Last ti when his father decided to sell the few old houses at the end of the village to the Gu, Qin, and Luotian families, Old Master Lu sent Shuan Da over to their house and berated his father.
Shuan Da was rely a servant of the Lu Family; not only did he scold his father, but he also warned him that if he dared to make decisions on his own again, his son Jin Sheng would no longer be eligible to register for the examination for an official position.
Village Chief He had been oppressed by the Lu Family for so many years and also wanted to turn the tables, so he supported his eldest grandson He Jinseng in studying, hoping that in a few years, as Jinseng’s knowledge improved, he would let Jinseng take the examination for an official position.
But the Lu Family delivered such a ssage to them, clearly intending to cut off the He family’s path to reversing their fortunes.
He Dacang thought of his own son He Jinseng and, with so difficulty, persuaded Village Chief He: "Father, you really need to think about Jinseng."
Jinseng had studied for many years, and his scholarship was not bad. If the Lu Family really sabotaged him and he couldn’t take the exam, his life would be ruined.
Village Chief He, considering his grandson Jinseng, was also in a dilemma. Although he didn’t want to be a thug for the Lu Family, their He family was just a bunch of mud legs; the most accomplished person in the clan was him, the village chief. Apart from him, everyone in the He family, without exception, was a peasant scraping a living from the soil, absolutely unable to stand against the Lu Family.
"Alas..." Village Chief He sighed, hugging his cotton-padded jacket, and said: "Just wait a bit longer."
Put it off for half an hour before deciding.
He Dacang heard Village Chief He’s words and did not urge further; their family often used stalling tactics, and although the Lu Family was angry, as long as their family eventually did what needed to be done, the Lu Family couldn’t pick any faults.
...
At the house of Gu Jinli, the villagers of Da Feng Village were still surrounding their courtyard to watch the excitent; the area with the old houses was bustling, with Lu Laosan being tied up hand and foot, sitting back-to-back on the ground with the servants and a few ruffians.
Lu Laosan felt humiliated but was still unafraid, instead staring disdainfully at the few families. In his eyes, the people from the Gu, Qin, and Luotian families daring to tie him up were as good as dead.
Two servants of the Lu Family were even angrier, sticking out their necks and cursing at the few families: "Rebels, you’re finished! Once the governnt officials from the county arrive, you will all be bound and thrown into prison."
Gu Jinli heard this and coldly laughed: "Rebels? Two slaves dare to call good citizens rebels, that’s really laughable; you are not even considered citizens."
She didn’t show them any courtesy either, and together with Qin San Lang, she picked up sticks and hit the two cursing servants, bang bang a few tis, beating them until they howled in pain; once they were hurt, they beca quiet.
He Dacai and a few others originally wanted to join in with the cursing of the Lu Family’s servants, but seeing Gu Jinli and Qin San Lang beating them, they beca fearful and dared not open their mouths to curse.
Lu Laosan was furious at the sight, shouting loudly: "You dare to beat people! Very well, just you wait, all of you wait for the county governnt’s officials to co, my Lu Family will make sure you pay for this!"
Gu Jinli retorted: "You co to a good citizen’s ho to rob them for no reason; beating you is letting you off easy."
Scholar Shang was not a pedantic man; hearing Gu Jinli’s words, he didn’t scold her, instead nodding: "The young benefactor is correct; according to the Great Chu Criminal Law, forcibly robbing a good citizen’s property can be regarded as banditry, and the people have the right to beat or kill them."
Lu Laosan, upon hearing Scholar Shang’s words, grew even more angry, continuing to question Scholar Shang: "Scholar, what is your surna and na? Why are you helping these rebels?"
Scholar Shang knew that Lu Laosan wanted to extract his identity but didn’t engage with him, only saying: "The Saint has taught us, those who are learned should seek justice for the people and must not side with evil bullies and villains."
"Pah! Nonsense about the Saint." Lu Laosan was thoroughly enraged: "Poor Scholar, it is you who pushed us, when the county governnt’s officials arrive, they will arrest you too."
Ah Jiu was angry and wanted to retort, but was held back by Scholar Shang: "Do not waste words on such villains."
Lu Laosan fud with rage: "Poor pedantic Scholar, who did you say is a villain?!"
"Yo, the Governnt Officials are here, the Governnt Officials have arrived!"
