Chapter 86 - 86: Beating the drum and declaring grievance (Last day of the month, asking for monthly ticket)_l

Translator: 549690339

“1…1 truly don’t know who my father-in-law’s employer is. He only told me it was a woman, but didn’t give me a single clue. Wuu Wuu Wuu…My father-in-law was in charge of everything, he simply instructed me not to wander around under the bridge.”

Zhang Mazhi squatted on the ground and pleaded pitifully, “Please spare me. I still have an eighty-year-old mother and a three-year-old child at home. Ying Ying Ying Ying…Can I just lead you to the bridge where he hides himself? Isn’t that enough?”

After beating and kicking him without gaining any useful information, the group decided to bring Zhang Mazhi to the bridge first, leaving two men to keep watch, while the rest would take him to the government office.

Jiang Erlang, carrying his niece, followed the group. He saw a carriage steadily trailing them and could not help but ask, “Bao’er, what’s up with that donkey cart, is that the people who saved you?”

Only then did Yingbao remember that she had forgotten Sister Yanru. She hurriedly said, “The one who rescued me is Uncle Wu. He went to deal with official matters. The person following behind is the innkeeper’s niece who is temporarily taking care of me. I’m going to inform her now so she can go back.”

“Good, I’ll go thank them.”

Jiang Erlang then walked to the front of the donkey cart and said to Yanru on the cart, “Thank you, kind lady, for looking after my niece. I will thank Mr Wu at the inn later. Right now, we have to take someone to the government office. If you have other matters to attend to, please feel free to leave.”

Yanru lifted a corner of the cart curtain, revealing half of her elegant face, and gently said, “Don’t mention it, sir. I don’t have anything else to do. My only task today is to look after the young lady. I’m afraid if I leave now, my aunt might blame me. If you don’t mind, I have a cart here which can wait for you to finish your business and then take you all back to the inn.”

“Well…” Jiang Erlang felt somewhat helpless, and could only say, “Then I’ll have to trouble you, kind lady. Our journey might take quite some time.”

“Don’t worry, I don’t have anything else to do. And having the cart makes traveling much easier for me.”

After sneaking a glance at Jiang Erlang, Yanru said softly, “Sir, why not let the young lady stay on the cart? My cart can follow behind without hindering your work.”

Seeing the troubled look on her uncle’s face and looking at Sister Yanru,

Yingbao hurriedly said, “I’ll ride the donkey cart then.”

“Alright then.” Jiang Erlang agreed readily, putting his little niece on the cart.

He needed to lead his brothers to the bridge hideout, and also haul Zhang Mazhi along, all the while holding his niece, which was quite inconvenient.

Hence, Yingbao returned to the donkey cart.

The donkey cart slowly followed Jiang Erlang and his party. Yanru held Yingbao in her arms and gently asked, “Little Bao’er, is that your Uncle Erlang?”

Yingbao, straining to look out of the cart, nodded, “Hmm.”

After a pause, Yanru asked again, “Did your Auntie Erlang come to the county

with you?”

Yingbao turned her head to look at Yanru and replied honestly, “There is no Auntie Erlang.”

Yanru’s brows arched, she asked, “Does your Uncle Erlang have any children then?”

Yingbao looked puzzled but nodded, “Uncle Erlang has two children. The older one is nine years old and the younger one is almost five.” If Yanru had any ulterior motives, this fact should be enough to deter her.

To her surprise, Yanru looked even happier and even blushed a little as she asked, “So why don’t you have an Auntie Erlang then?”

At a loss for words, Yingbao thought for a moment and said, ” Auntie Erlang passed away.” She felt a little guilty for labeling Uncle Erlang as a widower just to deter potential suitors.

Judging by her silence, Yanru did indeed stop asking questions.

Soon, they reached a nearby arch bridge. Zhang Mazhi pointed under the bridge, “We sleep there at night.’

Jiang Erlang was the first to run down for a look. After his inspection, he returned and said, “There indeed is a nest of straw below, along with a straw mat, it appears someone has been living here. Wang Ke, do me a favor and stand guard nearby with Da Shi. I will take Zhang Mazhi to the government office and return as soon as possible.”

“Alright, you go ahead,” Wang Ke replied.

“You said you wouldn’t take me to the government office…you broke your promise…” Zhang Mazhi angry shouted, “Not integrity!”

The villagers scoffed, stuffed a torn rag into his mouth, kicked him and said, “There is no point in having integrity with you!”

The remaining two dragged Zhang Mazhi off to the County Government.

As Jiang Erlang and his group arrived at the government office entrance, he ran into Jiang Sanlang, Chunniang, and the elder Jiang couple.

Yingbao jumped down from the cart and excitedly leaped into Chunniang’s arms.

Chunniang hugged her daughter tightly, unable to stop her tears from flowing, “My darling, are you hurt?”

“No, no.” Yingbao hugged her mother back and gently touched Chunniang’s face, “Mom, you’ve lost weight.”

Chunniang had indeed lost a lot of weight, her eyes surrounded by deep dark circles. She looked several years older than before.

Jiang Sanlang also came over and embraced his wife and daughter. He was speechless, his eyes turning red as he held them.

Wiping away her tears, Jiang Liu smiled, “Finally, our darling is back, we can all rest easy now.”

Jiang Sanlang swallowed his anger and gritted his teeth, “Good, we don’t have to restrain ourselves anymore. If Chen Ergou and his employer are not caught, I won’t rest.”

He had been concerned before about aggravating the other party to the point of killing Bao’er, so he hadn’t dared to take extreme measures. But now that Bao’er was safe and sound, he didn’t need to hold anything back.

“Bao’er, tell daddy, who took you away?” asked Jiang Sanlang.

Yingbao replied, “It was Chen Changping’s wife, Han, and her younger sister from Xichen Village. Little Han took me to Zhouhe County and handed me over to her eldest Uncle.”

“Good!” Jiang Sanlang patted her daughter’s head, resolute, “We’ll beat the drum for justice now! In court, you will report everything as it happened.”

“Hmm!” Yingbao nodded firmly.

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

The hall drum at the entrance of the County Government’s public hall was being pounded and the sound of the drum reverberated, startling the County Magistrate, who was sorting out the archives inside.

“Who is beating the drum?” Mei County Magistrate frowned.

He was just about to hand over his duties, why did the government officials allow someone to arbitrarily beat the drum?

A member of the staff hurriedly said, “Sir, let me go outside and check.” Mei County Magistrate waved his hand, “Go quickly and come back.”

He still had a pile of documents to deal with. If one of the staff was absent, he didn’t know when he would finish sorting them.

Shortly after, the staff member returned to report, “There’s a farming family outside accusing a fellow villager of hiring bandits to kidnap a child. The whole family is waiting outside, and they’ve even caught a kidnapper. It’s drawn a crowd.”

Hearing the report, Mei County Magistrate was annoyed and scolded, “What kind of a rule is this? Not submitting an accusation letter first and instead drawing public attention by beating the drum? Order some people to give him twenty warden sticks first, then let him come in and answer!” n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Another staff member quickly interjected, “Sir, please reconsider, the one who will take over has already arrived. Let’s keep calm and not be accused over a trifle.

“Yes, Sir, we’re already about to step down. Why trouble ourselves with such a small matter? We might as well ask for more details first.”

Mei County Magistrate grumbled, “Then one of you go handle it, if it comes down to it, then hand over the case to that man.”

His procedures were almost completed, this case might as well be handled by the successor.

“I’ll go have a look.” Said one of the officers as he headed outside.

Mei County Magistrate nodded, “Alright, we’ll have to trouble you, Brother Liao..”