Since Feng Yutang took office in Tongxiang, no one has dared to talk about the three words "Xue Xiancheng" on the street, let alone outside, even at home, the three words "Xue Xiancheng" are like everyone's common taboo. Generally, no one has dared to mention the name proactively.
Over time, it seems that some people have forgotten what the three words Xue Xiancheng mean. That means a glimmer of dawn when desperate, means the only hope when encountering injustice, means justice, and conscience.
But everyone seems to have not forgotten, like a humiliating fire planted, only when someone comes with sparks one day, it only takes a little bit to burn.
Today, the three words "Xue Xiancheng" quietly sounded everywhere in Tongxiang, spreading like a spring breeze and night grass. Some were about to move, and some were disturbed.
At night, a light was lit in a room in Qingshi Lane.
The lights are dim, and the people in the room, sitting or standing, look depressed.
Ye Mingyu sat on the low stool, punched the table, angrily said: "This is too difficult!"
He, Jiang Li, and his six brothers, divided into several paths early in the morning, one by one to find the people in Tongxiang. More than 500 households, from morning to night today, only dozens of households were asked. In fact, dozens of households are not too few, but Mo Wenxuan is the only one who is willing to stand up to testify for Xue Huaiyuan. It was Mo Wenxuan's blind old lady who heard it and severely accused Mo Wenxuan, and Mo Wenxuan stood up with a tragic and solemn mood of dying together.
Ye Mingyu didn't know what to say. To blame these people for ungratefulness? Others just want to protect their family members. Instead of blaming the people, it is better to scold Feng Yutang for acting. But do these people really have no responsibility? If they only had to resist a little bit, perhaps Xue Xiancheng would be in jail, and he wouldn't look so miserable.
There are always many helpless things in the world.
"It's okay, uncle." Jiang Li smiled, "It's not that there is no gain, at least one person, right? As long as there is one person today, one day tomorrow, and this continues, after five days, we can have five people in total. . It's a lot."
A guard mumbled: "There are five hundred and sixty-eight households. Only five people stand out. This is too sad."
Jiang Li was still smiling, but Ye Mingyu felt that his niece seemed a little sad for a moment. As if from these personnel in Tongxiang, I could see the unpredictability of people's hearts. Ye Mingyu also became sad, and quickly returned to his senses. He secretly twitched himself, trying to comfort Jiang Li a few words, but he was stupid and didn't know how to comfort him. I sighed that it would be great if the handsome grandfather was there last night, maybe Jiang Li is thinking about seeing her sweetheart and will temporarily forget the troubles in front of her.
But Ji Heng is not there at all.
Ye Mingyu had to awkwardly opened the conversation: "Speaking of which, several times today, I felt that someone was following us. It seemed that there was a murderous spirit. I was waiting for a battle, but after a while, it felt like it was gone again. It’s really strange. ."
"Me too, too!" The guards in the room all echoed: "I have this feeling today, and I thought it was because I was thinking too much."
"Could it be that I have seen a ghost, how come everyone feels this way?"
"I think it is a bandit in Tongxiang. He originally robbed us and blackmailed us. However, seeing the brothers' martial arts, they were jealous, so they retreated."
"There is a reason, I think this is the case!"
"Go go," Ye Mingyu waved his hand and said: "You know what a fart, don't take any credit for yourself, who will rob you of your Dao? Do you look rich? You are also robbing Laozi. Besides, can there be people in Tongxiang? If Tongxiang is so poor, if there are people in Tongxiang, they would have starved to death!"
The room was speechless, Ye Mingyu turned around and asked Jiang Li, "Ali, the Lord Rao Shi Ziguo helped me with this matter?"
Ye Mingyu didn't know Ji Heng's name, and thought that "Master Guo" was an official, so he kept saying that Ji Heng was "Master Guo". Jiang Li couldn't laugh or cry and said, "Most of it is."
