"Don't worry, I will definitely get this done before the autumn harvest!" Magistrate Duan said to Jiang Ling before leaving.

Jiang Ling gratefully presented Lord Duan with several boxes of peppermint balm, claiming it was to help him cool off during his busy official duties. Lord Duan initially didn't want to accept it, but Jiang Ling was adamant. After some refusals, Lord Duan eventually accepted all the peppermint balm into his possession.

Sitting in the carriage, the clerk, seeing that there was no one else around, tentatively asked, "Sir, have you encountered any trouble?"

Magistrate Duan toyed with the menthol ointment in his hand, occasionally bringing it to his nose to sniff. After pondering for a while, he slowly said, "Go back and send a few men in two teams to guard Lujia Village 24 hours a day. If anyone is found to be suspicious, tie them up and bring them to me!"

The clerk was shocked upon hearing this. He covered his mouth, which was so big it could fit an egg, and after a long while, he continued, "Sir... what is this? What happened? The people of Lu Family Village have always been honest and simple."

“There are refugees causing trouble, and Lord Zhao’s son was injured as a result. Oh, and remember to send a few more constables to protect the Jiang family!” Magistrate Duan said with murderous intent in his eyes.

"What? Young Master Zhao is injured too? My goodness, should we inform Lord Zhao about this?" Upon hearing that Zhao Qianyu was injured, even the usually composed clerk panicked.

"No need for now, let's wait until we catch the refugees!" Magistrate Duan didn't want Jiang Ling to get involved in this mess, so he immediately rejected his advisor's suggestion.

The advisor nodded and said nothing more.

After the two returned to the yamen, the clerk began to carry out the tasks that Magistrate Duan had previously instructed them to do.

Jiang Ling's home.

Jiang Ling frowned and looked at Jiang Yaojie, asking, "Yaojie, what did you say to Magistrate Duan at the yamen?"

“Ah? I… I just said that there were refugees in our village and hoped that Magistrate Duan could find a way to wipe them out. Who would have thought that Magistrate Duan would panic as soon as he heard that and rush over here in a carriage with his clerk. Along the way, he asked several times about your safety, Mother. Magistrate Duan, could it be that…” Jiang Yaojie did not finish his sentence.

After hearing this, Jiang Ling gently tapped Jiang Yaojie's forehead and said, "What do you know, you little kid! Besides, Magistrate Duan is the official in charge of Pingxi County. If he doesn't help us, who will he help?"

"No, I think Magistrate Duan has a thing for you!" Zhao Qianyu, who had been lying on the bed without saying a word, suddenly leaned close to Jiang Ling and said with a mischievous smile.

Jiang Ling raised her head, intending to slap Zhao Qianyu, but remembering his bloody scars, her hand remained in mid-air. She rolled her eyes at Zhao Qianyu and said, "What nonsense are you talking about, you little brat!"

"I'm not talking nonsense, and I'm not a child. I've been to brothels before!" Zhao Qianyu said, lying on the bed after being rebuked by Jiang Ling.

"Shut up!" Jiang Ling snapped, then turned to Jiang Yaojie and said, "Yaojie, you go out first. I have something to say to Zhao Qianyu!"

As Jiang Yaojie disappeared, Jiang Ling's face immediately darkened. Zhao Qianyu also sensed that the atmosphere was not good, so he quickly shrank his neck and pretended to be asleep.

"Get up! Even if you're going to sleep, you can sleep later!" Jiang Ling glared at Zhao Qianyu, who was lying on the bed, with annoyance.

Zhao Qianyu shrank back and stammered, "I... what happened to me?"

“You’re nothing special, Young Master Zhao. You’re Lord Zhao’s son, so your lifestyle must be hundreds of times better than that of us poor folks. Normally, I wouldn’t care about you, since we have no connection. But now that you’re living in my house and are practically my brother’s colleague, I hope you won’t lead my son and brother astray. They don’t have any extra money, they don’t know what a brothel is, and they don’t even know the prices there! I hope you won’t lead them astray!” Jiang Ling said with a stern face.

"Tch, I thought it was something serious! Is this all? Alright, alright, Sister-in-law Jiang, I promise you, don't worry. Besides, who would bring your bookish brother to such a fun place?" Zhao Qianyu stuck out her tongue and said with a nonchalant expression.

"You! You still dare to talk back!" Jiang Lingxing shouted, her eyes wide.

Seeing Jiang Ling's expression, Zhao Qianyu recalled the fierce look on her face when she whipped him with the rattan cane. He quickly shook his head and whispered, "I...I'm sleepy, I'm going to sleep!"

As he spoke, he closed his eyes, turned over, and deliberately made snoring noises to create the illusion that he was asleep.

Jiang Ling rolled her eyes at Zhao Qianyu, got up and left to go see Jiang Suihe.

Jiang Suihe was sitting quietly in the courtyard reading a book. Jiang Ling didn't know how to comfort her. A girl had almost been humiliated; Jiang Ling couldn't even imagine the consequences.

Jiang Ling gently walked to Jiang Suihe's side and asked softly, "Suihe, did you have a nightmare yesterday?"

Upon hearing Jiang Ling's words, Jiang Suihe trembled inexplicably, her face turning deathly pale.

Seeing this, Jiang Ling immediately regretted what she had just said. She quickly hugged Jiang Suihe and gently patted her back, saying, "Don't be afraid, Suihe! It's all over now. Your mother is here and will definitely protect you!"

Jiang Suihe nodded in Jiang Ling's arms, then asked the question that almost drove Jiang Ling crazy.

"Mom, what's a 'broken shoe'?"

"Huh? Who told you about the term 'year harvest'?" Jiang Ling asked, trying to make her tone sound gentle.

“I…I heard…my grandmother say it!” Jiang Suihe said after hesitating for a long time.

"Okay, I understand. Let me tell you, a worn-out shoe is a shoe that's broken. Look at your shoes, aren't they a bit worn out?" Jiang Ling tried hard to come up with a lame excuse.

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