CHAPTER 597: CHAPTER 597: REST IN PEACE

"What?!" Doctor Du was shocked, his worst fear had finally materialized.

He hurriedly pulled Du Qian to the second floor, no longer caring about losing face, and found Doctor Wu and Third Grandpa. With their accompaniment, they went to another private room to find Xu Dexian, and with a plop, he knelt down: "Young master, I beg of you to save us common folk!"

Xu Dexian had never seen such a scene and was so startled that he immediately stood up, saying to them: "You, please stand up and speak."

But Zou Jiang held him back in his chair, looking at Doctor Du and Du Qian to ask: "What injustices have you suffered? Tell us, with two former stewards of the county magistrate here, we will surely seek justice for you."

Zou Jiang wasn’t boasting, he was giving face to Steward Zheng by including him too.

"Qianzi, you speak quickly," urged Doctor Du.

Du Qian, crying, spoke of how Chen Tie had hit him and how, in their absence, Chen Gou brought people to their house and tarnished the innocence of their girl.

"How preposterous, in broad daylight, having no respect for the law, daring to commit such inhuman acts!" Xu Dexian trembled with fury, believing that people like Gao Tong were corrupt because they were river bandits, he never expected that rural farmers could also be so despicable.

Yet, Zou Jiang just sneered, for incidents like these were all too common in the countryside. How many girls from good families had their reputations ruined by scoundrels or bachelors and were forced to marry the beasts who violated them.

He turned to Master Tian and Steward Zheng and said: "What do the two stewards think? For such an injustice, should the county government not intervene?"

Master Tian: "..."

Don’t ask me, you’re the boss, I’ll follow your lead.

Steward Zheng spoke: "The county government is the place to redress grievances for the people, since we’ve encountered this, we naturally must take action."

Upon hearing this, Zou Jiang immediately said to Jiang Jiao: "Jiang Family’s second brother, you came on horses and possess martial arts skills, go now and ride to Chen Village. With your riding skills, half an hour should suffice. If you’re lucky, you might still save the girl from the Du Family."

Jiang Jiao knew this matter could not be delayed and immediately agreed, calling on Qin San Lang and Luo Wu, and with the two of them rode on horses and dashed towards Chen Village.

On the way, they conveniently captured Chen Tie and Chen Erdan, tying them up.

Chen Tie and Chen Erdan were terrified. Chen Erdan, even more so, betrayed Chen Tie’s household: "Military Officer, Military Officer, please spare my life, it was all Chen Gou who forced me, I’m innocent."

Bang, with a punch, Jiang Jiao knocked Chen Erdan unconscious: "Innocent my ass."

He threw Chen Erdan and Chen Tie to the side of the road, telling Du Sanyang: "Keep an eye on them. People from the county government will come to take them away in a while."

He then looked at the Du Family People, and finally picked up the not-so-older and slim-bodied Du Jia Bao: "You lead the way for us."

Du Jia Bao was frail, but the horse could carry two without trouble, and their speed wouldn’t be affected.

The movements of Jiang Jiao and the others were incredibly fast; in the blink of an eye, they disappeared at the end of the road, leaving Du Sanyang and the others stunned and unable to recover.

Thirty minutes later, two mule carts rushed from the town, stopping beside them.

Getting off the cart, Master Tian pointed at Chen Tie and Chen Erdan, asking: "Are these the ones who hit Du Qian?"

Du Sanyang quickly nodded: "Yes, yes, indeed they are... and who might you be, milord?"

Doctor Du, supporting Du Qian off the mule cart, told them: "This is the criminal master from County Magistrate Xu’s office. Qianzi has reported to the government at the tavern, the county government is already aware of what Chen Gou and his cohort have done, and they will apprehend them to vindicate and seek justice for us."

Du Sanyang and the others only then knew that Du Qian’s frantic run to the town was to seek justice from County Magistrate Xu.

Du Sanyang, who also had a daughter in Chen Village, was so anxious that his eyes reddened, and he asked Master Tian, "Steward, is there still a chance to save the people?"

