Chapter 64: The intentions are evident
"The official is here!"
The crowd made a way, and a group of government officials walked in.
They were patrolling the streets and heard that someone was causing trouble at Lufeng Rice Shop, so they rushed over to take a look.
Shang Wan turned around and saw that there was a familiar face among the five people.
Shan Dajun also recognized Shang Wan. He had a good impression of Shang Wan and nodded to Shang Wan after meeting his eyes.
"Master, help me, Master!" Shopkeeper Ge finally saw the savior. He covered his head and stumbled to Shan Dajun, pointing at Shang Wan and the others, "They want to kill people and silence them!"
Seeing the blood on his face, Shan Dajun took a half step back in disgust and asked: "What happened?"
Shopkeeper Ge took the opportunity to complain in a more aggravating manner, which made Shan Dajun frown.
Didn't Lu Xiucai have a leg injury that makes him unable to walk? How could he still bully a good woman?
"My brother-in-law was unjustly accused." Shitou glared at Shopkeeper Ge fiercely, and felt sorry for Lu Chengjing, "They deliberately set up a trap to frame my brother-in-law."
Shopkeeper Ge was about to retort when Shan Dajun scolded him coldly, "If you have anything to say, let's talk about it in court. Anyone who comes, take them back and hand them over for interrogation!"
County government lobby.
Everyone in the rice shop stood together. The wound on Shopkeeper Ge's head had been simply treated and was wrapped thickly with gauze. There was still some blood on his face that had not been wiped off. He looked a little pitiful.
The woman had also put on her clothes, her messy hair was combed up, and several red marks were clearly visible on her fair neck.
Lu Chengjing fell asleep leaning on the wheelchair, and Yuanyuan Tuan also fell asleep in his arms. Shang Wan, Shitou, and Xiaohuan stood behind the wheelchair.
Shang Wan's eyes fell on the woman not far away. The mark on her neck did not seem to be fake, as a dog had chewed her hard enough.
The people who came to watch the excitement gathered around the court hall, stretched their necks to look in, and pointed at the people inside.
"My lord is here."
Following the announcement, Mr. An, dressed in scarlet official uniform and wearing a black gauze on his head, walked out of the back hall. He glanced at Shang Wan and others with complicated eyes.
This Lu Xiucai was really troubled, even if he broke his leg, he would be remembered.
Shang Wan pressed Lu Chengjing's head with skillful force to wake him up.
Lu Chengjing had a good sleep. Apart from the pain from the wound, his head was no longer as dizzy as before. Seeing that he was in the lobby of the county government office, he roughly understood his current situation.
"Ascending to the Hall!"
The gavel was struck, followed by the sound of the killing stick.
Shopkeeper Ge and others immediately knelt down, and Xiao Huan and Shitou followed suit. Lu Chengjing had the reputation of being a scholar and did not have to kneel. As for Shang Wan, Mr. An gave her permission not to kneel.
Everyone looked at Shang Wan in surprise, secretly guessing the reason for Master An's special treatment.
Shang Wan let everyone look at him calmly.
Mr. An Su Rong asked: "Who is the master of suffering, and what is the complaint?"
Shopkeeper Ge immediately said: "The villain Ge Shunliang is the shopkeeper of Lufeng Rice Shop. The mistress Fang Cailian was deceived by Lu Chengjing, please make the decision and severely punish the evildoers."
Master An stared at him, "What is your relationship with the Mistress?"
Shopkeeper Ge lowered his head and said respectfully: "Fang Cailian's elder brother Fang Bao is a clerk in the villain's shop. The villain has always treated Fang Cailian as his niece. Now that my niece has been bullied by evil people, the villain is unhappy and begs you to give her justice." "
"After I investigate clearly, I will give justice to the mistress." Mr. An swept the hall and asked, "Where is the mistress?"
"The folk girl picked up the lotus to pay homage to the Lord." Fang Cailian took two steps on her knees and kowtowed to Lord An.