Feng Yutang had so many fewer people all night, but he didn't say a word, there was no movement at all, naturally it was Ji Heng's handwriting. Today they publicly filed Xue Huaiyuan's case in Tongxiang, and Feng Yutang's people did not come to stop it. This is naturally impossible. The only possibility is that Feng Yutang did send someone to stop him, but was stopped by Ji Heng's people.
One thing is one thing, at least in this matter, Ji Heng helped her and saved her a lot of trouble. She should be grateful. Jiang Li inexplicably thought that if someone formed an alliance with Ji Heng, it would really be the most cost-effective business in the world. Because Ji Heng will clear unnecessary obstacles for allies to the greatest extent, "waiting for others", many things will get twice the result with half the effort.
Ye Mingyu didn't say a word when he heard the words, thinking that although the man was too good-looking, he at least knew how comprehensive Jiang Li was. Even if you can't be a niece, it's good to be a friend.
"Uncle Ming Yu, you should rest earlier." Jiang Li said, "You are also tired today. You will rejuvenate your vitality at night, and you will continue tomorrow morning."
Ye Mingyu nodded. Today they went to recruit people. They talked with dry mouth, running long distance, and back pain. They should take a bath and take a good rest. He didn't object to Jiang Li, and took his men to rest first.
Jiang Li sat back at the table.
Tong'er and Baixue thought she was going to take a rest, they were surprised when they saw it, and asked, "Why doesn't the girl sleep?"
"I have to write a booklet and distribute it to my uncles tomorrow. I will go to bed after finishing writing." Jiang Li pressed his forehead and said, "Bai Xue, pour me a cup of hot tea."
…
It was sunny after snowfall, and the next day was excellent weather.
Early in the morning, Jiang Li parted ways with Ye Mingyu and the others and went to find their own houses.
Now she is not afraid that someone from Feng Yutang will kill her behind her back, anyway, Ji Heng will solve it for her. She was relieved to expose her back to Ji Heng.
During the trip yesterday, she visited the most people, and Ye Mingyu did not have as many people as she visited, just because she knew the road in Tongxiang and also knew where each family lived, which saved a lot of time. When I passed the gate of Qingshi Alley in the early morning, I saw Aunt Chunfang who I saw in Tongxiang on the first day. Aunt Chunfang was standing in the courtyard with her basket on her shoulders, watching Jiang Li and his group walk away carefully, whispering lips. , Seems to want to say something, but did not say it after all.
Jiang Li didn't look at her either, she had too little time to take care of everyone. The predestined relationship between people is dependent on predestined conditions. Some things are done by oneself, and if they fail, it is fate, and there is no unwillingness.
Yesterday, for a whole day, from the first family to Daiyun, to the last family, at least Jiang Li, they did not persuade the family to say that disappointment is false, but we have to continue today. No matter what the result is, she must accept it.
In the distance, the door of the house can be seen.
Jiang Li walked to the family, hesitated for a moment, and finally knocked on the door.
The husband of this family is a butcher, known as the Butcher Zhang. He was very vicious and terrifying. An ordinary child would cry when he looked at him. Jiang Li only remembered that Xue Zhao was very scared of Butcher Zhang when he was a child, and always felt that the butcher knife in Butcher Zhang's hand was very scary. But as Xue Fangfei, she only remembered that every time she passed by the butcher's shop, the man twitched his mouth stiffly, as if he wanted to show her a soft smile, but with a twisted appearance.
There were three knocks, and someone came to open the door.
Butcher Zhang opened the door.
After many years, Tufu Zhang is still the same as he was back then, and has not changed at all. On a cold winter day, he was wearing a thin coarse cloth single coat with his sleeves rolled up, probably for the convenience of cutting meat. He was born tall and fat, and his face was full of meat. Because of the smell of meat coming out of his body all the year round, he was sticky and greasy. He was about to get up early to go to the butcher shop. He was carrying a bucket with a white cloth covered on it. Jiang Li knew that the white cloth was fresh pork.
