Chapter 122: The Man Covered in Blood
Hu Peiran and He Jiu were drinking milk tea in the back room when they heard that Zhao Yunjing had arrived. They were both pleasantly surprised. They, as students, were naturally unaware of what had happened that night. Only the next day, Hu Dalang brought them a message saying that Zhao Yunjing was safe and had been released from prison.
The two of them wanted to take a look at Peach Blossom Village, but they were worried that it would be too abrupt, since going to prison is not a glorious experience for anyone.
Zhao Yunjing chatted with his two classmates, while Zhou Mujiao chatted with Sister-in-law Hu for a while. As more customers arrived, Sister-in-law Hu and her husband became too busy to handle everything, so she took on the role of a temporary waitress. Once she got busy, she didn't have many other thoughts. She thought to herself, "If we can find the real murderer today, this matter will be over."
"Waiter, five cups of your signature milk tea, please!"
Three thin men entered, all speaking with a non-local accent. They looked travel-worn and were probably new to the city, visiting Sister Hu's place for the first time. Zhou Mujiao took the menu and went over to introduce the place. As soon as she got close, she immediately smelled a bloody odor.
She finished her introduction without making a sound, and while serving the milk tea, she also recommended the snacks in the shop. She stayed in front of the three people for a full half-cup of tea time. Now she was sure that the smell on them was blood.
Several men who had just entered the city did not look like butchers, but their hands were covered in calluses and they were covered in blood. It was hard not to wonder if they had killed someone before entering the city.
As Zhou Mujiao delivered snacks to the three men for the third time, she glanced at one of the men again. The man then stopped her, saying, "You're a strange little girl. You've been staring at us ever since we came in. What's wrong? Want to come with us? Have some fun with us?"
Zhou Mujiao immediately slammed the plate she was holding onto the plate and jumped up to hit it.
Hearing the commotion, Zhao Yunjing from the backyard immediately ran out. Seeing that Zhou Mujiao was in trouble, he grabbed his weapon and went to help.
The milk tea shop was frequented by young people. They had been keeping a close eye on the three men since they entered the shop, because the three men looked like they were not to be trifled with. When they saw them attacking Zhou Mujiao, they breathed a sigh of relief and immediately ran over to help Zhou Mujiao. The young men were fighting with great enthusiasm, and some of the bolder girls also went up, stretched out their little paws to test the waters, and then picked up stools and started smashing.
The three men naturally wouldn't surrender without a fight, and immediately fought back. Zhou Mujiao took advantage of the chaos to rummage around, and in doing so, a lot of things fell off one of the men.
Wallet, jade pendant, sachet, silver, and a small knife. Among them, two sachets looked very familiar. Zhou Mujiao picked them up and saw that they were the pair of sachets that Shiba and Aunt Zhao had embroidered for Zhao Yunjing.
Zhao Yunjing narrowed his eyes dangerously and reached out to block the hand aimed at Zhou Mujiao's head. Zhou Mujiao immediately ran to the door to block it and shouted, "Ma Dalang, bring people here quickly!"
Ma Dalang arrived quickly, and the waiters from Haoyunlou also came with their weapons. Just then, Constable Liu led his officers on patrol, and the three groups quickly assembled. Together with the customers in the shop, the three men were captured in no time.
Zhou Mujiao handed the sachet to Constable Liu, whose expression changed immediately upon seeing it. The short knife found in one of the men's boots was exactly the same as the one found at the crime scene!
No, they're not exactly the same. The short knife in the man's boots was engraved with some strange symbols. Officer Liu quickly took out the paper from his pocket to compare it. Those symbols were exactly the same as the ones Zhou Mujiao had written for them. This short knife and these sachets both belonged to Zhao Yunjing!
So even if these three men aren't the murderers, they're still connected to the real murderer!
At Liu the constable's command, the three men were escorted back to the yamen. Zhou Mujiao was still not satisfied and threw several more stones at their heads, making them bleed profusely.
