There is a god in the sky

Chapter 32 The Yicun Murder Case 14

Wei Lanxiang stayed by the patient's side all night, but in the end, she was unable to save the young life.

Li Tiezhu didn't come the next day; instead, her sick mother came, and she sounded somewhat reproachful towards them.

The gist of it is that they shouldn't have taken in women who had lost their virginity, and that Li Tiezhu was too impulsive; if word got out, it would affect his marriage prospects.

Wei Lanxiang couldn't help but retort, "Given the Li family's current reputation, Tiezhu probably won't be able to find a wife in the next few years."

Li Tiezhu calls Li Changhe "Uncle," indicating a close relationship.

"You're cursing my Tiezhu! It's a good thing Tiezhu didn't marry you, you motherless bastard!"

Wei Lanxiang's face darkened.

A broom flew past her from behind and smashed straight at Tiezhu's mother.

"Hey, you old man..."

"Get out of here! Consider all the medicine you've taken over the years wasted!" Old Wei rushed out to chase them away.

Tiezhu's mother stormed off in a huff.

Old Master Wei stood with his hands on his hips, sighing, "This old woman really can't tell right from wrong. She's taken so much of our medicine and doesn't have a shred of gratitude."

Wei Lanxiang didn't take it to heart; she didn't expect anything in return from them when she delivered the medicine.

"Godfather, don't be angry. We'll just stop contacting each other in the future."

Wei Lanxiang went back to her room to pack her luggage. The only thing she missed about this place was her godfather.

This morning, Master Wei told her that he was going back to the Taoist temple, which could be considered as returning to his roots.

Moreover, the Taoist temple will always be there, so Wei Lanxiang will be able to easily find him when she returns in the future.

She had lived in this house for ten years, but she had very little luggage to take with her.

Old Master Wei sat to the side watching her tidy up, his heart filled with mixed feelings.

"Lanlan, do you remember when you first brought back the corpse of a dead snake? I was so scared that I performed a ritual for you, thinking you had gone mad."

Wei Lanxiang nodded.

When she first started practicing dissecting corpses, she would do it secretly at night. The time she was caught by Old Master Wei, it was the corpse of a large python, which terrified him.

“You were very cute when you were little, with fair and tender skin, but your personality was really not likable. Sometimes I wonder if it was worth it for me to have such a little devil by my side?”

Wei Lanxiang felt a lump in her throat, and her movements slowed down.

"I have never had a wife or children in my life, and I am about to be buried. But I found you. I can't give you away, and I can't abandon you. So I have to raise you myself."

Old Master Wei laughed, recalling the happy memories, "Later I discovered that although my little ancestor was not talkative and had unusual hobbies, he was really smart and filial, and not afraid of hardship. He lived with me, this old Taoist priest, in this dilapidated house for ten years without uttering a single complaint."

Wei Lanxiang retorted, "This is our home."

What child would complain about their family being poor?

"Lanlan, don't be too attached to anything. The most important thing is that you are doing well. Let the past be the past and look forward."

Wei Lanxiang remained silent; she couldn't bear to deceive her godfather, for some hurdles were simply insurmountable.

Old Master Wei sighed, "If you don't know the suffering of others, don't advise them to be kind."

After lunch, Wei Lanxiang went into town to buy food, clothes, and other necessities, filling a whole car to the brim, which she planned to have Old Master Wei take back to the Taoist temple.

He left the Taoist temple ten years ago and doesn't know if they will still accept him.

Meanwhile, Old Master Wei went to see Xiao Ji.

"Master Wei isn't coming with us?" Xiao Ji asked in surprise.

"I'm too old to endure the long journey."

If it were just a trip to Jianzhou Prefecture, Old Daoist Wei could accompany them, but they would soon be heading to the capital.

"Are you sure you want Lanxiang to come with us alone?"

Old Master Wei sighed softly, "I raised her for ten years. Although I am reluctant to part with her, a fledgling eagle must eventually leave its nest to soar in the sky. She has her own path to walk."

He handed fifty taels of silver to Xiao Ji, saying, "Please keep this money for now, Lord Xiao, and give it to her another day."

Xiao Ji smiled wryly: "There's no need for that. Coroners are paid, and if they make a contribution, the government will reward them."

"What can that little bit of salary do?" Old Master Wei knew his daughter too well; she was a big spender.

He leaned close to Xiao Ji and whispered, "Lord Xiao, if you know any promising young men, how about you act as a matchmaker for my Lanlan?"

