HCB Chapter 314: One Official and Two Mouths
Chapter 314: One Official and Two Mouths
When the lawyer heard this, he was immediately furious. This ignorant country woman actually dared to refuse the county magistrate.
"You ignorant woman, do you know how powerful the county magistrate is?" The lawyer's eyes were wide open, spit was flying, and his voice was almost a roar.
"The fact that your daughter is favored by the county magistrate is a testament to your family's great success!" The lawyer gasped, his eyes full of threats and intimidation.
Xiuying retorted fearlessly, "Sir, you can't say that. Although I am a country woman, I also know the truth.
Marriage is a matter of mutual affection. My daughter is still young and doesn't want to cling to the rich and powerful. No matter how powerful the county magistrate is, he cannot force a commoner to marry him.
Furthermore, this so-called story of smoke rising from the ancestral tomb is absurd. My family has been honest for generations, relying on hard work and honesty, not relying on clinging to the powerful to bring honor to our ancestors!
Xiuying straightened her back, her eyes firm and sharp, and she met the master's gaze without flinching. "Sir, you are bullying others by taking advantage of your power. Aren't you afraid of being cursed by the people and bringing disgrace to the county magistrate's reputation?"
Xiuying's face was filled with anger and unyielding spirit. "Although I am a woman, I also understand the principles of a human being. I would never push my daughter into the fire pit. My Lord, please go back!"
Xiuying snorted angrily, turned her head away from her master, and her attitude was extremely firm.
The lawyer was so angry at Xiuying that he trembled all over, his face flushed purple, and he opened and closed his mouth but couldn't say a word. After holding it in for a long time, he could only curse in anger: "Ignorant woman!"
At this moment, the old village chief stood up tremblingly, with a flattering smile on his face, and said in a gentle voice: "Sir, our Great Yan Dynasty has a law that prohibits marriage before the age of 15. Are you breaking the law?"
"We in Futian Village have always been law-abiding. I hope you won't make things difficult for us, sir." The old village chief stroked his beard and continued, "If you insist on doing this, we can only go to the provincial capital to file a complaint. I believe that a judge will come to our aid."
When the lawyer heard that they were going to the provincial capital to file a complaint, he was stunned at first, and then he laughed unscrupulously.
"The word 'official' has two parts. Our county magistrate's father-in-law is the Jizhou prefect, Liu Guozhong, Lord Liu."
The lawyer's smile grew more arrogant, his eyes filled with contempt. "You country bumpkins, you dare to dream of going to the capital to file a complaint? That's just wishful thinking!"
The lawyer took a step forward, pointed at everyone, and spoke in an extremely arrogant tone.
"Just wait for the wrath of the county magistrate! You will be in trouble then!" said the lawyer gritting his teeth.
The master's eyes widened with anger, the veins on his neck bulged, and he roared, "Go!"
"In a few days, these ignorant people will be thrown into jail!" The lawyer turned around and shouted at the top of his lungs, "You will cry when the time comes!"
When the officials heard the order from the lawyer, they quickly picked up the boxes, followed the lawyer, and left the village in a rage.
Tian Guilan struggled to squeeze out of the crowd, a flattering smile plastered on her face as she said sarcastically, "Xiuying, for a country girl like Shiliu to be favored by the county magistrate is a blessing earned through several lifetimes! You better not be ungrateful and bring trouble to everyone."
Xiuying glared at Tian Guilan in anger and hit back mercilessly: "Sister-in-law, if you want to be the county magistrate's concubine, then go ahead. Anyway, we don't have any pomegranates!"
"Although our family is poor, we also understand propriety, righteousness, and shame. We would never sell our daughters for fame and fortune just to curry favor with the rich and powerful!" Xiuying stepped forward, pointed at Tian Guilan's nose, and shouted, "Sister-in-law, stop making sarcastic remarks here!"
Xiuying looked at the village chief with a serious expression and said anxiously, "Old village chief, I have something to discuss with you."
The old village chief nodded seriously and said, "Okay."
Xiuying turned around and gently asked her daughters to go back first, saying, "Girls, go home first. Mother has something to discuss with the village chief."
Afterwards, he hurried to the old village chief's house.
As soon as they entered the old village chief's house, Wang Shufen warmly made a pot of tea for Xiuying and comforted her, "Xiuying, don't worry. No matter what happens, there are still so many people in our village."
Wang Shufen smiled and gently pushed the teacup in front of Xiuying. "Luo Jingan is a corrupt official who bullies others by taking advantage of his power. We can't be afraid of him." Wang Shufen said indignantly with her hands on her hips.
The village chief looked at Xiuying with concern and asked, "Xiuying, what's the matter?"
Xiuying looked worried and told the village chief urgently, "Chief, I think it's best to build a solid gate at the entrance of the village as soon as possible. Just having a wall won't do."
"The simple fence at the entrance of the village is of no use at all. If the people we encountered today were bandits instead of people from the government office, our village would be in danger." Xiuying said worriedly.
"If bandits attack, that fence won't be able to stop them, and everyone in our village, young and old, will suffer." Xiuying took a deep breath and continued.
The village chief frowned, pondered for a moment, and then said, "The wall is still missing the last section at the back of the village, which is indeed a problem. However, let's have everyone build two sturdy gates at the entrance of the village tomorrow."
After saying this, the village chief consoled her, "Xiuying, don't worry. We are under the rule of the emperor. If that corrupt official dares to act recklessly, he will be punished!"
"Our Great Yan Dynasty has strict laws. How can a mere county magistrate like him really cause trouble?" The village chief straightened his back and spoke in a loud voice, "As long as we villagers are united, we won't be afraid of him abusing his power."
Coming out of the village chief's house, Xiuying walked hurriedly with an anxious look on her face.
When I got home, before I even stepped through the door, I heard Shi Liu's voice filled with anger and regret: "I really regret not killing him that day! How could I have ever fallen for that bastard!"
Xiuying hurried into the yard, hugged Shiliu in her arms, and comforted her, "Shiliu, this matter is not your fault. Don't worry, mother will take care of it."
"Mom won't let anyone hurt you, so don't think too much." Xiuying patted Shiliu's back, her voice gentle but powerful.
Afan took a step forward with a determined look, looked at Shi Liu with a burning gaze, and said loudly, "Shi Liu, don't worry! I...we won't let you marry that bastard official. We will protect you!"
Afan clenched his fists tightly. "Even if it costs me my life, I will never let that bastard succeed!" Afan gritted his teeth, veins popping out on his forehead. "I, Afan, always keep my word!"
Xiuying turned around and asked Taohua to accompany Shiliu to the room with a serious look, and reminded her: "Taohua, take good care of Shiliu."
Then, Xiuying called Wang Dali and said in a low voice, "Dali, go to Pingyang County and tell Lord Wu that the Jizhou prefect is now Luo Jingan's father-in-law, and Luo Jingan is the new Qingshui County magistrate. He wants to force Shi Liu to become his concubine."