Chapter 40 Waiting for Parents to Come Back
Wang Zhihuan glanced at the cloth bag, then returned to Zhou Zhengde's face with a hint of amusement in his eyes.
"Oh? It's kind of you to have such a heart." He slowly put down his teacup. "However, I've always handled cases with public funds allocated by the court, so I don't need you to compensate me. But you, as the village head, knowingly broke the law, which is an even greater crime. And the Chen family, you abused your son and daughter-in-law, sold your granddaughter, and falsely accused innocent people. Each of these is a serious crime. If this case were reported, you would all be sentenced to exile three thousand miles at the very least."
Exile three thousand miles!
These five words, like five heavy hammer blows, hammered down on Zhou Zhengde's heart, making him dizzy and nearly fainting. He knew that with his physique, if he were really exiled to that smoky and miasmic place, he would be reduced to a pile of bones within three months.
"Sir! Sir, please save me!" He was really scared this time. He kowtowed repeatedly, and his forehead hit the bluestone slab, making a "dong dong" sound.
Wang Zhihuan looked at his ugly appearance, a subtle glint of contempt flashing in his eyes. He stretched out a finger and gently tapped the table.
"I'm not unreasonable," he said slowly. "Considering that you're a first-time offender and have been deceived, the Chen family lawsuit is, after all, a family matter. If... the plaintiff is willing to relent and settle the matter privately, I, for the sake of our fellow villagers, may be able to grant you a lighter sentence."
"The plaintiff?" Zhou Zhengde was stunned for a moment, then realized, "Your Excellency, you are referring to... Chen Kangbo and Feng Lan?"
"Yes." Wang Zhihuan nodded. "They are the ones who suffered the most in this case. As long as they are willing to submit a letter of apology, saying that everything that happened before was just a misunderstanding and voluntarily withdraw the lawsuit, then I can classify this case as a family dispute, impose a fine, and put them in jail for a few days, and it will be over."
Zhou Zhengde's eyes lit up instantly. He seemed to have seen a ray of light in the endless darkness.
"But... sir," he hesitated, "Feng Lan has a strong temper and I'm afraid she won't give in easily."
"That depends on your sincerity." Wang Zhihuan's lips curled up into a meaningful smile. "I heard that the old couple in the Chen family still have dozens of taels of silver for their retirement. Chen Kangbo and his wife, with their five daughters, will also be a considerable expense in the future. In this world, there is nothing that money can't solve. If there is, it only means that there is not enough silver."
He paused and held up three fingers.
"Thirty taels." Wang Zhihuan's voice was soft, but every word was clear. "Thirty taels of silver as compensation for Chen Kangbo and his family. If you can get their written consent, I will release them. If not, you can pack your bags and join the monkeys to the south."
Zhou Zhengde's heart sank again. Thirty taels! This was practically the death of the Chen family's elderly couple!
But he knew he had no choice. This was his only way to survive.
"Yes! Yes! I understand! I will definitely do it!" He kowtowed repeatedly and crawled out.
…
In the prison, Zhou Zhengde exaggerated Wang Zhihuan's words and told them to Old Man Chen, who was so frightened that he paralyzed on the spot.
Exile three thousand miles! For an old farmer who had never left Pingjiang Village in his life, this phrase was more terrifying than beheading.
"No! Absolutely not!" He grabbed Zhou Zhengde's sleeve as if he had grabbed a life-saving straw, "Village head, you have to save me! I don't want to go into exile!"
"Save you? How?" Zhou Zhengde angrily pushed him away. "Didn't you hear what the county magistrate said? Thirty taels of silver! Not a penny less! Money in exchange for life! It's your choice!"
Old man Chen was at a loss, trembling as he crawled to the door of his cell and shouted inside, "Boss! Feng Lan! Come out! Dad has something to tell you!"
Feng Lan and Chen Kangbo were leaning against each other, discussing family matters in low voices. They didn't even raise their eyelids when they heard this.
"Dad, please!" Old Man Chen cried, "Please have mercy on us and forgive us this time! We know we were wrong! We really know we were wrong!"
Seeing Feng Lan still ignored him, he became anxious and shouted out Zhou Zhengde's words: "The county magistrate said that as long as you are willing to write a letter of understanding and pay thirty taels of silver as compensation, this matter will be over! Otherwise... otherwise our whole family will be exiled three thousand miles away!"
He thought that using the word "whole family" could evoke a sense of family affection in Chen Kangbo.
Unexpectedly, Chen Kangbo slowly raised his head, looked at him with the eyes of a stranger, and said word by word: "That's your home, not ours. From the moment you pushed Daya to Zhang Quezi's house, we are no longer a family."
Old man Chen was stunned as if struck by lightning.
Just then, a sound of footsteps was heard outside the cell.
"Dad! Mom! Big sister!"
It’s the voices of Erya and Sanya!
Feng Lan and Chen Kangbo stood up suddenly and rushed to the railing. They saw Erya, Sanya, and two other sisters, four little girls, holding a basket, standing timidly not far away, their eyes red.
"Why are you here?!" Feng Lan was surprised and happy. She reached out to touch their faces, but was blocked by the cold iron railings.
"Mom, we...we're worried about you." Erya sniffed and handed over the basket. "Doctor Sun said that the food in prison is not fit for human consumption. He asked us to bring you some food."
Inside the basket were a few steaming buns made from various grains, and a small pot of wild vegetables cooked in salt water. Although simple, they were the most delicious delicacies in the world.
"Everyone in the village...everyone in the village is talking about our family," San Ya whispered. "Some people are scolding Grandma and her family, while others...are saying we're unfilial and sending our elders to jail. Second and Third Aunts went back to their parents' home in tears this morning, saying...that they were going to ask my uncles to come and seek justice and rescue Dad and Third Uncle."
Feng Lan's heart tightened: "Did they go looking for reinforcements?"
"Yeah." Erya nodded. "Mom, we were a little scared when you weren't home. After we got home, we blocked the doors and windows with stones."
"You're doing the right thing!" Feng Lan hurriedly warned, "Don't open the door to strangers these days! No matter who comes, don't open it! Wait until Mom and Dad come back!"
The warmth and aroma of food here instantly stimulated the Chen family in the cell next door.
The old lady sniffed the delicious aroma of the steamed buns, her mouth watering with hunger. She didn't even bother pretending to be dead. She climbed over to the railing and yelled at her granddaughters, "Er Ya! San Ya! You heartless little things! You have delicious food but you don't know how to honor your grandma! Quick! Bring me the steamed buns!"
Arya and the others shrank back in fear.
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