Chapter 120: Common As Dirt [extra Update]
A worn and faded red string with two ceramic pendants hanging from it, the patterns on them worn away to almost nothing, no one knowing what was originally painted there.
Dan Dajun pulled his sleeve up to his forearm, revealing a red string there as well.
He brought the red string on his own wrist close to compare them; though one was new and one old, they should be the same thing.
Village Chief Lin walked over and froze for a moment when he saw the red string.
Seeing his unusual expression, Dan Dajun shook the old red string. “Seen it before?”
Village Chief Lin nodded. “Lots of young folks in the village believe in this. Even my two boys have one.”
Something that could be exchanged for two copper coins at the Matchmaker Temple wasn’t all that rare.
Dan Dajun placed the old red string on the table, sat down on the edge of the kang, and said to Gao Qi, “If you know anything, say it now. Catch the murderer early, and your mother can rest in peace sooner.”
Gao Qi’s eyes darted around, but there was no other reaction.
If Dan Dajun weren’t an officer with a sword, he would have chased him out like one of the villagers long ago.
Village Chief Lin awkwardly reminded him, “Officer, he’s a mute now and can’t speak.”
Dan Dajun: “…”
Why didn’t you say so earlier!
The two came out of the Gao Family home when a constable hurried over. “Leader, all the villagers are gathered.”
Dan Dajun nodded, and the three headed under the Old Elm Tree.
There was a crowd under the Old Elm Tree. Hearing it would take a while, each family had brought their own benches.
Shang Wan’s family had just arrived when Aunt Zhou and Rong Niangzi pulled them to the seats they had saved, chatting with her and Xiao Huan about who was with everyone else when the incident happened, who couldn’t account for their whereabouts, and guessing who the murderer was.
Yuan Yuan sat on Lu Chengjing’s lap, her big eyes following the colorful marbles the little brothers were playing with as they rolled around, clapping her little hands happily.
Now, whenever Lu Chengjing heard his daughter clapping, his heart raced, and he deliberately turned the little one around to check her eyes.
Hmm… the color was normal.
The old father relaxed, then turned her back amid her protesting gaze.
Before long, Dan Dajun and his group arrived.
Shang Wan noticed the red string tied on Dan Dajun’s wrist, then looked around; she hadn’t noticed before, but now she saw several youths with one on their wrists.
Shang Wan was speechless. So this thing was already everywhere.
Lu Chengjing noticed Shang Wan’s odd expression and softly called, “Niangzi?”
“Look at their wrists.” Shang Wan leaned in and whispered, “They all have red strings.”
Lu Chengjing casually glanced around and saw even Li Dashan wearing one on his wrist, brand new.
“Dashan, this red string on your wrist is?”
“A gift from someone else.” Li Dashan raised his hand to cover the red string, his gaze flickering as if a bit shy.
Lu Chengjing: “…”
No, he must have seen wrong.
Shang Wan made a gesture to Lu Chengjing. The Li Family was probably about to have some good news.
But the next second, Shang Wan was proven wrong.
The red string on Li Dashan’s wrist was actually from Yuzhi!
Don’t ask how Shang Wan figured it out; Li Dashan kept sneaking glances at Yuzhi like a thief, then looking all shy and sweet afterward—anyone with eyes could see it.
But the point wasn’t that; the point was, Yuzhi was raising fish!
It wasn’t just Li Dashan looking at Yuzhi; several youths in the village were looking at Yuzhi with almost the exact same expression and demeanor as Li Dashan.
These youths all had brand-new red strings on their wrists too.
Shang Wan couldn’t help but sigh. What a talent—only been here a few days and she already had a fish pond.
Something suddenly flashed through her mind, too fast for Shang Wan to catch it.
She frowned in thought, but couldn’t recall what that fleeting feeling had been.
Lu Chengjing lowered his gaze, thoughtfully looking at the red string on Li Dashan’s wrist.
Dan Dajun’s words interrupted their thoughts. The coroner had found a silver hairpin in the clothes hanging from Gui Shi’s waist, shown it to Gao Laotai for identification, and it wasn’t Gui Shi’s.
After seeing the style of the silver hairpin, Shang Wan’s family all fell silent.
Wasn’t this the token of affection Lu Chengjing had given to the original host, which Shang Wan later took to exchange for grain?
Shouldn’t this thing be at the Lin Family? How did it end up on Gui Shi?
Chen Guifang let out a startled cry, then realized her reaction was too big and hurriedly covered her mouth.
But it was too late. Dan Dajun gestured for her to step forward and asked, “Have you seen this silver hairpin?”
Chen Guifang nodded, her gaze instinctively falling on Shang Wan.
Dan Dajun looked over too, his tone softening a bit. “Lady Shang, have you seen this silver hairpin?”
“Yes, it used to be mine.” Shang Wan told the truth. “On the first night we arrived in the village, I had Shi Tou take it around to exchange for some grain. If I remember right, this silver hairpin should be with the Lin Family.”
Dan Dajun looked at Village Chief Lin. “Is what Lady Shang says true?”
Village Chief Lin nodded. Liu Shi had worn it out to show off, and lots of villagers had seen it—denying it was pointless.
Chen Guifang interjected, “Mother gave this hairpin to big sister-in-law. I saw big sister-in-law wearing it a few days ago; even Yuzhi said it was pretty.”
Suddenly named, Yuzhi froze for a moment before nodding in agreement. “Yes.”
Zhou Shi looked panicked and hurriedly explained, “After wearing it that day, the hairpin was lost, and I haven’t seen it since.”
“What a coincidence in this world?” Dan Dajun snorted coldly. “A silver hairpin found on the murderer, which happens to be yours and happens to be lost—do you mean the victim stole your silver hairpin?”
“I-I don’t know.” Zhou Shi turned pale with fright, hiding behind her own man. “I didn’t kill anyone.”
Lin Jianshan said, “Officer, when Aunt Gui died, my wife and my mother were cooking in the kitchen together. It’s impossible for her to have murdered anyone.”
Liu Shi nodded along, confirming Lin Jianshan wasn’t lying.
Dan Dajun said, “The hairpin is now your Lin Family’s thing, and it appeared at the murder scene—the murderer must be from your Lin Family.”
“Officer, you can’t say that. This hairpin used to be the Lu Family’s.” Village Chief Lin couldn’t let his family take the blame. “They wanted it back before, but we wouldn’t give it. The Xiucai Scholar’s Wife knows martial arts; it’s not impossible she sneaked in and stole it.”
“Village Chief, make yourself clear. We didn’t want it back—we wanted to buy it back. Since your family wouldn’t sell, we didn’t press. It was just a silver hairpin; we could buy another. I wouldn’t stoop to stealing.”
Village Chief Lin snorted. “Everyone knows the Lin Family has always been on good terms with the Gao Family—how could we murder? A few days ago when your two families had a falling out, I even helped mediate. It’s not impossible you killed out of resentment.”
“When Gui Shaofen died, my whole family was together; it’s impossible for us to have gone out to murder.” Shang Wan spoke before Village Chief Lin could retort. “To avoid you saying we colluded and gave false testimony, several kids from the Li Family and Luo Family were at my house playing then and can testify for us.”
Village Chief Lin’s words were stuck in his throat.
Shang Wan glanced at the Lin Family members. “Right, I remember you, Village Chief, and the families of Lin Da and Lin Er don’t have alibis. Can you say where you were at the time?”
Thanks to the treasures for the recommendation votes. It’s the end of the month; we’re just a few spots from dropping off the list. Begging for a wave of monthly votes to hold on~
