Seeing that he could finally speak, Yang Ming said, "Aunt Feng, your son had an accident on my father-in-law’s mountain. My father-in-law’s family acknowledges this and will not evade responsibility. The villagers can testify, so there’s no need for you to let your son suffer by lying in my father-in-law’s courtyard. The most important thing now is to let your son rest in peace."
Upon hearing Yang Ming’s words, other villagers spoke up, "Yes, the Zhong Family won’t deny it, and besides, we can testify."
"Yes, I think you should hurry and let your son be buried. This hot weather is cruel."
"Yeah, your son’s death is already tragic enough. Don’t let him suffer anymore."
"..."
"..."
Everyone was trying to persuade her. Aunt Feng looked at her son, rembering the tragic sight of him dying, his intestines crushed out, his arm chopped off by a falling rock. Tears welled up again, as she cried sorrowfully, feeling the injustice that her son died while the Zhong Family’s son was alive and well.
Yang Ming continued to persuade, "Aunt Feng, your son must have been very good friends with my brother-in-law, otherwise he wouldn’t risk his life to save him. Now, if you demand my brother-in-law’s death in exchange, wouldn’t your son have died in vain?"
Upon hearing Yang Ming’s words, villagers chid in to persuade her.
"Yes, Aunt Feng, your younger son grew up with Zhong Dalong; they were close. And your families have a good relationship."
"Demanding a life in exchange seems excessive. Your son volunteered to save him; it’s not like they killed your son."
"Exactly, demanding blood for blood isn’t right here, and they didn’t kill your son. It was just an accident."
"..."
"..."
At this mont, Zhong Dalong, with his eyes red, spoke, "Aunt Feng, I never wanted him to die. If possible, I’d rather it was ."
Upon hearing this, Aunt Feng continued to cry, "But my son is dead, sobbing, my son can never co back, sobbing."
"Aunt Feng, the dead cannot be resurrected. I think it’s best to let your son rest in peace as soon as possible. Regardless, it was an accident, and the accident happened on my father-in-law’s mountain. My father-in-law’s family has an unavoidable responsibility, and I’ll persuade them to compensate you with so Silver. Will that be okay?"
"My son is dead, and you just want to dismiss us with Silver? Even if my son wasn’t murdered, the accident happened on their mountain. I’m going to the governnt office to have them all arrested and demand justice for my son," Aunt Feng said persistently.
At the ntion of the governnt office, the Zhong Family mbers in the courtyard beca scared and nervous. If it reached the governnt office, even white could be turned into black. What could be done?
The governnt office in Shanshi County is notoriously unhelpful to the people. As the saying goes, the emperor is far away, so without Silver, there’s no solution. The villagers all suffer without a voice. Yang Ming also wished to avoid alarming the governnt office, so he said, "Aunt Feng, this matter is an accident and doesn’t need the involvent of the governnt office. If it does involve the governnt office, it would still end with compensation of Silver. If it goes to the governnt office, I don’t think you would receive much Silver."
Yang Ming’s aning was clear; everyone present understood. Even if they went to the governnt office, it would lead to compensation of Silver, but that Silver likely wouldn’t end up with the Feng Family. Instead, it would go to the governnt office. Settling privately was more beneficial for the Feng Family.
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