"Hmph, my grandsons? Who knows where these two wild things came from? The older they get, the less they resemble my son!"
Just as Liang Shuyan was arguing with Old Lady Zhao about this issue, Zhao Wei returned. Seeing Liang Shuyan and a group of yamen runners standing in the courtyard, he was so frightened that he turned around and tried to escape by climbing over the wall.
The constable was a constable; he stepped forward and kicked Zhao Wei off the wall, sending him crashing to the ground with a heavy thud. Then, a constable standing to the side stepped on him, and a sharp sword was pressed against Zhao Wei's neck.
"Oh my god, I only have one son. Do you want our Zhao family to die out? Jin Daya, you shameless woman, look at all the trouble your family has brought upon us. Why don't you say a word?" Old Mrs. Zhao immediately knelt on the ground and wailed loudly.
Without saying a word, Liang Shuyan slapped Old Lady Zhao hard across the face: "You old hag, how dare you insult my sister like that! Let me tell you, don't think that the Jin family doesn't know how you bully my sister. Do you think the Jin family has no one to rely on? Your son stole from our house first, and now the tea he was selling has caused a death in town. It's because you didn't discipline your son properly that this disaster happened, and now you dare to insult my sister?"
Zhao Wei was a filial son. When he saw Liang Shuyan beating his mother, he shouted at the constable, "I admit I stole her tea and silver, but I didn't poison anyone!"
The constable looked at Liang Shuyan, but Liang Shuyan said calmly, "Sir, as you know, our family owns the Jin Family Tea House. The county magistrate and most of the people in our village have drunk our tea. If you don't believe me, I can test it on the spot. Moreover, according to Manager Su, the tea he sells is not our tea. Our tea comes in its own packaging."
Zhao Wei slapped his thigh and said, "Oh dear, it was all my fault for being so clever back then. I thought that once I removed the packaging, no one would recognize me. I never expected that I would dig such a big hole for myself!"
Yes, Manager Su took out those tea leaves, but they were loose and unpackaged. They probably weren't from the Jin Family Tea House. Besides, even the county magistrate was drinking something. How could this cause poisoning?
The constable grabbed Zhao Wei and said, "Stop wrongly accusing people here. Come back with me now and give the magistrate an explanation!"
In ancient times, whether they were defendants or plaintiffs, they would be taken to the county government office. As long as the case was not further investigated, they would be imprisoned in the county government office's jail until the truth was found out and whether the crime was committed through detention or punishment.
Upon hearing this, Old Lady Zhao became indignant. She stepped forward, grabbed a constable, and shouted, "Arrest this old woman as soon as possible! I want to go to jail for my son! He's my only son!"
The constable ordered his men, "Stop this old woman!"
Two constables drew their long swords and blocked the old woman, who immediately fell to the ground.
"Because there are some things I need you to investigate with me, I'll trouble you to come with me to the county government office again!"
Liang Shuyan said, "It is our responsibility to cooperate with your work, but I have another matter to ask for your help! This Zhao Wei is my brother-in-law, and this is my sister. My sister does the hardest and most tiring work in this family, but she still gets beaten, beaten by the men and beaten by her mother-in-law!"
The constable then turned his gaze to Jin Daya: "Is what she said true?"
Jin Daya's eyes darted around, she took two steps back, her lips parted but she said nothing.
The two children beside her tugged at Jin Daya's clothes again: "Mother, tell the official, it's my grandma and my father who often beat you!"
Jin Daya remained silent.
Liang Shuyan walked over and whispered, "Big sister, have you thought this through? Do you want to be beaten and tortured all the time? These two lovely children, can you bear to let them suffer with you? Listen to me, come with me to the county government!"
Jin Daya then said, "Yes, sir, he beats me all the time. He beats me when we have no money, he beats me when we have nothing to eat, and my mother-in-law twists and turns my whole body so badly that there isn't a single good spot on it."
As she spoke, Jin Daya rolled up her sleeves.
The constable's lips twitched twice: "Zhao Wei, you beast, if I don't let you spend the rest of your life in jail, I'll be unworthy of the title of constable. Take him away!"
Liang Shu pulled Jin Daya and her two children onto the donkey cart, and Zhao Heng followed.
"I wonder if your grandma is alright?" Jin Daya asked with some concern.
Hearing this, Liang Shuyan couldn't help but shake her head: "This woman is really something. Why is she still thinking about her mother-in-law's life and death when she is treated so badly by her? How come she doesn't even remember her own life and death?"
In ancient times, women lived their lives in their husbands' homes under the strict rules of obedience, filial piety, and obedience. No wonder she thought that way. With some pity, she held Jin Daya's hand and said, "Don't worry, elder sister. As long as you are willing to divorce Zhao Wei, you can live in our house from now on. Our house is big, and Mother misses you. As long as you are diligent, you won't starve anywhere."
Jin Daya looked at her sister-in-law gratefully: "Really? Can I really get a divorce? But I live at home often, so I'm afraid it won't be convenient."
Liang Shuyan knew what Jin Daya was worried about. She shook her head and said, "Look, I'm also a widow with several children. My mother is with us now, so what's there to worry about? Besides, the teahouse needs manpower right now. You can help me out. When the children grow up, you can separate from the family if you want. It's much better than having that scoundrel Zhao Wei guarding the threshing ground!"
Upon hearing this, the two children exclaimed happily, "Mom, we won't get beaten by Grandma anymore!"
Zhao Heng clenched his fists tightly: "This man is worse than an animal. How could he do such a thing? I'm going to tell my father to lock up all these scumbags until they die!"
"Xiao Zhao, don't talk nonsense. When you see your father later, don't say anything more either. Your father is the county magistrate, and he has the authority to handle many things. You must not say anything carelessly, understand?"
"Okay, Auntie, you're always so kind. Look, our tea leaves have been stolen, and our money has been stolen too. And you still want me to keep it from my dad? Really!"
Jin Daya realized that the person sitting next to her could be the legendary magistrate's son.
"Sister-in-law, is this the magistrate's son?"
Zhao Heng patted his shoulder and said, "That's right, I am the magistrate's son. Tell me what the Zhao family has done to you, and I will take you to meet my father!"
The constable frowned: "What? The one in the carriage is the magistrate's son?"
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