Guo Hongyang thought for a moment and said to Magistrate Xue, "No matter what, this woman shouldn't have hit me. I didn't do anything to her, so why should she hit me!"

Then he glared fiercely at Ning Huan: "I just blocked the road, but she hit me, so she has to be locked up!"

Ning Huan ignored Guo Hongyang and stepped forward to say to Magistrate Xue, "Your Honor, I live in a remote and impoverished area, so I am not familiar with the town's rules. If I have done anything wrong, please punish me."

Upon hearing this, Guo Hongyang laughed smugly: "Since you know you come from a poor mountain village, you should be more discreet, so as not to embarrass yourself by showing your ignorance."

Ning Huan paused for a moment, then continued, "But the rule in our village is that if you encounter a dog blocking your way, you have to chase it away. If one of your companions is afraid of dogs, then the one who isn't will help drive the dog away."

No sooner had he finished speaking than one of the constables burst out laughing.

Magistrate Xue couldn't help but chuckle. Wasn't this woman implying that Guo Hongyang was a roadblock? How audacious! It seemed that few people in the town dared to say such a thing.

Guo Hongyang didn't realize what was happening at first, until he saw everyone laughing non-stop. After thinking it over carefully, he realized that the woman was calling him a dog.

"You shameless woman, how dare you insult me!"

Guo Hongyang was so angry that he wanted to rush over and hit someone, but he was immediately stopped by the constables.

But he kept cursing her: "You bitch! Don't you know who I am? How dare you call me a dog!"

Ning Huan bowed to Magistrate Xue and said, "Your Honor, you must have made a decision about today's matter. However, I have another request. This man is so frightening that I dare not walk on the road. I beg you to detain him for a while and release him after my wife and I leave."

That's true, but everyone felt that Ning Huan's words were like telling Magistrate Xue to lock up a dog.

Guo Hongyang was already furious, and now he wanted to tear Ning Huan to pieces: "Who dares to lock me up, you bitch, do you even know who I am!"

Just as he was going crazy, Magistrate Xue gestured for Ning Huan to leave with Er Ya Tou. After they were gone, Magistrate Xue gave Guo Hongyang a cold look.

"Guards, lock him in the dungeon. According to the current laws, anyone who causes trouble and bullies others in the street shall be imprisoned for three days."

Just as Guo Hongyang was about to be taken away by the yamen runners, a person rushed in through the door.

"Sir, wait!"

This man was a retainer of Magistrate Xue. He had been entrusted by Guo Hongwen to come over, and just then he heard about the plan to imprison Guo Hongyang.

He walked forward breathlessly and whispered to Magistrate Xue, "Sir, we can't put Guo Hongyang in jail right now!"

Xue Qi was slightly angry: "I am the county magistrate. Is the punishment wrong?"

The retainer shook his head: "Sir, this Guo Hongyang is the second young master of the Guo family. The entire Guo family dotes on him, and the Guo family now holds a very important position in our town. Moreover, Guo Hongyang's older brother, Guo Hongwen, is a scholar who has passed the imperial examination. If he becomes very capable in the future, you might have to rely on the eldest young master Guo."

Xue Qizheng's retainer spoke frankly, and although Xue Qizheng found it unpleasant to hear, it was still the truth.

In this day and age, who would want to go against the rich and powerful?

So he raised his hand and said, "Release them."

Guo Hongyang was not surprised. He looked at Xue Qizheng with a smug smile and said, "Then thank you very much, Magistrate Xue. I will have my elder brother come to visit you later."

Seeing Guo Hongyang's state, Xue Qi felt really bad. Sooner or later, he would teach this bastard a lesson.

Guo Hongyang had barely stepped out of the county government office when he called out to the servants waiting at the door, "Go find those two stinking women and see how I teach them a lesson!"

No sooner had the words left his mouth than a cold voice rang out from behind him: "Who are you going to find?"

Guo Hongyang muttered curses as he turned around, saying, "What's it to you who I'm going to find!"

When he turned to look at the person who had come, he was terrified, because the voice belonged to his elder brother, Guo Hongwen, the eldest son of the Guo family.

"Didn't I tell you to tone it down and stop causing trouble for the family, for Dad, and for me?"

Guo Hongwen glared at him: "Count for yourself how many good deeds you've done this month!"

Guo Hongyang didn't even need to count; he himself couldn't remember all the things he had done, because there were just too many. He had even forgotten how many outrageous things he had done.

"Brother, it really wasn't me today, it was some shrew who ruined my plans!"

If it weren't for that woman, who would dare to ruin his plans today?

Guo Hongwen gave a wink to the servants beside him, and the two of them immediately grabbed him.

"Brother, what do you mean by this?"

Guo Hongyang panicked: "What are you going to do?"

Guo Hongwen's voice remained gentle: "You made a mistake and didn't repent, but instead blamed others. Your behavior was too absurd. Since you won't listen to discipline, I'll lock you in your room so you can think carefully about whether you did anything wrong."

Upon hearing that he was to be locked up, Guo Hongyang immediately struggled and began to beg for mercy, saying, "Let me go! Brother, don't lock me up. I know I was wrong. I promise I'll change, okay?"

“You always say that. This time, I'll assume you've really changed. As long as you stay in your room and reflect on your actions for a while, I'll believe you.”

Guo Hongwen locked his younger brother in his room and instructed the servants beside him, "No one is allowed to let the second young master step out of the room. Bring his meals in."

After Ning Huan left with Er Ya Tou, she told her that if there was nothing else, she should hurry up and leave the town.

She knew that someone of Guo Hongyang's status couldn't possibly be imprisoned; she was just trying to buy some time.

Because of this incident, Ning Huan needed to hurry up with her shopping. The cotton-padded jackets and winter clothes she originally wanted to buy for her four little ones would have to be bought and sewn by herself.

There were also some candied fruits and pastries that the little ones loved. Because she was worried about heavy snow blocking the mountain passes, Ning Huan bought quite a few more things before leaving.

Along the way, the two old women started talking incessantly about Ning Huan again. This time, Ning Huan dared not pay any attention to them, fearing that the two would start arguing again like they had in the morning.

Since it was still early to return, Ning Huan thought she would go home and make some delicious food for the little ones to celebrate the Beginning of Winter.

But as soon as she entered the house, she saw four little children surrounding a woman, saying, "You're not allowed to touch our things!"

Standing to the side, Yao said viciously, "You four little beasts, call for help right now!"

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