Seeing that no one sympathized with them and some even wore looks of relief, Yang Mengchen raised an eyebrow—it seemed Liao Xiaofu had aroused public outrage.

"Was Liao Xiaofu often drunk?"

"Every time he came back from the town, he was totally drunk," Dai Qiangsheng answered eagerly. "He'd drink with or without reason at home too. He simply couldn't be happy without alcohol."

"Have you seen how Liao XIaofu abused his wife and son?"

"He'd strip Er Dan naked and beat him with thin rattan strips until the boy was bruised and unconscious before stopping. As for the Lady of the Liao family, aside from beating and kicking her, he'd also use hot charcoal to burn her and stab her with scissors; his methods were endless and he was like a madman."

The villagers listened and seethed with righteous indignation. While they sympathized with Fang Qin and her son, they abhorred Liao Xiaofu deeply—such a person was worse than pigs and dogs!

Yang Mengchen's face remained as serene as still water, "Didn't Liao Xiaofu's parents stop him?"

"His father died early. He only had an old widowed mother who had always done everything to satisfy whatever he wanted since he was young; now she simply couldn't control him. Several times, he even brutally beat his own mother.

Now that he's dead, his mother, the Lady of the Liao family, and Er Dan will no longer have to fear being abused," Dai Qiangsheng said with a look of righteousness and concern.

Yang Mengchen watched Dai Qiangsheng quietly, his dark eyes harboring an unfathomable glint.

Perhaps Dai Qiangsheng himself was not aware that, while he outwardly spoke with righteous indignation to expose Liao Xiaofu's evil deeds, his words were obviously filled with jealousy and schadenfreude, clearly indicating a deep grudge against Liao Xiaofu.

Moreover, if he had not been constantly observing the Liao family's movements, even living next door, he wouldn't have known such details. So why was he paying such close attention to the Liao family? In other words, what about the Liao family was worth his plotting and scheming?

Sister Jin, having spent so many years in the palace, and Xiao Hongtao, who had broken countless cases, keenly sensed something was amiss with Dai Qiangsheng, but both chose silence, watching him intently.

Even though Yang Mengchen's expression was gentle and his gaze clear, Dai Qiangsheng inexplicably felt uneasy inside. He hurriedly lowered his head, not daring to meet his eyes, as cold sweat began to seep from his body. A chill wind blew, and he suddenly felt a shiver run down his spine.

At that moment, Wang Tong and another villager led two women and a child toward them, "Reporting to the official, Miss Yang, the Liao family has been brought here!"

Several villagers who had heard the news followed behind.

Seeing the haggard and emaciated looks of the Liao family's mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, especially the frail Er Dan, Yang Mengchen's brows knit slightly.

"The Liao family's mother-in-law and daughter-in-law have seen the official!" They hurriedly knelt down to salute, with Er Dan obediently kneeling beside his mother, his pair of black eyes filled with fright and unease.

Xiao Hongtao gestured for the three to rise.

"Why did you bring the child along?" Yang Mengchen asked Wang Tong. "I remember there's a young man in the Liao family. Where is he?"

The Grandma of the Liao family eagerly explained, "It's not this brother's fault—it was because I was worried about my daughter-in-law that I brought along my grandson. Song Lin is my distant nephew, not a member of the Liao family, so I didn't ask him to come."

Instructing Wang Tong to take Er Dan aside, Yang Mengchen pointed to the corpse and said to the two women, "Take a look, do you recognize this person?"

It was only then that the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law saw a rotting body laid next to the well, scaring them pale.

Fang Qin, trembling, helped her mother-in-law walk to the body. After staring for a good while, they also looked carefully at the corpse's right hand. Fang Qin was about to scream when the Grandma of the Liao family quickly gripped her hand tightly, almost painfully, which made Fang Qin cover her mouth hastily.

Her eyes were filled with shock, resentment, fear, panic, and a complex sense of relief, while the grandma's face was full of sadness and regret.

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