Chapter 22: The Interrogation Part 3
Li Xueshou’s single sentence, “He’ll be killed if he eats meat every day,” made County Magistrate Huang lean back. After a moment, he turned to look at Li Wengang, the Li Clan Leader, who was standing to the side of the high platform, and asked with a frown, “Do you know about the matters Li Xiucai just mentioned? Have you heard of them? Are they true or false?”
When Li Wengang heard Li Xuedong’s long list of accusations, his face had already turned pale. Li Wengang’s face became even more ashen at Li Xueshou’s two simple replies just now.
“They are in Xiao Li Village, about four or five li from Li Family Market. It’s inconvenient to travel back and forth, I…” Li Wengang explained a few words, but meeting County Magistrate Huang’s narrowed eyes, he dared not continue explaining.
No matter how he explained it, he, as the clan leader, could not escape responsibility.
“It seems you don’t know, so there’s no need to ask you. Are there any other families from Xiao Li Village who came?” County Magistrate Huang sat up straight and asked slowly.
“Yes.” The yamen runner stepped forward, looking at the dozen or so people standing in a group, and pointed at a woman standing at the front, watching the excitement with a face full of excitement, “You! Come out!”
The woman was both nervous and excited. Her legs moved stiffly a few steps, and she knelt on the ground with a thud.
“Gracious heavenly lord!”
“Don’t be afraid. You know about the dispute between those two families, right? If you know, then speak.” County Magistrate Huang had a smiling face, extremely amiable.
“Gracious heavenly lord! Xuedong…”
“Slap her!” the yamen runner roared.
How could a Xiucai Scholar’s name be called so casually by the likes of you! Ignorant village woman!
The woman trembled in fear.
“Don’t scare her. Xiucai Scholar won’t hold it against you. Continue speaking, don’t be afraid.” County Magistrate Huang’s smile became even gentler, his attitude more cordial.
“Gracious heavenly lord!” The woman kowtowed, “He!”
The woman no longer dared to call Xuedong by name. She curled her fingers and carefully pointed at Li Xuedong.
“Third Aunt said he’s unlucky, that his whole family is unlucky, that our whole village will be harmed by him. Third Aunt made a straw effigy, wrote his birth characters on it, and poked it every day. She also told us to poke it together. Third Aunt said that he…”
“Li Xuefu and Li Xueshou beat Li Family’s A Nan until she fainted. Do you know about this?” County Magistrate Huang interrupted the woman.
“I know, I know! Everyone in our village knows! Oh my! So much blood was flowing, oh my, it was terrifying, everyone thought she wouldn’t make it, she had no breath, but she came back to life later. Third Aunt said it was unlucky.”
“His sister is lazy and good for nothing, always crying over leaves and grass roots, and what she says is incomprehensible. His sister is a fool! They…”
“Did you help with Li Xiucai’s father’s funeral?” County Magistrate Huang interrupted the woman again.
“Yes, yes, we all went! That time, only that time! Third Uncle was very generous, truly generous, never so generous before. He slaughtered two pigs on the spot, and there was a sheep. Everyone in our village ate pork and rice for three days! We didn’t get to eat the mutton. Third Uncle said it was to honor the gods. Third Uncle smelled of mutton every day, it was so fragrant! It lasted for over a month! Tsk! Third Uncle is very stingy, but he did this one thing grandly, oh my, incredibly grandly! Third Uncle…”
“Do you know about Li Jinzhu’s broken engagement?” County Magistrate Huang skillfully cut off the woman’s words.
“I know, I know! How could I not know about this! The family that Eldest Sister was engaged to is in the same village as my sister-in-law’s brother’s wife’s family. They are a good family. Eldest Sister is very capable. The wife that family married later is not as good as Eldest Sister. Third Uncle did it for Eldest Sister’s own good. That family is a good family, and their son is also very handsome. He…”
“Was the cow at your Third Uncle’s house jointly raised by those two families?” County Magistrate Huang asked.
