Outside the south city of Luzhou, along both sides of the Feishui River that passes through the city, there are lush willow forests. In the hot summer, the river banks become a place for children to play in the water.
In a bend of clear water only three miles away from the gate of Nancheng, there are more than a dozen children playing in the water, catching fish and shrimps, playing carefree.
A child with a tough head jumped into the water and swam into the reeds to hide. The other children counted dozens of times in silence and then looked around for him. They were playing a game of catching water ghosts.
After a while, a child discovered the hiding place of the tiger-headed child, and swam over with splashes and splashes in the water, cheering and shouting, shouting: "Here...here, I am the most powerful."
After hearing the news, all the children rushed over, causing a splash of water. When they came to the reed swamp, they suddenly found the tiger-headed boy staring blankly at something, as if he was stupid.
All the children rushed over and followed his gaze. They were as if a stone had been thrown at a bird. They were so frightened that they ran around. There was a swollen corpse floating in the reeds, and the stench spread with the wind.
, flies were flying around the corpse.
The news spread quickly, and some people rushed to the government office in the city to report it. At the same time, hundreds of people came to watch after hearing the news. People were talking and speculating about whose body it was, whether it was someone who killed someone, or whether they threw themselves into the river.
.
The government servants rushed over one after another. While inspecting the body, they also asked the people around to see if anyone knew the deceased. One person in the crowd said: "Looking at this person's physical appearance, it seems that he is a master named Qin Dalang from Suji Garment Shop in the city.
, but my face is swollen, so I’m really not sure.”
After being reminded by this person, someone suddenly realized: "It seems to be Qin Dalang. Last time I went to Su Ji to order clothes, he measured the size for me. He seems to be a very kind person. Why did he throw himself into the river without thinking?"
Now that someone recognized this person's identity, the government officials quickly recorded it in the record. When they went back to Su Ji to investigate, they said: "Don't look at it. There is nothing interesting about a dead person. Leave it alone. Everything is under the control of the government."
deal with."
In the crowd, a man of medium build wearing a bamboo hat stood on the side without saying a word, carefully watching the man roll his eyelids and open his mouth as he was busy, until the government officials came to drive him away, and then he took the man with him.
The boy beside him left.
Qin Dalang's body was finally found three days after he disappeared. After the government officials went to Suji to verify Qin Dalang's identity, they officially announced that it was Qin Dalang, the master of Suji's clothing store, who had indeed thrown himself into the river.
The news spread like wildfire, and people speculated how Qin Dalang died. No one who knew him believed that Qin Dalang would commit suicide by drowning himself in the river. On weekdays, this man was a amiable man with no soft thoughts, and in Su Ji
When I go to work, the wages are quite generous, so there is no reason to commit suicide by drowning myself in the river.
However, the Luzhou government office quickly released news to quell the discussion. It announced: According to the inquest, Qin Dalang did commit suicide by drowning. No one else should spread rumors to confuse people, and they should just work hard to support their families.
The government notice dispelled people's doubts. Although people were sighing and sighing, Qin Dalang was just a small person and he didn't make many friends on a daily basis. Qin Dalang's death soon became old news and was replaced by another notice.
"Dear fellow villagers, tomorrow is the day when the Yamen of Luzhou Prefecture is hearing the case of Su Ji Shaodong's family assaulting someone in the street. At the request of the Su family's family, we are allowed to attend and watch. No noise or excessive talk will be allowed at that time. Anyone who violates this will be despised.
Discuss in court."
The people who watched this notice all looked excited. Su Xiaoguan's name has long been a household name. During this period, he was in the limelight. He was like a superstar in Luzhou City, but he unexpectedly beat up the prefect in the street.
Mr. Yanei, you are going to suffer a lot this time.
Some people were curious, some were excited, some were worried, some were sighing. Most people had a kind of mentality of watching the excitement and not taking it too seriously. Anyway, these rich people, whether they are businessmen or officials,
Rich people always live a more relaxed life than ordinary people, no matter who is good or bad, what people like to see is two dogs biting each other, each biting off a mouthful of hair, it is best to tear off a piece of meat each, ordinary people
It's good to use it as conversation material and join in the fun.
