In the morning of this day in Tongxiang, a little snow floated in the sky.
For the winter in Southland, even if it is colder, snow is a rare event. There are not many people on the street. Walking out of Qingshi Alley, you can see many people's yards, and women are cleaning the snow particles in the yard. Children are the happiest. Snowflake is a natural pleasure and a new thing.
Dai Yun got up early and carefully brushed away the snow grains from the branches and vines in the yard. Her young daughter, the six-year-old Ping An, was sitting in the main room for dinner. The porridge was so rare that he could look in the mirror, Ping An. I was eating with relish, and I looked up at the window from time to time, and the snowflakes were falling down, which was quite interesting.
Dai Yun said in the courtyard: "Peace, close the window, don't catch cold."
Ping An responded, got up from the stool, and closed the window with her feet in her arms.
Dai Yun looked at the roof and sighed. The weather was getting colder and colder. The snow melted and flowed down the broken roof. It would be colder in the house. If it fell on Ping An, it would be troublesome. I have to find some time for someone to fix the roof... If only there is a man in the family. Dai Yun couldn't help thinking like this again. She hadn't thought about it this way when Xue Huaiyuan was still there in the past, but now she has this idea frequently.
Dai Yun is less than twenty-five years old this year. She was born young and beautiful. She is a widow. Her husband went to the river to fish when she was just two years old in Ping An. The boat was set aside in a rare storm in ten years. People are gone, and from now on, Daiyun and Ping An's mother and daughter are left alone.
There is no man in the family, which is always inconvenient. Feng Yutang, the newly appointed county chief, often wanted to make ideas on her again. Dai Yun could still cope with the deal once or twice. If this continues, I don't know how long it will last. Those neighboring uncles were also willing to help in the past. Because of Feng Yutang's intimidation, they didn't dare to communicate with her much, so they had to suffer so silently.
Dai Yun sighed. In any case, she only hopes that Ping An can grow up healthy. Dai Yun walked to the stone table in the yard and sat down with unfinished needles and threads on the table. She relied on these to subsidize the family. Seeing her like this, Ping An obediently hugged the wooden puppy out and sat next to Dai Yun. The wooden puppy was made for her by Ping An's father before his death, and Dai Yun felt even more sour when he saw this.
The mother and daughter were about to start their day's work when they suddenly heard the sound of someone knocking on the courtyard door.
"Someone is coming!" Ping An said.
Dai Yun looked at the courtyard gate, his heart tensed, for fear that Feng Yutang would come to ask for trouble again. Every time Feng Yutang comes, it is a nightmare for her. But today's knock on the door is much milder than the impatience and rush of the past.
Ping'an opened his eyes wide and looked at Dai Yun blankly. Dai Yun had to stand up, walk to the front of the courtyard, hesitate for a moment, and then open the door.
Outside the door was not Feng Yutang she hated, but a strange girl.
The girl was only fifteen or sixteen years old, with clean eyebrows, wearing a dark green Su embroidered Yuehua skirt and a cyan patterned cloak. The cape is wide, making her particularly weak and petite, her eyes are powerful, and there is a slight smile on her lips.
Dai Yun didn't know the girl, but he could recognize the clothing that the girl was wearing, and it cost at least a hundred taels of silver.
She was a little frightened, and said: "You are..."
The girl smiled at her: "My name is Jiang Li, and I am looking for you for the case of Xue Xiancheng."
Dai Yun was taken aback, followed quietly and quietly, hiding behind the fence in the yard, and secretly looking at the strange sister.
Before Dai Yun had time to speak, the girl walked in and said, "Come in and talk. It's cold outside."
Jiang Li stepped directly into Daiyun's yard.
The yard is still the same as before. If it is compared, it is much more dilapidated and outdated than before. It seems that Dai Yun's life is not going well. When Xue Huaiyuan asked her to give Dai Yun money, Jiang Li had also been here. At that time, Ping An was still a small thing, and now she has grown so tall.
Time really flies.
Looking at the girl, Dai Yun felt very hesitant for a moment. The girl named Jiang Li came into the yard without a trace of strangeness. She even sat down at the stone table and looked at the needlework she did, and sincerely praised: "It's so good."
Dai Yun couldn't help holding Ping An, walked up to Jiang Li, and said, "Jiang...Miss Jiang, I don't know what you mean? The case of Xue Xiancheng... What's wrong?"
Jiang Li looked up at her and said, "Daiyun, Xue Xiancheng was jailed for embezzlement and disaster relief, and he will be executed in five days. You should not know who Xue Xiancheng is. I want to help Xue Xian. To reverse the case, you need a witness, Dai Yun, are you willing to be my witness to clean up the injustice of Xue Xiancheng?"