Butcher Zhang also has a long knife, which is also placed on this bucket. The knife was extremely long and sharp. I don't know if it was because of seeing too much blood. Just seeing it made people feel chilly.
Jiang Li's eyes fell on the long knife involuntarily.
Zhang Tufu looked down at Jiang Li, put the bucket in his hand "boom" at his feet, and said in a bad tone: "Who are you looking for?"
"I'm looking for you." Jiang Li looked back: "My name is Jiang Li."
Zhang Tufu said, "I know you. It was you yesterday. Starting from the east of the city, I asked about Xue Xiancheng from house to house. I want people to stand up and testify to Master Xue!"
Zhang Tufu's voice was very thick, even more fierce than Ye Mingyu's listening. When he spoke to Jiang Li, his face was expressionless, but the flesh on his face trembled a few times.
"Yes." Jiang Li looked at him calmly: "Whether Xue Xiancheng is a good official and whether he will embezzle the disaster relief bank or not? The people of Tongxiang don't know. I want to ask this uncle if he is willing to stand up. As a witness, how about vindicating this innocent county prime minister?"
Zhang Tufu fixedly looked at Jiang Li.
In fact, his eyes are very small, almost squinted, making it difficult to see his expression clearly. This Butcher Zhang is alone again and has no wives yet. Because he is too ugly and fierce, no one dared to get close. Looking at Jiang Li in such a condescending manner, as if he was about to raise a butcher knife against Jiang Li in the next moment.
But the next moment, he suddenly burst into laughter.
Jiang Li had never seen Zhang Tufu smile like this. She had seen the other person see her barely trying to squeeze a friendly smile, smiled shyly at the good-looking girl on the street, and saw him stretch when he took a knife to chop bones. Laughed, but I have never seen him laugh so freely. As if the long-cherished wish was fulfilled, I smiled happily.
He said: "Little girl, I waited for you in the house early in the morning. I thought you weren't coming, but I finally waited for you. I am willing to stand up! Go with you to help Master Xue reverse the case!"
This time, it was Jiang Li's turn to be surprised.
In Zhang Tufu’s laughter, after thinking for a while, Jiang Li asked, "Why would you be willing?"
"Why would you be willing?" Zhang Tufu looked at her, as if she had said some funny question, and said: "You should ask me why I am not willing? Master Xue is like a new parent to me. Someone framed me back then. , Said that my pork ate people to death, said that I was a murderer, I was wronged and went to jail, and suffered all the hardships in prison. If it hadn’t been for Master Xue to scrutinize the details, retrial my case, and return my innocence, I would not be where I am today. That's it!" He took the long knife back home, "Hey, although I am a butcher who kills pigs, I am not an ungrateful white-eyed wolf!"
Jiang Li knew about this. When Xue Huaiyuan first took office, his predecessor, Xian Cheng, received money. In that case, it was clear that the son of a wealthy family committed the crime, but he gave the former county prime minister money and found a replacement for the dead. It was clear that it was not the person who died by the poisoning of Butcher Zhang, but he insisted that Butcher Zhang's meat was eaten to death. Zhang Tufu became a scapegoat, and the county prime minister didn't care about the innocence of a butcher after receiving the money. Coupled with the fierceness of Zhang Tufu's life, no one doubted for a while.
After Xue Huaiyuan took office, he saw the doubts in this case, and he did not hesitate to offend the powerful family in Tongxiang, but also to reverse the case for Zhang Tufu. Fortunately, the final evidence was conclusive, and Zhang Tufu was returned to his innocence, and Zhang Tufu was saved. From then on, Zhang Tufu recognized Xue Huaiyuan as his lifesaver.
