Chapter 290: Who is it really?
“When did you ask for it?” Tong Sanlang continued to ask.
“Yesterday. They had pretty much finished harvesting their wheat, so the three of them gathered this little pile.” Sun Family’s chin pointed towards the wheat pile, her tone filled with resentment.
“Did you go out last night? Did your son, Sun Junyan, go out? Where is he now?” Tong Sanlang fired off three questions in a row.
“Who goes out in the middle of the night? It’s all wilderness out there. As for Xiaowu, he went to town today, left early in the morning.” Sun Family was displeased with the tone Tong Sanlang used, much like how one interrogates a criminal.
But she had no choice. With the respected Lord Yang Ye present, she dared not act rashly.
Tong Sanlang turned his gaze to Qiao Xiaomai.
Qiao Xiaomai crossed her arms, her chin pointing in the direction of Anping Village, “You are skilled in lightness techniques, go ask these three families.”
“Hmm.” Without a word, Tong Sanlang activated his lightness techniques and left. In the blink of an eye, he was gone.
Seeing this, Yang Ye’s gaze lingered on Qiao Xiaomai for a moment, carrying a hint of surprise.
This familiar tone, the difference from the previous polite one, was too evident.
Had their relationship deepened?
Just as he was wondering, Sun Family shrank back and opened her mouth, “Changsun, what happened?”
Qiao Changshun let out a sigh, weakly saying, “Last night, more than twenty acres of wheat were burned.”
Sun Family”!!!”
Her small eyes suddenly widened, the corners of her mouth uncontrollably curling up. She almost burst out laughing.
Qiao Changshun”…”
His chest felt as though it had been struck by a heavy hammer. He raised his hand to rub it and sighed repeatedly.
“Are you sure you didn’t start the fire?” Tong Tiehu spoke, his tone stern.
Sun Family tried hard to hold back her laughter, she continually nodded and patted her chest saying, “Village Chief, I swear on Xiaowu’s future, it really wasn’t me. There’s so much farmland in the Changsun’s estate, I wouldn’t even know specifically where. How could I have started a fire?”
Qiao Xiaomai lifted a surprised eyebrow, “You swear on Sun Junyan’s future?”
“Indeed!” Sun Family slapped her thigh loudly, “If I burned your wheat, then my Xiaowu will remain a common peasant his whole life, only able to grub up food from the soil!”
Qiao Xiaomai”…”
She stared at Sun Family’s face, which seemed as though spring flowers had bloomed, and felt confused.
If Sun Family had sworn on her own life, she would have disregarded it entirely.
But Sun Family actually swore on Sun Junyan’s future. Did this mean that Sun Family really didn’t do it?
But if Sun Family didn’t do it, then who could it be?
Aside from conflicts with Sun Family and Sun Junyan, she didn’t have problems with anyone else.
Moreover, due to the imperial decree last time, the villagers had been treating her with kindness.
Who would offend her under such circumstances?
“Could it have been Sun Junyan who started the fire?” Yang Ye spoke up.
Upon hearing this, Sun Family immediately shook her head and waved her hands, “No, no, no, Lord, Xiaowu went to sleep very early last night. He had arranged to meet with some companions this morning and got up very early to go to town.”
Yang Ye furrowed his long eyebrows, looking towards Qiao Xiaomai. His phoenix eyes carried doubts as if asking whether she had offended anyone else.
Qiao Xiaomai understood his gaze and shook her head.
She always treated others kindly and, apart from Sun Family and her people, had not had disputes with anyone else.
Seeing this, Yang Ye pointed his chin at Qiao Changshun.
Qiao Xiaomai shook her head again.
Qiao Changshun was even more honest than she was and would definitely not have conflicts with others.
The situation was at a standstill.
A good while later, Tong Sanlang came back.
It was true that Qiao Changfu, Qiao Chang’an and Qiao Changkang had gathered a hundred catties of wheat for Sun Family and delivered it yesterday.
Now the situation was even more of a standstill.
Qiao Xiaomai took a deep breath, “Back to the village, offer a reward. Whoever has a clue, once confirmed, ten taels of silver. If the arsonist is found, a hundred taels of silver..”