Zhao Hongqing nodded repeatedly, grasped the front of his long gown and rushed out of the tea house, striding swiftly towards home.

  Watching her brother run out, Zhao Dajie glanced at her husband Hu Da with a sense of pride, "That family was originally mine and my brother's. If the silver wasn't taken out, it wouldn't be used to help the Mengs or let the Zhengs take it away. It's not worth benefiting those outsiders!"

  Hu Da smiled and looked at his brother who was walking around in circles inside the house, he opened his mouth to say something about dividing the 500 taels of silver, but swallowed his words instead. He thought to himself, never mind, let's not talk about it for now, after all, when his younger brother becomes a scholar, their whole family will have to rely on him in many ways...

  Hú Dà's couple and Hú Míng Dé, hadn't waited for Zhao Hóng Qìng to return, but instead waited for a gust of wind that brought in Zhao Hóng Qìng's wife, Zhèng Shì.

  Zheng's grandmother rushed in, her two eyes fixed on Zhao's wife, one hand on her waist and the other pointing at Zhao's wife as she scolded, "Are you still human? That's your own brother, you're trying every means to scheme against him! You wicked woman with a filthy heart! You've stolen away the family property of your husband's household, and yet you're not satisfied. Your mind is set on scheming against your brother, do you have no shame?"

  "Get out of here, you son of a bitch!" Zhao's wife was not one to hold back, jumping up and cursing right back, "You're the one with a filthy heart and rotten guts! You're just a useless chicken that can't even lay eggs..."

  Hu Da covered his head and looked at the two women who were in a heated argument, Hu Mingde's face turned green with anxiety. This matter must be settled no matter what! His imperial scholar!

  "Shut up! Eldest sister, don't say anything for now!" Hu Mingde sternly rebuked.

  Zheng's grandmother was a figure who could scold and fight with Zhao's wife, and she didn't put Hu Mingde in her eyes at all. She treated him as if he hadn't spoken, using both hands to point at Zhao's wife, scolding and reasoning incessantly like the Yellow River flowing from heaven.

  Zhao's wife was one step ahead, scolding and jumping at the same time. This wave of Yellow River water is not inferior to Zheng's wife at all.

  Fortunately, there was a table between them, and for the time being, they couldn't reach each other.

  Hu Mingde suddenly became enraged, Zhao Dajie was across the table from him, and Zheng Danni was right next to him. Hu Mingde violently pushed Zheng Danni, "You this shrew, shut up!"

  "How dare you hit me!" Zheng Dainai was furious, she let out a loud cry and charged at Hu Mingde with both hands raised. Hu Da pushed her away from across the table, Zheng Dainai spun around in a half circle and again raised her hands to scratch Hu Mingde.

  Hu Mingde was furious, and with one kick, he knocked down Zheng Dà Niáng. He pressed his knee on her body, grabbed something unknown, and looped it around Zheng Dà Niáng's neck, "I'll make you shut up! Shut up!"

  This sudden change, combined with Zheng's vicious scolding and Zhao's disappearance, made Hu Mingde both anxious and angry. His eyes turned red with anxiety, his hair stood on end with rage, and he gripped the rope tightly in his hands. By the time Hu realized what was happening, Zheng had already bulged out her eyes and stuck out her tongue, choking to death.

  Hu Da took a step forward and rushed to the door, looking left and right. This tea house was open for business at night, and at this hour, it was neither early nor late. The whole shop had only one table of customers, and there was no one outside.

  Hu Da Chui closed the door, staring at his foolish and stunned wife, and his brother who was panting heavily beside Zheng Da Nainai's corpse. His legs went weak, and he slid down along the door frame to the ground, this time they were done for.

  "Don't be afraid!" Hu Mingde's face was stern and fierce, "This wicked woman... don't be afraid!"

  Zhao's wife was calmer than Hu, looking at Zheng's dead body on the ground, she only felt extremely relieved. She walked forward to help up Hu, and Hu Mingde also stood up, brushing off his clothes. "I'll go find Zhao Hongqing, no matter what, this important matter can't be delayed! Big brother, go get the car over here, first put her on the car, then..."

  Hu Mingde quickly turned his mind, "Big brother is driving the car, first find a place to hide for a while, even if it's just circling around, wait until night falls, and then throw her outside that brothel. When we get back, we'll say she was killed by those thugs! Don't be afraid, I'm in charge of this kind of case at the Provincial Government Office, we're not afraid of this matter."

  Hu Ming's tone was unusually stern, not just for Hu Da, but also for himself.

  Hú Dà hastily went out to bring the car over, while Zhao Dàjiě stood at the front watching people. Hú Dà and Hú Míng Dé lifted Zheng Dàniáng's corpse onto the vehicle.

  Zhao's wife didn't dare sit in the cart, so she sat next to Hu Da at the front of the cart. Hu Da drove the cart, not caring where they went, as long as they left Xigou Town first.

  Hu Mingde adjusted his clothes, took a deep breath, and strode towards Zhao's house to find Zhao Hongqing.

  ………………

  Hengshan County Town, Wu County Wei sent off Hu Mingde and Zhao Hongqing. Looking at the time, it was almost there, so he went to the county government office.

  Hengshan County is a small county with little official business, and at most it can be finished in one morning. County Magistrate Li is a kind-hearted person, and when there's nothing to do in the yamen, he doesn't mind the two teachers and others staying around.

  In the afternoon, Guo Sheng went to see his master. Mr. Chen picked up his teapot with a broken spout and put in some tea leaves from the county government office, then headed to the bookshop across the street to listen to storytelling for an entire afternoon, which was his greatest hobby. For an entire afternoon, he only spent two big coins on listening fees; the tea leaves and teapot were brought by himself, while hot water was provided free of charge by the bookshop.

  Magistrate Li had nothing to do, but he liked to stay in the county office, wandering around, looking at the neatly stacked documents in the signing room, a row of large and small seals, then walking into the public hall, standing on the platform, touching a few solemn avoidance cards... In short, even if he was alone, he still liked to stay in the county office.

  Wu County Magistrate was familiar with the county government office, as well as Li County Magistrate's habits. He entered the county government office and found that Li County Magistrate was indeed standing with his back to him, leisurely admiring the camphor tree in the courtyard.

  "County Master." Wu County Magistrate greeted with a respectful bow, beaming with a smile as he stepped forward to pay his respects. "Someone like County Master who is so diligent in official duties, I have served under five or six magistrates, and County Master is the first one to set an example! Truly a model for all officials."

  "It's nothing, I'm not busy with official duties, just taking a stroll and having a look around." County Magistrate Li was accompanied by 12 parts of embarrassment, he still couldn't get used to this kind of naked flattery.

  "County Zun's humility and prudence are truly rare, making one admire him!" Compared to Li County Magistrate's unfamiliarity, Wu County Wei's flattery skills were unmatched.

  "It's nothing, it's nothing." County Magistrate Li was almost embarrassed.

  "County Magistrate Li has this kind of simple and honest air, which is extremely rare." This sentence doesn't count as flattery when spoken by Wu County Wei. What he means to say is that he admires this County Magistrate Li for being so straightforward and silly, truly a rare find.

  "County Master, there's something that I've been thinking about, and it's best to tell you directly." County Magistrate Wu cut to the chase.

  "County Magistrate, please speak." Li County Magistrate immediately became spirited upon hearing that there was a serious matter at hand. He had made up his mind to be diligent and devoted to his duties, not fearing hard work, but rather fearing that he wouldn't have enough time to do everything.

  Complete works txt download, full text free, e-book, remember 77 reading books