Chapter 155: Don’t Be Too Desperate
Is the old lady of the Zhang family being swayed by Sun Zhiye's hypocritical propriety disguised as kindness, or is she blinded by Sun Zhiye's brilliant future?
It all comes down to greed.
A landscape painting screen in ink cleverly separates the hustle and bustle of Chaofu Food Store from the outside world.
Lu Mingchao leaned leisurely on the rocking chair, his fingers slightly bent, tapping the armrests rhythmically.
If Sun Zhiye were in his shoes, there would be two urgent things to do if he wanted to make a comeback.
First, business reputation.
Second, money.
The money needed for circulation on the books can still be used to repair the existing debts.
What about reputation?
In a short period of time, how can Sun Zhiye restore his shattered reputation?
Forget it, it doesn’t matter how to save it.
She wanted to give Sun Zhiye a heavy blow when he thought that his luck had finally turned around and that spring had come again.
The weather remained gloomy for several days.
Cheng Zhi's case against Lu Lei for fraud finally came to a conclusion. Due to insufficient evidence and the unclear and incomplete facts, Lu Lei could not be convicted and was released without charge.
The Cheng family father and daughter were punished with caning for malicious slander and framing.
At the same time, the Cheng family father and son became notorious.
The words that Cheng Zhi said in her defense in court, "At 15:00 on September 9th, the eighth year of Qiyong, she was personally sent to Hu Juren's house in Hewan Lane by her father and brother, had a significant killing effect."
The image of high moral character and prestige that Mr. Cheng had managed to create while teaching and educating talents in Lianhua Town was like a collapsed building, never to be restored.
Explanations, excuses, and refutations are all useless.
Even Cheng Jia Dalang was despised by others.
The high-sounding and sanctimonious appearance in daily life became a bloody sword, constantly stabbing the father and son.
Cheng Zhi dragged her bloody body after being beaten with a stick, and cried, saying that she did not want to be forced by her father and brother to commit adultery anymore, and asked to leave the Cheng family.
I would rather die in misery than leave a dirty land.
According to the Daqian law, if a child sued his parents, it was a serious crime of filial piety. If a child or grandchild registered a new household without the permission of his parents, he would be sentenced to at least three years in prison.
The "Book of Filial Piety" says that there are three thousand types of five punishments, and the greatest sin is unfilial piety.
Throughout the dynasties, unfilial piety has existed as an independent crime.
Even in the laws of the previous dynasty, unfilial piety was listed as one of the "Ten Evils" and the punishment was even more severe and cruel.
Therefore, when the news came out, countless people were shocked.
When Lu Mingchao heard this, he actually felt a bit of approval in his heart. He did not show up, but secretly concealed his identity and hired a lawyer for Cheng Zhi.
Every profession has its own expertise. The judge is familiar with and proficient in Daqian laws. He can find the most tricky angles and will not miss any details.
This was the only thing she would do for Cheng Zhi, who was also a woman.
With the lawyer around, Cheng Zhi will be able to get what she wants with the smallest representation.
Lu Mingchao stood in the small courtyard behind the Chaofu Grain Store, his expression calm, and reached out to pluck a branch of plum blossom.
Today's red plum blossoms have no fluffy white snow.
Proud, pure and passionate.
She could roughly guess Cheng Zhi's past without looking into it in detail.
In the eighth year of Qi Yong's reign, Cheng Zhi was just approaching the age of 16.
Cheng Zhi mentioned a nonsense person, is there only one nonsense person?
When her figure had just begun to grow green, Cheng Zhi's nightmare began.
Depravity or self-degradation.
This is Cheng Zhi's only way.
I hope that after leaving the Cheng family, Cheng Zhi will be like the red plum blossoms blooming vibrantly on the branches in a sunny day after the snow.
There was warm yet bright sunshine, but no raging cold wind or heavy snow that wanted to humiliate her or crush her.
Cheng Zhi deserved the punishment for the false accusation.
In addition to getting the punishment she deserves, Cheng Zhi also has the right to live.
hateful!
Poor thing!
She is Lu Mingchao.
It's not just the Lu Ming Dynasty of Daqian.
