The Evil Mother-in-law: Torment Children, Work Hard, Be Rich!-Chapter 146: Exiled to Lingnan
County Magistrate Liu was indeed furious, his anger reaching new heights.
Not only did Xu Kun and Xu Yong abuse their power and indulge the Xu family’s unruly behavior in the village, but they also tarnished his reputation.
A magistrate who loves the people like his children, seen by the villagers of Qinghe Bay as an incompetent official who cannot distinguish right from wrong.
This greatly damaged his image.
Today, he had to rectify this.
County Magistrate Liu had just stated that no unauthorized judicatory sessions should be set up in Qinghe Bay, but he could document Xu Si’s crimes on the spot.
Moreover, there were ready complainants.
Jingzhe voluntarily took up the responsibility to write it down, and Tong Huaqiong made the first accusation.
"Lord Liu, I am Gu Xiaocao, and I also want to personally accuse Xu Si."
Upon hearing in the town store that Tong Huaqiong was bullied by Xu Si, Gu Guangkui quickly brought her to the village.
Liu Qiaoyun also came along; they both wanted to add further charges against Xu Si.
She hated Xu Si with a passion, and at the village entrance, she was greeted by a friendly old lady who informed her that County Magistrate Liu was here to uphold justice, so how could Gu Xiaocao let Xu Si go?
"Lord Liu, Xu Si threatened to forcibly marry me in the village, and Xu Yong encouraged Xu Si by sending matchmakers to my home from time to time, forcing my parents to move outside the village, making me afraid to return. Please, Lord Liu, seek justice for me," Gu Xiaocao mournfully cried.
Liu Qiaoyun chimed in, "Lord Liu, as I was on Mr. Xu’s ox cart, Xu Si, in broad daylight, intended to act indecently towards me. It’s Aunt Tong and Taohua who came to my aid to stop Xu Si. Today, Aunt Tong was bullied by Xu Si because of me... there were other village witnesses on the ox cart that day. If there’s even a shred of falsehood in my words, may I face dire consequences."
Jingzhe held the pen, meticulously listing Xu Si’s crimes on the paper.
Aside from Xu Si’s violations, Xu Yong’s protective role as Village Chief and Xu Kun’s inaction as Xu Family Patriarch were also indispensable parts of the record.
After Jingzhe finished writing, County Magistrate Liu ordered the accompanying government official to read it aloud.
Tong Huaqiong was the first to press her handprint, followed by Gu Xiaocao and Liu Qiaoyun, with other villagers also adding their handprints.
"Take them away," County Magistrate Liu instructed the government officials.
This time, County Magistrate Liu came to the countryside mainly to inspect the wheat harvest, so resolving cases like this was beyond his scope of work; thus, the accompanying government officials did not bring wooden stocks or other detainee equipment.
Enthusiastic villagers provided rope, with which the officials tightly bound Xu Si.
Xu Yong and Xu Kun were also bound together.
They were to be escorted to the county government to await their fate.
"Brother, what do you think Xu Si will be sentenced for?" Liu Shan asked a friendly-faced government official out of curiosity.
The surrounding villagers perked up their ears.
"Even if it’s not a death sentence, there’s no escaping a severe penalty. At the very least, he’ll be exiled to Lingnan and won’t return for at least ten or twenty years."
Bound tightly, Xu Si trembled like a sieve.
Suddenly, a foul smell filled the air.
Xu Si had urinated in fear.
"Even with a broken root, one can still pee."
In the village, a mischievous child curiously eyed Xu Si.
Gu Xiaocao smiled; the demon Xu Si was finally departing from her life, and she wouldn’t have nightmares anymore.
This smile appeared as a provocation in Yan Pozi’s eyes.
Yan Pozi let out a howl and almost fainted.
Exiled to Lingnan! 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶
She didn’t know where Lingnan was, but she knew it wasn’t a good place.
During the festive times when she listened to opera, the stories spoke of the miasma and wild beasts of Lingnan, where surviving convicts returning home was as rare as smoke rising from ancestral graves.
