Chapter 166 The Thief
Wan Qiqi's words left no room for doubt.
The voice was calm and gentle, yet it sounded like a heavy snowfall, making one shiver with cold.
Some of the villagers who were watching wanted to argue, but they were overwhelmed by her imposing manner and swallowed their words.
Chen Lizheng was also stunned for a moment, and after a long while he said, "It's getting late, everyone should disperse and not disturb other people's rest."
The villagers then left, muttering to themselves, their faces showing displeasure.
I came here out of good intentions to help the Chen family resolve their troubles, but it seems like they're just here to watch the show.
Sure enough, she made money and considered herself superior to others, even Chen Lizheng listened to her!
The villagers only dared to think these things in their hearts, but dared not say them aloud, otherwise they would be the ones to suffer.
Zhao Shitou got up with the crowd, intending to follow them forward.
Just because of Wan Qiqi's words, he felt fear and wanted to back out and escape the scene, afraid that if the interrogation continued, he would be exposed!
Through their interactions, he had initially thought that Wan Qiqi was a kind-hearted person who disliked Wu Gousheng, but now it seems that this is not the case.
The villagers left, leaving only the Chen family, the village head and his entourage, and the two suspects in the courtyard.
Zhao Shitou had only taken two steps when he was grabbed by the back of the neck. Terrified, he knelt down and begged for mercy, "It wasn't me, it really wasn't me, I didn't steal anything."
Wan Qiqi disliked the noise at home, which was like a vegetable market, especially from these gossipy women.
She finally breathed a sigh of relief when everyone was gone and she could finally have some peace and quiet.
Wu Gousheng was forced to kneel down with his arms grabbed and pressed down, his face still showing anger and displeasure.
He's the one catching the thief, why is he treating me like this!
Chen Lizheng and Wan Qiqi exchanged a glance, signaling Chen Sanyuan to release Wu Gousheng, and only then did they begin the interrogation.
He relinquished control to Wan Qiqi.
"You only need to answer the questions I just asked." Wan Qiqi gestured for Lin Dazhuang to bring over a long bench, and she and Chen Lizheng each sat at one end.
Having served as village head for over ten years, Chen Lizheng had naturally discovered the loopholes, but the severity of the punishment for Wan Qiqi's theft would depend on her.
Wu Gousheng glared at Zhao Shitou and said coldly, "I noticed that Zhao Shitou has been secretly watching Aunt Wang to take money these past few days, so I kept an eye on him and have been watching him for a day. Of course, I know how long he's been squatting here!"
As he spoke, he gritted his teeth and said, "I didn't expect this kid to run as fast as a rabbit. I chased him for a long time before catching up, and then he turned around and bit me!"
Wan Qiqi raised an eyebrow and asked, "Why didn't you tell us?"
"Would you believe me if I told you?" Wu Gousheng said, feeling increasingly aggrieved. "You all think I'm just causing trouble. You won't believe anything I say. If something really happens, you might even think I'm the thief. I might as well catch him red-handed..."
His voice grew softer and softer as he spoke, whimpering like a puppy, and he even sobbed a couple of times.
Wan Qiqi stared at him and said, "I believe you."
Wu Gousheng's grievance immediately turned into astonishment, followed by a hint of resentment as he muttered under his breath, "What do you believe? You still dragged me here for interrogation..."
Zhao Shitou, who was listening to the conversation between the two, suddenly felt something was wrong. He couldn't let Wu Gousheng continue talking, otherwise it would be troublesome if he really committed his crime!
Being forced into manual labor is fine, but stealing will get you a tattoo that will follow you for life, and you'll never be able to hold your head up high again.
No! Absolutely not!
"Sister-in-law Chen, you can't listen to his nonsense! He's just making things up; he's the one who stole the money!"
Wan Qiqi tilted her head and asked in a flat voice, "Then explain how you took down Wu Gousheng?"
Zhao Shitou was prepared to answer the previous questions, but Wan Qiqi changed the question to the most fatal one.
Wu Gousheng became a local tyrant in the east of the village because someone in his family knew martial arts. He learned a few moves and few people in the village could match him.
It's simply unbelievable that he could take down Wu Gousheng.
Chen Lizheng also identified the murderer from Wu Gousheng's expression.
He just couldn't believe it. Zhao Shitou had always behaved very well in the village, and he even went to help with the plague in Guanshi Village. How could he do such a thing?
On the contrary, Wu Gousheng, who usually caused trouble, actually did something righteous and bravely caught the thief.
Chen Lizheng sighed heavily, unable to bear the sight. "Qiqi, what do you suggest we do?" His voice was filled with disappointment.
Zhao Shitou hurriedly kowtowed, his forehead chafed raw by the sand, but he continued kowtowing, "It wasn't me, it really wasn't me..."
Wan Qiqi's expression was indifferent as she said, "I'll give you another chance." She beckoned Chen Yongxing to her side and whispered something to him.
No one knows what she whispered in Chen Yongxing's ear, but Chen Yongxing's eyes lit up.
Zhao Shitou raised his eyes and stared cautiously, thinking that if she stubbornly refused to admit it, there was nothing she could do about it.
After a while, Chen Yongxing brought over a cloth bag.
“I acquired a treasure while doing business. It can detect whether someone is speaking. I put it in this cloth bag. You two reach out and touch it. If the thief is among you, it will be revealed.”
After Wan Qiqi finished speaking, Chen Yongxing walked up to the two of them and let them take turns touching the contents of the cloth bag.
Wu Gousheng resolutely stretched out his hand, and after touching something, his brows furrowed slightly.
This feels somewhat familiar...
When it was Zhao Shitou's turn, he hesitated for a long time in mid-air before reaching into the bag.
Chen Sanyuan craned his neck, trying to see what was inside, but he couldn't see anything because it was too dark.
"Alright, raise your hands that have been used to rub the treasure, so that Li Zheng can clearly identify who the thief is."
After Wan Qiqi finished speaking, the two raised their hands.
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