Jiang mean by this? Does he suspect that Cao Jiang was killed by someone from our village?"
"Everyone is a suspect until the matter is thoroughly investigated."
After saying that, he sent the two constables down the mountain to find the person.
No sooner had the two constables left than Ruan Hai followed them, this time his legs moved with surprising agility.
Shu Yu and Constable Jiang exchanged a glance but neither of them stopped them.
When the two constables reached the foot of the mountain, Ruan Hai, who was following behind, deliberately raised his voice and angrily said, "Officers, what do you mean by this? The villagers of Ruanjia Village are all honest and law-abiding farmers. Who would dare to commit murder and arson? I am the village chief of Ruanjia Village, and I can guarantee with my own hands that Cao Jiang was definitely not killed by any of our villagers. What do you mean by treating the entire village as suspects?"
Upon hearing this, the villagers who had been peeking around as mere bystanders were instantly stunned.
What does that mean? Does the village chief mean that they are all suspects in the murder?
It's fine as long as it doesn't involve them personally, but once it does, everyone becomes dissatisfied.
"Village chief, who was the victim? Is the murderer among us?"
Ruan Hai snorted angrily, "The deceased is Cao Jiang. Constable Jiang said that he died in our Ruan Family Village. Until the matter is investigated, everyone in our village is a suspect. I just offered to help find Cao's parents, but Constable Jiang wouldn't let me go. Does that mean I've become a suspect too?"
Upon hearing this, several elders of the Ruan family, who had just arrived at the foot of the mountain, immediately stepped forward to reason with the constables. "Officers, how can you suspect our villagers? Especially Village Chief Ruan, who has worked so hard for the village. He wanted to help, but you treated him as a suspect. This is disheartening for us common people."
"Yes, yes, you should have evidence when you do things. How can you doubt us without any evidence? It will damage the reputation of our village."
When Shu Yu walked over, she heard Ruan Hai inciting the villagers to try to go up the mountain to reason with them.
She took two steps forward. "Quiet down!"
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