Goldfield
Chapter 107: Interrogating

Xiaocao took Xiaolian and drove the donkey carriage to the Western Mountains. At the foot of the mountain range, he took out many springs with bamboo tubes. On the way home, he soaked a colorful stone in the spring. A faint but cheerful voice rang out in his mind, [It's very comfortable .. The springs in the mountains are definitely purer, so it can help this Divine Stone recover my strength faster.].

Xiaocao was very surprised. He had originally thought that the little sacred stone had used all of its power and would be asleep for three to five days like the last time it had taken care of his father's legs.

The little holy stone seemed to have read his mind and triumphantly said, [Little girl, didn't you underestimate this Divine Stone? Before, I had just received a Master and my strength had just started to rise. So, I spent all my strength to save someone. But now it's different. The power of this Divine Stone was gradually increasing. Before, my strength had only been exhausted for a while. If I soak in the spring water, I will be able to recover the energy that has been consumed in four to six hours.]

Little Divine Stone would not tell Xiaocao that whenever he exhausted his strength to help him or those around him, his energy and strength would increase. This was the reason why he was willing to help the weak man again and again. If it continues like this, one day he will be able to recover all his strength, break through the confines of this realm, and return to the side of Goddess Nuwa!

Xiaocao looked up and saw a dark cloud coming from the west. With aggression and anger hidden in his gaze, he sneered and whispered, “So four to six hours! Little Glutinous Dumpling, are you willing to help me again? Let the anger of revenge burn! ”

At dusk, thick dark clouds weighed down the sky, hiding the vast deep red sky in the west. The sky looked extremely heavy, as if it was about to collapse. The depressed sky seemed to be carrying heavy luggage, while an indifferent wind blew through the streets and lifted up the swaths of withered leaves.

Shop workers on both sides of the road were preparing to close. On the street, pedestrians walked against the cold wind and rushed home before the storm.

The entrance of Zhang Ji's Carpentry Shop was surrounded by curious onlookers. In the middle of the crowd, on top of the donkey wagon, lay a lifeless young man who had no traces of blood on his face. Beside the wagon, the young man's family, with sadness and anger, stared intently at the shopkeeper, who was standing in front of the woodworking shop.

The ugly and fierce-looking Shopkeeper Zhang was standing at the entrance with a worker holding a club in his hand. He furiously shouted, “Where did this group of rural hicks come from? They actually dare to blackmail me, Old Zhang. Don't you know who I am! Quick left. If you want to make trouble, then I'll send you to Yamen after the beating! ”

A skinny and beautiful girl confronts the evil shop owner fearlessly. Her hair was tangled by the wind, causing it to stick to her pale little face. Be it in ancient times or modern times, never underestimate people's curiosity for gossip. More people gathered. Zhang Ji's entire family and Carpentry Shop were completely surrounded by a crowd of people.

Xiaocao, whose eyes were like bottomless holes, swept his gaze around the crowd and cried sadly, “Obsolutely, this severely injured young man lying on the donkey carriage is my eldest brother, who is the first brother of mine, the apprentice at the Zhang Ji Carpentry Shop!

“The shopkeeper Zhang is evil and cruel. He often beat, reprimanded, and harassed his students. He doesn't even treat them like humans. It hasn't even been half a year since my pitiful older brother worked here, but there's no part of him that hasn't been hurt! Today, he was even beaten to the point that his ribs were broken and hit by internal organs. Even Doctor Sun from Tongren Medicine Hall said that it was difficult to heal this serious wound!

“My pitiful brother is only ten years old, but his life is already hanging by a thread! Shopkeeper Zhang, shouldn't you give us an explanation? ”

Although Zhang Ji's Carpentry Shop was very famous in Tanggu City, Shopkeeper Zhang was also notoriously greedy, ruthless, and immoral.

Among the spectators, a gray-haired old man sighed and shook his head, “What a sin! How could he be so cruel to such a child? ”

The shop worker next to the Carpentry Shop Zhang Ji was not surprised and calmly said, “ Shopkeeper Zhang from the Carpentry Shop Zhang Ji was violent and often angry at the staff in his shop. This was even worse for the apprentices in the store. They were given the worst food, while they also had to do the toughest work. Moreover, they were often beaten for no reason whatsoever. As a result, very few people who come to the woodworking shop for an internship stay a whole month. ”

“I know that boy Yu Hang. He is very diligent and honest. Although he looked thin, he carried out almost all heavy wood transportation and felt exhausted without complaint. Unexpectedly, he also could not escape the fate of being cruelly beaten. Ay. You guys should know better. Why don't you ask about the place before sending your child there? Isn't that the same as sending your son into a hellhole? ” Another shopkeeper added with a voice filled with pity and regret.

