Chapter 156: The Qi Family Goes Bankrupt, Qi Yaer Imprisoned
The people were all kneeling, so as long as one person stood up and ran away, he would definitely be seen. This was the most direct relationship of hierarchy between officials and the people.
Jiusu said, "The person who set the fire would definitely smell of oil, especially on their hands. Oil would float up when they put them in water, and there might even be traces of blackening on their clothes."
County Magistrate Zhang had to admit that this woman was indeed smart.
It’s a pity that I can’t become a member of his Zhang family.
"I think so too, but who should I start investigating? Manager Fang, who do you have a grudge against?"
"Qi Ba." said the shopkeeper Fang.
Scanning the crowd, the officers and soldiers quickly caught Qi Ba, who was almost lying on the ground. After he was rescued, Shopkeeper Qi knelt on the ground and kowtowed, asking, "Sir, are you looking for me?"
Magistrate Zhang said, "Bring a basin of water and have him put his hand in to see if there's any oil."
At this moment, the officers and soldiers also found unburned firewood around Fangxing Building and brought it over.
"Sir! Physical evidence!"
The basin was placed in front of him.
Shopkeeper Qi wanted to wipe his hands on his clothes, but was caught by the soldiers. They pressed his hands into the basin, and the water became turbid and oily.
Magistrate Zhang scolded.
"Qi Ba, you still refuse to plead guilty! Tell me, why did you burn Fangxing Tower?"
"Your Excellency is wise. I didn't do that. I also run a restaurant and I know how difficult business is. How could I hurt my friend?" Shopkeeper Qi kowtowed and explained.
snort!
Madam Fang rushed over as soon as she heard the news. She bowed slightly and said, "Your Excellency, the County Magistrate, I have brought some evidence. We cannot be the friends that Shopkeeper Qi mentioned."
County Magistrate Zhang took a look at the past between the two.
I was really shocked. There was fighting, swearing behind people's backs, breaking into Fangxing Building to threaten people, tripping people up, and even poisoning.
As he read further, his memory became clearer and clearer.
Have you ever heard these things before? Are they true?
"Qi Ba, you are too bold!"
The yamen runner reminded him, "Sir, it seems he has informed you of all these matters in advance. There are three or four thousand taels of silver in the mansion, which is his filial gift to you."
County Magistrate Zhang came back to his senses.
It seems so.
However, this time it was Shopkeeper Fang who gave the money first, so he must be more concerned about the money. "Come here, give Qi eighty-three lashes. If he doesn't admit his guilt, keep beating him!"
Confession under torture? At this moment, it was quite satisfying.
Mrs. Fang looked at the burned-out restaurant and said with heartache, "This damned bastard is so cruel! Why didn't the bastard burn down his own restaurant?"
Snap! Snap! Snap!
Qi Ba was pressed on a bench, and the officers and soldiers beat him with sticks from the left and right. The man screamed in pain, but no matter how Qi Ba bribed the two men, they remained unmoved.
The county magistrate didn't give any hints, so they didn't dare.
Madam Qi and Qi Yaer knelt and begged for mercy, but it was useless. Qi Ba shouted, "I confess! I confess!"
The officers and soldiers lifted Qi Ba up and threw him in front of the adults, then stood on both sides with sticks in their hands, which was very scary. Qi Ba shrank back.
After not being spanked, the butt calmed down.
But once it calms down, it hurts and itches again.
County Magistrate Zhang said coldly, "Why don't you confess quickly? Do you still want to be beaten?"
Qi Ba was heartbroken. "I was jealous of Fang Xing Lou's huge customer base, so I got carried away and set fire to his restaurant. But, I regretted it now. I tried to put out the fire, but it had already started!"
Shopkeeper Fang grabbed his collar and yelled.
"Qi Wangba! You are so cruel! The restaurant is on fire and everyone is eating. What if someone burns to death? What do you think we should do?"
"Who made you earn more than me?" Hatred flashed across Qi Ba's face. He stood up and pressed forward against his fist. "Why is your restaurant better than mine?"
