Chapter 268 - Chapter 268: Search
Chapter 268: Search
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
The constables searched Wu Yueze’s residence and found gold ingots, gold leaves, silver ingots, and several pieces of jewelry. There were also deeds to houses and lands. Wu Tingxian looked at these things first and said angrily, “You’ve plundered so much of the people’s wealth in a few years. How detestable.”
Wu Tingxian first asked the constables to lock Wu Yueze and his wife into the house with ankle chains. He then stayed at the Wu family residence the constables and bailiffs for the night.
The next day, when Wu Tingxian brought Wu Yueze and his family out of the residence, he realized that the entrance was already surrounded by commoners. Everyone cheered loudly and grabbed the rotten vegetables that had been prepared in advance. When the rotten vegetables were smashed onto Wu Yueze, some were still cursing.
At this moment, a few villagers drove their ox carts to the entrance of the Wu family. An old couple with white hair and a haggard appearance alighted from their ox cart. The two of them stumbled in front of Wu Yueze and Madam Zhong. They grabbed the hair buns of the couple and shouted, “Damn it, you’re a thief. Return the lives of my son and daughter.” The old couple pounced forward and bit their cheeks.
“Quick, pull them away.” Wu Tingxian saw that the situation was bad and hurriedly got someone to pull the old couple away. It was then that everyone realized that the flesh on Wu Yueze and Madam Zhong’s cheeks had been bitten off. Madam Zhong covered her bloody face and cried loudly. Wu Yueze looked at Madam Zhong angrily.
An honest man and woman walked forward and supported the old couple.
The man looked at Wu Yueze and Madam Zhong angrily. “My brother’s child is only two years old and is now fatherless. My brother went up the mountain to gather firewood and never came back. My parents thought that he fell off the cliff. The villagers searched the mountain for a few days but couldn’t find him. After my sister got married and got pregnant, she went to the streets to sell things and never came back. My brother-in-law’s family even came to say that my sister didn’t abide by the moral code and eloped with someone. The constable came to our family yesterday and we found out that they were harmed by the wretched thief Zhong Bao, who killed them that day.”
“Kill them, kill them.” The people surrounding the door shouted. Wu Tingxian stood on the steps and shouted at everyone, “Don’t worry, everyone. When we bring them back, the government office will definitely punish them severely.”
“That’s right! Everyone, disperse! The officials have come to arrest them.” Wu
Tingxian walked up to the Chen family and cupped his hands. “Old man, after the court trial, the Zhong family will compensate you.”
The Chen couple burst into tears and cried, “No amount of compensation can save the lives of my son and daughter. My poor grandson is only two years old and has lost his father. How can he live in the future!”
Wu Tingxian persuaded with some guilt, “Don’t worry, Zhong Bao will also be sentenced to death. I’ll try my best to help you get more compensation. With the compensation, you can buy a few acres of farmland and everyone’s lives will be better.”
Old Chen looked at his son and daughter-in-law. What else could he do? The living had to continue living. He bowed shakily and said, “Thank you, sir.”
Wu Tingxian nodded first and took out a pouch from his pocket. He placed it in the old man’s hand and turned around to drive the carriage away with the constables and bailiffs.
The next morning, Zhou Jia went to the government office to arrange for official matters and returned to the back office. He reluctantly bade farewell to Li Yu and the child and left with two book clerks, Zhao Cai, Mr. Qian, Tie Zhu, and the constables.
Seeing Zhou Jia get into the cart and leave, Yangyang cried. Li Yu picked him up and coaxed him. “Yang’er, be good. Daddy is going to the office to catch bad people. Yangyang will stay at home with Mom.”
Yang Yang sobbed and looked at Li Yu. “Yangyang also wants to catch bad people. ”
“Alright, I’ll teach you martial arts. When Yangyang grows up, you can accompany Daddy to catch bad people.”
Li Yu looked at Yangyang and thought to herself that she should teach him martial arts whether it was for self-defense or for his health, and she might as well bring Seven Pounds along and let the two children learn together. After thinking about it, Li Yu brought the two children to the backyard and demonstrated a set of fist techniques to the two of them. The two of them widened their eyes in excitement as they watched Li Yu. They then got very busy emulating her moves.
Just as Li Yu was training happily with the two of them, Ruyi ran into the backyard and reported to Li Yu, “Madam, Shopkeeper Chu Feng of the Four Seas Bank is looking for you with the information he found.”
Li Yu stopped. “Alright, bring him to the front hall. I’ll go wash up and change before going.” Li Yu asked Gu Yu to stay in the garden and look after the two children. She quickly returned to the main courtyard. After washing up, she changed her clothes and went to the front hall where Ruyi was chatting with Chu Feng. When the two of them saw Li Yu, they stood up. Chu Feng cupped his hands and said, “Chu Feng greets Madam.”
Li Yu smiled gratefully. “Shopkeeper Chu, there’s no need to be so polite. Please sit!”
Chu Feng bowed and handed an envelope to Li Yu. “Madam, Madam Lin married into Yunzhou from Qingzhou. This is the news we received from Qingzhou. They sent a pigeon over and summarized the news.”
Li Yu took the envelope, stood up, and bowed to Chu Feng. “Shopkeeper Chu, sorry to have troubled you with my matter.”
Chu Feng hurriedly cupped his hands. “Madam, you flatter me. I came to ask you for help!”
Li Yu smiled and said, “Shopkeeper Chu, please tell me, as long as I can help you.”
“Madam, I heard that you want to buy wasteland. The bank has a barren mountain at the foot of the mountain outside the north city. No one has been taking care of it. I wonder if Madam is interested in taking over?”
Li Yu smiled and said, “Shopkeeper Chu, how is this asking me for help? It’s more like you helping me.”
Chu Feng cupped his hands and said with a smile, “Madam, that barren mountain was pawned by a gambler to a pawnshop a few years ago. It has long passed the date of redemption. If you like it, the bank will sell it to you at the price of the pawn. You would be helping me clear the bad debt and save such a large piece of land from being wasted.”
Hearing Chu Feng say this, Li Yu couldn’t refuse anymore. She nodded and said, “Alright, I’ll get Ruyi to pay the money and settle the procedures with you. Send someone to bring him to see the place. Before spring planting begins, hire someone to open some land first. Also, please pass a message to Head Shopkeeper Chu. Help me prepare one tael of rice seeds this year. I’ll buy them at the agreed price.”
Chu Feng stood up and said, “Yes, Madam. Since I have a letter that needs to be sent to Tongzhou, I’ll go back and pass the message to the head shopkeeper.”
Li Yu nodded and said to Ruyi, “Ruyi, go to the bank with Shopkeeper Chu and buy the wasteland.”
After Ruyi agreed, he went to the Four Seas Bank with Chu Feng. Li Yu returned to her room and opened the sealed envelope. She took out two pieces of paper. It was recorded that Madam Lin’s maiden name was Yuchang, and she came from the eldest branch of the Qingzhou aristocratic family, the Lin family. In the famine 24 years ago, members of the Lin family was burned, killed, and robbed by the rioting victims.
A few loyal servants of the Lin family protected the eldest son of the eldest branch, Lin Zexu, and fled Qingzhou with a pair of twin daughters. Madam Lin was the eldest, and the twin sister’s name was Yunjin. According to Lin Zexu and his sister, they got separated from their youngest sister during their escape. Lin Zexu felt that he had failed to fulfill his responsibility as an elder brother and had caused his sister to lose her life. Lin Zexu was now a member of the Hanlin Academy in the capital..