The Evil Mother-in-law: Torment Children, Work Hard, Be Rich!-Chapter 319: Aftermath of the Calamity
County Magistrate Liu said, "Lord Liang speaks the Shengjing dialect, which this child probably doesn’t understand."
County Magistrate Liu repeated it in the Pingchuan dialect.
Xiao Long said aggrievedly, "Father said... Father said I look like a girl, first bring me home, and wait until Sister Man Er’s mother accepts me then I’ll become a boy..."
Xiao Long started crying before he could finish speaking.
Lord Liu asked, "Where is your mother?"
Xiao Long bit his lip and said, "She died of illness."
Lord Liu continued to ask, "Where did you live before?"
Xiao Long wiped his eyes and said, "Lived in the big courtyard on Purple Stone Street."
Tong Huaqiong listened, feeling a chill down her spine, as this was the place where Mrs. Hong and He Chao had initially been driven out by Xu Zaohua to live.
Mrs. Hong mentioned this place casually while dressing Xiao Long in the morning, unexpectedly using it in Xiao Long’s fabricated lies.
Lord Liang and County Magistrate Liu exchanged glances.
Xiao Long stepped forward and grabbed Lord Liang’s sleeve, timidly saying, "Sir, can you make a decision for me, let me stay by my father’s side."
Chen Sufen rushed over as if mad, picked up Xiao Long and stuffed him into Lord Liang’s arms, saying, "He’s a rebel, please take him away quickly, better cut him down."
Lord Liang: "..."
Xiao Long struggled in Chen Sufen’s arms.
Gu Dahuan went over, took Xiao Long into his arms, and said to Chen Sufen, "Are you insane!"
Chen Sufen cried with red eyes, saying, "I am insane. Lord Liang, this child is a rebel, you should take him away for justice."
Lord Liang: "..."
This insane woman wants to use her hand to get rid of the bastard child, how could he be fooled.
Lord Liang’s mustache twitched, he squatted down and carefully looked at the person lying on the ground, Su Chengmin.
He was very familiar with Su Chengmin, could recognize him even if he were ashes, the person lying on the ground was clearly not.
Lord Liang stood up, waved to the crowd, and the officers quickly withdrew from Tong Huaqiong’s yard.
Tong Huaqiong let out a sigh of relief.
A feeling of having survived a disaster.
County Magistrate Liu said to Tong Huaqiong, "Aunt Tong, as the saying goes, a harmonious family leads to prosperity in all things. As the mother-in-law, don’t be too harsh on your daughter-in-law. What did you do that made your daughter-in-law rather admit to sheltering rebels? This time Lord Liang was wise, if it were someone foolish, your entire family would have been tied up and taken away. Treat your daughter-in-law better in the future, don’t always use the name of a mother-in-law to suppress her."
"And no matter what, the child is innocent."
County Magistrate Liu gave Tong Huaqiong a long, meaningful look before stepping out of the yard.
The look seemed to carry reassurance for Tong Huaqiong.
She always felt County Magistrate Liu had seen something.
If that were true, as a local official, County Magistrate Liu has to protect her.
Now everyone in Yan Guan Town knows she’s pulling County Magistrate Liu’s banner, some even believe she’s County Magistrate Liu’s godmother.
If Xiao Long and Su Chengmin’s identities were exposed, County Magistrate Liu’s "godson" would also face execution.
Villagers heard rumors that Tong Huaqiong’s family was hiding rebel remnants, scared they scrambled to her door to find out more.
When the officers were searching the yard, everyone jointly defended Tong Huaqiong, swearing and vowed that there couldn’t be rebel remnants in Qinghe Bay.
The village head had clearly stated in the morning that hiding rebel remnants would lead to the extermination of nine generations.
The villagers weren’t clear on nine generations, but they knew that tying everyone from Qinghe Bay together wouldn’t make up nine generations, it might even extend to their married daughters and relatives from other villages.
No one blamed Tong Huaqiong, instead, they hated the person who reported.
