"Great enemy? Who? Why is he making things difficult for Azhe?"
Jiang Yushu looked up in surprise, her hand trembled, and the sewing needle pierced her index finger, and a bright red blood bead emerged.
"Wan Bin!"
Cuimei rushed to report the news, panting, sweat on her forehead, and urgently said, "The most important official in this state is the prefect Wan Bin!"
Nanny Pan clapped her hands, her voice filled with trepidation. "I remember now! It was because of his influence and his shady dealings that we couldn't stay on the outskirts of the state capital and cultivate the land. Our entire family was forced to separate. The old lady took the people to Changping County, while we stayed here in this chaotic place."
"Yes, it's the one with the surname Wan." Cuimei nodded vigorously.
"It's him? Trouble! He really is my enemy." Jiang Yushu took a deep breath, put down her needlework, quickly put on her coat, and asked nervously, "How is Ah Zhe now?"
Cuimei clenched her fingers and replied anxiously, "Zou Gui and I sneaked back home to report the news. Before we left, the Third Young Master had already knelt down."
Jiang Yushu's expression suddenly changed. She paused in her dressing, wanting to speak but stopping herself. She quickly fastened her belt and hurried out, saying solemnly, "Let's go to the private school first, and talk as we go! Cuimei, tell me in detail what you saw and heard."
"Oh, slow down." Nanny Pan hurriedly supported him.
Cuimei tugged at the door, slamming it shut. She then explained, "A while ago, Xiaotao, Aunt Zhou, and I went to the vegetable patch outside the private school to water and pick vegetables. We had just gathered a basket of purple melons when a large group of sword-bearing officers suddenly swarmed into the village, surrounded by several officials. Of these, I only knew Magistrate Pan and County Magistrate Liu. From what they addressed me, I knew the first one was Magistrate Wan."
"When the officials heard the sound of reading coming from the private school, they initially praised the 'clear and melodious sounds' and then summoned the teacher, clearly intending to reward him. However, upon hearing the Third Young Master's background, Prefect Wan's attitude immediately turned cold, and he began to question things like, 'How could an exile be a teacher?' 'How could an exile run a private school?' 'How much tuition did the Guo family collect?'"
"In short, you are deliberately making things difficult for me!" Cuimei said angrily.
Jiang Yushu listened attentively, feeling somewhat relieved. As she walked, she said, "Are Magistrate Pan and County Magistrate Liu here? I guess they're probably state officials inspecting the county's people's livelihood. Fortunately, we have two acquaintances, so we're not alone."
"But as the saying goes, 'A higher-ranking official can crush a lower-ranking official.' Can the county magistrate persuade the prefect?" Nanny Pan was very worried.
Jiang Yushu was so anxious that she wished she could take off to the private school. She comforted him, "Anyway, it's easier to handle things with someone you know. We'll see how things unfold when the time comes! Hurry, hurry up. Third brother has this illness, and he shouldn't be frightened."
"Don't worry, young lady. Take care of yourself." Cuimei and Nanny Pan supported her on the left and right and walked quickly.
As the three of them left the main hall, Zou Gui was waiting there, scratching his head anxiously. He couldn't wait to say, "Madam, that Wan guy is bullying us by taking advantage of his power. He's going too far!"
"His son was killed by the Beiyao people in Yongzhou, and the culprit was obviously the enemy soldier! Our prince broke the law and was sentenced to death by His Majesty long ago. The marquis's mansion was also confiscated, and everyone from top to bottom became exiles. When we first arrived in Xicang, we were forced to move away from the provincial capital and hide in the remote countryside to serve as soldiers and farm. The man surnamed Wan still didn't give up and deliberately made things difficult for us. It was too much!" Zou Gui was furious and talked incessantly.
Jiang Yushu frowned, suppressing her panic and forcing herself to remain calm. She warned, "Keep your voice down, or someone with ulterior motives might make a big fuss about you. Remember, 'When you're under someone's roof, you have to bow your head.' I'll quietly tell everyone later that no one is allowed to show any disrespect to Prefect Wan! He's an official, and we're exiles. If we're caught, we'll probably be punished and beaten for nothing." She stepped down the steps of the courtyard gate and walked along the village road towards the private school, saying softly,
"How many hardships have you endured since your exile? Today's incident is nothing. You must not act rashly."
