Liang Shuyan got on the donkey cart, this time driven by Dashan. Dashan was more composed, and the donkey cart moved more slowly.
"Mother, have we arrived at the entrance of Shengming Academy? Is it still in the same spot?"
Liang Shuyan was in no mood to talk about these things. She glanced at Zhang and said, "You've been with me for a while now, so I'll leave this cold noodle dish to you. I still have to go to the county government!"
Zhang had heard about Yuan Sheng before and hated him to the core. She held her mother-in-law's hand and said, "Mother, you must be careful. You must not let this scoundrel stay in our house. In the past, any grain or silver we had went into his pocket. Just thinking about it makes me angry."
Liang Shuyan nodded: "Don't worry, now in my heart, you are my precious darlings. If outsiders take away our grain and silver, I won't sit idly by."
Thinking about his painting, Jin Dashan said, "Mother, if I learn well this time, I'll set up a stall to sell calligraphy and paintings, and I can help you earn some money."
"What nonsense are you talking about? You learned to paint just to set up a stall? Look at your pathetic self, it makes my heart ache."
Jin Dashan fell silent.
Soon, they arrived at the entrance of the prestigious school.
Today is the first day of school, and a group of students are gathered at the gate, queuing up to complete the registration procedures.
Jin Dashan stopped the donkey cart, tied up the donkey, and helped his wife set up the stall before walking towards the school gate.
Jin Erniu was riding in an oxcart. Zhao Heng had a lot of things to do along the way, so the journey was a bit slow. In addition, they encountered Yuan Sheng, and the conflict suddenly became more acute.
"Who do you think you are, daring to speak to me like that?"
Zhao Heng stood up abruptly, patted his chest, and said, "What do you think I am? Let me tell you, you're just talking nonsense now. When we get to the county office, I'll give you twenty lashes first. You have hands and feet, and you make a living by cheating women. Are you even human?"
"Hmph, which beggar woman did the magistrate sleep with to have you? You're utterly filthy!"
Jin Erniu sat in front of the oxcart, cracking the whip. He heard two people arguing on the cart and couldn't help but burst into laughter: "You two are really alike! Can you stop arguing now? You can argue when we get there. I promise I won't take you anywhere!"
Zhao Heng started to berate him again: "I said Jin Erniu, you heartless wretch! I was standing up for your mother, and you just stood by and laughed. You're such an ingrate!"
"Who do you think you are, shouting and defending others, only to be ignored after accepting the money from Jin Erniu? Tell me, what's the point of all this thankless work?"
Jin Erniu raised his whip, cracking it twice, and the oxcart sped up, soon arriving at the entrance of Shengming Academy.
"Where's Dashan? Isn't it still early for school? Why are you in such a hurry? Don't you know you should wait for me?"
The county magistrate walked towards them and, seeing Zhao Heng, said fiercely, "Zhao Heng, what are you doing standing here instead of registering? You've become so unrecognizable after just one holiday that you don't even recognize your own father!"
Zhao Heng then realized what was happening: "Father, you've come at the right time. This man is swindling women out of their money. You think I'd get involved in something like this?"
The county magistrate, dressed in a royal blue robe, walked towards them.
Yuan Sheng blinked twice, then said, "Your Excellency, I greet you!"
Zhao Heng burst into laughter: "That's right, a petty person meeting a superior! At least you have some self-awareness. No matter how eloquent a petty person is, they're still a petty person!"
Liang Shuyan was helping to set up the cold jelly stall when she saw Li Zheng approaching. She respectfully said, "Magistrate, what brings you here today? Are you waiting for Zhao Heng?"
"Haha, I just want to check how well this brat has behaved at your house lately, and also take a look at the school enrollment."
At this moment, Liang Shuyan pulled out a bill from her arms and whispered a few words in the magistrate's ear. The magistrate looked at Yuan Sheng in front of him.
"You're Yuan Sheng?"
Yuan Sheng nodded, puzzled. "Yes, is there something you need, Magistrate?"
The magistrate glanced at Yuan Sheng and said with a stern face, "Say no more and come with me to the magistrate's residence!"
Liang Shuyan smiled and said, "Don't worry, once we get to the government office, this matter will be resolved very quickly."
Yuan Sheng didn't know why, but he always felt that there was something inexplicable in this woman's eyes. He glanced at Liang Shuyan and asked, "What's wrong? What do you mean by this?"
Soon, they arrived at the government office.
The magistrate took his seat in court, and with a slam of the gavel, Yuan Sheng was so frightened that he fell to the ground, trembling all over.
"Is the one lying down Yuan Sheng himself?"
Yuan Sheng stumbled to his feet: "Yes, it was me!"
Zhao Heng sneered: "What, aren't you a villain now?"
Jin Dashan chuckled: "Hmph, if I had known it would turn out like this, I wouldn't have tried to profit from others."
"Look carefully, is this bill the grain and silver you owe Liang Shuyan?"
The advisor handed the note to Yuan Sheng with a disdainful look.
Yuan Sheng took the bill from his hand, and was so shocked that he sat down on the ground with a thud. He pointed at Liang Shuyan not far away and cursed, "You vicious woman! So you and the magistrate tricked me! No, this can't be counted!"
The magistrate slammed his gavel again: "Why can't it be counted? You cheated Liang Shuyan's family out of their grain and silver. There's evidence right here. What else do you have to say?"
"Well, it was all her own choice. She said she liked me, so she gave me all the grain and silver in her house. How can you blame me for this?"
"Still dare to argue? Guards, give him twenty more strokes of the cane!"
At the magistrate's shout, several yamen runners rushed over and began to torture Yuan Sheng with their canes.
After letting out a few screams, Yuan Sheng immediately admitted to the matter, saying, "Yes, it is true that I took their things, but I'm sick now and have nothing to give her in return."
“He took someone’s grain and silver and is now trying to renege on his promise. Men, keep beating him until he pays it back.”
He was slapped several more times, and Yuan Sheng shouted, "Your Honor, spare my life! I'll pay it back! I'll pay it back, even if I have to sell my entire fortune!"
Large beads of sweat appeared on Yuan Sheng's forehead, and he trembled as he said, "Your Excellency, could you please let me write an IOU first, and then I'll repay her after I sell the house when I get back?"
Liang Shuyan waved her hand dismissively: "No need, just give me the house. Write a document now and give me the house!"
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