The wicked mother-in-law doesn't try to whitewash herself; she only abuses her awful children.

Chapter 146: Exiled to Lingnan
Magistrate Liu was indeed furious.

Xu Kun and Xu Yong not only acted arrogantly and domineeringly in the village, allowing the Xu family members to run rampant, but also ruined his reputation.

He was a public official who loved the people like his own children, but in the eyes of the villagers of Qinghewan, he was a bad official who couldn't distinguish right from wrong.

That's really damaging to their image.

We must turn things around today.

Magistrate Liu had just said that no court could be set up in Qinghe Bay, but he could write down Xu Si's crimes on the spot.

Moreover, the plaintiffs are all readily available.

Gu Jingzhe volunteered to write it, and Tong Huaqiong became the first to write it.

"Lord Liu, I am Gu Xiaocao, and I also want to personally sue Xu Si."

When Gu Xiaocao heard at the shop in town that Tong Huaqiong had been bullied by Xu Si, she quickly followed Gu Guangkui, who was there to pick her up, to the village.

Liu Qiaoyun also came along; they all wanted to add fuel to the fire for Xu Si's crimes.

She hated Xu Si so much that her teeth itched. At the village entrance, a kind old woman greeted her and said that Magistrate Liu was upholding justice for everyone. At this moment, how could Gu Xiaocao possibly let Xu Si go?

"Lord Liu, Xu Si has been threatening to force me into marriage in the village. Xu Yong has been letting Xu Si send matchmakers to my house to propose marriage from time to time, forcing my parents to move out of the village. I am afraid to go back to the village. I beg you, Lord Liu, to do justice for me." Gu Xiaocao cried bitterly.

Liu Qiaoyun continued, "Lord Liu, I was on Master Xu's oxcart when Xu Si tried to take advantage of me in broad daylight. It was Aunt Tong and Peach Blossom who stopped Xu Si. Aunt Tong was also bullied by Xu Si today because of me. There were other witnesses from the village on the oxcart that day. If I utter even a single falsehood, may I die a horrible death."

Gu Jingzhe held the pen and filled the paper with Xu Si's crimes one by one.

Besides Xu Si's crimes, the cover-up by Xu Yong as village chief and the inaction of Xu Kun as head of the Xu family are also factors.

After Gu Jingzhe finished writing, Magistrate Liu ordered the yamen runners who were with him to read it aloud.

Tong Huaqiong was the first to press her handprint, followed by Gu Xiaocao and Liu Qiaoyun, as well as other villagers who also pressed their handprints.

"Take the man away," Magistrate Liu ordered his constables.

Since Magistrate Liu's main purpose in coming to the countryside this time was to inspect the wheat harvest, and the case was outside of his duties, the accompanying yamen runners did not carry wooden cangues or other forms of torture.

Some kind-hearted villagers provided ropes, and the yamen runners tied Xu Si up tightly.

Xu Yong and Xu Kun were also tied up.

They were to be taken to the county government office to await their fate.

"Brother, what crime will Xu Si be convicted of?" Liu Shan asked a kind-looking yamen runner with curiosity.

The villagers who were watching perked up their ears.

"Even if it doesn't amount to a capital offense, it's still a punishment. At the very least, you'll be exiled to Lingnan, and you won't be able to return for ten or twenty years."

Xu Si, who was tightly bound, trembled like a leaf.

Suddenly, a foul smell filled the air.

Xu Si was so scared he wet himself.

"Even if the root is severed, it won't affect urination."

There were some mischievous children in the village who stared at Xu Si with curiosity.

Gu Xiaocao smiled. Xu Si, that demon, had finally left her life. She would never have nightmares again.

To Granny Yan, that smile was like a provocation.

Granny Yan let out a scream and almost fainted.

Exiled to Lingnan!

She didn't know where Lingnan was, but she knew it wasn't a good place.

When listening to operas during festivals, the operas would say that Lingnan was plagued by miasma and wild beasts, and that any criminals exiled there who returned alive were said to have ancestors whose graves were blessed with good fortune.

