The weather is nice today.
A strong wind was blowing, but it wasn't snowing heavily.
There were several cars waiting outside the gate; after waiting for more than an hour, they should be freezing cold.
Despite the freezing weather, quite a few people came to watch. They see the Chang family's antics every day; the big commotion doesn't happen every day, but the smaller ones are always happening.
Everyone knows that the Emperor has taken his grandson to the Zichen Palace. Perhaps if the Emperor abdicates, the grandson will become the Crown Prince. His maternal family is either noble or powerful.
The house is relatively low-key; there are guards at the entrance who don't let people in.
Some people outside were unhappy: "The Chang family is putting on too much airs!"
"Making the elderly wait at the door for so long!"
"What a case of a poor person suddenly becoming rich!"
A group of onlookers laughed: "You all came to the Chang family just because he's arrogant?"
"The Chang family isn't rich, but you are! The Chang family are just farmers and don't deserve to put on airs!"
"At your age, who does she think she is? Selling herself at this age, she's really going all out!"
The powerful family said, "The old lady is giving the Chang family face!"
"Oh my, which old woman has such a big face? Come out and let everyone see her!"
There are many capable people: "Judging from their accents, they're from the Ningzhou area."
"Oh, so this is the same group that tricked Chang Erlang last time? They failed last time, so they've changed their tactics again? They think so highly of the Chang family, aren't they afraid the Chang family will report them to the authorities?"
"This is an accomplice! Report it to the authorities immediately!"
The onlookers were particularly amusing.
Everyone knows what's going on. The imperial court is investigating Fan Tongwen, so what other tricks do they have up their sleeves? Are they just going to keep up with the usual practices at home?
However, the Chang family is the most valuable now, and too many people are eyeing them!
A moment later, the side door opened.
The villagers of Baishi Village brought out tables and a lot of steamed buns.
Zhai Minglan climbed onto the table and shouted, "Freshly steamed buns! Two coins each. If you don't have any money, that's fine, but even if you don't have any, you can still take one."
The servant of the Chen family was amused: "Are you still giving face to a beggar? Just say 'beggar, come on!'"
Zhai Minglan, though small in stature, is incredibly bold: "Who wouldn't eat such good steamed buns? We could even feed them to the dogs!"
The steamed buns were hot and fragrant.
Someone was hungry, so they exchanged two coins for a steamed bun and ate it—it was quite good!
Once someone starts buying, others will follow.
A steamed bun costs two coins, which is something that ordinary people can afford, except for special people.
The steamed buns sold out quickly, so they brought out some more.
Next to Zhai Minglan was a basket filled with copper coins, but there weren't many in total.
Someone stirred up trouble: "Does Baishi Village charge for distributing porridge?"
Zhai Minglan retorted, "You're just thinking of getting something for nothing? There are plenty of other ways to beg for food. If he could find work in Baishi Village, he wouldn't want to beg."
Chang Zhuan shouted from the side, "There are some shameless people who have hands, feet, fields, and maids, yet they still beg for food!"
The steamed buns were sold out. Chang Zhuan carried the basket in one hand and Zhai Minglan in the other, taking her back home.
The villager then carried the table back, and that was it.
The old lady couldn't buy any steamed buns or pick up anyone. A cold wind blew, and ouch! ouch!
A servant went to knock on the door.
Yu Yan, having eaten her fill and having nothing better to do, came out and asked, "What's the matter?"
The servant said politely, "My matriarch pays her respects to Madam Anle."
Yu Yan retorted without hesitation: "I won't see her! Didn't you know Madam Anle had such high and mighty tastes, that she'd accept anything she wanted?"
A woman came over and addressed Yu Yan more politely: "May I ask your name?"
Yu Yan said, "Does a lackey deserve to be called one? If you keep blocking my door, I'll report you to the authorities."
The daughter-in-law remained remarkably composed, wearing a forced smile: "The old lady and Madam Anle were indeed destined to be together."
Yu Yan said, "Your old woman came to my house asking for water too? Coming again? Shameless! You're the most shameless people in the world!"
