Water Margin: Did we kill Zheng Tu today?

Chapter 81: When I arrived at the government office, I said the same thing!

Wu Song was already annoyed by the foul language he had heard on the road, and the strange looks from the neighbors only fueled his anger.

Seeing the boy stammering and speaking incoherently, he grew even more impatient.

His brow furrowed immediately, and he said in a deep voice, "Just say what you have to say! Why are you hesitating and being so uncooperative!"

What kind of power and prestige did Wu Song possess?

The fame of his tiger-slaying on Jingyang Ridge is known to everyone in Qinghe County.

This display of power even terrified the tiger with its piercing eyes and white forehead, let alone a young child.

Startled by his presence, Qiao Yunge staggered back two steps, his lips trembling and his face pale. He dared not utter another word to stir up trouble.

Seeing that the little monkey couldn't utter a sound after a long while, Wu Song assumed it was just a mischievous child playing around in the street and snorted coldly.

"Without any reason!"

Ignoring him for the moment, he flashed past Qiao Yunge, creating a gust of wind.

Qiao Yunge's eyes were blinded by the dust stirred up by the gust of wind, and he stood still, rubbing them vigorously with the back of his hand.

When he finally managed to open his eyes, Wu Song's imposing figure was already ten feet away, striding towards the Wu family's small building.

He opened his mouth, as if to say something, but ultimately dared not shout again. He simply picked up his bamboo basket, turned away dejectedly, and headed towards another street.

"Brother! Your little brother is back!"

When Wu Song arrived at the gate of Wu Da's courtyard, he called out loudly.

I thought my brother would answer from upstairs, or my sister-in-law would come out to open the door.

But to my surprise, it was completely quiet inside, without the slightest sound.

Wu Song's heart tightened, and he disregarded formalities, reaching out to push the gate open. To his surprise, the gate was ajar!

He rushed in and strode into the main room.

There were some miscellaneous items scattered on the ground, and the room was dark as the windows were closed. There seemed to be a dark shadow at the top of the stairs.

He rushed forward, took a closer look, and was immediately stunned, his eyes wide open.

"Could it be that Wu Er's eyes are playing tricks on him?!"

There, he saw his sister-in-law Pan Jinlian lying in front of the stairs, her once swan-like neck twisted to the side. It looked as if she had accidentally fallen down the stairs and died!

Wu Song's mind went blank for a moment. Without looking closely, he leaped up to the second floor in three quick steps.

Looking at the bed, I saw my elder brother, Wu Dalang, lying on his back with his eyes closed, one arm hanging heavily over the edge of the bed, and his chest no longer rising and falling, clearly indicating that he was dying.

The bedroom reeked of medicine. A broken bowl lay on the floor in front of the bed, spilling dark brown herbal medicine all over the floor, with a little bit still remaining in the bowl.

Wu Song was struck dumb, his blood and sweat seemingly frozen in place.

He rushed to the bedside and reached out to check Wu Da's breathing, but there was no movement.

"Big brother! Big brother!!!"

Wu Song couldn't help but call out several times.

This sudden turn of events left even a strong and resolute man like Wu Song momentarily stunned.

He clenched his fists, feeling as if a huge boulder was pressing on his chest, making it hard to breathe.

A moment later, he suddenly turned around, rushed out of the room like a madman, leaped down the stairs, ran out of the courtyard gate, and chased after the person he had come from.

That little monkey that blocked our way just now must know something!

After walking for about a mile, they saw Qiao Yunge slowly walking with a basket of pears, looking around for business at the entrance of the alley.

Wu Song lunged forward, grabbed him by the collar, and lifted him up: "Stop!"

"Young man, tell me in detail what you wanted to say to me just now!"

Qiao Yunge was already timid after being frightened by Wu Song, and now that he saw Wu Song return with a ferocious expression, he became even more weak and trembling.

But seeing Wu Song's anxious appearance, his commoner's cleverness came back to life. And seeing that although Wu Song looked fierce, he hadn't hurt him, his courage gradually grew.

Although he didn't know why Wu Song suddenly changed his attitude, he could see some ways to make money from it.

People like him, who make their living in the streets and alleys, are the best at finding business opportunities in such narrow places. Otherwise, if he were to rely on himself to go around the streets looking for customers to sell pears, he would have starved to death long ago.

Qiao Yunge composed himself and pretended to be troubled: "Sure, I'll tell you, but... I'm on my way to sell pears right now. If I'm late and don't sell them, the pears will rot at home. My old father is sixty years old and has no one to take care of him. I won't have time to explain to you in detail."

When Wu Song heard him say this, he knew that Wu Song wanted to get some benefits.

Although he was both shocked and furious, feeling as if his heart was boiling in oil and he wanted to punch someone, he tried his best to suppress it.

Forcing this little monkey to say something isn't impossible, but I'm afraid he'll mix truth and falsehood together, making up stories and confusing my judgment, which will only ruin things.

They're just material possessions, nothing more!

Wu Song took a deep breath, released his grip, and tried to soften his tone: "Good brother!"

He then asked Qiao Yunge's name, took out five taels of silver from his bundle, held it in his palm, and handed it to him: "Yunge, take this silver to give to your father for travel expenses. Now, just tell me."

Qiao Yun's eyes lit up immediately.

He was unaware that someone had died in Wu Da's house, but he was secretly pleased: he was unlucky in love, but lucky in money!

With these five taels of silver, it should be enough to cover expenses for three to five months!

Seeing that his expression had relaxed, Wu Song continued to comfort him, "Brother, although you are young, you have a heart for supporting your family and being filial. The money I gave you just now is just for your travel expenses. If you tell me everything you know, I will repay you handsomely."

Yun Ge tucked the silver into his pocket, looked around, and lowered his voice, saying, "I'm telling you this, but don't be angry..."

Qiao Yunge then recounted the rambling conversation between Ximen Qing and Zheng Tu that he had overheard at the Lion Tower, along with his own observations of Zheng Tu leaving the Wu family's residence and smelling the fragrance of cosmetics on his clothes, all embellished and exaggerated.

When the conversation got excited, he thought about how Zheng Tu had managed to seduce his wife, whom he had only dared to admire from afar and regarded as a goddess.

Qiao Yun felt his internal organs burning, just like a victim whose wife had been taken away. He gritted his teeth and wished he could tear that bastard to pieces!

Finally, he said, "Captain, it's not that I'm being nosy, but this matter... is probably inseparable from that Master Zheng."

Upon hearing this, Wu Song's face turned ashen.

"Are you telling the absolute truth? Why are you lying?"

Although Qiao Yunge was somewhat flustered, he had already said so much and there was no turning back.

"Even if I go to the authorities, I will only say this!"

After a long silence, Wu Song suddenly asked, "Is there anyone else who knows?"

Yun Ge shook his head: "There are some rumors circulating in the neighborhood, but no one dares to speak out openly. Chief, what... what are you going to do?"

Wu Song didn't answer, but instead took out another silver ingot from his pocket and stuffed it into Yun Ge's hand: "What you said today, you said, and I heard. If even half a word is leaked..."

A cold glint flashed in his eyes.

Yun Ge nodded repeatedly, "I know! I know!"

Wu Song said nothing more and turned to leave.