Chapter 11: Repaying the Money [Revised]

What does Su Qing want to do?

We'll definitely get our principal back with interest.

In particular, there was the land that was seized under the guise of acquisition, as well as various items acquired at unreasonable prices.

All of this together was enough to make Mr. Wang, the local gentry, eat until his belly was oozing with oil.

Gu Congsi glanced outside and said, "It's getting late today, let's discuss it again tomorrow. This matter can't be rushed."

As soon as he finished speaking, Su Qing said, "Why don't we eat and chat? My mother's cooking is excellent. Why don't you stay and have a taste, Young Master Ye?"

Su Qing winked at Gu Congsi.

We finally managed to talk him through, so we can't let him off the hook.

Otherwise, if he changes his mind, wouldn't all our efforts be wasted?

Seeing the two of them exchange glances, Ye Shanming stood up and smiled, "Okay, then stay for dinner."

In the inner quarters, Mei Niang was already waiting for her daughter to have dinner.

Seeing that she was busy, I didn't ask any more questions. When I heard that an extra pair of chopsticks had been added, I didn't think much of it.

Unexpectedly, the visitor turned out to be a creditor of their government office.

I thought the creditor would be furious, but to my surprise, Young Master Ye was all smiles and even had someone buy him a gift.

Mei Niang frowned slightly, her tone filled with apology: "Thank you for your grain, otherwise the people of Nanjiang County would have been in dire straits."

"So many people are starving, skin and bones, and almost have their families torn apart. It's heartbreaking to see."

Mei Niang's sincere tone left Su Qing, Gu Congsi, and Ye Shanming speechless for a moment.

Well, how should I put it?

Ye Shanming wasn't that kind-hearted either.

Mei Niang then looked at her daughter: "And my daughter, she has had a hard time too, but she insisted on borrowing grain because she was thinking of the people."

This statement was meant to exonerate Su Qing and to reassure Ye Shanming not to take it to heart.

Seeing that there were many people around, Ye Shanming naturally understood the sincerity in Mei Niang's tone.

Not to mention, Mei Niang personally cooked the fish that was originally saved for tomorrow.

Before leaving, she said to Gu Congsi, "Thank you for your hard work, staying with Qingqing all this time."

Wait until Mei Niang leaves.

The three people who had been arguing fiercely all afternoon suddenly fell silent.

Sincerity is indeed a sure-fire weapon.

Su Qing felt a little uncomfortable.

After all, what they were going to talk about next was how to get money out of Wang the gentry's pocket.

Su Qing coughed lightly: "We are indeed not bad, after all, it is the people's hard-earned money, and we made him spit out the ill-gotten gains."

Ye Shanming nodded first.

Yes, they are on the side of justice.

After a moment's hesitation, Gu Congsi nodded in agreement.

After dinner, the plan was basically finalized.

On the morning of the first day of August, Ye Shanming went to Wang Huan's house.

Wang Huan was not only extremely respectful to the eldest son of the Ye family, but even unconsciously fawned over him.

Compared to the Ye family, his own family fortune was simply insignificant.

The reason they came in person is that they didn't want to suffer a loss that everyone already knew about.

No matter what, we have to get our revenge.

"Young Master Ye, how do you plan to charge interest?"

"I did the math, and it's about six thousand taels of silver."

Wang Huan was definitely overestimating the situation, wanting to empty the Nanjiang County government's coffers.

Once the government office is completely impoverished, he can bribe the people inside and use the office for his own purposes.

If a mere young girl can control the government office, so can he.

Ye Shanming and his servant glanced at Wang Huan for no apparent reason, as if he were looking at an idiot.

"Six thousand taels?" Ye Shanming asked.

Wang Huan nodded vigorously: "What are you planning to do with it? That little girl is very cunning and not easy to deal with."

Ye Shanming nodded: "I'm prepared to file a lawsuit directly."

"You should come along too."

Suing Su Qing?!

He's going to give his testimony?!

Very good!

Even if Young Master Ye hadn't said anything, he would have agreed to this kind of lively event!

Seeing how excited he was, Ye Shanming felt like he had made a wasted trip.

On his way to the yamen, Wang Huan thought of Su Qing leading the disaster victims to surround his house, forcing him to borrow grain, and even demanding that he re-sign the agreement. He was filled with hatred.

"We must recover all the losses."

"Six thousand taels of silver! Not a single tael less!"

"It would be best if this six thousand taels of silver also received interest."

Wang Huan became more and more excited, completely unaware of Ye Shanming's gaze.

However, when Ye Shanming mentioned leading the disaster victims to surround the Wang family's house, he actually smiled.

Finally arriving at the yamen, Ye Shanming rubbed his ears, annoyed beyond measure.

Today's government offices actually have quite a few clerks and runners.

They are usually very busy, mostly on business trips.

When I was about to leave this morning, I was stopped by Scholar Gu: "Today someone wants to beat the drum to appeal for justice and sue those who owe money. Please wait."

This is so lively, I definitely have to stay and watch!

Before long, someone was indeed heard beating a drum.

Not only the officials, but even passersby were attracted to the scene.

Looking at the young man beating the drum, he was clearly not a local.