Even though she stands on the land of Daqian, she cannot forget that she once lived in a world with human rights.
Lu Mingchao twisted the plum blossom branch and inserted it into the bun little by little.
The wind blows by, and the beautiful red plum blossoms sway gently.
"Tomorrow, the carriage is ready."
Xie Yan leaned against the pillar, looking at Lu Mingchao with a smile.
Ming Chao did not hide the fact that he was looking for a judge for Cheng Zhi.
He knew that the Ming Dynasty had revenge to take.
He also knew that the Ming Dynasty was filled with grief.
Is it contradictory?
There is no contradiction.
This is how living people should be.
He never liked to use words like indecisiveness or soft-heartedness to describe the Ming Dynasty.
There are fifty great ways, forty-nine are derived from heaven, and one is hidden by man.
If this is the way of the Tao, why should people be so ruthless when planning and scheming, as it is a matter of life and death?
Lu Mingzhao curved his eyebrows, smiled, and pointed at the red plum in his bun. "Ayan, take a look. Is it right?"
"That's right." Xie Yan raised his hand to twist the plum petals that fell on Lu Mingchao's shoulders.
Plum branches are upright.
A righteous heart.
The road will be straight.
Lu Mingchao's eyes sparkled, his hands clasped together, he got on the carriage from the back door of Chaofu Grain Store, and drove towards a remote Taoist temple outside the city.
Inside the carriage, the copper heater slowly released a warm breath, and wisps of hot air drifted gently. Soft, glutinous and sweet cakes were placed on the white porcelain plate, exuding an alluring aroma. Two volumes of policy essays were neatly placed on the small wooden box.
This was originally a work written by Lu Yao when he had nothing to do, during which he conducted self-examination, self-review and self-reading.
After Lu Mingchao accidentally learned about it, he borrowed it to read.
The more you look at it, the more amazing it becomes.
Lu Yao's strategic arguments are by no means limited to discussing military matters or exaggerating his own ideas on paper. Instead, they accurately criticize current ills and possess far-sighted vision and foresight.
It seems as if he was born to live in the temple and worry about the people.
After Lu Mingchao rolled up the policy paper and put it in the box, he took the hot tea handed to him by Xie Yan and took a sip.
Xie Yan said slowly, "Mr. Zhang from Lianhua Town sold his shop and fertile land to raise 40,000 taels of silver, which has been transferred to Sun Zhiye by Zhang Sheng."
Lu Mingchao frowned slightly. "Didn't you arrange for someone to hint at it in a subtle way?"
"Given Mrs. Zhang's prudence, she would think twice before acting."
"I have thought twice and have been cautious." Xie Yan continued to explain, "If we are not careful, I am afraid that even the Zhang family's ancestral property will have to be sold."
"Sun Zhiye has come up with new chips?" Lu Mingchao guessed.
"Going to the capital?"
Lu Mingchao suddenly had an idea and blessing came to his mind.
"Sun Zhiye revealed to the Zhang family that he had taken refuge with a noble in Shangjing City."
"The banner of the Yongning Marquis's Mansion is quite impressive."
"Is that right?"
Xie Yan nodded, "That's about it."
"Initially, Old Lady Zhang only planned to sell some of her farmland and shops to raise a little more than 10,000 taels of silver to help those in need."
"Afterwards, after a secret discussion with Sun Zhiye, the action became more drastic. Except for the Zhang family's ancestral property, all other properties were sold off, and it seemed as if they were determined to live and die with Sun Zhiye."
Lu Mingchao stroked the teacup with his fingertips. "In the end, ambition and greed prevailed."
"In Old Lady Zhang's opinion, Sun Zhiye has the Yongning Marquisate as a big Buddha behind him, so they will never die together."
If Sun Zhiye really had the support of the Yongning Marquisate, he would be able to stand firm and march forward in Changhe County.
Unfortunately, Lu Minghui cannot represent the Yongning Marquisate.
Moreover, Lu Minghui has her own little plans in mind.
I wonder how Lu Minghui is doing now?
Could it be that after returning to the Yongning Marquis' Mansion, he learned to show mercy to others when he could?
Not likely.
After all, a dog will always eat shit.
Lu Minghui's murderous intention