After Transmigration, I Picked Up A Husband and Daughter
Chapter 159 The Long Road Ahead

Chapter 159: Chapter 159 The Long Road Ahead

Unlike what they usually saw, it was truly rare.

Jiang Ziling faintly heard the noise outside the door from within the house and realized that the situation was grim. He hurriedly leaned on his cane, his steps faltering as he staggered towards the door, intending to defend his wife.

"Constable Lord, please listen, there seems to be some misunderstanding here..."

Before he could finish, a constable swiftly drew a gleaming knife from his waist and held it in front of him. His tone was cold and indisputable, "Any grievances, speak at the court office. Everything will be fairly judged by the County Magistrate Master."

Jiang Ziling’s words stuck in his throat, his eyes full of concern and reluctance towards Su Yu.

He looked at the steadfast figure of Su Yu, feeling a mixture of emotions in his heart.

Su Yu, sensing her husband’s anxiety, softly comforted him, "Don’t worry, Xixi and I are here at home, and we will be fine. Your leg injury hasn’t fully healed yet, so please don’t overexert yourself."

After speaking, she turned and entered the house, aware that she was about to meet the government officials and needed to tidy herself up no matter what, to maintain her dignity.

Meanwhile, the arrival of the government soldiers stirred up quite a commotion in the village.

The villagers gathered in front of the Jiang Family’s door, whispering and discussing among themselves.

The usually tranquil village was extraordinarily lively today due to this sudden government intervention.

"Hey, what on earth is going on? Why have the soldiers come? Could something serious have happened?"

One person asked doubtfully.

"Who knows, this family seems never to have a quiet moment," replied another person, shaking his head with a sigh, his words carrying a hint of helplessness.

Lady Zhao and Fang Qin appeared, their faces showing a degree of undisguised satisfaction, as if the long-awaited moment had finally arrived.

Most of the villagers, eager for a spectacle, watched until Su Yu stepped out of the door, accompanied by several soldiers.

This scene shocked everyone present, evoking immediate concern as they inquired about what had happened.

Seeing this, Fang Qin’s lips curled into a smug smile, and she loudly said, "Humph, guilty? She dared to set fire on me, now let’s see if she can bear the consequences."

She deliberately showed her singed hair tips and damaged clothes, trying to elicit more sympathy and support.

However, the looks she received from the surrounding crowd were mostly ones of skepticism and disdain; they obviously were not buying it.

Fang Qin’s sole dramatic performance had turned into a joke, making the scene quite awkward.

The news spread like wildfire, and soon the entire village knew about Su Yu being taken away by the soldiers.

People were utterly astonished by this sudden turn of events, especially since Su Yu had used her intelligence to help solve the pest problem in the rice fields, nearly eradicating all the pests and giving the farmers renewed hope for a harvest.

The gratitude they felt toward her surged like a spring tide, and some even privately likened her to the merciful Guanyin Bodhisattva.

Who would have thought that such a good person would suffer such a disaster? For a time, everyone’s hearts were filled with indescribable perplexity and confusion.

Upon further investigation, everyone came to know that all this stemmed from Fang Qin, a person accustomed to idleness, who had an argument with Su Yu over a trivial matter, which eventually escalated to the government.

The story behind it made the villagers sigh endlessly.

This incident caused no small stir in the village; even though there were minor arguments and disputes on regular days, they all followed the old rules, first seeking the village chief Mr. Li for mediation. No family had ever thought of taking matters directly to the government.

But this time was different—it was like a sudden cold wind that made everyone’s hearts chill.

The villagers, each feeling as if there was a stone pressing on their hearts, that could not be relieved unless expressed, spontaneously gathered and set out on the dirt road leading to Clear Water Town.

Along the way, they discussed fervently, calculating in their minds that if Fang Qin fabricated stories, they would definitely stand up for Su Yu, stating the facts to uphold justice.

Two constables rode horses, creating clouds of dust, with Su Yu and Fang Qin following closely, walking briskly.

Although Su Yu walked steadily, seemingly unconcerned about the long journey, her figure in the morning light appeared tough and indifferent; this was because her physical strength, honed by long-term labor, far exceeded that of ordinary people, making this path seem like a rare morning walk for her.

In contrast, Fang Qin’s situation was not so optimistic; the hustle of the previous day left marks on her feet, with new and old blisters intermixed, some even broken, every step felt like stepping on the sharp edge of a knife, causing her brow to furrow tightly, lips slightly pursed, almost breaking into tears.

Noticing Fang Qin’s sluggishness, the two constables impatiently urged her, their tone revealing their irritability caused by the early rise and hunger.

Fang Qin was inwardly frantic, afraid to miss this excellent opportunity to bring down Su Yu. Therefore, she endured the piercing pain, clenched her teeth, and quickened her pace.

Su Yu’s gaze was sharp, she lightly swept over Fang Qin’s struggling figure, her lips curling into an imperceptible cold smile, thinking to herself, "You brought this on yourself."

As they walked, Su Yu pulled out two steaming hot chive and egg pancakes from her coat, the surface golden, fragrant, a treat she had carefully prepared that morning.

She smiled gently and offered the pancakes to the two constables, "Brothers, you’ve worked hard all the way, these pancakes are still warm. If you don’t mind, help yourselves to pad your stomachs."

The two constables looked at each other hesitantly, debating whether to accept the food that breached regulations, yet the inviting aroma of the pancakes was irresistible, and they found themselves involuntarily swallowing dryly.

Su Yu’s considerate nature once again broke their hesitation, one of them finally accepted the pancake and began to eat greedily, his expression as if he had encountered a long-awaited rainfall.

Seeing this, the other also let down his guard, the deliciousness of the pancake subtly changing their attitudes and softening their behavior towards Su Yu considerably.

Fang Qin, standing aside and witnessing this scene, curled her lips and sarcastically remarked, "Some people really know how to brown-nose."

No sooner had her words fallen than her stomach inappropriately rumbled, revealing the secret that she too had skipped breakfast. The discomfort throughout her body seemed to converge at that moment, reminding her of the long road still ahead.

After the long journey, when everyone finally stood in front of the county government’s main gate, Fang Qin suddenly seemed filled with fighting spirit, her eyes sparkling with unprecedented firmness and fierceness, her gaze directly targeting Su Yu as if saying, "Let’s see how you escape this time!"

Just at that moment, a dull sound of the court gavel rang inside the hall, accompanied by the vigorous swinging of the constables’ water and fire sticks and their loud calls, "Might—Power—," ushering in an instantly solemn and august atmosphere throughout the hall.

When all had returned to calm, the County Magistrate seated high on the platform slowly began to speak, his voice deep and forceful, "Who stands accused in this court today?"

Hardly able to contain herself, Fang Qin rushed to spill out the accusations she had fabricated against Su Yu, each word laden with her complex emotions and intentions.

The corners of Su Yu’s mouth curled up in a barely noticeable cold smile, internally calculating how Fang Qin had always been overbearing in her daily conduct.