Seeing that his mother was panicking and didn't know how to answer, Liang Jinchang knew that there must be some inside story that he didn't know.
Just as he was about to continue speaking, he heard his daughter crying, "Grandma is a bad person. She wants to sell us sisters to help my cousin get married! I heard it all! Grandma and my aunt said that my cousin wants to build a new house and get married, and the family has no money, so they want to sell all three of us sisters!"
Jiang Baoer started to cry, and Jiang Zhener and Jiang Yuer also started to cry.
The county magistrate narrowed his eyes and asked sternly, "Ms. Liang Du, is this true?!"
Du Jinhua felt very guilty. She had indeed discussed this matter with her husband's wife, but before they could sell it, Jiang Jiuyue went crazy and became a different person, so the matter was left unresolved.
Seeing Du Jinhua's expression of not daring to answer, the county magistrate snorted coldly, "Privately buying and selling non-slave people is a serious crime. Considering that this is your first offense and you have not succeeded, I will fine you fifty taels of silver as a warning to others."
Fifty taels of silver! Du Jinhua's tongue was almost bitten by her!
Where is the fifty taels of silver at home? Even after empty-handedly taking money out of her old wife's pocket, there was still no fifty taels of silver left!
If there was, she wouldn't have sold all three girls to build a new house for her grandson! It would be nice to keep one at home as a maid!
After hearing that she would be fined fifty taels of silver, Du Jinhua collapsed on the ground, unable to say a word.
The old mother was silent. She could only endure the pain and said in a low voice, "My dear, my mother wanted to sell her granddaughter because the family was short of money. But Jiang Jiuyue, that vicious woman, not only beat her mother-in-law, but also beat my husband, beat him..."
Liang Jinchang was too embarrassed to mention the injury. More importantly, how could a man say in front of so many people that he was badly beaten to pieces by Jiang Jiuyue?
Although he didn't say it explicitly, his subconscious action of covering his crotch made everyone present understand what he meant.
Jiang Jiuyue rolled her eyes, "You blame me for your injury? It was you who brought a woman back yesterday. She saw that you had a wife and a daughter, and you tricked her into coming back. She kicked you and ran away. What does it have to do with me?"
꿯녊 Mei'er also ran away and could not be found, so Jiang Jiuyue simply put the blame on her.
Liang Jinchang was almost mad at her. She actually dared to lie in court and put the blame on Mei'er!
Just when Liang Jinchang was about to speak out to refute, the lawyer suddenly reminded him, "Mr. Right, the first ten boards of beating the drum to appeal for justice have not been struck yet. Should we strike now or...?"
The county magistrate seemed to have just remembered this matter and nodded slightly. "It has been a long time since anyone beat the drum to complain. I actually forgot about it. Come, hold them down and give each of them ten blows!"
Liang Jinchang and Du Jinhua were both panicked. What was going on?
The lawyer explained very well, "If someone beats the drum to appeal for justice, we will not ask why, but we will first beat him ten times to make his intention clear. This is the rule of the government. If we ask why, but it does not reach the level of beating the drum to appeal for justice, we will beat him ten more times."
Liang Jinchang almost fainted after hearing this. Why didn't anyone tell him that he had to beat the drum ten times before he could appeal for justice?
In fact, it’s not his fault that he didn’t know about it. Ordinary people don’t know about this.
Basically, the yamen's grievance drum would not be struck once throughout the year. If it was really struck, it meant that there was an injustice.
In fact, beating the drum to appeal for justice does not necessarily mean that the complainant will be beaten with ten boards. It depends on the judgment of the official hearing the case.
The lawyer's reminder this time was only because he knew that Jiang Jiuyue was the savior of the county magistrate's family.
The county magistrate had indeed forgotten about this matter at first, but after being reminded by his lawyer, he immediately had people hold down Du Jinhua and Liang Jinchang, mother and son.
Du Jinhua was so frightened that she kept begging for mercy, but the guards ignored her cries and started beating her.
After a few blows, Du Jinhua cried out for help and was in so much pain that she wanted to faint.
Liang Jinchang was even worse off than her. He was injured in the front and couldn't lie down. Then he was held down and beaten with a stick. The pain from front to back made him faint.
After beating him with ten boards, the bailiff sniffed Liang Jinchang's breath and said, "My man, he fainted."
The county magistrate glanced at Du Jinhua and said, "Since there is still one conscious person, let's continue the trial. The one who fainted can be sent directly to the hospital."
The bailiff responded, brought a stool, and carried Liang Jinchang out.
Du Jinhua lay on the ground in pain, sweating all over, but she still gritted her teeth, got up, and knelt on the ground obediently.
"Ms. Liang Du, do you have anything else to say?"
Du Jinhua shook her head hurriedly. She didn't dare to say anything more. What if she said more and was beaten with a stick?
"Since it is impossible to refute, it is considered deceiving the government. The penalty is ten boards and three years of corvée labor for all male members of the family."
It's a very good board! Moreover, the men in the family have to perform corvée labor!
This time, Du Jinhua's eyes rolled back and she fainted.
Jiang Jiuyue walked forward and pinched Du Jinhua's philtrum hard, waking her up.
When Du Jinhua saw Jiang Jiuyue's face, his eyes went dark and two words emerged in his mind: It's over.
The lawyer gave a timely and kind advice, "My dear, this old woman may not be able to bear another ten strokes of the cane. Why not give the cane to other male members of her family?"
The county magistrate nodded when he heard this. After all, Du Jinhua was an old woman and not as strong as young people. If she was really beaten to death in the court, it would affect the reputation of the government if the news got out.
"Jiang 꺶...Jiang Jiuyue, are there any other adult males in the Liang family?"
Jiang Jiuyue nodded, "Yes, my husband is the third child. He has two older brothers who have not yet separated from the family. The oldest remaining male is fifteen years old."
The county magistrate thought for a moment and said, "If she is not married, she is not considered an adult at the age of fifteen. Let the two adult males of the Liang family receive the punishment. Each of them will receive ten strokes of the stick. We can send a few yamen runners to carry out the punishment at the Liang family's home."
The master immediately agreed, "Yes, sir, I will make proper arrangements for this matter."
The county magistrate looked at him disdainfully, nodded to Jiang Jiuyue, and left the trial scene.
When the county magistrate and his men had gone far away, Zhao Kun immediately jumped out, "Master! I am willing to go to Shanghe Village!"
The lawyer also knew that Zhao Kun and Jiang Jiuyue knew each other. It was he who recommended Jiang Jiuyue to treat the young master. He immediately ordered Zhao Kun and three other yamen runners to go to Shanghe Village together.
Jiang Jiuyue glanced at the pale-faced Du Jinhua, raised his eyebrows and smiled at her, then left the county government office with the yamen runners.
The group drove to Shanghe Village and attracted the attention of some villagers as soon as they entered the village.
The villagers of Shanghe Village had never seen so many yamen runners coming together. What on earth was going on?
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