Chapters 16-19Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Chapter 16 Summary: “A Deaf Constable Reveals the Key to the Problem; Judge Dee Sends Out His Men for Apprehending Shao”
After the librarian does not find any information on Turn up Pass, the judge calls in the oldest of the constables. One of them, who is semi-deaf, tells the judge about his turnips and mentions that they are from Szuchuan Pass. Since Szuchuan had been given as a clue in his dream, Judge Dee decides to further question the constable and realizes that Shao is hiding in Szuchuan or Turnip Pass and that Djao had mistaken Turnip for Turn up.
Judge Dee sends out Ma Joong, Chiao Tai, Djao, and the half-deaf constable to apprehend Shao.
Chapter 17 Summary: “Djao Learns the Ways of the People of the Passes; Having Found Shao, He Is Enticed by a Clever Lie”
When Djao and the constables reach the village, the judge’s men go to the local hostel while Djao continues on to the local silk merchant’s shop. When he gets there, he calls for Shao and tells him a fictitious story about how Djao was cheated by the Divine Village distributor and how he wants to take revenge on him with the help of his friends (the constables) and Shao. Shao believes him but refuses to leave until the following day, as he needs to settle some debts. The murderer invites Djao and his friends to come back the next day for a celebration, after which they will all depart for Divine Village.
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