Chapter 40 Collective Perjury

“Li Chen, the witness is right here. What else do you have to say?”

Wu Changqing roared in grief and fury.

Ma Wu also frowned at Li Chen, deeply unsettled.

Seven people. Even if this young man was tall, he was not particularly burly. Could he really have killed seven men at once, without a single one escaping? And judging by his appearance, he seemed uninjured.

What kind of ability was that?

It seemed unlikely.

Li Chen merely raised an eyebrow. “Just because he says I killed them, that means I did?”

“You still dare to argue? Surrender immediately and let me escort you to the authorities. Otherwise, don’t blame me for cutting you down on the spot!”

Wu Changqing shouted angrily. With a metallic clang, he drew a long blade from behind his saddle and pointed it at Li Chen.

Li Chen did not even bother to look at the blade. He simply looked at Wu Changqing and said, “You have a witness. I also have witnesses. Chenxu!”

Liu Chenxu stood up straight and strode over, standing behind Li Chen. “I can testify for Brother Chen. Wu Tian and his men did come to the village that day and tried to rob us. They were beaten and fled in panic. Brother Chen went to the city that day and returned very late. He never saw them.”

“That’s right.”

Zhao Dashi and Hou Xiaobai also stepped forward to confront them directly.

The little maid-wife hurried over and grasped Li Chen’s arm, standing firmly beside him. “My husband returned home and remained busy here. He never left and never saw any Wu Tian.”

Li Chen glanced at her with faint amusement. This gentle and well-mannered young woman was now boldly lying through her teeth for his sake.

“Elder, please put your blade away. If you do not believe us, ask the other villagers and hear what they say.”

Liu Chenxu spoke loudly.

At the same time, he turned toward the women working in the courtyard.

The women had long been anxious but had not dared interrupt earlier.

Now they seized the chance.

A large group of them surged forward, including those who had been watching from outside the courtyard.

“How dare you slander our Brother Chen? That day we saw him return with a cart and work all day. Chasing people on horseback with a bow? That’s pure framing!”

“Exactly. We were all helping at their house. We saw clearly. Brother Chen never left.”

“Oh, I get it. That Zhou San was just caught cheating Brother Chen out of money this morning and was scolded and driven away. He must be holding a grudge and trying to use this chance to smear him.”

“Smearing Brother Chen is one thing. The real issue is someone foolish enough to believe him. Look at that old man in his fifties pointing a blade at Brother Chen!”

“Good grief, old fool, do you believe whatever anyone tells you? Have you lived this long for nothing?”

Dozens of women surrounded Wu Changqing and Ma Wu, unleashing a barrage of verbal attacks.

Zhao Dashi and Hou Xiaobai secretly gave Liu Chenxu a thumbs-up. The boy really knew how to rally the people.

Wu Changqing’s face flushed red. The veins in his neck bulged, and the hand gripping his blade trembled.

Yet doubt crept into his eyes. He turned uncertainly toward Ma Wu, who wore the same expression.

So many people were testifying for Li Chen. And Zhou San had personal grievances against him?

Could it be that Li Chen truly had nothing to do with it?

At that moment, a voice called from afar, “What’s going on here?”

Everyone turned and saw several men approaching in the distance, carrying heavy bundles of firewood.

It was Xu Zheng and several villagers returning from cutting wood.

Hearing the commotion, Xu Jiang quickly set down his bundle and hurried over.

“Village Head Xu, I’m Ma Wu from Baisha Village. Perfect timing. We have something to verify with you.”

Ma Wu, drenched in sweat from being surrounded by the women, finally saw a savior and waved to Xu Jiang.

Xu Jiang came over, and Ma Wu briefly explained the situation.

He recounted the facts objectively, without embellishment or bias.

That attitude made Li Chen look at him thoughtfully.

But as soon as he finished speaking, Liu Chenxu seized the moment. “Uncle Xu, we already explained. Although Wu Tian came, Brother Chen went to the city that day and never left afterward. We can all testify. As for Zhou San, he was just driven off for cheating and is holding a grudge. Yet these two refuse to believe us.”

The hint in his words was subtle but clear. Li Chen looked at him again, impressed.

If this were wartime, the boy would make an excellent grassroots political commissar.

Xu Jiang suddenly understood. “Ah, so that’s what this is about. No problem. I can testify as well.”

“Did Li Chen chase those men that day or not?”

Ma Wu asked urgently.

In an instant, all eyes turned to Xu Jiang.

Without the slightest change in expression, Xu Jiang said calmly, “No. Brother Chen never left. Chasing people on horseback with a bow? That’s nonsense. We were helping unload carts at his house that day. I can vouch for that. You men, can you testify?”

He turned to the woodcutters beside him.

“Of course. Brother Chen was with us the whole time. Who saw him leave?”

The men nodded solemnly, speaking as if it were undeniable truth.

Li Chen kept a straight face, but inwardly he was both amused and touched.

So this was collective perjury?

“Xu Jiang, you are a village head. Be careful what you say.”

Wu Changqing glared angrily.

Xu Jiang’s expression darkened instantly. He looked at Wu Changqing coldly. “Clan Elder Wu, I am the village head of Mu’er Village. Do I need you to teach me how to do my job?”

“You…”

Wu Changqing was furious but speechless.

“If that’s the case, then this is clearly a misunderstanding. Brother Chen, please forgive any offense. I apologize on our behalf.”

Ma Wu pressed his single arm to his chest in apology.

“Safe travels.”

Li Chen nodded lightly.

Wu Changqing mounted his horse and pointed his riding whip at Li Chen. “Li Chen, it had better not be you. Otherwise—”

Before he could finish his threat, Hou Xiaobai flicked a sharp stone against the horse’s hindquarters.

Startled and in pain, the horse shrieked and bolted down the mountain. Wu Changqing swayed wildly, struggling to control it, but the horse bucked violently and threw him off. He tumbled far down the slope.

“Clan Elder Wu!”

Ma Wu gasped and quickly mounted his horse to chase after him.

“Old fool, get lost, you rotten egg.”

Hou Xiaobai laughed and shouted.

The villagers burst into laughter, their voices echoing far into the mountains.