Lord Zhao, though round and plump, looks like a corrupt official who would exploit the people, but in reality, he is an upright and honest official. He will definitely interrogate these three people thoroughly, and I believe they will confess within two hours at the earliest, at which point the truth will come out.
Back at the bubble tea shop, Zhao Yunjing's face was grim: "Ajiao, don't be so reckless next time. If it weren't for your good luck, not only you, but all the customers in the bubble tea shop would have been in trouble! If something had happened, could you take responsibility?"
"You said I was lucky too—"
"Still talking back?!" Zhao Yunjing was truly angry. "There are so many criminals outside, do you want to fight them?!"
Zhou Mujiao was scolded mercilessly, her head drooping, silent and looking pitiful.
Sister-in-law Hu was the first to feel sorry for her: "Oh, Young Master Zhao, Ajiao only tried to test me and used the wrong method. Why are you so fierce?"
Ma Dalang: "If it weren't for you causing trouble, Young Master Zhao, why would Miss Zhou have risked her life today? You're getting the benefit and then acting innocent!"
Manager Su of Good Luck Restaurant: "...Greed knows no bounds. If I had a fiancée as good as Miss Zhou, I would cherish her too much to scold her!"
Jiang Wuyu, who rushed over upon hearing the news, said: "Even if I am not related to Ajiao by blood, I am still her elder. How dare you reprimand my junior in front of me, Zhao Yunjing?! Do you want to die?! Ajiao, let's go!"
She naturally wouldn't dismantle the platform that so many people had built for her, so she followed Jiang Wuyu back to the Jiang family.
After not seeing her for a few days, the old lady's complexion was much rosier, and she could even walk. When Zhou Mujiao entered the door, the old lady was feeding the chickens. There were more than a dozen newly hatched chicks with tender yellow feathers. They chirped as they ate rice. The old lady seemed to be thinking of something and chuckled along with them.
Hearing the sound, the old lady looked up: "Xiao Yu, what's this—Ajiao? Ajiao, you're here!"
The old lady dropped everything she was carrying and was about to pull Zhou Mujiao away when she remembered that her hands were dirty, so she quickly ran to wash them.
As Zhou Mujiao watched the old lady's hurried figure, the corners of her mouth turned up in a smile.
"There's still a third of the ginseng and lingzhi left, but the old lady is reluctant to eat them. Can you persuade her to have dinner here tonight? I'll go buy the groceries."
Jiang Wuyu left after saying that, and Zhou Mujiao then started chatting with the old lady.
The old lady's eyes burned with emotion, and she often recalled her daughter through her. Zhou Mujiao was her granddaughter, and she looked exactly like Li Luo. But they were still separated by a generation and had not officially recognized each other. The old lady had to suppress her emotions while feeling both happy and sad.
Zhou Mujiao grabbed her hand in return: "Grandma, I'll show you my cooking skills tonight. If you like it, I'll cook for you every time I come to the county."
Just then, Jiang Wuyu returned, followed by Zhao Yunjing. Behind Zhao Yunjing was another person, Xiao Wu!
Zhao Yunjing actually brought Xiao Wu along!
Zhou Mujiao winked at him, then went over and pulled Xiao Wu over: "Grandma, this is my younger brother, his nickname is Xiao Wu, and his full name is Zhou Anping!"
From the moment Xiao Wu entered, the old lady's eyes were glued to him.
Xiao Wu looks like her two sons, and also like her husband, Lord Li. Seeing the shadows of so many relatives in one child, the old lady couldn't hold back her tears.
During dinner, the old lady kept serving food to the siblings. She was somewhat polite and critical of Zhao Yunjing, but overall, the evening was still very pleasant.
It was getting dark, and Zhou Mujiao and her brother were about to return to the village.
Seeing the old lady leaning against the door, craning her neck and peering out, Zhou Mujiao had a sudden thought.
Just then, Constable Liu rushed over: "Young Master Zhao, Miss Zhou, Lord Zhao wants you to come over. He's found out what happened!"
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