Chapter 2067: Instigation

Chapter 2067: Instigation


Ruan Hai had calmed down by now. He got down from his eldest son's back and said to the two constables, "I am the village chief of Ruan Village. Since we found a corpse in our village, it's only right for me, as the village chief, to go and take a look."


The two constables looked towards Shu Yu, and she nodded, saying, "Let the village chief and me go up. Perhaps he knows something."


The constables then stepped aside to let them in.


Ruan Hai and Shu Yu headed up the mountain, while the other villagers stayed at the foot of the mountain, murmuring and speculating about the identity of the buried corpse.


Upon reaching the burial site, Ruan Hai closed his eyes for a moment and, as expected, it was Cao Jiang who had been discovered.


Chief Constable Jiang had already ordered a pit to be dug in the ground, and he was questioning the first eyewitness, Ruan Chengqian. "Do you recognize this person?"


"Yes, I do. He's Cao Jiang from the neighboring village. People in his village mentioned that Cao Jiang had been missing for almost half a month, speculating that he might have run away due to gambling debts. But we never expected... never expected that he had been murdered."


Chief Constable Jiang nodded and then instructed two constables by his side, "Go bring Cao's family to identify the body."


Before the two constables could respond, Ruan Hai quickly said, "Chief Constable, let me go. I know Cao's parents."


Constable Jiang raised his hand, "No need. The body was found in your Ruan Village, so it's best if the people from your village don't get involved."


Ruan Hai was taken aback and his expression darkened. "Chief Constable, what do you mean by this? Are you suspecting that Cao Jiang was killed by someone from our village?"


"Until we clarify the situation, everyone is a potential suspect."


With that, Constable Jiang ordered the two constables to go down the mountain to find the family.


As soon as the two constables left, Ruan Hai followed them, moving quickly and decisively this time.


Shu Yu and Chief Constable Jiang exchanged a glance but didn't stop him.


When the two constables reached the foot of the mountain, Ruan Hai deliberately raised his voice in anger, saying, "What's the meaning of this, Constables? Our Ruan Village's residents are honest farmers. Who would dare to commit murder and arson? I am the village chief of Ruan Village, and I can vouch that Cao Jiang definitely wasn't killed by someone from our village. What's the implication behind treating all the villagers as suspects?"


This statement shocked the villagers, who had been peeking and observing from the sidelines. What did he mean? Was the chief Constable suggesting that all of them were now murder suspects?


As long as it didn't involve themselves, they were fine, but once it did, everyone became displeased.


"Village chief, who was the victim, and is the murderer among us?"


Ruan Hai snorted in frustration, "The victim is Cao Jiang, and Chief Constable said that since the body was found in our Ruan Village, until the matter is clarified, all the villagers are suspects. I offered to help find Cao's parents, but Chief Constable Jiang wouldn't let me. It seems I've become a suspect as well, right?"


The elderly from the Ruan family arrived at the scene, and they stepped forward to reason with the constables. "Constables, how can you suspect the villagers of our village? Especially Village Chief Ruan, who has worked tirelessly for the village. He wanted to help, but you treat him as a suspect. This has cast a shadow over the reputation of our village."


"Yes, yes. You should base your actions on evidence. How can you casually suspect us? This damages the reputation of our village."


When Shu Yu approached, she heard Ruan Hai trying to mobilize the villagers to go up the mountain and argue their case.


She took a few steps forward and said firmly, "Everyone, calm down!"