Chapter 435: Chapter 159: Do Not Deceive Others_3
Yesterday night, when she inquired about this matter in Pei Yunmeng’s study, Pei Yunmeng refused to divulge the reason. However, having come to Mangming Village today and seen the Yang Family’s burnt-down house, there were no other findings.
For such a simple matter that could be explained in a few words, why bother to make the trip in person?
It couldn’t be because she damaged Pei Yunmeng’s wooden pagoda last night that he wished to spitefully complicate a simple matter and torment her with this unnecessary journey.
Pei Yunmeng stared at her and began with a smile, "Doctor Lu, why does it sound like you’re blaming me for meddling too much."
"Lord Pei is overthinking it."
"You’ve said many times that I’m overthinking things, but that seems to make me out to be a villain with sinister intentions."
Lu Tong swallowed the words "Isn’t that the case" and simply smiled faintly, "I had no such intention."
He then nodded nonchalantly and said, "I was afraid you wouldn’t believe it."
"Not believe?"
As they were speaking, the woman who was earlier covering her head with a towel came out from inside, carrying a large wooden platter and smiling as she placed bowl after bowl of hot dishes on the table: "Sorry to keep you waiting, guests from the village, it’s just some simple fare, please don’t mind it."
Indeed, it was all simple farmhouse dishes: pork fried in lard, willow flower porridge, buckwheat pancakes, mixed raw vegetables... steaming in earthenware bowls, fragrant and inviting, along with a basket of golden fresh loquats.
After serving the dishes, the woman said, "Enjoy your meal" and was about to leave when Pei Yunmeng called her back.
"Sister," Pei Yunmeng smiled, "We’ve just been to Elder Yang’s house; it was burnt quite thoroughly."
"Wasn’t it just," the woman stood firm, following with a sigh, "A perfectly good family, all gone."
"How exactly did Elder Yang’s house catch fire? Why didn’t anyone notice at the time?"
With a twisted mouth, the woman answered, "How would it have started? It just did, out of the blue. Everyone was working in the tea fields; by the time it was discovered, it was too late."
"Could it have been an arson..."
At these words, the woman jumped in shock, repeatedly saying, "This isn’t something we can casually talk about, we’re just common folk, who would come to set Elder Yang’s house on fire? Please don’t say such things again, Young Master, if word gets out, we too will suffer!" With that, she hurried out of the courtyard, holding an empty wooden tray as if wary of something.
Quiet returned to the courtyard.
Pei Yunmeng poured tea into Doctor Lu’s empty cup, speaking coolly, "Do you see it clearly now, Doctor Lu?"
Lu Tong said nothing.
The woman just now seemed warm and hospitable, but a few words from Pei Yunmeng frightened her into hasty flight, obviously terrified about the matter of the Yang Family.
"It’s been five years since the incident at the Yang Family; Mangming Township has been calm and quiet." Pei Yunmeng pushed the filled tea cup towards Lu Tong, "If Doctor Lu wishes to use the Light-vented case against the Qi Family, you can give up now."
Lu Tong remained silent.
Not to mention the fire at the Qi Family had destroyed all evidence completely, or that the Yang Family had been wiped out without a survivor, just the fact that five years had passed and not a whisper has come out about the Yang Family case shows that even if the neighbors in Mangming Township knew something odd or were suspicious, no one dared to delve deeper or dared to speak up for the Yang Family.
The fear of ’humble people’ towards ’nobility’ seemed almost innate, carved into their very bones.
Lu Tong was now somewhat understanding of why Pei Yunmeng had insisted on bringing her here.
He wanted her to see with her own eyes the common people’s fear of ’powerful elites,’ to understand the harsh reality—not because he was exaggerating in his letters and words, but because seeking revenge was indeed as difficult as scaling the heavens.
"No matter the offer, no one dares to speak, no one dares to say a word."
Pei Yunmeng looked at her, his expression growing somber.
"Miss," he said calmly, "the enemies you face in the future will be more and more, and stronger and stronger, it’s no joke."
At these words, it was Lu Tong who actually laughed.
She nodded, her voice gentle, "Thank you for the reminder, Lord Pei, I will deal with it accordingly."
"What do you plan to do, poison Qi Yutai?"
"That’s no concern of yours, Lord Pei."
Ignoring Lu Tong’s aloofness, he laughed indifferently, "The Qi Family is not like the Ke and Fan Families; if you kill Qi Yutai, you might find it hard to escape with your life."
"But at least he would be dead, wouldn’t he?"
Pei Yunmeng was taken aback.
Lu Tong said faintly, "In any case, I’m bound to die too, so if I should offend you in the future, I hope you will be somewhat forgiving, Lord Pei."
A frown creased Pei Yunmeng’s brow.
She always spoke of death so nonchalantly, as if she placed no value on her own life.
Was she fearless, or was she driven by a desire to die?
Lu Tong paid no attention to what he was thinking and simply took off her face veil, picked up a piece of crispy sugar cake with bamboo chopsticks, and said, "Please start eating, Lord Pei, before the dishes cool down." She seemed to prefer not to continue the conversation.