"Speak your mind quickly, don't wink at me in front of the magistrate!" The shopkeeper glared angrily at the stammering shop assistant.
The shopkeeper shuddered at his reprimand and quickly pulled two books from his pocket, saying to the shopkeeper, "Shopkeeper, didn't you ask me to take these two books out to dry yesterday because they accidentally got wet?"
The crowd erupted in uproar upon hearing this. The shopkeeper's face flushed red and then turned pale. He glared fiercely at the waiter, who could only stand there dumbfounded, at a loss for what to do.
The unexpected turn of events drew all eyes to the shopkeeper. Magistrate Duan frowned and looked at the pale-faced shopkeeper, scolding him, "You have wronged someone without cause and should be punished!"
Upon hearing this, the shopkeeper was so frightened that his legs went weak and he knelt down on the spot with a "thud," repeatedly kowtowing and admitting his mistake.
Jiang Ling, however, watched the farce unfold before her with a cold, expressionless face.
"Since...since the book has been found, let's just drop this matter!" The bookstore owner gave Jiang Ling a sly smile and then prepared to get up.
"Forget it? You're just going to let it go like this, huh? You humiliated my brother and even demanded that he take off his clothes!" Jiang Ling glared at him angrily and shouted.
"Big...Big sister, maybe we should...let it go." Jiang Zhishan, being a scholar, was easily embarrassed, so he gently tugged at Jiang Ling's sleeve.
"Let it go? No way! Shut up! We've been bullied to the point of being pushed to the limit, and you still want to back down?" Jiang Ling was really angry and turned to yell at Jiang Zhishan.
Jiang Zhishan and Magistrate Duan were both stunned for a few seconds, looking at the thin woman in front of them, feeling that she was not quite the same as the one in their memories.
The shopkeeper was also startled by Jiang Ling's roar. He hesitated for a long time but ultimately did not dare to stand up and remained kneeling on the spot.
"Jiang, what do you want?" Magistrate Duan asked, frowning.
"Apologize!" Jiang Ling coldly uttered the two words.
“Um…but he was originally harmed by the teacher of Ningfu Academy! He was originally of bad character…” The shopkeeper immediately started muttering when he heard Jiang Ling demand that he apologize to Jiang Zhishan.
"You! You... Say it again! What do you mean by 'misconduct'! Have you investigated or experienced it yourself?" Jiang Ling shouted again.
"This... shopkeeper, you were indeed in the wrong. If you don't want to suffer physical pain, I advise you to apologize quickly!" Magistrate Duan said with a serious expression.
Although the shopkeeper looked unconvinced, seeing Jiang Ling glaring at him and Magistrate Duan's serious expression, he finally lowered his head and apologized to Jiang Zhishan in a barely audible voice before dejectedly slinking back to his study.
"Disperse, stop watching, there's nothing to see!" Magistrate Duan said to the crowd.
Seeing that Magistrate Duan had already lost his temper, the crowd left the study entrance in twos and threes.
"Thank you!" Jiang Ling bowed to Magistrate Duan.
"No thanks, no thanks, it's what I should do!" Magistrate Duan waved his hand quickly when he saw Jiang Ling being so polite.
Jiang Ling intended to leave with Jiang Zhishan, but Magistrate Duan suddenly remembered something. He quickly walked to Jiang Ling's side and whispered, "Jiang Shi, what happened earlier when you said your brother was expelled from Ningfu Academy?"
Jiang Ling didn't answer, but turned to Jiang Zhishan and whispered, "What do you think about this?"
Jiang Zhishan hesitated for a moment, bit her lip, and said to Jiang Ling, "Big sister, I... I'm really innocent..."
Jiang Ling immediately understood Jiang Zhishan's meaning. She turned to Magistrate Duan and bowed, saying, "Your Excellency, it is not appropriate to say some things in the street."
Magistrate Duan nodded and led Jiang Ling and Jiang Zhishan toward his carriage.
In the inner hall of the county government office in Pingxi County, Magistrate Duan dismissed everyone, leaving only Magistrate Duan and his two companions.
Magistrate Duan looked at Jiang Ling with gentle eyes and patiently asked, "Jiang, can you speak now?"
Jiang Ling recounted everything Jiang Zhishan had told her, and Magistrate Duan's expression grew increasingly solemn. Even after Jiang Ling finished speaking, he remained silent for a long time.
"Yes, I will investigate this matter. If what your brother says is true, I will certainly clear his name, and I will vouch for him as a guarantor!" Magistrate Duan said, stroking his chin.
Upon hearing this, Jiang Ling and Jiang Zhishan immediately thanked Magistrate Duan. Although Magistrate Duan wanted to keep Jiang Ling for a while longer, he could only watch her leave his office with some reluctance, as her younger brother was with her.
When Jiang Ling got home, she took out the four abacuses. The children carefully manipulated their abacuses as if they were precious treasures, as if they were afraid that the abacuses would break if they used the slightest force.
"Big sister, where did you buy this abacus? I've never seen it before," Jiang Zhishan asked curiously, looking at the abacus in her hand.
"Oh, this? I drew up the blueprints and had a carpenter in town make it. Abacuses in town are too expensive, so this is just something to make do with!" Jiang Ling said casually.
After listening, Jiang Zhishan nodded and did not ask any further questions. Instead, several village women working nearby immediately gathered around Jiang Ling and asked, "Sister-in-law Jiang, how much does this abacus cost? I... I also want to buy one for my child."
“This is very cheap, only fifty copper coins. If you need it, I’ll go to town tomorrow and bring it back for you,” Jiang Ling explained.
Jiang Ling thought the village women would refuse when they heard it was fifty copper coins, but to her surprise, they immediately took out a small cloth bag from their pockets, carefully counted out the copper coins, and placed them in Jiang Ling's hand, saying, "Then we'll have to trouble you, Sister-in-law Jiang!"
Jiang Ling was slightly surprised to see a large handful of copper coins in her hand.
The orange sunset cast dappled shadows on the courtyard.
Jiang Ling was patiently making peppermint paste and syrup in the kitchen, while Jiang Zhishan was patiently teaching the children in the yard.
Jiang Ling would occasionally look out the window. The peaceful scene outside and the children studying diligently made her smile from the bottom of her heart.
Just then, there was a knock on Jiang Ling's door. When Jiang Ling opened the door, she saw Lu Gousheng, the village chief's grandson.
Lu Gousheng held two eggs in his hand. He craned his head and looked inside with an envious expression. He said to Jiang Ling, "Aunt Jiang, I...I...can I also come and study and learn to read? This is my tuition fee."
As he spoke, Lu Gousheng carefully presented the eggs to Jiang Ling. Jiang Ling looked at the longing in Lu Gousheng's eyes and nodded, letting Lu Gousheng join in as well.
The clear moonlight shone into the courtyard, and the children left Jiang Ling's house.
As Jiang Ling recalled the courtyard that had almost been filled with people, an idea flashed through her mind.
"Zhishan, how long do you plan to stay here with me?" Jiang Ling asked, as only her brother and sister remained in the courtyard.
“Well… I think it will definitely take three to five months!” Jiang Zhishan thought for a moment and then replied.
“No, what I mean is, if the authorities successfully overturn your case and clear your name, will you still stay here?” Jiang Ling explained.
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