Grandma Ye and Grandpa Ye finally understood.

The instigator was none other than the county magistrate?

Everyone in the family became serious. Even the impulsive Ye Daquan fell silent.

Grandma Ye was so anxious that tears welled up in her eyes: "What should we do?"

Ye Daquan said, "How about we all go out and avoid this place for a while?"

Ye Jin'er whispered, "We couldn't even get out of the city gate this morning... I think that must have been an order from Magistrate Lu!"

"Then...shall we go and report this to the authorities?"

"He is an official."

"Then...find someone bigger? What's above the county magistrate?"

"It is the prefect."

"Then let's find the prefect!"

Old Mrs. Ye said, "When we went to the yamen to find them last time, the magistrate's wife seemed to have mentioned that her daughter was the prefect's daughter-in-law. The prefect and the magistrate are in cahoots!"

As she spoke, Old Lady Ye almost collapsed to the ground: "He is the county magistrate, the pillar of our Yue'an County... A prefect who wiped out his family, a county magistrate who ruined his family, what should we do now?"

Ye Caiping closed her eyes tightly for a moment.

This was the most powerless she had ever felt since she transmigrated.

The saying "the common people cannot fight against the officials" holds true even in modern times, let alone in ancient times when there was a strict hierarchy and the common people were as worthless as ants.

This is why she has always wanted to find a powerful backer.

In this situation, the only option is to ask someone higher up for help.

But right now, even though she's been trying her best, she can't even reach a finger of the nobles.

After thinking for a moment, Ye Caiping said, "I'll go back to my room now and write two letters. Brother, aren't you going to deliver goods to town tomorrow? When you do, go to Baiweilou and buy two roast chickens, then give the letters to Manager Lin and have him deliver them. One to Second Brother and one to Su Dongjia."

The only person she is currently close to, and who also comes from a wealthy family, is Su Hen, the owner of Baiweilou.

His business has grown so large because he must have powerful connections. She wants to use her glassmaking techniques to get Su Hen to help them out.

Actually, compared to Su Hen, Ye Caiping felt that Shen Zhiyan's family background was much more substantial.

However, Shen Zhiyan was implicated in court intrigues, which forced him to leave the capital and live in seclusion in their remote town.

He was only in his early thirties, the prime of his life for making achievements, yet he chose to live in seclusion, clearly driven away by numerous enemies.

I didn't want to ask him for help, for fear that I would drag him down with me.

Ye Caiping turned around and went into the study. A moment later, she came out with two letters.

Ye Daquan took the letter: "I will personally deliver the letter tomorrow."

Ye Caiping nodded.

...

In the backyard of the government office.

The magistrate's wife is drinking tea.

Zheng Kai stood aside with a stern face: "Elder sister, I've ruined my reputation for half my life because of you. Now the whole Yue'an County says I'm a scumbag who forcibly took a woman."

The magistrate's wife glared at him and said, "Enough. If you weren't so spineless, I wouldn't have resorted to such methods to scheme against a village woman."

"Once this is done, you'll naturally get your share of the benefits."

"The problem is, when I pressured her to marry me, she actually agreed! She even told me to hire a bridal sedan chair to marry her."

The magistrate's wife had a cold expression and said in a low voice, "Go home first! You don't need to worry about this anymore."

Zheng Kai cupped his hands in greeting and then turned to leave.

Fang Mama, who was standing nearby, said, "That country woman seems to have discovered it. To be honest, the master and madam are both too hasty."

"How can I not be anxious?" The magistrate's wife slammed her hand on the coffee table. "The higher-ups are coming to inspect soon! This matter must be resolved before the end of the month."

...

The next day.

Ye Daquan arrived at Ye Caiping's house, received the letter, and then slowly drove away in his oxcart.

Only after they could no longer see his back did Ye Caiping and Grandma Ye enter the room.

Just as Ye Caiping was about to go to the workshop, Xiao Yan ran in, her face pale: "Auntie, um... the magistrate's wife is here!"

Ye Caiping's face darkened: "Let her in! Mother, Jin'er, you two go back to your rooms first."

Grandma Ye hesitated for a moment, then finally took her two granddaughters and left the main room.

Ye Caiping sat upright in the main room. Before long, the county magistrate's wife led a group of people, carrying about ten boxes of gifts, and walked in in a great hurry.

"Sister Caiping, what a joyous occasion!" The magistrate's wife walked up to Ye Caiping and said with a smile.

Ye Caiping sneered: "Oh, so Madam has come to propose marriage to Master Zheng?"

The magistrate's wife's face stiffened, and she smiled:

"Master already reprimanded me yesterday; it was my fault these past few days. Zheng Kai offended you yesterday, and after careful consideration, I've realized that you two have already become enemies; how can you possibly get married now?"

“These past few days, I have been out of my mind! Now rumors are spreading and ruining my sister’s reputation. To make amends to my sister, I have decided to personally welcome her into the mansion and make her my husband’s concubine.”

Ye Caiping sneered: "I don't care about my reputation. After all, no matter how bad my reputation is, it's not as bad as beating my mother-in-law. Since Madam knows she was wrong, let's call it even! There was nothing between me and the magistrate, why should Madam solidify my crime?"

The magistrate's wife's face darkened: "What? I don't mind, and you still don't want to?"

"I'm sorry, but I really don't want to." She knew they wouldn't let her off the hook no matter what, so why hold back? She'd just confront them as they saw fit. "Madam, why bother?"

Ye Caiping sighed softly: "What do you value in me? Is it the yellow cassava or my business?"

The magistrate's wife raised an eyebrow, dropped the pretense, and gracefully sat down in a round-backed chair to the side.

Ye Caiping continued, "I am just a common woman. Even if I discovered and planted the yellow cassava, the magistrate will still report it, and it will be recorded as part of his achievements. This was originally a win-win situation for us, so why make such a fuss?"

Yue'an County is under the jurisdiction of Magistrate Lu. As long as he and she promote yellow cassava together, their political achievements will come rolling in.

She didn't understand why they were doing something so thankless and exhausting.