“What are you talking about! Be careful with your words! To slander with malicious intent and defame me right in front of my face, do you think that I, Zhang Dongming, can be easily suppressed? ” When Shopkeeper Zhang was young, he was a famous bastard in the city. There was more than one murder associated with her, but she was the sister-in-law of the official registrar, which was considered very important by the county magistrate. Every time he made a problem, the problem could be solved smoothly, and thus he became even more fearless.

After being threatened by his sharp gaze, the people whispering in the crowd instantly shut their mouths. Some of the more timid people even quietly retreated from the circle for fear of being recognized by Shopkeeper Zhang and that he would take revenge on them in the future.

Madam Liu, who slowly stopped crying, immediately cried again when she heard his words. Standing beside the donkey cart, he gently touched the pale face of his son and shouted, “My dear son! It's all mom's fault! At that time, I should have done my best to stop you from being sent here even if I ended up with an unfilial reputation. Every time I see you, you'll tell us that everything's fine. You tell us that you eat and sleep well and that we do not have to worry about you? If you tell Mom about your situation, I'll take you home no matter what! ”

Zhang Dongming was a little scared by Yu Hai's tall and powerful physique. However, when he saw the frail woman and the little boy around him, and there were many people with weapons beside him, his confidence instantly increased again, “True. I'm the one who hit him, so what are you going to do? Not only did he steal the food of the craftsman's head, but he also stole money from the shop! I was already considered to be soft-hearted for not beating the thief to death! ”

“That's impossible! My oldest brother will not steal from anyone else! You wrongly accused him! ” Little Shitou clenched her little hand and swung it towards Shopkeeper Zhang with a grudge.

With his hands behind his back and a confident expression, Zhang Dongming ordered one of the workers behind him, “Go! Take out the items we found in Yu Hang's room! ”

A moment later, the worker took out a faded handkerchief, which contained several strands of copper coins. Each string had about fifty copper coins. Shopkeeper Zhang took the money and showed it to the crowd and sneered, “Have you seen clearly? There are a hundred and fifty copper coins here. Everyone should know that interns do not receive wages. But we have found so much money at the head of Yu Hang's bed. If he didn't steal it, then where did he come from? Also, the person who lived with him said that he often smelled food in the middle of the night.Craftsman head food was always served by Yu Hang. So where did the food she secretly ate at night come from? Isn't it very clear now! ”

Looking at the ‘proof’ shown by Shopkeeper Zhang, the spectators immediately changed their stance and said, “That was unexpected. Yu Hang seemed like an honest child. I didn't expect him to do such a thing! ”

“Do not judge a book by its cover! I could understand stealing the food of the craftsman's head because he was still a growing child and probably couldn't stand hunger. But, being greedy to steal the boss's money, it was inexcusable!

“If he is caught stealing, then there is nothing to say even if he is beaten to death ..”

……

When Xiaocao saw the people who had just cried injustice for them, turning against ‘thief’ one after another, he could not help but straighten his back and shout, “Store Guard Zhang, you accused my eldest brother of being a thief, but did you personally see him? Or did you personally catch him stealing money? Isn't it too arbitrary to judge my elder brother as a thief just because you found some copper coins in his room? Friends, can we also randomly accuse you of being a thief if we find some money in your pocket? ”

“Cannot be! The money in my pocket is mine, which I make with hard work. How could it be stolen? ”

“True, that's right! Making false accusations is also a crime! ”

……

Xiaocao's clear eyes swept across everyone's face and he spoke in a powerful and imposing voice, “That's right! In the same way, my father and I were the ones who gave money to my oldest brother when we came to send or pick up my younger brother from the city! I never expected that my older brother would be reluctant to use a single coin and save his money, and thus cause such a disaster! ”

Zhang Dongming glanced at him disdainfully with turbid triangular eyes and said, “Little girl, you should also use your brain when lying! If your family has money, they won't send their child for an internship! To say that you have given him dozens of copper coins each time, do you think everyone is stupid? ”

When faced with everyone's doubtful eyes, Xiaocao was not confused and calmly said, “My family probably did not have the ability to do so half a year ago! But now! Even though we don't run a big business like Shopkeeper Zhang, we have a small business on the dock and are able to produce two or three hundred copper coins a day! Let me ask. I was sad to see my oldest brother couldn't eat well and wear warm clothes, so I sent him food and money. Is there something wrong with that? ”

Suddenly, a voice came out from the crowd and shouted, “I recognize this little girl. He sold one plate of copper coin meat on the dock. When I was a porter at the pier, I had bought food cooked by his family before. The boiled food Miss Xiaocao made was delicious and their business was outstanding. If you are too slow, everything will sell out! ”

This voice had confirmed the authenticity of Xiaocao's words, so he continued, “ Shopkeeper Zhang, the money strands in your hands are all personally strung together by me. I made a rope with a thread of a different color from the thread embroidered the rest of my mother. I've sent money twice and fed it once, which the workers in your store should know .. ”

“Last time, when I went out to shop with my classmates and passed by Zhang Ji Carpentry Shop, I left twenty copper coins for my elder brother ..” Little Shitou spoke once again.