Chapter 36 Investigate the Arsonist
Facing the huge grief, the village chief didn't know how to comfort him for a while.
I could only sigh constantly.
"Grandpa, how did the fire start?"
Hua Jifu, the eldest grandson of the village chief, put down the big basin in his hand and asked in confusion.
"Why is it so good that it catches fire?"
The villagers who heard this immediately started discussing.
"Yes, yes, how did you get up?"
"I don't know how to cook at night."
"Did you drop the fire fold or something? Did you accidentally light it?"
"How is it possible? It's so cold tonight, how could Huo Zhezi's sparks light up?"
"Besides, the fire can't be ignited for no reason."
No one in the village thought of deliberately setting the fire.
What hatred and ruthlessness can lead to arson?
Besides, the sheds of each family are so close to each other, so you have to consider whether setting fire will burn your own home.
The village chief thought for a long time but couldn't figure it out, so he called out to Zhou Jin who looked at him calmly.
"Yijin, what's going on?"
"Why did it suddenly burst into flames?"
Zhou Yijin was stunned for a while, and then he slowly answered.
"I do not know."
"After dinner, our family went to bed early. We heard someone shouting for help outside and then we knew there was a fire."
After saying that, he lowered his head and refused to speak again.
It's strange, how did it start the fire?
Zhao Laoer, covered in black ashes, came over carrying a bucket of water, followed by several men carrying buckets.
There was no open flame, just a few sparks.
Zhao Laoer wiped the sweat from his face, and black ash stuck to his face, as if it was smeared with carbon.
"The fire has been put out, great."
The men carrying water behind them breathed a sigh of relief, put down their heavy buckets, and took a breather.
"Right! I'll go first
What was heard was Zhao Laoer's voice. "
"He was the first to shout to put out the fire."
The first person to come out only remembered this when he saw Zhao Laoer.
"He must know how to start a fire."
It was finally time to tell the truth. Zhao Laoer ran several times without stopping carrying a bucket full of water, and he was still panting.
"Hu-hu-, yes, it's Sun Ergou."
"I saw with my own eyes the fire he set."
Zhao Laoer took a breath and told everything he saw that night.
"I heard several dogs barking earlier, and I saw Erniu's dog following the barking."
"I was worried if something happened, so I went over there to see if anything happened."
"I saw three people sneaking around the Zhou family's shed. They must have burned three bundles of thatch and threw them into the shed when they were ignited."
"When the fire started, I saw Sun Ergou's face."
"There are two more, they should be Sun Sanniu and Sun Liuniu."
There are only four men in the Sun family, three young adults, two tall and one short.
After hearing what Zhao Laoer said, the village chief scanned the circle of people and did not see the Sun family.
"Where's Sun Ergou?"
When the village chief asked, everyone realized that the Sun family was not there.
"Why aren't any of them here?"
"I didn't see them just after putting out the fire."
"I didn't see it either."
The villagers asked one by one, and in the end they all said they had never seen it.
"I saw it!"
Hua Shiwen, the village chief's grandson, said loudly.
"When I went to the field to help get the shovel, I saw the whole family running into the field."
The village chief's land is at the east end of the village, next to the Sun family's land.
"Let's go find them together!"
"Yes! I have to ask clearly!"
Before the village chief said anything, the villagers organized themselves to go to the fields to find the Sun family.
"Don't worry!"
Several people stood at the wells and roadsides with torches to light up the people carrying the buckets.
"The one with the torch goes first, it's dark! Don't get separated!"
Now that the matter has come to an end, it is really necessary to find out the truth from the Sun family, so the village chief simply organizes the villagers to find someone together.
The three families whose sheds were burned down would rather it be arson than an accident. They rushed to the front of the crowd and must find the Sun family as soon as possible to ask questions!
A group of people rushed towards the fields at the east end of the village.
It was dark and it was difficult to see the road, so the younger children were carried along.
"Dad, what about the children in the house?"
Basically, everyone participated in the firefighting this time. Children who were too young to help could stay at home.
Mr. Zhao thought for a while.
"Let's go back and pick him up, let's go together!"
I don't feel safe leaving the child in the shed. If something unexpected happens again, I might as well take him away with him.
The Zhao family returned to the shed to pick up their children, and other families with children also hurried back to pick up their children when they saw it.
