CHAPTER 141: CHAPTER 141: MRS. WANG’S REGRET

Upon hearing this, Zhao Zhitong and Qiao Muchen’s eyes instantly lit up.

Zhao Zhitong asked with stars in her eyes, "That’s fantastic! So, will Wicked Landlord Qin be punished?"

Looking at the little girl’s bright eyes, Pei Yuanqing laughed heartily, then said, "Your testimonies alone will not be enough to do anything to Landlord Qin."

At this, the two little ones immediately showed disappointed expressions. The next second, Zhao Zhitong clenched her little fist and said to Qiao Muchen with full enthusiasm, "Then let’s come back to gather evidence after school tomorrow!"

Qiao Muchen nodded in agreement. "Mm-hmm, we’ll be more careful tomorrow. When the farmers are having their meals, we’ll go ask questions then, so the servant won’t discover us."

Zhao Zhitong nodded. "Mm-hmm, Qiao Muchen, you’re amazing. When we get home today, let’s sort out today’s questions. We won’t ask the same ones again tomorrow, and it would be best if we could find out about new crimes he’s committed."

Watching the two little ones plotting as if nobody else was around, Pei Yuanqing couldn’t help but find it amusing how interesting these children were at such a young age. He then chuckled, "You two little ones are certainly full of energy, but from now on, don’t get involved in these matters anymore. It’s dangerous. The ’judge’ will investigate the case himself and will definitely find more evidence of Landlord Qin’s misdeeds. Then, Landlord Qin will be brought to justice."

Upon hearing this, the two little ones exchanged a glance, their eyes instantly filled with hope, and both were absolutely delighted.

Zhao Zhitong said in a sweet, childish voice, "Thank you, Uncle Pei, for helping us find the judge. You’re such a great person!"

Hearing the little girl’s praise, Pei Yuanqing laughed again. "HA, HA, HA! So now I’m a good person? What if I were a bad person?"

Zhao Zhitong shook her little head vigorously. "No way, no way! You’re not a bad person at all! You helped the people who are being bullied by Landlord Qin, so you must be a good person!"

Amidst Zhao Zhitong’s innocent words, laughter filled the carriage.

With one worry resolved and her family no longer facing bullying from Landlord Qin, even the snacks Zhao Zhitong ate tasted better to her.

Afterward, Boss Feng and Pei Yuanqing began to chat casually with Zhao Zhitong and Qiao Muchen about other topics.

Pei Yuanqing seemed very interested in Qiao Muchen, continuously asking about his circumstances, sometimes directly, sometimes indirectly.

Upon learning who Qiao Muchen’s father was, Pei Yuanqing paused for a moment, then suddenly said, "So you are the child of a loyal martyr! No wonder. When I first saw you, I thought you looked very familiar."

At these words, a hint of astonishment appeared in Qiao Muchen’s eyes. He then stared at Pei Yuanqing with wide, round eyes. "Uncle Pei, did you know my father?"

Pei Yuanqing nodded. "Yes, back then, your father and I were classmates and good friends."

As he spoke, a nostalgic expression appeared on his face.

Hearing this, Qiao Muchen immediately became excited. He had always wanted to know more about his father.

However, he didn’t dare ask his mother. Every time he asked about his father, it would make his mother cry. So, once he was old enough to understand, he stopped mentioning his father in her presence. Whenever he missed his father, he would go through the books his father had left him, searching within their pages for a faint image of him.

Now, hearing that someone knew his father and had even been a close school friend, Qiao Muchen instantly let go of any reservations he had about Pei Yuanqing and began to ask about his father.

Pei Yuanqing patiently answered every one of his questions.

Gradually, from Pei Yuanqing’s words, the image of his father in Qiao Muchen’s heart gained a clearer outline.

His father had strived throughout his life to emulate the ’judges’ depicted in his books. Until his heroic sacrifice, he never once had any regrets.

He too would be as brave and fearless as his father!

Zhao Zhitong was also listening intently at this moment, her eyes wide with fascination.

Pei Yuanqing looked at Qiao Muchen, a hint of distant emotion in his eyes, and said softly, "You and your father are very much alike, especially your eyes. They are like eagle eyes, capable of seeing through all conspiracies and schemes. In the future, you must study hard to fulfill your father’s last wish!"

Qiao Muchen’s eyes misted over, and he nodded firmly.

Pei Yuanqing couldn’t help but nod in satisfaction.

Traveling by horse carriage was, of course, much faster than walking. Amidst their idle chatter, the carriage entered Zhao Village.

In a village, owning an ox-cart was already a big deal, let alone a horse carriage, which was a very rare sight. The moment Sir Feng’s horse carriage entered the village, it attracted the gazes of many villagers.

Many children were also shouting excitedly, running and chasing after the carriage.

Hearing the commotion outside, Zhao Zhitong curiously lifted the curtain to peek out and exclaimed in pleasant surprise, "Wow, that was so fast! We’re in the village already!"

The children running after the horse carriage immediately recognized the little girl in the window: it was Zhao Zhitong from their village!

All the children were astonished.

"It’s Zhao Zhitong! It’s Zhao Zhitong!"

"Zhao Zhitong is riding in a horse carriage!"

"Wow! Zhao Zhitong’s family has a big horse carriage now! That’s so awesome!"

Instantly, the air filled with the envious voices of the children.

When children encountered something new and exciting, they would eagerly rush to share it with the adults in their families. Thus, the news of Zhao Zhitong returning home in a grand horse carriage quickly spread throughout the entire village.

Tie Zhu’s wife, Mrs. Zheng, was on the street when she personally witnessed the two large horse carriages turn towards Zhao Dong’s Residence. She also saw Zhao Cheng following behind them.

Instantly, she slapped her thigh and rushed to the Zhao Family Old House to tell Mrs. Wang.

After recounting the matter, Mrs. Zheng still wore an expression of disbelief. "Goodness, Zhao Dong has really struck it rich! To think he could afford to buy big horse carriages, and two of them at that!"

Mrs. Wang frowned, somewhat skeptical. "Are you sure the second son’s family bought two horse carriages?"

Mrs. Zheng looked certain. "Absolutely! I saw their precious daughter sitting in one of the carriages with my own eyes. In the end, both large horse carriages turned towards the Zhao Family’s place, and Zhao Cheng was following behind them. It can’t be fake."

As she finished speaking, she added with lingering disbelief, "Sister-in-law, wasn’t it said that their family stole the design plans from Landlord Qin to build their house? Did Landlord Qin just let them go so easily? Or is Zhao Dong planning to spend all the money he earned and then escape in the carriages?"

After speaking, Mrs. Zheng, who felt her analysis was quite sound, nodded confidently.

However, Mrs. Wang’s thoughts turned elsewhere. She had also inquired about the medicinal vegetables recently. It would have been better if she hadn’t; what she found out had truly given her a huge shock.

She heard that a small plate of white radish strips could sell for hundreds or even thousands of taels of silver—and even then, it was hard to buy!

This... this must be incredibly profitable!

After hearing this news, she couldn’t sit still; she felt her blood racing.

She was overwhelmed with regret. Why, back then, had she been so intent on spiting the Dong Family that she ended up giving the oldest residence, passed down by their ancestors, to those wretches?!