Zhou Qi came quickly and separated the two groups of people.
"What are you doing? What are you making a fuss about?" Zhou Qi was angry and had a dark face.
"Village chief, you came at the right time. Please judge for us. Qiu Chunshui killed my sister-in-law and three other people. This land should never belong to her. Is there anything wrong with us asking her to transfer the ownership to us?" Wu Deren was beaten with blood all over his head, and the villain was the first to complain.
"Village chief, please be fair. These people have been saying that I killed my mother-in-law and others. The former county magistrate said it was not me, but these people still want to throw dirty water on me. Village chief, this land belonged to my husband. When my husband broke his leg, these uncles didn't help him. Now that he's dead, they want to put the blame on me and ask me to give them the land. Why? How can this be justified?" Qiu Chunshui said while shedding tears.
"Okay, don't cry anymore." Zhou Qi also sighed.
"Who is causing trouble here?" Yao Wenyuan and the new county magistrate Chen Nu appeared behind the crowd.
Behind them were Yi Yami, Gu Beijian and Yang Zeju.
Zhou Qi looked at him and asked, "Sir, why are you here?"
"If I don't come, some people will question my judgment." Yao Wenyuan looked at the Wu family members coldly.
"What are you talking about? Who has the guts to question the decision of your Excellency the Prefect? Our Excellency the Prefect has judged so many major cases and has never failed. Anyone who questions it is either stupid or has ulterior motives." Zhou Qi smiled and flattered Yao Wenyuan calmly.
Yao Wenyuan looked at Chen Nu and said, "You should handle this. This is your first case since taking office."
"Well, I obey your command." Chen Nu hesitated for a moment and immediately bowed.
"Come, please sit down, adults." Old Mrs. Yi next to them quickly moved out a few benches knowing the situation.
"Thank you." Chen Nu thanked him and asked Yao Wenyuan to sit down first, and then he sat down.
"Come, tell me what happened and I will explain it myself." Chen Nu sat down and waved his sleeves, his official authority rising.
"Sir, this land originally belonged to my brother. My sister-in-law and nephew died in a fire. According to folk customs, this land should belong to the man's family and has nothing to do with that woman." Wu Deren spoke first.
Qiu Chunshui tearfully said, "Your Excellency the County Magistrate, Wu Deren first asked me to transfer the land to them. I refused, and then he began to frame me, saying that I set the fire. The County Magistrate at that time, who is now the prefect, has carefully investigated the matter and cleared my name. This man is slandering my innocence just to seize my family's land. I beg you, County Magistrate, to understand my mistake!" Qiu Chunshui then knelt on the ground.
"Wu Deren, what's wrong with the wound on your head? Why do you and the others have wounds on their faces?" Chen Nu asked when he saw the blood on Wu Deren's face and the scars on the other people.
"Sir! I have something to say about this!" Wu Deren spoke before Ma Dali could.
"Come on, speak." Chen Nu saw Ma Dali was about to speak, but since Wu Deren's injury looked more serious, he let Wu Deren speak first.
"Sir, I suspect Qiu Chunshui and Ma Dali had an affair and conspired to kill my sister-in-law and three others, and then they wanted to seize the land. Otherwise, why did we ask Qiu Chunshui to transfer the ownership today, but Qiu Chunshui refused to agree with a clear conscience, and later Ma Dali even beat us up." Wu Deren said excitedly.
"Do you have evidence to prove that they were having an affair? Do you have evidence to prove that they conspired to murder someone?" Chen Nu said seriously.
"No, but the villagers present saw it with their own eyes. Ma Dali beat me up." Wu Deren felt guilty, but his voice was still loud.
"Sir, I have something to say." Ma Dali looked much calmer than before.
"You say." Chen Nu began.
"Sir, Qiu Chunshui and I did not have an affair. We did not have the chance to know each other before the fire. We met after the fire. I am speaking up for Qiu Chunshui because I can empathize with him. I also experienced similar things when I was a child, so I think it is wrong for these people to do this to a weak woman. Moreover, it was Wu Deren who started to talk nonsense, and I was so angry that I picked up a brick to hit him. I admit that I was impulsive in doing this, but I don't regret it." Ma Dali said.
Chen Nu nodded. "Qiu Chunshui, Ma Dali, Wu Deren, and the Wu family, please listen to the verdict. Qiu Chunshui's land belongs to Qiu Chunshui. The prefect has already investigated the fire case at Qiu Chunshui's house. The prefect's findings shall prevail. If you are dissatisfied with the verdict, please provide evidence to prove otherwise. Our yamen will conduct a second trial. Qiu Chunshui has the right to decide on land use rights, and Wu Deren and the Wu family have no right to interfere. Ma Dali intentionally injured someone, and Wu Deren and the Wu family gathered to fight. Each of them shall be fined two taels of silver, which shall be handed over to the yamen, and they shall compensate each other for medical expenses."
Wu Deren was dissatisfied when he heard this. "Sir, I didn't even get the land, so why should I be fined? And why should we pay for Ma Dali's medical expenses?"
"You are greedy and wantonly covet other people's property. This county magistrate has let you go lightly because you are old and it is your first offense. If you are dissatisfied, you can go to jail. You gathered together to fight and it has a bad influence. The fine is to teach you and other people a lesson and not to follow suit. If you don't obey, you will be imprisoned for fifteen days before being released. Is it wrong for you to fight each other and compensate each other for medical expenses? Choose one, a fine or jail time?" Chen Nu said in a loud and resounding voice.
"A fine, a fine." Wu Deren sighed. If he went to jail in this life, would his children still get married?
Qiu Chunshui's eyes filled with tears, and he fell to his knees. "Thank you, County Magistrate, for upholding justice for me!"
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