Zhong Li looked at Niu Ling, she could hardly believe there were such unreasonable people.
She had said Youyou drowned, and Zhong Li had merely stated the true cause of Youyou's death. How had that made her a murderer?
“You say I’m a murderer?” Zhong Li took a deep breath, suppressing the urge to lash out. “That round bulge was very peculiar. If I’m not mistaken, it should have been caused by something like bowls or plates, or something even harder. My… husband and I fell into the sea and were in danger. We were lucky Youyou saved us and brought us back from the brink. Did we carry bowls and plates or round stones with us all the way, adding to our burden?”
As she mentioned Lu Wuxie, she paused for a moment, remembering their identities on the ship. Blushing, she called him husband.
Lu Wuxie had been standing aside, observing the scene. When he heard Zhong Li address him that way, he lowered his gaze, a subtle smile, unnoticed by others, gracing his lips.
Niu Ling was momentarily speechless.
She glanced at the man who had accompanied her and said, “Husband, tell me, was Youyou…”
“Enough!”
Before Niu Ling could finish her sentence, a hoarse shout erupted from outside the crowd.
The villagers of the small fishing village seemed to be familiar with and respectful of this voice. Upon hearing it, they unconsciously parted to make way.
An old man, leaning on a cane and wearing a headscarf, shuffled forward. He first looked at Youyou, lying on the ground, his eyes filled with regret and sorrow. Then, he raised his sallow eyes, letting them drift over Zhong Li and Lu Wuxie before settling on Niu Ling and the man with her.
“Kang Ji,” the old man called out to the man.
The man cast a sideways glance at the elder, a hint of displeasure on his face. After a moment’s hesitation, he replied, “Village Chief.”
The village chief nodded and said, “Regarding Youyou’s matter, I believe what this lady said makes sense. Since she was murdered, why not let this lady investigate?”
He said this, his gaze falling on Zhong Li.
Zhong Li, suddenly addressed, was momentarily stunned but quickly composed herself. “If the Village Chief trusts me, Zhong Li is willing.”
The village chief nodded with satisfaction and was about to give further instructions.
Niu Ling tugged at Kang Ji’s sleeve.
Kang Ji quickly stepped forward and said, “Village Chief, you cannot!”
The village chief looked at Kang Ji.
“Youyou’s death, they are the murderers. If you let the murderers investigate the case, isn’t that…”
“Isn’t that what?” Clearly, the village chief was growing impatient.
Kang Ji looked deeply at him, but did not finish his sentence.
The village chief continued, “I, the village chief, have lived in this small fishing village for more than half my life. I haven’t met many people, but I’ve met more outsiders than you all. Madam Niu just said these two were motivated to kill by the copper coins on Youyou.”
Speaking of this, he gave a cold smile and pointed at Lu Wuxie, saying, “The sleeve of that young master’s clothing alone is worth two taels of silver. How could he covet a few copper coins in a young girl’s hand? That’s one point.”
“Secondly,” his gaze shifted to Zhong Li. “Is this young lady a physician?”
Zhong Li hadn’t expected such a discerning elder in such a remote and impoverished place. She smiled and replied, “Reporting to the Village Chief, I am a coroner, but I also have considerable research into medical principles.”
“A coroner, she’s a coroner!”
“Heavens, a coroner! How unlucky.”
“No wonder there’s a death here.”
…
As soon as Zhong Li finished speaking, the onlookers began to whisper amongst themselves again.
However, she had long anticipated their reaction, and her eyes remained undisturbed.
The village chief observed Zhong Li’s unruffled reaction to the gossip and then looked at the handle of the dissection knife peeking from her waist. “That’s even better. Since you are a coroner, it explains why you could determine Youyou’s cause of death with just one glance. Furthermore, as the lady mentioned earlier that Youyou did not drown, the murderer must have thrown her into the well to conceal the truth.
To be frank, this well has been abandoned for many years in this small fishing village. The murderer likely threw Youyou in there so she wouldn’t be found. Since you are an outsider, you wouldn’t know this. Therefore, I conclude that the murderer must be someone from the village. Letting an outsider investigate the case is the fairest way!”
As the village chief, his few words convinced all the villagers.
They exchanged glances and fell silent.
Niu Ling glared at Zhong Li, her eyes almost popping out. She stepped forward and asked, “Then can this lady explain why the scraps of cloth Youyou bought are in your possession?”
Zhong Li glanced at Lu Wuxie, pondered for a moment, and replied, “As I said earlier, my husband and I were shipwrecked and drifted here. Youyou was our savior.”
“Shipwrecked? Such a coincidence?” Niu Ling pressed aggressively.
Lu Wuxie narrowed his eyes at Niu Ling, pulled Zhong Li back, and opened his robe to reveal his bandaged wound. “Yes, my wife and I were at sea doing business. We encountered pirates. The ship was lost, and we almost lost our lives. Do you have any questions about this?”
Niu Ling, intimidated by Lu Wuxie’s piercing gaze, quickly lowered her head and remained silent.
The village chief walked up to Niu Ling, looked at her stomach, and said, “Madam, you are due to give birth soon. Thinking too much can be harmful to your pregnancy. Perhaps you should go home and await news.”
As he spoke, the village chief glanced at Kang Ji, a burly man with a full beard standing behind Niu Ling.
Kang Ji looked at Niu Ling, then at the village chief, and said, “Village Chief, you said you’d let someone investigate the case, and I agreed. But Youyou is my flesh and blood, no matter what. You must give me a timeframe, right? Otherwise, if someone doesn’t find out and sneaks away…”
He spoke, his gaze falling on Zhong Li, who stood opposite him with a cool expression.
Zhong Li met Kang Ji’s gaze and snorted, “After half a day of autopsy and half a day of interviews, I will give Officer Kang an answer in two days at the latest.”
“Good, it’s a deal!” Kang Ji said, pulling Niu Ling away.
As they left, the surrounding villagers also dispersed, returning to their own affairs.
Only the old village chief remained, his eyes kind as he looked at Zhong Li and Lu Wuxie.
He hesitated for a moment, then slowly walked towards them. “I know you two have extraordinary identities.”
Zhong Li and Lu Wuxie remained silent.
The old village chief smiled and continued, “I heard earlier that you two are staying in the sheltered cave outside the village?”
Zhong Li nodded. “Youyou temporarily settled us there.”
Speaking of Youyou, she still looked sadly at the young girl’s corpse.
The old village chief looked at Zhong Li, his eyes drooping, and shook his head. “Youyou was a good child, what a pity…”
He shook his head, leaving his sentence unfinished, and changed the subject. “Since you two have decided to thoroughly investigate the case in the small fishing village, you are temporarily considered residents of the village. No matter how good the cave is, it’s drafty, and staying long isn’t good for your health. If you don’t mind, to the west of the small fishing village, there is a small morgue. Madam, you can stay there, and perhaps… examine Youyou’s body.”