Chapter 169 I am the General's Wife

Chapter 169 I am the General's Wife

That's how it happened.

Jiang Yutang handed a bag of potato chips to Jiang Huaiyu, and added at the end: "This matter requires your help and the brothers in the camp. We need to teach them a lesson, but we can't reveal our identities. We have to make it look like a conflict between ordinary people."

"Simple."

Upon hearing that there was a fight to be had, Jiang Huaiyu immediately patted his chest and agreed: "I'll call a few trustworthy brothers first thing tomorrow morning, and I guarantee we won't be exposed."

Jiang Yutang leaned forward curiously: "How can you be so sure those officials will come tomorrow?"

Jiang Huaiyu snorted and leaned back on the stool: "The brothers who work as scouts in the camp told me that those people have a rule when collecting taxes: if they don't get the money, they will come to the door every day and keep coming until they squeeze out every last drop of profit."

"What a bunch of parasites." Jiang Yutang smiled sarcastically. "They act so tyrannically, and the people are full of complaints, but no one has stopped them. It shows how powerful their backers are."

"Who cares what kind of backers they have, let's beat them up first!"

Jiang Huaiyu slapped her thigh, got up and walked to the table, grabbed a handful of packaged snacks and stuffed them into her arms.

"Ahem, I'm going to go talk to Dale and put her mind at ease."

"Tsk tsk tsk."

Jiang Yutang smacked her lips as she watched him leave, then looked at the remaining snacks on the table.

"Why did you only take two packs of super spicy strips?"

Sure enough, half an incense stick later, Jiang Huaiyu rushed back, looking worried and distressed. As soon as she entered the door, she started rummaging through drawers and cabinets.

"Little sister, where's that sweet drink you brought back last time? I'd prefer one that can help with the spiciness."

Jiang Yutang pointed to the top shelf of the cabinet: "The orange juice and milk are over there."

Without saying much, Jiang Huaiyu grabbed the drink and hurriedly ran to the next tent.

"What kind of nice guy brings his girlfriend super spicy snacks on their date?" Jiang Yutang joked.

Zhu, holding little Yunlin, came closer and teased, "Third brother just hasn't quite figured it out yet."

The next day, just as dawn broke, Jiang Huaiyu returned to the military camp and gave a few instructions.

Jiang Yutang and Yun arrived at the shop early, tidied it up, and pretended that everything was normal.

Jiang Shengan stayed in the tent to rest because he had been injured yesterday.

Not long after the shop opened today, Jiang Huaiyu arrived with four soldiers dressed in coarse cloth jackets.

The men had dark skin and calloused hands, making them look like farmers who worked the land year-round.

"Mother, little sister, these are the brothers I brought from the army camp. They are all quick and skilled."

Jiang Yutang greeted them with a smile and handed each person a bag of cookies.

"I'll have to trouble you brothers today. Be careful when you fight, don't hurt them too badly. Just teach them a lesson and make them afraid."

The soldier named Zhao Hu, with a forthright personality, said: "Don't worry, Madam Cheng. We've long been fed up with those corrupt officials oppressing the people. It's just that military regulations forbid us from interfering in local affairs. This is a good opportunity to vent our anger."

As they spoke, they all echoed each other's sentiments.

Following Jiang Huaiyu's instructions, they dispersed around the shop, some pretending to pick out goods, others cleaning, and quickly blended into the local community.

Before we knew it, it was noon. The sun was high in the sky, and a group of people were walking towards the intersection.

Seven or eight men dressed in blue official robes walked arm in arm toward the shop.

As soon as he reached the shop, he yelled at the top of his lungs, "Where is everyone? If you don't pay your rent and taxes today, I'll tear down this shabby shop!"

As the group of officials drew closer, Jiang Yutang quickly gave Jiang Huaiyu and the others a look before stepping forward to feign discussion.

She went to meet her, her face showing just the right amount of confusion.

