Wen San had indeed begun to consider leaving. Staying in Little Cold Village offered no future, only dangers at every turn. Taking this chance to leave was not a bad way out.
In truth, Han Dali's giving him three days was not without such intent. At the very least, he had been given some time to think.
Once the time was up, if he did not want to take the blame and become a sacrifice for Crippled Li's death, the best option was to run—to leave Little Cold Village. No matter how much the people of Little Cold Village condemned him afterward, their whips would be too short to reach him.
Of course, if he could find the culprit, he could also remain in Little Cold Village. No one would force him to leave.
It could only be said that Wen San and Han Dali shared a rather unconventional unspoken understanding.
I know what you are thinking, and I know what you are hoping for. So I will grant your wish.
This handling of the matter was, in fact, entirely acceptable to Han Dali—perhaps even the most acceptable outcome.
As long as Wen San left, he would leave bearing the blame. Crippled Li's death would be welded firmly onto him, impossible to shake off.
The village elders would not lose face either. The matter would have been handled properly enough that their authority would not be harmed.
"All right. Since this matter has been settled, let us discuss the next one. Crippled Li is dead and has no relatives. His house and property are to be reclaimed by the village. Does anyone object?"
Bighead Zhang was the one who spoke. If Crippled Li had relatives, the property would naturally go to them, and no one had the right to claim