“The copper coins to buy the calf were split equally between the two families. The cow was raised by his father. His father was very capable! The cow was raised very well! His father could also build walls. After his father died, he became pitiful. His father was very capable! His father…”
“Alright, take her down.” County Magistrate Huang waved his hand.
A yamen runner nudged the woman with his water-and-fire staff, signaling her to leave.
The woman was in the middle of an excited speech, “Gracious heavenly lord, there are still many things I haven’t told you, many things…”
“Go back!” The yamen runner glared, and the woman, startled, quickly retreated.
“What do you think of this matter?” County Magistrate Huang turned to Clan Leader Li Wengang again.
“This humble one…” After saying “this humble one,” Li Wengang choked. After a moment of stunned silence, he suddenly turned, grabbed Li Wenxi, who was not far from him, and slapped him hard, “He is your mother’s brother! You speak! What is going on? You speak! Speak!”
When Li Wenxi heard his younger brother Li Wencai’s accusation letter, he was filled with rage. He knew his brother was foolish, but he never imagined he would be foolish to this extent.
Then, Li Xuedong’s accusations extinguished Li Wenxi’s burning anger, dousing him completely.
What Li Xuedong said was definitely true. He knew what kind of person his brother was, but he had always thought that although this brother was base, he was at least timid. He never expected that he would now even have the courage.
When Li Xueshou uttered the words “He’ll be killed if he eats meat every day,” Li Wenxi felt his legs tremble.
Grabbed forward by Li Wengang, the slap brought Li Wenxi back to his senses. He knelt on the ground with a thud and kowtowed incessantly.
County Magistrate Huang watched Li Wenxi kowtowing, picked up his cup, took a few sips of tea with his eyes lowered, put down the cup, swept his gaze over everyone, and said slowly, “Regarding the accusation by Li Wencai that Li Xiucai impersonated someone in the County Examination, the person who impersonated him.”
County Magistrate Huang pointed at Li Xiaonan, who had been shrinking behind Second Sister.
“Everyone saw it. One man and one woman, one big and one small. Li Wencai’s claim of impersonation is utterly laughable.
“Li Wencai suspected impersonation because this little A Nan is intelligent and her poems are full of spirit. I, the County Magistrate, have personally reviewed Li Xiucai’s ink scrolls from the County Examination, Prefectural Examination, and Courtyard Examination. Li Xiucai’s knowledge is outstanding, his articles are rigorous, and his reasoning is very powerful. However, his poetry is merely decent in rhyme, not truly spirited. Is that correct?”
County Magistrate Huang looked at Mr. Gao and asked.
“Yes, yes, yes! Xuedong is excellent in classics, essays, and the investigation of things. It’s only in poetry and prose that he truly lacks spirit,” Mr. Gao quickly bowed and replied.
“This accusation is baseless. Normally, he should be given twenty strokes and paraded with a cangue for ten days.” County Magistrate Huang paused, then looked at Li Wengang, “However, behind this accusation lies a plot for wealth and murder, and oppression of fellow clansmen. This is not just Li Wencai’s affair. It is because your Li Clan’s family discipline is corrupt, and there is no proper guidance for the younger generation, that such malicious deeds have arisen!”
County Magistrate Huang’s voice was stern.
“I believe the main culprit of this case is not Li Wencai, and the one who should be punished is not Li Wencai, but you, the clan leader and clan elders!”
County Magistrate Huang grabbed the startling wood and slapped it onto the table.
Li Wengang knelt on the ground with a thud. The clan elders behind him immediately knelt down. The Li Clan members gathered around to watch the excitement also knelt down in a rush.
Li Xuedong also jumped up in fright.
Gu Yan looked at Huang Xianzhou with considerable admiration.
The corrupt family discipline within the Li Clan was indeed the root cause of A Nan’s family being bullied. This Huang Xianzhou, at least, was reasonable.
Today it’s our turn for the mandarin duck seal, and we don’t have to rush for vegetables in the morning. The whole big group is quiet, so we can calmly wait for the nucleic acid test. So, an extra chapter is coming!
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Little Xian feels you should have three to five guaranteed moon tickets. Please give one, two, three, or five first.
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