Chen Yutian lowered his head timidly, while Madam Jia stared directly at Chen Anbang without fear.
"Chen Anbang, you heartless wretch, you forced me to kill Chen Xiaobei and then hid behind to play the good guy."
Chen Anbang said coldly, "One must speak with conscience. I never forced you. Besides, your son, Chen Ermao, is currently a fugitive. I advise you to have him return and surrender quickly."
Though his words sounded righteous, Chen Yutian understood the unspoken threat.
Madam Jia also understood, and at this point, she couldn't care less.
"You're threatening me with my son, Chen Ermao! He stole from Chen Xiaobei's house and got caught. I gave you fifty copper coins, and you let him go in the middle of the night. Later, you told me that only if Chen Xiaobei died could he return to the village."
Chen Anbang's face changed dramatically. He pointed at Madam Jia and said to Hu Fan, "County Magistrate, this woman is likely mad, spouting utter nonsense. Her family is destitute; where could they possibly get fifty copper coins?"
"Furthermore, her son escaped secretly in the middle of the night. The village's security team can all testify to this."
He then looked at his grandson, Chen Ping.
Chen Ping suddenly understood and chimed in, "Yes, Chen Ermao indeed escaped on his own in the middle of the night while the security team was asleep."
This turned the matter into a confusing mess.
Hu Fan looked at Madam Jia again. "You said you gave Chen Anbang fifty copper coins. Who else can testify to that?"
Madam Jia looked at Chen Yutian. "Old man, that was our burial money. Why aren't you saying anything?"
"Didn't Chen Anbang come to our house that day and say that if we wanted Ermao back, we had to kill Chen Xiaobei?"
Chen Yutian hesitated for a long time, then finally sighed. "Wife, things have come to this. Let's just admit it. It was all my doing."
How much bitterness and helplessness were contained in these words?
A barely perceptible smile appeared on Chen Anbang's lips. However, Chen Xiaobei caught this fleeting smile and was startled.
Chen Anbang's ability to smile at this moment was clearly an abnormal behavior.
But what did it imply? Chen Xiaobei couldn't figure it out for a moment.
Hu Fan slammed his gavel down.
"Chen Yutian, Madam Jia, I will ask you two: Did you instigate Yang Dazhi to follow Ding Laoshan to kill Chen Xiaobei? Do you admit to it or not?"
Chen Yutian nodded without hesitation. "I admit it. I went to Centipede Ridge to find Big Black."
At that moment, Madam Jia finally erupted.
She cried, "Your Honor, everything I said is true! Those fifty copper coins were my husband and my burial money. Chen Anbang promised me clearly, saying he would let Ermao go and he could flee far away and return later."
"A couple of days ago, he came to me again, saying that as long as Chen Xiaobei didn't die, my son would never be able to return." Su Dan Novel Network
"I was forced to go to Centipede Ridge and find Big Black, asking him to send someone to get rid of Chen Xiaobei."
Hu Fan looked at Madam Jia, then at Chen Yutian. "Who exactly went to find Big Black?"
"I did. Big Black is a distant relative of my maternal family," Madam Jia said quickly, taking the lead this time.
Hu Fan nodded.
"Yang Dazhi, you intended to commit murder by breaking and entering. Do you plead guilty?"
"Your Honor, I intended to kill him, but I was knocked unconscious as soon as I entered," Yang Dazhi said, sounding quite wronged. The people present chuckled at this.
"Ding Laoshan, you were on lookout outside. Do you plead guilty!"
Ding Laoshan kowtowed repeatedly. "Your Honor, please see clearly. I, I wasn't on lookout either. As soon as there was any movement in the courtyard, I ran away."
The constables present, Chen Xiaobei, and others burst into laughter again. The solemn court session was now tinged with a touch of merriment.
Then Hu Fan looked at Chen Anbang.
"As the village head, you must be fair and impartial, and lead a clean life."
"I hope you will be diligent and dedicated in the future, and not let down my expectations of you."
Chen Anbang quickly agreed repeatedly. "Please rest assured, Your Honor. Anbang will set an example, set an example."
Hu Fan waved his sleeve. "Detain those who are guilty, and let the innocent go."
As they walked out of the county yamen, Chen Anbang let out a long sigh of relief. The crisis had passed.
Chen Xiaobei also kept his word and treated Chen Ping and the others to a hearty meal of meat buns.
These meat buns were one copper coin each, astonishingly expensive.
Fortunately, they were large, and four per person was enough to fill one's stomach. Before leaving, Chen Xiaobei generously gave each of them two to take home.
Chen Daqiang and the others who stayed behind in Hetou Village to guard his home, Chen Xiaobei naturally kept his promise and brought buns back for them as well.
Although it cost dozens of copper coins, Chen Xiaobei felt the money was well spent.
Chen Ping returned home, bursting with excitement, and rushed into Chen Anbang's room with two meat buns.
"Grandpa, Grandpa, meat buns! Brought them from the county town. Try them."
Chen Anbang looked at the two meat buns, then looked up at Chen Ping.
"Sit down. I have something to tell you."
Chen Ping sat down obediently, looking at his grandfather in confusion.
"What's wrong, Grandpa?"
"Chen Ping, Grandpa wants to discuss something with you. Tomorrow, you will give up your position as captain of the village security team."
Chen Ping was stunned.
"Grandpa, I captured two bandits. By rights, I should be rewarded. Why am I being dismissed?"
Chen Anbang waved his hand.
"You don't understand."
"Who were the people who tried to kill Chen Xiaobei? They were mountain bandits from Centipede Ridge."
"Yang Dazhi and Ding Laoshan have been sent to the county and are in prison. Do you think Big Black will let this go?"
Chen Ping shook his head. "They'll probably seek revenge."
Chen Anbang nodded.
"Yes. So, if they seek revenge, as the security team captain, would you manage it or not? Would you fight or not?"
Hearing this, Chen Ping suddenly understood. "If that's the case, Grandpa, it might be better to let Chen Xiaobei be the captain."
Chen Anbang stroked his beard and nodded approvingly. "Hmm, that's my thought as well. Also, you need to look after Cui Hongyu more these past few days. If something happens to Chen Xiaobei, you must protect her well."
Chen Ping was taken aback.
"Grandpa, in my opinion, the village has been unstable recently. It's likely this woman is causing trouble. Don't forget she's already caused the deaths of three men."
Chen Anbang glared. "Nonsense! How did they die? She never even married them."
"Cui Banxian said that Cui Hongyu is a woman who brings prosperity to her husband. If she gets past Chen Xiaobei, Grandpa even wants her to marry you."
Chen Ping shook his head like a rattle drum. "Grandpa, what nonsense are you talking about? If Chen Xiaobei has an accident, Cui Hongyu will have caused the deaths of four men."
"Such a woman probably belongs in the Hundred Flowers Pavilion..."
Chen Anbang sighed. "No, you don't understand. When Cui Hongyu married this time, Cui Fugui gave her dozens of taels of silver as dowry. If another man dies, wouldn't Cui Fugui have to give all his property as dowry?"
Chen Ping didn't understand Chen Anbang's meaning for a moment and still shook his head. "Grandpa, I don't want to be cursed to death."
Chen Anbang slammed the table. "What do you know? After Cui Hongyu married, she mysteriously disappeared. Do you understand?"