Cuimei and others sighed, understanding that they had to endure it, and agreed reluctantly.
In a short while, the group of four arrived at the private school. From afar, they saw a huge crowd of villagers, three layers inside and three layers outside, surrounding the school so tightly that no one could get through. They stood on tiptoe and stretched their necks, looking at it in confusion and talking about it.
When the villagers noticed the Guo family, they immediately made way and whispered, "Hey, look, the young master's sister-in-law is here!"
"Quickly get out of the way and let them in."
The village head and his wife trotted over to greet him, their faces filled with fear. Liu Sanping wiped his sweat and said kindly, "This is terrible! There are several high-ranking officials in the courtyard, not only the county magistrate, but also the head of the prefecture. You must be very careful in dealing with them."
"Oh, I don't know what's going on. The richest official among them is angry and is blaming your brother-in-law." The wife of the head of the village reached out and helped him.
Liu Sanping almost laughed. "Silly woman, you've been listening for so long! The richest man is the prefect. His status is higher than our county magistrate."
"Well, the officials speak in a very flowery way. I can't quite understand what they say. It's all very confusing." The wife of the village head was kind-hearted and didn't let go until she helped the man into the threshold.
Jiang Yushu said gratefully, "Thank you for the reminder. I understand and will handle it carefully. You guys stay away to avoid getting into trouble."
The people were afraid of the officials, and the village head and his wife were frightened and retreated in fear.
At this moment, the yard outside the private school was crowded with people.
On the steps beneath the eaves, a chair sat in the middle, a wealthy official with a large belly. This man was Wan Bin, the prefect of Xicang. He was over fifty years old, with a pale, beardless complexion, puffy eye bags that looked like gray, and a stern, drawn-out face.
As the magistrate of Heqin County, Pan Rui led Liu Tong and others, standing on the left side of Wan Bin. On the right stood several state officials, all in neatly dressed official robes.
In addition, a team of officers armed with swords were waiting for orders, surrounding the prefect like stars surrounding the moon.
Guo Hongzhe, meanwhile, was kneeling on the steps, head bowed as he was being interrogated. The frail teenager, born with a congenital illness, was frail, his face pale, lips blue, and fingertips purple with fear; he had already begun to suffer from the disease.
Behind Guo Hongzhe, Zhou Yan, Hu Gang and others were also kneeling, angry but not daring to speak.
Jiang Yushu took a closer look and was instantly filled with anxiety and anger, with her head buzzing.
"Madam is here!" whispered the Guo family.
Guo Hongzhe's eyes lit up, and he quickly turned his head. Seeing his second sister-in-law's bad face, he hurriedly comforted her: "We haven't broken any laws, don't worry."
Jiang Yushu calmed herself down and approached steadily. She knew at a glance that he was ill, and said with a concealed worry, "I'm not in a hurry, and you don't have to be either."
Wan Bin sat upright, squinting his eyes and looking at the person who came, with an expressionless face.
Pan Rui and Liu Tong had no grudges against the Guo family and enjoyed a good relationship, but their positions were low and their influence was weak, so the county magistrate could not suppress the prefect. Pan Rui cleared his throat and reminded them, "This is the prefect, Lord Wan. Why don't you quickly pay your respects to him?"
Jiang Yushu gritted her teeth and lowered her head, answering, "Yes." She took a deep breath, protecting her belly, and slowly knelt down beside Guo Hongzhe. She said in a serious tone, "The guilty Jiang, I pay my respects to Master Wan."
Nanny Pan and others endured the humiliation and knelt down at the same time.
Wan Bin looked down at the prisoners, not asking them to stand up. He asked sternly, "Jiang, do you admit your guilt?"
Jiang Yushu straightened her back and half lowered her head. "I am a foolish woman and don't know what crime I have committed. Please tell me clearly, sir."
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"Hmph." Wan Bin sneered and glanced at him. The trusted clerk standing to his right understood and immediately raised his eyebrows and demanded, "The duty of exiles is to cultivate the land. Instead of honestly farming, you've actually started a private school? Who allowed you to use the private school to make so much money?"
