Xiao Jin Yu nodded gently.
"The Chu family's courtyard doesn't have a well, they've been drinking water from the river behind the yard... Your guards followed the river upstream into Phoenix Mountain and discovered the water flows through a cave..." Jing Yi paused, casting a sympathetic look toward Xiao Jin Yu. "The cave was filled with dismembered body parts—arms, legs, heads, and torsos separated. According to him, it would take over a hundred corpses disassembled to pile up like that. Most have decomposed to the point of leaking corpse fluids, all flowing directly into this river..."
Xiao Jin Yu's stomach churned, and he silently raised a hand to cover his mouth. He suddenly understood Tang Yan's earlier sentiment about never eating spare ribs again in this lifetime...
Touching a corpse with your hands and touching one with your mouth were entirely different sensations...
Jing Yi was quite satisfied with Xiao Jin Yu's expression, which looked as if he had swallowed a plate of flies. Then he glanced at Chu Chu—the young girl's eyes were wide open, completely stunned.
So even she could be disgusted by corpses...
Just as Jing Yi was enjoying this rare sight, he heard Chu Chu exclaim, "I've never seen a case with so many bodies before!"
Jing Yi nearly knelt before her. What on earth had this girl been raised on?
Xiao Jin Yu silently pulled Chu Chu to his side, his face slightly pale as he looked at Jing Yi. "Does Zheng Youde know yet?"
Jing Yi shook his head. "Haven't told him. I came to find you right after your guards reported to me."
Xiao Jin Yu frowned. "Where are they? Why didn't they report this themselves?"
"He drank some water from the river yesterday and is currently vomiting miserably. How could he dare come see you..."
"..."
Chu Chu tugged on Xiao Jin Yu's sleeve, pursing her lips. "Wang Ye, could you please not investigate this case..."
Xiao Jin Yu was taken aback. "Why?"
"There are so many decomposed bodies! What if you come into contact with them?"
Xiao Jin Yu smiled faintly. "Alright, I won't go..." Then his voice turned serious. "Jing Yi, this case is yours now. Handle it however you see fit with Zheng Youde, just don't mention me."
Jing Yi nearly burst into tears. "Wang Ye, there are over a hundred dead bodies..."
Xiao Jin Yu raised an eyebrow slightly. "The New Year is in two days. Accumulating some good karma won't hurt."
As Jing Yi was contemplating scratching the walls in frustration, he heard Chu Chu say to Xiao Jin Yu with reluctant seriousness, "Wang Ye, you should stay at County Magistrate Zheng's residence. They have several saliva wells, so their water must be clean..."
Jing Yi quickly added, "Yes, yes... You should go to the county office immediately. If anything else happens, those thugs from the Royal Mansion would skin me alive..."
Ignoring Jing Yi, Xiao Jin Yu took Chu Chu's hand and asked, "Tell me, why hasn't your family dug a well?"
Chu Chu bit her lip and hung her head. "Our home is right by the river, and the water has always been fine... Digging a well costs too much money..."
Only then did Xiao Jin Yu look at Jing Yi. "Have someone dig a well in this courtyard before nightfall. I need to celebrate the New Year at home."
"Wang Ye..."
Chu Chu happily threw her arms around Xiao Jin Yu. "Wang Ye, you're so kind!"
"But on one condition... You have to help Jing Yi investigate the case."
"No problem!"
☆ 47 Four Happiness Meatballs (VI)
As soon as Chu Chu and Jing Yi entered the county office gates, Zheng Youde came scurrying out with an overflowing smile. "Lord Jing, you're back!"Jing Yi sighed silently; he truly didn't want to return...
"Ah, you're back... Was the case just now settled?"
Zheng Youde puffed out his chest. "Settled! Guaranteed impartial and aboveboard!"
Watching the forty-something Zheng Youde acting as solemn as a freshly recruited young soldier meeting his general, Jing Yi curled his lips slightly. "So did you award that big rooster to the Qi family or the Zhao family?"
"I had the yamen cook slaughter and stew the chicken, then gave each family half a pot!" He quickly added, "I didn't charge them for the firewood!"
"..."
Chu Chu clapped her hands beside Jing Yi. "County Magistrate Zheng, you're such a good official!"
Only then did Zheng Youde notice Chu Chu. He hastily pulled her away from Jing Yi's side. "You little Chu girl, when did you come in... This is a high official from the capital! Don't speak carelessly, or you might get your bottom spanked..."
Chu Chu smiled sweetly, looking at Jing Yi who stood nearby with a dark expression. "He wouldn't! Brother Jing is a good official too - he doesn't hit good people!"
"Brother?" Zheng Youde froze. "You... you know Lord Jing?"
Afraid Chu Chu might blurt out something that could make him drop dead on the spot, Jing Yi quickly interjected, "She's the betrothed of a friend of mine."
"The little Chu girl is getting married?"
Chu Chu nodded vigorously, her cheeks flushed pink. "Mm! He's already come to my family to propose!"
Zheng Youde cautiously glanced at Jing Yi. "Lord Jing's friend... must be another high official from the capital?"
Jing Yi hurriedly replied, "No! No... He holds no official position or rank. Recently he's just been trading tea..."
"Then... then he must be a big merchant!"
Chu Chu nodded proudly. "That's right!"
Jing Yi's heart pounded wildly. If Zheng Youde kept questioning, he might not be able to maintain the facade. Seizing the moment before Zheng Youde could speak again, he quickly said, "Well... I've been temporarily assigned a case from above. I need Chu Chu's help with a corpse examination."
Zheng Youde's eyes widened like bells. "You... you're investigating a case personally? In Zizhu County?"
"Right on Phoenix Mountain behind the Chu family... There are quite a few corpses. If you're not busy here, could you have Old Chu and his son lend me a hand too... I'll try to return them before next spring."
Hearing this, Chu Chu waved her hands dismissively, her voice clear and crisp. "It won't take that many days! Working with my father and brother, we can examine about a hundred corpses in just a few days!"
Zheng Youde's face turned pale. "A... a hundred corpses?"
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