TEFSCBSS Chapter 13

Chapter 13: On-Site Investigation in Locust Tree Village (Part 1)

Wang Bokao stepped over the threshold(门槛) of the west building. After just a few steps inside, he felt something was off. Why was it so chilly?

As he started to look around, the group of about ten people behind him pushed and jostled their way in, immediately blocking the doorway.

“Stop pushing! You’re stepping on my foot!”

Someone in the crowd shouted, their voice loud and annoyed. The others froze, laughing awkwardly. As long as I don’t move, no one can blame me for anything.

Zhao Si winced in pain, clutching his foot, his heart aching. Ugh, these brutes. And my heartless boss! Sending someone as delicate and helpless as me to handle this? These people don’t even need me; they could bulldoze through anything on their own!

Taking a deep breath, Zhao Si composed himself, reminding himself that the customer is king. “Ladies and gentlemen, no need to rush. There’s plenty of time—half an hour.”

“The entire first floor of the west building is a replica of Locust Tree Village. Right now, we’re standing at what would be the village entrance.”

“Please take a look.” He gestured to a wooden board nearby, where a simple map was drawn. “This is a rough map of the current Locust Tree Village. Feel free to pick a spot that interests you and start your investigation.”

“You can discuss and share your thoughts with others at any time. You can also chat privately while searching for evidence.”

“There’s paper and charcoal pencils on the side for you to take notes.”

“And finally, one last reminder: our boss put in an incredible amount of effort replicating this little village. Every blade of grass and every tree was painstakingly designed. Please be gentle and avoid damaging anything!”

The crowd nodded. Seeing that Zhao Si had nothing more to add, they dispersed.

Team up?

Team up for what? We’re all competitors here!

Wang Qingmu shared the same thought. Grabbing a stack of paper provided by the west building, he headed toward the groom’s house. But before he could go far, Wang Bokao stuck to him like glue.

“Scholar Wang, we’re family. Let’s stick together!”

Wang Bokao looked visibly uneasy. He truly felt something was off. The story had been giving him ghostly vibes from the start, and now the cold air in the room made him even more suspicious. What if there are ghosts? He couldn’t go alone—he needed someone with him.

Wang Qingmu: …He deeply regretted revealing his family name earlier. This forced camaraderie would have our ancestors turning in their graves.

“Young Master Wang, isn’t it better for everyone to spread out? That way, we can gather more clues,” he suggested, trying to refuse politely.

“Spread out? What nonsense!” Wang Bokao scoffed, his expression one of condescension. “Didn’t you hear Zhao Si and Zhao Boss hinting at forming teams? They couldn’t have made it more obvious!”

In truth, Wang Bokao had no idea what he was talking about. He was just too scared and spouting nonsense to make Wang Qingmu stay with him.

Wang Qingmu frowned, about to refuse again, when a sudden realization struck him. Of course! Why emphasize teaming up so much if it’s just about gathering evidence?

Discussion? Strategy?

It wasn’t that Wang Qingmu looked down on the others (he did), but based on prior rounds, he knew how things would play out. Most people would take their findings to Zhao Boss to confirm their guesses and wait for the final debate and vote. Essentially, it was an individual competition. Critical clues would be kept close to the chest to ensure their success.

But… Zhao Boss had said only the suspect with the most votes would determine whether everyone could share the prize money. If everyone acted selfishly, wouldn’t they fall into Zhao Boss’s trap?

A cold smile appeared on Wang Qingmu’s face. If I still don’t understand Zhao Boss’s intentions after so many rounds, I might as well give up.

This investigation round wasn’t just about finding the culprit. The ample discussion time was also a chance to control the votes.

Wang Qingmu couldn’t imagine leaving things to these brutes. Even if they stumbled upon the truth, the payout would be meager—one or two taels of silver each at best. If no one identified the culprit, the murderer would escape, and everyone else would walk away empty-handed.

Luckily, he was here. And luckily, Wang Bokao had inadvertently reminded him.

Now, he faced two options: take all 40 taels for himself or collaborate and divide it among the fewest people possible. Everything hinged on whether Liu Butcher was the murderer.

If Liu Butcher wasn’t the culprit, he would collaborate with Wang Bokao, recruit a small group, and use tactics like sowing discord, deception, and manipulation (perhaps not “honey traps”) to ensure the true murderer received just enough votes to win.

If Liu Butcher was the culprit, he would feign cooperation with Wang Bokao, gather the majority, and find a scapegoat. Then he and Liu Butcher could split the 40 taels.

Wiping the cold sweat from his forehead, Wang Qingmu steeled himself. It’s just a murder mystery game at the west building, and I almost overthought myself into oblivion.

Determination burned in his eyes, a fiery intensity that startled Wang Bokao.

What’s going on? I was just saying something to scare him, and now he looks like he’s had an epiphany!

We’re all new to this game. How is he so different?

Wang Bokao suddenly wondered if Wang Qingmu might be insane.

Unaware of these thoughts, Wang Qingmu smiled faintly, his gaze sharp but his tone calm. “You’re right. Let’s stick together.”

…!!!

Help! Did a ghost possess him? Why does he look so terrifying?

Wang Bokao wanted to run, but after glancing around, he realized everyone else had dispersed. Only Zhao Si remained by the door, his face dark as if he were a ghost himself. There was no escape.

Resigning himself to his fate, he prayed silently that Wang Qingmu, even if possessed, might retain some scholarly righteousness and spare him.

Wang Qingmu shot him a strange look. Is he… simple-minded?

Still, Wang Bokao’s reputation as a Wang family scion made him a useful ally for rallying others. Otherwise, Wang Qingmu might have considered teaming up with someone else.

“Come, Young Master Wang. Let’s head to the groom’s house first,” Wang Qingmu said, clearing his throat.

“O-okay. You go first.”

The two followed the map to a small courtyard surrounded by a wooden fence. The autumn wind rustled, scattering fallen leaves. A gust picked up a torn red wedding character, spinning it in the air before letting it fall to the side.

Wang Bokao: This is too perfect! With this atmosphere, how can there NOT be ghosts?!

Wang Qingmu: Impressive attention to detail. Zhao Boss put effort into this. So, this is the courtyard for the banquet?

The courtyard wasn’t large, with three tables set up inside, laden with food and even emitting a tempting aroma.

“These dishes are edible,” Zhao Si said casually, appearing out of nowhere. “To prevent spoilage, my boss prepared cooked food, cold dishes, dried fruits, and steamed buns. But be careful—what if they’re poisoned? Who knows how the groom died?”

With that ominous remark, Zhao Si wandered off to continue his rounds.

Wang Bokao, who had almost picked up a peanut to eat: …With you and your boss, my life is truly blessed.

Wang Qingmu ignored him, examining the scene closely. He spotted the main table, which was in disarray. A large red flower lay abandoned on a chair, clearly belonging to the groom.

Picking up a wine jug, he swirled it. The wine inside was clear.

If everyone drank from this jug, they’d all have been drugged. So, the problem must be…

His eyes landed on a wine cup near the red flower. At the bottom and edges of the cup, faint yellow powder and sediment were visible.

Circling the table, Wang Qingmu tried to deduce where each person had likely sat.

The main table with the red flower seated the groom, Zhao Si, and Li Tiezhu.

One table, neatly packed up, likely belonged to Zhao Boss.

The third table, however, was strange. Despite being a male-only gathering in the front yard, a delicate pink embroidered shoe was left on it.