The old lady got out of the car, dressed in an elegant cloak, looking very dignified.
She had a kind and gentle face, and was far superior to Yu Yan.
Yu Yan was just a village woman, and she wasn't intimidated by anyone who came to her door, not even a princess.
The old lady looked at Yu Yan: "You child..."
Yu Yan spat in her face: "Who are you taking advantage of? You shameless old hag!"
The old lady was completely stunned by that spit!
The Sheng'an Prefecture has also been invited.
The old lady remained remarkably calm: "Don't rush."
Yu Yan spat in her face again, having prepared herself, and said to the yamen runner, "Those from Ningzhou are all in cahoots."
The yamen runners surrounded the group, and some of the more unruly ones went to overturn the cart.
A scream erupted inside the car, and the women had to climb out.
A group of maids and wives surrounded them; they were so beautiful!
The onlookers laughed: "She really is an old hag!"
"Was it sent to Marquis Fumin, or to Chang Erlang?"
"Last time, Chang Erlang raped him, but he wasn't even interested. How about we send some better ones this time?"
"They all love sending beautiful women as gifts! The Great Stone Kingdom sent so many, and this is only a few?"
"The beauties from the Great Stone Kingdom have been sold to Pingkang Ward. Let's sell these few to Pingkang Ward too. Pingkang Ward is bustling now."
"Holy crap, you still dare to go? The Duke of Cheng's mansion has been completely ruined."
"Are these beauties really that ruthless? But will ordinary people be alright?"
Who's been hollowed out like that old man? Even if a few are removed at a time, he certainly won't die.
Perhaps you could try bathing in the water of death or the water of immortality; many people enjoy the thrill.
This group of beauties together... pshaw! I'm crying.
A beautiful woman's maid is often also pretty, so she cried along with her.
Some people, out of pity for the beautiful woman, dared not speak out against her in front of the government officials.
The officials didn't want to stand in the cold wind, so they took the young ladies and prepared to leave.
The old lady became anxious: "I am from the Fang family of Binzhou! She is my granddaughter! She is the legitimate daughter of the Shen family of Binzhou!"
The constables dragged people away, saying, "You can confess these things slowly once we get to the yamen!"
The old woman cried in desperation, unable to stop the constables, and unable to find anyone to help her.
Several enthusiastic people were dragged away by the yamen runners.
There are things I don't understand.
Someone in the know said, "Fan Tongwen's case is a big one. This trial is sure to be successful. Who knows how many accomplices he has? Don't get involved."
"What does this have to do with the old lady?"
Someone rolled their eyes: "What are you pretending to be innocent for? That illegal mining and casting wasn't done by Fan Tongwen alone; it was all done by the locals together. None of the Fang or Shen families are clean. They'll either be executed along with their entire clan or forced into government slavery. What makes you think she's pretending to be some kind of young lady?"
Sheng An knew quite a bit about Fan Tongwen's affair: "Those illegal mining operations are really rampant; there aren't many clean ones among them. Do they think everyone doesn't know? They're just pretending!"
The old lady was so anxious that she went to beg Yu Yan.
Yu Yan coldly said, "We ordinary people can't get enough to eat or wear, and you all deserve to die!"
The old lady could no longer have a kind and gentle demeanor.
Yu Yan looked extremely fierce: "You look down on ordinary people and feel superior to us? You're all filthy!"
The old lady called out, "Me and Mrs. Anle..."
Yu Yan said, "Even if you were her own mother, you would die again!"
Someone said to Yu Yan, "How could you be so vicious?"
Yu Yan spat: "Shameless people are all pretending to be kind, and ordinary people have become troublemakers. Aren't you afraid that troublemakers will kill you!"
The group pulled Yu Yan back.
Someone behind her pushed Yu Yan hard.
A young man stopped them and handed them over to the yamen runners.
Deng Fang said, "My sister-in-law is pregnant. You're trying to kill both her and her unborn child."
That would be an even more serious crime. Even if he doesn't die, he'll be severely punished.
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