Zhao Minggeng almost laughed out of anger. He waved his hand and led Zhang Songshi back to the county government office.

Don't be fooled by how Zhang Songshi can act up at home; she can cry, make a scene, and even threaten suicide. But once she gets to the county government office, she unconsciously shrinks back in fear.

"Sir, I haven't done anything wrong. If you take me to the county government, my reputation will be ruined. I'll be unable to live a decent life."

Zhao Minggeng could no longer tolerate Zhang Songshi's nonsense.

After a round of torture, Zhang Songshi quickly confessed.

"Since Li married into our family, she has given birth to this one girl."

I heard from a fortune teller that it was because this girl had a strong fate that she prevented the boy from being reincarnated.

As long as we get rid of the girl, we'll soon have a boy in the family.

So, so…

Zhao Minggeng slammed his gavel. "So what? What did you do to the wheat seedlings?"

Zhang Songshi thought to herself that she was, after all, Mai Miao's biological mother, and that she could do whatever she wanted with the child. She steeled herself and said...

"I sold that girl. I sold her to a family outside the city to arrange a ghost marriage."

Zhao Minggeng almost crushed the paperweight in his hand. Upon hearing this, Zhang Lishi reached out and scratched her mother-in-law's head and face.

"What have I done to wrong you that made you ruin my wheat seedlings like this?"

I work myself to the bone all day long to supplement the family income, and I take good care of you to make you comfortable. Is this how you repay me?

Selling my daughter to a ghost marriage is tantamount to sending her to her death. How cruel of you!

While scolding Zhang Li, she reached out and scratched Zhang Song.

Zhang Songshi screamed repeatedly as she was grabbed, trying to dodge while yelling in a shrill voice.

“I am your mother-in-law. Hitting your mother-in-law is unfilial. I’m going to sue you.”

Zhang Li's test showed that she no longer had the gentle and obedient demeanor she had before.

"Hehe, go ahead and sue, sue now. This is the county government hall, go ahead and sue."

"Mother-in-law, ptooey! If I tolerate you, you're my mother-in-law; if I don't, you're nothing. So don't put on airs in front of me."

Zhao Minggeng told Zhang Li to beat the person a little longer, and then stopped her after she finished.

Find out which family is running the ghost marriage and quickly send someone to find Mai Miao.

Two hours later, the constables returned in a sorry state, carrying a little girl with her eyes closed and her face flushed.

They quickly called a doctor.

"What a tragedy! Not only did he ingest an overdose of sleeping pills, but he also caught a cold. Quickly dilute some soapberry water and force-feed it to the child..."

The little girl was forced to vomit while unconscious; not to mention the suffering she endured, the main concern is whether she'll be able to function like a normal person after she recovers.

Nine times out of ten, they'll become stupid.

When Zhang Li heard the doctor's diagnosis, she almost fainted.

If it weren't for her daughter supporting her, she would have immediately grabbed a knife and killed her mother-in-law.

The law states that, except for parents who may sell their children, all others shall be punished for theft and robbery.

Furthermore, Zhang Songshi insisted on selling Mai Miao even though she knew the buyer intended to use her child for a ghost marriage, which clearly indicated a murderous intent.

If the constables hadn't risked their lives to retrieve the wheat seedlings, they would surely have perished.

For multiple crimes, Zhang Songshi was sentenced to life imprisonment and hard labor without pardon.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Songshi fainted immediately.

Upon learning that Zhang Songshi had been arrested and taken to the county government office, the Zhang father and son rushed there to inquire about the situation.

Upon learning that Zhang Songshi had been convicted, the father and son both looked at Zhang Lishi with the same expression.

It was clear that he was dissatisfied with Zhang Lishi.

The way he gritted his teeth was truly laughable.

Zhao Minggeng simply couldn't stand families that didn't treat their daughters like human beings.

Seeing that the father and son looked like they wanted to devour Zhang Li's body, I wondered what kind of life they would lead when they got home.

Having taken a moment of kindness, he asked, "Zhang Li, I ask you, if I were to ask you to raise the wheat seedlings on your own, would you be willing?"

Zhang Li was stunned. "What do you mean, sir?"

Zhao Minggeng turned his gaze to the Zhang family father and son.

"Take a look at that father and son. They probably resent you, and they might even not want you to bring your daughter back."

I fear that you and Mai Miao may encounter misfortune upon returning home.

I'll be kind to you today; if you're willing to divorce, I'll grant your request.

The court ruled that you could reclaim your dowry and receive half of the family property.

Zhang Li was stunned by Zhao Minggeng's attack and hadn't even reacted when the Zhang father and son looked at Zhao Minggeng with venomous eyes.

"My lord, there is a saying that it is better to tear down ten temples than to break up one marriage. Why are you so relentlessly pressuring the Zhang family? Aren't they already suffering enough?"

Old Zhang said angrily.

Zhao Minggeng slammed the gavel again, "Was the Zhang family's misfortune caused by me?"

Or are you blaming me for sentencing you too harshly?

All those born are citizens of my Divine Dragon Kingdom.

The woman was also a citizen of the Divine Dragon Kingdom.

Do you think that once a young girl is sold, she's gone, and once she dies, she's gone?

If everyone thought like you and were all men, then I ask you, who will continue your family line?

Are you yourselves?

At that time, without foreign tribes seizing our territory, everyone will be wiped out.

Do you really think being a man is so superior? Who wasn't born of a woman?

Since you don't like Mai Miao, and you don't like Mai Miao's mother either, wouldn't a divorce be what you wanted?

Since you can disregard the law, you must be capable of taking another wife…

Zhao Minggeng gave the man a good scolding, clearly he was also acting out of malice.

After all, his daughter will be getting married soon, and there have been more and more cases lately.

It would be strange if Zhao Minggeng could stand it.

He's completely letting loose now. At worst, he'll be demoted; he'll just follow his daughter.

While Zhao Minggeng was cursing, Zhang Lishi carefully observed her husband and father-in-law.

Thinking back on my daily life and their resentment towards me, I realized that it wasn't so bad for me to raise my daughter alone.

Especially since the divorce was presided over by the county magistrate, it guaranteed that no one would suffer a loss.

If this drags on, she might be sold off one day. What kind of family would send their own granddaughter to her death?

Having come to terms with the situation, Zhang Li decided to divorce, which took her husband quite by surprise.

Zhao Minggeng would not allow Zhang Lishi to be beaten in court.

Zhang Lishi said she had nowhere to stay, but that was easy enough; the Zhao family had a workshop where she could stay temporarily.

If you can work in the workshop, you can work there and bring your children with you. How wonderful that would be!

Throughout the entire divorce process, Zhang Li's only responsibility was to hold the wheat seedlings. The yamen runners took care of everything else.

Not only did they take care of everything for her—organizing her belongings, carrying her dowry, distributing the silver—but in the end, she also had a household registration document that went with Mai Miao.

After this case, the men of Davar were somewhat afraid of Zhao Minggeng, while the women greatly admired him.

"The county magistrate is a truly good official who cares about us ordinary people."

"The magistrate has stood up for us women; we won't have to worry about being beaten anymore."