Before Old San from the Lu Family could finish speaking, the villagers who were gathered outside the courtyard started shouting and imdiately cleared a path.
In no ti, four Governnt Officials, dressed in green uniforms with red trim, with the character for "arrest" embroidered on both the front and the back, wearing black turbans and swords at their waists, stord into Gu Jinli’s courtyard with an imposing air.
As soon as Old San from the Lu Family saw those four Governnt Officials, he imdiately shouted, "Old Kong, Dasheng, quickly arrest these families for . They’ve unjustly assaulted a relative of an official. Capture them swiftly and lock them up in prison."
He mumbled under his breath and said to Scholar Shang, "And this penniless scholar, arrest him too. Who knows where this scholar ca from, actually helping these troubleso peasants plot against ."
Old San from the Lu Family was quite pleased; he knew these four Governnt Officials as people from Si Li Square in town, who would normally address him respectfully as Third Master.
The families were frightened by Old San from the Lu Family’s words. Old San from the Lu Family even knew these Governnt Officials, so could they still arrest him?
Or would they turn around and arrest them instead?
But the four Governnt Officials paid no attention to Old San from the Lu Family. Instead, they walked up to Scholar Shang and asked, "Old Luo told us you had an incident here?"
Scholar Shang nodded and pointed at Old San from the Lu Family, "The Lu Family, under the guise of the county governnt’s authority, brought thugs to honest citizens’ hos to steal recipes, and I just happened to witness it. Gentlen officials, please handle this impartially."
Upon hearing this, the four Governnt Officials imdiately turned around, grabbed Old San from the Lu Family and the others, "Stay calm, follow us to the county."
Old San from the Lu Family was stunned, and said to the four Governnt Officials, "Old Kong, Dasheng, have you gone mad? Why arrest ? Go arrest those troublemakers."
The leading Old Kong replied, "Third Master Lu San, we are simply doing our duty. If you have anything to say, wait until we get to the county governnt."
Hearing Old Kong’s words, Gu Jinli knew that Old Kong was still sowhat afraid of Old San from the Lu Family, but it was apparent that the scholar had a more significant backing. Thus Old Kong chose to arrest Old San from the Lu Family and leave the matter to the county governnt to deal with.
Old San from the Lu Family panicked and exclaid, "What are you saying? Are you really arresting ? Do you not know that I am Third Master Lu San, the Count Governor’s brother-in-law!"
Regardless of Old San from the Lu Family’s protests, Old Kong and the others still intended to take them to the county.
The Lu Family had always been watching outside of the Gu Family’s courtyard, and seeing the Governnt Officials from town arriving without arresting Qin, Gu, and Luotian’s families, but instead planning to arrest Old San from the Lu Family, hastily went to inform Old Master Lu.
Old Master Lu promptly brought with him the family’s ten servants and all the Lu Family People, surrounded the Gu Family’s courtyard, and pointed at Old Kong and his n, "How dare you, release my son right away!"
The Lu Family People started shouting, "Quickly release our Lu Family People, or when the County Governor blas you, you will have nowhere to hide!"
Although the Lu Family People were not as nurous as the He family, they still comprised about thirty households, and with everyone present, they numbered over a hundred people, enough to completely besiege the Gu Family’s courtyard, preventing the four Governnt Officials from leaving.
Village Chief He heard that Old Master Lu was bringing the Lu Family Clan to obstruct the Governnt Officials and, fearing trouble as well as bla from the Lu Family, rushed over with the He Family mbers.
In no ti, the whole end of the village was in complete chaos; the Governnt Officials couldn’t even speak over the villagers’ shouting, let alone leave.
Old Kong urgently asked Scholar Shang, "Scholar, we can’t get out, what should we do?" Even if all four of them tead up, they couldn’t possibly stand against the scores of villagers.
"Let’s go back inside for now," was all Scholar Shang could suggest, allowing Old Kong to escort Old San from the Lu Family and the others back into the courtyard of the Gu Family.
Amidst this deadlock, the sound of galloping horses and synchronized running suddenly approached from the direction of the village’s end.
In a short while, five tall horses broke into the end of the village, stopping directly behind the Lu and He Family mbers. On the leading chestnut horse, a robust old man dressed in a black and red official uniform, wearing official boots, and holding a horse whip, bellowed loudly, "Move aside! Whoever dares encircle my son-in-law, I will throw him into the prison to experience what it’s like to be in the big jail!"
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