Chapter 24 The Storm Is Brewing [VIP]

Chapter 24 The Storm Is Brewing [VIP]

Chapter Summary: "...What kind of logic is this, to deceive my good man!"

"Yanzitang Jujube Cake, buy three get one free, please come in, sir!"

"Knock knock knock!" "Sun Erniang's Pig Head Meat, open for business today!"

"Shepherd's purse wontons are here!"

Half a month passed in the blink of an eye, and Wu Song had been away from home for more than 20 days. The market was as noisy as ever, day after day.

"Shiyang, is Jin Yuanbao ready yet?"

"My lady, the gold ingot is here!"

Shi Yang and the other two had fully adapted to the rhythm of the pancake shop, and in their spare time, they were already able to work independently.

Having finally caught her breath, Pan Yue leaned against the back of the corridor, holding a cup of hot tea, idly watching the clouds drift by and people come and go.

"Sharpen the razor and trim!"

"Clang"

A man carrying a sharpening and trimming tool on his back, striking a rusty gong, staggered through the crowd, his cloth bag swaying on his shoulder.

It seemed as if the burdens of life had bent his back.

"Why"

Not far from the pancake shop, the man leaned against the wall, squinted at the sunlight filtering through the tree canopy, and suddenly trembled, his face turning ashen and sweat pouring down his face.

Did you get heatstroke?

Pan Yue put down her teacup, her brows furrowed slightly. She hesitated, wondering whether to meddle, when the usually carefree Ba ​​Xian, carrying half a pastry he'd somehow found, rushed forward excitedly. Seeing her furrowed brow, he followed her gaze, leaning halfway out and peering down the corridor for a moment. His eyes widened in confusion as he asked, "What are you looking at, Madam? Li Silang?"

Pan Yue paused, looking at his disheveled, cat-like appearance. She took out a handkerchief and wiped the crumbs from his mouth. She then glanced down the corridor and asked, "Does A-Xian recognize him?"

"nature!"

Fearing Pan Yue's disapproval, Ba Xian looked around, swallowed the pastry in his hand in one gulp, then clapped his hands, puffed out his cheeks, turned his head and gestured towards Wu Da's location, saying with a mischievous expression, "Does my wife know that there is more than one 'Three-Inch Ding' in Yanggu County?"

"More than one?"

Pan Yue paused, then subconsciously glanced at Wu Da, who was busy in front of the shop. A look of helplessness suddenly appeared in her eyes. She bent her right knuckles and lightly tapped him on the head, pretending to be angry, and said, "You don't learn good things, but you've learned such nonsense."

"That's what everyone says!"

Ba Xian rubbed his forehead, which didn't hurt at all, his clear eyes widened, and he tilted his head back, saying with a "righteous and stern" expression: "Wu Da is a big three-inch dwarf! Li Si is a small three-inch dwarf!"

"Small three inches..."

A nickname similar to Wuhan University?

Remembering something, Pan Yue's brow twitched, and she turned to look at Li Si, who was sitting in the shade by the street, her expression slightly somber.

"And his wife...?"

"My lady, you don't know?" Ba Xian took two steps forward, leaned against her legs, and tugged at her hem, playing with it. He looked up at Li Si under the eaves and said with an air of self-righteousness, "It's that beautiful and frivolous young lady, Yinlian! She's only one street away from your house!"

“Light…” Pan Yue frowned and said seriously, “Who told you she was naturally…”

"Everyone knows this!"

Ba Xian suddenly straightened up, his eyes darting around. He imitated the old scholar in the courtyard, feigning profundity. With one hand behind his back and the other stroking his non-existent beard, he squinted and shook his head, saying, "Young Lady Yinlian is incomparably beautiful, but she is frivolous and unruly! Fearing that staying at home too long would affect the reputation of her brothers and sisters, her parents gave a large dowry to marry her off to Li Si, an ugly, forty-year-old unmarried wretch! Because of her bad reputation in her hometown, the whole family moved to Yanggu County..."

The more she talked, the tighter Pan Yue gripped the handkerchief in her hand, and the more unpleasant her face became.

Could it be true, as she had previously guessed, that because Silver Lotus replaced "Golden Lotus," the fate of Wuda University would also be rewritten?

She turned to look at the dusty-faced man under the eaves, her expression suddenly becoming complicated.

Could it be that because of her arrival, the misfortune was transferred to him?

"Ah Xian?"

After pondering for a moment, she turned to Ba Xian, who was shaking his head beside her, and said, "Your mouth is full of pastry crumbs... Go inside and have a cup of tea, and also send a cup to Li Si in the corridor!"

"yes!"

Ba Xian grinned, wiped his mouth nonchalantly, and dashed into the inner room.

"What are you shoving for!"

"Brother Yun, what are you doing, wandering around like that?"

