HCB Chapter 248 Tuogu
Chapter 248 Tuogu
Zhou Dazhu held his head tightly in his hands, his face filled with pain and regret. His body was trembling slightly, and his eyes were filled with fear and helplessness.
He told Hongmei in a trembling voice: "I... I really didn't mean it, Hongmei. I just pushed him, and who knew... who knew he would fall off the cliff." Zhou Dazhu's voice was tearful, and tears were welling up in his eyes.
"If you want to blame someone, blame him for speaking up for Xiuying. Xiao Laoliu is just a child. I didn't really kidnap Xiao Laoliu back then. I just wanted to hide Xiao Laoliu to scare Xiuying." Zhou Dazhu said as he raised his head, his eyes revealing a hint of madness and unwillingness.
"I just wanted to teach Xiuying a lesson, so that she wouldn't be so arrogant all the time. But your father insisted on meddling in my business, saying that what I did was wrong, and that he would go and apologize to Xiuying. In a fit of impulse, I pushed him. I really didn't expect it to turn out like this, Hongmei, I'm sorry to you and your father!" After Zhou Dazhui finished speaking, he knelt on the ground with a plop, and kept pounding the ground with his hands.
After hearing Zhou Dazhu's words, Hongmei's body trembled violently and a desperate howl came from her throat.
what……
Her eyes widened, filled with disbelief and extreme pain.
Suddenly, her chest heaved violently, and with a "puff" sound, she spat out a large mouthful of blood. The blood splashed in the air like a blooming, sad and beautiful flower, and then fell to the ground.
Hongmei's face instantly turned as pale as paper, and her body began to tremble. Then, her eyes slowly closed, and she fell straight back.
With a loud thud, she fell heavily to the ground, raising a cloud of dust. Her hands hung limply at her side, and she remained motionless.
Zhou Xiaoxiong watched this scene in horror, his small body trembling constantly. He rushed to Hongmei's body and burst into tears.
"Mom! Mom! Wake up!"
Zhou Xiaoxiong's cries were heartbreaking. He tried to shake Hongmei's body to wake her up. Tears kept flowing down his cheeks, and his voice had become hoarse.
Everyone around was shocked by the tragic scene. For a moment, there was silence, only Zhou Xiaoxiong's crying echoed in the air, which was heartbreaking.
Captain Zhang sighed helplessly when he saw the miserable scene before him. His eyes were filled with pity and helplessness, and he slowly shook his head.
"There were no herbalists at all." Captain Zhang said heavily, "It's just that someone found a man's body under the cliff and reported it to the authorities." He paused and looked around at the people around him who were all astonished.
"After three months, the body is completely unrecognizable," Captain Zhang said in a low voice. "Based on the remaining clothing and the butcher knife, the government officials identified it as Butcher Wang, who came to bail Zhou Dazhu out that day."
"During the past three months, the body has been exposed to the wind and sun, as well as being eaten by wild beasts, and it is no longer recognizable. If it weren't for the name engraved on the butcher knife, it would be difficult to confirm the identity." Captain Zhang sighed deeply, as if feeling sad for this unfortunate incident.
Captain Zhang looked at Zhou Xiaoxiong, whose face was covered in tears and who was trembling with fear, and a trace of pity could not help but well up in his heart. He slowly took out a tael of silver from his pocket and gently handed it to Zhou Xiaoxiong.
Captain Zhang's eyes were filled with sympathy, and his voice became gentle: "Child, take this silver."
"Zhou Dazhu has committed murder. He must be taken away." Captain Zhang's expression turned serious and stern again. He raised his voice and announced to the crowd. His eyes swept over everyone present with unquestionable majesty.
"Every country has its laws, every family has its rules. If you commit a crime, you must accept the punishment." Captain Zhang's voice echoed in the yard. "No one can escape the punishment of the law." As he spoke, he signaled the bailiff beside him to handcuff Zhou Dazhui.
Zhou Dazhu lowered his head and stopped resisting, as if he had accepted his fate. His face was filled with regret and despair.
Zhou Dazhu knew that the murder he had committed was unforgivable and that he would face a cruel end, beheading. At this moment, he was filled with worry, worried about his young son.
His eyes were filled with despair and worry about his son's future. His lips trembled as he muttered to himself, "What will happen to my son? If I leave, how will he live..."
His panicked eyes searched the crowd eagerly, and suddenly he saw Zhao Cunliang. As if he had grabbed a life-saving straw in the darkness, Zhou Dazhu knelt down with a plop.
He slammed his knees onto the ground, raising a cloud of dust, his eyes filled with pleading: "Brother Cunliang, I beg you, for the sake of our family relationship, please help me take care of the little bear."
Zhao Cunliang didn't want to agree. He knew in his heart that taking care of a child was no easy task. He frowned, his eyes evasive, and muttered, "This...this is not going to be easy."
However, when he saw Zhou Xiaoxiong tightly holding the silver in his hand, his heart couldn't help but move. His eyes flickered and he hesitated for a moment. The silver seemed to emit an attractive light in the sunlight.
Finally, Zhao Cunliang gritted his teeth, as if he had made a great decision, and said: "Forget it, Dazhu, for the sake of our past friendship, I will accept this child." He reached out to help Zhou Dazhu up, with a very complicated expression on his face.
After Zhou Dazhu was taken away by the officials, a heavy atmosphere settled over the scene. The villagers saw Zhao Cunliang supporting the sobbing Zhou Xiaoxiong, but their eyes unconsciously fell on the one or two taels of silver the child was clutching tightly.
Zhao Cunliang hesitated for a moment, but ultimately took the silver and put it in his pocket. His movements were a little hasty, and a hint of unnaturalness flashed across his face.
Seeing this, everyone gathered around. An old man stepped forward and said sternly, "Zhao Cunliang, you can't take this money for yourself. Hongmei is still lying there. You have to give her a proper funeral."
"Yes, Zhao Cunliang, you must have a conscience." Someone in the crowd echoed, "Since you've taken Zhou Xiaoxiong in, you must treat the child well and not mistreat him."
Zhao Cunliang's face flushed red as he stammered, "I...I know. I'll arrange Hongmei's funeral and take good care of Little Bear."
Everyone gave Zhao Cunliang a series of instructions, until he nodded repeatedly in assurance, and then the crowd gradually dispersed. Zhao Cunliang was left standing there, looking at the silver in his hand, with mixed feelings in his heart.