Mr. An frowned and glanced at her swollen eyes and the red mark on her neck, and said with a straight face: "Please tell the truth about this matter." "Yes. The girl went to the rice shop to give clothes to her brother because she stayed up late last night. Nühong didn’t get enough rest and was a little dizzy. Shopkeeper Ge was considerate and asked her brother to take the girl to the backyard to take a nap. "
Fang Cailian's voice was soft and low because she had been crying for a long time and was still a bit hoarse.
"I heard the sound of the door opening in a daze. I thought it was my brother calling me, but the person suddenly pressed on me..."
She paused in her words, glanced quickly at Lu Chengjing, hunched her shoulders and lowered her head, and when she spoke again she was crying.
"I woke up in fright. He covered my mouth to prevent me from shouting. He even tore my clothes and touched me..."
She raised her hands to cover the red mark on her neck, her face was full of shame and anger, and she almost couldn't cry.
She paused for a moment before continuing: "The civilian girl couldn't push him away. She finally broke free from his hand and cried for help, but no one came. I was still beaten by him...by this villain..."
All the words that followed turned into sobs. Fang Cailian lay on the ground crying, her whole body shaking with fear.
Even if she hadn't finished speaking, just by looking at her condition, everyone could guess what happened next.
"Bah! Beast!"
"Insulting a weak woman is nothing but a scholar!"
"A good skin is lost in vain!"
"Sir, you must punish the villains severely!"
The excited voices of the people came in. If it hadn't been for the government officials to stop him, some righteous people might have rushed in and taught this beast Lu Chengjing a lesson with his own hands.
"Quiet!" Mr. An sternly slapped the crowd and asked Fang Cailian, "Is there any evidence for what you just said?"
Before Fang Cailian could speak, all the waiters at Mipu spoke one after another.
"Sir, I can help Cailian testify."
"I saw Cai Lian running out of the wing crying."
"The villain also saw it. Cai Lian didn't even put on her coat at that time."
"Besides Cai Lian in the wing, there is Lu Chengjing. Cai Lian must have been bullied by this guy!"
"Sir, my sister-in-law is only sixteen years old and she has not married anyone yet. Now that something like this has happened, which family is willing to marry her?" Fang Bao kowtowed to Master An with red eyes, his voice regretful and self-blaming, "I have been picking lotus all my life. I have been ruined by this beast, please make the decision for me to pick the lotus.”
Shopkeeper Ge followed suit, "Please have mercy on me, my niece."
"Shopkeeper Ge, what you said is so nice." Shang Wan said in a mocking tone, "If you really care about your poor niece's reputation, why did you make the matter known to the whole city and attract so many people to watch?"
"Your good niece wasn't even fully clothed at that time. You are so willing to be an uncle. You really wish others didn't know she was being bullied, right?"
The innocence and reputation of a woman in this world are so important. The normal way to deal with it is to minimize the impact of the matter on the woman and handle it secretly. The less people know about it, the better.
Shopkeeper Ge, on the other hand, only had to shout with a loudspeaker, "Come and see," and his intentions were evident.
"Stop confusing right and wrong! According to your opinion, do we still have to help Lu Chengjing hide it? Such villains should be punished in accordance with the law to prevent other women from being unprepared and being poisoned by him again!" Shopkeeper Ge scolded, " You have evil intentions and a vicious heart!"
Just as Shang Wan was about to retort, Mr. An suddenly coughed twice and looked at Shang Wan, as if reminding or warning, "In the courtroom, I will answer whoever I ask, and the others are not allowed to say anything at will. That's it this time, it won't be the same next time."
Shang Wan: "..."
Okay, she stayed silent.
Mr. An then looked at Lu Chengjing, "Lu Xiucai, do you take what Fang Cailian said seriously? You must answer truthfully. If you dare to lie in the slightest, I will have no mercy!"
(End of chapter)