"Get out of the way! Where is Li Si?!"

Below the pancake shop, Pan Yue picked up a cup of cool tea, pondering what else she could do, when suddenly a chaotic scene erupted from the street corner.

She looked up and saw Yun Ge, whom she hadn't seen in a long time. He was carrying a basket of pears and had two bright red marks on his forehead. He was rushing around and shouting as he searched for Li Si.

Yun Ge carrying a basket of pears, Yun Ge who had been beaten, "Wu Da" bustling about in front of the county...

Pan Yue paused abruptly as if watching a movie scene flash before her eyes.

Without waiting to confirm, she quickly put down her tea, lifted her clothes, and strode to the corridor. Ignoring her abruptness, she picked up the tools for sharpening and repairing with one hand and helped the astonished Li Si with the other, and said in rapid succession, "Uncle Li, it's hot outside. Come inside with me and have a cup of tea!"

"No! No!"

Afraid that his tattered clothes would soil his wife's clothes, Li Si was taken aback for a moment, then hurriedly waved his hands and shook his head vigorously: "I'll just rest here for a while! I wouldn't dare trouble you, my wife!"

"No trouble at all!"

Seeing him squeeze into the corner, his shoulders covered in wall dust, Pan Yue stamped her foot in frustration. She turned to look at where Yun Ge was, then called to her shop, "Shi Yang, Qi Gu, come out and lend a hand, help Uncle Li into the house to rest!"

"They're here!"

"Wife, move aside!"

Shi Yang moved swiftly, and upon hearing the summons, immediately dropped what he was doing and ran forward. Without allowing Li Si to refuse, one of them took the cloth bag and utensils from Pan Yue's hands, while the other supported Li Si's arm. Seeing his flustered and anxious expression, they each offered words of gentle persuasion.

"Uncle Li, don't worry!"

“Our wife is the most consistent in word and deed. She can keep a few of us working in the shop, so how could she complain that Uncle Li is dirty?”

"My lady's face is as beautiful as a peach blossom and her heart as pure as the moon. Uncle Li, please don't hold a grudge!"

"You can rest assured..."

The curtains separating the inside and outside of the door were lifted and then lowered, and the figures of Li Si and the other two finally disappeared behind the curtains.

Yun Ge rushed over, greeted Pan Yue and the other woman, and then hurried away shouting.

Pan Yue let out a soft breath, lifted the hem of her dress, and was about to go inside when chaotic footsteps started again from the direction of the street corner.

"Madam Pan?!"

Pan Yue turned around and saw Chief Lin and another Chief Zhu, who also worked in the county, walking one after the other with great speed.

The two men had always been on good terms with Wu Song and often patronized the shop. Pan Yue was not surprised by their uninvited arrival and greeted them with a smile, saying, "Chief Lin and Chief Zhu, why did you come without changing out of your uniforms today?"

Lin and Zhu exchanged glances, then both looked down at the corridor, their brows furrowed, and remained silent.

"Two people?"

Pan Yue followed their gaze and looked down into the hall.

Wu Da, who was usually attentive and even obsequious to officials and clerks, was unusually timid today, hiding in a corner with his neck hunched over, his eyes darting around, and hesitant to approach.

Pan Yuexiu frowned slightly, realizing something, and turned to the newcomers, saying, "You two didn't come here today to buy steamed buns?"

"Why!"

Zhu Dutou let out a long sigh, rubbed his forehead, and turned his face away, truly unsure how to begin.

Lin, the head constable, also frowned and glared at Wu Da resentfully. He then cupped his hands and said to Pan Yue, "Madam, please come with us to the yamen!"

"To the yamen?"

Pan Yue's hand, which was gathering her clothes, suddenly paused, and her sharp eyes flashed.

The affair between Yinlian and Ximen Qing has not yet come to light, and Li Silang is sitting peacefully in the inner room...

She turned to look in the direction of the county government office, her face showing confusion, and said, "May I ask you something..."

"The old thief has submitted the complaint to the county government!"

Zhu, the head constable, couldn't hold back any longer before she could ask any questions. He waved his hand and said angrily, "He said that this pancake shop was originally his family's property, but his wife had it forcibly taken over!"

"Forced occupation?"

Pan Yue was startled and subconsciously looked up at the neighboring street.

Fangminglou's eaves soar high, and when the sun shines, it casts a dazzling, magnificent galaxy of light on the rows of glazed tiles.

Pan Yue subconsciously closed her eyes, frowned slightly, and sorted out her thoughts.

The owner of the shop was clearly Uncle Wang, the manager of Fangminglou, which was located on the street. The signed lease was still lying in the inner room. Where did the word "forcible occupation" come from?

"You two have had a long journey. If you don't mind, please come in and have a cup of tea!"