Most people don't understand why the Su family wants a public trial. Su Xiaoguan has to either give up or pay money to apologize. In short, it's a shameful thing. The Su family wants a public trial. Isn't it because they think it's not embarrassing enough?
Of course, there are still people who know the key, and a small number of people can even feel that this matter is unusual. In a small brawl case, a notice can be issued and a public trial is required. Isn't this an act of taking off one's pants and farting? If in the middle
If there is no secret, then it is really a ghost.
In Bao Mansion in the south of the city, Bao Zheng stood in the courtyard with his hands behind his hands, holding an ancient locust tree in the courtyard and thinking thoughtfully. Behind him stood a man who looked like a master, and the two were talking softly.
"Sir, do you think there is something fishy about this?" the master said in a very humane tone.
"Master, what do you think?" Bao Zheng asked back. His master was a smart man. Bao Zheng liked to chat with him every time a case happened to inspire his own ideas.
"According to normal procedures, such a small case can usually be handled on the same day. This morning, it has been nearly three hours since Mr. Zhu learned the news. Logically speaking, the trial should be completed, so why is it delayed again?
The trial will be held tomorrow morning. If this was not done intentionally, it means that the prefect Zhu has other important matters to attend to, so this matter has been postponed." The master said, stroking his long beard.
Bao Zheng frowned and nodded: "Master's analysis is very reasonable, but what important things does a prefect who can spend more than an hour chatting in my house have to do? This matter is more important than trying a case.
Isn’t it a contradiction that such official matters have to be postponed?”
"Maybe there is some urgent business, I don't know." The master said.
Bao Zheng said sternly: "Let's assume that what you said is reasonable. During the three hours between Su Jin beating people and issuing notices to the government, let's see what happened."
The master suddenly stopped twirling his beard, opened his mouth and said: "Sir... you..."
Bao Zheng stretched out two fingers and said: "The first thing is that the Su family went to the government office and asked for a public trial of the case. Why did the Su family do this? I'm afraid they felt that the matter was a bit tricky and were afraid that the prefect would use it for personal gain.
The eyes of the people were supervising; and the second thing was that the body of Qin Dalang, the owner of the clothing store who had been missing for three days and had not been seen for three days, was suddenly found in a place where children would go every day.
Don't you think there's something strange about the reed marsh at Sanli Bridge where you're playing in the water?"
"Yes, if the person who has been missing for three days drowned in Sanli Bridge, he should be found soon, and the Su family should have searched everywhere. Why can't the Su family find him, but he was seen by a few little kids?
?" The master followed Bao Zheng's thoughts and came to a conclusion that surprised him.
"Do you think that... someone deliberately allowed Qin Dalang's body to appear during this time period, and that Qin Dalang most likely did not commit suicide, but... committed suicide." The conclusion the master came to was indeed shocking.
Bao Zheng remained silent, holding the old tree trunk and patting it gently.
"But after the yamen's investigation, the prisoner concluded that he committed suicide. What's the reason for this?" The master was still immersed in the case and couldn't extricate himself, murmuring to himself.
Bao Zheng turned around and said: "All these things are inextricably linked to this Su Xiaoguan. I am becoming more and more interested in this Su Xiaoguan. Master, you don't need to worry about it.
It’s easy to understand. The work is the work of the Luzhou Prefecture. What you say and do may not be under your control. What I am worried about is, what does the occurrence of these things mean? Talk to Su Xiaoguan
What’s the connection between the case of someone beating someone up?”
The master thought for a while and then suddenly smiled and said: "I will know it tomorrow. Why do you need to think too much about it? I guess you will go to review it tomorrow."
Bao Zheng showed a rare smile, and the smile disappeared in a flash on his fair face: "Master is right, the answer will be revealed tomorrow." dd