Chapter 14: Niu San’s Legal Trouble

Niu Fuyun's wife grabbed her mother-in-law's hand and said, "Mom, Lin Yuhe was no good. Otherwise, why would people in town call her 'Tofu Xi Shi'? Her husband was away all the time, and she seduced our Fuyun. I just scolded her a few times, and when it got out, she was scared of losing face and jumped into the river."

Niu Shitong's wife, Mrs. Wu, patted her daughter-in-law's hand and said, "Mom believes you, but if I didn't, would I believe that ungrateful bastard?"

She then looked at Niu Shitong, who had nothing to say. He was also angry with Luo Li for accusing Niu San. After raising him for years, did he also have to make enemies? He glared at Niu Fuyun and shouted, "If it weren't for the stink on you, Luo Li wouldn't have pinned it on you. Don't think I don't know; you've always had your eye on Lin Yuhe. She didn't want you. After all these years, you still haven't given up!" He kicked Niu San in frustration.

Niu San's wife also felt anger towards her husband. She resented that she couldn't compare to the Lin family and was obsessed. Seeing her husband kicked, she didn't even bother to help. But now that Niu San had been taken away, she had no face left. She had to accompany him through this ordeal, no matter what.

Mrs. Wu saw Niu Shitong hitting her son and was furious. "Niu Shitong, I've been with you for a lifetime. What have you ever done that satisfied me? I told you not to raise that ungrateful wretch, but you wouldn't listen. Now you've raised trouble. If you won't take responsibility, I will. I'm going to Yunjiang to find that ungrateful wretch and ask him if his conscience has been eaten by dogs!"

She began to pack her things, but Niu Shitong quickly stopped her, his temper subdued. "Don't meddle. You can't go. This family can't do without you. I'll go to Yunjiang first thing tomorrow morning. I'll grovel for him, okay?"

The three of them exchanged glances and relaxed.

In Yunjiang County, Lin Yuhe's autopsy report came back, confirming that she had died of drowning. Zheng Zhihui used his connections to transfer the case to the county criminal investigation team, with police officers taking over the investigation.

Since there was a suicide note, the case was classified as a murder. Indirect killing is considered a form of intentional murder. Once the authenticity of the note was confirmed, suspects needed to be apprehended, so the investigation had to return to the scene of the crime in Changping.

When Niu Shitong arrived in Yunjiang, Luo Li and his group were already heading back to Changping. He didn't see Luo Li and didn't dare to go to the police station to inquire about the case.

Luo Li had anticipated that Niu Shitong would come looking for him. He didn't know how to face this man who was both protective and cowardly but had also saved him.

The case was quickly resolved. The suicide note was genuine, and a witness, Lin Yuhe's eldest daughter, testified that she had seen Niu Fuyun harassing her mother.

Niu Fuyun was arrested.

He confessed quickly: He had been infatuated with Lin Yuhe since school, but Lin Yuhe never reciprocated. The more he couldn't have her, the more he desired her. Even after they both married, his obsession didn't wane. With He Dali often away, his flattery and money failed to win her over.

Eventually, he resorted to coercion, seeking opportunities to force himself on Lin Yuhe to vent his years of resentment. As the youngest son in his family, with his mother in charge and his father, a renowned carpenter in three towns, providing ample money, he always got his way. He had never encountered obstacles before and lived as if he were invincible. After several failed attempts, he went to Lin Yuhe's home with ill intentions and was injured by her. That's why Luo Li couldn't find him those days; he went to the county to treat his injuries. The scream heard that night was his.

The treatment didn't help, and his wife discovered his true intentions. She didn't catch eagles but chickens, which led to the incident where she caught Lin Yuhe and scolded her.