The Double
Chapter 295 - 114 Reinforcements_3

Chapter 295: Chapter 114 Reinforcements_3

"I know," Jiang Li said softly. "I don’t blame them." Actually, it was the same. If one day she were asked to plead for a good person but it might cost Xue Huaiyuan and Xue Zhao their lives, she would also hesitate. A knife does not hurt unless it cuts one’s own flesh; such is human nature, and no one is exempt.

"So what do we do?" Ye Mingyu scratched his head.

"Although the common people have their difficulties, we still need the people of Tongxiang to stand up. I know it’s dangerous, but there’s no other way. That’s just how the world works now; fairness and justice come at a price. Only if the people stand up can they become the final straw that breaks the camel’s back. I want to make the culprits who framed the Xue Family suffer this time, not to death, then flay them alive. Surely they won’t get off easily!" Jiang Li spoke with a growing intensity, flames seemingly flickering in her eyes, before she gradually calmed down.

"I’ll do it. There are a total of five hundred and sixty-eight households in Tongxiang; I’ll persuade them myself. Starting today, there are only five more days. There isn’t a single household in Tongxiang that hasn’t received some kindness from County Magistrate Xue. A small kindness is met with a gushing spring in return. Although help doesn’t require repayment, now is the time to repay. People’s hearts are made of flesh. I’ll knock on each door, inquire at each home; among five hundred and sixty-eight households, I refuse to believe I can’t find one willing to stand up." She looked at the people around her. "There will be one household, right?"

Everyone fell silent.

There was anticipation in Jiang Li’s eyes. She was naturally gentle and composed, even the most urgent matters conducted by her hands seemed to take on a leisurely pace. Therefore, her own emotions were rarely exposed and Ye Mingyu had never seen such an expectant expression from her before.

But now he had.

And it was as though in this moment, she became a true cardamom-aged girl, waiting with her whole heart for something good to happen, and anyone who shattered this carefully nurtured hope would be committing an unforgivable sin.

Peng Xiao said, "Right, there won’t just be one household; there will be many more. The people of Tongxiang are not ungrateful. Miss Jiang the Second, you mustn’t underestimate them."

Jiang Li’s lips curved up slightly. "I won’t. I’ve always believed in them."

Just like her father believed in them.

...

After leaving the secret room, Jiang Li and Ye Mingyu walked back.

"Jiang Li, when you go to persuade those common people, let me come with you," Ye Mingyu said. "I’m worried you won’t be able to handle it all by yourself. Five hundred and sixty-eight households is not a small number."

Jiang Li thought for a moment. "Uncle, you don’t know what kind of favors they’ve received from County Magistrate Xue, I’m afraid you won’t be able to convince them. How about I write a booklet for you to read beforehand based on that information?"

Ye Mingyu was taken aback. "Do you know what kind of favors they’ve received from County Magistrate Xue?"

"Somewhat," Jiang Li smiled. Sometimes she and Xue Zhao felt that Xue Huaiyuan was a rare good person in this world because he would help any of the people in Tongxiang who were in trouble. When Tongxiang was poor and no one wanted to come, Xue Huaiyuan did, and he never contemplated leaving. In Xue Huaiyuan’s eyes, each person in Tongxiang was his kin. As a paternal government official, he was to relieve the people’s distress. If the people couldn’t even rely on him, then there was no one they could rely on.

Once, she thought being guilt-free was enough. Now, she suddenly felt lost, unsure if what Xue Huaiyuan had done back then was meaningful at all.

If only Xue Zhao were here, Jiang Li thought, he would surely understand her current confusion and could persuade her heart in the shortest time.

The carriage procession, which had taken the route that Jiang Li had walked, was now back on the main road. Jiang Li had already changed back into her original attire on the carriage, knowing that Feng Yutang must have realized that the people from East Mountain were taken away and was frantically searching for them. Her disguise couldn’t last much longer, so she might as well come out openly. Feng Yutang knew it was her people who had taken Peng Xiao and the others, but he couldn’t find out somehow. Since Feng Yutang did not dare to coerce her into revealing their whereabouts, she was fearless.

Jiang Li sat in the carriage, seriously considering what to do next. Unconsciously, it had already turned dark outside.

The day had been very tightly scheduled, and even so, time had passed quickly. Jiang Li increasingly felt there wasn’t enough time. Out of the seven days, two had already passed, and she was unsure if there was still time enough in the remaining five days.

She pushed aside the carriage curtain; it got dark quickly in the winter. Although Tongxiang’s nights could not be considered lively, there were usually some people outside. But now, perhaps due to Feng Yutang’s tenure, there were very few people on the streets, and one had to walk a long while to see a pedestrian. The households had their doors and lights closed, rendering Tongxiang like a ghost town. This made the sounds of the carriage traveling down the streets echo, especially clear.