Chapter 171 Arrest
"Mom, it should be fine now. We don't need to go to the county town."
"What did the clerk say to the village chief?" Qin Fangci asked quickly.
"Draw your sword and tell him to lead the way. Don't play any tricks. He's very fierce!" Liu Shitou's younger brother, Shi Gouzi, said quickly.
"How could that be?" Boss Li asked in confusion.
Qin Fangci turned around and ran back to the house, took out all the ten taels of silver she had hidden, pocketed five taels for herself, and handed the remaining five taels to Wang.
"If we have something to do temporarily, keep the house stable."
Qin Fangci returned to the yard and saw the village chief and his clerks arriving.
"I order you to arrest this person! Mr. Li from Liantang Village has committed the serious crime of 'intentionally creating a poisonous substance and causing human death.' You must immediately hand over the poisonous substance and follow us back to the county government office for trial. If you dare resist arrest, you will be punished with the cangue."
A clerk shook the flail at the right moment, and everyone involuntarily shrank back.
Qin Fangci stepped forward and handed a purse to the leading clerk.
"Sir, we are all running an honest and upright small business. I really don't know what you are talking about. The food we make is eaten by our family every day, and even the villagers can eat it every now and then. If it was really poisonous, we would have been in trouble long ago! Sir, there must be something fishy going on here. I hope you can investigate it!"
The onlookers from Liantang Village nodded silently.
The leading clerk jumped off his horse and waved his hand to push Qin Fangci's purse back.
"We are on a mission under orders. Either you hand over the poisonous dried meat yourself, or I send someone in to search!" Xu Wen gave Qin Fangci a look.
"Yes, we will! But sir, all the jerky in my house is clean."
"Whether it's clean or not, when we get to the government office, the doctors will examine it. Whether it's an injustice or not, the masters will decide for themselves."
Qin Fangci calmed down and urged, "Big Boss, Second Boss, Third Boss, hurry up and bring all the dried meat."
Boss Li was completely panicked and his legs went weak. Second and Third Li were not much better off.
The three of them supported each other and went back to the house to pack out the dried meat.
"Mom, all the dried meat is here."
About 100 pounds of dried meat filled three bags, and the three brothers each carried a bag.
Xu Wen waved his hand, and a clerk came forward and took the dried meat from the three brothers.
The three of them were reluctant to part with it. Boss Li struggled with a bitter face and shaking legs, saying, "Sir, these are all clean jerky, not poisonous. If you don't believe me, I'll eat it and show you!"
The clerk next to him shook the flail in his hand again and looked at him coldly.
"This case involves eight lives and the evidence is crucial. How can we allow you to act so recklessly?"
Xu Wen looked at Qin Fangci and said, "The rest of you should follow us back to the yamen to attend the trial. Don't try any tricks and suffer as much as you can. Take them away!"
"Sir, my eldest brother and I are the ones who make jerky. We don't do other people's business. Can you take us away alone?"
Boss Li glared: "..."
Thinking of his newborn son in the house, he followed Qin Fangci and took a step forward. "Yes, yes, I baked all these dried meats. Sir, please take me back. It's none of my family's business!"
"Catch them down." Xu Wen waved his hand, and Qin Fangci and Boss Li were both caught.
Boss Li's tears and snot suddenly fell.
Li Lao Er and Li Lao San were about to step forward with their breath hanging in their throats when they heard Xu Wen say again, "Catch him."
Then, the two were also arrested by the clerks.
"Mother--sir."
Qin Fangci looked at Xu Wen, and after understanding the hint in his eyes, she scolded Li Laoer, "Shut up!"
"Sir, may I have a few words to say?"
Xu Wen spat out three words indifferently, "Half a cup of tea."
Qin Fangci thanked them and went back to the courtyard to choke the panicked Yuan and Wang. "Remember what I told you. Is our dried meat poisonous? You ate so much and still don't know. There must be something fishy about this. We will cooperate with the adults to catch the thieves. You stay home and don't make any trouble."
Qin Fangci exerted force and the two men screamed in pain.
Qin Fangci looked at the frail Du who came out and said, "You are the eldest sister-in-law, so look after the children and take care of yourself. Yulan, mother is not at home. If you have any problems, please discuss them with the other sisters-in-law. Don't rush to seek medical help."
"Big Ya, Second Ya, Third Ya, Big Egg, Second Egg, be obedient. We will be back soon and stay with your mother to protect the house."
Qin Fangci came out and gave the old village chief a reassurance before leaving with the clerk.
The people of Liantang Village followed behind and watched Qin Fangci, Li Lao Da, Li Lao Er, and Li Lao San being taken away by the clerks. They did not stop until they could no longer see anyone.
"Village Chief, what should we do? How can dried meat be poisonous? I ate two pieces yesterday."
"I ate it the other day too."
"I ate it too."
"Big Egg also gave me a bite." The child who spoke swallowed his saliva.
The old village chief leaned on his cane and said, "There's chaos in the city. You should all stay home and farm during this time. Don't run around. There are capable people to handle the outside affairs. We ordinary people can just stay at home and live our own lives."
"Village chief, what about Aunt Li and the others?" someone asked worriedly.
"They are capable people. Even if they get into trouble, it's for their own good. Can you still go to the county magistrate to plead for them?" The old village chief walked back on his crutches. "Let's go, let's go back. The Li family only has a few people left who don't take responsibility. Don't bully them. They will come back to settle the score with you later. Don't blame me for not telling you in advance."
"How could that be?"
Some people responded verbally, but what they were thinking in their hearts was that they should not go to the workshop to build a house for the time being. If something really happened to the Li family, they would not get a penny of wages... Alas, it is better not to let anything happen, absolutely not to let anything happen.
The journey back to the city was not slow. Qin Fangci and the other three were not tied up. The eldest and second Li Laoshi protected Qin Fangci from behind, and the third Li Laoshi walked beside Qin Fangci, helping her from time to time.
On the way, Xu Wen found an opportunity to whisper a few words to Qin Fangci.
Li Baisong ate dried meat in public and was found to have vomited blood. The people gathered together and the county magistrate had to arrest him.
Qin Fangci's heart tightened when she heard Li Baisong vomiting blood in public. No wonder she was so uneasy.
Li Lao Da, Li Lao Er and Li Lao San also became nervous and surrounded Qin Fangci even tighter.
When the group of four was about to reach the city gate, Xu Wencai ordered someone to handcuff them and escort them into the city.
The city gate opened, and the people stared at Qin Fangci and her companions with murderous eyes.
"It's them, the Li family!"
"The Li family deserves to be struck by lightning!"
"You evil bastards, you have no conscience, why don't you just die!"
"You are the ones who deserve to die! Give my son back his life, give him back his life!"
Xu Wen walked in front, drew his sword, and said, "Back off, everyone back off!"
Rotten vegetable leaves and rotten eggs were thrown at Qin Fangci and the other three as if they were free.
Li Laosan immediately stood in front of Qin Fangci, and Li Laoda and Li Laoer stood beside Qin Fangci. The three of them were hit on the head and face.
"Kill them! Kill them for your life!"
The people became increasingly angry.
Qin Fangci's heart was burning with anger, but her face became increasingly calm.
There must be a way.
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