There's definitely something wrong with this murder mystery game-Chapter 634

Chapter 634: Chapter 548: Once I Had A Friend Chapter 634: Chapter 548: Once I Had A Friend “How many people are left in Osmanthus Village now?”

“A bit over a hundred and eighty.”

The Old Village Chief shrank on a small stool by the kitchen door, seemingly struck by some blow, his mood appeared somewhat downcast.

Upon hearing Xu Shuo’s inquiry, he sighed and said, “The people of Osmanthus Village are basically descendants of the Wang, Li, and Zhang families, with the Wang surname being the most numerous.”

The Wang family’s numbers are still large; after all, they were once the dominators of Osmanthus Village.

Even now, despite a shadow cast over their legacy, their vast financial and material resources have led to an increasing number of descendants.

Up to now, the other two surnames aren’t as numerous in Osmanthus Village.

Take Tiezhu, for example, who is also surnamed Wang.

As for the village chief, he belongs to the People of the Zhang Family, who have always held the position of village chief in Osmanthus Village.

If the Wang family represents wealth, then the Zhang family epitomizes status.

...

As for the Li family…

They are nothing.

In Osmanthus Village, the presence of the Li family is like that of commoners, squeezed between the Zhangs in front and the Wangs behind, without any chance to turn over.

And indeed, that has been the case.

It has been so for sixty years.

The Old Village Chief analyzed, “Therefore, I think the person who stirred up this trouble is very likely from the Li family, because if we talk about grievances, it’s possible that the Li Clan is the most wronged party in the whole Osmanthus Village.”

Without money or power, in Osmanthus Village, the Li family could decide nothing, yet they were also caught in the vortex along with the Zhang and Wang families.

Because, besides the Wang Family, other villagers have also thought about leaving Osmanthus Village in the past.

But they couldn’t leave; no matter whether young or old, male or female, since that day, not a single person from Osmanthus Village could leave!

They’d been repressed in such a closed place for sixty years!

The village chief said, “After all, you are a Wang by surname.

Those from the Wang family are obsessively persistent about the continuity of their lineage to the point of madness; even if they have thoughts, they wouldn’t actually harm you.

As for our Zhang family, we’ve always been balancing the emotions of the villagers and wouldn’t stir up trouble at such a crucial time as the middle of July.”

Xu Shuo raised an eyebrow at those words, “So, you mean, after the middle of July, it’s not necessarily the case anymore?”

The village chief tugged at the corner of his mouth, “Don’t quibble over words.”

“So what you’re saying is that the killer who’s after me now has absolutely nothing to do with your Zhang family or the Wang family, it’s all done by the Li family?” Xu Shuo complacently summarized his statement.

“It’s not appropriate to speak too definitively, but there’s a high probability that’s correct,” the village chief nodded.

“How many people are left in the Li family?” Xu Shuo asked.

“Just over thirty.”

“And they all live in those houses at the foot of North Mountain?”

“More or less,” the village chief nodded.

Xu Shuo pondered, recalling the sight of Old Li he had seen the night before, and thought about the layout of those alleys.

The houses stretched out towards North Mountain with more than fifty households.

There were only three main streets, and although the alleys crisscrossed each other, they were actually very orderly.

For those familiar with the terrain, it wouldn’t be difficult to use the alleys to avoid attention.

But likewise,

Since everyone’s houses were so close together, it would be somewhat difficult to completely avoid everyone’s eyes.

Unless someone was covering for you.

Observing Wang Tiezhu’s thoughtful demeanor, the village chief’s expression gradually took on a meaningful air, saying, “Your current situation is akin to being an enemy of half of Osmanthus Village; even if you bear no malice, some will not let you off.”

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Xu Shuo looked at him, “So?”

The village chief’s spirits lifted, “Why not collaborate with me to find the troublemaker sooner?”

All said and done, the village chief was still indirectly coaxing Xu Shuo to join him in the search for the killer.

Xu Shuo sneered in response, then gestured with the fan in his hand toward the steaming basket in front of him; the implication was clear—I need to cooperate with you?

Do I need to fear those villagers?

Just emerge as the bride, and start killing indiscriminately!

The village chief’s mouth twitched.

But before he had time to think of further persuasive words, Xu Shuo retracted his fan to fan himself, and leisurely said, “However, cooperating with you is not out of the question.”

The village chief’s eyes brightened, “What are your conditions?”

“Find out the full truth about what happened back then,” Xu Shuo said.

“I’ve already told you everything I know, and I’m not clear on the specifics either, after all, I was just a little kid back then,” the village head said with a pained expression.

“Is that so?

But why do I get the feeling that you were quite special towards me from the beginning?” Xu Shuo said with a slight smile.

“!”

After hesitating for a moment, the village head said, “Back then, I had a very good friend named Tiezhu.”

Xu Shuo raised an eyebrow: “And then?”

Village head: “Then he died.”

Xu Shuo: “!”

Village head: “Maybe I felt a bit guilty about that friend, so I was very nice to you once you grew up.

After all, I don’t have a grandson of my own to this day.

I just thought you were a pretty good lad.”

The village head really was looking for ways to take advantage.

It’s likely not his first time playing the role of a grandfather.

He’s really getting into it.

Xu Shuo didn’t say anything more.

He saw that the osmanthus cake was almost done steaming, so he stood up and lifted the lid.

The fragrant steam billowed up thickly, filling half the kitchen, carrying with it the strong scent of osmanthus.

Only…

This steam was tinged with red.

And the fragrance of the osmanthus carried a hint of blood.

Xu Shuo, with his iron hands that feared no heat, picked up the steamer basket.

He waved away the misty steam and looked at the osmanthus cake layered on the cheesecloth.

The cake was red.

He then used a knife to cut the roughly two-pound osmanthus cake into pieces, evenly dividing it into eight.

He took one piece and offered it to the village head sitting by the door.

“Want to try?”

“!”

Looking at him strangely, the village head said, “You can just say it if you don’t want to cooperate.”

There’s no need to poison an old man.

Xu Shuo took back the osmanthus cake, sniffed it under his nose, and smelled a mix of osmanthus with a hint of blood, as well as a weird energy that was quite intoxicating.

But he ultimately did not try it himself.

He just put a piece into the Player’s Handbook.

Maybe he’d have a chance to eat it later.

At least if he ate it inside the Script Space, the chances of being poisoned to death by himself were not high.

In any case, the osmanthus cake was successfully made, and even though he didn’t know what it tasted like, its appearance looked quite good.

Xu Shuo covered the seven remaining pieces to let them cool.

Having finished all this, he turned to the village head: “Let’s go, down to the mountain.”

The village head immediately perked up at the words!

He swiftly stood up with the support of his walking stick, but because he rose too quickly, a cringe-inducing crack came from his old back!

“Ouch, ouch…

lad, give me a hand!”

“!”

Xu Shuo watched amusedly from the side, feeling fortunate that he hadn’t ended up with this role.

He stepped forward, his hand moving to the man’s waist and pushed hard with precise force!

Crack!

“Damn it!”

The village head’s back was fixed, but he inhaled sharply at the sudden relief.

After all, the body of this character was really that of a seventy-year-old man!

With such a body, even if one’s strength was formidable, one couldn’t dare to be too rough with oneself, otherwise, they would be staging their own untimely demise.

Just now, he almost thought his old bones were going to break!

But because that guy moved so fast, he didn’t have time to react.

The old village chief walked with his cane, looking at Wang Tiezhu, who walked ahead with a strong and sturdy body.

He wore a strange expression, seemingly lost in thought.

!