The Country Maiden: Fields and Leisure-Chapter 864 - 863: I’ve Been Longing for You to Arrive

The Head of Yamen glared at him: "Shut up! If you can’t speak properly, then keep your mouth shut! If you keep running your mouth without a filter, sooner or later you will die because of it! Let’s see who can save you then!"

The government official chuckled awkwardly: "I’m just talking to you, Head!"

"Keep your thoughts to yourself if they’re worthless! Besides, did you receive any bribes?" the Head of Yamen asked suspiciously.

The official’s face changed, and he quickly waved his hand: "Head, you misunderstood! I was just asking casually. I’ll get to work right away, start working!"

With that, he hurried off.

The Head of Yamen’s expression changed, but he said nothing more. He signaled to a few of his capable subordinates and forcefully squeezed through the crowd, finally making it into the shop.

Those women were also tired after a while of commotion, and the people from the Tian Family Shop were scratched all over with not a single piece of good skin left.

Those who were somewhat clear-headed blocked the way: "We just want justice, not to cause deaths! Otherwise, even if we are justified, it will turn out to be unjust! Keep them alive for now and let them face heavy punishment in prison!"

"This auntie is right; let’s rest for a while. The government office is bound to send people! And as for the Tian Family, I don’t believe their master can hide forever like a coward! Look, their daughter-in-law is among us here! If he has any sense of honor, he will come to retrieve her soon; otherwise, when it gets to the Government Office, they’ll be shamed!"

"Listening to you all, I hope the heartless master of the Tian Family doesn’t come so they lose face! They did such a wicked thing, causing us to be disfigured, how can they still have any honor left?"

"That’s right!" Many of the women echoed.

Lady Fang was in great pain, and after her face was scratched in an unguarded moment, she quickly reacted by covering her face and squatted down.

But these women, in a fight with deep hatred, didn’t hold back!

Some were pulling her hair, some pinching her underarms and waist, where the meat is tender, and some even kicking her directly.

She dared not move, knowing without looking that she was covered in bruises, and a piece of her scalp was pulled out along with her hair.

She was barely holding on to consciousness, fearing that if she fainted, these women would scratch her face terribly.

Upon hearing the women discussing sending her to the hall and being flogged, she became anxious and scared.

The laws nowadays are such that anyone summoned to the hall, man or woman, must first endure a flogging, holding onto life to make a complaint.

If she were really taken to the hall...

Thinking of this, Lady Fang couldn’t endure any longer and fainted.

Beside her, the shopkeeper and several assistants were scratched with blood and flesh everywhere without a piece of good skin left.

If their clothes were lifted, their waists, arms, and legs would be full of pinching marks.

Huddled together, they wished for the government officials to arrive, preferring to be flogged in the hall rather than being tormented by a group of women.

When the officials finally squeezed into the shop, they saw a group of women chatting energetically. Topics ranged from how your child misbehaves to the clothes they bought and planning a shopping trip together.

"I tell you, the shop next door is unreliable, go to the one on the west street, it’s good quality and cheap!"

In the corner, the shopkeeper and assistants were barely holding on, finally seeing their saviors.

Tears streamed down their faces: "You—you’re finally here! We’ve been waiting for you—"

Two of the younger assistants couldn’t hold back and cried loudly, clutching the officials’ legs and refusing to let go!

These officials had been patrolling this street for over ten years and had never seen such a scene, feeling goosebumps and wanting to shake people off.

But the assistants knew the officials were their salvation and wouldn’t let go.

In the end, they had to drag them outside, becoming the center of attention.

One official, who was a bit more hot-tempered, unsheathed his knife and knocked someone out, dragging him away.

The remaining one, looking at the already drawn knife, gritted his teeth and lay flat on the ground.

The official with the knife felt his forehead twitching, thinking today’s situation was utterly poisoned!

He dragged the people out, but Lady Fang was still a problem.

The officials were all men, and Lady Fang had fainted; they couldn’t just drag her out.

The Head of Yamen was troubled.

At this moment, Shopkeeper Tian finally arrived with his second son, Tian Sihai.

They had been at their manor outside the city.

Over the years, the Tian Family had accumulated wealth and bought a small manor outside the city, with not much farmland but mostly hills unsuitable for farming.

The manor was cheap because most people didn’t want it.

But the Tian Family needed such a manor; those hills others didn’t want were treasures to them, perfect for growing flowers.

After over a decade of operation, they had acquired almost all the hillside land in the vicinity at low prices, which now formed one large estate.

Growing flowers and plants was perfect for making their own rouge and powders.

Because there were flowers all year round, many people started visiting.

Shopkeeper Tian had a knack for business, building small courtyards near the flower sea for rental to elegant ladies or noblewomen for gatherings and appreciating flowers, gaining some fame.

Every year, scholars studying in Jing County would come here for poetry and competition during flower-viewing seasons.

Young ladies also loved gathering here, from spring flowers to pear blossoms, peach flowers, roses, pomegranates, jasmine, gardenias, osmanthus, chrysanthemums, and plum blossoms, always finding an excuse to meet.

Shopkeeper Tian connected with various networks through this, helping his business grow.

That day, after looking around their flower estates and discussing matters with the manor head, asking about the recent visitors and business, he was satisfied and got into his carriage to return home.

On the way, he imparted instructions to his son, Tian Sihai, "This year’s flowers were a bit late and not as lush as usual! These days, send someone secretly to investigate whether the manor head has ulterior motives or other issues?"

Tian Sihai nodded: "Understood, father!" He handed over a water bag flatteringly.

Given their current wealth, they could easily afford tea.

However, Shopkeeper Tian, having spent years roaming the streets, preferred drinking water made from local tree leaves, which quenched thirst uniquely, and he couldn’t change this habit.

Even now, he carried just a water bag when traveling.

After taking two sips, Shopkeeper Tian spoke a few more words and was about to drink again when the carriage suddenly braked hard.

The water bag squeezed its contents over Shopkeeper Tian, chipping his tooth, and he rolled several times inside the carriage.

Outside, a panting voice shouted: "Master, bad news! There’s trouble at the Rouge Shop—"

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