Her voice was soft and soft, but it was like a heavy hammer hitting Dai Yun's heart. Dai Yun squeezed Ping An's hand tighter for no reason, and grudgingly squeezed out a smile, and said: "Xue Xiancheng's matter, we are not very clear, we are just ordinary people, what the government says is what..."
"How can you not know?" Jiang Li looked at Ping An, hiding behind Dai Yun, looking at her curiously. Jiang Li stretched out her hand, and Ping An couldn't help taking two steps forward, and stretched out her chubby hand to touch Jiang Li's fingertips.
"Ping An!" Dai Yun excitedly stopped her. Ping An is her lifeblood, and she will never allow Ping to make any mistakes.
Hearing her mother's reprimand, Ping An quickly retracted her hand, but still looked at Jiang Li curiously, without a trace of fear.
"Without Xue Xiancheng, Ping An would not live healthy until now, right?" Jiang Li looked at Dai Yun, "On this basis, can't you become a witness, can you say a word for Xue Xiancheng?"
Dai Yunru was struck by lightning.
Back then, her husband died early, Dai Yun was good-looking and young, and the widow had a lot of disputes in front of her door. Some people made Dai Yun's idea. It's just that Dai Yun and his late husband have a deep relationship and are unwilling to remarry. When Ping An was two and a half years old, he fell ill, and Dai Yun had to borrow money to see Ping An’s doctor. When he recovered, he also spent a lot of money. The creditor had been scared and coveted Daiyun's beauty for a long time, and asked Na Daiyun to pay for his concubine, but Daiyun refused, so the man threatened to take Ping An away and sell it to the brothel mother.
When Dai Yun was desperate, it was Xue Huaiyuan who stood up. Xue Huaiyuan rescued Ping An, who was taken away, and paid off the money owed by them. At that time, it was Xue Huaiyuan’s daughter who came to give the money. At the time, Yun still remembered the appearance of that Miss Xue Jia. She sighed how there could be such a charming and kind woman in the world. Ping An also liked Miss Xue Jia very much. When she saw her Just giggled.
Now Jiang Li suddenly brought up old things, and Dai Yun was very flustered. She didn't want her daughter to safely know that she was an ungrateful person. But she can't make jokes about safety. The people of Tongxiang know who Feng Yutang is. Those who follow others will prosper and those who reject others will perish. If Feng Yutang knew that he would stand up as a witness, Feng Yutang would surely start with peace.
She is a mother and can't just watch her child in danger.
Dai Yun looked at Jiang Li, with a hint of prayer in his eyes: "Miss Jiang, we... We really don't know, you can find someone else... Just treat us as sorry Xue Xiancheng..."
Jiang Li didn't say anything, but Dai Yun still saw it, a trace of disappointment in the other's eyes. At that moment, I don’t know if it was a guilty conscience. In a daze, Daiyun felt that what he saw was not the strange girl Jiang, but the beautiful and kind-hearted Miss Xue Jia. Her gentle smile no longer, that’s it. Sitting quietly, looking at her disappointed.
Dai Yun suddenly felt that he had no face to meet people.
Jiang Li stood up, touched Ping'an's head, and said, "If that's the case, then I'll go find someone else." She said to Dai Yun, "Excuse me." Turning around and walking outside.
That's it... It's over? Dai Yun said: "Ms. Jiang..." When Jiang Li stopped, she didn't know what to say, and it took a long time to say: "Maybe other people in Tongxiang... are like me..." She couldn't continue.
Jiang Li said: "I know, but if you don't do this, Xue Xiancheng really has no hope. I am very fortunate that Xue Xiancheng has helped every household in Tongxiang in the past, 568 people, that sounds like it. It is still very promising. If he has only helped a few people, and those few people are like you, then it is really disappointing." After a pause, she said again: "Take care of peace, since you have paid for it. Don't give up at such a high price."
Jiang Li left.
Dai Yun lowered his head, held the corner of her skirt safely, opened his eyes, innocent, and called out, "Mother."
Dai Yun tears like rain.
…
At the other end, Ye Mingyu was knocking on the door of a house.
This family is very poor and lives in a dilapidated thatched cottage. Because of the snow and blowing last night, the whole house was crumbling, which looked sad. Ye Mingyu has been in a house of great wealth since he was a child, and he has rarely seen such a poor family. Quandang looks strange.
After a long time, someone came to open the door, but it was an old woman wearing a thin cotton-padded jacket. Ye Mingyu felt cold just looking at it.
