Zhang Daniu hadn't slept well all night, holed up in that corner. He finally mustered the energy to try and see how the duck eggs were pickled, but before he could even see anything, the woman spotted him and a group of women rushed over and pinned him to the ground.
He saw Zhang Mei coming over and even struggled on the ground, shouting:
"Meizi, Meizi, quickly tell these people to let your brother go."
"What nonsense are you talking about? I'm not a thief, I'm your young master's wife's brother."
"If you guys break my clothes, I'll have my Meizi make you all quit your jobs, you believe me!"
Zhang Daniu roared, and the woman pressing him down softened her expression. Could this man really be Meizi's brother? They didn't look closely, only hearing Aunt Lin shout that there was a thief and they would come to catch him immediately.
Song Anxin looked at Zhang Mei. If Zhang Mei really asked her to let go of Zhang Daniu, she would be very disappointed in this daughter-in-law she had always thought highly of.
Fortunately, she didn't.
Zhang Mei said with a sorrowful expression, "You're not my brother. My brother would never do this to our family. I... I thought you had really changed for the better. Why... why did you do this to me... Waaah..."
Lin Fengnian quickly pulled his wife over and let her lean on his shoulder, clumsily comforting her.
Aunt Zhao, who was pressing Zhang Daniu down with her foot, said, "Did you hear that? Meizi said you're not her brother, you're just a thief!"
"Fengnian's mother, what should we do about this thief?"
Song Anxin said to Brother Lin at the door, "Brother, would you please tie him up and take him out with me? I need to take him to see the authorities."
Upon hearing that they were going to see the authorities, Zhang Daniu panicked: "You...you can't do this to me! I'm Meizi's own brother! Meizi, please save me, Meizi..."
Zhang Mei didn't even glance at him, and buried her face in Lin Fengnian's shoulder, sobbing uncontrollably.
Song Anxin thought he was too noisy and stuffed a cloth into his mouth.
Song Anxin told Sister-in-law Lin to lead the workers to continue working so as not to delay the shipment process.
Brother Lin helped escort the person out, and after a short while, Lin Fengshou returned in his oxcart. He had made a point of delivering the goods so early today just for this.
Just as Lin Fengshou and his men were about to put Zhang Daniu onto the oxcart, Zhao suddenly appeared out of nowhere.
She threw herself at Zhang Daniu, shouting, "What are you doing? Why are you tying my man up? Zhang Mei, where is Zhang Mei? Is this how she treats her own brother?"
Song Anxin looked at her coldly: "What brother? Would your brother sneak into my workshop in the middle of the night just to watch how we pickle duck eggs in the morning?"
Lin Fengshou said, "Move aside, I need to take her to the government office."
Upon hearing that her husband was to be sent to the authorities, Zhao immediately cried out:
"Good heavens, what sins have my family committed? My sister's in-laws are actually sending her brother to the authorities... and my sister is even helping them!"
"Mom and Dad, Da Niu is in jail. Who will take care of you in your old age? You've raised an ungrateful child..."
A large crowd had already gathered at the entrance of Song An's courtyard, all of them having heard that Aunt Lin's family had caught a thief and come to see what was going on.
Some of the women also recognized Zhang's brother and sister-in-law.
Granny Liu said, "We're all family. How can Mei Zifeng send her own brother to jail like this? This is so unfilial..."
"That's right. He's the only son in the Zhang family. A little discipline is enough. Sending him to the authorities might mean he never comes back."
"........"
For a moment, some onlookers began to criticize Zhang Mei and Lin Fengnian, but they dared not say anything about Aunt Lin.
A chill settled on Song Anxin's face. This Zhao family was truly cunning, using Mei Zi's parents as a pretext at this moment. This feudal filial piety could crush a person.
Lin Fenghe's handsome face crumpled into a frown as he whispered:
“Mother, Sister-in-law Mei was bought by our family and has nothing to do with them.”
Song Anxin knew in her heart that her family knew as well, but no one in the family told anyone about it, and Zhang's brother and sister-in-law would certainly not mention it.
Once the news spread that Zhang Mei had been bought by their family, Zhang Mei would be considered their slave, and slavery was the lowest of social classes in that era.
If they didn't mention the harvest and plums, their family would be branded as unfilial and would be gossiped about for the rest of their lives.
But if we just let Zhang Daniu go, there's absolutely no way his family will be able to!
Just as Song Anxin was quickly trying to think of a solution, she heard a loud voice.
"The magistrate has arrived!"
Song Anxin and the others turned their heads and saw a carriage slowly approaching. The villagers had seen it twice before; it was indeed the county magistrate's carriage. However, this time, there were many yamen runners accompanying the carriage, making quite a grand spectacle.
Lin Lizheng had received the news early on and was leading the way for the constables.
At this moment, Zhang's brother and sister-in-law were both stunned and stood there, especially Zhao, who forgot to cry out.
What happened? Meizi's in-laws reported it to the yamen, and the county magistrate actually came in person. Oh no, her husband is doomed.
As soon as the carriage curtain was lifted, Yan Shuping emerged, wearing a black gauze hat and official robes, followed by Master Fan. The two were heavily made up, exuding an aura of authority.
Especially Yan Shuping, with his sharp features, tall and slender figure, and handsome, dashing eyes, looked even more elegant in this official robe. Even Song Anxin, who was used to seeing handsome male celebrities on TV in modern times, couldn't help but exclaim in her heart, "Holy crap! So handsome!"
The villagers who had come to watch immediately prostrated themselves and knelt down.
Lin Fengshou and the others didn't forget to pull the stunned Zhang Daniu and Zhao Shi down to kneel.
The crowd spontaneously chorused, "Greetings, Your Excellency the Magistrate!"
Even as she was lost in thought, Song Anxin knelt down as well.
The clerk, Fan, cleared his throat and said, "The magistrate has come to reward those who have rendered meritorious service."
He paused, then continued, "Lin Songshi of Linjia Village, listen to my command—when wild boars attacked various villages in the county, ruining their crops... she offered a good method to drive away the wild boars, helping..."
Therefore, the county government hereby awards fifty taels of silver as a commendation, and Linjia Village's headman, Lin, is rewarded for his timely and meritorious report; therefore, Linjia Village is also awarded three hundred mu of wasteland.
Song Anxin remained calm while kneeling below. She knew that Old Man Bai had mentioned it to her before, and she figured there would be an even greater reward to come. However, the magistrate was quite generous, giving her fifty taels of silver for a single method.
Lin Lizheng, kneeling in front, was extremely excited. What?! He had also made a contribution and was awarded 300 mu of land. Although there was still a lot of wasteland in the village and no one except Fengnian had bought it, he was still overjoyed. This was a treatment that no other village head had ever received. He could brag to his friends when he went to the county government to report next time.
He knew that he was also benefiting from Fengnian's influence.
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