After such a serious fire, we dare not leave our children alone at home.
A shed is no better than a sturdy house, anyone can easily enter it.
The whole village acted together and there was no need to worry about anyone taking the opportunity to steal something.
Lu Ming was hugged by Zhao Laosan and wrapped in a warm quilt.
There were several torches, but it was difficult to see the road clearly when they were far away. Zhao Laosan walked carefully for fear of falling down his daughter.
For the first time outside at night, Lu Ming's perspective was limited and he could only see the dark sky and his father's chin.
Lu Ming, who had been in the shed before, only heard the noise outside and knew he was putting out a fire.
After a while, it became quiet outside and he was picked up.
What is this for? I didn't see the fire, so it should have been extinguished.
Why do you still need to go out to avoid it?
After passing through a pear forest, we immediately reached the fields, where we could hear weak barking dogs and threatening growls from a distance.
Listen to the sound of several dogs.
Following the sound, I saw a few figures before I even reached the Sun family's field.
They are even from the Sun family!
"Go away! Go away!"
"Beast, if you dare to bite me again, I will beat you to death!"
Several dogs from the village were also here, confronting the Sun family.
The Zhou family's big yellow dog had blood stains on its head and was covered in scars. It was still growling fiercely at the Sun family.
The second dog, Sun, was bitten the most. He was lame on one leg and there were traces of dog bites on it.
Sun Sanniu and Sun Liuniu were guarding the parents and children in the middle, one on the left and the other on the right.
He kept driving the dogs away with a thick stick, and there were bite marks on his hands and legs.
The big yellow dog roared, getting ready to go.
"rhubarb!"
His own dog was seriously injured, and Tuesday Jin quickly called him to stop him. After receiving a stick, the dog died.
"Rhubarb, come back!"
Hearing his master's voice, Da Huang ran over obediently, wagging his tail.
The other dogs also smelled their master's scent, swung their tails and ran towards their masters.
The dog was gone and the danger was gone, but the Sun family didn't dare to relax at all.
Why did the whole village come?
"Sun Ergou! What are you doing here?"
The village chief stood in front holding a torch and asked loudly.
Sun Ergou didn't believe that the village chief knew it was them. He thought the fire could not be controlled and the whole village evacuated.
"Village Chief, aren't you afraid of fire? Come and hide in the fields."
"Hmph!" The village chief didn't believe Sun Ergou's words at all, "Then why is the dog chasing you and biting you?"
"This……"
Sun Ergou was quick to talk glibly, but for a while he really couldn’t find any reason.
.
The dogs in the village will not bite people for no reason, not to mention that everyone in the village has seen the dogs and will not bite people in the village.
"Did you set the fire?"
On Tuesday Jin touched his dog distressedly, not in the mood to deal with Sun Ergou.
"Don't talk nonsense!"
Sun Ergou retorted confidently.
"Why do you say I was the one who released it! I'm going to sue you for slandering a good person!"
"Just because my dog chases and bites you!"
"What else do you have to say?"
On Tuesday, Jin and Sun Ergou quarreled, and were supported by two families who also burned down their houses.
"Why didn't you run away? You have a guilty conscience!"
"The whole village is putting out the fire, but you are the only one running out. You are clearly trying to escape."
Sun Ergou frowned and refused to admit it, "Why do you say that? You have the ability to provide evidence!"
Zhao Laoer shouted to Sun Ergou, "Stop being so harsh, I've seen you all."
"You also have Sun Sanniu and Sun Liuniu. You three were sneaking around the Zhou family's shed. You lit a fire and burned the thatch and threw it in."
"When you ran away, Rhubarb bit you."
Sun Ergou was stunned that he was actually seen.
Sun Sanniu didn't believe it, "It's impossible, I went around and didn't see you."
"Idiot! Shut up!"
Sun Ergou felt bad when Sun Sanniu spoke. This fool would only do bad things if he opened his mouth!
Sure enough, Sun Sanniu's words confirmed Zhao Laoer's words.
"Here, I admit it."
Zhao Laoer identified the person, and the rest was none of his business.
"Village chief, what do you think we should do?"
The village chief was so angry that he was dizzy, "You! You, you, you!"
"Why did you set the fire?"