Many thought, even if Tong Huaqiong really sheltered rebel remnants, they should help cover it up, not report it.
Even if you have a grudge against Tong Huaqiong, shouldn’t report it.
Reporting it won’t let you off any better, will it?
Won’t you also lose your head with others?
While villagers anxiously imagined the apocalypse at Tong Huaqiong’s doorstep, officers withdrew.
Everyone sincerely felt the relief of having survived a disaster.
"How could Tong Dajiao hide rebel remnants."
"Don’t say Tong Dajiao, not even the entire Qinghe Bay dare to."
"How many heads do you have that are enough to be chopped?"
Villagers clutched their chests, discussing fervently.
"Didn’t the officers search my in-law’s home first, why did they search the whole village again and come back, what does it mean?" Mrs. Zhao asked village head Liu Tieshan in confusion.
Liu Tieshan’s face darkened, with County Magistrate Liu and Lord Liang not having left yet, he couldn’t tell his sister-in-law that it was Huang Granny who mischievously falsely reported.
"What does it mean?" Two Dog Eyes widened, "Isn’t it just that I was rude to the officers, so they came to bother me."
Villagers suddenly understood.
Liu Tieshan shouted at Two Dog, "You know nothing."
At this time, a seventeen or eighteen-year-old officer said, "Hey brother, we’re acting under orders, why make things difficult for you? If we intended to trouble you, we wouldn’t let you gather here to watch."
Two Dog didn’t dare reply.
The young officer pointed to Huang Granny who was trying to sneak away, saying, "It was this lady who confidently reported that this house sheltered rebels. Since someone reported, we have to carry out a search."
Huang Granny shivered and shrank her neck.
Aunt Qin shouted, "You were used as a gun by this old lady, her granddaughter works in Tong Dajiao’s shop, she wants to drop her grandchild and directly take wages from Tong Dajiao, they’re in conflict."
The officers had long known Huang Granny was using them upon finding no rebels in Tong Huaqiong’s house.
They couldn’t catch Huang Granny and punish her, but had to let villagers know about her behavior, hence the young officer deliberately disclosed Huang Granny’s report.
County Magistrate Liu said to Lord Liang with an awkward smile, "Villagers are foolish, taking private revenge makes you work harder."
After officers withdrew from Qinghe Bay, everyone began focusing criticism on Huang Granny.
Huang Granny wanted to escape, but aunties loyal to Tong Huaqiong wouldn’t let her go.
Two Dog cursed, "What malice are you harboring, Granny Huang? You falsely reported for a private vendetta, you should be caught."
Mrs. Zhao pointed at Huang Granny, gritting her teeth, saying, "You want to pit the whole village."
Huang Granny tried to explain, "I just told officers Tong Dajiao’s house has two strangers, I didn’t say anything else."
Liu Tieshan shouted angrily, "You call that saying nothing? Do you know strangers is a forbidden word now? If County Magistrate Liu and Lord Liang weren’t sharp, just for you saying there were two strangers, they’d have grabbed everyone in Qinghe Bay. How many nine generations do you have for execution?"
Village head Liu Tieshan’s voice was hoarse from shouting, just to let Lord Liang hear "sharp and bright."
Huang Granny only wanted to retaliate against Tong Huaqiong, didn’t think so far ahead.
Hearing village head’s words, naturally felt indignant.
Said, "Blame it on Widow Tong’s house having two strangers, even if the whole village were arrested and executed, it’s Widow Tong’s fault..."
Huang Granny hadn’t finished before villagers covered her mouth with cow dung.
"Who are you cursing? You deliberately led people to my house, exposed Da Han’s having a love child in front of the whole village and County Magistrate Liu, Granny Huang, you just want me to lose face in front of everyone."
Tong Huaqiong smeared cow dung with a spoon all over Huang Granny’s mouth.
Catching a glimpse of a returning officer from the corner of her eye.
This was killing a return shot to test her.