"I've been in jail myself, and I know what it's like to be wronged. If you say that someone like Master Xue is embezzling money, no one believes it! I thought of a way to take the life of Feng Yutang dog official, but I thought that was the case. I can’t save Master Xue from the prison. I’m ashamed and it’s been for a long time. I originally thought that I would go to the robbery field after five days. If I was alone, I would die, and I would die with the benefactor, the benefactor. I won’t feel wronged, saying that it was a wrong thing to save me back then!"
Zhang Tufu looked at Jiang Li: "Little girl, I see you and your party are not ordinary people, and your wealth is not low, and you are not afraid of Feng Yutang's power. You want to reverse the case for Mr. Xue. I believe you! In that case, you are Xue. My lord reverses the case, count me as one. What do you want me to do? I will never say anything! Anyway, I have no relatives, no reason, alone, only this butcher knife, I will take this butcher knife to kill this pig or dog. brute!"
Jiang Li didn't expect to be able to say such a thing from Zhang Butcher's mouth. She suddenly felt that she had never known this Zhang Tufu, this upright man, and she did not expect that when everyone in Tongxiang avoided Feng Yutang and was frightened by Feng Yutang’s power, there were still people secretly planning to be her father. Reverse the case.
Maybe Zhang Tufu was not the first person, maybe there were other people like him. Feng Yutang can live with the words and deeds of the people, but cannot live with the hearts of the people.
Jiang Li's heart also stirred in an instant.
She saluted Zhang Tufu deeply.
Zhang Tufu was taken aback, and quickly said, "Little girl, what are you doing?"
"I thank you for Xue Xiancheng." Jiang Li said earnestly: "We all know what Feng Yutang did in Tongxiang. Not everyone can stand up and speak for Xue Xiancheng. You can stand up, I'm very grateful."
"Nothing to be grateful for." Zhang Tufu waved his hand, "When I became a rat crossing the street and everyone shouted and beaten, only Master Xue was willing to believe in me and did not dislike me. Without Master Xue, I would have been tortured to death in prison long ago. I often look at the sun outside and say to myself that I can feel all this because of Master Xue. My life was originally Master Xue. Master Xue is in trouble, and I just ignore it. Is that still a human being? I heard that killing too many people will go to hell. I never believe it, but ungratefulness will go to hell. I believe that."
"Just treat me as if I don't want to go to hell!" he said.
Looking at the man's fierce appearance, Jiang Li also felt cute. The two looked at each other and laughed at each other.
…
On the second day, when meeting Ye Mingyu and the others at night, Jiang Li found that only Zhang Tufu was the only witness who was willing to stand up.
After seeing Butcher Zhang, all the people she met later were embarrassed and hesitating. Jiang Li was not too difficult for others. Others were unwilling, so it was natural. Ye Mingyu and the other guards found nothing, Ye Mingyu was a little discouraged.
"It's okay," Jiang Li cheered up with him, "Didn't we still find one person? As I said, one person a day can also find five people, it's okay."
Ye Mingyu looked at Jiang Li, but didn't speak. What he sighed was not because he couldn't find anyone, but because he was disappointed with people's hearts.
Each household was written in the booklet Jiang Li gave, and each household had truly received Xue Huaiyuan's help. So now Xue Huaiyuan is in difficulty, because of Feng Yutang's power, no one dares to stand up
Knowing that I thought this way was a bit angry, but it was like a basin of cold water, pouring Ye Mingyu's hot heart, cold. He likes to live in the rivers and lakes of joy and enmity, kindness is kindness, and resentment is resentment. But the trip to Tongxiang made him see too much helplessness in the market, and he couldn't blame anything, because everyone had their own reasons. But the chest is uneasy, as if a puff of gas, stuffy.
He looked at Jiang Li, a fifteen-year-old girl, how could she be so calm in the face of these successive blows? It seems that being rejected is nothing more than a normal thing. If Ye Jiaer and Ye Rufeng were to change, they would have been discouraged long ago.
But Jiang Li never.
