Inside the woodshed.
The little girl's stomach growled with hunger, but she ate slowly and gracefully, chewing carefully.
Chen Tang asked, "What's your name?"
"Zhiwei."
The little girl replied.
This name didn't seem like one from an ordinary family, like Er Ya or Gou Dan.
Chen Tang asked again, "Do you remember where your home is?"
"It seems to be in the south. It's a long, long way to go, and we have to cross a very wide river to get there. There are mountains and water there, and the climate is very warm, unlike here."
The little girl thought hard for a long time, her expression a bit confused, and shook her head, "I can't remember anything else."
Chen Tang temporarily dismissed the idea of helping her find her home.
With such vague information, it was impossible to start, even with the information explosion and convenient transportation in a previous life.
Chen Tang didn't rush to leave and watched the little girl eat.
If the little girl couldn't finish her food, he would have to take the leftovers away, so as not to leave any clues.
After a while, Chen Tang realized he was overthinking.
Zhiwei ate very slowly and carefully. After finishing a piece of chicken, she would lick the grease off her fingertips.
But she gnawed on the chicken bones not too cleanly, leaving a bit of meat on each, then fed them to the yellow dog beside her.
Before long, Zhiwei finished the whole roasted chicken.
The leftover chicken bones were eaten clean by the yellow dog.
A few steamed buns were also shared equally between the girl and the dog.
The scene was clean, and if it weren't for Zhiwei stopping it, the yellow dog would have licked the grease paper that had wrapped the chicken.
"Thank you, Brother Atang. We haven't eaten such good food in a long time. We're so full now."
Zhiwei smiled joyfully, her eyes squinted with happiness. Despite her swollen face, her eyes were clear and pure.
The yellow dog was quite intelligent, seeming to get used to the smell of Chen Tang. It came to his side, tongue out, tail wagging, looking very happy, as if considering Chen Tang a second owner.
Chen Tang gently patted it twice, then looked at Zhiwei, speaking in a deep voice, "I must remind you of something."
Seeing Chen Tang's serious expression, Zhiwei quickly retracted her smile and put on a listening face.
Chen Tang said, "I can't take you away tonight. By tomorrow, what happened here might be discovered. Then, the Chief Constable will surely come to ask you questions."
"Don't worry; just tell the truth about what happened today and any noises you heard at night. But remember, tonight we never met, understand?"
Simply lying too much can easily leave clues.
Only by mixing truth and lies can one pass through without arousing too much suspicion.
Zhiwei nodded.
After a moment of silence, Zhiwei said, "Brother Atang, don't worry, I won't be a burden to you. Xiao Huang and I can survive."
She knew that staying with Chen Tang would only be a burden, hence her words.
Zhiwei thought for a while, then said, "I heard the Commander of Wu'an is upright and fair, a good official. After we get through this, Xiao Huang and I will go to Wu'an County to report to the authorities, asking the Commander to punish the Black Water Gang and do justice for Brother Atang."
"Don't go."
Chen Tang quickly stopped her.
Zhiwei, after all, was too young and a bit naive.
Chen Tang said, "Wu'an County is over two hundred miles away from here. In this freezing weather, how can you walk there? Besides, the Black Water Gang is very powerful, it won't help going to Wu'an County."
"So should we just leave it at that?" Zhiwei asked.
"You don't need to worry."
Chen Tang said, "I will settle this matter in the way of the Jianghu."
"The way of the Jianghu?"
Zhiwei didn't quite understand.
Chen Tang didn't explain to her.
Things in the officialdom are always complicated. Officials protect each other; there's collusion between government and business. Various forces compete in the shadows, always someone more powerful out there.
Such struggles might drag on for a long time, and in the end, might just be forgotten.
Even if the Commander of Wu'an is an honest and upright official, he might find himself powerless, having his hands tied.
Meanwhile, those who report to the authorities are always exposed to danger, risking sudden death at any moment!
This is too tedious, not straightforward enough, and doesn't solve the problem.
Chen Tang didn't know the powerful, nor did he have any background.
He only had a blade!
The way of the Jianghu is much simpler and direct.
As long as one has enough strength and high martial arts skills, find the enemy, and with one strike, whether you're a County Magistrate or a Young Leader, you lose your life on the spot!
When a common man is enraged, the blood splatters five steps!
Chen Tang reminded a few more things, just about to get up, when he saw the greasy corners of Zhiwei's mouth and couldn't help but smile.
He stepped forward, using his sleeve to gently wipe the grease from Zhiwei's mouth.
Then rubbed Zhiwei's little hands, cleaning them until they were spotless.
Throughout the process, Zhiwei didn't evade.
She only smiled, her heart filled with complete trust in Chen Tang.
Chen Tang put the grease paper into his pocket, glanced around to ensure no traces were left, then turned and left.
Before long, he returned home.
Pushing open the door, the chubby old man and Qingmu were still awake, sitting at the table drinking hot tea, with the stove already lit inside the house.
"You're back, brother."
Qingmu said with a smile.
The chubby old man also nodded at him, smiling slightly.
Chen Tang was slightly taken aback.
What happened to these two?
During the day, they were indifferent to him, but by night, they became enthusiastic?
"So late, aren't you two going to sleep?"
Chen Tang asked.
"We were waiting for you."
Qingmu smiled and said, "Where were you so late, brother? Why did you come back only now?"
"I went to the brothels."
Chen Tang said casually.
Qingmu secretly laughed in her heart.
This brother of hers is indeed unique. He went to save someone, yet speaks nonsense, completely ignoring his reputation.
"Going to sleep now."
Chen Tang mumbled, went to the fireplace, lay on his mattress, and said, "You two should sleep early too, staying up every night, be careful of sudden death."
...
The next day.
County Government Office.
Early in the morning, Meng Liangyu had just gotten up and was practicing with his sword in the yard when the constable under his command came rushing in.
"Meng, there was a murder case last night, three people died! One of them was the Evil Wolf Gang's Protector, Hua Bao Li Tao!"
The constable said in a deep voice.
"Another death?"
Meng Liangyu frowned.
The constable recounted the location of the crime scene and what he saw.
"Hua Bao Li Tao, Xu Family?"
Meng Liangyu's expression changed slightly, as if thinking of something, he asked, "Doesn't this Xu Family have a young maid?"
"Yes."
The constable replied, "But it's definitely not the maid who did it. I took a glance; the maid was beaten black and blue by the family and shackled in the woodshed, she couldn't possibly escape."
"This case seems more like Li Tao burgled, and due to being discovered, committed murder."
The constable posited his theory.
Meng Liangyu was not convinced.
Why would the Evil Wolf Gang's Protector be so short of money to resort to burglary?
There's probably more to this story.
Maybe it's revenge, or something else.
But without seeing the scene, it's hard to know for sure.
"Let's go."
Meng Liangyu said, "Let's go and have a look."