The Princess of Northern Land

Chapter 123 - 123 123 Opportunity_1

?Chapter 123: Chapter 123 Opportunity_1 Chapter 123: Chapter 123 Opportunity_1 “Uncle Lou Zheng, do you think that at this point, Erlang Ma could easily escape?” Lin Ziyin asked with a faint smile.

“These thieves were provoked by Erlang Ma. If we don’t teach him a lesson today, I am afraid we won’t be able to live in peace in the Lin Family hereafter.” Lin Changshu wasn’t willing to let Erlang Ma off either.

Lou Zheng sighed quietly, “Tie these thieves well, and detained them in the house at the entrance of the village until dawn, then escort them to the government offices.”

“Uncle Lou Zheng, our Erlang is innocent…” Mrs. Bao protested, crying, and made a fuss, asking Lou Zheng to stand up for the Ma family. “Lin Ziyin, Lin Changshu, you are so cruel, you framed our Erlang, you will not die a good death!”

Hearing her foul language, Lin Changshu became furious, but he couldn’t lay a hand on a weak woman, so he just stood aside and blew off steam with Wu Dayou.

“With the government presiding over this, whether Erlang Ma is wronged or not will be determined by the magistrate.” Lin Ziyin stared at her with a straight face, “The Lin Family wouldn’t dare to falsely accuse someone in front of all these people, and I don’t think the Lin Family would benefit from doing so?”

Mrs. Bao glared at her in response, “You’re just jealous that our Gouzi has beaten your brother and nephew, you black-hearted beast.”

“Who is black-hearted, only they know. If you feel wronged, you can follow these thieves to the government offices tomorrow to proclaim your complaints.” Lin Ziyin spoke calmly, “By the way, I heard that whoever plots the crime is considered the mastermind, and they are punished more severely if a life is lost. But it seems no serious harm has been done today, you thieves are lucky. But there must be a mastermind, is it you or him?”

She pointed casually at two of the thieves.

“The idea was Erlang Ma’s. He is the mastermind, and we are just accomplices.” The thieves were not stupid. After hearing her words, they quickly blamed all responsibilities on the fugitive Erlang Ma.

“You…” Mrs. Bao, furious at Lin Ziyin’s cunning, jumped up, ready to jump venomously at her.

Lin Ziyin sneered and remained silent.

Neither Lin Changshu nor Wu Dayou would allow Mrs. Bao a chance to harm Lin Ziyin. They immediately stood in front of her.

The villagers saw Lin Ziyin trap Mrs. Bao in just a few words, and they gained a new understanding of her. Of course, they also held some fear towards her in their hearts.

“She is right. If you have any grievances, go to the government offices to speak out.” Uncle Lou Zheng was not confused. He thought it was a fair conclusion. Seeing Mrs. Bao’s tantrums, he immediately retracted the tiny sympathy he had had for the Ma Family.

Upon hearing that she was supposed to go to the government offices, Mrs. Bao became scared and immediately shut her mouth, but she glared ferociously at Lin Ziyin.

No matter what kind of gaze it was, it had no effect on Lin Ziyin, so she didn’t even glance at Mrs. Bao, “I’m sorry to have bothered you all this late at night. Let’s do this. Tomorrow, each family could come to ours to claim a pound of tofu as our token of appreciation.”

The villagers were immediately delighted upon hearing that there was something to eat.

Lou Zheng wanted to persuade the Lin Family not to spend so much, but when he saw the villagers were joyful, he swallowed his words.

“Alright, everybody go home.” Lou Zheng shouted.

All the villagers left with the tied-up thieves, all while discussing in awe and with lively reactions.

“From now on, I will move back home.” Once everyone had left, Lin Changshu sighed.

The family’s industry was now thriving, but so was the number of people keeping an eye on the Lin family. If he and Wu Dayou just looked after the workshop, they might give the opportunistic people a chance, so he didn’t trust leaving the house alone.

“Alright.” Lin Ziyin nodded, “If Brother Bai and the others are going to stay at the oil press at night, then add more silver.”

Lin Changshu nodded in agreement. It’s only just to give more wages to those who work day and night in the workshop.

The next day, Lou Zheng really sent the thieves to the government offices. Soon after, news came out that the offices were issuing a warrant for Erlang Ma.

The Bao Family immediately caused a commotion in the village with their crying, and they also heavily cursed the Lin Family.

Wu Dayou wanted to settle up with Mrs. Bao, but the old man stopped him. The Lin Family closed their front door and continued their own lives.

“Lin Changshu really has no sense of shame, they didn’t injure anyone from their house, but they still managed to bring trouble to the second family.” Mrs. Yan grumbled quietly in her house.

“Do not meddle in Uncle’s affairs.” Ma Zhicai frowned and said.

“We cannot ignore this.” Ma’s eldest son glared at his son, “Although the things the second family did are disgraceful, they are still part of our family. If we don’t care for their weak and young, the villagers will make our lives hell, and our Zhicai’s future scholarly aspirations may also be problematic.”

Upon hearing that Ma’s eldest son was going to look after Mrs. Bao’s family, Mrs. Yan was immediately displeased.

They were struggling to survive. And now they are supposed to take care of the second family? Thinking of Mrs. Bao’s frail family, she frowned deeply, “Can we manage to help them now? We have separated from their family long ago and we all live our own lives, why should we handle their problems?”

“Short-sighted.” Her husband sneered at her, “If you don’t want what’s best for Zhicai, then keep stirring the pot.”

“Mom, it’s not like we are giving all our households items to Uncle’s family, we are just helping them out when they face difficulties.” Ma Zhicai also gave Mrs. Yan a glance.

Mrs. Yan usually obeyed her husband and son, so even though she was annoyed that the two men in her family sided with the second family, she didn’t continue to make a fuss.

Lin Changshu did move back to live at home, but Lin Ziyin was still uneasy. The Lin Family’s business was supposed to grow bigger and bigger, and in the future, many people would be keeping an eye on them.

Fortunately, after the incident at the market last time, the so-called noblemen didn’t come to cause trouble again. She thought that the intervention of Ding’an Temple or Si Jinhan may have played a role in this, but even so, Lin Ziyin was still not at ease.

“Grandpa, I plan to buy some servants for our family.” At lunch, Lin Ziyin discussed this with her family.

“Why do we need to buy servants? We only have so much work to do at home, why do we need outsiders?” Lin Changshu was the first to object.

“Sister, no need to buy people. You don’t need to take care of the kitchen, and didn’t we hire people for the oil press? Besides, we don’t have much land; why do we need to buy people?” Guo Huiniang also disapproved of purchasing servants.

“What’s the point of you buying people? If there’s anything you need us to do, just tell us.” Zige was even more contrary.

She had always lived a hard life, and even though their lives had improved recently, jumping from a poor country girl to a young lady, she was not used to.