Jiang Yushu was well prepared and explained each answer one by one: "First, ever since the establishment of the military farm, the Guo family has been diligent and honest, never slacking off. The villagers and the county can all attest to this. Secondly, the establishment of a private school was something the whole village was happy to promote. Because there is a shortage of scholars nearby, Hongzhe has studied for a few years and has some knowledge of writing, so he will temporarily take charge of the private school and provide enlightenment for the children."
"As your sister-in-law, I know everything about our family's finances," Jiang Yushu said solemnly and firmly. "I'm willing to testify: Heaven and earth, the sun and the moon, can bear witness. Hongzhe has never accepted a single cent in tuition! How can he be accused of 'amassing wealth'?"
She turned sideways, her head twisted, and gazed earnestly at the villagers, then asked loudly, "The government suspects the Guo family of using the private school to make money. Please be fair, everyone. Did Hongzhe ever accept tuition?"
“I haven’t confiscated it!”
Liu Sanping responded without hesitation, not daring to step forward. He hid in the crowd and shouted, "The young master is so enthusiastic. He made it clear from the beginning that anyone who wants to learn to read, whether a child or an adult, can come to the private school. Tuition is waived, not a penny charged!"
As soon as the head of the village spoke, the students and their parents, out of gratitude, joined in, saying, "Yes, they are exempt from tuition."
"My family is poor. If I have to pay tuition, I won't be able to send my children to private school."
"Farmers are not well-off and don't have the spare money to send their children to school."
"The teacher is kind-hearted. He works in the fields during the day and lectures in the evening. He is extremely hard-working. Please, sir, don't wrongly accuse him."
"We are all very grateful, sir."
…
“Bold!”
"Shut up! Stop yelling!" The provincial official was embarrassed and shouted, "Did the prefect ask you a question? You're interrupting without permission. It's a disrespect to the rules."
The villagers were scolded and looked at each other in silence.
Wan Bin's face darkened, his chin raised, and he spoke in an official tone, slowly and deliberately, "I was inspecting the village and stumbled upon a private school. I investigated it to prevent uneducated people from misleading students. You are so surprised. Not only do you not appreciate the good intentions of the government, but you also speak in favor of the exiled criminal. Alas, it's really puzzling."
The petty official flattered him and chimed in, asking, "Could it be that they accepted bribes from your family? Otherwise, why would they speak up for the prisoner?"
Jiang Yushu suppressed her anger and tried her best to control herself. "They didn't accept benefits from the Guo family. They are honest and dare to speak the truth."
Wan Bin was over fifty years old and had only one son, who had died during the Northern Qi army's attack on Yongzhou City. After his grief, he turned his anger on the Guo family. With a scornful look and a forced smile, he slowly questioned, "Tell me the truth? Then, let me ask you: How much knowledge can a young man, who hasn't even achieved the title of scholar, possess? You're still a child, and yet you dare to call yourself a 'teacher'? What qualifications do you have?"
"I, I--" Guo Hongzhe was speechless, as if he had been slapped. His cheeks were burning, his breathing was rapid, and his lips turned from blue to purple.
Jiang Yushu felt obliged to do so and immediately chimed in, answering sternly, "As I've just explained: because there's a shortage of scholars nearby, we've asked Hongzhe to teach the children how to read. Hongzhe is young, so he can't be called a 'well-educated man' just yet, but he started learning at the age of five, and his elders have been teaching him to famous teachers for seven or eight years. I can't boast about anything else, but he knows the Three Character Classic, Hundred Family Surnames, and Thousand Character Classic like a whirlwind, and is more than capable of teaching children a lesson!"
Wan Bin stared at the pregnant belly of his enemy's daughter-in-law, remembering his only son who was brutally slaughtered by the Northern Bull. A sinister glint flashed in his eyes, and he thought: My son is dead, and yet the Guo family's daughter-in-law is pregnant... Why should her child be born? God must make the Guo family extinct!
Pan Rui and Liu Tong, of lower rank, stood aside, feeling caught between a rock and a hard place. They bit the bullet and tried to smooth things over, saying, "Prefect, please calm down. Villagers and women are often ignorant. You are a magnanimous person. Don't argue with them."
"You've been patrolling all day, and it's getting late. Why don't you go to town and rest?"