The June sun was so intense it made one dizzy. Seeing that the two constables' cheeks were flushed from the heat, Pan Yue stepped forward and curtsied, saying, "Please allow me to go back inside and get the shop rental deed. I'll return to the county office later to report to the magistrate!"

"That's exactly right!"

Chief Lin glanced back in the direction of the county government office, nodded, and said, "My lady, go quickly and come back soon!"

"Thank you, Chief Lin!"

"Please wait here for a moment, my lady! Let us go inside first..."

Under the eaves of the county government office, Chief Lin bowed to Pan Yue and the other man, but before he could finish speaking, a thud was heard from inside the door, followed by a heart-wrenching cry.

"...In this peaceful world, under the vast heavens and earth, what kind of justice is this, to deceive my good man!"

The four people by the door looked at each other in bewilderment.

Lin and Zhu exchanged glances, then suddenly turned around and called out loudly into the room, "Sir! Wu Da and Madam Pan have arrived!"

With a resounding thud of the gavel, the magistrate's booming voice echoed from the inner room: "Bring him to court!"

"yes!"

Zhu and Lin each stepped back to the wall and gestured, "Madam, please come in!"

Pan Yue nodded slightly to the two men. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught Wu Da's evasive and timid expression, and her heart sank for no reason. She lowered her eyes, pressed the rental contract on her sleeve, then let out a soft sigh and looked up at the two men, saying, "Thank you for your trouble!"

Wu Da, who was in the corner, froze. His eyes darted back and forth between the three of them for a long time. He clutched the flour-covered hem of his clothes, wiped the non-existent sweat from his forehead, and his eyes flickered as if he had made a decision. He gritted his teeth and hurried after them.

As Pan Yue stepped through the porch of the spacious and quiet main hall of the county government, a cool breeze swept over her.

She lowered her eyes and shuffled inside, but caught a glimpse of the man lying beside her, staring at her hatefully, and her steps suddenly stopped.

Li San?!

He was perfectly fine when he opened his shop in the county a month ago, but after two months, how come he has become lame?

Furthermore, Manager Wang clearly stated that Li Sanlang was a tenant who had to give up his shop because he had to go home for a funeral... How did he suddenly become the aggrieved party who filed a lawsuit?

Furthermore, the two tenants, one before and one after, have arrived at the hall, so why is Manager Wang nowhere to be seen?

Filled with utter confusion, she tiptoed to the foot of the hall, about to bow.

"It's her!"

Li San, who was lying prostrate on the ground with tears streaming down his face, suddenly turned around and said fiercely, like a hungry tiger staring at its prey, "My lord, you are the judge! It is indeed this shameless woman!"

He braced himself with one hand on the ground, pointing at Pan Yue with the other. His upper body trembled slightly, and spittle flew from his cracked lips as he said hatefully, "She colluded with her uncle, broke into my house, broke my leg, and threatened me that if I didn't comply, it wouldn't just be one leg that was broken!"

uncle?

Collusion?

threaten?

The words and accusations seemed to explode before her like a wordless book from heaven. Pan Yue suddenly raised her head, frowned, and stared at them for a long time before finally saying, "Your Excellency, please see the truth!"

Everyone looked over. She glanced down at Li San, who was stiff-necked and acting all serious, took out the lease agreement from her sleeve, presented it above her head with both hands, and loudly reported, "The Wu Family Pancake Shop is a shop rented by me and Manager Wang of Fangminglou. The contract is here, please take a look, sir!"

"A lease agreement?" The magistrate waved his hand and turned to the people below, saying, "Bring it here!"

"yes!"

Zhu Dutou strode forward.

Suddenly everything went dark, and my hand went empty.

Pan Yue withdrew her hand, her heart still pounding in her chest. Suddenly, the magistrate and his clerk's voices drifted from the hall: "Your Highness? I seem to remember that the owner of Fangminglou in the back alley is surnamed Zhang?"

Because of the silence below the hall, the two men's murmurs were particularly distinct.

Pan Yue's movement of gathering her sleeves suddenly stopped.

Yu Guangli saw Ling Shiwei turn slightly to the side, nod to the magistrate, and say, "Your Honor is not mistaken, the shopkeeper's surname is indeed Zhang!"

The hand gripping her clothes suddenly tightened, and Pan Yue felt as if her heart had been struck heavily by a giant hammer that appeared out of nowhere, making her thoughts scramble and her breath catch in her throat.

"What Manager Wang! He's spouting nonsense!"

Li San had clearly heard what the two magistrates said.

As Zhu, the head constable, presented the lease agreement, he also pulled out a yellowed and creased property deed from his pocket, raised it in the air, and said in a hoarse voice, "My lord, please see the truth! That shop is the property passed down from my ancestors! This property deed is proof! Please take a look!"

Property deed?!