Jiang Li does not feel sad because of this. In fact, since she died once, she is still willing to treat others kindly, and will not become cruel and cruel because of cruel things. However, she never expects people's hearts anymore. Up.
Just like after becoming Miss Jiang Er, the love for Jiang Yuanbai, the grandparents and grandchildren of Mrs. Jiang, and the relatives of the Jiang family, it is true that she is not really Miss Jiang, but she does not. Too much affection. She didn't care how the Jiang family would treat her, because she didn't expect it.
Shen Yurong and Princess Yongning changed her in the end. She can't tell whether this change is a good thing or a bad thing, but sometimes, she can feel the indifference in her own bones, watching these people who have a relationship with her coldly, as if she is watching the excitement of people who have nothing to do with her.
Just like... Just like Ji Heng.
Perhaps the current self is the same person as Ji Heng in his bones. Ji Heng's goal is to achieve his political aspirations, but his goal is revenge. Living for purpose may be so boring and colorless.
Jiang Li retracted his thoughts: "It's okay, uncle, there are three days left. From tomorrow, I will start reporting with the prefect of Xiangyang. Feng Yutang is convicted and Xue Xiancheng's execution is suspended. On the last day, we will be able to pick up Xue County. Cheng was released from prison and brought these Tongxiang people to Beijing to file a complaint."
"Tong Zhiyang will agree?" Ye Mingyu asked.
"It's not tolerable that he doesn't agree. The rules are like this. Moreover, Master Tang has not left before the weaving room. Master Tang knows the pros and cons and will persuade Tong Zhiyang." Jiang Li said, "Of course, if you can find more people who are willing to come out to testify, then All right."
…
Jiang Li's steps did not stop. On the morning of the third day, she still got up early, and she and Ye Mingyu's men were divided into soldiers to persuade the people who had received the favor of Xue Huaiyuan.
Aunt Chunfang didn't go out, so she stood in the yard, watching Jiang Li and the others leave, startled, not knowing what she was thinking.
It's another day to leave early and return late.
At night that day, Jiang Li and Ye Mingyu found nothing, but one of Ye Mingyu's men persuaded a couple who opened a noodle restaurant to be called Aguai and his wife. Back then, Aguai and his wife were deceived, the land deed had a problem, they were almost taken away from the noodle restaurant, and they lost the capital to settle down. Xue Huaiyuan tried this case, and Aguai and his wife got back the title deed, so that they would not be displaced.
Therefore, Aguai and his wife have always been very grateful to Xue Xiancheng. Now that Xue Huaiyuan is in jail, Aguai and his wife are determined to make trouble for Xue Huaiyuan, and they don’t know what they can do. They always feel that standing up is like a man’s arm as a car. Now the appearance of Jiang Li and his group makes them happy and they seem to know they can do it. What's the matter, I agreed without thinking about it.
"A total of three people were found," Ye Mingyu said, "Shall we send the order to Xiangyang tomorrow?"
Jiang Li nodded: "Enough."
Ye Mingyu asked, "Will you continue to look for people?"
"Look." Jiang Li said: "Only the more people there are, the greater the trouble, whether you go to Dali Temple or report to the imperial court, can people be suppressed and can't be suppressed, so that everyone in the world can see and tear this apart. Layers of skin, what a mess happened in the real Tongxiang County Cheng."
Ye Mingyu said: "I see, then go ahead!"
That night, Jiang Li slept very peacefully. In his dream, he saw Xue Zhao and his father. The three of them were on the way home from Qingshi Alley. The night was all over. Xue Zhao was carrying a sword and triumphantly played a set of swordsmanship in front of Jiang Li. , Xue Huaiyuan laughed and scolded.
The warmth makes Jiang Li reluctant to wake up.
Until Baixue came gently to wake her up: "Girl, it's time to get up."
