After a busy night, Ma Bing woke up early the next day as usual.
There was nothing he could do about it; he had become accustomed to waking early. Even if he wanted to sleep in, he simply couldn’t.
After finishing his morning routine, it came as no surprise to Ma Bing to find Xie Yu, Yuan Pei, and others strolling into the herbal garden, claiming they were there to discuss the case, though in reality, they were just here for breakfast.
Yuan Pei, familiar with the place, headed straight for the pickled vegetable jars in the corner.
Erliang loved making all sorts of small pickles—salted toon sprouts, sour bean pods, spicy pickled cabbage, and salted eggs. Since arriving a few months ago, a row of pickled vegetable jars had appeared along the corridor.
They didn’t cost much, but they were particularly good with rice, especially during hot weather when people suffered from internal heat and poor appetite. With just a bit of these pickles, one could slurp down several bowls of porridge, and thus get through a meal.
Today, Yuan Pei opened the spicy pickled cabbage jar. As soon as he lifted the lid slightly, the pungent, spicy aroma wafted out. Yuan Pei took a deep breath and immediately felt his mouth watering.
Besides the greenhouse-grown vegetables, cabbage was the most commonly consumed vegetable among northerners during the bitter cold of winter. People ate it day after day, year after year, until just hearing the word made them want to vomit.
But once pickled into spicy cabbage, it became something entirely different—it not only went well with porridge and rice, but also tasted delicious when stir-fried with tender fatty pork.
He had heard that people from the northeast were especially skilled at preparing it, even using it to make dumplings or hot pots, though he had never tasted it himself.
“This jar’s almost empty, Erliang! We need to restock!” Yuan Pei reported the shortage while scooping pickles.
Ma Bing threw a loofah sponge at him and shouted angrily, “It’s because you guys eat too fast!”
If it were just him and Wang Heng and the others, it would last an entire year!
Now, in just a few months, it was already running out! Were they pigs or something?
“Hey!” Without turning his head, Yuan Pei caught the loofah sponge with a backward grab, smugly placing it aside before lifting the lid of the next jar. “Cucumber pickles, cucumber pickles—aha, found it…”
It was currently the peak season for cucumbers—cheap and delicious. Ma Bing had bought a lot, using some for cold dishes, eating some raw, or dipping them in sauce. The smaller, irregular ones were all cut into strips and chunks to make pickles—aromatic and crisp.
Lately, with all the busyness, Ma Bing hadn’t been cooking much, so every day he just ate meals from the small kitchen.
Since everyone had been gathering in the herbal garden recently, the small kitchen had started delivering all their meals together.
Today’s offerings included shepherd’s purse meat buns and minced meat flower rolls. There were two kinds of porridge—millet porridge and vegetable broth—and a bowl of cold shredded chicken with several boiled eggs.
The shepherd’s purse had been sun-dried in spring. When used, it was briefly soaked and then mixed with meat filling to make buns, or dressed with sesame oil and rice vinegar for a cold dish—sweet and delicious, a true sign of spring.
The shepherd’s purse hadn’t been squeezed very dry. With each bite, juice mixed with oil would ooze from inside, smooth and tender, especially suitable for breakfast.
As they were eating, Zhang the coroner burst in holding something, shouting, “Sir! Sir!”
Everyone, with buns in their mouths and porridge on their spoons, turned to look.
Well, it was a set of teeth.
More precisely, a plaster cast of a set of teeth.
A rather crooked set of teeth.
And strangely familiar.
Xie Yu swallowed the bite in his mouth and, with mixed feelings, asked, “Zhang, have you eaten?”
Such a mood killer.
Zhang blinked, his stomach growling, “No.”
Xie Yu pointed at the copper basin stand in the corner, then at the empty seat across, “Wash your hands and eat.”
Zhang blinked again, then obediently set down the “teeth” carefully before going to wash his hands and eat.
After the meal, Ma Bing brewed a large pot of dandelion and chrysanthemum tea, and everyone held a cup to aid digestion while waiting for Zhang to explain his visit.
With the hot weather and recent busyness, everyone had been suffering from internal heat. Dandelion cleared heat and detoxifies while promoting urination, and chrysanthemum dispels wind-heat, clears the liver, and improves vision—it was quite suitable to drink.
Zhang hurriedly grabbed the “teeth” and, unable to hide his excitement, said this was a mold he had made himself.
These past few days, he had wanted to make molds of the missing finger bones of the skeleton, but no one would take the job. So in a fit of anger, he decided to do it himself.
After studying it intensely for a few days, he found it wasn’t actually that difficult!
“I thought since the case hasn’t been solved yet, the teeth might be one of the most distinctive features. If you all need to confirm identities while out investigating, I made two sets and brought them over.”
Zhang said with a smile.
Ma Bing was delighted. “That’s exactly what I was thinking! Truly a timely help.”
The families wouldn’t believe it until they saw the body with their own eyes, but even the skeleton was more than most people could handle.
