Chapter 293 - 291: Miss Xu in the Spotlight (First Update)

Chapter 293: Chapter 291: Miss Xu in the Spotlight (First Update)

Sister-in-law Wang’s body stiffened slightly, and she took a gentle breath before saying, "While I was making porridge, Bao said he was hungry and came over to ask me for something to eat. I thought I’d serve him a bowl of porridge, but who knew I’d accidentally spill it.

This can’t be considered a waste. The food scraps in this bucket, I was going to use them to feed the chickens and ducks."

"I see."

Xu Jing’s lips curled up slightly, smiling sincerely at Sister-in-law Wang, "Sister-in-law Wang is indeed virtuous, no wonder the villagers speak so highly of you."

Sister-in-law Wang inexplicably felt that this woman’s smile was very eerie. She forced a smile and said stiffly, "It’s nothing, just what I should do."

Xu Jing said, "Thank you, Sister-in-law Wang, for your cooperation. I’m done with my questions."

Sister-in-law Wang was stunned for a moment and hadn’t quite reacted yet. Seeing Xu Jing turn and walk out of the kitchen, she secretly breathed a sigh of relief, but a trace of a sinister darkness flashed in her eyes.

Outside the kitchen, a group of villagers were curiously watching Xu Jing. Xu Jing smiled faintly and said, "I have almost figured out the truth of the case, but I need to confirm a few more things. Please help me bring the village chief here, and a few respected villagers as witnesses."

The crowd couldn’t help but stare in shock, and a commotion erupted in the courtyard.

This woman already knows the truth? Is it true?

Although they were eager to see how she solved the case, they didn’t really believe that just by looking at Little Dongzi’s body and asking Sister-in-law Wang a few questions, she could solve it!

A few men immediately said enthusiastically, "Alright! I’ll go call them right now! Miss Xu, if there’s anything else you need, just say the word!"

After saying that, they turned and ran off.

Xu Jing also had to leave Yan San’s house for a while. Before leaving, she called Cheng Xiao over and whispered a few words to him.

Cheng Xiao was startled but immediately said, "Miss Xu, rest assured, I will keep an eye on him!"

Only then did Xu Jing leave with peace of mind.

Wei Muqing couldn’t help but chase after her, asking, "Jing, what are you going to do next?"

"You came at the right time."

Xu Jing answered with a question, "Do you know who often goes to the Wangzi River usually?"

Wei Muqing looked puzzled at Xu Jing, saying, "There is only one river in the village. The women in the village go to the riverbank almost every day to do laundry and fetch water, while the men go less often."

"I see..."

Xu Jing said, just in time to see Yan Si walking toward his house not far away.

Sister-in-law Wang just said he dropped something by the river and went to retrieve it.

At this moment, he should have just returned from the river.

Xu Jing glanced at him, sensing that Yan Si had been secretly observing her too.

However, neither party made eye contact or exchanged a word, just passing each other calmly.

Wei Muqing was somewhat displeased, "How could Yan Si be like that? Jing tried her best to save Little Dongzi, and now you’re still investigating how Little Dongzi died. He should at least greet you."

Xu Jing just chuckled, "He’s feeling complicated right now and probably doesn’t have the mindset for it."

Indeed, his own son had died, so it’s normal not to consider other things for now.

Wei Muqing seemed to understand, not saying anything further.

After Xu Jing went outside, she randomly found a few women who seemed easy to talk to and asked them a few questions. Those women were all surprised, "How does Miss Xu know he’s been going to the river every day doing such things? And even knows about the frequent ’Splash’ sounds coming from there? We were wondering how he achieved such results over such a long time, only to lose it again. Isn’t that a waste of effort!"

Miss Xu has a maid to serve her, so she doesn’t need to go to the river to do laundry and fetch water. In fact, since Miss Xu arrived these days, they hadn’t seen her go to the river at all.

However, she seemed to have a clear understanding of what happened at the riverbank, even knowing these details!

Xu Jing felt a sense of enlightenment, just as expected.

She smiled, thanked the women, and then turned back to Yan Si’s house.

Wei Muqing obviously felt something from the questions Xu Jing asked and hadn’t spoken along the way.

They had only been gone for a little while, and the number of villagers gathered at Yan Si’s house had doubled, all coming to see the excitement after hearing that Xu Jing had figured out how Little Dongzi died.

Even the outer walls were crowded with villagers who couldn’t get in.

But the courtyard was much more orderly than before, with a small space cleared in the middle, and three chairs neatly arranged in the upper position. A middle-aged man with half-gray hair but unusually resolute expression sat in the middle chair, the village chief of White Poplar Village — Chen Zhigang.

On his left sat Chen Laosan, who had just jumped into the water to help rescue. Xu Jing only knew after asking Wei Muqing that this Chen Laosan was the village chief’s younger brother, both of whom were well-respected in the village for their steady and capable nature.

On Chen Zhigang’s right sat a man with a square face, thick eyebrows, a tiger-like body and a bear-like waist, comparable in stature to Jiang Da.

The other villagers obediently crowded around the periphery of this open space, while Yan Si and Sister-in-law Wang, as the relatives of the deceased, stood next to Chen Laosan.

Xu Jing’s arrival was quite the spectacle, with Chen Zhigang giving Xu Jing, who walked up to them, a glance before saying in a calm voice, "Are you the Miss Xu my third brother mentioned? I heard Miss Xu has found out how Little Dongzi died?"

"That’s correct."

Xu Jing said in a calm voice, "But I’m not a person from the village. I invited you here to bear witness to this matter and to seek justice for the poor deceased.

Little Dongzi’s death was not an accident, but deliberate murder!"

Deliberate murder!

The deep malice contained within those four words sent chills through the crowd, and someone immediately shouted, "I knew it! The one who killed Little Dongzi must be that Jiang Da! We should have dealt with that savage long ago..."

"No."

Xu Jing merely cast a faint glance at the speaking man, who wanted to say something but was struck quiet by Xu Jing’s slightly cold gaze, instinctively closing his mouth. Seeing her lips slightly parted, she clearly articulated, "The murderer is not Jiang Da, but... Little Dongzi’s parents! That poor child was killed by his parents working together!"

As Xu Jing’s resolute words fell, the scene fell into a strange silence for a moment, followed by an involuntary gasp of cold air.

The murderer was Little Dongzi’s parents?

This... how could this be!

Yan Si and Sister-in-law Wang’s eyes nearly bulged as they looked at Xu Jing. Sister-in-law Wang screamed, "How could the child’s father and I possibly kill Little Dongzi! What nonsense are you spouting, woman!"

Yan Si took a step forward fiercely, his eyes chilling as he looked at Xu Jing, "This is White Poplar Village, not a place where an outsider like you can mess around! When Little Dongzi fell into the river, I and others were rushing to the riverbank. My wife was even in the village and hadn’t gone to the riverside, anyone with a brain knows the only one who had the chance to throw my Dongzi into the river was Jiang Da! Are you going to such lengths to clear Jiang Da’s name because you have some clandestine relationship with him?"

Xu Jing couldn’t help but let out a cold laugh, "Since ancient times, the way to insult a woman is to make up things about her with another man. Yan Si, can you be a bit more inventive? The reason I can say you and Sister-in-law Wang are the murderers is that I’ve already gathered all your crimes!

Indeed, neither you nor Sister-in-law Wang was by the river when Little Dongzi fell in, but you used a method that caused Little Dongzi to fall into the river at a time you specified!"