Pan Yue suddenly raised her head.

Yes, she clearly had someone verify Manager Wang's property deed!

Could it be...?

A drop of cold sweat trickled down his temple, down the corner of his eye, and dampened his eyelids... The people and things in front of him became a blur for a moment.

What are the chances that the contract examiner has also been bribed?

If the house deed had been genuine back then… Pan Yue’s eyes trembled slightly as she suddenly looked at the house deed in Li Si’s hand.

The right stroke of the character “契” is slightly curved inward, and there is a missing corner in the lower left of the paper... It really is the same piece of paper!

During this dynasty, the buyer's name was not listed on the property deed. In other words, whoever held the property deed was the owner of the shop!

How can she prove that there was once a "Manager Wang" whom no one had ever seen, who took the property deed in Li San's hand and signed a contract with her?

Furthermore, who is spending so much time and effort on this? What is the purpose of the person behind the scenes?

Was he targeting her, or...? Li San's words flashed into Pan Yue's mind, and her expression suddenly froze.

People say that a tall tree catches the wind, so who is being targeted? Could it be Wu Erlang, who is still "favored by his superiors and known throughout the village"?

"Wuhan University?"

As everyone's thoughts were in turmoil, a loud crack was heard as the magistrate slammed his gavel down, sternly addressing the court below: "Do you know what happened today? Do you have anything to say?"

"Your Majesty, please be clear!"

Wu Da, who had been cowering in the corner for a long time, trembled at the sound. He staggered forward and, before anyone could ask him anything, knelt down with a thud, crying and saying, "My brother is brave and fearless, but he is illiterate! The signature on that rental contract was put on by that woman, Pan, at her instigation. My brother didn't know he had drawn it himself..."

egg on?

Pan Yue couldn't believe what she was hearing. Her eyes widened, and she suddenly looked up.

As the setting sun peeked into the eaves, its soft rays sweeping across the solemn and spacious county government hall, it was instantly divided into two opposing halves of light and shadow.

Wu Da hunched over and huddled in a dark corner. His honest, kind, and trustworthy face, which appeared honest and reliable to others, was gradually obscured by the twilight and became ferocious, distorted, and even hideous and unrecognizable.

The garment she clutched in her hand was now deformed, and Pan Yue frowned, looking anxious.

But...why?

Why forge it?

Are you jealous that the people of the county only know Pan Niangzi and not Wu Dalang?

He resented her demanding the return of the marriage certificate and dowry, wanting to break up with him.

Still… Pan Yue’s brow twitched suddenly, and she stared at the seemingly honest Wu Da, her expression slightly grim.

Could it be that he had already been bribed, and that he was also a part of the scheme orchestrated by the mastermind behind the scenes?

What good would it do him to put her in jail?

Is this really true?

Before she could clarify anything, the magistrate's gaze fell upon her with a tangible intensity. After scrutinizing her for a long time, he said in a deep voice, "You just said that Minister Wu is illiterate and that all the documents he signed were instigated and seduced by the women in the hall?"

"Absolutely true!"

The fat on his face twitched slightly, and Wu Da lowered his head even further, shouting hoarsely...

"My lord, please forgive me. This woman was originally a maid in the household of the wealthy Qian family in Qinghe County. She tried to seduce her master but failed. Her master's wife then provided her with a large dowry and married her to me. Who knew that this woman would not stop being so seductive? Even after we moved to Yanggu, she still couldn't change her old ways!"

The yamen runners on either side were taken aback, and as they exchanged glances, a murmur of discussion arose.

"quiet!"

The magistrate shouted angrily, and the people in the hall immediately fell silent.

Wu Da raised his head slightly, glanced at Pan Yue who seemed lost in thought, then quickly looked away, licked his dry lips, and soon raised his head again, adopting an attitude of not caring about airing his dirty laundry in public, and said resentfully, "My lord, please understand! I have always known that this woman is promiscuous, but I have not divorced her only out of consideration for the kindness of the wealthy Qian. Who knew that this shameless woman would not only seduce dissolute young men, but also set her sights on my brother!"

A fierce glint flashed in Wu Da's eyes as he continued, "I am truly indignant. I returned the marriage certificate a month ago, but the woman is shameless and, having nowhere else to go, is still staying at my house!"

"Splash!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the bright sunshine below the hall suddenly disappeared, and dark clouds gathered outside the door in an instant, with a sharp wind rising.

The sky, which had been clear and cloudless just moments before, was suddenly covered with dark clouds, and lightning flashed and thunder roared.

Pan Yue stood in the strong wind, coldly watching the crowd swaying and staggering below. For a moment, she felt that the surroundings were empty and unfamiliar, and she had no idea what year it was.

A strong wind rises

It seems like snow will fall in June, and the wind will blow as the mountain rain approaches.