The Double
Chapter 311 - 117: The Will of the People_4

Chapter 311: Chapter 117: The Will of the People_4

Mo Wenxuan said everything in one breath, his chest heaving violently. He had probably never argued with anyone like this before. His neck was even turning red, and the veins on his agitated forehead were bulging.

Ye Mingyu looked at him, his anger slightly diffused, but still resentful of his lack of spirit. He only said, "You are not willing to put your mother in danger for you, but are you willing to let her be shamed because of you? Don’t you realize how disappointed she would be to know what you’ve done? Is this the kind of son you are, one that makes it impossible for her to hold her head up high? That is a hundred times more contemptible than being poor and incapable!"

"You!" Mo Wenxuan was left speechless.

Just then, a trembling voice rang out: "Wenxuan."

Both men turned to look and saw that without them noticing, Mo Wenxuan’s mother, the blind old woman, had been groping her way over with the help of a cane, step by step. She must have heard the argument between Ye Mingyu and him and couldn’t resist coming over. One could imagine that the old woman had overheard their entire dispute.

The old woman asked, "Wenxuan, is what this young man said true? Has County Magistrate Xue really been imprisoned?"

Mo Wenxuan stammered without a response. His mother, blind, could not go outside and was unaware of the earth-shattering changes that had already happened in Tongxiang. He had not told his mother, knowing that with her temper, once she learned the truth, she would certainly speak up for County Magistrate Xue.

But he did not want to watch his own mother take risks.

"Wenxuan," the old woman’s voice grew stern.

"It’s true," Mo Wenxuan replied helplessly, "It’s been over half a year now. Lord Xue was imprisoned for embezzling the fund of disaster aid, and his execution will soon take place."

"Nonsense!" The old woman suddenly thrust out her cane and struck the ground hard, clearly angered. She said, "Everybody in Tongxiang knows what kind of person County Magistrate Xue is. Without him, Tongxiang wouldn’t be what it is today. Wenxuan, tell this young man that you’re willing to be a witness. You can’t forget where you came from. If we don’t stand up, how are we any different from those traitors? This is abetting tyranny!"

"But mother..."

"I know what you’re afraid of in your heart. I’ve lived long enough and I’m not afraid to die! If you’re not afraid of death, then stand up. If anyone tries to harm you, your mother will share the burden. We’ve survived all these years together—what are we afraid of in dying together? The most important thing in life is to have backbone. If you’re afraid of death, find a place to hide. I’ll go out with this young man to testify and won’t implicate you!"

"Mother, what are you talking about? How could I let you take risks alone?" Mo Wenxuan stomped his foot in agitation, turning to Ye Mingyu with determination, and said, "Big brother, find somewhere to hide my mother, I’ll go out and testify with you. My mother is right, you can’t lose your principles. A villain like Feng Yutang will eventually go to hell; why not let me be the one to send him there?"

Ye Mingyu had already been ready to give up. The scholar named Mo Wenxuan was timid, and Ye Mingyu was especially impatient with dealing with scholars. Perhaps Jiang Li could persuade with gentle words, but he simply lacked the patience. Even the help that Xue Huaiyuan had offered couldn’t sway him; it seemed there was no hope. Who would have thought that at the last moment, Mo Wenxuan’s own mother would step in and change Mo Wenxuan’s mind.

Ye Mingyu looked at the mother and son with a bit of emotion. He was strong and fearless since he was young, acting impulsively without considering consequences. But many people have families and constraints; courage isn’t something that just emerges easily. No wonder Jiang Li said the last step is the hardest—because human hearts are unpredictable and riddled with fetters.

But in the end, someone was willing to take a stand, right?

Out of five hundred and sixty-eight households, one household stood up. Surely, a second and a third would follow... Human nature is capable of evil, but also of goodness.

Ye Mingyu patted Mo Wenxuan on the shoulder, speaking in a coarse voice, "Kid, don’t act like a hero ready to die. Feng Yutang is just a paper tiger, not worth mentioning. Besides, his good days in Tongxiang are about to end. Nobody will trouble you or your mother. Everyone will be fine; the only one in trouble is Feng Yutang."

Mo Wenxuan bowed, "All thanks to you, big brother."

"Don’t mention it!" Ye Mingyu said, "I won’t stay any longer, I have to find the next household."

"The next household?" The old woman asked curiously.

"There are five hundred and sixty-eight households in Tongxiang, each and every one of them owes County Magistrate Xue a debt of gratitude. I will search through these five hundred plus households to find witnesses, one by one." Ye Mingyu stated proudly.