Exile with Storage Space: Family Fortunes in the Barren Lands-Chapter 622 - 579: Guoguo Assists (5)

Wei San said, "Yes, Chunli and Chun Qiao from Qian Hong Lou both saw it."

The shopkeeper’s wife from Qian Hong Lou said, "Lord, I also have witnesses, Chen Si, Chen Wu, any of the staff from Qian Hong Lou can testify."

The County Magistrate glanced at the two women and again asked Wei San for the names of those involved.

He ordered the government officials to summon them.

Several officials each rode to summon the people, and before long, all the witnesses were brought in.

But to Wei San’s surprise, the witnesses she pointed out all opposed her statement.

"Sir, Shopkeeper Ye Niangzi did not ask her to accompany guests for wine; it was she who got into an argument while speaking to someone and, in her haste to leave, accidentally bumped into the jade bottle on the shelf," said Chunli and Chun Qiao together.

The witnesses brought by Shopkeeper Ye Niangzi also echoed what these two maids said.

All claimed Shopkeeper Ye Niangzi did not ask Wei San to accompany guests for wine.

They all said that Wei San was reckless, lazy, and clumsy, which is why she accidentally broke the vase.

The man Wei San claimed was pestering her also denied her accusation, saying instead that Wei San was trying to flirt with him and he chased her away.

Wei San was dumbfounded, loudly declaring, "Sir, it’s not like that! They are lying! They are framing me."

Yang Runsen, shocked by the outcome, also cried injustice on behalf of Wei San.

County Magistrate Li, upon seeing the testimonies, furrowed his brow.

Shopkeeper Ye Niangzi of Qian Hong Lou glanced at the recording County Magistrate Liu, smirking smugly.

The onlookers started gossiping amongst themselves.

They didn’t recognize Wei San, but seeing her young and beautiful, while Yang Runsen appeared honest yet poorly dressed, some speculated that Wei San must have despised Yang Runsen for his poverty and attempted to associate with a wealthier man, only to be rebuffed and inadvertently break the jade bottle.

Only a few people spoke in defense of Wei San, saying that the shopkeeper Ye Niangzi from Qian Hong Lou was cunning and not a good person.

Li Lixing blinked, "How could this happen? Didn’t win the case?"

Li Yuzhu was also anxious for Wei San and Yang Runsen.

However, in a lawsuit, witnesses and evidence are crucial, and since Wei San went onto someone else’s premises and broke something without witnesses, she had no choice but to suffer in silence.

"Yang Runsen and Wei San are going to lose." Li Xingmao sighed, shaking his head, "Without strong witnesses and no one speaking for them, they’ll have to pay for the jade bottle."

"Xiang Gong." Guoguo looked at the Judgement Hall, suddenly saying, "Xiang Gong will help Wei San."

Li Yuzhu, carrying Guoguo, turned to look at the little girl, "Guoguo, who’s Xiang Gong?"

"A good person, from Qian Hong Lou." Guoguo replied again.

Li Xingmao also looked at Guoguo, just as puzzled, "Guoguo, how do you know Xiang Gong will help Wei San?"

Guoguo glanced at her father, but did not answer.

Li Yuzhu and Li Xingmao, "..."

This child was being mysterious again.

"Big brother, could it be that Guoguo heard something during the interrogation, or something Yang Runsen said, that we missed?" Li Yuzhu wondered upon hearing the name Xiang Gong, though she couldn’t recall ever hearing it before.

Sometimes, children’s thoughts run in different directions than adults and they unexpectedly notice specific details.

Li Yuzhu thought as much.

Li Xingmao pondered, "Let me give it a try."

Li Yuzhu said, "Give it a try."

Li Xingmao shouted loudly towards the Judgement Hall, "Yang Runsen, Wei San, ask Xiang Gong if he can testify?"

Yang Runsen had never been to Qian Hong Lou and didn’t know who Xiang Gong was, but Wei San did.

Having been at Qian Hong Lou for a day, she was familiar with most people helping in the rear courtyard of Qian Hong Lou.

Whether what Li Xingmao said was true or false, what if Xiang Gong could really testify? She said loudly, "Xiang Gong from the rear courtyard of Qian Hong Lou can testify."

The County Magistrate struck the gavel, "Summon Xiang Gong!"

A government official received the order and withdrew.

Shopkeeper Ye Niangzi from Qian Hong Lou glared furiously at the crowd behind her, wondering who could be so hateful as to remind Wei San?

Yang Runsen realized that it was Li Xingmao who had prompted Wei San, feeling deeply grateful to Li Xingmao.

Wei San was tense, as she was facing the possibility of having to pay a thousand taels if Xiang Gong couldn’t testify.

Before long, the official brought in another witness.

It was Xiang Gong, an old man at Qian Hong Lou who didn’t do much work but loved to manage things.

This old man, around seventy, with white hair and beard, was not tall and had a thin body, but his eyes were exceptionally sharp.

When he saw Ye Niangzi, he swung his cane and scolded, "You troublemaker! You causing trouble again? I’ll beat you to death!"

Frightening Ye Niangzi into a scream, she quickly covered her head and ran away. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

"Bang—, silence!" County Magistrate Li seized the gavel and suddenly struck it heavily.

Only then did Xiang Gong lower his cane, trembling as he raised his robe to kneel.

At this moment, the County Magistrate said, "The old man is too old, you’re only a witness, there’s no need to kneel. Someone, bring a seat!"

