Chapter 14: Finding Zhou Zhiwei

Several dark figures swiftly approached the riverbank under the dim glow of lanterns, carrying a large crimson box as one, like fireflies darting backward through the night, leaving streaks of light in their wake.

At the wild dock, a seven-zhang willow-leaf boat was moored, with some waiting onboard.

“Hurry, hurry!” the lantern bearer urged those on the boat. Together, they hauled the box into the cabin.

The young boatman, intimidated by the grim and fierce men, dared not slacken but muttered quietly to his companion as they lifted the box, “Brother, Zhao Qing is dead. Do you think this... this trade still has a future?”

“Tsk,” his companion whispered a reprimand, “Whether or not your elderly mother watches over you, don’t say such unlucky things. Focus on the task!”

The lantern bearer’s ears were sharp, and he shouted, “What are you muttering about?”

The young boatman flinched and quickly replied, “Please don’t be angry, sir. I was just wondering, now that the bride is gone, serving no longer as a shield, what should I say if the dowry is questioned?”

“What you say doesn’t matter! If they find out, watch your heads! Hide it well, hang the lanterns! We’re setting off!”

“Y-Yes, yes!” The boatman cursed inwardly at this devil of a man, deflating in spirit.

Setting off from shore, two lanterns were hung—red at the front, white at the rear—bearing the bold character “Cao.” They parted the thick frost and night waves, quietly heading north.

Meanwhile, inside and outside the courtyard of the Chún family, people crowded thickly. When Xu Qi and Tan Jiuding arrived, Granny Chún was already there, dancing around the fire in a ritual. Her cowhorn horn blew strange tunes, and her limbs moved in eerie motions, jumping and hopping.

The more joyfully she danced, the more fearful the villagers’ expressions became, as if they truly saw some unclean spirit and believed deeply in the haunting.

Xu Qi muttered “ridiculous” under her breath, then pushed through the crowd, dispersing them. “Don’t block the way! Make room! Step aside!”

Two or three constables immediately tidied the scene, ordering Granny Chún to stop dancing and drove all onlookers out of the courtyard.

Suppressing the urge to confront Granny Chún about Zhiwei’s whereabouts, Xu Qi clenched her dress and glared at her retreating figure among the dispersing crowd.

Once the people left, she angrily asked, “Why did Granny Chún come here? With her causing such a fuss, any clues left in the courtyard are now swept away. Don’t they understand?”

An old familiar village man stepped forward, somewhat defiant, admitting, “I was the one who called her. Our Chún died under strange circumstances, and her dowry was stolen in a manner just as strange. Without Granny Chún to exorcise the evil, not just tonight, but the days ahead will be unbearable.” As he spoke, not only his family but the villagers outside echoed his sentiments.

Tan Jiuding said nothing, coldly scrutinizing the courtyard—

The Chún household had yet to begin the funeral rites, so despite the somber and bleak atmosphere, it resembled any ordinary mountain village home. It was a single household with one entrance.

The body was still outside the village undergoing postmortem examination. The center of the main room was cleared, appearing hollow and empty. Outside the courtyard stood the bridal sedan chair from which she had hanged herself. Several sedan bearers crouched in a corner, pitifully stranded, unable to leave without official permission. The three or four baskets and boxes they had carried earlier had indeed vanished.

“Weren’t you told to stay here? Did you see anyone suspicious coming or going?” Tan Jiuding approached the sedan bearers dressed in red, questioning them.

Everyone shook their heads. One of the sedan bearers replied, “We heard the bride’s body would soon be brought back, so to avoid suspicion, we hid for a while. We only just returned to look for the dowry. Apart from this family, no one else came or went.”

“Was the box still there when you left?”

“Yes. Oh, at that time, the bride’s mother was inside, crying bitterly. She can vouch for us.”

Chún’s mother, hiding behind her husband, timidly nodded.

Tan Jiuding turned to her. “When did you discover the dowry was missing?”

“Just now. I wanted to see when the child could be brought home. On the way, I met my husband, who said we’d have to wait a little longer...” Chún’s mother sobbed twice, wiping tears from her eyes. “When we returned, the courtyard was empty...”

“Less than half a cup of tea’s time,” her husband added.

The old villager spoke loudly, “That’s why I said it was strange! I gathered a few neighbors to search, and when things didn’t feel right, I immediately went up the mountain to call Granny Chún!” He seemed quite satisfied with his judgment, showing no sense of fault.

Xu Qi cursed “ignorant” silently three times, barely restraining an eye roll.

Tan Jiuding seemed calmer. He casually asked, “Then how valuable is the dowry? I see your family’s circumstances aren’t wealthy, but the dowry for Miss Chún’s marriage looks quite substantial.”

“Well... you might not know, but this is our local custom. Whether poor or rich, even if the family is poor, they must at least fill the bridal sedan with some bricks to weigh it down; otherwise, the daughter will suffer... Sigh!” The old villager’s tone grew somber as he recalled his daughter’s tragic fate, his grief momentarily subdued, pounding his chest and sighing.

“So, there really weren’t many valuable items in the dowry?”

“Alas, if you put it that way, yes.”

“Then...”

“Tan Jiuding!”

Just as the man was about to ask more, his sleeve was firmly grabbed. Xu Qi suddenly pulled him aside, her face showing a mix of fear and excitement. Barely able to restrain her volume, she leaned close and exclaimed, “I’ve found where Zhiwei is hidden!”

“The box! They hid Zhiwei inside the dowry chest!”

“What?” Tan Jiuding was momentarily unable to follow her wild notion.

“It has to be true,” Xu Qi’s quick mind raced, her words tumbling out in a rapid patter, “Otherwise, why would those thieves go to such lengths to steal some worthless boxes? Why all the secrecy? If they wanted to steal, wouldn’t it be safer to wait until after we and the government officials have left to come back and take them? Why risk so much now?”

“Because they can’t wait! Because they’re afraid that after we finish the postmortem and open the boxes for inspection, the secret of someone hidden inside will be exposed!”

“The killers who silenced Zhao Qing must know Granny Chún’s place is no longer safe. It’s only a matter of time before we discover this. They have to move her quickly, but hiding her anywhere is risky. By chance, the village’s bride Chún gave them an opportunity. The bridal procession and the dowry are exempt from inspection at checkpoints!”

“Exactly. They must have planned well from the start, hiding Zhiwei inside the dowry and transporting her out of the village with the wedding party, boarding the boat—no one would suspect. But they never imagined the bride would hang herself halfway, and the boxes would be returned as is, forcing them to take desperate measures!”

Tan Jiuding opened his mouth, stunned for a moment before realization dawned. He could not help but admire this person’s brilliant and quick mind.

“Ha, in that case, it really is...” But another problem blocked the way. “Then how did they manage to steal the dowry? If we can learn their method, we can surely trace the trail to Miss Zhou.”

Xu Qi seemed to have expended much energy, gasping a few breaths, her face grave. “I know exactly who to ask.”