The old woman saw Ye Mingyu, but as if she hadn't seen it, she asked suspiciously: "Is anyone? Are you...?"
The woman was blind and could see nothing.
Ye Mingyu said, "Old lady, is your son here? I'm looking for your son." In the booklet Jiang Li wrote to Ye Mingyu, this family clearly also has a talented son.
"You are looking for Wenxuan." The old woman said: "He went out to buy tofu and will be back soon. What are you looking for?"
As soon as the voice fell, there was someone talking outside: "Mother, I'm back!"
As soon as Mo Wenxuan returned home, he saw a tall man standing in front of his house. When he turned his head, he saw a scar on his face, full of anger, and he was immediately taken aback. Even the tofu is dropped. He asked: "This big brother..."
"Are you Mo Wenxuan?" Ye Mingyu looked at Mo Wenxuan critically. Mo Wenxuan is almost thirty now, he has not yet married, he is alone, no blame for the others, his family is really poor. And he is a scholar who is devoted to learning, but he is still a talented person. His hair is a little messy, he has some beards, and he wears a washed white cotton robe. He is a little unclear, so he has to look closer.
Mo Wenxuan said: "Yes."
"I have something to look for you." Ye Mingyu said rudely: "Take a step to speak." He wants to convince Mo Wenxuan to be a witness, so naturally he can't let such an old woman hear him. Just signaled Mo Wenxuan to go outside and talk.
Although the old woman hesitated, she did not follow. This house was too poor and didn't even have a yard. Ye Mingyu had to talk to Mo Wenxuan in the open space behind the house.
Ye Mingyu said, "Mo Wenxuan, do you know about Xue Xiancheng's imprisonment?"
Mo Wenxuan was taken aback, then nervously waved his hands again and again, looking around, saying: "Big Brother... Can't mention it, can't mention it!"
He was really a timid scholar, Ye Mingyu was disdainful in his heart, and said, "What are you afraid of? Will you die if you mention it? Don't worry, I will keep you immortal."
Mo Wenxuan probably didn't expect to encounter such an unobtrusive master. Even though he was so afraid of trying to stop him, Ye Mingyu remained unmoved, taking a mouthful of "Xue Xiancheng" for fear that others would not be able to hear it.
"I said, boy, Xue Xiancheng is now in prison and will be sentenced in five days. He is charged with embezzlement and disaster relief. You don't know who Xue Xiancheng is? Boy, now we are going to reverse the case for Xue Xiancheng. A witness is needed. Would you like to come out as a witness to expose Feng Yutang and help Xue Xiancheng vindicate?"
When Mo Wenxuan heard it, he was even more frightened, and said, "I can't make it, I can't make it!"
"What do you have to get?" Ye Mingyu looked down on such a person the most, and said angrily: "What can't you do? Let's talk about it! I think Xue Xiancheng helped you settle in Tongxiang and let you enter the township. Learning to study, let you take the exam for talents, why didn't you say that it was not good? If it weren't for Xue Xiancheng, now you don't even have a copper plate to buy tofu, what do you use to support your old lady!"
Mo Wenxuan was not from Tongxiang. Many years ago, he brought his blind mother to Tongxiang to be with relatives. Who knew that the distant relative was dead, Mo Wenxuan was penniless and a foreigner, and he almost fell into begging. Make a living. Had it not been for Xue Huaiyuan's chance to meet him on the street being bullied by a gang of bullies, he would lend a helping hand and learn about his situation. Knowing that Mo Wenxuan was dedicated to learning, he was also allowed to study in the village. This was why Mo Wenxuan was admitted as a talent. Although living in poverty nowadays, if it weren't for Xue Huaiyuan's help, Mo Wenxuan would have starved to death long ago. Where can I support the elderly mother.
"It's said that every dog slaughter in Zhang Yi, and most of them are scholars, my damn thing can be seen today!" Ye Mingyu said bitterly, "If Xue Xiancheng knew that such a white-eyed wolf was behind him, he shouldn't have been in the first place. Reach you out, you should be bullied to death by those bullies!"
Mo Wenxuan was startled to listen, his face flushed, and suddenly angrily said: "Enough, shut up! Don't I want to vindicate Master Xue? Don't I know Master Xue was wronged? Benevolence, righteousness, loyalty, and filial piety, when I was studying. I've read it! But Feng Yutang is really nothing! Do you know how he treats those who wanted to help Master Xue before? He harmed other people's parents, wives and children! Although Mo Wenxuan, I am not a good man, but only a life. , There’s nothing to be afraid of, as long as I can help my benefactor! But I still have my mother, who has raised me so hard, and now she’s blind and can’t do anything. I haven’t been able to let her enjoy the blessings in my life, but I can’t let her She is in danger because of me!"
