A Little Expert at Showing Support

"Ah..."

As Song Ankang's words fell, Liu Yuanqing and the surrounding Tenant Farmers erupted in uproar. For a moment, they were left speechless, only then realizing that there was a huge flaw in their self-righteous deductions and speculations.

Earlier, everyone had fixated on the suspicious points surrounding Hao Jiyong, yet no one had noticed the things that did not add up. Only after Song Ankang pointed them out did they begin to awaken to them.

Looking at Liu Yuanqing and the others, their faces flushed with shame, Song Ankang continued, "Besides, isn't there another way to prove whether Hao Jiyong was lying?"

"Since Hao Jiyong said that ten-year-old ginseng had been picked recently, and it has not been long since he picked it, he must still remember roughly where it was. Follow him there and take a look. If ten-year-old ginseng truly grew in that place, there will always be something distinctive about it. You people, who regularly cultivate ginseng, should be able to tell."

"If that ten-year-old ginseng had been left over from last year, it would certainly differ greatly from fresh ginseng. All it takes is a comparison to get the answer. Do I really need to spell that out?"

Everyone fell silent, unable to say a word.

Many things in this world could originally be explained clearly. Yet when people's blood ran hot, not only did they fail to clarify matters, they often pushed them in an even worse direction.

By the time it was finally proven that the matter was mistaken, it was already too late.

Some might find it unbelievable, but just think of those women in ancient history who were sent to the stake because one action of theirs seemed improper, and one would know just how ignorant ancient people without a certain degree of knowledge could be.

Not to mention that this matter concerned everyone's very survival, and Hao Jiyong indeed had many suspicious points. With Liu Yuanqing egging them on, it was only natural that everyone would do such a thing.

"Thank you, Son-in-law, for saving my life. I truly did not do this. I can take everyone to where I dug up the ginseng—I remember that place perfectly."

"Thank you, Master, for saving us. Our whole family will never forget your kindness. Once we return, we will certainly set up an Eternity Tablet for you and pray for you day and night."

"Thank you, Master. Thank you, Son-in-law."

Hao Jiyong's family wept until tears streamed down their faces. They knelt before Song Ankang, overflowing with gratitude. Their whole family knew that if Hao Jiyong had been thrown into the dungeon tonight, he might truly have been unable to endure the brutal torture and eventually been forced into a false confession. When that time came, a catastrophe that would blot out the sky would surely await their family.

Song Ankang's action seemed minor, but in truth, he had saved their entire family.

"Master, what should we do now? More than a dozen of our most precious Medicinal Herbs have been stolen. After paying this year's taxes, I fear everyone will have nothing left. When winter comes, many people will surely starve to death."

Seeing that the suspicion hanging over Hao Jiyong might be cleared, Liu Yuanqing grew anxious as well. Once Hao Jiyong was cleared, how would they recover those missing Medicinal Herbs? He looked at Song Ankang with a pleading expression.

Song Ankang pondered for a moment. "First, do as I said and verify whether Hao Jiyong's words are true. At the same time, do not allow him to leave the estate during this period. I will assist you in investigating this theft case. Also, if something like this happens again, you must report it to me immediately instead of handling it privately."

"Yes, yes, yes. This lowly one understands." Liu Yuanqing nodded repeatedly and began making arrangements. Under his direction, some of the surrounding Tenant Farmers returned home, while others continued searching inside and outside the warehouse for clues, as well as verifying whether Hao Jiyong's words were true.

Song Ankang did not return immediately. Instead, he took Qiushi and Jiang Yunhe into the warehouse to search for anything suspicious.

"Son-in-law, you're amazing! With just a few words, you saved Hao Jiyong's whole family. Before this, I also thought Hao Jiyong had done it."

Qiushi truly was a little expert at showing support. The moment they entered the warehouse, she cupped her delicate cheeks in her little hands and said with starry eyes, every inch the devoted fangirl.

Jiang Yunhe nodded as well. "To discover so many suspicious points in such a short time, Son-in-law's talent is indeed extraordinary. If you participate in the Imperial Court's selection in the future, perhaps you might even become an official."

"You flatter me. These suspicious points were not difficult to discover. Everyone was simply blinded by hot blood, and because this matter concerned everyone's lives and livelihoods, they acted somewhat impulsively."

Song Ankang smiled and shook his head. "Besides, while these suspicious points are conspicuous, they are not beyond dispute. If the thief cannot be found afterward, everyone will surely focus their suspicions on Hao Jiyong again."

"How could that be? Can't everyone see such glaring suspicious points? Would they still pin this matter on Hao Jiyong?" Qiushi asked in astonishment.

Song Ankang said, "If no other person more worthy of suspicion can be found, then Hao Jiyong will still be the most suspicious one. At that point, everyone will naturally fill in the blanks in their minds, argue away those flaws, and make the deductions most favorable to themselves. So for now, the key is still to find the thief who stole the Medicinal Herbs."

"This..." Confusion surfaced on Qiushi's childlike face. She clearly did not quite understand. Being so young, she had no deep understanding of the complexities of people's hearts and human nature.

Jiang Yunhe, beside her, nodded in admiration. "What Son-in-law says is exactly right. I never expected that, despite your young age, you would see things so clearly."

"Read enough books, and your mind naturally becomes a little sharper." Song Ankang smiled. "In the future, we can spread some basic knowledge throughout the estate. Otherwise, problems will always arise whenever something happens."

As he spoke, Song Ankang carefully examined the warehouse, looking for anything suspicious.

Although Liu Yuanqing was somewhat crafty, he had organized the warehouse fairly well. The various grains and Medicinal Herbs were sorted and stored neatly, handled properly enough to last at least several years, perhaps even decades without rotting away.

Having held the position of warehouse manager for so many years, Liu Yuanqing's professional abilities were still adequate.

As he walked through the spacious warehouse, Song Ankang could not explain why, but he kept feeling that something was off, as though something was hidden within the warehouse.

But people came and went through this warehouse regularly. If Demonic Creatures and Ghosts were truly hiding here, they would have been discovered immediately. How could they have remained until now?

Many people had searched for clues here during the day and that night, yet nothing had happened to them either. How could Demonic Creatures and Ghosts be lurking here now?

Moreover, ghosts and monsters should have no interest in the grain and Medicinal Herbs here. The dozen or so stolen Medicinal Herbs would be of no use to them.

As for Demonic Beasts and Demonic Beasts, if they had stolen the Medicinal Herbs, they would certainly have left clues behind, and not just a few. Yet there was not the slightest trace in the warehouse now, so it should not have been the work of Demonic Beasts and Demonic Beasts.

Unless those Demonic Beasts and Demonic Beasts possessed astonishing intelligence and knew how to conceal their tracks. But if they had intelligence that strong, why would they even care about the few things in this warehouse?

According to the records, Demonic Beasts and Demonic Beasts whose intelligence had reached such a level had basically surpassed First-rate Warriors. If they needed the Medicinal Herbs in the warehouse, they could simply seize them by force.

Furthermore, the inside and outside of the warehouse were built from Qinggang Stone. If Demonic Beasts and Demonic Beasts had entered to steal things, they would almost certainly have caused quite a commotion and left many traces behind.

Thus, both Liu Yuanqing and the others, as well as Song Ankang, quickly ruled out the possibility that Demonic Creatures and Ghosts had acted. Since it was not Demonic Creatures and Ghosts, then it had been done by a person.