The Double
Chapter 315 - 118 Grace_3

Chapter 315: Chapter 118 Grace_3

"Yes," Jiang Li calmly looked at him, "whether County Magistrate Xue is a good official or not, and whether he would embezzle the fund of disaster aid, the people of Tongxiang would not be ignorant. I would like to ask this uncle if he is willing to stand out as a witness to exonerate this innocent County Magistrate of his wrongful accusation."

Butcher Zhang stared steadily at Jiang Li.

Actually, his eyes were very small, almost a mere slit, making it difficult for one to see his expression clearly. This Butcher Zhang was also alone in the world, to this day without a wife, because he was too ugly and fierce-looking, and no one dared to approach him. Looking down from above at Jiang Li, it seemed like he might lift his butcher’s knife against Jiang Li in the next moment.

However, in the next moment, he suddenly burst into loud laughter.

Jiang Li had never seen Butcher Zhang laugh like this before. She had seen him forcing a friendly smile upon seeing her, seen him showing a bashful smile to pretty girls on the street, and seen his relaxed smile when he chopped bones with his knife, but she had never seen him laugh so heartily. It was as if a long-held wish had been fulfilled, the joy of having one’s thoughts come true.

He said, "Little girl, I’ve been waiting for you in the house since early morning, thinking you wouldn’t come, but finally, you did. I am willing to stand out! To go with you and overturn the case for Lord Xue!"

This time, it was Jiang Li’s turn to be astonished.

Amidst Butcher Zhang’s laughter, Jiang Li thought for a moment and asked, "Why are you willing?"

"Why am I willing?" Butcher Zhang looked at her, as if she had asked a funny question, and said, "You should ask me, why would I be unwilling? To me, Lord Xue is like a parent who gave me a new life. Back when someone slandered me, accused me of killing someone with my pork, and labeled me a murderer, I was wrongfully imprisoned and suffered terribly in jail. If not for Lord Xue’s keen insight and his decision to reexamine my case and restore my innocence, I wouldn’t be here today!" He paused vigorously with his long knife, "Hey, though I’m a butcher who slaughters pigs, I’m not an ungrateful wretch!"

Jiang Li knew this story. When Xue Huaiyuan first took office, the previous county magistrate had taken bribes. In that case, it was clearly a wealthy family’s son who had caused trouble, but after bribing the former magistrate, they found a scapegoat. It was clearly not Butcher Zhang who had poisoned someone, but they insisted the victim had died from eating Butcher Zhang’s meat. Butcher Zhang became the sacrificial lamb, and the magistrate, having taken the money, couldn’t care less about an ordinary butcher’s innocence. Because of Butcher Zhang’s fierce appearance, at the time, no one doubted the verdict.

After Xue Huaiyuan took office, he noticed the discrepancies in the case. He risked offending that influential family in Tongxiang to overturn Butcher Zhang’s sentence. Fortunately, the evidence was conclusive, and Butcher Zhang’s name was cleared, saving his life as well. From then on, Butcher Zhang regarded Xue Huaiyuan as his savior.

"I’ve experienced prison myself and know the taste of being wronged. To say that a person like Lord Xue would embezzle silver, no one would believe it! I originally thought to find a way to take the life of that dog officer, Feng Yutang, but it seemed even by doing so, I couldn’t save Lord Xue in prison, shameful as it is, and I’ve delayed for so long. I planned to raid the execution ground after five days, alone if need be. Even if I died, at least I would be with my benefactor. My benefactor wouldn’t feel wronged then, saying that saving me in the past was a mistake!"

Butcher Zhang looked at Jiang Li, "Little girl, I see that you and your companions are no ordinary people, with a high social status and not afraid of Feng Yutang’s power, determined to overturn the case for Lord Xue. I believe in you! Since that’s the case, count me in for reversing Lord Xue’s case. Whatever you ask of me, through thick and thin, I will not hesitate! After all, I have no family, no one to call my own. All I have is this butcher’s knife, and I will take this knife and slaughter those beasts who are no better than pigs or dogs!"

Jiang Li had not expected to hear such words from Butcher Zhang’s mouth. She suddenly felt as if she had never truly known this butcher, this man of integrity. Nor had she expected that while the people of Tongxiang universally avoided Feng Yutang and were intimidated by his power, there was someone secretly planning to overturn her father’s case.

Perhaps Butcher Zhang wasn’t the first one, maybe others like him existed as well. Feng Yutang may suppress people’s words and actions but not their hearts.

Jiang Li’s heart surged with emotion in an instant.

She bowed deeply to Butcher Zhang.

Butcher Zhang was taken aback and hurriedly said, "Little girl, what are you doing?"

"I want to thank you on behalf of County Magistrate Xue," Jiang Li earnestly said, "We know what Feng Yutang has done in Tongxiang, and it’s not something just anyone can do, to stand up and speak for County Magistrate Xue. I am very grateful that you can stand out."