CHAPTER 799: CHAPTER 799: YOU’LL GET BEATEN HALF TO DEATH

This remark scared away half of the crowd.

Luo Wu, watching their retreating figures, spoke in a cold voice: "According to Great Chu Criminal Law, the common people must cooperate with the government office in handling cases. Those who do not cooperate are considered accomplices, guilty of the same crimes as the principal offender."

With this statement, he frightened back those who had taken a few steps away.

Some who recognized Luo Wu said, "Squad Leader Luo, we do not know that widow. We were just watching the excitement, please don’t make it difficult for us."

Luo Wu replied, "Uncle Dali, it’s not me making it difficult for you, it’s you who wanted to spectate and got yourselves involved. Stop the chatter and hurry up, speak clearly about what you’ve seen, and then you can go home."

The people present did not want to oppose the government office and could only follow Luo Wu to the government office with displeased expressions.

All along the way, they cursed Liu Eniang and Wu Changfu: "It’s all your fault, couldn’t you just live your lives peacefully? Why did you have to scheme against others and get us involved as well?"

However, it was too late for regrets now, everyone could only march solemnly towards the government office.

Upon hearing that it was the people of the Gu Family who reported to the officials, County Magistrate Zheng gave face and immediately ascended the hall.

Before the session, Luo Wu had already taken statements from Liu Eniang, Wu Changfu, Gu Dashan, and some passersby. As soon as County Magistrate Zheng ascended the hall, the steward handed over the statements for him to see.

After reading, County Magistrate Zheng pointed at Liu Eniang and said, "Ms. Wang Liu, since you claimed it was an unintentional mistake, why then did you allow Wu Changfu and others to demand silver from Gu Dashan?"

Liu Eniang, crying, said, "My lord, this civilian woman was forced by them. They dragged this civilian woman to the Gu’s warehouse to demand silver. No matter how this civilian woman struggled, it was useless."

Sobbing, she continued, "My lord, this civilian woman knows her wrongdoing, I beg for your leniency to let this civilian woman return home. My little Lian is still ill. If I return home late, my parents-in-law will surely abandon little Lian."

County Magistrate Zheng frowned. Was she using her sick daughter to gain everyone’s sympathy?

Unfortunately for Liu Eniang, the village she was married into was not far from here, just on the outskirts of the county in Wang Family Temple Village. Some locals from Wang Family Temple who came to the county for business, upon seeing the crowd at the government gate, also came to watch the excitement. Hearing Liu Eniang’s words, they spat out in anger, demanding, "Liu Eniang, have you no shame? To absolve yourself of crimes, you even curse your own daughter."

A woman in her forties, who had come to the Silver Building with her son to buy a betrothal gift for her future daughter-in-law, quickly spoke up: "Everyone, don’t believe her. Liu Eniang doesn’t want to remain a widow, ever since Xiao Wu died she went back to her parental home to find another match, she hasn’t returned to Wang Family Temple for New Year’s. Little Lian has nearly forgotten she has such a mother, yet she still uses little Lian as a shield, truly shameless."

After finishing speaking, the woman carefully asked the onlookers what had happened.

She then became furiously angry, pointing at Liu Eniang and said, "Liu Eniang you lowly woman, can’t wait to find another man? You’ve tainted our village’s reputation. Just wait, our Wang Family no longer need you to remain a widow. I’ll go back and tell Xiao Wu’s parents to directly draft a divorce paper to divorce you."

It was disgraceful for this woman to carry the name of Xiao Wu’s wife. It was best to divorce her directly.

Xiao Wu’s parents are agreeable people, although hearing some rumors about Liu Eniang, they expressed that since Xiao Wu had died and little Lian only had such a mother left, if the Wang Family were to divorce Liu Eniang, little Lian would be left motherless.

But now that Liu Eniang had taken to seducing men publicly and still not succeeding, being reported to the government office for tarnishing the Wang Family’s name, such a disgraceful woman should not be tolerated by the entire Wang Family.

"Elder Brother, let’s go, we’re heading back to the village to find the Clan Leader!" The woman immediately signaled her son, preparing to return to the village to see the Clan Leader.

Liu Eniang, when exposed for using her daughter to gain sympathy, showed no shame, only anger at the interfering woman.

Seeing everyone scolding her, she cried and said, "It’s not that I don’t want to live with my in-laws, but after my husband died, my in-laws beat and scolded me constantly. I couldn’t endure the abuse and that’s why I left... I didn’t lie, my Xiao Lian really is sick, but my in-laws won’t let me see her. I was so afraid something bad would happen to her that I gathered eggs and came to the county to exchange them for medicine. Who knew I would encounter..."

With a smack, County Magistrate Zheng struck the gavel and interrupted Liu Eniang, "I do not wish to hear about the grudges with your in-law’s family. Today, I am only ruling on the matter of you deliberately crashing into Gu’s mule cart and then counterclaiming Gu Dashan and demanding compensation."

County Magistrate Zheng looked at the statement on the table and said, "Both the passerby and Gu Dashan mentioned that you told Gu Dashan, as long as he drove away Wu Changfu and the other two, the incident with his mule cart hitting you would be forgiven. Why is this not in your statement? Remember, concealing the truth aggravates your crime!"

County Magistrate Zheng clearly understood that Liu Eniang didn’t reveal this statement because she knew it suggested extortion.

Hearing this, Liu Eniang said nothing more and just cried incessantly, frustrating County Magistrate Zheng so much he wanted to hit someone, "What’s wrong with you, woman? I ask you a question, why don’t you answer?"

Liu Eniang dared not reply, for admitting it would mean confessing to extortion. Hence, she could only cry without stopping.

While she was crying, Qian Dabiao from Donggui Gambling House was escorted by a Government Official.

Accompanying him was the owner of Donggui Gambling House, Qian Donggui.

Qian Donggui was scared half to death, not expecting Qian Dabiao to run afoul of Gu Dashan.

It’s not Gu Dashan who is fearsome; it’s Company Commander Qin!

Company Commander Qin had declared two years ago that he wouldn’t care if local ruffians schemed against anyone in the county, but if anyone plotted against Gu, Luo, or Luotian families, then they shouldn’t find it odd when he shows no courtesy.

What frightened Qian Donggui more was that Gu Dashan was the father of Company Commander Qin’s beloved!

Who is his beloved?

That naturally refers to the girl Company Commander Qin fancies. Although nobody knows her name or what she looks like, rumors abound. They say every time Company Commander Qin returns home, the girl always prepares lots of food to take to the Military Office.

Every time Company Commander Qin mentions this girl, his face lights up with a smile.

Sweating profusely, Qian Donggui kicked Qian Dabiao and scolded, "Quickly spill everything Liu Eniang told you to frame. If you hide anything, I’ll skin you alive!"

Qian Dabiao hated Liu Eniang to death. He had already warned this woman not to target Gu Dashan, but she wouldn’t listen, and now a huge mess had ensued!

And Wu Changfu, damn him for always causing trouble. If not for the fact that they shared distant cousin ties, he would have had someone chop him up.

Qian Dabiao fiercely glared at Wu Changfu and spilled everything about Liu Eniang using her body as a reward to extract information about Gu Dashan from him.

"At the time, I warned her not to mess around, telling her Brother Gu is an upright and honest man who would not take a concubine. Who knew this vile woman, Liu Eniang, would not heed advice and actually schemed against Brother Gu." Qian Dabiao kowtowed towards Gu Dashan, "Brother Gu, please calm your anger, little brother had no intention to harm you."

Please, please don’t complain to Company Commander Qin, I’ll be beaten to a cripple.