Spoiled and mad critic of powerful ministers

Upon recognizing the visitor, Manager Liu immediately bowed respectfully, his attitude completely different from before.

The visitor was none other than Shen Mo, the newly appointed magistrate of Wu County.

Shen Mo ignored him and walked straight to the center of the field. His gaze swept over the messy ground, and his brows furrowed almost imperceptibly.

He looked at Shen Qiongju, his eyes filled with a hint of inquiry and reassurance.

Before Pei Zhihui left, he asked him to take care of the Pei family.

He and Pei Zhihui had known each other since childhood. That kid was cunning and wicked from a young age.

If he had arrived a moment later and the entire Pei family had been evicted and forced to sleep on the streets, he would have had no advisor to help him in the future.

Shen Mo inwardly thought it was fortunate that they arrived in time, but on the surface he remained calm and said to Steward Liu, "I will act as your guarantor. Steward Liu, you should take your men back first and clarify the documents and procedures. It's not too late to complete the handover once the official seals of the government office are in place."

When the county magistrate speaks personally, it is tantamount to issuing an order.

How could Manager Liu dare to utter a single word of dissent?

A higher-ranking official can crush you.

"Yes, yes, Your Excellency... Your Excellency obeys."

He wiped away his cold sweat, cursing his bad luck inwardly, but he could only seize the opportunity to back down, shouting to his men, "What are you all standing there for? Retreat! Move out!"

A group of people came in full force, but left looking disheveled and disappeared into the alleyway in the blink of an eye.

A crisis was thus averted.

After a deathly silence in the alley, Liu's suppressed sobs could be heard.

The Pei family members looked as if they had just walked through hell; their legs were weak and their faces were deathly pale.

They all stepped forward, expressing their deepest gratitude to Shen Mo.

"Thank you very much, Your Excellency!"

"If it weren't for you, sir, our Pei family would be in dire straits today..."

Shen Mo waved his hand, but his gaze fell on Shen Qiongju, who had remained calm throughout.

"No need for such formalities, uncles and aunts."

He turned to face Shen Qiongju, his tone carrying a respectful tone befitting a peer, "Zhihui and I are old acquaintances. He entrusted something to me before he left. I am late today."

He paused, his expression turning serious.

"But sister-in-law, I can only offer temporary relief. This legal case involves many far-reaching issues, and the situation regarding the house is likely irreversible. All I can do is grant you some more time."

His words were like a bucket of cold water, extinguishing the hopes that had just been rekindled in everyone's hearts.

"Please, sister-in-law, find a place for your family to stay as soon as possible and make plans accordingly."

"Thank you for your help, Magistrate Shen. However, I hope you can postpone the stamping of the property deed for about half a month so that I can prepare the Pei family's estate and move in with my people."

Shen Mo looked at the meek and obedient woman in front of him, a strange glint flashing in his eyes.

The fierce momentum he had displayed earlier in citing the law and forcing the officials to back down was now completely subdued, yet he still handled the matter in a very organized, clean, and efficient manner.

"I understand what you mean, sister-in-law."

Shen Mo pulled his cloak tighter around himself and said gently, "For half a month, I will use the excuse of checking old files to suppress the actions of the Ministry of Justice."

"Thank you, Your Excellency."

Shen Qiongju curtsied, her posture flawless. "Given the current state of the Pei family, these next two weeks are crucial for their survival."

Shen Mo nodded, said nothing more, turned and mounted his horse. "I still have official business to attend to. The Pei family will have to trouble you from now on, sister-in-law."

Brother Zhihui, your sister-in-law is not as foolish as you say. She is clearly an extremely intelligent woman who knows when to advance and retreat.

Once the officials left, the crowd of onlookers in the alley gradually dispersed.

As soon as the tense atmosphere eased, the two masters of the Pei family, Pei Junchan and Pei Jundai, immediately revealed their true colors.

"Ouch, my back..."

Pei Jundai plopped down on the last remaining armchair, which the yamen runners had just thrown out without breaking it.

