Chapter 64 Little Bean
Just as Liu Jingchang's teacup touched his lips, he said, "Bring the person in quickly."
Before long, the yamen runner led a child in.
The child looked thin and small, wearing a coarse cloth short jacket, patched upon patched, the jacket obviously ill-fitting, the hem dragging to the knees, revealing two legs as thin as sticks.
Her hair was messy, like a bird's nest upside down on her head, but her cheekbones were so high that her eyes looked exceptionally big.
At this moment, she was staring at the people in the room with her round eyes, her little hands tightly gripping her clothes, but she insisted on keeping her back straight, looking like she was "not afraid".
Looking at him, Liu Jingchang felt uneasy. This child looked to be no more than five or six years old, too young to speak properly. What could he possibly know to testify?
He subconsciously softened his tone: "What's your name? How old are you?"
"I'm nine years old!" The child seemed to know what they were worried about, and his attitude was very firm.
"She's not some ignorant little kid!"
Upon hearing this, Xie Ji chuckled, held up his hand to compare his height, and teased him deliberately: "Nine years old? Judging from your appearance, you're at most five. Are you afraid no one will believe you if you say you're younger?"
The child blushed with anger at his words and retorted with his hands on his hips, "I am nine years old!"
Everyone in the beggar's den knows this!
I started begging with an old beggar woman when I was three years old. Last year, I even helped the eldest brother in my gang take over the territory in the east of the city!
Go ask!
Ask any beggar, "Little Bean," and they'll all know how old I am!
Liu Jingchang winked at the yamen runner beside him: "Go to the beggars' den in the east of the city and ask around to confirm the child's age and identity. Go and come back quickly."
The constable responded and went to investigate.
Seeing that Liu Jingchang had indeed sent someone to investigate, Xiaodouzi straightened his back even more and said with his chin raised, "Sir, I can prove that Wu Ming did not harm anyone. I have been following him for several days!"
"You've been following him for several days?" This surprised Liu Jingchang. "Why did you follow Wu Ming? Who told you to do that?"
Xiao Douzi pulled out a small cloth bag from his pocket. "A while ago, a gentleman dressed in silk came to me and gave me ten copper coins, asking me to keep an eye on Wu Ming."
They said that no matter where he went or who he met, he had to write it down. Even if he couldn't get in the door, he had to remember how long he stayed there.
They also said this was just a deposit and they would give it back to me later.
I figured I could buy meat buns with a few coins, and it wasn't like I was buying a whole bun anyway, so I just went along with it and agreed.
Pei Zhiwei subconsciously glanced at Xiao Yunzhan and saw that he was also looking at her, both of them sharing the same question in their eyes.
Could it be Chen Gong?
If Chen Gong had indeed discovered Wu Ming and Zhao's affair, it would make sense for him to send someone to follow them. But why would he choose a little beggar?
What if the child doesn't keep his mouth shut, or Wu Ming finds out? Wouldn't that alert the enemy?
But if it wasn't Chen Gong, then who could it be?
Liu Jingchang: "On the night of the incident, you went to Yuhuchun with Wu Ming. What did you see?"
A hint of smugness appeared on Xiaodouzi's face. "I followed him to the entrance of Yuhuchun."
But it seemed like some important person was hosting a banquet for distinguished guests that day.
Not only were there people from Yuhuchun nearby, but there were also many constables who weren't in official uniforms. They would chase us beggars away as soon as they saw us, not letting us stay in the vicinity.
I tried several times, but I couldn't even get within fifty paces of Yu Hu Chun.
Liu Jingchang's heart sank. He had no idea that officials had been sent to drive away beggars around Yuhuchun.
He was in charge of security in Yangdu, and he was completely unaware that there were officials stationed at Yuhuchun to drive away beggars!
Was this arranged by Zhang Xuren? Why wasn't he mentioned to him?
He subconsciously glanced at Xiao Yunzhan, and seeing that the other's expression hadn't changed, he secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
He pressed further, "How do you know Wu Ming didn't harm anyone if you didn't get close?"
"How could I not be able to get in?" Little Bean raised his chin even higher, as if showing off his skills.
"Isn't there a Changji restaurant diagonally opposite Yuhuchun?"
There was a narrow alley behind, and I went around it. While the constables weren't looking, I climbed up the wooden ladder in the attic.
There was a small window at the very top of the attic. I climbed out of the window onto the roof and could see the flower rack and the main gate outside Yuhuchun.
I'm small, and I was lying on the roof; nobody noticed me!
Xie Ji suddenly interjected, "That's not right. I saw it at Yu Hu Chun yesterday. The pavilion across the street is only two stories high, half a story shorter than Yu Hu Chun."
"Are you still lying on the roof, able to see what's happening on the third-floor observation deck?"
Xiao Douzi was interrupted and immediately became angry, glaring at Xie Ji: "What's your hurry? Can't you let me finish what I have to say?"
"Fine, fine, you tell me, you tell me." Xie Ji raised his hands in surrender, but still couldn't help but purse his lips.
Little Bean rolled her eyes at him before continuing, "I can't see the people inside the observation deck, but I can see the ropes on the flower rack outside!"
I lay on the roof, and I could see the thickest main rope.
Later I saw Wu Ming come out of the main gate of Yuhuchun and walk eastward.
Just as I was about to climb down and follow, I saw a hand reach out from the observation deck, holding something shiny and cutting the rope!
He gestured as if cutting something.
"Wu Ming had already reached the street corner by then. He couldn't possibly reach down to the third floor from the street corner to cut the rope, could he?"
So it definitely wasn't him!
The moment these words were spoken, the back office fell silent.
Liu Jingchang suddenly sat up straight and leaned forward: "Did you see clearly who the owner of that hand is?"
Is it a man or a woman? What are they wearing?
