Xi Chun was unaware of their conversation. Seeing that Young Master Fu had finally been acquitted, Fu Changfeng and Master Fu quickly carried him home.
Xichun didn't go with them; she still had things to do.
"While everyone is still in the midst of their joy, I plan to open my stall in a couple of days. Aunt Zhang, you should go back and rest for a day or two, and come back when the stall opens."
“How can that be? Anyway, we’ve all rested for several days. We’ll help prepare things tomorrow. Fortunately, that bastard Chen Lizhong doesn’t have time to cause us any trouble. Now that his whole family has been exiled, we can finally live in peace.”
"Yes, I just saw the yamen officials take Chen Lizhong and his family into jail. They're no longer as arrogant as before. They're all hanging their heads, afraid of being seen. They're like rats in the street now, hated by everyone." Taozi said excitedly. In the few days that Xichun was away, Chen Lixiao even came to cause trouble for them.
He said he would make trouble for them if they didn't become his underlings. The other kids from the village were all angered by his domineering tone, and they couldn't be bothered to talk to him. He had made a fool of himself, so he said a few harsh words and left.
"It's good that this annoying family is finally away from us," Qiangzi said, his only thought now being to go home and see his wife.
"Then let's go back to the village now and inform everyone to get everything ready." Xichun naturally knew that Qiangzi missed his sister-in-law but was too embarrassed to say it, so he jumped onto the mule cart, and the group swayed back to the village.
"Sister Xichun, it was Sister Xuewei and Brother An who helped catch those thieves this time. Sister Xuewei helped pass on the message, and Brother An helped identify the thieves. If it weren't for them, we wouldn't have been able to recognize them." On the way back, Taozi also told them about their help.
"Are they alright? I wasn't even paying attention. Officer Guo shouldn't have been implicated, right?"
"No, I saw it clearly. It was that Constable Liu who led the group. Constable Guo didn't want to go with them. I heard from Sister Xuewei that he was ostracized by those people."
"That's good. I'm relieved as long as they weren't implicated. I'll thank them properly when we get back to the city."
"Xichun, I'm so glad you're alright. I heard you went to the prefectural city and I was so worried I couldn't sleep. It's good that you're back safe and sound." Wang Shi, who had been waiting at the village entrance with Xiao Feng by her hand, ran over to say this as soon as she saw Xichun appear.
"Mother, we're all safe and sound. We arrived in the prefectural city without incident, and the Fu family's matter has been resolved. Young Master Fu has been released without charge, and those people have confessed. We're all safe now." Xichun spread the good news.
"That's good. By the way, what about Chen Lizhong and his gang? Do they still dare to threaten people everywhere?"
"They can't get out now, even if they want to. The governor said that their whole family has been exiled thousands of miles away and will never come back." Xi Chun raised her voice considerably because she saw Old Lady Chen, who had returned to the village earlier, and was not in the area affected.
"You little hussy, what nonsense are you making up? My son and grandson are enjoying a life of luxury in the county town. I don't want to go even if you take me there. What exile? If you say that again, I'll tear your mouth apart!" Old Mrs. Chen immediately flew into a rage upon hearing this.
"Old woman Chen, stop threatening people. We saw this with our own eyes. It was the higher-ups who made the judgment. It has nothing to do with us. Even the county magistrate has been imprisoned. His family was bullying people selling things in the city and threatening many tenant farmers to fabricate evidence. They are now in jail. If you don't believe me, go and ask around yourself."
When Aunt Zhang heard what she said, she also started cursing.
"Really? Let's see how they'll cause trouble this time. I heard from people in other villages that he brought several thugs to threaten people. If they didn't do what they demanded, they would put their whole family in jail. Now they've locked themselves in jail."
Hearing this gratifying result, the villagers who had gathered to watch were all very happy. Now that they had fallen, everyone cheered and applauded.
Before long, Old Mrs. Chen's youngest son and his family came running back in a sorry state. They had been taken in for questioning, but since they hadn't done anything serious, the yamen confiscated all the various things the family had bought in the county town. So, apart from the Ma mother and daughter who still had their clothes on, the other two returned wearing coarse cloth clothes.
The four of them originally thought there wouldn't be many people at the village entrance at this time, but to their surprise, everyone was gathered there. Some sharp-eyed people saw them and deliberately ran over to ask them why they looked so disheveled, which frightened the group into fleeing in panic.
The village chief was also concerned about the outcome. After hearing that the county magistrate had been arrested, he summoned Xichun to his house and asked them to tell him everything.
"It seems we're finally free from the magistrate's torment. Xichun, you're really brave to go to the governor. I wouldn't have had that courage either." The village chief gave Xichun a thumbs up after hearing this.
After staying at home for two days, Xi Chun personally supervised the production of chili peppers. She also planned to see how things went. Currently, people in the prefectural city still really liked eating them. It would be even better if more people came to buy them. If not, Xi Chun's next plan was to penetrate the prefectural city.
As soon as they arrived in the county town, they saw the Fu family waiting at the door. When they saw them return, Madam Fu greeted them warmly.
"Miss Chen, you're back! We were just about to come and thank you."
"Madam Fu, Mr. Fu, you're too kind. Why don't we come inside and sit down so we can talk?" Xi Chun looked at the generous gifts prepared for them and didn't refuse them. Even if she didn't want them herself, Taozi and the others had helped her, and she couldn't refuse theirs too.
"Alright, alright, we really owe you a lot this time. Otherwise, we would have been ruined and our families would have been destroyed." Master Fu nodded repeatedly.
"Yes, if it weren't for Miss Chen and the help of all of you, I'm afraid I would have been tortured to death in prison by those people. I really didn't expect Miss Chen to be so brave and resourceful, you're amazing." Fu Changjin also praised her sincerely, thinking that if his younger brother and Miss Chen really got married, it would be a blessing for their family.
"It is said that true character is revealed in times of crisis. Our family has truly experienced hardship before realizing who is genuinely helpful. These are gifts from our family to Miss Chen, as well as to the young men Miss Chen mentioned to Changfeng. Please accept them."
“Alright, then I’ll accept it on their behalf. Thank you, Master Fu and Madam Fu.” Xi Chun didn’t hesitate. Their family was wealthy and powerful, so accepting this little bit of stuff wouldn’t make them poor. On the contrary, it would give the others some benefits so they could work with peace of mind.
"Yes, thank you, Madam Fu and Mr. Fu. We were just running errands." Aunt Zhang and the others also expressed their gratitude.
"I admire a woman as genuine as Miss Chen. I'll have someone invite you to my home for a chat another day. We have many things to take care of at home right now, so we won't stay any longer."
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