Chapter 553 - 555: Going to Court
Chapter 553: Chapter 555: Going to Court
Li Cuicui covered her mouth, her laughter filled with unconcealed glee. "Oh, what to do? Our family’s only cart has already taken the two doctors back. The other donkey carts are still out making deliveries and haven’t returned. Why don’t you just bear with it a little longer?"
"Make the boys run and bring the doctors back for me."
"Tsk, tsk, tsk. I didn’t realize that when you hurt your legs, you hurt your head too. By now, the doctors should have already entered the city, and the city gates are closed. Whatever it is, you’ll have to wait until tomorrow.
I just wonder if you’ll even be able to keep those legs of yours by tomorrow."
Hearing this, Gu Dashishi felt a wave of despair wash over him.
He understood full well what Third Uncle had said here earlier.
Even now, as he lay completely paralyzed on the brick bed, it was likely that everyone would be happy to see it happen.
’But why? I’ve suffered my whole life. Was it so wrong to want to live a few good days?’
’It was all Li Cuicui’s fault, that jealous shrew. If I had known she was so vicious, I should have listened to Brother Duan and finished her off with a cup of poisoned wine long ago.’
When Li Cuicui saw Gu Dashishi’s pathetic look—one filled with impotent rage, as if he wanted to tear her apart but couldn’t move—she burst out laughing with delight.
"Don’t you worry. For the sake of our marriage, I definitely won’t be harsh with you when it comes to food. I’ll always make sure you can fill your stomach."
Only in the days that followed would Gu Dashishi come to understand that his definition of "not harsh" and hers were worlds apart.
He could forget about delicious food; he was lucky if any meal left him feeling even sixty percent full.
＆
The next day, Gu Yuanjin led his brothers and rushed to the courtyard where the Chen Family woman lived, arriving the very moment the city gates opened.
This time, facing mere women, the brothers weren’t foolish enough to get their own hands dirty. Instead, they brought their respective wives to lead the charge.
The Gu family’s daughters-in-law were the ones most disgusted by this Chen Family woman’s appearance.
If they didn’t deal with this woman, their own husbands might get ideas and follow suit.
So, the wives charged in together, grabbing and hitting, and gave the Chen Family woman and the old maidservant and young maid she had with her a sound beating.
Their fury intensified, especially when they saw the extravagant furnishings in her courtyard.
Their mother-in-law had lived frugally her entire life, yet all that money had been lavished on some seductive tramp.
At first, the Chen Family woman shouted that she was going to report them to the authorities for trespassing, but when she realized the people before her were Gu Dashishi’s sons and daughters-in-law, her face turned pale.
Seeing that the women had vented most of their anger, Gu Yuanjin finally told them to stop. "Fourth has already gone to the county government to deliver a formal request for a hearing. Find some rope and tie them up."
Liu Liu ran out and grabbed a coil of rope from the ox cart. "No need to look, I already have it ready."
Xie Ruyi remarked, "Our fourth sister-in-law is always the most thorough."
"You can’t do this to me! I am your father’s concubine, which makes me your elder! Aren’t you afraid of being struck by lightning for acting like this?"
Liu Liu glanced up at her. "What kind of elder are you? Just because you say you’re my father-in-law’s concubine, that makes it true?
Where’s the indenture? Did you pay respects to the main wife?"
’Does she really think we village women are ignorant? Over the years, we’ve made sure to learn everything we needed to, just in case.’
’I can’t imagine what’s going through her head,’ Xie Ruyi thought. ’A mere teenager, trying to act like an elder in front of people who are already grandparents.’
"Let’s get her to the county government first," Xie Ruyi said. "Our father-in-law has poured so much Silver into this for no reason. She might be a swindler, and you can’t trust a swindler’s words."
At that moment, Li Xiaohua found a dirty rag from somewhere and stuffed it directly into the woman’s mouth. "I was getting tired of her seductive whining. Now it’s finally quiet."
The Gu Family Brothers had been standing outside the main gate the whole time. Even under the curious gazes of the neighbors, they held their heads high, completely unfazed.
It wasn’t until someone in the crowd mentioned the brothers’ origins that Gu Yuanjin raised his voice to the onlookers. "I’m sure that you neighbors have seen my father bringing things here recently. We suspect this is a scam targeting the elderly. We are preparing to take this person, bound, to the Lord County Magistrate and let him decide the matter."
"That can’t be right. I saw him coming and going with that young lady. She must be Old Master Gu’s mistress."
Gu Yuanjin immediately looked toward the person who had spoken. "Everyone, please don’t misunderstand.
We’ve already asked our father. There’s no such thing.
Otherwise, we, his children, wouldn’t dare risk being labeled unfilial by interfering in our elder’s affairs.
And to call her a mistress is even more absurd.
Our family is not wealthy or powerful. My father is just an ordinary old man with only a few taels of broken silver to his name. How could he possibly afford to set her up with such a large estate?
My father also noticed that she was spending money lavishly and that the source of her Silver Taels was unknown. He was afraid she was part of some gang of swindlers and worried she might scam others, which is why he had us bring her, bound, to Mr. Xia."
"Who knows if you’re telling the truth? I heard Grandpa Gu was the one who spent the Silver to buy this courtyard and a manor for her. Aren’t you just here to get rid of the mistress on your mother’s behalf?"
Gu Yuanjin chuckled. "If you are long-time residents, you should know that our Gu family split up the household years ago. Although my parents have us sons to support them, their lives are only a little better than the average person’s.
My father is just one old man. Where would he get so many Silver Taels to buy her a manor and a courtyard?
I heard this woman was a maidservant who only bought her freedom two months ago. Where did so much money come from? Isn’t anyone curious?"
The neighbors fell silent. Gu Yuanjin continued, "My father thought it over and felt there was something very wrong with this woman. He was afraid you neighbors might be deceived, and that’s why he had us brothers make this trip.
As for what’s right and wrong, the magistrate will naturally pass judgment in court."
That seemed to make sense. Was there something fishy going on or not? It would all become clear in the courtroom.
＆
In the main hall of the county government.
The Chen Family woman adamantly insisted that it was Gu Dashishi who had set her up in that courtyard and that he had bought everything for her.
County Magistrate Xia said, "This is slander! Grandpa Gu’s food, lodging, and expenses are all arranged by the old madam of his house. He normally doesn’t even have two taels of Silver on him. How could he have possibly set you up with such a large estate?
Now, confess to this magistrate where you got this huge sum of money!"
The Chen Family woman replied, "Grandpa Gu really did give it to me. As for where his Silver came from, shouldn’t you be asking him, Your Honor?"
County Magistrate Xia asked, "Gu Yuanjin, what is your view on this matter? Should this magistrate summon Grandpa Gu?"
Gu Yuanjin said, "I’m afraid I’m not clear on the matter myself. I can only ask my father.
However, my father accidentally fell and injured his legs yesterday and is currently bedridden.
Since this young lady claims my father purchased all these things, then they should be the property of the Gu family.
My father must have been muddled to put such a large estate in the hands of an outsider. I ask Your Honor to make a judgment and transfer ownership of all these assets to my mother’s name."