newbobooks Chapter 361 Counter-claim
Chapter 361 Counter-claim
"Sir, our village has always been based on honesty and has never done anything that is harmful to others. If this sweet potato powder is really poisonous, how could we joke with our own lives?" Xiuying continued, her voice crisp and loud, clearly audible in the noisy crowd.
She was not speaking to the yamen runners, but to the common people. Now she had to make the common people stand on her side, because the magistrate of Qingshui County was Luo Jing'an, and behind Luo Jing'an was the prefect of Jizhou, Liu Guozhong, and behind Liu Guozhong was the imperial concubine.
"I'm going to sue Zheng Sanmao and his wife for false accusation! These two are being unreasonable and must be under someone else's control!" Xiuying straightened her back, her eyes firm, and spoke righteously. She wasn't at all flustered by her current situation.
Xiuying's words instantly threw the leading yamen runner into a tizzy. He had originally thought that, faced with human life and these imposing yamen runners, this woman would be terrified and kneel down to beg for mercy. But now, not only was she not afraid at all, but her attitude was so firm, which was completely beyond his expectations.
Now, not only was this woman not afraid, she was even planning to sue the victim? The leading bailiff's face showed a hint of surprise and anger. His brow furrowed, his eyes a hint of panic, and for a moment he didn't know how to handle this situation.
"You...you...you are talking nonsense!" Zheng Sanmao pointed at Xiuying with a trembling finger, feeling guilty, and shouted, "No one ordered me to do that! My father died because of eating your sweet potato noodles!" His voice trembled with nervousness.
"My father was usually in good health, but he suddenly lost his life because he ate your sweet potato noodles! If this isn't your fault, whose else could it be?" Zheng Sanmao panted, his eyes filled with hatred and determination. "Don't even think of quibbling. You must give me an explanation today!"
Aunt Wang in the crowd squeezed forward and raised her voice and said loudly: "Zheng Sanmao, your father has been bedridden for many years. That is considered to be in good health? Don't lie here with your eyes open!" Aunt Wang put her hands on her hips, her face full of anger and dissatisfaction.
"Your father's health is so poor that he can barely even get up. Everyone knows that. And now you're trying to blackmail him by claiming he's healthy. Has your conscience been eaten by a dog?" Aunt Wang grew increasingly angry, her voice becoming shrill. "People should have a conscience. You can't confuse right and wrong for money and wrongly accuse good people!"
"Yes, Zheng Sanmao, your father has not been in good health." At this time, a doctor named Yang, who was wearing a long gown and carrying a medicine box, also said in the crowd, "A few days ago, you anxiously asked me to go and see your father." Doctor Yang shook his head, with a helpless expression on his face.
"Your father's illness was long-standing, and he was already very weak. I told you at the time to pay extra attention and take good care of him. But now you're blaming your father's death on this sweet potato flour. That's simply unacceptable!" Doctor Yang stroked his beard, looked at Zheng Sanmao sternly, and continued, "After years of practicing medicine, I believe I have some judgment. I'm afraid there's something else behind your father's death, and you absolutely can't just casually accuse others like this."
Seeing the situation about to get out of control, the yamen runner panicked and immediately shouted at the top of his voice: "Okay, stop making noise!" His voice was like a bell, trying to suppress the chaotic noise.
"The county magistrate will make the final decision on everything. Stop talking nonsense here!" The bailiff frowned, his face gloomy, and glanced at everyone with dignity.
Then he looked at Xiuying, raised his chin slightly, and said in an unquestionable tone: "Madam, please come with me." There was no mercy in his eyes, as if Xiuying was already a sinner.
The purpose of his visit was to take Xiuying to the yamen.
"Mom, what should we do? Mom, I'm scared." Guihua and Lamei were in a panic, tears welling up in their eyes. They tightly pulled Xiuying's sleeves and said in trembling voices, "Don't go to the yamen, don't go." They seemed to be facing the end of the world.
When the bailiff saw this, he was immediately furious and shouted loudly: "This is a matter of life and death! Don't refuse a toast and then drink a penalty!" His eyes were fierce, as if he wanted to swallow Xiuying and her daughter and others in one gulp.
Xiuying glared at the yamen runner with a pair of sharp eyes and said fearlessly, "My daughter is still young, why bother scaring her? Someone who doesn't know would think, sir, you..." At this point, Xiuying paused, her eyes filled with a hint of sarcasm, "Sir, you have something to hide and dare not handle this matter openly."
"You...what nonsense are you talking about!" The bailiff's face turned red in an instant, and he shouted loudly, "I am upright and I am not afraid of ghosts knocking on my door in the middle of the night!" Although his voice was loud, it was slightly trembling.
As he spoke, the yamen runner unconsciously looked around, a trace of panic flashed in his eyes, he shrank his neck, and continued with forced calmness: "Stop slandering me here! As a yamen runner, I am doing my job according to orders, so I will naturally be fair and selfless, and I will not tolerate your nonsense like this!" However, his slightly panicked expression betrayed his confidence.
Xiuying ignored him and slowly turned around to look at the people around her. She bowed deeply and then burst into tears: "Brothers and sisters, uncles and aunts!" She cried and wiped the tears that kept flowing with her sleeves. Her voice was sad and moving.
"My husband died when I was young, and raising seven girls, life was so difficult!" Xiuying cried bitterly, "Maybe it was the blessing of my deceased husband's spirit in heaven that allowed us to discover the delicacy of sweet potatoes. We led the villagers to grow them, hoping to improve our lives. We also made sweet potato noodles, an affordable food. We thought our lives would get better, but we never expected to be envied and framed. This is bullying for me, an orphan and a widow!"
Xiuying secretly looked at the people around her. The corrupt official would definitely take this opportunity to take revenge on her. Now she had to win their sympathy. Most people in society sympathize with the weak.
The more she spoke, the sadder she became, her cries were loud but silent, and her miserable appearance made the onlookers feel pity for her.
"Everyone has been eating my sweet potato noodles for a while now."
Seeing that the atmosphere was almost set, Xiuying said earnestly, "I would like to ask you to go with me to the county government office to testify that my family's sweet potato flour is not poisonous and is innocent." Her eyes were full of anticipation as she swept across the faces of everyone present.
"I, Xiuying, will never forget your kindness. If you can clear my name this time, I will definitely repay you all in the future."