He pounded his lower back, pointed at the mess on the ground, and looked bitter and resentful.

"What kind of nonsense is this! It's utterly disgraceful, a complete disgrace!"

Pei Junchan also had a dark expression, and he paced in the snow with his hands behind his back, stepping on several books, but he didn't bother to pick them up.

"Where is Zhihui? With such a big thing happening at home, where has he gone?"

He yelled at Shen Qiongju, "He's the pillar of the Pei family. It's unfilial of him not to be home and support us old folks while we suffer here!"

Shen Qiongju stood on the steps, quietly watching the two "elders".

This is a branch of the Pei family.

When the Pei family was exiled to Dabao Village, all the servants were scattered, except for the old steward Pei Zhong and his family, who remained loyal and followed them back.

Now, Pei Zhong's two sons work as porters at the docks to supplement the family income, while Pei Zhong and his wife take care of their aunt at a clinic.

Who's going to move all this furniture and luggage that's filling the yard?

"Second Uncle, Third Uncle."

Shen Qiongju's voice was soft, but lacked warmth. "Zhihui went to the prefectural city to study in order to revive the Pei family's reputation. If he were here now, we probably wouldn't need to worry about this lawsuit."

Pei Jundai rolled her eyes. "Easy for you to say! What are we going to do now? This dilapidated house is going to be taken away. Where are we going to live in half a month?"

His eyes darted around, his gaze landing on Shen Qiongju, a calculating smile spreading across his face.

"Niece-in-law, I remember your Shen family's courtyard was a large three-courtyard mansion, wasn't it?"

Pei Junchan also realized what was going on and nodded repeatedly, "Yes, yes, yes! The Shen family is powerful and wealthy, while our Pei family is currently in dire straits. We are, after all, in-laws. Why don't we move to the Shen family's place for now?"

"Yes, it's spacious there, and there are servants to wait on us. Although our Pei family has fallen on hard times, we are still a scholarly family. It may be difficult for us to stay in your merchant's house, but we won't complain!"

Shen Qiongju almost laughed out of anger.

Are you picking and choosing when you're trying to get something for nothing?

They still have that condescending attitude.

"Second Uncle and Third Uncle are joking."

Shen Qiongju adjusted her cuffs, her expression indifferent. "The Shen family does indeed own a house. However, according to the customs of Dasheng, only sons-in-law who marry into their wives' families move into their father-in-law's house with their entire household."

"The Pei family has been a family of upright officials for generations, valuing integrity above all else."

She raised her eyes, her clear gaze fixed on the two men. "Second Uncle and Third Uncle, do you want the entire Wu County to point fingers and curse you, saying that the men of the Pei family have broken their backbone and live off the descendants of the deceased and the daughters-in-law of merchants?"

When this serious accusation was leveled, the faces of the two old scholars instantly turned a deep shade of liver.

"You... what nonsense are you talking about!"

Pei Jundai's beard trembled with anger. "This is a temporary measure! Don't you understand what a temporary measure is?!"

"Outsiders don't care about expedient measures."

Shen Qiongju interrupted him, her tone still gentle, yet every word was like a knife, "Zhihui is currently at a crucial moment in his pursuit of official rank. If such a reputation spreads, what will the examiners think of him? What will his classmates say about him?"

"Second Uncle, Third Uncle, are you trying to destroy the Pei family's last hope?"

The two fell silent.

They cannot bear the blame for ruining Pei Zhihui's future.

After all, they would still need this nephew to become an official in the future and lead them back to the capital to enjoy a better life.

"Then... then what do you suggest we do?" Pei Junchan asked impatiently. "We can't just end up sleeping on the streets, can we?"

"The Pei family also owns a house on their estate in Shenjia Village."

Shen Qiongju had already made plans. "Although that old house is in the countryside, the previous manager took good care of it. I'll have someone go and repair and furnish it tomorrow, and we'll move there in half a month."

"What? The countryside?"

Pei Jundai jumped up. "How can anyone live in a place like that, where peasants live?"