The Double
Chapter 281 - 111 Mute Granny_4

Chapter 281: Chapter 111 Mute Granny_4

Jiang Li was overjoyed and said, "I’m coming right away."

When she arrived in the room and saw the Mute Granny, who was wolfing down her meal as if she hadn’t eaten well in a long time, Ye Mingyu sat on the side, legs crossed, gnawing on a steamed bun. Upon seeing Jiang Li arrive, he said with a hint of pride, "Jiang Li, how about that? I brought her here without anyone noticing." He added, "Ugh, Feng Yutang is really bad luck, having someone follow me. If I hadn’t had someone disguise themselves as me to lead him away, who knows when I would’ve shaken off this trouble. The place where the Mute Granny was staying wasn’t under surveillance, but just to be on the safe side, I still waited until it was dark to bring her here."

Jiang Li looked towards the Mute Granny.

The old lady with grizzled hair swallowed the last spoonful of porridge before finally looking at Jiang Li.

The face of the Mute Granny was crisscrossed with wrinkles from old age, her eyelids drooping, her back hunched, and her stature small and thin, a clear representation of a frail old woman. Likely because she made her living turning over night incense, her body emitted an unpleasant odor that people tended to avoid at all costs.

However, Jiang Li did not show any sign of disgust. She simply said calmly, "Mute Granny."

The Mute Granny looked at Jiang Li for a while, then suddenly spoke, "Who are you?"

Ye Mingyu was startled; ever since he had taken this old woman with him, she hadn’t said a word. Even the surprise of being taken away was but a brief moment. People said that as one grows old, one becomes unflappable, and Ye Mingyu assumed the old woman was just slow to react. When Jiang Li initially said that the Mute Granny could speak, Ye Mingyu thought it was a joke, but now, the Mute Granny had actually started speaking. Though her voice was raspy, it was still clear. He muttered to himself, "So she really can speak."

"My name is Jiang Li," Jiang Li said while smiling at her. "Mute Granny, I’m here to ask about the whereabouts of County Magistrate Xue’s former subordinates."

The Mute Granny replied, "I don’t know."

Jiang Li smiled, "How could you not know? Feng Yutang replaced all of Xue Huaiyuan’s people, except for you. He probably thought you couldn’t do any harm. But I know you do know, right?"

The Mute Granny said, "I know, but I can’t tell. If I do, my life will be over."

"Don’t you want to take revenge for County Magistrate Xue?" Jiang Li chuckled, "County Magistrate Xue was a good man." There was something she didn’t say: Xue Huaiyuan had once helped the Mute Granny.

Originally a widow, the Mute Granny’s husband had died young. She had no children and had not remarried. Because of her unattractive appearance and living alone, she was often bullied. When Xue Huaiyuan was appointed, the Mute Granny was already an ugly and bullied old woman.

She often picked up leftovers to eat and was unwilling to beg on the streets, frequently alternating between hunger and fullness. Seeing her in old age and in such pitiable conditions, Xue Huaiyuan allowed her to work at the county government office, turning the night incense. She could earn a small monthly salary, which was enough to feed and clothe herself properly.

Without Xue Huaiyuan, the Mute Granny likely would have frozen to death on some winter day. Her muteness was due to the years of bullying, which had led her to gradually stop speaking altogether, making people believe she could not speak. But Jiang Li knew the Mute Granny could speak, for once when Xue Zhao had given her some wild fruit he’d picked, she heard the Mute Granny thank him.

Feng Yutang had replaced all the people in the county government office, except the Mute Granny, probably thinking that someone who only turned night incense was of no use. Besides, the Mute Granny was mute, so even if she had seen or heard anything, she wouldn’t be able to speak out.

But the moment Jiang Li saw that the Mute Granny was still there in the county government office today, she knew her chance had arrived.

The Mute Granny looked at Jiang Li blankly, making her appear like a lifeless puppet. She mumbled vaguely, "Why should I trust you?"

"It’s not about trusting me," Jiang Li said softly. "It’s about trusting in fairness and justice."

"Is it fair that County Magistrate Xue was imprisoned? Is it just for someone like Feng Yutang to become the Local Judge? Not to mention, Mute Granny, your life must have been much better when County Magistrate Xue was around, at least with enough to eat and warm clothes, right?" Jiang Li smiled, glancing toward a table nearby where the food had been devoured by the Mute Granny, and the winter clothes she wore were riddled with many holes.

The Mute Granny lowered her head.

The wealthy young lady before her was right; life had been better when Xue Huaiyuan was in charge – she had enough food and warm clothing. Xue Huaiyuan’s son, Xue Zhao, and daughter, Xue Fangfei, often gave her things to help her out. Now, although she was still at the county government office, she didn’t even receive her small salary. Even her daily meals were the leftovers from the government officers.