Chapter 39: The Constable’s Questions, Chu Feng’s Brilliant Answers

"Sir, you have arrived just in time. Our village has just caught two thieves," Du Dahai said, stepping forward to address Liao Zi'ang.

"Thieves? Whose house did they steal from?"

"They were stealing from the mountain warden's home."

"How bold! To dare steal from the mountain warden, a great benefactor to the Tian family! Men, take the thieves away and give them fifty strokes of the cane first."

"Yes!"

Several bailiffs behind him immediately stepped forward and dragged Chu Tian and Chu Long away. Throughout the entire process, no matter how Chu Tian and Chu Long shouted, Chu Feng did not say a word. He knew that Liao Zi'ang was building his reputation for him. This was not just for Chu Feng to see; it was for the entire village to witness.

As the mountain warden, Chu Feng was legally entitled to hunt on Yulong Mountain. As his skills improved, his catch would only increase. If Chu Tian and Chu Long came to steal today, others might try to do the same tomorrow. Liao Zi'ang’s actions were undoubtedly a warning to those hidden in the shadows who envied Chu Feng.

Seeing that the officials had arrived, the crowd did not linger. Soon, only Du Dahai, Liao Zi'ang, and his entourage remained at Chu Feng’s doorstep. Chu Feng looked at Liao Zi'ang and his followers with some curiosity. There seemed to be quite a few people today; some were dressed in rough winter work clothes, while others wore outfits resembling those of constables. It seemed they had all come for him.

"Sir, may I ask what brings you here?" Chu Feng asked proactively.

Liao Zi'ang smiled. "These people are from the Tian family. They are here to thank you. If you hadn't gone to the authorities to report the news, the Tian family's young lady would not have been rescued."

The men in rough winter clothing stepped forward and bowed to Chu Feng in unison. "Our master and the young lady were unable to make the climb, so they entrusted us to pay our respects to our benefactor on their behalf. This is a token of gratitude from our master."

With that, they handed a bag of grain to Chu Feng. It was about thirty pounds of high-quality polished rice. After the group left the village, Chu Feng was left standing there in bewilderment. A wealthy master with unknown assets, having been saved from a life-or-death situation, had only sent a single bag of rice after a mere bow?

As they departed, Liu Xi stepped forward. "Are you Chu Feng?"

Chu Feng nodded. The serious expressions of this group suggested that they were not here with good intentions.

"We are constables, and we have come to ask you a few questions."

Chu Feng knew that this matter would not be resolved so easily. So many people had died, including a young master of the Tian family. If Chu Feng were in the Tian family's position, he would also want to get to the bottom of the matter.

"Go ahead and ask."

From beginning to end, Chu Feng did not step aside. Even though there was nothing of note in his courtyard, these men were constables; if they discovered anything, it could lead to trouble. Fortunately, the constables did not seem inclined to enter his home.

"How did Tian Zhuang die?" Liu Xi asked.

"He was killed by the bandits who cut off his head."

"Then why are you unscathed?" Liu Xi frowned.

"I hid in a snowdrift. A pack of wolves appeared, and Master Tian, fearing for the safety of the hostages, stood up to intervene. Unexpectedly, the bandits targeted Master Tian before dealing with the wolves... I was terrified, so I grabbed Master Tian's sword and ran."

Chu Feng recalled the events of that day, deliberately describing them in a slightly chaotic manner, yet the logic remained sound. Liu Xi believed that an ordinary villager would not have the capacity for complex deception. If he were lying, he was confident he could spot it at a glance. Seeing Chu Feng’s apparent alarm, Liu Xi nodded. "Where exactly did this take place?"

"I have already led the bailiffs there; it was at the peak of the second mountain."

"Very well. Do not wander off recently; we may come to ask you more questions if needed."

Liu Xi turned and nodded to Liao Zi'ang before heading toward Yulong Mountain. These constables reported directly to the magistrate, and their captain, Liu Xi, held a rank equal to that of the assistant magistrate Liao Zi'ang, which explained his lack of deference. Liao Zi'ang did not seem to mind.

He stepped forward and patted Chu Feng on the shoulder. "You're a talented lad. I didn't expect you to resolve this matter so effectively for me. How old are you this year?"

"Twenty-five," Chu Feng replied.

"A perfect age. Whenever you no longer wish to live in the village, come find me in town, and I will bring you in. Being a mountain warden here is a bit of a waste of your talents."

"Sir, I have no plans to leave the mountain for now," Chu Feng said with a shy smile.

"That's fine. People change. Work hard and patrol the mountain well." With that, Liao Zi'ang also took his leave.

Only after all the officials had departed did Chu Feng truly let out a sigh of relief. However, he suspected the matter was far from over; the constables would likely return.

Du Dahai asked, "Little Feng, what kind of trouble have you gotten yourself into?"

"The constable who followed me the day before yesterday died on the mountain, and the bandits who kidnapped the Tian family's daughter are all dead as well."

"All dead? Who did it?"

"A bear."

"Hiss." Du Dahai took a sharp breath. "You ran into the bear from the deep forest? Shouldn't it be hibernating?"

"I'm not sure, but it was very dangerous."

Although bears typically hibernate, some do not, especially if they are awakened by hunger. Therefore, bears that remain active in winter are even more ferocious. He just hadn't expected the bear on Yulong Mountain to be among them.

"Next time you head up the mountain, remember not to go there," Du Dahai cautioned.

"I understand."

Just then, Widow Wang approached. "Little Feng, there are people at the village entrance looking for you and Sister Zhou."

"Looking for me?" A flicker of murderous intent crossed his mind. He didn't need to guess who it was. Chu Feng picked up his wood-chopping knife and headed toward the village entrance with Zhou Xiaoxiao. It had to be Wei Xiaoxia. After all, he had just sent Chu Tian and Chu Long to jail. Having lost the two most important people in her life, she had to be looking for a fight.

But Chu Feng was not afraid. If she wanted to fight, he would take the opportunity to teach this so-called mother a lesson. He wanted her to know that inciting others to steal was wrong. Chu Tian was a coward, and Chu Long was a mama's boy; without her instigation, they would never have dared to steal from his home.

However, when they reached the entrance and saw who was waiting, Chu Feng paused. It wasn't Wei Xiaoxia; it was Wang Xiufen. Zhou Xiaoxiao’s expression soured.

Wang Xiufen did not come forward, hiding instead at a distance. A middle-aged man stood at the entrance, looking somewhat like Zhou Youzhi.

"Are you Chu Feng and Xiaoxiao?" the man asked.

"Who is this?" Chu Feng asked. He didn't know any of Zhou Xiaoxiao’s relatives. Even Wang Xiufen and Zhou Youzhi were people he had only recently met, and they had never bothered to check on Zhou Xiaoxiao since dropping her off.

Zhou Xiaoxiao said with a grimace, "It's my uncle."

Regardless of who it was, Chu Feng was here, and no one would bully his wife. "Do you have business with us?" Chu Feng asked, stepping forward.

Seeing the wood-chopping knife in Chu Feng's hand, Zhou Youqiang instinctively took a half-step back. He hurriedly said, "No, no, nephew-in-law, I'm not here to cause trouble. I’ve come to ask for your help..."

"Help?"

Zhou Youqiang said fawningly, "Nephew-in-law, niece, your uncle knows you have some surplus grain, but your grandmother and father truly have nothing left to eat. Could you... could you spare some for us?"

As he spoke, Zhou Youqiang knelt directly on the ground.