196 Encounter on the Road

The sound of hooves and footsteps approached and stopped in front of the mule cart. Li Yu saw Shen Wu and Xu Chun jump down from their horses. Relieved, Zhou Jia and Li Yu climbed up from the grass with a smile. Zhou Jia rushed out and pointed at Shen Wu with a smile. “Ha! Brother Shen, I didn’t expect it to be you. I thought it was the bandits!”

Shen Wu smiled brightly and said, “Brother Zhou, Sister-in-law, I also thought that it was bandits robbing merchants! You brought a letter to say that it was urgent, so I rushed over. You have to reward me and my subordinates later.”

“Let’s get back first.” After the greetings, they drove the mule cart back. When they entered the city, the commoners along the way saw so many officials and started discussing excitedly. “This is great. Lord Zhou invited the officials to suppress the bandits.”

Shen Wu and his subordinates set up camp in the ruins of the county office and stayed there. Xu Chun handed the things that Chu Jiang had given to Li Yu and her husband.

Shen Wu said to Zhou Jia, “Brother Zhou, speed is important in war! I plan to wait for our brothers to lead the troops to eliminate the bandits of the Green Dragon Stronghold tomorrow morning.”

Zhou Jia cupped his hands and said, “Thank you for your help, Brother Shen. Ruyi has been to the Green Dragon Stronghold and the Tiger Head Stronghold. I’ll bring Ruyi with you to the Green Dragon Stronghold to suppress the bandits. We’ve also captured the bandits who went down the mountain to collect food. Brother Shen, choose 20 agile brothers and change into the clothes of the bandits. You can disguise yourself as the bandits who are sending the rice back. This way, it’ll be easier to deceive them.”

Shen Wu smiled and said, “That’s great. Let’s set off tomorrow morning.”

Li Yu brought Xiaoyu along. Little Peach, Old Madam Liu, and Aunt Zhang busied themselves for an hour. After cooking, they sent the food to the military camp. They smiled and cupped their fists at Shen Wu. “Brother Shen, we only know how to cook some dishes. Please don’t laugh at us.”

“Don’t worry. We can eat our fill with dry rations and steamed buns. These dishes are already very good.” Shen Wu looked at the red braised pork, pickled vegetables, stewed meat, and stir-fried vegetables in the wooden basin. “Brothers, there are all good dishes today. Let’s eat our fill and go up the mountain to eliminate all the bandits.”

The soldiers responded in unison. “Yes, General.”

The next morning, Li Yu tied the sleeve arrow to Zhou Jia and watched as Zhou Jia, Shen Wu, and Ruyi led the soldiers to the Green Dragon Stronghold to suppress the bandits.

Li Yu arranged the family matters and drove to the wasteland. When Yang Wei saw Li Yu, he welcomed her happily. “Madam, the foundation of the manor has been built. Look, the pond is already filled with water. The ground has also been scattered with fallen leaves and compost to be plowed and dried. We’ll start plowing tomorrow. Also, according to your instructions, we’ll start digging the ditches in the fields.”

Li Yu squatted down and grabbed a handful of soil. She saw that the ground had already been scattered with fallen leaves and compost. She nodded in satisfaction and said, “Alright, Ah Wei can also take charge.”

Yang Wei touched his head and chuckled. “Madam! I only know all these after asking Brother Ruyi about many things.”

Li Yu smiled and said, “Yes! If you don’t know, ask. If you don’t know, learn. You’re worthy of praise. Alright! Since you’re so good at managing the wasteland, I’ll leave it to you. I’ll go back and prepare the seeds.”

Yang Wei puffed out his chest. “Madam, don’t worry. Ah Wei will guarantee success!”

Li Yu estimated the amount of wheat stored in the space and thought to herself, “Planting more than 150 acres requires at least 3,000 catties of wheat. The wheat seed stored in the space the previous time should be enough.” Li Yu drove the cart to a quiet place, and took out more than ten hemp sacks from the space to place them in the carriage. After driving the carriage home and putting them down, she went out again before taking all the wheat seeds out of the space.

Yu Niang also helped Old Madam Liu and Aunt Zhang to clean the courtyard. Li Yu piled the wheat seeds under the eaves and rushed to West Street to buy sun pads.

When she arrived at the bamboo stall on West Street, she saw that it was surrounded by people and bailiffs standing outside. Li Yu walked closer and saw Scribe Tu standing in front of the bamboo stall with a solemn expression. A woman with disheveled hair was kneeling on the ground with her head lowered. At the door of the house behind the stall was a girl with a teary face and a dazed gaze.

The people around them had sympathetic looks on their faces as they whispered, “Madam definitely can’t take it anymore. It’s really their bad luck to marry into such a shameless family.”

Another person who was watching the commotion asked, “Did you kill him or not? The magistrate officers are guarding here, and the scribe is here too.”

The woman beside Li Yu covered her face and whispered, “I heard that she stabbed that old thing in the eye. The physician is checking inside!”

“Why did I hear from that old woman that Madam Li was the one who didn’t abide by the moral code and seduced the father-in-law? They even got the Zou Clan to capture Madam Li and drown them in the pond?”

An old woman curled her lips and said, “You still believe that old woman’s words! If she really seduced him, would she stab him with scissors? Old bastard, not only did you attack your daughter-in-law, you even wanted to attack your granddaughter. Madam Li can’t take it anymore!”

Scribe Tu looked up and saw Li Yu standing in the crowd. He walked forward and bowed. “Madam, you’re here!”

The women standing with Li Yu looked at Li Yu uneasily and hurriedly moved to the side. Li Yu pointed at the woman on the ground and said, “Mr. Tu, what’s going on?”

Scribe Tu stammered and refused to answer. “Madam, you shouldn’t ask. I’m afraid it’ll dirty your ears.”

Li Yu scolded sternly, “If you don’t say it, I’ll let the person in the know say it.” As she spoke, she walked up to the woman and squatted down to look at her. “Madam Li, I’m the wife of the county magistrate. You can tell me what grievances you have. I’ll seek justice for you!”

Madam Li slowly raised her head and looked at Li Yu in a daze. Tears rolled down her face as she said in a hoarse voice, “Madam, can you really help us?”

Li Yu held her hand and encouraged her. “Yes, as long as you say it, I can help you.”

Madam Li turned to look at the girl sitting at the door and shook her head at Li Yu. “Madam, I don’t have much to live for anymore. I only beg you to help me take my Xia’er away from this dirty place. Otherwise, I won’t die in peace!”

Li Yu shook her head and said, “You have to take care of your own daughter. How can others be as considerate as one’s biological mother? Besides, you’re still so young. Believe me, your good days are still ahead!”

Madam Li lowered her head and muttered to herself, “I can’t live anymore. If not for Xia’er, I would have died ten years ago.”

Li Yu held Madam Li’s shoulder and said, “Why are you the one who should die? It’s that evil person who deserves to die!”

An old woman with white hair walked up to Madam Li. “Madam Li, Madam is right. The evil person is still alive and well in this world. Why do you want to die?” The old woman bowed to Li Yu and said, “Madam, please help Madam Li and her daughter escape from this family. Otherwise, they will definitely die.”

Scribe Tu walked to Li Yu’s side and said in a low voice, “Madam, I know you have good intentions, but the law is like this. No one will testify to such a thing. Helping them escape from the Zou family is the best way.”

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