The Lucky Farmgirl
Chapter 667 - 656: Tell

Chapter 667: Chapter 656: Tell

The case was indeed handled by County Magistrate Tang personally, and when the Ji Family went to fetch Ji Hao back for a beating, it was impossible to conceal the injury on his body.

And since Ji Hao had been thrown into the schoolhouse by the Ji Family, he was also hiding the wound on his chest from his family, which clearly meant County Magistrate Tang knew nothing about it.

In fact, he didn’t even deal with the case personally.

County Magistrate Tang smiled at Manbao and spoke softly, "I originally thought it was just a common brawl among students, who would have thought that sharp weapons would be used?"

He stood up and said, "Alright, I won’t chat with you any longer, come out, I am going to ask you two questions."

The three of them didn’t want to move.

County Magistrate Tang then narrowed his eyes and said, "This weather is perfect for eating lotus seeds, do you want me to treat you to some?"

Manbao and Bai Shan both looked up at County Magistrate Tang, and as their eyes met, they both stood up honestly; Bai Erlang also tensed his nerves and followed suit.

County Magistrate Tang nodded in satisfaction, then turned and walked out first.

The three of them honestly put the books back, and then Manbao and Bai Erlang climbed out through the window, while Bai Shan left through the door with the book basket in hand.

Mr. Wu squinted at his book basket and nodded lightly, saying, "Go on, remember to come to the Book Collection Tower early tomorrow to read, learning is like rowing against the current, without progress, there is retreat, so one must not slack off."

Bai Shan bowed in response.

County Magistrate Tang stood underneath a tree and watched them climb out. When the three of them gathered, he smiled and said, "You’ve all passed Mr. Wu’s inspection, why bother to climb through the window?"

Bai Erlang was frightened, "What, Mr. Wu knows about us?"

Both Manbao and Bai Shan weren’t surprised. Even if Mr. Wu’s vision wasn’t good, they had been standing by Bai Shan’s side in the apricot grove earlier, and the three of them were similar in height and age.

Mr. Wu guarded the Book Collection Tower every day; he would know they hadn’t entered through the front door.

Bai Shan cleared his throat and asked, "Lord Tang, what questions do you want to ask us?"

"The first one, what is the nature of Ji Hao’s injury?"

This was easy, as they had just discussed it a lot earlier, so Manbao carefully described the wound to him, and from a physician’s perspective, added, "At first glance, the injury seems not serious, but if he neglects it like this, especially with the weather still hot, one mishap could lead to its aggravation and become life-threatening."

County Magistrate Tang’s brows and eyes didn’t show any movement, he nodded his head and then smiled, "The second question, were the lotus seeds in the Yan Residence’s pond picked by you?"

The three exchanged a guilty look, and nodded.

County Magistrate Tang slapped Bai Shan on the head and said sternly, "From now on, you are forbidden to go to the Yan Residence again. The property has been sold by the government, so if you go there again, you’re intruding on private property, and if you get beaten for it, I can’t help you."

Manbao was surprised, "Someone really bought it?"

"What a joke, it’s not some backward place. Land in Yizhou City is very expensive. With the Yan Residence’s good location, why wouldn’t anyone want it?"

The three felt a bit of a pity but nodded in agreement. Bai Shan asked, "Who bought it? Should we go and congratulate them when they move in?"

County Magistrate Tang remarked, "Oh, you can think of that?"

Bai Shan said somewhat sheepishly, "After all, we did pick all the mature lotus seeds from their pond."

Manbao and Bai Er also nodded along, feeling quite embarrassed thinking about it.

County Magistrate Tang simply waved his hand and said, "No need to go, you probably wouldn’t be able to get in, anyway. The buyer is an official. Although he will be a neighbor to you folks from the same alley, their doors don’t even open in the same direction, so visiting might lead to misunderstandings."

Bai Shan glanced at his expression and said "Oh," then asked, "The official is of a higher rank than you, right?"

County Magistrate Tang glanced at him and said, "Indeed, a whole rank higher, and a capital official at that."

But none of the three could see much respect on his face.

County Magistrate Tang looked at the sky and waved his hand, "It’s getting late, you should head back as well. By the way, how are you going to leave?"

So Manbao and Bai Erlang demonstrated how they got out of the schoolhouse to him.

County Magistrate Tang watched as they quickly climbed over the wall and then waved goodbye, swiftly disappearing over the top of the wall.

County Magistrate Tang shook his head with a smile and said, "No wonder I blocked the hole, and you still managed to get into the Yan Residence, quite resourceful."

Bai Shan, carrying his book basket, headed towards the main gate with County Magistrate Tang, curiously asking, "Lord Tang, didn’t you ever play hooky when you and County Magistrate Yang were studying?"

"I never played hooky," said County Magistrate Tang with conviction, "I adore studying, why would I skip it? It is the County Magistrate of your county, Yang Heshu, who used to climb walls to play hooky a lot."

"Even from the walls of the Imperial College?"

"Of course. They’re only slightly higher than the west wall of your schoolhouse, and they had plenty of tools to aid them, like ropes and such. Just throw it onto the wall, and up you go."

Bai Shan reflected on this, "Lord, you know so much, have you seen it with your own eyes?"

County Magistrate Tang coughed lightly and said with his back turned, "I might have seen it occasionally."

As they got to the outer gate, Daji was already waiting having received Manbao and his companions at the main entrance.

County Magistrate Tang squinted at Daji, then turned and said to Bai Shan, "Even though Mr. Wu tacitly allowed your actions, you should still keep a low profile when in the schoolhouse. In situations like today, concede if you can, it’s you who will be at a disadvantage in a fight."

Bai Shan lifted his chin, "We’re quite formidable in a fight; they wouldn’t dare report us to the school officer."

"They are older than you."

"Daji is right behind the wall. If we lose the fight, we’ll just fight back another day. We can’t be seriously injured."

Of course, he was talking about injuries involving bleeding.

"I knew it," County Magistrate Tang said, tapping him with a finger, "Do you know Ji Hao’s background? If you harm Ji Hao, even if you are friends with Yang Heshu, he couldn’t save you."

Bai Shan remained silent.

County Magistrate Tang turned and walked away, waving his hand, "Alright, you head back. In the future, keep those two and your family’s servant in line."

Manbao asked Bai Shan, "What did he say to you?"

Bai Shan shook his head, "Nothing important."

Daji asked, "Young Master, should I come to the schoolhouse with you tomorrow?"

"No need, our feud with Ji Hao is settled, he won’t trouble me," Bai Shan assured.

Manbao nodded, explaining, "We just administered his medication and tended to his wound. As long as he’s not the vindictive type, he won’t bother Shanbao."

Daji breathed a sigh of relief and agreed.

It was only then that Bai Erlang dropped the curtain and wondered aloud, "The County Governmental Office is clearly siding with us, why did County Magistrate Tang head the other way?"

Manbao also curiously glanced in that direction.

Bai Shan pondered for a moment and said, "The Ji Family lies in that direction."

Bai Erlang, "What’s he doing at the Ji Family’s place? He’s not going to report us, is he?"

Manbao thought for a moment and then laughed, "Seems like someone in the schoolhouse is about to have a bad day."

County Magistrate Tang’s visit to the Ji Family was to notify them to collect their young master from the schoolhouse.

It was a good thing he had made the trip today; otherwise, if that ignorant young man made a big issue out of that wound, he would have been the first to be held accountable.