Carefree Farmwife: Training the Husband, Raising the Bun - Chapter 42

“He’s asking for so much, it just proves he intended to swindle money from the start!”

The ones shouting from the side were none other than the boss of the workshop where Li Dalang worked, along with a few shop clerks. Among them, a dry, thin man around forty was the loudest. Their boss, however, stood silently without saying much.

Kneeling on the ground, Li Dalang couldn’t hold it in any longer. His face flushed red with anger as he raised his head and retorted, “I did not swindle any money! Liu Laosi clearly tricked me out of my cart. He was the one with ill intentions, yet now he’s falsely accusing me of trying to cheat the master out of money…”

His outburst actually brought up some useful points. The county magistrate struck the gavel, and the yamen runners instantly thumped their staves on the ground, their voices booming in unison, “Silence in court!”

The hall instantly quieted. The magistrate swept his gaze across the hall, finally settling on Li Dalang. He asked, “You claim Liu Laosi tricked you out of your cart. Do you have any physical evidence or witnesses? I already told you before, if you can prove the cart was indeed built, I will not convict you. But right now, you have neither witnesses nor evidence.”

The magistrate was not a muddle-headed official. He had handled quite a few practical matters for Fengyang County. Though not spotless or incorruptible, he was still considered a good official.

Because of his even-tempered manner, Liu Chuncao was no longer as frightened as before. Regaining her composure, she hurriedly spoke up, “My Lord Magistrate, we really did make the cart! Early this morning my husband drove the ox cart to town to deliver it. I personally saw him leave the house, and I even helped load the cart onto the ox cart. I can testify!”

“Nonsense! You’re his wife, of course you’d take his side. Who knows if you’re telling the truth or not?” It was Liu Laosi again who shouted first.

The magistrate frowned slightly, and Liu Laosi quickly shut up, shrinking back behind their boss.

At that moment, their boss finally spoke.

“Li Dalang and his wife have worked in my shop for a while. Perhaps they were just blinded by greed this time. Still, we’ve had some ties, so let’s settle it this way, I won’t pursue the matter of the cart anymore. As long as they return the fifty taels of silver so I can give it back to Master Zhao, that will suffice.”

The shopkeeper spoke with a degree of leniency, retreating instead of pressing them harshly.

But Li Dalang’s chest ached with fury, his face alternating between red and black. Unable to hold back, he said, “Master, I really did bring the cart. Liu Laosi saw it with his own eyes at the shop’s entrance. He deliberately sent me away, and when I returned, the cart was already gone.”

He explained with utter seriousness, but few believed him. The shopkeeper only assumed he was still trying to argue and snapped angrily, “Then why don’t you bring the craftsman who built the cart here? The magistrate already said so, if you invite the cart-maker, that would be your witness. Since you keep saying the cart is finished, then bring the craftsman here to testify!”

Feeling wronged, Li Dalang glanced toward Ying Su. Earlier, she had said she didn’t want to come forward to avoid gossip. Considering her status as a widow, if she openly testified for him in court, she might attract a great deal of trouble in the future.

But Liu Chuncao hadn’t thought that far. At this moment, eager to clear her husband’s name, she blurted out, “Then let’s call him! We truly built it, we didn’t cheat anyone. Cuihua, come out and testify for Dalang!”

With those words, everyone’s attention turned to Ying Su. She arched her long brows, her phoenix eyes bright yet coldly dazzling.

“I have a way to prove my brother-in-law did not cheat anyone. My lord, why not grant me one day’s time? Let the trial be postponed until tomorrow at this hour. By then, the truth will come to light!”

Her beautiful face showed no unnecessary expression, her gaze steady. Speaking calmly and slowly, her words carried great conviction. Her presence was like an orchid blooming in a secluded valley, refined and extraordinary.

At the head of the yamen runners stood Zhou the constable, the same man who had once helped Ying Su demand justice on the street. The moment he saw her, his eyes lit up. But constrained by the court setting, he couldn’t greet her.

Seeing her now display such composure and poise, he couldn’t help but recall the last time she solved a case with nothing more than a cat. Impressed, he stepped forward to the magistrate’s side and whispered a few words in his ear.

After listening, the magistrate studied Ying Su carefully for a moment. At last, he said, “That will be all for today. The defendant, Li Dalang, stands accused of swindling money. He shall be detained and brought back for trial tomorrow.”

The gavel struck with a sharp crack. Yamen runners immediately stepped forward to seize Li Dalang and take him into custody.

Liu Chuncao’s eyes turned red with panic. She began to cry, clinging desperately to Li Dalang’s sleeve, unwilling to let him go.

Li Dalang’s expression was dark and uneasy. He looked at Ying Su, who gave him a reassuring nod. His heart steadied somewhat, and he told the tearful Liu Chuncao, “It’s fine. Just come back tomorrow.”

But Liu Chuncao sobbed bitterly, terrified he would suffer in prison. She refused to release him.

The yamen runner frowned deeply, just about to lose his temper, when Ying Su quickly pulled Liu Chuncao behind her. She offered the officers an apologetic smile.

That smile was mesmerizing, her phoenix eyes shining like clear water. The yamen runner, stunned, immediately lost his anger and, still reluctant, cast a few more glances at her face while dragging Li Dalang away.

“What are you staring at? Hurry and take him to the prison!” A familiar voice barked.

The two runners quickly fell silent and led Li Dalang away.

Ying Su lifted her gaze toward the approaching man. Her phoenix eyes narrowed slightly as she smiled. “So it’s Officer Zhou!”

“I must thank Officer Zhou just now.” With her sharp eyes, Ying Su had noticed Zhou whispering to the magistrate, after which the trial was postponed. Clearly, he had spoken up for her.

“It’s nothing. I wasn’t siding with you. If you can’t produce evidence tomorrow, you’ll still be convicted. Whether today or tomorrow makes little difference,” Zhou replied. In truth, he was quite looking forward to seeing what surprise this woman might bring, after all, she had already impressed him once before.

Ying Su curved her lips into a smile. “Then I must trouble Officer Zhou to speak with the magistrate on my behalf. Tomorrow, I’ll need to…” She leaned in and carefully explained her plan to him.

“Alright, I’ll tell the magistrate,” Officer Zhou agreed at once, then turned to confer with him.

Once the magistrate nodded his consent, Ying Su took her leave with Liu Chuncao.

Still seated in the hall, the magistrate narrowed his eyes, staring at Officer Zhou with a knowing smile. He teased, “I was wondering why you were so eager to help today. Turns out it’s for that little lady. But didn’t you hear? In court they said she’s already married.”

Officer Zhou’s usually stern face cracked slightly. Helplessly, he shot the magistrate a glare before saying curtly, “I’ll go take a look around town,” and walked off.