Zhao Liu's words made Magistrate Duan fall into deep thought. If Luo Cheng was indeed related to Grand Tutor Luo, then this matter would be much more difficult to handle.
But if it's just using the Luo family's name to bully others, things will go much more smoothly.
Pingxi County is far from Shengjing. Even riding the fastest horse, it would take half a month to get there. Putting aside the time issue, it's uncertain whether we'll even be able to meet Grand Tutor Luo. Moreover, even if we do meet him, what should we ask? His relationship with Luo Cheng? Or whether he authorized Luo Cheng to mine coal?
One question after another caused Magistrate Duan's eyebrows to furrow into a deep frown. In the end, faced with the choice between Jiang Ling and power, Magistrate Duan chose Jiang Ling.
"Liu Zi, bring Academician Liu and Zhao Qianyu in. Let's begin the court proceedings!"
With witnesses, the trial proceeded very quickly. Ultimately, Luo Miaoran bullied Jiang Suihe and Chui Shi, while Luo Cheng caused trouble in Lujia Village and Chui Shi was also implicated.
Given that Luo Miaoran is only a teenager, she was spared physical punishment, but she will have to read her apology in court five days later as a form of reprimand.
As for Luo Cheng, he was sentenced to twenty strokes of the cane for multiple crimes, including attempting to beat an eighth-rank lady and causing trouble in Lujia Village.
After the reading was finished, Luo Miaoran fainted from a combination of anxiety and anger. Luo Cheng glared at Magistrate Duan and threatened, "You corrupt official, you wait! I'll make sure you lose your official hat!"
That being said, what Luo Cheng didn't know was that before Magistrate Duan issued this order, he had already prepared himself to lose his official position.
He ignored Luo Cheng's foul language, only glancing at the bailiff in charge of administering the caning, who nodded in understanding.
The screams were incessant, but Jiang Ling ignored them. After thanking Magistrate Duan, she returned to Lu Family Village with the village chief.
Before the two even stepped inside, they saw that almost all the villagers of Lujia Village were craning their necks to look in their direction.
Upon seeing Jiang Ling and the village chief return unharmed, they immediately cheered enthusiastically.
In stark contrast to Lujia Village, Luo Cheng, who had just been flogged twenty times, staggered out with Luo Miaoran on his face, looking pained.
Luo Miaoran was terrified. Even after leaving the yamen and sitting in the carriage, she would occasionally scream "Don't hit me!" and "I was wrong!"
Luo Cheng was furious at the sight of the slightly deranged Luo Miaoran. He slammed his fist on the carriage and cursed, "You, surnamed Duan, are nothing but a lowly seventh-rank official. You think you can fight me? You just wait... Ouch, my butt!"
...
Time flew by and it was early April. Luo Cheng's incident was gradually forgotten by everyone. Jiang Suihe also gradually emerged from the shadow of the bullying she had suffered.
Jiang Ling's heart, which had been hanging in suspense, finally settled down. However, a seemingly insignificant incident had been causing her inexplicable anxiety lately.
The weather was nice today. While Jiang Ling was inspecting the shampoo factory, Lightning's father, who had been coughing, suddenly collapsed to the ground, and the people around him immediately exclaimed in alarm.
"Yaojie's mother, no... something bad has happened! Lightning's father has fainted!" A worker ran up to Jiang Ling, panting, and pointed to a spot not far away.
Jiang Ling frowned and followed closely to Lightning's father's side. Lightning's father was lying on the ground, his face pale and his whole body trembling slightly, looking very frightening.
Jiang Ling gently placed her hand on Lightning Dad's forehead, and the warmth of the back of her hand made her realize that Lightning Dad's condition was not very good.
She looked at the panicked crowd around her and said, "Go and call Doctor Zhu. You guys quickly help me carry Lightning's father home!"
With Jiang Ling as their leader, the other workers were able to continue their work in an orderly manner, even amidst the chaos.
Lightning Girl rushed into the house in a panic, and when she saw Lightning Daddy, who was unconscious and trembling all over, she immediately lost her mind.
Jiang Ling gently patted Lightning Mother's shoulder and said, "Sister-in-law, you're alright. Since the incident happened at my factory, I will take full responsibility."
Lightning Girl didn't reply, her eyes anxiously fixed on her husband lying on the bed.
Doctor Zhu hurriedly walked into the courtyard carrying his medicine box. Everyone made way for him.
Doctor Zhu stroked his beard, put down his medicine box, and began to take Lightning's father's pulse.
Less than two minutes later, the previously anxious Dr. Zhu suddenly changed his expression drastically. He frantically took a triangular piece of cloth from his medicine box, tied it around his face, and turned to the people around him, saying, "Get out! Get out quickly! Lightning's father has contracted the plague!"
"What plague?" Upon hearing this, everyone immediately panicked and rushed towards the exit of Lightning Father's house.
Upon hearing about the plague, Lightning Girl was struck dumb and collapsed to the ground.
Only Jiang Ling squinted as she surveyed everything before her.
"Could it be such a coincidence?" Jiang Ling recalled the incident that had troubled her before.
About ten days ago, Jiang Ling would occasionally find one or two dead rats in the fields. At first, Jiang Ling thought that her neighbors had poisoned the rats, since these things are pests that everyone hates to kill, even in modern times.
But as the number of rat carcasses increased, Jiang Ling felt that things weren't so simple.
Now that Lightning's father has suddenly contracted the plague, Jiang Ling feels that something is amiss. However, the whole situation has happened too fast and too chaotically, and for a moment Jiang Ling cannot figure out where the problem lies.
Just as she was deep in thought, Doctor Zhu frowned and said to Jiang Ling, "Why aren't you leaving yet? The plague is no small matter!"
Jiang Ling glanced at Lightning Girl, who was slumped on the ground, and finally shook her head, saying, "Doctor Zhu, Lightning Girl needs someone to take care of her right now. I'd better stay here!"
Doctor Zhu frowned as he looked at Jiang Ling, shook his head helplessly, and handed the other two triangular cloths to Jiang Ling, indicating that she should wear them, and also put them on Lightning Girl.
Just as Jiang Ling put on the triangular cloth, she suddenly remembered something and hurriedly said to Doctor Zhu, "Doctor Zhu, what should we do with those people from earlier?"
These words turned Zhu Langzhong's face ashen. He frowned and gritted his teeth, saying, "The plague is spreading very fast! You! You must inform the village chief immediately!"
Upon hearing this, Jiang Ling grabbed a triangular scarf and ran out to the village chief's house. She bought a small bottle of alcohol spray from the mall and sprayed herself vigorously.
The strong smell of alcohol made Jiang Ling feel nauseous, but she forced herself to knock on the village chief's door.
Seeing Jiang Ling's attire and smelling the alcohol on her, the village chief couldn't help but ask curiously, "What's wrong? Why are you drinking so much in broad daylight?"
Jiang Ling ignored the village chief's question and went straight in to explain her purpose.
The village chief was even more startled upon hearing this. He retreated repeatedly, covering his nose and looking terrified. "You...you stay away! I..."
"Hurry up and go! What do you mean 'I'? If the plague spreads, it'll be too late!" Jiang Ling said, ignoring the village chief, and ran towards the direction of Shandian's house.
Jiang Ling stopped at the door and secretly put the medical surgical mask she bought in the mall under the triangular cloth.
The sound of the bell rang out from the village entrance, and the voices of the people grew louder and louder. Jiang Ling glanced at the village entrance, bit her lip, and finally turned around and ran towards the village entrance.
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