Chapter 158 Fines

When Liu Hong and his gang were brought to the court, they were forcibly pinned to the ground by the officers.

Liu Hong, kneeling on the ground, no longer had the arrogance he had yesterday. He had spent the whole night in the cell and was hungry and cold.

He never thought that he would be imprisoned just because he brought people to smash a shop.

This is not the end yet. Today, he was brought to the court again, and the county magistrate came to personally try the case.

He had seen how powerful the situation was yesterday, so he didn't dare tell a lie and just told the whole story in detail.

Then, the county magistrate turned to Ye Beixiu and Zhang Juexia and asked, "Since he admitted to smashing your shop, do you have any requests?"

Ye Beixiu and Zhang Juexia looked at each other, and then Ye Beixiu leaned forward and said, "We believe that the county magistrate will make the decision for us common people."

The county magistrate was extremely pleased to hear this. He looked at Liu Hong who was kneeling in the hall and slammed the gavel, "How dare you, Liu Hong, smash someone's shop in broad daylight. This behavior is no different from that of a bandit.

I will do the right thing for the people. Since you have destroyed someone's shop, you must make compensation.

I have sent people to collect evidence. They have just opened a new shop, and this incident has a huge impact. Today, I will fine you two hundred taels of silver as compensation.

You and your companion will each be given twenty lashes of the cane as a warning to others."

After receiving the order, the police came up and dragged Liu Hong and others, pressed them to the bench outside and started beating them.

After the beating, the group was brought into the court again.

"First, put them in jail, and then release them after his family brings money."

The county magistrate threw the token to the ground, gave his instructions, and then left the court.

The official politely told Zhang Juexia and Ye Beixiu, "Please tell us where you live. Once you pay us the money, we will come and inform you."

After Zhang Juexia told the officials the accommodation arranged by Li Yingyue, he was politely escorted out the door.

When she walked out the door, she saw Mrs. Liu and Liu Sanle running hurriedly to the county government office.

She turned her head away and watched them walk away before discussing with Ye Beixiu where to go shopping.

"Should we buy something? Thank you, Miss Li."

"She is very busy now, don't disturb her."

Ye Beixiu nodded. "This time, thanks to her help, I would feel bad if I didn't buy some things."

"With her background, she's sure to have seen all sorts of good things. Besides, I wonder how many good things she could have bought with the things I gave her!"

"Then listen to my wife!"

Zhang Juexia gave Ye Beixiu a look that meant that you just have to listen to me.

"Let's walk along this street first. If we come across something we want to eat, we'll go eat. When we're full, we'll continue walking. When we're tired, we'll go back to sleep."

Ye Beixiu followed closely behind Zhang Juexia, making her feel completely safe.

She has been in this place for nearly half a year, and this is the first time she has enjoyed shopping so much.

After all, she would soon receive another two hundred taels of silver, and she felt happy just thinking about it.

Mrs. Liu and Liu Sanle learned that Liu Hong was beaten with twenty sticks, fined two hundred taels of silver, and now was thrown into prison.

Only after receiving the silver can the person be released.

The two men's faces turned pale in an instant.

Mrs. Liu's lips trembled. "Le'er, you know a lot of people in the county. Ask if you can pay less money, or even nothing at all, to get your father released."

Liu Sanle shook his head. "Mom, how is that possible? Dad has done something wrong, so he should be punished."

"That fine can't be that high. Even if I buy the shop, it's not worth two hundred taels of silver."

"Mother, why don't you understand? The county magistrate has already made the judgment. If he says it's worth it, then it's worth it. We have no other choice but to go home and raise money."

"How can our family afford two hundred taels of silver now?"

"Dad just opened a new shop. I heard it's making a lot of money."

"It's only been open for a short time, and it's not even enough for two hundred taels of silver. Le'er, why don't you ask your wife, or beg your father-in-law? Isn't he a teacher? Perhaps the county magistrate will give him some face!"

"Mom, what are you thinking? Don't you think this is embarrassing enough?"

Liu Sanle walked forward angrily, not wanting to pay any attention to Mrs. Liu.

Mrs. Liu was unhappy. "When you asked for money from our family, your father and I gave it to you without hesitation. Now your father is in jail, so it's so difficult for you to come up with a solution."

"Mom, I told you, none of the methods you mentioned will work. Silver is the only way to save my father, but the silver I have now was also given by you, so I really have no other choice.

Mom, you figure out a way to deal with the money. My dad will be locked up in there for one day if you don’t give him the money.

If I can't come up with the money, my father will stay in jail forever.

Whatever you want to do, it’s up to you!

The teacher has a lecture this afternoon, so I can’t miss my studies.”

Liu Sanle left without looking back.

Mrs. Liu was left alone on the street, sulking.

After Liu Sanle walked away, Mrs. Liu reluctantly called a carriage.

The driver asked her where she was going. She wanted to go to Liu Sanle's house, but when she thought of the look in Liu Sanle's wife Li Yiran's eyes, she backed off.

Let’s go back to town, but how can we raise these two hundred taels of silver?

Mrs. Liu really wanted to cry but had no tears!

The driver grew impatient and whipped his horse whip to leave. "You don't want a carriage. Why are you trying to stop me? It's a waste of time."

"Who said no? Go to Jinshui Town."

The driver was overjoyed and immediately put on a smiling face.

When Mrs. Liu returned home, the house was already full of people.

"Mrs. Liu, let me tell you, my head of the household was beaten for helping your Mr. Liu, and now he's in jail.

If your family has any conscience, you must hand over the money now."

"That's right, that's right. My boss is already weak. If he gets hurt, don't blame us for turning our backs on him."

No matter how Mrs. Liu tried to persuade them, this group of people just refused to leave.

Anyway, what they mean is that unless you hand over the silver to the county government, they will not leave.

Mrs. Liu was very upset, but she still had to raise the money.

After much calculation, the family could only come up with one hundred taels of silver.

She asked her two daughters-in-law to go back to their parents' home to borrow money, but they both refused.

They were already angry because Liu Hong and Mrs. Liu could not treat everyone equally.

They had already been whispering in the pillow of their respective husbands, making a fuss about splitting up.

Why would they go back to their parents' home to borrow money now? Don't let them deny it in the end. When the family is divided, whoever borrowed it will be the one to pay it back.

Given the personalities of Liu Hong and Mrs. Liu, they are truly capable of doing such a thing.

Mrs. Liu saw that her two daughters-in-law ignored her request, and thought of her third daughter-in-law in the county town, who didn't even show up at this critical moment, and she couldn't help but shed tears sadly.

"I have such a miserable life! But what should I do with so much money?"