The Evil Mother-in-law: Torment Children, Work Hard, Be Rich!-Chapter 236: What Is the Eldest Young Madam of the Zheng Family Worth?
County Magistrate Liu saw so many villagers coming up to him, and his temples throbbed. How many people has Xu Yong trapped?
"Everyone is waiting for the arrival of Lord Qing Tian," Tong Huaqiong said as she approached.
Tong Huaqiong didn’t mind letting more people know about her close relationship with County Magistrate Liu; familiarity breeds comfort, and she was determined.
"Manager Tong," County Magistrate Liu addressed Tong Huaqiong with the utmost respect.
The villagers were astonished.
Everyone else was a commoner, but Aunt Dajiao was a shopkeeper.
"Manager Tong’s act of distributing free medicine to the villagers of Qinghe Bay is something I’ve already learned about," County Magistrate Liu said with a smile full of warmth.
Tong Huaqiong replied modestly, "It’s nothing to mention."
County Magistrate Liu’s mouth twitched, this widow was overly humble, wasn’t she?
How could it be nothing? This medicine solved the culprit causing the corn to yield poorly.
Does Widow Tong even realize the immense credit for ensuring a bountiful harvest?
"Lord Liu, the pesticide sprayed on the corn in Qinghe Bay was provided by Aunt Dajiao, and the crops are thriving this year."
"Xu Yong stole Dashi’s recipe and ruined the corn in the neighboring village, now they’ve come to us, Xu Yong truly deserves to die."
The crowd started shouting.
Hearing the villagers of Qinghe Bay speak up, the people from other villages were not to be outdone.
Moreover, they were victims, giving them more conviction.
"Lord Liu, Lord Qing Tian, you have finally come. Our corn was all ruined by Xu Yong."
"Xu Yong sold fake medicine, he deserves to die."
"My family is relying on these two acres of corn for our winter food supply, and now Xu Yong ruined it all. How am I supposed to beg for food with my wife and daughter?"
...
County Magistrate Liu listened to the grievances of the victimized villagers, raising his hand to signal for calm.
"I have already understood the situation. To be honest with everyone, on my way here I passed by various villages and discovered many corn leaves turning yellow and stalks turning black; it’s undoubtedly caused by Xu Yong’s fake medicine."
"Since this official has come to Qinghe Bay, I will certainly seek justice for all of you."
"As for how to achieve justice, this official will make a plan to follow."
County Magistrate Liu cleared his throat to soothe everyone’s emotions.
He wanted to ask where that bastard Xu Yong was.
The villagers’ cornfields were destroyed, surely the culprit must pay compensation.
Yet, it was uncertain if Xu Yong could afford to compensate.
Tong Huaqiong stepped forward and said to County Magistrate Liu, "Lord Liu, the recipe was created by me, so I am considered a party involved. I’ve just discussed with the village chief, and now the situation of each village’s losses has been compiled. Why don’t you come to my house to see the situation and then make a decision?"
County Magistrate Liu looked approvingly at Tong Huaqiong.
This widow is truly his lucky star; she anticipated everything and prepared ahead of time.
County Magistrate Liu said, "Alright, let’s go to your house to make our decision. Each village chief should come along."
Tong Huaqiong immediately said to everyone, "Lord Liu will undoubtedly provide everyone with a satisfactory solution."
Tong Huaqiong led County Magistrate Liu and all the village chiefs to her courtyard, while Gu Dahuan and Gu Dashu offered everyone tea.
"You village chiefs brought village members carrying tools, anyone who didn’t know might think you came to Qinghe Bay to cause trouble. Xu Yong destroyed your crops, why didn’t you report it to the authorities?" County Magistrate Liu slowly asked after sipping tea.
The village chiefs internally lamented.
They were afraid reporting to the authorities would only punish Xu Yong but not offer compensation.
Of course, they dared not say this to County Magistrate Liu.
"Lord Liu, please be discerning. It’s not that we didn’t report to the authorities, but upon seeing the destroyed corn, everyone panicked and thought to first come to Qinghe Bay to see if Xu Yong had any formula to restore the corn." Village Chief Hu explained.
"Lord Liu, please be discerning. As farmers, upon seeing the destroyed corn, our hearts are bleeding, unable to think of anything else but to seek justice from Xu Yong." Village Chief Zhang added.
