TGCFNM -Chapter 100 Interrogation

After leading the group back to the government office, Chu Ling, concerned that the children might be nervous, had Zhang Dong heat some water for them to wash up. The three little girls were handed over to Xiao Hua, while Zhang Dong took care of the rest.

Chu Ling went to the kitchen to cook plain rice porridge, with Su He adding firewood and Wan Sanjin tearing the washed vegetable leaves to put into the pot.

“Sir, Xiao Tiegun said that Grandpa Bai saved him. What do you think?” Wan Sanjin asked, tearing the leaves.

Su He stirred the fire and glanced at Wan Sanjin. “That dead little mute girl had a bruised face and many injuries on her body, but judging by the severity, it was probably inflicted by a group of not-so-old children…”

He hesitated for a moment.

The group of little beggars seemed to live together, but to get a single copper coin or half a steamed bun, they sometimes fought amongst themselves. Smaller children losing to bigger ones and ending up with bruises was a common occurrence.

Chu Ling paused mid-action. “I know.” She could even guess which children were involved.

Some of the children, upon hearing that the little mute girl had died, looked fearful of their uncertain future and even seemed somewhat reluctant to leave. After she had burned down the bamboo hut, they probably still harbored some resentment toward her.

“Also, the little mute girl had traces of silver needle marks on her body. Someone must have used needles to disperse bruising,” Su He pursed his lips. “Does that mean someone actually saved these little beggars?”

“No.” Chu Ling answered firmly, without hesitation.

He had been using these children for experiments but didn’t want anyone to know. That was why, after capturing the wrong person, he tried to send Zheng Zhao away, and upon realizing he had brought the wrong child, he directly killed the little mute girl.

This person was certainly not a good man.

At that moment, Han Jin and Han Yin entered, reporting on the arrangements they had made.

“Sir, Young Master, the broken temple where they were living has been repaired. Beds, bedding, and clothing have been provided. Following the instructions of the elder young master, each child received twenty copper coins, and some rice and grain were also provided. People have been arranged to inform them that they can go work as apprentices. As for the little girls, suitable adoptive families have already been found.”

Chu Ling smiled and replied, “Thank you for your hard work.”

“Not at all, sir,” Han Jin and Han Yin said in unison, saluted, and then stepped aside.

Wan Sanjin put the bamboo basket aside, sat down in a chair, and gazed blankly at the steaming large iron pot. “Sir, if life is hard, does that give someone the right to bully those weaker than themselves?”

“If it really comes to extreme situations, even switching children to eat is possible. Let alone just fighting over scraps,” Chu Ling said, putting down the iron ladle and covering the pot.

Su He brushed the grass off his clothes and stepped out. “That said, the little mute girl did have signs of medical treatment, but for injuries of that degree, applying some medicinal wine would have healed them faster. There wouldn’t have been so many needle marks.”

“We’ll find out soon enough. Just question the oldest child, Changsheng,” Chu Ling said, sitting down as well.

It was obvious that the other children didn’t really want to leave. It seemed that the eldest, Changsheng, had persuaded them and had also switched the little mute girl into Zheng Zhao’s clothes to deceive Grandpa Bai. And the reason they managed to fool him was that Changsheng realized this Grandpa Bai couldn’t accurately recognize them.

In other words, Grandpa Bai was face-blind.

Changsheng, being the oldest and probably the beggar who had been wandering the longest, was very perceptive. So he must have had some suspicions in his heart.

Therefore, Chu Ling only needed to question Changsheng.

After all the children had finished washing up, Chu Ling had them drink some porridge and then sent them back to the old temple, leaving Changsheng behind.

In the courtyard.

Changsheng nervously clutched the corner of his clothes, wrinkling it in his grip, then quickly smoothed it out again, clearly cherishing it.

Chu Ling smiled at him. “Sit down. I’ll ask you a few questions—don’t be afraid.”

Changsheng sat down and said earnestly, “You saved me, Master. You are a good person. Changsheng is not afraid.”

“Good. Then I’ll ask a few questions.” Chu Ling had Wan Sanjin record everything. “How did that Master Bai find you? After he took you to the bamboo grove, what did he do?”

Changsheng recounted, “Master, I’ve been an orphan since I was little. I know every corner of Changzhou. Master Bai appeared about a month ago. He came to our old temple following Xiao Tiegun, and asked if we wanted to go with him. He said he was taking disciples, that we would have meals and no longer need to beg, and we could even learn to read.”

“Master, at that time we hadn’t had anything to eat for a long while. We were all so hungry, so we went with him.” Changsheng recalled those days with a hint of nostalgia. “Master Bai bought rice and vegetables. We cooked ourselves, had two meals a day, and after eating we played in the little room. But we were not allowed to go into the bamboo grove.”

“Then one day… one day Master Bai called over the little mute girl, saying he was going to treat her illness.” Changsheng shivered involuntarily. “Master Bai said he was taking disciples, so I thought maybe I could learn something first. So I secretly followed him.”

Changsheng swallowed hard, his face suddenly turning pale.

“I saw that the little mute girl in the room seemed to have fallen asleep. Her body, head, and feet were covered with needles. The needles had some kind of substance on them, and they pierced her between the eyebrows. Then her face immediately turned blue, she suddenly gasped for air… but Master Bai seemed very happy, extremely, extremely happy.”

Recalling that night, Changsheng’s breathing quickened. Fearfully, he hugged himself tightly, trembling all over.

“I… I ran back. Then the next day, the little mute girl returned, saying she needed treatment and couldn’t eat for the time being.” Changsheng licked his cracked lips. “Then at night she went for treatment again, and I followed again.”

“What did you see?” Chu Ling picked up the crucial point sensitively. “Why did it make you decide to run?”

“I saw… I saw…” Changsheng’s eyes widened in panic. “I saw Master Bai… he… he put a worm on the little mute girl’s belly. The worm, the worm went inside… and then the little mute girl suddenly became thin.”

Su He’s face changed. “You mean the little mute girl wasn’t this emaciated before?”

Changsheng shook his head. “No.”

“What kind of worm?” Chu Ling asked.

Changsheng shook his head again. “I didn’t see clearly. Then the little mute girl no longer needed treatment and went to treat Xiao Tiegun instead… Then one time Master Bai went out and brought back Young Master Zheng, saying that Young Master Zheng’s physique was excellent, very suitable.”

“So the Zheng family went crazy. The matter caused quite a stir. That Master Bai, fearing attention, wanted to send the person back, right?” Chu Ling said.

Changsheng nodded. “Yes.”

Wan Sanjin put down his pen. “So it was at this point that you thought about escaping?”

Changsheng nodded. “But escape was impossible. Master Bai can fly. Also, after the treatment, the little mute girl wasn’t given food. So I let her take Young Master Zheng’s place to go out, planning to somehow seek help from the Zheng family.”

Wan Sanjin sighed softly and continued recording.

After Chu Ling asked a few more questions, she had Han Jin take Changsheng to Wan Xing. A clever child who can read situations and has a bit of wit—if taught properly, will be useful.