Ning'an Prefecture was divided into two counties, Ji County in the north and Lin County in the south.
Song Chi staggered over. A lot of people gathered outside the county government office. Most of them were dressed like scholars in long gowns with wide sleeves. These people were lawyers who took on lawsuits and helped people fight lawsuits.
Where there is power, there is business, and this is true everywhere.
The yamen faces south and is large in scale, majestic and imposing, with an air of dignity that makes people feel intimidated.
It has been like this since ancient times.
In ancient times, imperial power did not extend to the countryside. Although the county magistrate was said to be a seventh-rank official, he was actually a real local emperor.
When Bai Yong was the magistrate, he had the help of the local powerful Han family and the support of the prefect. He really had the final say in Ji County.
But he should have left office now, and the county government has a new owner.
Song Chi blended into the crowd. There were all kinds of people outside the county government office. He could find out all kinds of information and the complicated relationships in the county government office. This was what he needed most at the moment.
I also heard people talking about me, after all, I was the top scorer in the county case.
At that moment, a commotion broke out at the gate of the county government office. Two yamen runners unceremoniously pushed out a woman in mourning clothes, cursing, "How many times have I told you that your petition has already been approved? If you keep pestering me, I'll charge you with disturbing the government office!"
"What kind of criticism is this?"
The woman in mourning clothes spoke with a strong sense of resentment, "Let the elders and clan members of the neighborhood deal with it, then why am I coming to the county government office?"
"What did you say? Do you really want to be charged with disturbing the government office?"
One of the burly yamen runners had eyes as big as copper bells, and he shouted angrily, scaring the woman in mourning clothes so much that she dared not speak.
"Hmph." The two yamen runners returned to the yamen. The woman in mourning clothes stamped her feet unwillingly, then walked towards the lawyers angrily.
Song Chi could see clearly that this was a woman of about twenty-five or twenty-six years old. She was wearing a brand new mourning dress, with her hair combed neatly. She had a straight nose and rosy lips. Her face was like a newly blooming peach blossom. Although she was wearing mourning clothes, her graceful curves could still be seen, giving her a unique charm.
This widow exudes the maturity of a married woman.
As she approached, many people gathered around her. One of them, a thin young lawyer in a long gown, quickly walked over to her and asked, "How's Madam Sun? Was your case rejected again?"
"How many times have I told you not to call me Madam Sun? Just call me Madam Su."
Song Chi also squeezed in to listen. He heard the difference. Sun was her husband's surname, and Su was her real surname. She didn't want to use her husband's surname, which showed that she had no feelings for her husband.
This is quite new.
"Yes, yes, Madam Su." The young lawyer hurriedly changed his words.
Madam Su glared with her narrow, long phoenix eyes and said dissatisfiedly, "What kind of petition did you write? Not only was it rejected this time, but it also received a criticism. Didn't you say it was definitely fine?"
"This shouldn't be the case." The young lawyer took the case and said, "I'm a famous lawyer in Ji County. There's no case I haven't won."
"Stop talking nonsense." Madam Su vented her dissatisfaction.
"I see."
The young lawyer shook his head and said, "It's not that my petition is bad, it's that your case is too complicated. The Sun family is not an ordinary family in Ji County. The second daughter of the Sun family is a concubine of the Han family... It's not surprising that this petition was dismissed."
The lawyers around nodded in agreement.
"As long as it's a lawsuit related to the Han family, it's like this."
Madam Su's face was grim. "Didn't the new magistrate just arrive?"
"No matter what county magistrate comes, he's always like this." The young lawyer shook his head and said, "Besides, cases like this, the eldest master doesn't care at all. It's always the second master who handles them."
"yes."
"Madam Su, I think you should just admit it. It's useless for you to file this complaint."
"Why? He's outside..." Madam Su didn't continue and asked loudly, "Who will take my case?"
A woman, a widow, was shouting in the crowd. This kind of public behavior was really bold, but it was obvious that she was also forced into a corner, but no one dared to respond.
"I don't dare to answer it. If the Han family comes looking for me, it will be troublesome." The young lawyer looked like he was afraid of getting into trouble.
The others hesitated to speak and ultimately remained silent. The petition had been rejected twice, and the second master had made comments both times, indicating that the case had been concluded. Everyone knew what was going on, and anyone who dared to show up again would get into trouble.
Lawyers are all poor scholars, how dare they offend the emperor? Moreover, many of them are in collusion with the county officials and know some inside information.
Seeing no one responded, Madam Su shouted again, "Whoever can help me win this lawsuit will get a ten-tenth share of the proceeds."
"Ten percent?"
Upon hearing this, many people were shocked. Those who were originally hesitant suddenly became furious.
They all knew the origin of this Madam Su. She was the daughter-in-law of the third wife of the Sun family. The Sun family was also a wealthy family in Ji County. The second daughter of the Sun family was the concubine of the head of the Han family. This relationship made the Sun family wealthy.
Sun Lao San also had a lot of property, but it was suddenly gone. The couple had no children, so there was no place to go for the remaining property.
Logically, the property should belong to the Sun family, but this Madam Su was not satisfied and wanted to inherit it as a widow. Of course, the Sun family was unwilling to do so, and Madam Su also refused to give it up, which led to the lawsuit.
It is said that Sun Laosan left behind seven or eight properties and yards during his lifetime. This is a huge fortune, and the temptation to take one out of ten is too great.
"The prerequisite is that you can help me win this lawsuit." Madam Su stated the conditions. She was really forced into this situation and had no other choice.
"I'll do it!"
"Madam Su, I will help you write the petition and fight the lawsuit."
"If you ask around about my reputation, you'll find that there's no case I can't win."
It is true that money can move people's hearts. After Madam Su stated the conditions, everyone began to recommend themselves like Wang Po selling melons.
This made Madam Su a little confused and she didn't know who to choose.
"I'll do it!"
Song Chi pushed aside the people around him and squeezed in front of Madam Su, saying loudly, "I'll take this job."
Just now, he saw the message reminder that Su Mingyue had evidence of Song Shiwen's crime.
"Hey, who are you? Are you a lawyer?"
Lawyers also have their own circles, which are all familiar people. Suddenly a stranger appears and comes to compete with them for their jobs.
"I'm not a lawyer, but I can definitely help you win this case." Song Chi said confidently.
"I have two advantages. First, I'm not afraid of the Han family, let alone the Sun family."
Everyone scoffed at him. As long as he could get so much wealth, no one would be afraid of offending others.
"I am still the top scorer in the county." As soon as Song Chi finished speaking, there was an immediate burst of surprise, and even Madam Su's eyes were full of surprise.
"Are you really the top case in the county?"
“Guaranteed genuine!”
Song Chi flicked his sleeves lightly, his face full of pride, and said, "If you all get out of my way, I'm going to show off."
The road to the imperial examination was difficult. The county examination alone was enough to stump countless people. It was extremely rare to get the first place in the county exam, and he achieved this through his own strength.
As soon as he finished speaking, the lawyers who were originally dissatisfied with Song Chi immediately dispersed, leaving a large vacancy around him.
Only then did they understand the saying, "I'm not afraid of the Han family's wealth."
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