Chapter 78 - 77: Who Will Protect Me and Seek Justice for Me?

Chapter 78: Chapter 77: Who Will Protect Me and Seek Justice for Me?

Finally, there is some progress in the case!

In ancient times, to save time, people generally ate only two meals a day, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. The morning meal was called breakfast.

Some families ate late, so the time for breakfast was close to Noon. Zhuo Yuting disappeared in the afternoon, which fits the description that the deceased had a meal about half an hour before death.

Xiao Yi nodded, and turning to Xu Jing, said, "Miss Xu is quite familiar with the deceased’s situation; you should come along."

Xu Jing had this intention.

After all, she had already skipped the afternoon consultation; she might as well make it worthwhile, moreover, there were some things in this case that greatly concerned her.

Deng Youwei held his tongue, but he had become wiser this time and said nothing.

He was now aware that Miss Xu indeed possessed exceptional skills in autopsy that ordinary people couldn’t even imagine.

But interrogation is not an autopsy. Why is Vice Minister Xiao asking Miss Xu to come along?

Could it be that Miss Xu also has insights into the investigation?

Xiao Xi Village isn’t far from the crime scene, about a quarter of an hour’s walk.

Xiao Yi asked Chen Hu to push Xu Jing toward the direction of Xiao Xi Village while he and Deng Youwei walked alongside.

Deng Youwei couldn’t help glancing repeatedly at the woman in the wheelchair, his curiosity about her had reached a peak.

Who exactly is this Miss Xu? It’s said that her injuries were sustained when she previously assisted the county government in solving the doctor serial murder case.

Besides solving cases through autopsy, she is also a renowned female doctor in Anping County.

Anping County, although adjacent to the Western Capital, is just an ordinary small county, how did such an extraordinary woman emerge from there!

At this moment, Xiao Yi glanced at Xu Jing and said, "Miss Xu, have you decided on the remuneration you want?"

Xu Jing raised her eyes to look at him, with a slight tilt at the corner of her eyes, she said, "Of course, I’ve made up my mind. I am not a servant of the county government but was specially invited by the county government to assist in solving the case. If I weren’t helping, I could earn quite a bit of silver by sitting in Xinglin Hall for an afternoon consultation; surely my earnings can’t be less than that at Xinglin Hall?

However, Vice Minister Xiao has helped me a lot before, so I’ll offer a discounted price, one tael of silver for an autopsy."

"One, one tael of silver?!"

Deng Youwei couldn’t hold back his astonishment and exclaimed.

Bear in mind, even a forensic doctor registered with the county government, like Wu Wuzuo, earns just six taels of silver a year!

The monthly salary of other employees in the county government ranges only from one to two taels of silver.

Yet, Miss Xu was asking for a tael of silver per case.

This is really, really opening her mouth too wide!

Xu Jing, however, merely raised her eyebrow slightly and said calmly, "Autopsy has never been my main occupation; if County Magistrate Deng finds it too expensive, he can seek someone more capable."

She wasn’t willing to give up her work as a forensic doctor, but before discussing ideals, she needed to ensure a good life for herself.

As a woman living alone in this world, life was challenging enough; if it spread that she dabbled in forensic work, it would undoubtedly make her life more difficult.

She agreed to come here with Xiao Yi because of her belief and persistence in the work and her trust in Xiao Yi.

He said he would arrange everything and Xu Jing believed he wouldn’t let the news of her assisting the county government with autopsies spread easily.

But even though she trusted Xiao Yi, she wasn’t completely irrationally trusting. There was still a chance that the matter might leak, and even if it did result negatively, it was her choice. But matching this high risk, she naturally demanded high remuneration.

If the county government wasn’t even willing to pay a tael of silver, why should she take such a risk to perform an autopsy for them?

Deng Youwei was taken aback and couldn’t help but say excitedly, "You, you are a bit too, too mercenary, considering autopsy and investigation also serve the innocent people. You have this skill, how, how can you hide it for monetary reasons..."

Xu Jing couldn’t help but curl her lips mockingly.

It turns out County Magistrate Deng, as Xiao Yi said, was annoyingly lofty.

She had no intention of discussing moral principles with him, so she just said lightly, "Those victimized innocents need others to protect and vindicate them, but what about me? Who will protect me and seek justice for me?"

She paused and added, "I am willing to stand up for innocent people, but before that, I have to think about how to protect myself."

Deng Youwei was stunned and evidently couldn’t agree with Xu Jing’s perspective, but he couldn’t find words to refute.

He was lofty, but not brainless.

He admired and aspired to selflessness and a noble purpose of serving the people, but he also knew that not everyone harbored such lofty aspirations.

He might disdain the selfish notion of self-preservation and living a good life, but he couldn’t say it was wrong.

Xiao Yi couldn’t help but look deeply at the woman beside him. The phrase "Who will protect me and seek justice for me?" lingered in his mind.

Seeing her again this time, she had changed drastically, and she seemed to have erected an invisible barrier between herself and others.

She didn’t trust anyone around her, as if standing alone in a completely foreign place, deeply wary of everything around her.

Thus, when she was falsely accused of murdering Peng Shi and had to seek his help, she said mockingly, "If the government cannot prove my innocence, I request to prove my own innocence."

And so, when encountering problems, her first thought was never to rely on others.

She would rather struggle alone through a new life than depend on her mother’s family far away in Bianzhou.

Xiao Yi’s heart grew heavy again.

This moment gave him even deeper insight into this woman. She was like a lone wolf, willing to believe in the warmth and kindness of those around her, yet accustomed to living alone, solving all issues by herself.

Some say she became like this because the Xu family abandoned her on a farm when she was little, but she clearly wasn’t like this in the past.

Noticing the atmosphere had grown tense, Xiao Yi slightly pursed his lips and said, "Miss Xu is right, it is we who need her help; it’s only normal for her to demand more pay.

Moreover, Miss Xu’s skills in autopsy are unmatched by ordinary forensic doctors, so naturally, you can’t compare her to the usual forensic doctors.

An He, once we return to the county government, please deliver Miss Xu’s remuneration for the autopsy to her.

I’m taking the liberty this time, for now, County Magistrate Deng is the county magistrate of Anping County, and whether or not to continue using Miss Xu’s services shall be up to County Magistrate Deng to decide in the future.

However, County Magistrate Deng, being dedicated to the people, surely can’t tolerate injustices and wrong cases, much less allow criminals to escape and remain at large. A mere tael of silver is insignificant compared to those consequences, isn’t it?"

Deng Youwei: "..."

Of course!

His dislike for Miss Xu’s mercenary attitude was one thing, recognizing her abilities was another!

If it helps the people, even if she asked for one hundred taels of silver, it needed to be accepted with gritted teeth.

He took a deep breath, struggling to suppress the discomfort in his heart, and bowed deeply to Xu Jing, saying, "My attitude earlier was wrong; I hope Miss Xu can be magnanimous enough not to take it to heart. In the future, there will be many areas where I will rely on Miss Xu."

Xu Jing saw through his thoughts and curled her lips coolly, "What if I insist on taking it to heart?"