"Well... okay, I'll keep an eye out for it."

Considering the girl's aloof nature, Xiao Ji really didn't know what kind of man would be suitable for her.

I always felt that in her eyes, a man was less attractive than a corpse.

As Xiao Ji thought this, he suddenly laughed.

She's a really interesting girl.

Old Master Wei then gave some more instructions.

For example, his daughter likes to eat noodles and spicy food, and may have nightmares and sleep poorly at night, or may do some strange things.

Xiao Ji felt as if he had been entrusted with someone's care.

He listened attentively and took notes.

Before leaving, Old Master Wei told Xiao Ji, "From now on, you can call her Shen Lan. That's her original name. Lanxiang is the name I gave her."

Xiao Ji read it twice and smiled, "Lanxiang is a good nickname."

Fu Qingyan recuperated in the county town for ten days and is now able to walk normally.

On the third day after the government issued the wanted notice with a reward, someone reported that they had seen the fugitive in Longyan Mountain.

It just so happens that Longyan Mountain is under the jurisdiction of Qingmu County. County Commandant Sun led his constables in a night raid and captured more than thirty mountain bandits, including You Niang and her lover.

Xiao Ji originally did not intend to let Fu Qingyan see them. One was a fugitive wanted by the authorities, who could be beheaded on the spot, and the other had committed intentional injury, enough to send him to prison for life.

But Fu Qingyan still went to see them, and returned looking dejected.

"Cousin, in what way am I inferior to that bandit?"

In terms of looks, family background, talent, and thoughtfulness, he had the upper hand in every way, but You Niang would rather die with that bandit.

Xiao Ji didn't know how to comfort him.

"In matters of love, there is no good or bad, right or wrong. She has only ever used you as a tool from beginning to end."

Fu Qingyan laughed self-deprecatingly.

"Hehe, I was too arrogant. I thought that if I took a fancy to a courtesan, she would naturally be devoted to me."

On the day they left Aoki County, the bandit was beheaded in the market, and You Niang committed suicide in prison, truly becoming a ghost couple.

Fu Qingyan has let it go.

He spent one tael of silver to have their bodies buried together, praying that they would be husband and wife for all eternity.

Guan Shu asked, puzzled, "Is the young master delirious from his illness? You didn't even bother to desecrate the corpses, so why did you bury them together?"

Fu Qingyan sneered: "They're all no good. If they're bound together for all eternity, they won't harm others."

Xiao Ji chuckled upon hearing this. His little cousin was able to find joy even in hardship, so it seemed he had truly overcome his trauma.

"My lord, look! Miss Shen is waiting for us at the intersection ahead."

Sui Feng rode over, circled Shen Lan twice, and teased, "Are you really going to come with us alone? Aren't you afraid we'll sell you out?"

Shen Lan looked up at him and asked, "When I was little, my adoptive father tried to find someone to adopt me, but it never worked out. Do you know why?"

"why?"

"The first family was because my adoptive father would hit people when he was drunk, so I put laxatives in his drink."

The second family wanted to use me as a sacrifice to bring them a son, so I locked me in the cellar and starved me for three days and three nights.

The third one…

"Stop, stop, stop!" Sui Feng's expression turned serious.

He turned and ran back to Xiao Ji's side, "Sir, is it too late for us to return the goods now?"

Xiao Ji burst out laughing, "That's good, no one will dare to bully our Miss Shen anymore."

He had seen far too many cases of women being murdered, and if he had a daughter, he would definitely teach her to fight fire with fire.

He cupped his hands to Shen Lan and said, “Miss Shen, I promised Master Wei that I would take good care of you, but we are all men, so please forgive us if we fail to take good care of you.”

Shen Lan shook her head. She was just a working woman; how could she let her boss take care of her?

"Just remember to pay your salary on time, Lord Xiao."

"It's natural."

He saw that Shen Lan was only carrying a bundle and a toolbox, so he dismounted and carried the things to the carriage for her.

Fu Qingyan waved enthusiastically: "Miss Shen, please get in the carriage."

Shen Lan got directly into the carriage. The journey was too long for her to complete on foot.

Fu Qingyan sat facing her, serving her tea and snacks, his enthusiasm was overwhelming.

Shen Lan asked with concern, "Is Young Master Fu's injury much better?"

"Yes, I'm almost fully recovered. Only after going through this ordeal do I realize how fortunate I am to be alive and healthy."