Chapter 122:
“Uncle Erdan, please come in!”
Miaomiao also had a stern expression on her face and ran over to open the main hall door wide!
“Second Old Man, Mother taught Miaomiao that if one is upright, one has no fear of slanted shadows. Miaomiao never lies.”
“We really didn’t break off your family’s corn, and when catching frogs, we were extra careful, afraid of stepping on radish leaves!”
“This”
The others didn’t expect Luo Zhi’er to be so generous and confident, openly letting them search. Maybe it really wasn’t her!
“Erdan, what are you still hesitating for? Since San Mao’s Wife is letting you search, just do it. I, Li Zhengxin, will be a witness!”
Li Zhengxin hurriedly came over. He did have some opinions about Luo Zhi’er; she really had a lot of matters.
But with a thief in the village, it wasn’t good for the villagers. As village chief, with everyone panicked, they had to find the real culprit!
Behind them, Li Zuzu and Zhao Zuzu also hurried over upon hearing the news and went into the house with them, searching everywhere for any traces related to corn.
Originally, Zhao Er’s Wife and some people with ulterior motives also planned to go in and rummage around to see what she had at home.
To see what ghost Luo Zhi’er was up to, but they were stopped by Li Zhengxin and the others!
Only Li Erdan, Li Zhengxin, Zhao Zuzu, Li Zuzu, and a few upright young lads went in to search.
The entire Old Li Family, except for the room where Zhou Shi and oldest brother Li Daqiang lived—which had no key—was not searched.
Everywhere that should be checked was checked, the cellar wasn’t spared either. For just some corn cobs, they almost dug three feet into the ground!
The few exchanged glances and shook their heads. Indeed, there was nothing—not even corn leaves or corn kernels.
Lifting the pot lid, there was only some oil in the pot. In the basin on the stove beside it were fried crab bodies, legs, small fish, fried golden brown on the surface and still emitting fragrance.
It seemed what they had just eaten was these fried things.
Saying she went to catch these things to fill her stomach was true!
There were no traces of boiled corn in the pot, no old corn in the stove cavity, and the entire kitchen had not even a hint of corn’s fresh fragrance.
Covering the pot lid, swallowing saliva.
This San Mao’s Wife, no wonder she’s fat beyond human shape. Her snacks are just delicious. Even just a few crabs and small fish are made so tasty that one’s taste buds keep secreting saliva.
Luo Zhi’er tactfully quickly handed each of them a few pieces of fried crab and some dried fish. They politely refused a few times at first, then unceremoniously took them and popped them into their mouths to eat!
One bite, crunchy, oil flowing in the mouth, meat fragrance overflowing.
“Knows how to enjoy, knows how to enjoy!”
Zhao Zuzu and Li Zuzu stroked their beards. This San Mao’s Wife’s skills were indeed good.
Last time, the braised pig offal was really too delicious. They kind of wanted their own wives to come ask how it was made, but felt too embarrassed to send them to probe!
They even said that at their age, they just kept thinking about food. Luckily, this fried crab and dried fish were also extremely delicious!
Though old and with poor teeth, slowly chewing it in the mouth made it perfect as snacks!
That fragrance filled the nasal cavity and mouth—so satisfying!
The few ran to the pigsty to take a look. Outside, the others saw that each of the group who went in was holding fried crab legs and such, crunching as they bit!
Eating with eyes sparkling, the crowd outside was furious, especially Zhao Er’s Wife.
“This cunning Luo Zhi’er actually dares to bribe people!”
Zhao Zuzu and Li Zuzu analyzed: her family’s pig was dead, no pig, no cow either, so no possibility of feeding corn leaves to livestock. There were no corn husks by the riverside either.
Li Erdan’s Wife didn’t believe it and shouted emotionally out of control, “She must not have had time to eat it yet and hid it!”
“Erdan’s Wife, I know you’re angry, but so many of us didn’t find any stolen goods, only these snacks frying in the pot.”
“Yeah, we even dug through the stove cavity, not a trace of any corn cob. I believe Luo Zhi’er isn’t lying!” Li Zhengxin’s nephew Zhao Hu said.
“Uncle Li, you’re biased. I see you’ve been bribed by that mouthful of fried crab!”
Li Zuzu looked at her deeply and said, “Erdan’s Wife, throwing a tantrum and rolling on the ground here won’t help. If you don’t believe little old second, how about we report to the officials!”
“What, report to the officials?”
For commoners to report to officials, who knows what would happen—maybe get beaten with boards. Besides, a bit of corn wasn’t worth going to the government and leaving a record.
After all this checking, family members might end up in prison cells first and have to pay silver to grease palms! She wasn’t stupid.
“Not going!”
“Heh, not going, then you can only accept our investigation results!”
“Hmph! I’m not convinced! This matter must have a resolution. Our corn can’t be lost in vain.”
“Erdan’s Wife, we can’t bully two women just because Old Li Tou isn’t home!”
“Hmph! That’s her own fault!”
“Exactly!” Zhao Er’s Wife chimed in!
Zhao Zuzu gave her a meaningful look, making her shrink back.
“Since nothing was found, San Mao’s Wife can’t clear her suspicion either. Of course, everyone in our village is a suspect!” Li Zuzu added.
Li Zhengxin nodded too!
Luo Zhi’er saw their varied expressions and pondered how to handle it in her heart.
“Since every family is a suspect, how about we search every household?”
Li Zhengxin hesitated a bit; this would be a huge undertaking!
“What? No way! Why search my house? I’m not willing!” Li Daniu’s mother jumped out first!
It wasn’t that she was afraid of people knowing what she had at home; she was afraid they’d see her home’s mess, dirty things piled up, and look down on her family!
