Chapter 320 Old Acquaintance

Anyang County Government Office.

Chen Qingqing stood outside the lobby.

Under the plaque hanging high like a bright mirror, a middle-aged county magistrate in official uniform and a black gauze hat was sitting on a high chair in the middle.

This person is Qin Shousheng, the county magistrate of Anyang County. He is a Jinshi graduate and has been working in Anyang for many years. His reputation is average.

County Magistrate Shen Yuanze sat aside, looking carefully at the man who looked a bit like Mrs. Fan. He looked at Chen Feng and others coldly.

Qin Shousheng picked up the gavel and banged it, shouting, "Who is kneeling in the hall? What is your grievance? Tell us quickly."

Chen Feng knelt on his knees, holding up the petition. "Your Excellency, I am from Nanshan Village, Qingshui Town. My surname is Chen, my name is Feng. I work as a handyman at the Qingshui Restaurant. The day before I was to leave, someone got me drunk and falsely accused me of theft. I was beaten and nearly died. I beg the Lord of Heaven to help me."

County Magistrate Shen Yuanze quickly spoke up, "Sir Qin, this man is the person involved in the case I mentioned to you a few days ago. The coroner has examined his injuries and confirmed they were indeed caused by assault. As for the cause, please summon both parties to come forward for a confrontation."

Qin Shousheng nodded and said, "The county magistrate is right. The defendant is here."

"Your Excellency, I have already sent someone to Qingshui Town to fetch the person. They should be back soon."

"Okay." Qin Shousheng said and signaled the lawyer beside him to present the complaint.

Qin Shousheng was furious after reading the complaint and slammed the gavel.

"This Wu Shiren is truly audacious. He actually allowed the accountant and others to assault others. Someone, call the defendant!"

At this time, Wu Shiren, Wang Decai and others were taken outside the hall by the yamen runners.

They thought Chen Feng had died long ago, but they didn't expect that his sister would report the matter to the police for a physical examination.

Fortunately, Shen Yuanze had been his friend for many years and told him in advance that Chen Qingqing might file a complaint.

I was worried at first, but after a few people discussed it,

It is determined that Chen Feng is doomed to die. Even if she sues, Chen Qingqing will not win the case as long as they refuse to admit it.

But what is unbelievable is that Chen Feng's serious injury was miraculously healed.

But they were not afraid. Only a few of them knew what happened that day. As long as the confessions were consistent, the case could not be concluded.

Wu Shiren walked fearlessly into the hall, knelt down and kowtowed, "Master Qingtian, we are innocent, please help us!"

When enemies meet, their eyes are filled with jealousy. The moment Chen Feng saw these people, he almost couldn't help but rush up and strangle these black-hearted guys to death.

He glared at them fiercely.

"You falsely accused me of stealing money, intending to force a confession from me. How dare you claim you are innocent?"

Wang Decai snorted coldly and said disdainfully, "Chen Feng, when did we ever frame you or assault you? Don't spit bloody slander at us, or I'll sue you for defamation."

Qin Shousheng slammed the gavel and raised his voice, "Everyone, keep quiet. Will you judge the case, or will I?"

Everyone stopped arguing.

Qin Shousheng asked loudly, "Chen Feng, you said Wu Shiren, Wang Decai and others beat you. Do you have any evidence, such as witnesses who saw you and are willing to testify for you?"

Chen Feng glanced at Wang Decai and the others with red eyes, and his voice was filled with uncontrollable anger.

"My Lord, they were in cahoots. They got me drunk the night before, and the next day they accused me of stealing their silver. They then lynched me and beat me until I was unconscious. They were all present. If you torture them severely, they will definitely confess."

"Nonsense! How can I, an official, arbitrarily torture people while investigating a case? If someone confesses under torture, wouldn't that be a malicious smear against me and a disregard for the law?" Qin Shousheng shouted harshly, then looked at Wu Shiren and the others, "Do you agree with the plaintiff's statement?"

Without waiting for Wu Shiren to speak, Wang Decai quickly began to defend himself, "Your Excellency, I am innocent. We have no grudge against Chen Feng. We only beat him up for a small errand.

What about stealing silver and resorting to lynching? He is just a bad guy who filed a complaint first, slandering us, and trying to extort money from us.

The injuries on his body have nothing to do with us. He was beaten up because he molested a young woman while drunk in the middle of the night.

Our shopkeeper rescued him with good intentions, but he turned against us and tried to take advantage of us. Please understand my words, sir!"

"You're talking nonsense. I didn't tease my young wife. I got all these injuries from you beatings." Chen Feng was furious and said this almost in a roar.

Wu Shiren glanced at him with disdain, then kowtowed. "Your Excellency, this man has been beaten to a pulp. He's worked as a handyman in my shop for over three years. I've always treated him with kindness, but he's turned his back on me and is trying to use this opportunity to blackmail me. I hope you'll see clearly and help me!"

At this time, Shen Yuanze whispered in Qin Shousheng's ear, "Sir, this Wu Shiren is an old acquaintance of ours. He has been honoring you many times during the New Year. We can't just listen to the plaintiff's one-sided words..."

Qin Shousheng was startled and looked at Wu Shiren carefully. He remembered that three years ago, Wu Shiren had beaten a shop assistant seriously and the family of the shop assistant had filed a complaint with the county government.

I wanted to handle the case impartially, but who would have thought that Wu Shiren would be so cunning and directly hand over two hundred taels of silver.

He had no choice but to convict Wu Shiren of accidental injury and casually compensate the injured with a few taels of silver to hastily close the case.

From then on, Wu Shiren was grateful to him as an official and would send him some money as a tribute every year.

Thinking of this, Qin Shousheng stretched out his voice, "Chen Feng, the defendant's words are also reasonable and well-founded. Since you said that they beat you, do you have any witnesses? If not, I can't make the decision for you."

"This..." Chen Feng was speechless. Those who beat him were all present now. There was no one else in the store at that time. Where could he find witnesses?

"Since you have no witnesses, this case is unsuccessful. I, the official, will be merciful and will not bother with you. Please withdraw and do not cause trouble again."

After Qin Shousheng finished speaking, he waved to everyone.

"Both sides are telling one side of the story. How can I be so biased as to believe one side? This case is groundless. You all should go back!"

"Sir, we have a witness waiting outside the hall." Chen Qingqing, who had never spoken, shouted loudly.

Qin Shousheng was about to bang the gavel and leave the courtroom when he heard someone clamoring loudly. A hint of impatience flashed across his face, but he still asked, "Who are you? What evidence do you have?"

Chen Qingqing looked directly at Qin Shousheng, her pretty face devoid of any panic. "Your Excellency, I am Chen Feng's sister. The witness I mentioned is Wu Cuihua, Wu Shiren's daughter. Several chefs in the kitchen can also attest to this."

.......