After dealing with the Tang family's affairs, County Magistrate Zheng turned to the two officers who had tipped off the officials. "As officers, you dared to eavesdrop on and pass on my conversations. You're breaking the law knowingly, and your crime is even more severe! Take them away and give them thirty lashes of the cane, and send them to the stone quarry to serve three years!"
Immediately, the bailiffs came up and dragged the two men outside. The crackling sound of beatings and the wailing made people's backs cold!
When the people outside the county government office learned that Xiuyun Cloth Shop was selling counterfeit cotton-padded clothes, they were all very excited and wanted to kill the profiteer. When they saw that the culprit was punished and the Tang family was forced to spend all their money to help the people affected by the disaster, the onlookers applauded!
Because of this incident, the yamen runners who had been perfunctory no longer dared to pretend to obey, and they were all in high spirits, waiting for the instructions from Zheng County Magistrate! They were afraid that the magistrate would remember the past and burn them!
Even if it was an airborne county magistrate, if he wanted to discipline them, it would only take a word! Thinking of this, the officers felt like a knife was hanging over their heads. In the past, they must have been blinded by greed and dared to follow the squad leader to neglect the county magistrate!
After dealing with his men, County Magistrate Zheng instructed Yang Dalang: "Take your men and follow Master Tang back, and thoroughly count Master Tang's family finances and make a list for me to review.
Then he quietly asked Li Erlang beside him, "Can you still support your legs? Go with them. I'm worried about the others!"
Li Erlang stood up and said, "Don't worry, my feet are fine. I can set off anytime!"
County Magistrate Zheng nodded and said to Master Tang, "Since that's the case, you can take them home. As for your family, I'll place them in the county government office first. Don't worry, I won't treat your family unfairly. Once this matter is settled, I'll let them reunite with you!"
In Mr. Tang's mind, County Magistrate Zheng wanted to use the lives of his family as bargaining chips, but he was helpless. Now he was at the mercy of others, so he could only give up everything in Rongcheng and seek peace!
In an instant, Mr. Tang seemed to have aged many years. He bowed to the county magistrate and said, "Your humble servant, I will go back and count my property!" After that, he left the county government office with his steward and a group of yamen runners.
Li Yan followed her father out of the county government office and asked worriedly, "Dad, can your legs hold up? Do you want me to go with you?"
Li Erlang touched his daughter's hair and said, "Yan'er, this kind of occasion is not suitable for you to go with us. You should go back first!"
Li Yan said worriedly, "Then let Zhao Da go with you. I'll feel more at ease with him by your side!"
Zhao Da, who was waiting at the gate of the county government office, hurried to stand beside Li Erlang and said, "Don't worry, young lady, I will stay by your side every step of the way!"
After the group hurriedly left, Li Yan returned to the gate of the county government office.
County Magistrate Zheng then instructed the chief clerk sitting below him, "There's no time to lose! Hurry and go to the villages severely affected by the disaster and summon their clan leaders. We'll work out a solution as quickly as possible!"
Now that he had the money, the chief clerk no longer refused as he had done in the morning. He immediately stood up, called over a few yamen runners, and hurried out of the county government office.
The incident of the reed-cotton coat came to an end. County Magistrate Zheng stood up and thanked Xing Yun: "Thank you very much, young general, for your help. If it weren't for your righteous help, this would not have been so easy!"
Xing Yun: "You're welcome, County Magistrate Zheng. This is all for the safety of the people of Rongcheng. Now that this matter is settled, I'll take my leave!"
Xing Yun then turned around and left. When he saw Li Yan at the gate of the county government office, he did not stop. He just nodded slightly, then mounted his horse and galloped away with a group of soldiers.
Qin Yue, who appeared leisurely beside Li Yan, stopped and said, "Miss Li, we meet again. We are really destined to be together!"
Li Yan was slightly stunned. She looked at Qin Yue standing in front of her and smiled helplessly. Qin Yue always gave her the feeling that he was smiling but hiding a knife. Although this man looked smiling, that smile did not reach his eyes, giving people an unfathomable feeling. She did not want to have too much interaction with him, so she said, "Rongcheng is not so big. It's not surprising to meet him in the city!"
Qin Yue heard the alienation in Li Yan's words and said with a bright smile: "Miss Li, fate is everywhere in life. Who knows, we may meet again next time!"
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