These days, Jiang Li wakes up very early every day, there is no way, time can not be delayed. She was still remembering the dream that made people reluctant to wake up last night, but her actions were sober and decisive. But for a moment, I was freshened up, I had something to eat, and I was ready to go out.
Half of the five hundred and sixty-eight households have never visited. In the past half, only three people were willing to stand up.
Sad? Maybe, but it should be fortunate that there are not all of them, and it is not the worst.
Ye Mingyu smiled and greeted Jiang Li, "Ali, I'm busy again today."
Jiang Li also smiled: "I have to work hard today, uncle and brothers."
Everyone smiled and went out, opened the yard, and suddenly froze.
Aunt Chunfang was standing at the door. She was wearing thin clothes. I don't know how long she waited, her body trembling slightly, and her eyes lit up when she saw Jiang Li.
"Aunt Chunfang?" Jiang Li looked at her suspiciously, "Why are you here?"
"I... I..." Chunfang whispered her lips, as if it took a long time before she mustered up her courage, and said: "Miss, I, I am willing to stand up and testify for Master Xue!"
Jiang Li was stunned.
"I have thought about it. Master Xue has helped us a lot. If you don't care, it is without conscience. I am willing to stand up!"
This cowardly woman seemed to have gained unreasonable courage, her voice suddenly increased, her head held high, and she said firmly.
Neither Jiang Li nor Ye Mingyu expected her to say such a word.
For a while, Jiang Li smiled, and she said, "Thank you, Aunt Chunfang."
Chunfang blushed, and hurriedly waved her hand, as if she couldn't bear it, and said, "It's not just me, but them."
Then two people walked out from the corner of the wall, they were Dai Yun holding peace.
Ping An saw Jiang Li, smiled sweetly at Jiang Li, and said on behalf of Yun: "Miss Jiang, I have thought about it. Master Xue has saved Ping An. We cannot be so ruthless to Ping An’s savior. Our mother and daughter are in Tongxiang and have always accepted The help of Master Xue cannot make a good person wronged because of our selfishness. We are willing to stand up."
Jiang Li looked at her. Dai Yun held Ping An's hand tightly, and she could see that she had also struggled for a long time when she made this decision. But now, she came with peace.
"Thank you." Jiang Li smiled, "With you, Master Xue's case will be much easier. I think Master Xue is not far from the day of redress."
"It's not just us." Chunfang said: "Look outside." She pointed in one direction.
Jiang Li took a few steps forward.
The entrance of Qingshi Alley had already squeezed the dense crowd, some were outside and some were inside, squeezing the alleyway, and there were hundreds of people to say nothing. They have men, women and children, and at first glance, they are all Tongxiang people.
Seeing Jiang Li, they said loudly: "Miss Jiang, we are all willing to be Xue Xiancheng's witnesses!"
"Miss Jiang, take us to help Xue County Cheng! The grace of dripping water should be reported by the spring. We have all received the favor of Master Xue, and now it is our turn to repay Master Xue!"
"We know about Ms. Jiang's plan. This is specially for Ms. Jiang. We will do whatever Ms. Jiang wants us to do, as long as we can save Master Xue!"
Jiang Li stared at everything in front of him in a daze.
Ye Mingyu and his subordinates took two steps forward and saw the scene in front of them. Ye Mingyu whispered: "My dear..." The voice was incredible.
Compared with the situation of going door-to-door a few days ago, everything today is unreal like a dream. These Tongxiang people, old and weak, women and children, are undoubtedly the courage to go all out.
Those who Xue Huaiyuan had helped, those who were shrunk among others, who dared not stand up due to various reasons, experienced struggle, hesitation, hesitation and anxiety, justice defeated fear, and still stood up.
Is the heart worth looking forward to
Isn't the human heart worth looking forward to
Ping An broke away from her mother's hand, ran two steps forward, took Jiang Li's hand, and let out a soft cry: "Sister, we are willing to stand up."
Jiang Li's eyes were hot and she couldn't speak.