They've all separated, so what does it matter to me if they get poorer and poorer?

Chapter 414 Finally, it was satisfying.

Magistrate Fan believed he had a good relationship with his superiors and had always been amicable.

But superiors are superiors after all. If they have made their stance so clear, it would be ungrateful of you to still argue with them.

Magistrate Fan stormed home and went to find his wife.

"What exactly happened? Tell me now!"

"Has my cousin been released? What exactly does Lord Yang mean?"

The couple agreed without prior arrangement.

Magistrate Fan's face darkened even more.

What does Lord Yang mean? You'll have to ask Lord Yang what he means.

"What on earth did you do?"

Mrs. Fan avoided eye contact, looking somewhat guilty.

Her husband warned her to stay out of her cousin's business, saying that the Qi family members were dishonest, unintelligent, and didn't know the value of pragmatism; getting involved with them would only lead to trouble sooner or later.

Facts speak louder than words; she had no words to refute them, but she was unconvinced.

Which official, wielding such power, wouldn't protect and benefit their own family members? If that's the case, then what's the point of being an official?
Even if her cousin and the others were wrong, so what?
Isn't it because the Xu family is too despicable?
How dare they not give me face?

First the Qi family, then the Dou family, and now the Xu and Liang families—they're probably all deliberately trying to make things difficult for me, aren't they? How can I tolerate this?

"Still not talking? Do you want me to interrogate your servants myself?"

In his haste, Magistrate Fan even started referring to himself as "this official."

Madam Fan's lips trembled, and she was about to speak when Magistrate Fan waved his sleeve dismissively and said irritably, "Forget it!"

He turned and went out, and in doing so, he called over the nanny and head maidservant who were by Madam Fan's side. Madam Fan was so anxious that she kept calling out, "Master! Master!" but he ignored her.

When the master is angry, how dare the servants hide anything? The old nanny and the head maid confessed everything.

Magistrate Fan returned in a rage and gave Madam Fan a severe dressing-down.

"Why have you offended the Liang family again?"

"You summoned someone from afar just for your own selfish desires that have nothing to do with you? Are you crazy?"

"Very well, you've really made something of yourself, even using a pitiful madwoman. What kind of lunatic is that relative of yours? How dare she draw a knife? Does she think she can get away with murder, or that this matter of life and death is something I, the official, can suppress?"

"I think you deserve it!"

"From now on, you should have less contact with your family members. Otherwise, I wouldn't mind if you changed the wife of Fan."

"You'll get me killed sooner or later!"

After scolding her, Magistrate Fan left, and Madam Fan burst into tears.

Lord Yang showed him no respect for no reason, not even giving a reason. The madwoman's inexplicable appearance in the inner quarters of the mansion was not a coincidence to him.

I heard that Mrs. Xu's husband was a retired soldier who returned to his hometown.

Who knows what skills such a person has?
The more Magistrate Fan thought about it, the more uneasy he felt. He quickly ordered someone to prepare a generous gift, changed into plain clothes, and went to the inn in person to apologize to Liang Minglang.

Liang Minglang did not accept his gift, but he still expressed his goodwill in a polite manner.

He did not intend to hold a grudge against Magistrate Fan or to become enemies with him.

After confirming with several attempts that this was indeed his intention, Magistrate Fan secretly breathed a sigh of relief, dared not be disliked any further, and took his leave.

He no longer cared about Madam Dou.

That kind of person deserves to be taught a lesson. Xu Zhichun didn't sleep well all night. His wound was inflamed and hot, and the waves of pain felt like dull knives cutting into his flesh. He tried to sleep with his eyes closed, but he couldn't get rid of the pain.

In her half-asleep state, she felt as if a hand was gently patting her, the warm palm occasionally touching her forehead.

The next morning, Xu Zhichun slowly opened her eyes and saw the man lying on his side, leaning against the headboard and looking down at her. She was stunned.

Liang Minglang smiled. "You're awake? Does the wound still hurt a lot? Luckily, you didn't have a fever last night."

Her health was much better than he had expected, which put his mind at ease.

Xu Zhichun gently shook her head, "It's much better now, it doesn't hurt anymore."

The wound has been bothering me all night, but it really doesn't hurt anymore.

As for why she didn't have a fever last night, it's because she secretly took anti-inflammatory and fever-reducing medication before going to bed.

The man's words brought her back to her senses: "Didn't you sleep well last night?"

Liang Minglang hadn't slept a wink all night, worried that she might have a fever. "You just woke up a little while ago. I'll go get your medicine; it's time to change it."

"Ah."

While changing her dressing, Liang Minglang casually recounted what he had heard: Madam Dou was still imprisoned in the prefectural government office and wouldn't be released for at least four or five days. As for the wife of the Assistant Prefect Fan, she got what she deserved; she shot herself in the foot. That madwoman must have been traumatized yesterday, as she later injured Madam Fan, making her injuries even more severe.
Xu Zhichun never expected such a thing to happen.

Despite the unexpectedness, I have to say, I feel much better now.

"He brought it on himself. No wonder Madam Dou came to make a scene yesterday. It turns out she was upset about what she had done wrong and was taking it out on her."

"right."

"Fortunately, the Prefect was wise enough to see the truth."

"My wife is right."

Xu Zhichun was in a great mood.

Her injury wasn't serious to begin with, only slightly more severe than a superficial wound. After two days of rest, the outer part of the wound had already healed. With continued care, it wouldn't be long before she recovered.

The two stayed at the inn for two days before finding a middleman to look for a place to live.

Finally, they found a two-courtyard house in the south of the city with a large garden.

The houses and courtyards were dark and old, the garden was overgrown with weeds, the walls were peeling and crumbling, and grass was growing on the roof.

But Xu Zhichun was drawn to its spaciousness and the large potential for renovation.

Demolish the house, clear the garden, and replan and rebuild the house. The living area can be built more compactly, and all houses can be built as two-story buildings. A large courtyard can be separated to build a warehouse, and another small courtyard can be separated to build two rows of dormitory-like houses for people to rest. Storage rooms and stables for tethering livestock can also be arranged in the open space.

As for gardens, there's no need to make a special effort to create one. Just make some small flower beds and green belts wherever you can find space, plant some hardy shrubs and flowers, and plant a few magnolias, bauhinias, pomegranates, ginkgos, and other trees. Isn't that better than a specially made garden?

The provincial capital is indeed the provincial capital; even such a dilapidated house cost a thousand taels of silver to buy.

Xu Zhichun secretly memorized the size of the entire courtyard, planning to draw a sketch when he got back. Once the drawing was finalized, he would hand the matter over to Manager Zhong, asking him to take the money to the provincial capital and personally oversee the renovation of the houses.

As for the shops in the county town, Xiao He, the shop assistant, can keep an eye on things.

With their business settled, the two of them took Granny Qin Qing and left for Zhuangzi in Hekou Town, Qingyang County, to sort out the matters in the fields there before returning home.

After Xu Zhichun and Liang Minglang left the provincial capital, Prefect Yang released Madam Dou.

Although Madam Dou was not imprisoned in a real jail, the temporary detention room behind the government office for suspects was not a good place either.

It was dark, cramped, and damp.

The past few days have felt like an eternity.