Chapter Seventeen: The Enforcers Arrive at the Door
While Yang Liu was plotting against the Jiang family, Village Chief Yang had already arrived at the village entrance and was waiting.
Judging by the time, the people from the county should be arriving soon.
Just as he was looking around, two constables walked over. When they saw Village Chief Yang, they jogged over. The head constable from the county gave Village Chief Yang a fawning smile: "Oh, we're so sorry to trouble you to wait for us at the village entrance. You can just wait here at home, and we'll come and invite you in person."
This Village Chief Yang is related to their county magistrate. It is said that he is a cousin of the county magistrate. The reason why his county magistrate was able to pass the imperial examination was because Village Chief Yang paid for it, saying that he paid for the old man's funeral expenses. Therefore, his county magistrate respects Village Chief Yang very much.
As a constable, he always treated people differently based on their status, and this was someone he couldn't afford to offend.
Naturally, they had a lot of respect for Village Chief Yang.
"What are you saying? I'm counting on you all to come and help me." Village Chief Yang didn't give the constables a hard time; instead, his smile deepened.
"Sure! Sure! Then let's proceed as agreed beforehand?" The head constable looked at Village Chief Yang to see if he had any changes. They knew this job all too well. As long as the other party paid the money before they arrived, this guy would agree, and everyone would be happy. If the other party didn't pay the money, then the original plan would not be moved.
"Of course! Please trouble you two." Village Chief Yang said with a smile, taking out two strings of copper coins from his pocket and stuffing them into the hand of the head constable: "This is for tea. Thank you for your help."
"Of course! Of course!" After taking the money, the head constable's smile widened even more: "Please lead the way, Village Chief Yang."
After nodding, Village Chief Yang led two constables toward the Jiang family's fields.
As they walked toward the Jiang family's fields, Jiang's mother frowned: "Where has Huo Ran gone these past two days? We haven't seen him anywhere. Could it be that he thinks we gave him too much and is therefore not paying up?"
After all, Huo Ran, who was diligently learning sweet potato planting techniques just two days ago, has been nowhere to be seen for the past two days, and has disappeared without a trace without saying a word, which really worries Jiang's mother.
Of course, she was mainly saying this to her silly daughter, who had been giving her daughter a hard time lately.
She was terrified that her daughter would be seduced by this handsome, wealthy, capable, and hardworking man.
If she hadn't thought that Huo Ran was extremely wealthy and powerful, and that her family wasn't considered a suitable match, she would have actually wanted to marry her daughter to him.
Unfortunately, the wealthy and powerful families were not worthy of people like her. Even if she was willing to marry her daughter off, her daughter would never meet the standards of these high-ranking families, and she would surely suffer all kinds of grievances. Moreover, these high-ranking families had many shady and unsavory things to do, and she did not want her daughter to end up in jail and die.
"It's probably not, maybe something came up and delayed him." Jiang Mi had no idea how wary her mother was of Huo Ran, and based on her interactions with Huo Ran these past few days, she spoke well of him.
"That's not necessarily true. Some people may look respectable, but you can't tell how dirty and dark their hearts are. You have to be careful." Jiang's mother once again tried to sow discord among her daughters.
Just as Jiang's mother was about to continue her efforts, she saw the village chief leading two constables walking towards them.
The constable approached Jiang Cheng's father: "What are you doing? Who gave you permission to uproot the rice seedlings and plant this kind of thing instead? This is illegal, do you know that? Come with me to the county government office."
Without saying a word, the constable handcuffed Jiang Cheng and was about to take him away.
"Officer, please wait a moment!" Jiang Yan immediately stepped forward to stop the constable. The moment the constable's face fell, he slipped ten coins into the constable's hand: "My father is a simple farmer. He just lost some of his own crops. He didn't commit any crime. Are you sure you haven't arrested the wrong person?"
As Jiang Yan spoke, he glanced at Village Chief Yang. The reason these officials had come was probably because of this village chief.
"Who said you didn't make a mistake? Destroying crops is a huge mistake. Do you know that the imperial court has issued laws and regulations? You have committed the crime of destroying crops. To put it seriously, this is related to taxes and the rations of the soldiers fighting on the front lines. That is a crime punishable by beheading!"
The head constable had already been informed by Village Chief Yang, so naturally he wouldn't release the man for ten copper coins. However, considering that Jiang Yan had been sensible enough to slip him ten copper coins, he did say a few more words and gave Jiang Yan some pointers.
When the head constable said this, he glanced at Village Chief Yang.
That one glance made Jiang Yan's heartstrings tighten instantly.
Having grown accustomed to the subtle glances he received in the restaurant, he naturally understood the meaning behind the constable's look.
As expected, this matter is related to the village chief, and it's even possible that it was this village chief, Yang, who caused this mess.
You know, back in Woniu Mountain, they really angered Village Chief Yang so much that he left.
Moreover, he had heard from chatting with the villagers that this Village Chief Yang seemed to have some connection with the county magistrate.
He remembered this grudge.
But the most urgent task is to get the official to release his father.
"Brother officer, do you think there's any way you can make an exception?" Jiang Yan said, slipping another ten copper coins into the constable's hand.
The head constable dared not accept the money anymore and turned to Village Chief Yang: "Village Chief Yang, this is a matter for your village. This matter can be minor or major. What do you think is the proper way to handle it?"
“You must not obstruct the officials from carrying out their duties.” Village Chief Yang said sternly, looking at Jiang Yan: “This concerns taxation, and this is a very serious offense.”
As Village Chief Yang finished speaking, he subconsciously looked around the fields and breathed a sigh of relief when he realized that Huo Ran was not there.
He was genuinely afraid that Huo Ran would jump out and refute him at this moment.
Although he consulted with the county magistrate about this pretext to deal with the Jiang family, the matter was of great importance and could be considered minor or major, entirely up to the magistrate. He wasn't afraid of being contradicted, but deep down he was still a little intimidated by Huo Ran, that young man with an air of nobility.
"Smack!"
Just as Village Chief Yang was thinking about how to proceed with the plan, a slap landed hard on his old face: "You rotten seed, how did my husband offend you? You want to frame him with such a crime? I'll fight you to the death!"
Jiang's mother slapped Village Chief Yang to the ground and sat on him, her eyes red with anger, as he tried to get up and fight back.
Even a fool could tell that this whole mess was caused by that damn village chief.
"You shrew, you shrew!" This village chief, Yang, who had been kept on the county magistrate's lap for years and never did any work, was no match for Jiang's mother, who had developed considerable strength from years of farm work. Jiang's mother quickly pinned him to the ground, straddled him, and slapped him repeatedly across the face.
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