Master Tian shook his head: "That depends on God’s will."

Du Qian was now filled with rage and hatred, tears streaming down his face he said, "Old San, the Chen Family has been bullying us for a year, and this time they want to ruin our daughters. Regardless of whether the girls’ innocence can still be preserved, we must fight the Chen Family to the death!"

Du Qian had been enduring the situation, thinking of stepping back so they could live their days in the village. But they almost became grandsons of the Chen Family, and yet Chen Gou still would not let go of his daughter.

Du Sanyang was always more adamant than Du Qian, upon hearing this, he immediately said: "Hmm, this time, us with the surname Du will fight the Chen Family to the end!"

Zou Jiang, sitting in the mule cart, said to Master Tian, "There is no time to delay. Steward Tian, quickly take these two criminals back to the county government office. I will go to Chen Village with Brother Xian and Steward Zheng."

He added, "Remember to deliver my letter to County Magistrate Xu."

Master Tian silently prayed for Chen Gou and Village Chief Chen as he encountered Zou Jiang, "Rest in peace."

Master Tian immediately took Chen Tie and the others onto the mule cart, rushing straight to the county government.

After four hours, they finally arrived at the county government and reported the situation in Chen Village, then presented Zou Jiang’s letter.

County Magistrate Xu recently had no major matters to handle, apart from mentoring County Magistrate Zheng, and was now happily preparing for the Dongzhi Festival. Hearing Master Tian’s news, he immediately became furious: "These bastards! They can’t even let one have peace during the holidays. Is the village chief of Chen Village dead? I have told the village chiefs to keep an eye on the idlers in their villages and avoid any trouble. It seems my words fell on deaf ears."

After cursing Village Chief Chen, he read Zou Jiang’s letter and his mood brightened. He told Master Tian: "Go to the Jiang Family and find Jiang Qi. Tell him to take soldiers to Chen Village and arrest the village chief, and that Chen Gou, capture his entire family."

Zou Jiang wrote in the letter that it was certain he would be promoted to the capital and suggested that during this period, they should cleanse Tianfu County of the bad elements and return peace to the people, which would also help County Magistrate Zheng.

After all, County Magistrate Zheng would be staying here for a long time. It’d be best not to offend too many people, so as to avoid getting retaliated against by desperados. But Zou Jiang was different. He was about to leave, and doing some good deeds for the people before leaving would not only help his reputation but also would earn a favor from the Zheng Family. It was a win-win.

County Magistrate Xu felt that Zou Jiang was right and immediately ordered the arrests.

Upon receiving the order, Jiang Qi did not delay and led the county soldiers straight to Chen Village to make arrests.

...

Upon hearing about the Du Family’s troubles, Third Grandma and the others couldn’t help but cry: "If we hadn’t been firm before, we might have ended up like the Du Family."

They also praised Gu Jinli: "We owe it to Little Fish for making tofu and seasoning sauces, which helped our family prosper. Having silver, no one dares to look down on us now."

Village Chief He, knowing the Du Family’s situation, wished he could crawl into a hole. When the families of Qin, Gu, Luo, and Tian first came to the village, he, due to Old Master Lu’s influence, had troubled them.

Village Chief He felt that it was time to make a quick getaway, immediately taking his children and grandchildren to say goodbye to Third Grandpa and the others.

He Dacang, however, became anxious: "Dad, aren’t we going to talk about Second Brother’s matter?"

Apart from coming to congratulate the opening of Yanfu Building today, they wanted to take advantage of Gu Jinli’s good mood to discuss Second Brother’s situation.

Second Brother worked as an accountant in a cloth shop in the county, but the master of the cloth shop was too cruel, always bullying their Second Brother. Now during Dongzhi, many shops were on holiday, yet their Second Brother couldn’t return home. He missed coming back during Mid-Autumn Festival, and now he was unable to for Dongzhi again. He Dacang felt that the master of the cloth shop was doing it on purpose!