The other village chiefs nodded in agreement.
Initially, the village chiefs complained that Tong Huaqiong invited the county magistrate too slowly, suggesting they could register the damaged situation themselves and directly divide Xu Yong and Xu Jin’s grain.
Now they had to admire Tong Huaqiong’s foresight; she was preventing everyone from being labeled as troublemakers.
"Lord Liu, everyone is correct. As farmers, anyone whose corn is destroyed will feel pain; Xu Yong sold them fake medicine and it’s natural they sought Xu Yong first. Once the village chiefs arrived at our village, we discussed it, saying that whether it’s compensation or punishing Xu Yong, it should be reported to the authorities. Who among us doesn’t know that Lord Liu loves his people as his own children, and upon hearing of the situation, you rushed over to seek justice for everyone." Tong Huaqiong said.
County Magistrate Liu was elated by Tong Huaqiong’s praise "love his people like his own children."
He didn’t intend to punish everyone; he merely wanted to warn the villages to report major matters and not set up private courts in the villages.
Thinking about the difficulty of farming life, who would patiently report the matter first instead of taking revenge when their land was destroyed? He decided not to find fault with the village chiefs.
"Wasn’t it mentioned outside that the list of damaged areas was compiled? Where is it?" County Magistrate Liu asked.
Village Chief Hu had been waiting for this, he unfolded the documents in front of County Magistrate Liu and said, "Lord Liu, this is the damage situation of our village, and we dare not falsify."
Subsequently, Village Chief Zhang and other village chiefs also presented their lists.
The idea to compile lists of village losses was proposed by Tong Huaqiong, recorded by Liu Tieshan.
Liu Tieshan felt slightly embarrassed seeing his scrawl-like handwriting presented to County Magistrate Liu.
He wished Gu Jingzhe was here instead.
County Magistrate Liu looked at the lists and frowned. Every village in Yan Guan Town had damage, especially Guazhou Bay and Moon Bay were heavily damaged.
Compensating so many people was problematic; could Xu Yong afford it? The county would have to open the granary.
County Magistrate Liu cursed Xu Yong vehemently in his heart; he would have to convict him but also compensate on behalf of the county.
Tong Huaqiong noticed County Magistrate Liu’s furrowed brow and said, "Lord Liu, this morning at Xu Yong’s house, we learned Xu Yong’s family has three granaries, no, four of them. With so much grain piled high, they won’t fear even if a disaster year comes."
County Magistrate Liu’s eyes lit up, indicating Xu Yong’s grain could be used to compensate the losses.
However, County Magistrate Liu quickly became infuriated; how could Xu Yong store so much grain?
How could a small village chief have acquired so much grain?
This shows he has not been short of embezzlement.
County Magistrate Liu held each village’s damage list, and based on past yield per acre of corn, assessed Xu Yong’s grain situation, quickly coming up with a compensation plan.
...
Xu Yong was guarded by a few strong men sent by Liu Tieshan.
Soon, Xu’s family gate was kicked open.
Xu Yong and Mrs. Tian nearly collapsed at the sight of armed government officials.
Xu Yong’s prior experience of enduring punishment at the county government made him never want to recall, yet now he must go again.
Those officials initially restrained Xu Yong and his wife, then opened the granaries of Xu’s house. 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂
Villagers from the damaged villages were called one by one to Xu’s house to collect grain.
Shortly after noon, Xu Yong’s grain was fully compensated.
The villagers whose cornfields were damaged were slightly comforted upon receiving grain, while those with severe damage complained about insufficient compensation. Upon County Magistrate Liu’s promise to distribute genuine pesticide for free to salvage their cornfields, they quieted down.
Just like that, the commotion was settled.
"Lord Liu, I am innocent, the medicine was concocted by my niece Xu Zaohua." Xu Yong shouted to County Magistrate Liu as he was taken away.
"Xu Zaohua is now the eldest young madam of the Zheng Family; she relies on the Zheng Family for protection from government investigation and dared to concoct counterfeit medicine."
Mrs. Tian fueled the fire, insisting Xu Zaohua suffer together.
County Magistrate Liu was indeed incensed upon hearing Mrs. Tian’s words, ordering his men to capture Xu Zaohua at the Zheng Family.
What is the Zheng Family?
What is the Young Madam Zheng Family?
If they commit wrongdoing, he will apprehend them.