Granny Yan was heartbroken beyond measure. Her son had lost a leg and was in serious condition; it was uncertain whether he would even make it to Lingnan. "Lord Liu, my son was spoiled by Xu Kun and Xu Yong. If they hadn't said that the Xu family members could do whatever they wanted in Qinghe Bay, would my son have committed such a heinous crime? Lord Liu, Xu Kun and Xu Yong should be skinned alive."

As she cursed, Granny Yan attacked Xu Kun and Xu Yong, but was quickly pulled apart by the yamen runners.

“Granny Yan bullies the village girls and condones her son’s misbehavior; take her away too.” Magistrate Liu showed no mercy.

When Granny Yan heard that she was to be arrested, she fainted with a cry as the constables borrowed ropes from the villagers.

Seeing this, Xu Da and his two brothers were so frightened that they dared not breathe.

I'm afraid they'll be taken away along with them.

The constables took Xu Si, Xu Yong, Xu Kun, and Granny Yan away.

The villagers clapped and cheered, praising Magistrate Liu as an honest and upright official.

The situation in Qinghe Bay has finally changed today.

The Xu family can no longer take advantage of other families in the village.

"Lord Liu, Xu Yong has been taken away. Does that mean Qinghewan will be without a village chief from now on? How will we pay the grain tax in a few days?" Tong Huaqiong asked.

Liu Tielian stood to the side, his heart pounding like a drum.

He wanted to be the village chief, and he was confident he could do a better job than Xu Yong.

"Aunt Tong, do you have any good candidates to recommend?" Magistrate Liu asked Tong Huaqiong directly.

Tong Huaqiong thought for a moment and said, "We all know that Liu Tielian in the village is a very capable person who is fair in his dealings. He led the people to dig the ditch in our village, and he always handles things fairly whenever there is a problem in the village. If you ask me, I think he is suitable to be the village chief."

Tong Huaqiong thought that since she had been asked, she would definitely recommend Liu Tielian.

She did want to choose a member of the Gu family, but who in the Gu family could take on the role of village chief?

The head of the Gu family has not stepped forward yet, and she refuses to believe that he has not heard that she is being bullied.

Gu Dahan, the stepson, is completely useless and can't possibly become the village chief; Gu Dashu, even if given a rocket, still wouldn't be able to become the village chief.

Gu Jingzhe is suitable, firstly because he is too young, and secondly because he needs to study to pursue a career in government.

The only suitable candidate is Liu Tielian.

He was respected in the village, was fair in his dealings, and was also her daughter-in-law's uncle.

Why not do him a favor?

Presumably, when Gu Jingzhe sent Liu Tong to Niujiazhuang to invite Magistrate Liu, his intention was to have Liu Tielian replace Xu Yong.

The Liu family has always been resentful of the Xu family, and for many years, because of Xu Kun and Xu Yong, the Liu family has avoided confrontation in the village.

How could I accept that?
She proposed that Liu Tielian become the village chief, not only to do Liu Tielian a favor, but also to make the entire Liu family feel indebted to her.

“Since Aunt Tong has recommended me, it would be hypocritical to decline further. Lord Liu, rest assured that you can entrust Qinghewan to me. I am sure I can be a good village chief.” Liu Tielian seized the opportunity and, following up on Tong Huaqiong’s words, expressed his support to Magistrate Liu.

He'd be a fool not to step forward when he had such a great opportunity.

Magistrate Liu was at a loss for words.

He had some impression of Liu Tielian; his conduct did seem more reliable than Xu Yong's.

Let him be the village chief of Moon Bay for now. If it doesn't work out, we can always replace him. It's not a big deal.

Magistrate Liu smiled and said, "Alright, you will temporarily serve as the village chief of Qinghewan. Take care of this year's tax and grain collection and summer planting. If you do well, you will officially become the village chief of Qinghewan."

Liu Tielian repeatedly kowtowed in gratitude and made repeated assurances.

When the Liu family members learned that Liu Tielian had become the village chief, they were very grateful to Tong Huaqiong. At the same time, they used the Xu family members as a warning to each other not to drag the Liu family clan down.

(End of this chapter)