Mo Wenxuan finished speaking in one breath, his chest was violently ups and downs, he probably had never quarreled with others like this. Even his neck was flushed, and blue veins appeared on his forehead with excitement.
Ye Mingyu looked at him, his anger dissipated a little, but still hated him for being inconsistent, and only said: "You don't want your mother to be in danger because of you, but are you willing to let your mother be ashamed because of you? You don't know. If you do this, how disappointed will your mother know? You are such a son, so she can't hold her head up. This is a hundred times more inferior than poverty and incompetence!"
"You!" Mo Wenxuan was blocked and speechless.
At this moment, a trembling voice rang: "Wen Xuan."
The two of them looked back, and they didn't know when, Mo Wenxuan's mother, the blind old woman, walked over with a cane step by step. She probably heard the quarrel between Ye Mingyu and the two, and finally couldn't help but come over. It is conceivable that all their quarrel just now was heard by the old woman.
The old woman asked: "Wen Xuan, what this little brother said is true, Xue Xiancheng really went to jail?"
Mo Wenxuan couldn't answer. The old woman was blind and couldn't go out. She didn't know that Tongxiang had already undergone earth-shaking changes. He also didn't tell his mother, because Xiaodeng had the temperament of the old woman. Once he knew this, he would definitely speak for Xue Xiancheng.
But he didn't want to watch his own mother commit a risk.
"Wen Xuan." The old woman's voice became severe.
"It's true." Mo Wenxuan replied helplessly: "It's been more than half a year. Master Xue was imprisoned for corruption and disaster relief, and he will be executed soon."
"Nonsense!" The old woman suddenly stretched out her crutches and paused severely. She was obviously annoyed. She said, "The people of Tongxiang know what kind of person Xue Xiancheng is. There is no Xue Xiancheng. , There is no Tongxiang today. Wenxuan, please tell this little brother, you are willing to be this witness, and you must not forget your roots. If we don’t stand up, what is the difference between us and those wicked people? This is to help the gangsters!"
"But mother..."
"I know what you are afraid of. I have lived at such a young age and I have lived enough. I am not afraid of death! If you are not afraid of death, stand out. If someone wants to harm you, my mother will carry it with you. For so many years, we Mother and son have come together. What are you afraid of dying together? The most important thing to be a human being is to have spine. If you are afraid of death, find a place to hide. This little brother and I will go out to testify, and you will definitely not be troublesome!"
"Mother, what are you talking about? How could your son make you commit a risk alone." Mo Wenxuan stamped his feet anxiously, looked at Ye Mingyu, and said cruelly: "Big brother, you should find a place to hide my mother. Okay, I'll go out with you to testify. My mother is right. You can't forget your roots when you are a man. A traitor like Feng Yutang will go to hell sooner or later. How about I'm the one who sent him to hell this time?"
Ye Mingyu had already planned to give up. This scholar named Mo Wenxuan was timid, and he was the most impatient to deal with scholars. Jiang Li might be able to persuade, but he really couldn't. Even Xue Huaiyuan had said that he had helped them, but he was still unmoved, and that was really impossible. Who knew that at the last moment, Mo Wenxuan's mother jumped out and changed Mo Wenxuan's mind.
Ye Mingyu looked at these two mothers and sons, and suddenly felt a touch of emotion. He was young and strong, and courageous since he was a child, he did nothing but his head. But many people have family members, have fetters, and courage is not that simple. No wonder Jiang Li wants to say that the last step is the most difficult, because people's hearts are unpredictable and there are many shackles.
But finally one person is willing to stand up, right
Of the five hundred and sixty-eight households, one household has stood up, and there will definitely be a second household, a third household... Human nature has evil and good.
Ye Mingyu patted Mo Wenxuan on the shoulder, and said gruffly: "Boy, don't hold a brave and dedicated appearance. Feng Yutang is a paper tiger. It's not worth mentioning. Besides, his good days in Tongxiang will soon be there. It’s coming to an end. No one will do what to you, and no one will do to your mother. Everyone will be fine, only Feng Yutang is the only one who is in trouble."
Mo Wenxuan handed over: "It's all dependent on Big Brother."
"You're welcome!" Ye Mingyu said: "Then I won't stay too much, I have to find the next one."
"Next?" the old woman asked strangely.
