Chapter 149: Give others a clean name and a way to live
"Thank you, Doctor Chang." Lu Mingchao smiled humbly.
"If I get the chance in the future, I would like to work with Dr. Chang."
Doctor Chang, who was nearly fifty years old, returned the greeting with a bow. His sleeves slowly spread out like a vast cloud, accompanied by a clear and slightly astringent aroma of herbs that filled the air.
Upon closer inspection, a faint scent of ink can be heard lingering in it.
"It's my great honor."
Doctor Chang's eyes were filled with kindness, it didn't seem like a chance encounter, but more like a reunion after a long separation.
Lu Mingchao felt strange, but seeing that Doctor Chang did not want to say more, he did not say anything.
After leaving Juren Medical Clinic, Lu Mingchao went back to Changxi Village to see the children and comfort Anyuniang.
The sunlight outside the window was fleeting, and the shadows of the flowers at the table moved quietly in front of the seats.
After a night of drunkenness and sleeplessness, Old Lady Yang's nephew was woken up by the police and searched through his messy bedding. They found bellybands, sachets, and handkerchiefs.
Both the captives and the prisoners were captured and taken directly to the county government office.
When Old Lady Yang heard the news, she was horrified and cried for her parents, swearing and rushing to the city with all the money in the house.
Lu Mingchao took the opportunity to return the yellowed prescription to Old Lady Yang's daughter-in-law.
Since it is evidence, it would be most appropriate for the officials to search for it personally.
"Mr. Lu?" Old Lady Yang's daughter-in-law didn't understand what he meant.
Lu Mingchao explained in a gentle voice, "Sister-in-law, it's safer to put it back. Leave the rest to me."
I think it won't be long before the officials come here to search.
"Sister-in-law, if the officials come, don't panic." Lu Mingchao instructed patiently.
Afternoon.
The weather suddenly turned overcast and the wind suddenly became strong.
The northwest wind roared in, ravaging every inch of land, its power showed no mercy, rushing through. On both sides of the mountain road, dead trees stood upright, but they seemed to be unable to bear the weight, and their branches and leaves swayed, almost on the verge of breaking.
After a while, snowflakes began to float in the sky.
The sunny days that had lasted for many days came to an abrupt end.
Lu Mingchao, wearing a fox fur coat, picked a branch of wild plum in the yard outside the county prison cell, handed a pot of fine wine to the jailer, and then met Cheng Zhi without any hindrance.
After several days of imprisonment, Cheng Zhi's originally fair and petite face had shown signs of sunken and yellowing, and her messy hair was mixed with weeds and dead leaves. However, her eyes were still like wildfires in the wilderness, flashing with a strange and terrifying light.
Lu Mingchao sighed softly, "Miss Cheng, have you changed your mind?"
Cheng Zhi didn't care much and said in a dry voice, "I don't understand what Sister Ming means."
Cheng Zhi called Lu Mingchao "Sister Ming".
Lu Mingchao smiled and said, "In Miss Cheng's heart, is the notorious Young Master Sun more trustworthy than me?"
Cheng Zhi's eyes flickered, and she couldn't help but look at Lu Mingchao twice more.
Although Lu Mingchao was standing in the shadow of the cell, he was like a ray of bright light, bringing more vitality to this rotten cell.
very nice.
It's really enviable.
"Every word I said in court is true." Cheng Zhi lowered her eyebrows, and her emotions were hidden deep in her eyes. "Even though I have lost my innocence long ago, it does not mean that I can be deceived and humiliated by your brother at will."
Lu Mingchao's expression darkened, and a branch of wild plum blossom was inserted diagonally into Cheng Zhi's loose bun.
The snow on the petals fell on Cheng Zhi's cheeks, and it felt icy cold to the bone.
"A plum blossom branch covered in snow and mud is still a plum blossom branch."
"Cheng Zhi."
“Even if it is broken into pieces and turned into dust, it will still smell as good as before.”
"Cheng Zhi, Chen Si'er from the Yongsheng Casino in Lianhua Town has taken the initiative to provide evidence to the county magistrate. Old Lady Yang's nephew has been brought to the county government office."
"Do you think you can keep your childbirth and recuperation a secret?"
"Moreover, Mrs. Yang's nephew confessed that when he was having sex with you three or four years ago, you were no longer innocent."
"What have you experienced in your teenage years?"
"If you are determined to go down this path to the end, the only option waiting for you is to be drowned in a pig cage."
"Then, the crimes you accuse my elder brother of will be regarded as nonsense and malicious slander. No one will believe the words of a woman who is defined as a promiscuous woman."
"Think about it carefully. You don't have much time."
The snow on Cheng Zhi's cheek melted and became sparkling, like a tear of repentance.
"You took so much trouble to say these words, are you trying to persuade me to change my confession?"
Suddenly, Cheng Zhi stood up from the straw mat, holding the railing tightly with both hands, with a slight red at the corners of her eyes.
Lu Mingchao's gaze fell on Cheng Zhi's fingertips.
The nails that used to be trimmed, round, plump and clean were now covered with dirt and of varying lengths.
It looked like it had been gnawed, or like it had been scratched on the bluestone wall.
"Miss Cheng, this is not how you use the word 'retract your confession'."
"I just want you to tell the truth, clear my brother's name, and give me a way out."
"Also, I don't want to think of a teenage girl as being too corrupt and dark. Maybe you have your own reasons."
"Think about it, which one is easier to be accepted by the world and more likely to win the world's sympathy, a woman who is corrupt, vulgar and frivolous, or a poor person who is forced to struggle in hardship."
"The compassion and sympathy of the world is the basis for your transformation and survival in this world."
"Let me guess, what did Master Yuxian and Zhang Sheng promise you?"
Lu Mingchao unconsciously slowed down his voice and stretched out his words, "Give you gold, silver, and real estate?"
"Allow you to leave the Cheng family?"
"Help you become a self-employed woman?"
Lu Mingchao was always paying attention to every subtle change on Cheng Zhi's face.
"The county magistrate will review you and your father again today."
Cheng Zhi's grip on the railing became tighter, the veins on the back of her thin hands bulged, her eyes became redder, and the wild plum branches on her loose hair fell off.
Cheng Zhi subconsciously reached out and caught the plum branch.
"If I admit to the false accusation, I will also be caned."
"If you don't save yourself, you are destined to be thrown into the pig cage." Lu Mingchao said calmly.
"Didn't your lover Zhang Sheng tell you that Master Yuxian is already overwhelmed by his own problems?"
"Miss Cheng, take care of yourself."
Lu Mingchao took a last deep look at Cheng Zhi, said no more, folded his cloak, and walked out of the county jail.
I wish Cheng Zhi was smarter.
In Sun Zhiye's chessboard, Cheng Zhi is already a useless piece.
If the useless chess piece wants to survive, it must show the utmost sincerity.
Lu Mingchao walked around to the front of the lobby. Old Lady Yang's hysterical cries seemed to penetrate the gloomy sky, thick clouds, and dense snow.
But some people's dirty thoughts cannot be seen in the light of day.
Every cry and every argument made Cheng Zhi's reputation, which was already mired in the dirt, even worse.
County Magistrate Xu ordered people to search Old Lady Yang's house, and found the yellowed prescription in the wooden box. Old Lady Yang's defense turned into insults to Cheng Zhi.
It can be summarized into two words: seducer and slut.
Outside the county government office, there were a group of solemn and serious people gathered.
There is not much fun to be had in winter, let alone such a bloody case with twists and turns that will always turn around.
Uncovering a corner of the past】