“I’m not willing either!” Zhao Er’s Wife quickly chimed in!
“For just a hundred or so corn cobs, making our village restless—what’s the point?”
The others gradually chimed in too!
Everyone was afraid of others probing what they had at home, of course unwilling!
Suddenly someone in the crowd spoke up: “Zhao Zuzu, Li Zuzu, Uncle Zhengxin, and those few from earlier, can we talk further?”
The few exchanged glances and were called into the main hall, closing the door to discuss:
“Two ancestors and Uncle Zhengxin, according to the current market price of corn, about how much silver per liter?”
“San Mao’s Wife, what do you mean?”
Li Zhengxin looked at her doubtfully.
Li Zuzu and Zhao Zuzu seemed to guess what she intended, while the other young men looked at her puzzled.
“It’s like this. I think today’s matter, no matter what, Uncle Erdan was acting with good intentions, for my and Miaomiao’s sake, letting me go to the field.”
“Although I only caught frogs and some crabs in the ditch, didn’t break corn or step on radishes.”
“But I feel very heartbroken about those losses and somewhat guilty toward Uncle Erdan. He was kind-hearted; I can’t chill his heart! Or he’ll go home and get scolded by his wife!”
“I can feel this thief was tailing me there, happening at this critical moment. How about I, Luo Zhi’er, compensate for these losses first!”
“What?”
Li Zhengxin was stunned!
“However, though I’m willing to pay silver to compensate Uncle Erdan’s family losses, I want to clarify one thing!”
“I didn’t break off Uncle Erdan’s family’s corn. I hope Uncle Zhengxin can witness for me, Luo Zhi’er, and find the real thief!”
Li Zhengxin was a bit confused in his heart; he couldn’t guarantee catching this thief.
Before, everyone knew Li Ergou had that bad habit. He was caught before and had his legs broken, but they never caught him in the act again.
This time both legs were paralyzed; impossible for him to run to people’s fields to steal!
Luo Zhi’er added fuel to the fire.
“This thief is causing chaos in the village. If not caught, everyone will be panicked, unable to sleep peacefully at night!”
“It’ll create a bad atmosphere. No one will dare to help others in the future. Plus our family’s Li Lei matter—if word spreads, Zhao Li Village’s reputation will be ruined!”
Eyes full of guilt.
“I believe this is not what Li Zuzu, Zhao Zuzu, and Village Chief Uncle want to see!”
Li Zhengxin nodded slightly. This Luo Zhi’er handled things thoughtfully, thinking long-term, knowing to let bygones be bygones and consider the big picture!
Though her words were soft, her attitude firm, indicating continued pursuit!
In his heart, he also felt sorry for the bad reputation Li Lei brought to the village!
“Since San Mao’s Wife has said so, us old fossils will handle it this way for now.”
“Then we’ll have to trouble you, San Mao’s Wife!”
Turning his head, he said,
“Zhengxin, send someone to Li Erdan’s cornfield to check the specific losses of corn seedlings and radishes.”
“Good!”
The people outside whispered among themselves, not knowing how they were handling it inside!
Soon after, someone came out and called Li Erdan and his wife in.
This was clearly going to be settled privately!
Zhao Zuzu, Li Zuzu, and Li Zhengxin told Li Erdan and his wife Luo Zhi’er’s plan. Li Erdan immediately felt a bit embarrassed, his face reddening.
Since no corn was found, how could he feel okay letting Luo Zhi’er compensate with silver?
Though Li Erdan’s Wife maintained a suspicious attitude, with no thief found and someone compensating silver, wasn’t that good?
She didn’t continue making trouble!
Less than half an hour later, the people who went to count in the field returned and reported the losses to Li Zhengxin and them. It was indeed quite heavy; total compensation of six hundred cash. No wonder Erdan’s Wife made a fuss!
After handling things in the room, they all came out. The crowd noisily probed what happened and why Erdan’s Wife stopped making a fuss.
When asked, they didn’t say, just that the matter was resolved. Everyone keep your mouths shut—don’t let it spread outside like a doorless mouth about theft in the village!
Everyone disperse!
Li Erdan’s Wife now somewhat believed in her heart that Luo Zhi’er was wronged. Intuition, plus her casually pulling out silver to compensate.
It showed she wasn’t really hungry. If so, why steal corn in a reincarnated hungry ghost frenzy?
The field looked like it was done in a hurry, haphazardly!
The outsiders chattered, not fools—they could see Luo Zhi’er compensated silver to settle it!
Then isn’t she the thief?
“My mom isn’t a thief. Don’t talk nonsense!”
Zhao Er’s Wife had just said it to someone nearby and was startled.
It was that dead girl Miaomiao glaring at her indignantly.
“Tch, the thief cries thief—isn’t it obvious? Isn’t that thief your mom Luo Zhi’er? You little maid, still gilding your face!”
Zhao Er’s Wife said sarcastically.
That was six hundred cash; she’d die before paying!
In her heart, she cursed Luo Zhi’er for having so much silver she didn’t know where to spend it.
Wasn’t she just stubbornly denying theft? Why willingly pay out money for nothing?
Li Zhengsen watched from the side, seeing Luo Zhi’er gracefully seeing Li Zhengxin and them off.
Li Zhengxin, Zhao Zuzu, Li Zuzu and them had mild attitudes toward her. He thought she stirred up trouble again—wasn’t it said not to let their second son’s family handle her matters?
He wanted to see how stubborn she was, but why were Li Zhengxin and them treating her nothing like a thief.
Why was it like this? Eyes flickering uncertainly, Zhao Xiaomei also smiled without smiling, staring at her face, scrutinizing!
