Mr. Wu wanted to chat with the lady, so he took a sip of tea and praised: "It tastes great! I have traveled all over the country for many years, but I have never tasted such authentic tea several times."
Mrs. Song said humbly: "Your Majesty, that's a real compliment. Do you think I can do anything good in this little tea shed?"
But I was very happy in my heart.
Mr. Wu deliberately got close to her, and the woman became more and more enthusiastic.
While talking, Mr. Wu asked: "Sister, why are you the only one doing the work? Aren't your family members here to help?"
"It's a joke to call me a guest officer," Mrs. Song blushed and sighed, "Mother-in-law, I have been a widow for many years. I only have one daughter, and she is far away from being married. Which one can I count on?"
"I see, it's really not easy for my eldest sister," Mr. Wu sighed, "Why don't you recruit a son-in-law to take care of you in old age?"
"I had such a plan," Mrs. Song said, "It's just that the girl fell in love with a salesman from Dongshan. He is also an only son in that family, so how can he get married?"
"That's it!" Mr. Wu nodded, "Speaking of the salesman, I remembered something. I had been here a few years ago and heard that a salesman was killed and made a fuss. What's going on now? "
Since we were talking in a hurry, Mrs. Song didn't have any doubts at all, so she said, "Isn't it the same thing that happened to the house in front of me? Ouch, the two villages are not at peace! It's been going on for several years. It's really evil!"
So he gave an overview of what happened that year.
Mr. Wu took the opportunity to ask: "So it turns out to be a headless case? Sister, you are here nearby. According to your opinion, is Mrs. Cui an unfaithful woman?"
Mrs. Song said: "That daughter-in-law is an honest woman. On weekdays, whether her husband is at home or not, she rarely goes out."
"You can't say that. On the surface, some women don't want to show up in public, but in fact they are restless." Mr. Wu went deeper.
"She shouldn't be that kind of person." Mrs. Song shook her head.
"In this case, it must be the salesman's fault." Mr. Wu said while observing Mrs. Song's expression carefully.
Mrs. Song paused and said, "Everyone is dead anyway, so what's the use of talking about it!"
It was obvious that he didn’t want to say anything further.
"Sister, to be honest, I am the master next to the new Lord Governor. If you know anything, you can tell me. If this case is not solved, the two villages will never have peace."
Mrs. Song couldn't help being surprised. After she composed herself, she said, "Sir, don't ask. Firstly, what I said is not accurate. Secondly, it will really offend people."
I am a lonely old woman, but I cannot afford to offend those people who are like wolves and tigers."
Mr. Wu was so shrewd that he immediately said: "Sister, you can rest assured, as long as your testimony is useful, I will keep you safe.
I think you are a little resigned in this small place, why not go to the city and I will help you settle down. Who will dare to do anything to you then?"
Mrs. Song still hesitated: "Who am I? If you help me settle, won't your wife think too much about it?"
Mr. Wu smiled: "I'll tell you the truth, eldest sister, I live alone and don't have so many troubles."
When Mrs. Song heard this, she couldn't help but feel moved in her heart, so she said, "I know a little bit, but I can't guarantee it."
"Come and let me hear it," Mr. Wu said.
"On the eighth day of September that year, Wu Laoliu also came to my place. Although he and I were not in the same village, we were related.
He is considered my cousin. Although he is not a close relative, our families still have contact with each other on weekdays.
At noon that day, he came to my place to ask for a drink of water. When he asked me about Liu Shuangxi's family, I didn't take it to heart and just treated it as a casual conversation.
He asked me if Liu Shuangxi was at home, and I told him that I had gone out to sell lamp grass and would not be back for a few days. I saw him leaving yesterday morning and said he was going to Yanghe.
I asked him what he was doing? He said he wanted to ask Liu Shuangxi about someone, and since he wasn't at home, that was fine.
Who would have thought that something happened that night? He said that Ms. Cui asked her to go, but I don’t think so. If Ms. Cui really made an appointment with him, why would he ask me if Liu Shuangxi was at home?
But when I found out, Mrs. Cui had already killed him and hanged herself.
I am his cousin after all, and he is already dead. If I keep saying this, isn’t it just a matter of enmity?"
Mr. Wu listened to Mrs. Song's words and knew that her words could serve as testimony.
So he said: "Sister, you can follow me to the state later."
Now it's not just Wu Laoliu's problem. If you testify and clarify the matter, the two villages will be at peace. This is a good thing to accumulate virtue.
Furthermore, I will definitely do whatever I ask you to do. You don’t have to worry about anyone taking revenge.”
After convincing Mrs. Song, Mr. Wu and the boy went to Liu Bucun's house.
Liu Bucun's family was surrounded by walls, and the locks on the doors were all loose and could be opened with a twist.
Mr. Wu entered the house, found something from under the broken bamboo bed, and ordered the child: "Wrap it up and take it away."
The child frowned, pinched his nose, and picked up the thing.
It was just after noon when Mr. Wu returned to the government office.
Zheng Wuji asked him: "How is your trip, sir?"
Mr. Wu said: "It's quite abundant."
Zheng Wuji was overjoyed and asked for details.
Mr. Wu spoke briefly, and Zheng Wuji said: "In this case, we will call both parties to the front of the hall and start the trial immediately."
These people are still surprised. Didn’t Master Zhizhou say that he would explain everything clearly within half a month? Why was he promoted to court again after only one day?
When they arrived at the hall, Zheng Wuji said: "The case between Cui and Wu Laoliu has been disputed for so many years, but it is just because we can't figure out whether it is adultery or not.
Today I will review this matter and make a clear decision about what is right and what is wrong."
Everyone in the hall looked at each other in disbelief.
Zheng Wuji first asked Liu Bucun to question him.
"Liu Bucun, please tell me carefully, what happened on the eighth night of September last year?" Zheng Wuji's tone was quite gentle.
Liu Bucun didn't know how many times he had said it, so he had to repeat it once more: "As I tell you, on the night of the eighth day of September, I all went to bed early.
In the middle of the night, I got up to relieve myself in a hurry. When I got to the yard, I heard something moving in the yard next door.
I hurriedly climbed up the wall and saw someone in the yard, so I shouted."
"Is there no movement when you go out to relieve yourself in the middle of the night?" Zheng Wuji asked him, "Is it a major or minor reliever?"
Everyone didn't understand why Zheng Wuji asked in such detail?
Liu Bucun's face turned red and he said, "Sir, it's urination."
Who would have thought that when Zheng Wuji heard what he said, his expression immediately changed. He picked up the gavel and threw it on the table, shouting: "You unruly person! Are you still unwilling to tell the truth!"
Liu Bucun was so upset that he immediately fell down, kowtowed as hard as he could, and said, "Sir, please calm down, everything I said is true!"
"I really can't cry without seeing the coffin!" Zheng Wuji said with a cold face, "The weather is already very cold in September. You are a notorious lazy man. How could you get up in the middle of the night and go to the yard to relieve yourself?!"