Although he was dressed in servant's clothes, the fabric was better than that of ordinary people.

A young man standing nearby, fanning himself with a paper fan, was dressed in an even more refined manner.

The hairpins on her head and the accessories around her waist were enough to support a local family of five for several years.

So, who can this wealthy out-of-towner sue?

Some people also recognized Wang Huan, a local notable.

"They're all in cahoots, trying to swindle someone's money."

"Definitely, rich people are all bad."

“The local gentry Wang was the worst. He took my family’s heirloom vase and gave us only ten catties of millet in return. If it weren’t for the government’s distribution of porridge, I’m afraid our clothes would have been taken away at a low price.”

As the crowd grew larger and larger, Su Qing knew that the time was almost right.

"Who is beating the drum outside? Bring them into the hall."

Wang Huan jumped up immediately.

Then I saw more and more onlookers around.

Young Master Ye says he's going to sue Su Qing in court; that'll be really interesting!

Just thinking about it makes him want to laugh out loud.

Young Master Ye really knows how to play the game, making Su Qing lose face big time!

Su Qing was already seated in the hall at this moment.

Gu Congsi frowned slightly.

There are too many people.

And will Ye Shanming really act according to plan?

He didn't seem to specify who he would sue.

What if he changes his mind at the last minute? What will Su Qing do then?

“No, there are too many people,” Gu Congsi said in a low voice. “Let’s conduct the trial privately.”

Su Qing didn't answer, then slowly said, "Let's take a look first."

Clearly, Su Qing also noticed the problem.

As they were talking, Ye Shanming and Wang Huan had already entered the courtroom.

After everyone bowed, Su Qing, who was in the court, smiled.

Su Qing was about to begin her court session, wearing only a jade-green hairpin, a neat blue dress, and soft boots made by Mei Niang herself, which made her look quite dignified.

Ye Shanming stared at Su Qing without any attempt to hide his gaze, which made Gu Congsi frown.

Suddenly, Ye Shanming smiled again, looking rather wicked.

"Sir Su, I wish to sue someone who borrowed money without interest and has refused to repay it."

"The amount owed is ten thousand taels of silver."

Ten thousand taels!

The scene was filled with uproar, whether it was the constables or the onlookers!

Ten thousand taels of silver!

Are you kidding me!

Many people have never seen so much money before.

Who owes this?!

Among the common people, there were many insightful individuals who recalled the grain that Steward Su had previously borrowed from the Ye family.

Wait a minute, are they going to sue Steward Su?!

If that were the case, wouldn't Steward Su lose all face?

No, this definitely won't work!

Manager Su treated them so well.

Let's not talk about food.

Even the dockworkers were saying how bad the plague was outside.

There was a village where everyone died.

Only Nanjiang County is free of any illnesses.

It all depends on Abbot Su.

She would never allow anyone to embarrass her.

Someone urged anxiously, "Everyone, stop watching the commotion and hurry home to get to work. There's work to be done in the fields and things to be done at the shops."

Unfortunately, the noise was too loud, and nobody listened.

Ye Shanming instructed his servant to hand over the petition.

Gu Congsi took it and then handed it to Su Qing.

However, he did not put it down, but instead glanced at the contents.

Plaintiff: Ye Shanming.

The defendant is Su Qing!

Just as I thought!

Su Qing had already taken the petition and calmly asked, "Ye Shanming, you want to sue Wang Huan, the local gentry?"

"Is it true that he owes you money and hasn't paid it back, and that he also misappropriated your family's grain?"

who? !

This wealthy businessman is going to sue Wang Huan?!

Upon hearing this, the people outside cheered.

"Wang Huan! You've finally met your match!"

"Haha, what goes around comes around! Finally, someone has punished your evil deeds!"

"Wang Huan's act of buying land at low prices and maliciously acquiring other people's gold and silver artifacts is utterly despicable!"

Countless people spoke of Wang Huan's evil deeds, which left him, already dumbfounded, in a state of frantic panic.

Wait a minute, wasn't the case against Su Qing?!

Wang Huan wanted to go forward and look at the petition, but was pressed to the ground by the bailiffs on both sides.

Only Gu Congsi noticed that Su Qing was calmly staring at Ye Shanming.

Until Ye Shanming's utterly wicked laughter gradually faded.

"It seems the servant handed over the wrong complaint."

The local gentryman, Wang, immediately looked up and exclaimed, "Yes, yes, I handed it to the wrong person!"

Quickly hand over the real complaint!

Ye Shanming took out another petition from his pocket and stepped forward to personally hand it to Su Qing in the courtroom.

Su Qing opened it and took a look.

The plaintiff in this case is still Ye Shanming.

The defendant is Wang Huan.

Su Qing smiled, returned the previous complaint to Ye Shanming, and said, "The wrong one should be torn up, what do you think?"

Outside the yamen, the people had not yet finished recounting Wang Huan's misdeeds.

Ye Shanming slowly tore off the petition with Su Qing's name on it: "I beg the upright female magistrate to uphold justice for this humble subject."

"Make Wang Huan return my ten thousand taels of silver."

"Paying back debts is a matter of course."

A note from the author: