This scoundrel dares to be so arrogant because no one dares to speak against him, right? But if things continue like this, it won’t do. If the scoundrel’s behavior harms the interests of the majority, won’t these people stand up together?
If she confronts the scoundrel herself, it’s beneath her status and it becos entangled, but having the dicine farrs criticize and ostracize him together is a better strategy.
Sure enough, many of the dicine farrs changed their expressions. Is the compensation money that was just within reach going to slip away?
Liu An shouted from the side, "Bai, aren’t you the one who never wanted to distribute it in the first place? Are you deliberately saying this and then using , Liu An, as a scapegoat to renege on your promise?"
Bai Ruozhu snorted coldly, "Everyone knows what you’ve been doing, Liu An. I don’t need to say more, do I? If everyone starts acting like this, wouldn’t there be no rules left? Without rules, nothing could function smoothly. If this matter isn’t clarified, then no one will receive any money."
Her words seed sowhat unreasonable, but she is, after all, a woman. It’s normal for her to throw a tantrum when unhappy.
Moreover, her sowhat angry tone made the other dicine farrs realize that Bai was not truly withholding the compensation money, but was angered by Liu An’s actions.
Finally, soone began to criticize Liu An. Before, due to fear and a reluctance to stir up trouble, they turned a blind eye to Liu An’s shaless behavior, but now that it endangered their personal interests, many found their courage.
"Liu An, stop acting unreasonably. I saw your dicine field was fine just a few days ago. It’s you who’s negligent and failed to tend it well."
"Are you trying to scam the compensation money? How can you be so unscrupulous? It’s one thing to act arrogantly on usual days, but now you want to drag us down too so we can’t receive the compensation? We have families to support, unlike you!"
"The other night I went out for sothing and ca ho late, I saw him sneaking around under the moonlight. I thought, has the sun risen from the west? Even Liu An is being diligent, working in the dark?"
"Oh, you heard that? His land was tampered with by himself!"
"..."
Bai Ruozhu stood aside, very pleased with the outco. This incident served as a warning to the dicine farrs that while she is kind-hearted, she’s not soone to be trifled with, and Liu An’s style of fishing in troubled waters is utterly unacceptable!
It also taught these dicine farrs that many things shouldn’t be overlooked; if they encounter such things in the future, they should report them early.
Faced with so many people confronting him, Liu An couldn’t help but feel flustered. He hastily looked at Bai Ruozhu, only to see her with an indifferent expression, causing his chest to heave with anger.
"Don’t act like you’re pitiful. Even if you are pitiable, it’s her fault. If she is so kind-hearted, why target and refuse to give money to everyone?" Liu An shouted.
Bai Ruozhu didn’t rush to speak; sure enough, a sensible person replied.
"Bai has said, without rules, nothing can function smoothly. If we break the rule for you, what if others also start causing trouble? If everyone believes they can fish in troubled waters like you, how can any good dicine be grown?"
Bai Ruozhu applauded and stepped out, saying, "Since soone has proved that Liu An tampered on his own, it is reasonable for not to give him money. In addition, Liu An showed no integrity. The dicine field rented to him will be reclaid imdiately and never rented to him or his family again!"
"Y-you dare! I still have a contract!" Liu An shouted.
Sui Ge sneered from the side, "With your fraudulent actions, if you were reported to the Governnt Office, it wouldn’t just be the dicine field being reclaid. At the very minimum, you’d be struck twenty tis and fined ten taels of silver. You want to make trouble? Go ahead, stir up trouble with the Governnt Office now."
Soone felt sorry and said from the side, "Liu An, you brought this upon yourself, don’t make a fuss; otherwise, you’ll suffer even more."
Liu An looked at the crowd with resentnt, "Fine, you all team up against , don’t think your dicine fields can be well-tended in the future. I’ll ss with you!"
Bai Ruozhu’s expression turned cold, "Fine, you go ahead and try. Try once, and I’ll break your leg and see how long you remain arrogant."
She then turned to Jianqi and said, "Take him to the Governnt Office. Attempted fraud and now issuing threats, let the county magistrate properly deal with him."
Liu An wanted to curse, but Jianqi sealed his mute point, and he was directly escorted to the County Governnt Office.
Bai Ruozhu acted as if nothing had happened, starting to discuss with everyone how to treat the dicine fields poisoned by Lu An. Although these dicine farrs were illiterate, they knew much about fieldwork. Once she explained, they were able to draw inferences and knew how to proceed further.
Bai Ruozhu was very satisfied with this and felt gratified that they had courageously stood up to criticize Liu An today.
The farrs were also very happy. Many thought their fields were dood but didn’t expect Bai Ruozhu to have a solution. By the ti Bai Ruozhu finished her explanation, they held her in higher esteem.
When these dicine farrs returned ho and learned of Liu An’s subsequent situation, they felt not only admiration for Bai Ruozhu but also a sense of awe.
Because after Liu An was punished at the Governnt Office, being carried back ho by his family, the villagers saw that one of his legs was broken.
"Try once, break your leg..." This sentence flashed in the minds of the dicine farrs, making many shudder, realizing even more the importance of not taking the wrong path. Though Bai is kind, she isn’t easy to fool.
Thus, the next day, when the dicine farrs went to receive their compensation, their gratitude towards Bai was coupled with awe.
Once the North Mountain issue was settled, Bai Ruozhu planned to rest for a night and set out for the Capital early the next morning.
Sui Ge, however, took the records she wrote and planned to stay for a few more days before returning.
In the evening, after having supper, Bai Ruozhu was resting in her room at the Inn when she suddenly heard a loud bang from outside the window, followed by the entire inn shaking.
Outside, soone shouted in panic, "The Earth Dragon’s turned over, the Earth Dragon’s turned over!"
At this ti, earthquakes were not called earthquakes but Earth Dragon turning over. It was believed that the Earth Dragon turning over was a bad on, even a sign of the Imperial Court’s downfall.
"Master, are you alright?" Jianqi’s voice ca from outside. Bai Ruozhu steadied herself and asked, "Do you know what happened?"
"It shouldn’t be the Earth Dragon turning over. I discovered the noise was coming from the North Mountain; it seems there was a big explosion, causing the ground to shake here." Jianqi, being a martial artist, like Bai Ruozhu, could hear sounds from further away. As he was outside, he heard more clearly.
Bai Ruozhu opened the room door, "I also heard an explosion in the distance. Was it the mountain range we passed through?"
"Judging by the direction, it probably is. No one should be blasting mountains this ti of year. Shall I send soone to check?" Jianqi asked.
"Yes, send so people to be cautious and pay attention to safety." Bai Ruozhu felt uneasy. At this ti in winter and so close to the New Year, there shouldn’t be any projects requiring mountain blasting. And with such a significant tremor, the explosion must have been substantial.
What on earth happened?
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