With dental molds, it would be much more convenient.
Just as Xie Yu was about to speak, someone came to report that Gao Laoliu had arrived.
Xie Yu signaled Zhang to bring the dental molds. “Let him identify them.”
If he confirmed it, the identity of the deceased could be determined.
When Gao saw the dental mold, he laughed, examining it with interest before saying to Zhang, “This is actually quite interesting.”
From a distance, he had thought the government was so brutal they had actually removed someone’s skull!
Without Xie Yu present, he wasn’t as nervous.
Zhang listed the names of the three remaining suspects from the previous night’s investigation by Xie Yu and others, urging him, “Can you remember who it is?”
With something like this appearing, Gao vaguely guessed there must have been a murder case, but since the authorities hadn’t said so directly, people in his line of work couldn’t ask directly.
He stared at the “grinning” mold for a while before nodding. “Got it. It should be Wang He for sure.”
Zhang felt reassured and asked again, “Are you certain?”
Gao nodded, stroking his sideburns. “Certain! Back in the day, someone even threatened him, saying if he didn’t repay his debts, they’d pull out all his teeth and then neatly put them back.”
Yesterday, just describing how bad his teeth were hadn’t helped much, but now with the actual item, he was confident.
Zhang: “…”
What kind of business were you in?!
Zhang couldn’t really talk to Gao, and after clarifying what he needed, he stood up to leave. Gao walked him a few steps and tried to hand him some money.
Zhang: “…”
What are you doing?!
Gao smiled apologetically, “Please, sir, be sure to speak well of me. I’ve truly reformed in recent years and haven’t done anything to harm anyone’s life.”
With a gambler dead, and one who had even had his hands chopped before, it looked like the prime suspects were them!
He mustn’t let them suspect his family.
Zhang looked horrified and shook him off, “I’m just a coroner. What help could I possibly be?”
Then, looking him up and down, he seemed increasingly pleased, “But your physique… quite impressive indeed.”
Gao’s smile froze on his face.
Damn it, why did it have to be a coroner?!
What good could come from being noticed by a coroner?
He quickly stood straight, hastily withdrew the red envelope, and hurriedly took his leave, wishing he had never met this person.
Even after Gao had run far away, Zhang was still smacking his lips, muttering regretfully, “A shame…”
What a great skeleton!
“Wang He?” Xie Yu picked up the register on the table to verify. “The one from Baishi Town?”
Zhang nodded, “Gao Laoliu confirmed it.”
Seeing Ma Bing wanted to look, Xie Yu simply pushed the register over to her, “Who went to Wang He’s house yesterday? How was the situation there?”
Yuan Pei raised his hand, “Wang He’s parents are still alive. He also has a wife and two children. Notably, the street where his house is located is a famous gathering place for wealthy families in Baishi Town, producing many successful candidates in the imperial exams.
The Wang family must have once been prosperous, living in a two-courtyard compound. It’s said that all their valuable furniture was sold to pay debts, and now they use cheaper items, though everything is neatly maintained.”
“Yes, people from such a household probably do value a refined lifestyle,” Ma Bing said after reading the register, then passed it to the third person, “Is Wang He not at home?”
Yuan Pei nodded, “According to his family, he left to escape debts, running off two or three months ago.”
Ma Bing recalled the location of Baishi Town, “Not far from Zhangyu Village.”
Previously, they had considered it a crime committed by someone familiar, but now it seemed the murderer might be a local from Baishi Town.
Xie Yu thought for a moment, “Then I and Miss Ma will go there in person.”
With only elderly, women, and children at home, and given the nature of the matter, it would be more appropriate to have a woman accompany them.
Just as they were about to leave, someone came from Tu Yao saying there was news regarding the search for the bone-feeler artist.
But it wasn’t good news.
“The local officials, upon receiving our master’s letter, immediately sent people to look for the artist. However, it turned out that since his eyesight had recovered, the artist had been eager to travel and had left for other provinces at the beginning of the year. No one knows where he is now.”
Though somewhat disappointed, with new clues now available, it wasn’t urgent anymore.
Xie Yu said, “No problem. If the opportunity arises, we can invite him to Kaifeng as a guest.”
After all, such talent was rare. If this person could be employed by the Kaifeng Prefecture, he would surely prove invaluable.
After the messenger left, Ma Bing asked curiously, “Is there really such an amazing person?”
She had only known about bone-setting for healing, never imagining that someone could reconstruct a person’s appearance merely by touch. Truly a miraculous skill.
“Though I haven’t seen it with my own eyes,” Xie Yu replied, “since it was recommended by Governor Tu, there must be some truth to it.”
As they spoke, they headed toward Baishi Town.
Baishi Town wasn’t far from the Kaifeng Prefecture. It was a relatively prosperous town within the capital region, known for its scholarly traditions. Many literati and scholars had come from here, and there was even a small but famous academy called the Baishi Academy, which attracted many students every year.