Yan Pozi was deeply grieved; her son had broken roots and legs, making survival even to reach Lingnan uncertain.
"Lord Liu, my son is all because of Xu Kun and Xu Yong’s indulgence. If they hadn’t said that the Xu family descendants could do anything in Qinghe Bay without consequence, would my son have committed such serious crimes? Lord Liu, they should have Xu Kun and Xu Yong executed."
Yan Pozi cursed while charging at Xu Kun and Xu Yong, only to be quickly pulled away by officials.
"Yan Pozi, for bullying village girls and indulging your son’s misconduct, you too will be taken away," County Magistrate Liu stated mercilessly.
Upon hearing that she was to be taken, Yan Pozi howled and fainted as the officials borrowed rope from the villagers.
The three Xu brothers watched the situation in fear, hardly daring to breathe.
Afraid that they too might be taken away.
Officials led Xu Si, Xu Yong, Xu Kun, and Yan Pozi away.
Villagers clapped in satisfaction, proclaiming County Magistrate Liu as a just and virtuous official.
Finally, change had come to Qinghe Bay today.
In the future, the Xu family would no longer be able to dominate other surnames in the village.
"Lord Liu, with Xu Yong taken away, we in Qinghe Bay will have no village chief. How are we to pay the grain tax in a few days?" Tong Huaqiong asked.
Liu Tielian stood nearby, his heart pounding.
He aspired to be the village chief, confident of performing better than Xu Yong.
"Aunt Tong, do you have a good candidate in mind?" County Magistrate Liu directly inquired of Tong Huaqiong.
Tong Huaqiong thought about it and said, "We all know Liu Tielian in our village is a capable person who acts fairly. The village canal was dug under his leadership, and he handles matters justly whenever things need mediation. If you ask me, I think he’s suitable to be the village chief."
Tong Huaqiong felt that since she was asked, she ought to nominate Liu Tielian.
She had wanted to choose someone from the Gu family, but who in the Gu family could shoulder the role of village chief?
The Gu Family Leader had yet to appear, and surely he had heard of her being bullied.
Her stepson Gu Dahuan was too silent to be village chief, and Gu Dashu was too impetuous to manage the role.
Jingzhe was suitable, but was too young and focused on his studies for a future in government.
The only suitable candidate was Liu Tielian.
He had the village’s respect, acted fairly, and was her daughter-in-law’s uncle.
A favor to him would be wise.
Perhaps Jingzhe’s intent when sending Liutong to Niu Family Manor to request County Magistrate Liu’s help was to have Liu Tielian replace Xu Yong.
The Liu family had always been dissatisfied with the Xu family. For years, due to Xu Kun and Xu Yong, the Liu family had stayed out of the fray in the village.
How could they be content?
Suggesting Liu Tielian as chief was not only a favor to him but an entire acknowledgment to the Liu family.
"Since Aunt Tong nominated me, to refuse would seem insincere. Lord Liu, rest assured, leave Qinghe Bay to me, and I am certain I can serve as a good village chief," Liu Tielian seized the opportunity and affirmed to County Magistrate Liu.
Such a significant opportunity was not to be missed.
County Magistrate Liu didn’t find much to argue against.
He remembered Liu Tielian as slightly more dependable in demeanor than Xu Yong.
Letting him temporarily serve as Moon Bay’s village chief seemed reasonable; if unsatisfactory, a replacement could be made easily enough.
County Magistrate Liu smiled and said, "Very well, you can temporarily act as Qinghe Bay’s Village Chief, manage this year’s tax grain and summer farming affairs, and if well done, you’ll officially become Qinghe Bay’s village chief."
Liu Tielian expressed his gratitude repeatedly and assured repeatedly.
Liu family members were grateful to Tong Huaqiong upon hearing the news of Liu Tielian acting as village chief, while mutually warning amongst themselves not to let the Liu family’s reputation down like the Xu family had.
