Chapter 210 - Chapter 210: Chapter 210: Doing a Favor (1/2)

Chapter 210: Chapter 210: Doing a Favor

Translator: 549690339

This was reason enough for Ding Gaochang to believe that Zhuang Qingning had a well-thought-out plan.

“Miss Zhuang, is there anything we need to prepare?” Ding Gaochang asked.

“Find two or three strong swimmers, and prepare a small boat and a bamboo cage large enough to hold a person.” Zhuang Qingning instructed, “Also, make sure that the fraudster who swindled people out of their money is present when the time comes.”

“These are not issues.” Ding Gaochang nodded, “But…”

“How do you plan to capture that Water Ghost?”

“The Water Ghost is a mere figment of the imagination, and I’m sure you know that, sir. There is no such thing as a Water Ghost in this world, but rather the ‘ghosts’ in people’s hearts. So, you might want to…”

Zhuang Qingning said softly.

Ding Gaochang listened attentively to Zhuang Qingning’s words. His initially furrowed brow gradually relaxed: “That is indeed one way.”

“I was indeed trapped in a dead-end, only focusing on the Water Ghost and not considering the people involved. I am deeply ashamed.”

This, Ding Gaochang meant sincerely.

Since he took office as the county magistrate, he had handled many urgent and important cases. Each time he believed he had handled them properly, and he had his own way of solving cases. He was quite self-satisfied with this. However, this time, he indeed ran into a blind alley.

“As a county magistrate, you have to consider a lot more than I do,” Zhuang Qingning said with a smile. “Not only do you have to deal with the case, but you also have to consider the well-being of the people. Naturally, you have to take into account the impact of this matter on the people. But I only need to think about the Water Ghost, without any concerns.”

Ding Gaochang gave a faint smile: “Yes, Miss Zhuang, you are right. We’ve been trapped and hesitant to act rashly because of this.”

“Miss Zhuang, your method can indeed enlighten the people about the evil deeds of the ‘holy’ man and show them his true colors. However, some people always fall for such tricks and remain obsessed. His cousin is also fanning the flames. I’m afraid that even if we make the ‘holy’ man confess, there will still be people who will not be enlightened.”

“For instance, the ‘miracles’ the charlatan has shown to the villagers, such as standing chopsticks in water, taking copper coins from boiling oil, and bringing water in a bamboo basket, have led the villagers to believe in him completely. They believe that he is a real sage on the verge of becoming a celestial being.”

“Miss Zhuang, since you are so knowledgeable and understand the tricks of these swindlers who claim to catch and kill ghosts, do you have a way to prove that these miracles are just hoaxes?”

“These…”

Zhuang Qingning could not help but burst into laughter.

These tricks, she had seen some people use in her previous life when she was young to deceive people out of their money. She had never thought that these tricks already existed in ancient times. What surprised her more was that, after a thousand years, these deceptive practices had not changed at all.

She did not know whether to praise the intelligence of the ancient people or to criticize the stupidity of those in the modern era.

Zhuang Qingning could not help shaking her head slightly.

“Could it be that Miss Zhuang doesn’t have a solution to these?” On seeing this, Ding Gaochang’s face clouded over.