A government official brought a chair and invited Xiang Gong to sit.

Xiang Gong thanked him and sat down.

Ye Niangzi glared at Xiang Gong, kneeling far away.

The County Magistrate struck the gavel and read aloud the paper written by Yang Runsen, then stated the accounts of both parties.

The County Magistrate asked, "Xiang Gong, Ye Niangzi accuses Wei San of breaking a Jade Bottle, demanding her to compensate a thousand taels, while Wei San claims that Ye Niangzi forced her to accompany men to drink, and she accidentally broke the Jade Bottle while fleeing in panic. Between the two parties, who is right and who is wrong?"

Xiang Gong pointed at Ye Niangzi, "She is lying!"

Wei San felt relieved in her heart, so much that her eyes turned red with emotion.

Yang Runsen quietly tugged her hand, giving her comfort.

Wei San turned to look at him, holding back her tears.

Only Ye Niangzi was gritting her teeth in anger.

The County Magistrate Li asked again, "Xiang Gong, why do you say Ye Niangzi is lying? Please explain in detail."

Xiang Gong said, "I am her uncle, her father is my own nephew. Her parents passed away early, and I raised her myself. She has been cunning and deceitful since childhood, and this Wei San was tricked in by her."

"..."

"I personally saw Wei San being chased and pulled by this man, and Wei San broke the vase while fleeing in panic."

"..."

"Moreover, that is not a Jade Bottle; it is merely an inexpensive Bright Tile bottle. It was already broken and glued with clay. It was glued by this old man! How can it be worth a thousand taels? Not even a thousand coins!"

Ye Niangzi glared at Xiang Gong in anger.

The County Magistrate Li struck the gavel again, and shouted sternly at Ye Niangzi, "Where is the vase?"

Ye Niangzi hesitated, unwilling to speak.

"Speak!" The County Magistrate Li demanded coldly.

The Government Officials by the side thumped their killing rods, making loud thudding noises, and simultaneously shouted "Strength" in unison.

It was a fearsome display of authority.

Ye Niangzi was terrified and had no choice but to speak the truth, "Thrown...Thrown in a corner in the kitchen."

"Someone, take Ye Niangzi away and retrieve the vase!" The County Magistrate Li shouted towards the hall.

Two Government Officials stepped forward, grabbed Ye Niangzi and dragged her out.

In no time, the Government Officials returned with the broken vase and Ye Niangzi.

The Government Official handed the vase fragments to the County Magistrate’s desk.

After inspecting them, the County Magistrate Li handed them to the County Magistrate Liu who writes documents, "County Magistrate Liu, take a look, is this Bright Tile?"

Bright Tile, made from polished shell, is a thin and transparent piece. Some use it to make lanterns shielding against the rain, and most people use it for rooftop tiles, allowing light in and keeping rain out.

Some craftsmen turn Bright Tiles into various decorative items, including vases.

Polished transparent, and engraved with patterns, resembling jade.

But lighter than jade, thinner, and the sound is not crisp.

It is a completely different material from jade, very recognizable.

Of course, when seen from a distance, without careful scrutiny, it can be mistaken for jade.

County Magistrate Liu said with a smile, "My Lord, it is indeed Bright Tile, not jade."

"Does it have traces of clay on it?" The County Magistrate Li asked again.

"It does."

"Make a record!" County Magistrate Li ordered.

County Magistrate Liu glanced at Ye Niangzi, shook his head silently, and made the record.

"Ye Niangzi, do you have anything else to say?" County Magistrate Li pointed to the Bright Tile vase and Xiang Gong, "The evidence and testimonies prove you are lying, you and your people are all lying."

Ye Niangzi dared not argue a single word, bowed her head, and pleaded, "Lord County Magistrate have mercy."

To cover up her greed, Ye Niangzi claimed that Wei San had spoken arrogantly and displeased her, prompting her to think of this plan to scare Wei San, not truly intending to be greedy for money.

County Magistrate Li struck the gavel and made a judgment.

Since the vase is a fake jade and was already broken, the compensation of a thousand taels of silver is canceled.

Ye Niangzi is punished with twenty strokes for falsely accusing Wei San.

The other accomplices are each fined ten strokes.

Ye Niangzi was so frightened that she collapsed onto the ground.

Her close associate, County Magistrate Liu, could not avoid secretly bribing, asking the Government Officials to lighten the blows.

Meanwhile, Xiang Gong, furious, didn’t even look at Ye Niangzi, and walked away with his cane.

Wei San and Yang Runsen thanked the County Magistrate Li and chased after Xiang Gong to express their gratitude.

Xiang Gong waved his hand, saying he hadn’t properly managed Ye Niangzi, and refused the thanks.

As he passed by Li Yuzhu, he heard a little child calling him clearly, "Xiang Gong."

Xiang Gong turned around, surprised to see a little girl in red with two braided horns, smiling back at him with eyes as big as black grapes.

Xiang Gong was stunned; he didn’t recognize her.

He smiled kindly at the girl, "Hello, little girl." He walked out of the county government hall with his hands behind his back.

Li Yuzhu glanced back at Guoguo, thinking, is this child naturally sociable?

Greeting everyone, striving to make connections with everyone?

The case concluded, Ye Niangzi and her group were all beaten and left the scene, amidst laughter from the onlookers.

Wei San and Yang Runsen were cleared of their injustice, and together they thanked Li Yuzhu, his siblings, and Li Lixing.