With many scholars around, the town had a refined atmosphere. On the streets, one could often see people in long robes, and the shops mostly sold stationery and calligraphy supplies, giving it a very elegant vibe.
Unfortunately, Ma Bing’s first encounter with this town was because of the bones of a gambler.
Following Yuan Pei’s description of the address, the two easily found the street where Wang He’s family lived.
The nearby streets were all similar, with two-courtyard compounds, and occasionally one could hear the childish voices reciting lessons from behind the gates, proving the town’s reputation for learning.
There were many women and children on the street. To avoid startling them, Xie Yu and Ma Bing dismounted and walked.
Perhaps because the town was peaceful, the children were bold. After walking only a few steps, a little girl with pigtails ran up and cheerfully asked, “Who are you looking for?”
Ma Bing bent down, “Do you know where Wang He lives?”
The girl tilted her head in thought, then gave a look of disdain and whispered, “He’s not a good person. You shouldn’t look for him.”
Ma Bing glanced at Xie Yu.
Well, this Wang He must have been quite bad if even a four- or five-year-old child knew of his ill repute.
“How is he not a good person?” Ma Bing asked with a smile.
Before the girl could speak, several women carrying wooden basins approached from behind, “Xiaoya, who are you talking to?”
Due to the reputation of the Baishi Academy, the town often received strangers, but today Xie Yu and Ma Bing wore archery robes and jackets, leading tall horses—majestic and imposing, clearly not here for study.
The women grew wary and quickly pulled the little girl behind them.
Clearly, this was a town both inclusive and exclusive.
Xie Yu and Ma Bing stepped forward and showed their badges, “We’re from the Kaifeng Prefecture, investigating a case. Do you know Wang He?”
Seeing they were officials, the women grew nervous, “What’s happened?”
At the mention of “Wang He,” they all frowned, clearly disgusted.
“That gambler! Who in the ten-mile radius doesn’t know him? He brought shame to Baishi Town!”
“Didn’t he run away already?” Xiaoya glanced at her daughter’s pigtails and said casually.
“Exactly,” another stout woman sneered, “Don’t let him come back!”
Ma Bing and Xie Yu exchanged glances, “You all seem to really dislike him.”
“He’s a menace!” Xiaoya said angrily. “He had a good life but gambled it all away. When he lost money, he’d come home and beat and scold everyone, even his own parents, causing chaos on the entire street. He brought in all sorts of shady characters, and none of us dared to go out!”
“Exactly,” another woman added, “I’ve told my children never to follow in the footsteps of such a good-for-nothing!”
“What a shame for his wife! She’s such a good person, but she ended up with that beast!”
“And those poor old parents! They raised such a son, worse than raising a pig…”
The women spoke one after another, tearing Wang He apart completely.
Xie Yu looked at them for a moment, then suddenly asked, “You speak so ill of him. Aren’t you afraid of retaliation?”
The women were taken aback, stammering, “Well, he’s not here…”
“Exactly…”
Xie Yu didn’t speak.
They seemed uneasy, making excuses about needing to wash clothes and quickly leaving.
As they turned the corner, they quickly glanced back at him and Ma Bing.
Ma Bing looked at the women, then at Xie Yu, “Something’s off, right?”
Xie Yu turned his gaze away, pondering for a moment, “Not sure.”
The women didn’t seem to be lying, but he felt something was off.
Xie Yu glanced again at the direction the women had disappeared, then as they walked toward Wang He’s house, he analyzed, “For someone like Wang He, anyone wanting a peaceful life would avoid him at all costs, let alone scholarly families.”
Ma Bing nodded, “So they spoke a lot of ill of him, clearly holding a grudge for a long time.”
As she spoke, she suddenly stopped.
“You noticed too, didn’t you?” Xie Yu paused in front of a house.
The ninth house from the east, the gate was spotlessly clean—Wang He’s home.
Ma Bing mentally reviewed the women’s behavior again, also sensing something strange.
As the old saying goes, the barefoot fear nothing. Applied to this case, it meant those living decent lives would certainly fear ruffians and desperadoes.
Wang He had gone mad with gambling, even daring to beat his own parents, let alone neighbors.
If anyone encountered such a person, they would flee immediately. How could they easily speak ill of him to a stranger?
Just as when they visited the homes of others like Niu Mancang, the neighbors all pretended not to be home. Even when they reluctantly opened the door, they initially remained silent, afraid of saying something that might provoke offense and invite retaliation from Niu Mancang in the future.
Since everyone said he had run away, he might return one day. As Xie Yu said, why speak ill of him now, risking future retaliation?
Unless…
At this thought, Ma Bing couldn’t help but inhale sharply.
“Perhaps yesterday, when Yuan Pei and others came, they guessed something?”
After all, when government officers came knocking, it usually meant trouble—either a crime or a death.
Xie Yu nodded, “Perhaps.”
He then grabbed the copper door knocker and gently knocked a few times.
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage