The Evil Mother-in-law: Torment Children, Work Hard, Be Rich!-Chapter 145: Kicking Them When They’re Down

Mrs. Zhang tearfully recounted how Xu Si dragged Gu Xiaocao into the haystack, how Gu Xiaocao resisted, how Yan Pozi reversed the accusations and ruined Gu Xiaocao’s reputation, and how their family was driven to live outside the village...

She told everything in detail.

"It’s not just my Xiaocao; many young wives and girls in the village have been harassed by Xu Si. Anyway, Xiaocao’s reputation is already ruined, and since it is, I want to seek justice for her. Lord Liu, you see clearly that Xu Si is a beast... his root was broken today, and Sister-in-law Tong acted for the people by removing the pest... I ask you not to punish Sister-in-law Tong."

"Xu Si, this beast who doesn’t do any decent work, is all coddled by his mother Yan Pozi. Whenever Xu Si harassed a girl or a wife, Yan Pozi would run to their door and scold them for seducing Xu Si, stubbornly refusing to acknowledge her son’s wrongdoing. The girls and wives harassed in the village not only can’t voice their grievances, but also have to be countered by Yan Pozi, having to swallow their bitterness without being able to speak out. Why is Yan Pozi so domineering? She has Xu Yong and Xu Kun backing her, they’re the ones indulging him."

"Three feet above our heads are gods watching, and today Qinghe Bay finally welcomed a just lord."

After spilling her heart out, Mrs. Zhang nearly collapsed, but was held up by Gu Taohua.

She originally had no courage, thinking since Tong Huaqiong wasn’t afraid of her reputation, why should she care?

Anyhow, Gu Xiaocao no longer had a name in the village, plus Gu Xiaocao worked in Tong Huaqiong’s shop, so she might as well throw caution to the wind and seek justice for Gu Xiaocao, and also support Tong Huaqiong.

She hated Yan Pozi and Xu Si fiercely, as well as Xu Yong and Xu Kun. If it wasn’t for their combined strangling, would Gu Xiaocao’s reputation be so bad?

She feared that just relying on Tong Huaqiong’s words wouldn’t be enough to severely punish Xu Si, or to bring down Xu Yong and Xu Kun.

County Magistrate Liu regularly listened to Aunt Qin and Mrs. Zhang’s complaints, and his gaze towards Xu Yong was extremely cold.

Those who have the courage to stand out, how many of those who don’t?

Seeing Aunt Qin and Mrs. Zhang stand up, some couldn’t help but want to come forward, but were quickly pulled back by those beside them.

What if the Xu family doesn’t fall today, what then if you’ve offended them?

Liu Tieshan observed everyone’s reactions, timely reminding: "Lord Liu has come to our village to bring justice for everyone; if you have grievances, speak up. Lord Liu has many matters to handle daily and has to hurry back to the county government, if you don’t speak today, tomorrow you’ll have to go to the government and beat the Injustice Bell."

The meaning is lost opportunities won’t return, hurry up.

Jingzhe supplemented: "Folks, don’t be afraid, Qinghe Bay is everyone’s Qinghe Bay, not a place for Xu Si’s mischief; Lord Liu acts impartially, not only Xu Si but those behind him will also be punished."

Jingzhe almost directly said, Xu Kun and Xu Yong are going down today, everyone quickly seize the moment to hit them till they can’t get up.

Jingzhe, with a youthful, righteous face despite speaking bluntly, still made County Magistrate Liu feel it was due to youthful justice.

The surrounding villagers began stirring, indeed, the opportunity won’t come again.

After all, those who didn’t speak for the Xu family had long become thorns in their side, if Xu Yong doesn’t fall this time, they’ll be the ones to suffer.

Now the wind favored Widow Tong; she’s the wet nurse of County Magistrate Liu’s child, the most sensible decision is to help Widow Tong stomp Xu Yong and Xu Kun.

Moreover, is this even stomping?

This is fighting against evil forces.

Everyone couldn’t hold back and started standing out to accuse Xu Si and complain about Xu Yong and Xu Kun.

"My daughter was touched by Xu Si, and Yan Pozi went around ruining my daughter’s reputation, causing her to be rejected by her fiancé."

"My wife was doing laundry by the river when Xu Si lifted her clothes, I went to the Xu family to demand justice for my wife and was beaten by Xu Si’s four brothers."

"What Gu Xiaocao’s mother said is true, Xu Si the beast is being indulged by Xu Kun and Xu Yong. Lord Liu, the Xu family is corrupt from top to bottom, Xu Yong is no good either, he has several mistresses in Niujiashan of Moon Bay, honestly with Xu Yong’s ugly face, no young wife would want him, he probably coerces them, Lord Liu you must investigate properly."

"Xu Kun is even worse, as the Xu Family Patriarch, he took a fancy to my fertile land, wanted to swap it with his land by the mountain base, I refused and the Village Chief started giving me trouble. Lord Liu, please stand up for me, help me get my land back, if I get this year’s harvest back I’ll offer incense oil for you at the temple."

...

Everyone gathered courage and spoke out about what Xu Si, Xu Kun, and Xu Yong did.

Xu Yong angrily shouted: "Bold bandits, how dare you slander me, the Village Chief."

Tong Huaqiong straightforwardly said: "Where’s the slander? Everyone is just speaking about what you’ve done. If you think what you did is shameful to mention now, why didn’t you think of that when you were doing it?"

Xu Yong was choked speechless by Tong Huaqiong.

"And you, Uncle Kun, it’s not just me saying this, as the Clan Leader you’re too incompetent, not only failing to restrain the Xu family juniors but also colluding with the Village Chief to bully the villagers. Still, the Village Chief is your nephew, you should show the dignity of a Clan Leader and manage things." Tong Huaqiong unrelentingly criticized Xu Kun.

Xu Kun defended: "Earlier, Daxi’s father mentioned the land swap, it was all instigated by Xu Yong, otherwise why would I swap the land and not farm it, but let Xu Yong farm it?"

"Second Uncle, what do you mean? You were the one who insisted on swapping that fertile land, saying it was for me to farm, and let me farm a few years till everything blows over, then it’ll be under your name."

The Xu family was about to erupt in conflict.

This was the outcome Tong Huaqiong desired.

County Magistrate Liu’s face was ashen, Xu Kun and Xu Yong admitted in a roundabout way to what they’ve been doing in Qinghe Bay.

"Ahem, Lord Liu, last summer I was cooling by the river when Xu Si touched my arm, I’m fifty this year with grandchildren, and this matter has festered in my heart because it’s too embarrassing to mention. For the past year, I’ve experienced chest tightness and shortness of breath because of it, and even after seeing a doctor and taking medicine, it hasn’t helped much."

"Lord Liu, you must seek justice for me, I want Yan Pozi to compensate me with two laying hens."

The speaker was Granny Sun.

County Magistrate Liu: "..."

"This granny, my office doesn’t engage in private punishment, you can’t demand two hens without facts and evidence. If the facts are clear, my office will surely ensure you get justice." County Magistrate Liu said.

County Magistrate Liu had been to Qinghe Bay many times and had met Xu Yong and Xu Kun, but never before heard of these absurd affairs.

He couldn’t help but ask the villagers: "In the past my office visited the village many times, why were these matters not mentioned before?"

The villagers all looked towards Tong Huaqiong, fearing County Magistrate Liu wouldn’t believe them. If Xu Kun and Xu Yong didn’t fall this time, and they faced misfortune afterward, it would be a huge problem.

"Lord Liu, it’s not the fault of us common folk, the Xu Family Patriarch and Village Chief controlled the entire village and silenced everyone, plus the Xu family has many juniors, everyone has families to feed and fears speaking out and facing their retaliation." Tong Huaqiong said.

"The villagers of Qinghe Bay can’t even read a single word, and never been to the county government, don’t even know how to beat the Injustice Bell. Xu Kun and Xu Yong said, even if a complaint was made, you were in league with them. Only now knowing Lord Liu as a just lord do folks dare to speak honestly."

Tong Huaqiong’s intention was clear.

Previously, Xu Yong and Xu Kun had tight control, preventing anyone from daring to speak out.

And adding a hint that Xu Yong and Xu Kun stained Lord Liu’s reputation, making everyone think he was in cahoots with them.

In short, it was Xu Kun and Xu Yong who deceived everyone.