"Brothers, we need to make this clear. We paid for and worked on this shop and land ourselves. We haven't taken a single penny from the government. Why are we suddenly being charged a rental tax? Is this some kind of unfair contract?"

The leading official was a short, fat man with a fierce face. Hearing this, he was immediately displeased and spat on the ground.

But when he saw Jiang Yutang's appearance clearly—fair-skinned and beautiful, with bright and charming eyes—he immediately lost some of his fierceness and instead harbored some wicked thoughts.

He walked forward with a lewd grin on his face, deliberately sticking out his belly.

"Young lady, this is an order from above. We are just following the rules. If you know what's good for you, pay up quickly and don't make things difficult for your brothers."

He paused, his gaze sweeping boldly across Jiang Yutang's face, and fabricated a story: "If you really can't come up with the money, it's not that we can't make an exception... You're such a beautiful young lady, how about we compensate you in another way? We brothers certainly won't make things difficult for you."

As he spoke, a greasy pig's trotter stretched out, trying to lift Jiang Yutang's chin.

Jiang Yutang stood motionless, the smile on her face instantly fading.

Just as that hand was about to touch her cheek, a figure shot over like an arrow.

With a muffled thud, the short, fat man was kicked several meters away, crashing heavily to the ground and raising a cloud of dust.

"How dare you, an animal, harass my little sister?"

Jiang Huaiyu rolled up his sleeves and rushed forward, his anger bursting forth uncontrollably: "You dare to touch anyone from my Jiang family? You're asking for trouble!"

The other officials hurriedly helped the short, stout man up. He clutched his chest, coughing incessantly, and pointed at Jiang Huaiyu, roaring furiously, "You're asking for it! Get him! Break this kid's legs!"

A group of officials rolled up their sleeves and rushed forward.

At first, they thought that Jiang Huaiyu was the only tough opponent, but unexpectedly, as soon as they made their move, several civilians rushed out from the surrounding area. They were all agile and quickly took down the two officials.

The onlookers, who had been holding back their anger, saw someone take the lead and grabbed carrying poles and hoes from the roadside to join in, giving the officials a brutal beating.

"Let you collect these exorbitant taxes!"

"I'll beat you bullies who bully people!"

The shouts and sounds of punches and kicks mingled together, creating quite a lively scene.

Before the time it takes to drink a cup of tea is over, seven or eight officials were beaten black and blue and fled to the crossroads in a panic.

As he ran, he turned back and pointed at Jiang Yutang and the others, threatening them, "You just wait! This isn't over!"

"Come on! We'll fight you every time you come!" Jiang Yutang laughed loudly, hands on her hips, her voice clear and bright.

The surrounding people also burst into laughter, finally able to vent their long-suppressed resentment.

"These people definitely won't dare to cause trouble again anytime soon."

Jiang Huaiyu dusted off his hands and said confidently, "When they come again, we'll deal with them just like this!"

Jiang Yutang's smile faded, and her eyes turned serious: "It's not that simple. When they go back this time, they will definitely complain to the corrupt officials behind them."

As she spoke, she turned to look at the onlookers, her clear voice ringing out.

"We can't just wait here. We have to act according to the situation, follow this line of inquiry upwards, and root out all the corrupt officials!"

Everyone clenched their fists in response, their voices echoing through the street like waves.

Zhao Hu and the others entered the shop and told them everything they had learned.

"I heard that these officials are backed by Li Tongpan of the prefecture. If we can bring them down, the people of Danzhou will suffer less."

Jiang Yutang responded lightly and said knowingly, "I'll discuss it with my family tonight and find a way to get something on Li Tongpan and bring him down."

Zhao Hu was still somewhat worried and kindly reminded her, "Those corrupt officials are wicked and ruthless. Before this matter is resolved, Madam Cheng and her family should be extra careful."

Jiang Yutang smiled upon hearing this, her tone carrying a hint of confidence: "I am the general's wife, and even if they had a lot of guts, they wouldn't dare to touch me."