Liu Cui never imagined that after living half her life, she would actually be able to have a secure job.
She, along with several eloquent and outspoken older women from the workshop, formed a mediation team specifically to handle the trivial matters on the two streets near the Zanhua Courtyard.
The monthly silver was not much, only half a tael.
But that was government food, under the jurisdiction of the prefectural government, allowing direct communication with the prefectural governor and even the right to file a complaint.
When she accepted the task, Liu Cui was still in a daze, feeling as if she had received a windfall or was in a dream.
Jiang Sheng, with her big, round eyes, reminded her, "Auntie, we can't lose face as women. We must do things perfectly."
Liu Cui then came to her senses, clenched her fist, and said, "Don't worry."
The matter was not complicated; it was a dispute between two families over how to care for their elderly parents. The eldest son's family worked away from home year-round, contributing money but not labor each time. The second son was unemployed at home, contributing labor but not money.
For many years, the family had lived in harmony until the passing of the elderly mother, leaving behind only the taciturn father. The second daughter-in-law bluntly stated that she could not get along with her father-in-law and asked the eldest son's family to take the elderly father away.
The eldest daughter-in-law turned her back on him, saying that she had already given him the money.
The second daughter-in-law stood on her hips and angrily rebuked them, saying that years of hard work were enough to offset the cost, and that her parents-in-law should support one of them from each family.
Neither side would back down, and the conflict almost escalated to court. However, after being persuaded by elders of the clan, the dispute is currently being mediated.
The eldest daughter-in-law insisted that since the second son's family had accepted the money, they should take on the responsibility of caring for the elderly.
The second daughter-in-law argued her case forcefully, tearfully recounting the hardships of caring for her parents-in-law.
Liu Cui did not go in immediately, but listened outside for a while, and then visited her neighbors with a smile.
After making several inquiries, she felt confident and, with her feisty and capable sisters and her valiant constables, strode in.
"Who are you?" The second daughter-in-law asked warily at the people who had suddenly entered.
"I am here to handle this dispute on the orders of the Prefect," Liu Cui said, barely managing to maintain her composure.
The second daughter-in-law immediately turned hostile, saying, "We want the Prefect to handle this, not a woman like you. We want to go to court. Do you even understand what court is?"
“That’s right, that’s right,” the second son chimed in softly from the side.
Liu Cui wasn't angry, nor did she refute. She rolled up her sleeves and said, "Are you really going to take this to court? Then your unscrupulous ways of making money will be exposed to the public."
To handle minor disputes, one must be adept at utilizing gossip.
From her neighbors, Liu Cui learned the truth: her second son's family had taken the money, but they hadn't taken good care of the two elderly people. It was her mother who had worked hard to support them and barely managed to keep them afloat.
Now that the old woman has passed away, only an old man who can no longer work remains. The second son's family is extremely disgusted with him and has tried to kick him out several times.
They are all children, yet the eldest son's family contributed money, while the second son's family contributed nothing and even tried to make money off their elder brother. It's truly inhumane.
“You two are both greedy and wicked, and neither of you is filial. You will affect your children’s careers in the future. Your son will not even have a chance to take the imperial examinations.” Liu Cui spat on the ground. “To be a person like you is truly heartless.”
"Exactly, they're heartless," several aunts and uncles chimed in.
The yamen runners with knives were even more indignant.
The second son's family, now wilted like cucumbers, readily confessed to everything.
Taking the opportunity, Liu Cui discussed the matter with her eldest son's family. Upon learning that they wanted the money back and to take her elderly father away to support him, she nodded in satisfaction.
The matter was resolved perfectly, and the dispute was finally nipped in the bud outside the government office.
Xu Mo let out a long breath, smoothed his robes and walked back, "This method is good, but it tests the character of the person handling the matter too much. It would be better if several people checked each other."
With a stroke of his pen, a group of female soldiers appeared in Anshui County, specializing in handling various disputes.
They do not exercise their rights individually; they supervise each other, report problems directly, and work together to resolve troubles.
They were scattered throughout the county town, avoiding any suspicion when encountering relatives, and doing their best to contribute their light and warmth.
Prefect Xu finally had time to deal with all the homeless beggars and sent the memorial to His Highness the Crown Prince of Fengjing by express courier.
"Big brother, big brother, big brother!" Jiang Sheng was the happiest. "After we finish dealing with the homeless children, can you help me get new clothes made? I've ordered clothes for everyone."
Considering that everyone had been away recently, Xu Mo could only smile and nod, "Okay."
The two siblings strolled through the streets of Anshui County, holding candied hawthorns in their hands, osmanthus cakes in their pockets, and jade pendants around their waists.
Jiang Sheng was enjoying her meal when she suddenly heard a loud and angry commotion, followed by a woman's scream.
Before she could react, she saw a woman with a somewhat familiar face hurrying past, followed by a bearded man who was suppressing his anger.
Both of them had injuries and signs of biting and tearing. There were fragments scattered on the ground, which should be broken items.
These are usually family matters; young couples fight in bed and make up before they get out of bed. It's none of the business of outsiders.
The woman glanced at Xu Mo out of the corner of her eye, hesitated, and tears welled up in her eyes.
She seemed incredulous, staring at it for a long time with trembling eyes, before covering her bruised face and running away without looking back.
"That's... the daughter of Master Niu?" Jiang Sheng came to her senses.
My eldest brother, who was tall and handsome five years ago, still retains his charm.
The once domineering Niu Xianxian has been reduced to an ordinary woman who fights with her husband in the street.
I don't know how to marvel at the magic of time, which can sculpt a person to such an unrecognizable state, and also transform them into something completely new, growing to an incredible degree.
Niu Xianxian left sobbing. What she couldn't face wasn't just Xu Mo, but even more so, her former arrogant and domineering self.
"The custom clothing shop is just ahead, let's go." Xu Mo didn't linger.
But before they could even take a step, their path was blocked again.
The person who came this time was relatively unfamiliar, but he was well-dressed and polite. "May I ask, young master and young lady, do you know of an eighteen-year-old merchant named Zheng in Anshui County?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
