Chapter 42 All About Deception
Within a few breaths, the truth came to light.
Boss Ma had multiple scratches on his back and chest, and the scratches were all fresh, clearly having just scabbed over.
"Tell me, Boss Ma, where did you get these scars?"
The officer taunted, "Your wife is long dead. Don't tell me this was a wild cat's scratch. A wild cat couldn't have made a wound like this."
"This is, this is..."
Ma Youde had lost his previous composure and was filled with anxiety.
Xiao Qi searched for clues on the faces of the Ma family members and became certain that the murderer was not just Ma Laoda alone; the entire Ma family was aware of the situation!
After putting on his clothes, Boss Ma raised his eyelids slightly but didn't say anything.
The wounds on his body alone are not enough to convict him. At this point, the more he says, the more mistakes he will make. If he doesn't admit it, the officials can't do anything to him.
"Boss Ma, you beast!"
Chen Tieniu and Wang Jinhua appeared ready to fight to the death, but were stopped by the officers. Lives were at stake, and this was a crucial moment in solving the case; no mistakes could be tolerated.
It was just a little bit short, just a little bit of evidence.
If the Ma family members maintain a consistent story and there is no breakthrough, the case will remain at a stalemate.
Lin Yuesha rubbed her face. This is the backwardness of ancient times. The clues are so obvious, all that's needed is a trace analysis, but there's no such thing here.
"Little sister, come behind me."
Seeing Lin Yuesha staring at Ma Lao Er, who hadn't even had time to put on his clothes, Xiao Qi quickly pulled her behind him. "Little girl staring at a man, does she even care about her reputation?"
Lin Yuesha wanted to object, but her stepbrother had already pulled her behind him. Xiao Qi seemed to have eyes in the back of his head. When she peeked to the left, he took a step to the left; when she leaned to the right, he blocked her with his back as well.
Lin Yuesha refused to believe it and tried several times to no avail. She could only see her stepbrother's broad shoulders and narrow back. Finally, she touched her nose and stopped struggling.
That's enough, now is not the time for her to take the lead. Let's wait and see.
“Ma Dajiao has already confessed that she saw you go out at night, and there was more than one of you.”
Xiao Qi narrowed his eyes and said bluffingly.
Sure enough, he brought up a witness, and Ma Lao Er's wife, Jin, was the first to say in horror, "That night it snowed heavily, and our whole family got up to shovel snow!"
Upon hearing Jin's words, Ma Youde knew he was in trouble, thinking to himself, "She really is a spendthrift woman!"
Before the officials arrived, they knew about this incident. The whole family discussed it and decided that since Chen Dahua was dead, it would be best to let the matter drop.
Even if the Chen family does discover something amiss, it's alright; they can coordinate their statements beforehand.
Ma Youde threatened that if any of the women in his family revealed any wrongdoing, they would all be sent back to their parents' homes and never be allowed to set foot in the Ma family again!
If he succeeds in covering up this matter, he will distribute his family's hundred or so acres of land.
Having received the benefits, Jin naturally tried her best to cover it up. Everything she said to the officials was pre-arranged!
None of them expected that the scars on Boss Ma's body would expose them and make it difficult to explain, and Ma Youde had not considered this issue either.
Now, what's worse is that an eyewitness has emerged. Does this mean the Ma family is destined to face this?
Jin rubbed her hands together, her heart filled with terror.
Lin Yuesha nodded. Now is the time to arrest them and take them down one by one. The Jin family is a breakthrough point!
Just as she was thinking this, Xiao Qi, who was blocking her way, moved and whispered a few words in the ear of the leading officer. The officer was surprised at first, then nodded.
"The Jin family stays, the rest of the Ma family members leave."
With the head constable giving the order, Ma Youde had no choice but to lead his men out. Before leaving, he gave Jin a glare, a silent threat.
Unfortunately, Ms. Jin was lost in thought and didn't see it.
"Ms. Jin, I suspect that my eldest cousin's dowry should be found in your house, right?"
Xiao Qi's words shocked Jin Shi, who looked up with her mouth agape, clearly startled by what he said.
"search!"
The head constable made a gesture, and immediately someone entered Ma Lao Er's room, returning a moment later with a small package.
"Uncle, Aunt, look, aren't these my cousin's things?"
Xiao Qi was only guessing. Through his understanding, he discovered that Chen Dahua was not simply weak, but rather a person who was gentle on the outside but strong on the inside.
Chen Dahua's decision to return to her parents' home at night was clearly not impulsive; rather, it was something she had planned long ago, intending to divorce Ma Laosan.
Everyone has their own bottom line. Chen Dahua could work hard without complaint and take on all the housework, after all, she was a daughter-in-law of the Ma family.
Ma Laosan had an affair without a matchmaker and produced another illegitimate child, which was something she absolutely could not tolerate!
Since she was going back to her parents' home, she couldn't possibly go without her belongings.
"Yes, it's from our Da Hua!"
When Wang Jinhua saw the things, she almost fainted again. What kind of life did her daughter have in the Ma family? She couldn't even keep her dowry; it all ended up in Jin's pocket.
“Ms. Jin, after Chen Dahua died, you went to the grove and took her clothes away, also for Chen Dahua’s dowry.”
Xiao Qi was absolutely certain that women had a habit of sewing pockets onto their bodies to carry valuables.
The Ma family had to pay a considerable dowry to marry Chen Dahua, and Chen Dahua took all of it back with her.
“My older cousin wants to sever all ties with Ma Laosan, so there’s no way she wouldn’t take her dowry with her. She wouldn’t let it go to you hungry wolves. So you’re lying when you say she didn’t take anything!”
Lin Yuesha realized that Ma Laowu was going to deliver Chen Dahua's package; she had seen Chen Dahua carrying a small package before.
In the grove, there was no package, and Chen Dahua's cotton-padded coat was also missing.
It seems that Jin was greedy for money, and since there was a hidden pocket sewn into her cotton-padded jacket, she was in a hurry and wanted to take the things with her, but she couldn't open the hidden pocket, so she took Chen Dahua's clothes with her.
Jin trembled, her mouth opening and closing, "This is from Chen... she gave it to me!"
"You're talking nonsense!"
Chen Xiaohua was so angry that her chest heaved. Her eldest sister had brought at least twenty taels of silver to the Ma family, as well as two silver hairpins.
Although everyone in the village hoped to make a fortune by marrying off their daughters, the parents still loved the eldest sister and contributed a considerable amount of money themselves.
That adds up to at least thirty taels of silver. How dare Jin claim that this was a gift from her? Bah!
“Mrs. Jin, I advise you to tell the truth. If you are taken to the yamen, you will be beaten fifty times first.”
The official nodded approvingly at Xiao Qi. The woman in front of him was quite something; even at this point, she was still struggling to survive.
“Murderers are beheaded, and those who cover it up will also go to jail. Jin, have you thought this through?”
Xiao Qi continued to mentally suggest that Jin had at least protected the real culprit and would inevitably go to jail, whether it would be three, five, or even ten years, depending on her behavior.
"Don't even think you can take advantage of the Ma family again. Do you think everything will be fine just because Ma Lao Er hasn't divorced you? The Ma family is in dire straits now!"
The leading officials figured out Xiao Qi's tactics, and the two of them joined forces to attack and force Jin Shi to speak.
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