The Lucky Farmgirl
Chapter 675 - 664: Attitude (Extra - as a reward for book friend "One Stroke Divides the River and Mountains")

Chapter 675: Chapter 664: Attitude (Extra Chapter as a reward for book friend "One Stroke Divides the River and Mountains")

County Magistrate Tang looked past him to the Old Madam Ji who had just come out, bowed respectfully, and asked, "I have seen the Old Madam. Does the Old Madam share this view as well?"

With a cold expression, Old Madam Ji responded, "Since when did the Ji Family and the Ying Family become one?"

Ying Wei was taken aback. He quickly bowed to Old Madam Ji and tried to apologize again, but Old Madam Ji directly passed him by and then stepped aside to make way for the tent entrance.

The strong men who had come with supplies filed in, and before long, they carefully carried Ji Hao out.

Ji Hao’s clothing had not been changed; it was a mess from the scissors and the exposed areas were stained red with blood. At this moment, he was covered with a new quilt, and Doctor Chen and Doctor Ji followed out, one on each side, constantly monitoring Ji Hao’s condition.

Seeing this, Ying Wei understood that Ji Hao’s condition was serious. He was slightly unsettled and stepped aside without saying a word.

The Ji Family’s servants protected Ji Hao as they went home first. All along the way, they cleared the pedestrians on the road to avoid any accidents.

After all, if something accidentally fell and hit the patient on the soft couch, or if someone carelessly spilled a bucket of water...

County Magistrate Tang also dispatched yamen runners to assist. Fortunately, the Ji Family’s residence was not far from Qixia Mountain, and it took about three to four quarters of an hour to reach by carrying the soft couch.

Once the patient had left, Old Madam Ji then turned to County Magistrate Tang and bowed slightly, saying, "I appreciate your efforts, Lord Tang."

County Magistrate Tang returned the gesture expressionlessly and motioned for the yamen runners to take Ying Wenhai away.

Ying Wei’s face grew unsightly, but he did not intervene. With his son in Tang He’s hands, he could try to retrieve him later. It was not a wise choice to have a confrontation with the Ji Family at this moment.

Ying Wei no longer looked at his son; instead, he tried to move forward to apologize to Old Madam Ji again, but she did not pay attention to him and started walking towards the carriage, holding her daughter-in-law’s hand.

Second Madam Ji did not have the same cunning and composure as Old Madam Ji. She turned back and gave Ying Wei a fierce glare before helping her mother-in-law into the carriage and then climbed in herself.

The old nurse glanced around the crowd and saw Bai Shan and Manbao standing together. She summoned a servant, whispered a few words, and then climbed onto the carriage shaft.

Ying Wei, with a face full of sincere fear, escorted the carriage down the mountain. After glancing at the Ji Family’s servants walking in front, he gritted his teeth and followed them.

Ying Family’s servants caught up from behind and whispered, "Master, the carriage is here. You should get in and follow."

"Get out of the way, have the carriage fall back and follow," Ying Wei paused and then ordered, "Send someone to keep an eye on things at County Magistrate Tang’s place. Do not allow the County Governmental Office to use torture and ensure the young master is well cared for."

The servant complied and left.

Ying Wei made a show of apologizing all along the way, insisting on walking beside the carriage, intermittently apologizing to the Old Madam and Second Madam inside, and then he would run ahead to check on Ji Hao, inquiring about his condition with concern.

Old Madam Ji’s expression grew increasingly displeased; she lifted the curtain to glance at Ying Wei’s departing figure before firmly closing her eyes.

However, Second Madam Ji’s expression had softened a great deal, and wiping her tears, she said, "If Ying Wenhai had half his father’s demeanor, my son would not have come to this."

"Shut your mouth!" Old Madam Ji clenched the cane in her hand and took a deep breath before saying, "You focus on taking care of Hao’er in the inner courtyard. Leave the matters at the front to others. Regardless of who comes from the Ying Family, do not see them or speak to them."

