Chapter 2058: Chapter 2058: Hold On a Little Longer
The strange thing Ms. Lou mentioned wasnât Shu Yu guessing that they were missing a hoe from their home, but rather...
"On the morning after that incident, Ruan Jinqian came running to our house from the village entrance, looking for my father-in-law to act as a judge, saying his hoe had been stolen and wanting my father-in-law to help him find it."
A hoe is a metal farming tool. Although metal tools these days canât compare to gold, silver, or jade, for ordinary farming households, itâs still an asset. Losing it like that, of course they wouldnât accept it, especially since the hoe was relatively new.
According to Ruan Jinqian, that evening he went to plow the field. Halfway through, he got tired and placed the hoe on the ridge, went under the shade to drink some water and took a short rest.
In just that while, when he returned to the field, the hoe was gone.
He thought he remembered wrong, so he searched the plot of land thoroughly, but even by nightfall, he hadnât found it. He suspected it was stolen. In fact, he had run to Ruan Haiâs house back then, but Ms. Lou was inside and didnât see him, though she might have heard some noise. However, Ruan Hai was not home since he and Ruan Kewei were out, so Ruan Jinqian left.
He came back the next day.
Ruan Chengqian looked up in surprise after hearing this, "So that means Ruan Kewei took Ruan Jinqianâs hoe to kill someone?"
"If the premise of the murder is true, then judging by Ruan Keweiâs behavior, it would be a crime of passion. Without a plan, the weapon would generally be something grabbed on the spot. The crime scene may be near Ruan Jinqianâs plot of land."
Shu Yu said while standing up, "In any case, we need to go see the scene first. Do you know where Ruan Jinqianâs land is?"
Ruan Chengqian said, "I do know his land, but Iâm not sure which plot he was tilling that day."
"I know, itâs the plot at the foot of the mountain," Ms. Lou said, "I overheard a bit back then, and my father-in-law pretended to go with Ruan Jinqian to the foot of the mountain, but they didnât find anything."
"Then letâs go check out that plot at the foot of the mountain."
Ruan Chengqian was surprised as he saw her about to head out, "Going now? But itâs the middle of the night; even if there are clues, we canât see them clearly."
"I know, itâs just that since we are already out, it would be a waste not to take a trip. Letâs check out the terrain first."
Ruan Chengqian nodded, "Alright, Iâll take you."
Ms. Lou was also about to leave with them, but Shu Yu noticed she was injured, limping as she walked, so she suggested she stay home for now.
"Weâll go, you stay home and rest. Weâll look for clues, and we wonât come again tonight. Try not to return to the Ruan family in the next couple of days. If they come looking for you, just..." Shu Yu thought for a moment and then said in a low voice, "just pretend youâve been beaten so badly that youâre bedridden. Ask the Ruan family for money to go see a doctor in the county town. If they donât pay, you should go yourself. It will help you avoid this storm."
Shu Yu was worried that before things were settled with the Ruan Hai family, they might harm Ms. Lou again.
She gave Ms. Lou the address of the clinic Zhao Xi owned in the county town, "Thatâs my brother-in-lawâs clinic. In my opinion, even if you donât pretend to be gravely ill, you should see a doctor given how youâve been beaten. Discuss it with your parents, so you donât end up with any long-term issues."
Ms. Lou noted it down, "Thank you, thank you, county magistrate."
"Donât worry, if Ruan Kewei really did kill someone, we wonât let him off. Even if he didnât, we will bring down Ruan Hai, help you get a divorce, so hang in there a little longer."