Wan Bin glanced at the magistrate, pretending he hadn't heard him. He continued his interrogation, "What a sharp-tongued criminal! But no matter how you argue, the Guo family runs a private school, and they must be distracted from their daily duties. If they are distracted, they are no longer fully committed to farming. What is your crime for failing to fulfill your duties due to personal matters?"
"According to the laws of Dagan," the official knew that Wan Bin hated the Guo family. He rolled his eyes and said seriously, "If the exile is lazy and restless, he should be punished. The lightest punishment is beating, and the worst is imprisonment."
Wan Bin thought for a moment, "How much is the punishment?"
"This..." The clerk leaned closer, observing his superior's words and expressions. After trying to figure out his superior's thoughts, he straightened up and replied, "According to the old rules, at least twenty lashes of the cane will serve as a warning to others!"
"Twenty lashes?"
The Guo family was shocked, as were the onlookers. Pan Rui and Liu Tong looked at each other in astonishment.
For a moment, hundreds of eyes turned to Wan Bin, all revealing disapproval.
Wan Bin was calm and composed. He looked down at the dozen or so kneeling members of the Guo family and said with embarrassment, "Since there is an old rule, I cannot disobey—"
"Lord Wan!"
Guo Hongzhe summoned up his courage, his lips turning purple and his entire body trembling as he spoke in a trembling voice, "Opening a private school was my own idea, and I take care of it all by myself. It has nothing to do with my family. Please, please understand. I am willing to accept any punishment, and I beg you to forgive my innocence."
"Third brother! Don't talk nonsense."
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Fang Sheng was terrified and whispered anxiously, "Azhe is sick. He must take medicine as soon as possible, otherwise the consequences will be disastrous."
"I know. Don't panic, I'm thinking of a way." Jiang Yushu was extremely anxious. The ground was uneven. After kneeling for a long time, her knees became more and more painful.
Unexpectedly, the private school that had benefited the village would become a handle and a accusation. Wan Bin's accusation that he was "distracted by teaching and not fully committed to farming" might sound unreasonable, but in a serious debate, the exile would not win.
Jiang Yushu racked her brains but had no good ideas. She made up her mind and bet that Pan Rui and Liu Tong would try their best to stop her and that the government would not punish the pregnant woman in public... She sighed and reported: "In fact, it was me who persuaded the village to set up a private school - "@Unlimited good articles, all in Jinjiang Literature City
"no!"
Guo Hongzhe's eyes were red and his face was pale. He tried hard to hold back his tears and said resolutely: "Sister-in-law, don't worry about it. I am not doing my job properly and I deserve to be punished. Please punish me, Master Wan!"
Wan Bin frowned, leaning back in his chair, and said, "The court has its laws, and the government has its old rules. This official is really in a difficult position. Twenty strokes of the cane is not too much."
At this time, the students in the private school were almost anxious and could no longer bear it.
The children were innocent and discussed quietly for a moment. The leading child ran away, and his companions followed closely behind. They knelt around Guo Hongzhe and begged with tears: "Sir, can you please not hit our teacher?"
"He's in poor health. Twenty strokes of the cane could kill him."
"Once the teacher died, the private school was disbanded."
…
Guo Hongzhe knelt for a long time, repeatedly ridiculed and despised. He felt infuriated and humiliated, and was almost breathless. But when he saw the students vigorously defending him, he suddenly felt more relaxed. He was moved and worried, and hurriedly said, "My Lords, please do not act rashly. Please withdraw! Go home and don't worry our elders."
"I didn't dare to act rashly. I just wanted to accompany the teacher."
A newborn calf is not afraid of a tiger. The older child refused to leave, so the younger child followed him, kowtowing and begging for mercy.
The villagers were caught off guard and wanted to take the child away, but they were afraid of offending the officials, so they could only kneel down and plead for the Guo family.
Seeing this, Jiang Yushu secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
"A bunch of unruly people, what are you doing?" the provincial official shouted angrily, "How dare you! What? Do you want to be beaten with the sticks along with the Guo family?"
Suddenly, the gate was kicked open with a loud bang, and several soldiers in uniform stepped through the threshold. The leader, Guo Honglei, had a sullen expression and asked angrily:
"Why are you mobilizing so many people? I wonder what crime my family has committed?"
The author has something to say:
Now, the feud between the two families cannot be resolved┓（ ′？` ）┏
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