Second Madam Ji lowered her head and replied, "Yes."

Old Madam Ji then composed herself, wiped away her tears, and ordered the old nurse, "Clear out the things in both sides of Hao’er’s courtyard to make room for Doctor Chen and Doctor Ji to stay."

She paused before adding, "And Doctor Chen and Doctor Ding, although their medical skills may not be as superior as Doctor Chen’s and Doctor Ji’s, they are young. It will be good for them to assist."

"Yes," the old nurse hesitated for a moment, then asked in a low voice, "Old Madam, it seems Doctor Ji has a female apprentice who is very skilled. Should we invite her to assist?"

Old Madam Ji thought for a while and asked, "Is she the young woman who stopped the bleeding for Hao’er?"

"Yes."

"Forget it. If Doctor Ji didn’t bring her along, then we shouldn’t trouble her. The two best doctors in Yizhou City are already here."

The old nurse glanced again at Ying Wei, who had returned to offer his solicitous attention outside their carriage, and said no more.

At that time, the Old Madam, outside the circle of people, could not see the inside activity and could only guess from what she heard. However, she had been watching them from a high vantage point all along.

But now was not the time to speak. It was better to talk after returning to the mansion.

Meanwhile, County Magistrate Tang had only just noticed Manbao and others standing to the side. He had originally intended to follow to the Ji Family’s residence, but after seeing them, and then catching a glimpse of the silent Ying Wenhai and the Ying Family’s servants who were eyeing them fiercely,

he simply decided not to hurry. He waved his hand to have the yamen runners clear the people from the scene and drove away anyone irrelevant. He then took Ying Wenhai and the clerk forward and asked, "Come on, tell me the whole story."

Ying Wenhai remained silent and did not speak.

The Ying Family’s servants wanted to intervene, seemingly not wanting County Magistrate Tang to question the case at this time.

County Magistrate Tang just glared at them, making them feel a chill down their spines, and they dared not come forward anymore.

County Magistrate Tang was unceremonious. Pointing to two yamen runners, he ordered, "Go, drive them away. If they linger here any longer, arrest them and take them to the County Governmental Office for interfering with an investigation and give them twenty strokes of the large plank."

Seeing his irritability, Manbao asked, "Lord Tang, why are you so angry?"

County Magistrate Tang scoffed. How could he not be? This was his jurisdiction, yet the news had reached the Prince of Yizhou’s mansion faster than it came to him. He had sat in the Prince of Yizhou’s mansion for the time it took to brew twice cups of tea. If he had not felt something was wrong and left the mansion beforehand, he likely would not have known about the incident until everything was settled down in the evening.

County Magistrate Tang signaled for the yamen runners to leave Ying Wenhai on the grassy area. He then turned to Wei Ting and Bai Shan and inquired, "You were both witnesses, yes? Where did the incident happen?"

Wei Ting quickly led him to the scene, and County Magistrate Tang said discontentedly, "You all, what’s with this fiery temper? Was it necessary to hurt someone over a brawl at Spring Breeze Pavilion?"

"We didn’t hurt Ying Wenhai, it was Ying Wenhai who hurt us."

County Magistrate Tang scoffed and said, "With Ji Hao’s mouth... never mind, just tell me how you all started fighting."

Upon saying that, he glanced at Wei Ting and then skipped him, indicating Bai Shan should speak, "You tell it."

"I do not know," Bai Shan said, "This matter doesn’t concern me, and I’m not part of their group."

Wei Ting hesitated to speak.

Without delay, Bai Shan recounted, "The teacher said we were to start learning archery and horsemanship soon, so today he brought us to get a feel for it and to look at horses. If we found any we liked, we’d buy them; otherwise, we’d have to rent the school’s horses for future lessons."

Bai Shan reported, "I picked out a horse and was riding around leisurely when I heard them arguing. So I rode away from them, keeping a fair distance."

County Magistrate Tang & Wei Ting: ... Shouldn’t you have gone to watch the commotion?