When Manager Fang and King Qi first met, they were quite friendly.
Once interests are involved between people, will they become enemies?
He said bitterly, "You always try to go against me. If you had focused all your attention on the food and the customers, you wouldn't have chosen to starve rather than eat at Zhenxinglou. Qi Ba, the current state of you and your restaurant has nothing to do with me, it has nothing to do with anyone else, it has everything to do with you!"
Mrs. Fang added with a cold expression, "If you have bad intentions, you won't be able to do anything!"
Qi Ba's body went limp, and he collapsed to the ground, tears streaming down his face. What should he do? If he was caught setting the fire, would he still be the envied restaurant owner?
Magistrate Zhang sentenced the Qi family: "Intentional arson and injury to others. I hereby order that the money for rebuilding Fangxinglou be paid by the Qi family, and the losses of the customers also be paid by the Qi family. Fortunately, no one was killed. All the Qi family property is confiscated, and they are forbidden from trading again!"
“Wuwuwu…”
The Qi family's sobs came one after another.
Jiusu felt hatred, and when she looked up, it was Qi Yaer. The corners of her mouth curled up, thinking that it was time to settle the score, and she took out the confession written by Qi Yaer.
"Your Excellency, County Magistrate, I too have a grievance. I hope you can see clearly."
"Master Jiu, you are too polite. Who dares to bully you? I will take charge!" County Magistrate Zhang acted like a "good official", which shocked the people around him.
When did the county magistrate become so 'good'?
Jiusu said, "Qi Yaer once hired someone to kill me. After I found out, this is the confession she wrote."
After reading it carefully, County Magistrate Zhang looked up at the daughter of the Qi family and said, "Oh my god, it's really hard to raise girls and villains. How cruel! He actually hired a killer."
He asked in confusion: "Why did Master Jiu take it out now?"
Jiusu smiled mysteriously and said, "If I had reported it to the police at that time, would the adults have given me justice?"
In fact, the answer in both of their minds is very obvious.
Even if she reported it to the police, Zhang Tu wouldn't care.
But now it was different. Magistrate Zhang said seriously, "I will definitely judge the case seriously and give justice to you, sir."
"It's not too late now." Jiusu nodded slightly, indicating that he could start the performance.
When Qi Yaer saw the confession letter, she kowtowed and cried until her voice was hoarse. The Qi family had already been ruined, and she couldn't let anything happen to her again. She pointed at Jiusu and said anxiously.
"Sir! She made me write it!"
"Don't lie to me!" Magistrate Zhang said, his hands behind his back. "At that time, Lady Jiu was just an ordinary peasant girl, and General Chen hadn't returned yet. How could she possibly have forced the Qi family?"
Qi Yaer had nothing to say. She bit her lips tightly and looked at Jiusu with hatred in her eyes.
Magistrate Zhang sentenced: "You hired a killer to kill someone. Qi Ba, you have a good daughter. Come, take Qi Yaer to the prison and detain her for six months. She will be beaten with ten sticks every day!"
“No! No!”
“…”
After the matter was resolved, County Magistrate Zhang did not want to stay any longer. He did not want to deal with Jiusu. This woman was too shrewd and difficult to control.
The onlookers were surrounded by officers and soldiers and were always worried. As soon as the county magistrate left, they all went home and calmed down.
Fang Yu shouted, "Dad, Mom! Are you okay?"
The seven-foot-tall man put his arm around their shoulders and looked at the tears in their eyes, feeling very sad. When he got the news, he ran back, but he didn't expect that Fangxing Building had been burned down.
This is the hard work of my parents!
Mrs. Fang lowered her head and choked up, "It's okay. The money your father earns is enough for you to spend for the rest of your life."
Manager Fang was much calmer: "Go back to the academy. You should study hard now. You don't have to worry about your family. When you grow up, become a good official, and your parents won't have to suffer any grievances."
Thinking of the silver I just gave to the county magistrate.
He is clearly the victim, but he still has to give gifts to get justice. It makes my heart ache just thinking about it.
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