Gasp! She's a Time Traveler Using Modern Tech to Improve Ancient Life-Chapter 369 - 366: A Bloody Crime Triggered by a Single Winter Melon

Chapter 369: Chapter 366: A Bloody Crime Triggered by a Single Winter Melon

Lin Mengyi wasn’t very popular among the clan. He even quarreled with several families in the clan because of his troublesome wife.

But now that he’s dead, regardless of how he was before, he was still a member of the clan.

The clan shared the grief, and no one took pleasure in his misfortune.

In a large family style of huddling together for warmth and survival, the clan members were very close. Someone entered the Lin Family Manor to kill and set fire, how could they tolerate that?

Why didn’t they consider that it might have been an accidental fire?

It’s simple, houses near the coast were either stone or mud brick, neither of which were materials easy to catch fire.

A hundred years back, there was only one fire during the end of the previous dynasty caused by bandit troubles, never a fire without reason.

If they didn’t find the culprit who set the fire by digging three feet around, no one would rest. This wasn’t just a matter for Lin Guofu’s family, it was a matter for their entire Lin Family Manor.

Reporting to the government was out of the question, as rural families didn’t have dealings with the government. After all, reporting to the government meant paying the government officer, and in rural places, every penny counted.

But the matter couldn’t just be left in confusion, Clan Leader Lin, both clan leader and local leader, was naturally fully responsible for this matter.

"Uncle Clan Leader, you must stand up for us! That damned thief not only stole our cold melons but also set fire to my husband and home. How can I continue living with three children? Boohoo... My fate is so bitter!" Lin Sunshi cried, clutching the Clan Leader Lin’s trousers.

At this moment, faced with the tragic aftermath of the fire, Clan Leader Lin didn’t blame Lin Sunshi for her loss of composure.

Neighbors living nearby brought their outer garments for Lin Sunshi, who was only wearing inner clothes, to cover herself. The big fire destroyed everything; Lin Guofu’s family’s future looked grim.

Their branch wasn’t thriving with descendants.

Starting from Lin Guofu, all the close brothers had already perished. By Lin Mengyi’s generation, there were no close cousins, just distant relatives.

However, although there were no close cousins, Lin Mengyi originally had three siblings.

It’s a pity that Lin Qingyu’s father, Lin Menglian, died early, and now the favored Lin Mengyi was gone too.

Of the three sons, only the least likable eldest, Lin Mengzhong, was left. Lin Lushi fainted and cried bitterly; the master of the house, Lin Guofu, was equally devastated.

White-haired sending off the black-haired, the utmost tragedy in the world leaves listeners sorrowful and tearful.

"Investigate! Mengbo, stop sleeping. Gather all the young men, light torches, and search thoroughly!" Clan Leader Lin’s eyes were slightly red, as he said solemnly, patting Lin Mengbo’s shoulder.

Lin Mengbo nodded, quickly spreading the word of the thorough search to all the young men in the clan. In no time, Lin Family Manor was lit with torches everywhere.

In the latter half of the night, no one in the Lin Family Manor slept well.

It was clear why Lin Guofu’s house caught fire; it was arson—because no one found the remnants of the cold melons. The motive was clear; the arson was for precious goods and murder—all of this made sense.

But how did someone manage to set fire to Lin Family Manor without detection and vanish without a trace?

Unrested through the night, Lin Mengbo squatted silently in front of the hall, staring at the charred remnants.

The group searched all night, on the mountains and by the sea, even the grass nests and dog holes, without finding a single clue.

None of them were trained investigators; how could they easily find the culprit?

If one were to consider suspects, there were too many—the merchant said to buy cold melons, all the poor people who knew Lin Guofu had cold melons, and the friends who envied Lin Guofu’s cold melons, were all suspects.

In this world, the human mind is unpredictable, and all sorts of strange things can happen.

The culprit wasn’t found, but Lin Mengyi’s funeral couldn’t be delayed; the Memorial Hall was erected, but it wasn’t lively.

He died a violent death, with his body charred, so he absolutely couldn’t be buried in the ancestral tomb, nor could there be a grand funeral.

Not being buried in the ancestral tomb meant no protection in the afterlife. Lin Lushi desperately clung to Clan Leader Lin, pleading and crying, but the Clan Leader didn’t relent.

Suicides, those who die in childbirth, premature deaths, all unjust deaths are not buried in ancestral tombs; it’s a generational rule, with no exceptions allowed. It concerns the luck of the entire family, affecting the family’s future.

Those who don’t end well are, if their family has land, cremated and buried in the land as family guardians; if no land, they are buried randomly in a common grave. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

Lin Wanwan heard the news of Lin Mengyi’s fiery death last night and went to see the scene. Besides her, her family’s servants who participated in firefighting also saw the scene.

Xiao Yixun’s servant, the bearded man Zhong Yi, after seeing the body, told Lin Wanwan that the man wasn’t burned to death but was killed before being burned.

Lin Wanwan asked why he was so sure.

Zhong Yi replied calmly, "Burning to death is painful, with struggles and spasms, but the body has no signs of struggle."

Xiao Yixun also said indifferently, "No signs of resistance on the body; your clansman was swiftly murdered in sleep."

Lin Wanwan didn’t doubt their words, as they made sense. She recalled her observations from last night; Lin Mengyi’s body looked quite relaxed, not showing signs of horror.

After such an incident, Lin Wanwan even felt a little self-reproach. She brought wealth to the clan, but also danger. If the cold melons weren’t so valuable, Lin Mengyi wouldn’t have been targeted and lost his life.

Without adequate self-defense, windfall wealth is a catalyst for disaster.

"Sun Chuyao, go to the County Government and ask Xiao Mingfu to send someone." Lin Wanwan instructed Sun Chuyao; this clueless search for the culprit in Lin Family Manor would lead nowhere.

Professional matters require professionals. Since Xiao Chong came to Mao County last year, he’s become known as an expert investigator. With things happening under his jurisdiction, who else should they turn to but the local magistrate?

"Yes!"

"Wait." Xiao Yixun stopped the departing Sun Chuyao, looking at Lin Wanwan. His gray-blue eyes showed little emotion, "Why go to the County Government for help? I know how to find the person."

Lin Wanwan asked in surprise, "You know?"

Xiao Yixun nodded and, without explanation, looked at the mute girl always quietly following her: "Go catch the person."

The mute girl kneeled respectfully and then left.