"Tongxiang has five hundred and sixty-eight households, and every household has been blessed by Xue Xiancheng. After I have searched for more than 500 households, one by one will look for witnesses." Ye Mingyu was very proud.
"You are really a good person." Mo Wenxuan said dazedly: "Do you have done your best to help Master Xue in the past? Did you have the favor of Master Xue in the past? Master Xue must be very pleased to have someone like you who knows your favor. I thank you for Master Xue."
"Hey, don't talk nonsense, I haven't received the favor of Xue Xiancheng." Ye Mingyu said: "It's my niece, who has a good relationship with Master Xue's family. This time I came to Tongxiang to help. If you want to thank her, thank her, she Her name is Jiang Li. She is the daughter of Jiang Yuanbo, the current chief assistant, and you will see it later. She is a rare good girl."
Ye Mingyu thought happily, this was the first family, so he found someone willing to stand up. If Jiang Li knew about this, she would be very happy.
For herself, and also for the poor Xue Xiancheng who was in prison.
…
In the county government office, Feng Yutang was anxiously waiting for a reply.
He had to take Jiang Li's life within five days. He didn't know what Jiang Li was doing. Not to mention the Xue family's case, even Princess Yongning knew that he had messed up the matter and would not let him go.
Moreover, the twenty corpses placed in the backyard of the county government really made Feng Yutang feel uneasy. Jiang Li is such a difficult enemy to deal with, who knows what means she will use to deal with her, her own men and horses have lost the twenty most elite, will she become one of the twenty corpses next.
Feng Yutang couldn't even think about it. The only thing that can stop his fear is to kill Jiang Li now and immediately. The troubles in the future will be discussed later. At least for now, he must get rid of this danger that makes him uneasy.
But the people he sent out early this morning were like the 23 people sent out last night, and there is still no information yet. Feng Yutang waited from morning to noon, and from noon to noon. In the evening, Xiaoxue gradually stopped. Outsiders were calm and windless.
Calm makes one's heart anxious.
There is no news, not only that, but these people have not been found anywhere, they seem to disappear suddenly in a few moments, no one has found their tracks, and it even makes people wonder whether they are real. Existed.
"My lord..." The little boy guarding the door rolled in, with a terrified voice, "My lord, they... they found it!"
"Found it!" Feng Yutang's heart was shaken, and he stood up. Now he doesn't even expect to hear the news of Jiang Li's death, as long as those people are whereabouts. He asked: "Where?"
"In... in the backyard." Xiao Si said in confusion.
Feng Yutang's heart gradually sank. He slipped and almost couldn't stand firm. He worked hard to cheer up and said, "Go and see..."
But looking at Xiao Si's face, you also know that the backyard is not well. But Feng Yutang didn't ask, as if he would give up only if he saw it in person.
The twenty bodies found in the morning were covered with white cloth by his men and piled up in the corner of the backyard. They still don't know how to deal with it. Now Xiaoxue stopped, and the backyard that had been vacated had another row of lifeless bodies.
Feng Yutang closed his eyes.
He was at a loss for such a method and such a provocation. Jiang Li clearly had only seven people, how could he cut his staff one after another like chopping melons and vegetables. Could it be that these guards are all peerless masters
But how did they quietly return these corpses to the backyard of the county government? Feng Yutang knew that since they were able to return the corpse to the county government ignorantly, it meant that they could quietly take their lives at any time.
But why didn't they assassinate themselves
Feng Yutang didn't understand. He asked: "Isn't there a mute woman in the yard? Let her come out and ask when she has seen a suspicious person? Just sign if she can't speak!"
If the mute woman is in the yard, she might be able to see how the people got in.
The young man was taken aback, as if he had only remembered such a person, and said, "Speaking of which, it seems that I haven't seen the mute woman for a few days?"
"Is it dead?" Feng Yutang frowned. The old woman had lived long enough. Every time she saw her, she felt that she would die in the next second. They had never paid attention to the mute woman, so no one noticed the disappearance of the mute woman. It's probably dead in his own house.
"Since these people failed to kill Jiang Li, Jiang Li is still alive now." Feng Yutang suddenly asked, "Where is Jiang Li now and what is it doing?"
The two hands looked at each other, both of them dare not say.
Feng Yutang looked angry and scolded: "Say!"
"Miss Jiang and Jiang Er split up with Old Soldier Ye San early in the morning, walked all the way westward along the east of the county, knocked on the door of the common people's house, did not know what they said to the people inside, and came out soon. I looked for a second house, and just looked for a few hours."
"But I heard that I could hear them mentioning Xue Huaiyuan's name. It should be the case of the Xue family."