One hundred times...
Lin Wan'er was about to vomit blood.
Two coins became two hundred coins.
This Qihuai County is indeed a den of thieves!
It's still the kind of den of thieves that openly rob people.
She awkwardly put down all her things and walked out of the shop with Wu Lanxi.
Wu Lanxi narrowed her eyes and said, "It seems that life in Qihuai County is indeed very comfortable. The streets and alleys are clean, things are cheap, and the people are intelligent and reasonable. However, the county magistrate only benefits his own people and drives outsiders away like jackals and harvests them like fat sheep. It is really despicable."
Lin Wan'er nodded vigorously: "Yes, yes, he doesn't look like an official of the imperial court at all. He's more like the leader of a bandit gang and a cunning merchant."
But then again...
It is remarkable that such a small county can be governed so well, with its people living in peace and contentment, and everyone enjoying prosperity and happiness.
They do have some skills.
In particular, he was able to improve weapons and develop the Zhuge Repeating Crossbow, which had a range of 100 zhang (approximately 33 meters).
"This painting was originally mine, why can't I take it back!"
"What do you mean 'your'? I bought it from the second son of the Zhang family. I gave all the money to him, and I have proof of payment. Don't slander an innocent person!"
"I lost this painting by accident, and the second son of the Zhang family picked it up. He has no right to sell my painting."
"Then go talk to the second son of the Zhang family, don't come looking for me."
"The second son of the Zhang family is dead, and the painting is in your hands. If I don't go after you, who else can I go after!"
Suddenly, a quarrel broke out by the roadside, which quickly attracted a large crowd of onlookers.
Wu Lanxi and Lin Wan'er looked in the direction of the voice and heard someone shout, "Stop arguing! Let Lord Tang settle this between you."
"Yes, let's go find Lord Tang to settle this matter!"
A group of people rushed towards the county government office.
Wu Lanxi thought to herself, "This is a good opportunity to meet the county magistrate," and immediately followed the crowd.
When they arrived at the entrance of the yamen, Wu Lanxi and Lin Wan'er were dumbfounded again.
Is this the county government office?
How come this is even more imposing and grand than the Ministry of Justice?
The pair of stone lions standing proudly at the entrance alone were so lifelike that they stared at them for a long time, not to mention the main building of the county government office that they saw after passing through the gate.
The three-story building faces north and extends east to west, at least twenty zhang (approximately 33 meters) in length!
Three bronze guillotines were placed in the square in front of the main hall.
As Wu Lanxi approached, she discovered that names were carved on them: Tiger Head, Snake Head, and Dog Head.
Lin Wan'er was completely stunned: "My goodness, Miss, is this really the county magistrate's residence? This grandeur is more than enough to compare with the government offices in the capital. Just how much ill-gotten wealth has the magistrate of Qihuai County extorted?"
There weren't tens of thousands of taels of silver.
This kind of construction and decoration is simply impossible to undertake.
Wu Lanxi's face was also pale, and she clenched her fists tightly.
You have money to build government offices, but not money to pay taxes, right?
A mere ninth-rank official has embezzled so much!
While they were visiting the county government office, crowds of onlookers had already gathered at the entrance of the main hall.
Wu Lanxi and Lin Wan'er also stepped forward.
I thought that officials in such a corrupt environment must be utterly inhuman.
Unexpectedly, the constables, holding fire and water sticks, with cold and stern faces, exuded an aura of righteous indignation and appeared to be indomitable.
The two men arguing in the street stood in the middle, saying nothing, quietly waiting for the magistrate to arrive.
A short while later, a thin figure emerged from the side door.
Tang Huan adjusted his belt, yawned, and plopped down behind the table.
"What's going on? Why are you making a fuss about this?"
Sun Xiucai hurriedly shouted, "Sir, I'm innocent! A month ago, I bought a painting from Zhang Lao Er for twenty taels of silver. Today, I was planning to resell it, but this man jumped out and insisted that the painting was his."
Shopkeeper Yao hurriedly cried out, "Sir, I'm innocent! This painting was originally mine. I lost it a month ago, and I saw it on the street today. I wanted it back, but he absolutely refused to give it back to me."
Tang Huan frowned: "Does even a painting require my intervention? What have the civil and commercial mediation committee members been doing? Fine, fine, since you're already here, I'll settle this for you. Where's Zhang Lao Er?"
The two answered in unison, "Zhang Lao Er died of illness a few days ago."
Dead?
Tsk, this is really not a good problem to solve.
After hearing the case, Wu Lanxi and Lin Wan'er both felt it was a difficult case.
Both sides had their own reasons for their arguments.
It's true that this painting belongs to Manager Yao, but Scholar Sun also bought it with real money.
Whoever gets the award, the other person will suffer.
Wu Lanxi stood with her hands behind her back, staring intently at Tang Huan.
It was truly unexpected that the county magistrate who had shocked him so much was only in his early twenties, so young.
She wanted to see how this strange county magistrate planned to rule.
At this moment, Tang Huan opened the scroll, squinted at it, and said, "I thought it was something valuable. This painting is only worth twenty or thirty taels of silver."
Sun Xiucai said happily, "Sir, you have a good eye. I did buy this painting from Zhang Lao Er for twenty taels of silver."
Tang Huan nodded and tossed the painting onto the table.
"Manager Yao, give Scholar Sun twenty taels of silver."
Shopkeeper Yao immediately exploded: "Sir, this painting is mine! I want my things back, and you want to pay me twenty taels of silver? I won't stand for it!"
Wu Lanxi also shook her head.
I thought this strange county magistrate would deliver some amazing verdict.
That's all there is to it.
Lin Wan'er sneered, "The treacherous magistrate must have connections with Scholar Sun, otherwise he wouldn't bully Manager Yao like this. It seems he's not only greedy and treacherous, but also wicked!"
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