The smugness on Xiaodouzi's face faded a bit, and he shook his head: "I didn't see clearly."
All I could see was a hand sticking out; the sleeve was dark. The rest was blocked by the railing of the observation deck.
At first, I thought it was someone from Yuhuchun repairing the flower trellis, so I didn't pay much attention. But after seeing Wu Ming leave, I quickly climbed down from the roof and followed him, without looking any further.
The spirits that everyone had just lifted instantly deflated.
The clue had just started to take shape when it went cold again.
Xie Ji slumped into his chair like a punctured balloon, and said in a drawn-out voice, "It's over, it's over, we've run out of clues again."
He suddenly sat up straight, glaring at Xiaodouzi, "It's all your fault! If you were taller, you might have been able to see that person's face!"
"What did you say?" Little Bean hated it most when people said he was short, and he immediately exploded.
So what if I'm short?
I can climb into alleys you can't, and I can lie on rooftops unnoticed!
What's the use of being tall? You still haven't seen the murderer!
"Hey, you little brat!" Xie Ji got excited and rolled up his sleeves to argue with him.
Is it really that hard to admit you're useless?
"You didn't even see who it was, and you still have the nerve to yell here?"
"You're useless! Your whole family is useless!" Little Bean shouted, his face turning red with anger, tears welling up in his eyes.
"I didn't see it, but I know someone definitely did!"
These words instantly revitalized the previously dejected crowd.
Pei Zhiwei: "You said someone saw it? Who was it?"
Remembering Xie Ji's earlier mockery, Xiao Douzi deliberately turned her face away and threw a tantrum: "I won't tell!"
You all say I'm useless, and no one will believe me even if I say it!
Seeing this, Xiao Yunzhan glanced at Xie Ji, who was about to speak, and said before he could, "Don't take him seriously."
"If he hadn't gotten into a fight at Yuhuchun yesterday and attracted everyone's attention, the thugs wouldn't have been able to succeed so easily."
Xie Ji was about to retort, saying that he had been a hero saving a damsel in distress.
Before he knew it, Pei Zhiwei had already blocked his way.
Her movements were so fast that everyone only saw a blur before Pei Zhiwei stood between Xie Ji and Xiaodouzi.
Xie Ji's words caught in his throat, he almost choked, and he completely forgot what he was going to say.
Little Bean also opened his mouth wide, his eyes wide open, staring at Pei Zhiwei as if he were staring at a monster.
Even Liu Jingchang was stunned. Pei Zhiwei's move was something he never dared to even imagine!
Pei Zhiwei quickly squatted down to be at eye level with Xiaodouzi.
"Don't get angry with him, he just loves to tease people."
The person you mentioned is very important; they might be able to help us find the real culprit. Please tell us quickly!
He pursed his lips, then secretly glared at Xie Ji before speaking, "When I was on the roof, I saw an old man."
That old man is just like you; he runs incredibly fast, and when he flies across the rooftops, he makes absolutely no sound.
He flew to the rooftop directly opposite the flower stand, then suddenly stopped and looked towards the observation deck for a while.
I thought he seemed to be hesitating about something, but a moment later, he flew away again.
"Did you get a good look at his face?" Pei Zhiwei asked expectantly.
Little Bean became smug again, patting his chest: "Then I must look carefully!"
When he stood there, he was directly in my direction of the light, so I could see him very clearly!
Xie Ji snorted from behind: "Keep bragging. Even if you saw it clearly, you should have forgotten it after so long."
"I haven't forgotten!" Little Bean glared at him.
"I even remember how many white hairs were on his eyebrows!"
Unlike you, all you do is cause trouble, making it so that other people didn't even notice who cut the rope!
Xie Ji took a deep breath, ready to argue with him.
Pei Zhiwei couldn't help but turn around and, imitating Xiao Yunzhan's usual manner, clicked her tongue at Xie Ji.
Xie Ji swallowed back the words that were about to come out, exhaled the deep breath he had just taken, and actually remained silent.
Just as Xiaodouzi was about to continue arguing with Xie Ji, Pei Zhiwei gently pressed down on her shoulder.
She smiled and coaxed him, "Ignore him."
The way you remember someone is very important to us. Just by telling us, we can draw what that person looks like.
We might find him soon.
You'll be the hero who solves the case then.
Could you tell us what that old man looks like?
For example, how old is he? Is his face round or square? Are there any other distinguishing features?
Xiao Yunzhan had already taken a brush, ink, paper, and inkstone from the table next to him, laid them out on the table, held the brush in his hand, and gestured for Xiaodouzi to speak carefully.
Little Bean perked up and began to describe in detail: "The old man looked to be around sixty years old. He had a square face and a gray beard on his chin."
He had three noticeable white hairs on his left eyebrow.
Also, he was wearing dark, close-fitting clothes, and there was a bulging leather thing on the right sleeve, like a hidden dart displayed in an armory, but not quite…”
Xiao Yunzhan's pen moved swiftly across the paper, first outlining the shape of a square face, then drawing a gray beard...
In no time, a portrait was finished.
Xiao Yunzhan put down his pen and stared at the portrait for a long time. He was stunned for a moment, then a smile slowly appeared on his lips, his eyes full of surprise and understanding.
Everyone crowded around, and Xiaodouzi also stood on tiptoe to look at the paper.
When he saw the person in the portrait clearly, he opened his mouth in surprise and pointed at the portrait, asking Xiao Yunzhan, "Did you also see him on the roof?"
How can it be drawn exactly like him?
Xiao Yunzhan shook his head, the smile in his eyes deepening: "I didn't see him, I only drew him based on your description."
Xie Ji also came over to take a look, and when he saw the person in the portrait clearly, the nonchalant look on his face vanished instantly, replaced by utter astonishment: "It's him? How is that possible?"
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