C342 Determination
The bailiff's expression turned to panic as he forced himself to say that the woman was lying.
"Sun Qiang, you caused my family to be destroyed, even if you turn to dust, I still recognize you." The woman rushed over and slapped Sun Qiang hard, wanting to beat him to death.
Sun Qiang pushed back the woman, causing her to fall to the ground. Liu Zhimo frowned, and then patted the ground and said, "Stop!" He gave the guard a look and told him to help the woman up.
The guard nodded and strode to the woman's side. He extended a hand to help the woman up and asked if she was injured.
The woman shook her head and said no.
"Don't worry, the lord will make the decision for you."
Hearing that, the woman kneeled down again, and kowtowed to Liu Zhimo.
Her entire hope was placed on County Magistrate, she hoped that this County Magistrate was not as blameless and innocent as the officials from before.
Liu Zhimo glanced at the woman with a heavy heart, then turned his head to look at Magistrate Ma, and asked him to take out the Zong Volume from before.
When he was cleaning up the Zong Volume, he had seen this case. However, the Zong Volume had convicted the person who reported this to them and imprisoned him for half a month.
Magistrate Ma answered and took out the Zong Volume. Liu Zhimo opened it and looked at it again seriously.
"Elder, is your daughter's name Tang Jiao?" Is your husband called Tang Shan? "
"Yes, my lord, this humble woman is called Huang Jing Jing, she is .." The woman explained the situation of her family once more, then recounted what happened back then. After she finished speaking, she kneeled down and kowtowed heavily towards Liu Zhimo, "Master, you must uphold justice for this humble woman, using this humble woman as your daughter, and your child as her father's spirit in heaven."
"Don't worry, I won't let the guilty go unpunished."
"Thank you, milord."
The grievance three years ago, had been turned over once again by Liu Zhimo at this moment.
The yamen runner called Sun Qiang tugged at his robes forcefully to control the trembling in his heart.
He had to be steady and steady. The matter had been going on for so long that it wouldn't be discovered.
Sun Qiang constantly comforted himself in his heart, and allowed himself to calm down.
Liu Zhimo was not in a rush, he sent his guards to investigate the surroundings of the woman's home, and brought back more witnesses.
It would be fine if he did not make a move, but if he did, Sun Qiang would definitely not be able to turn around.
He would never tolerate such a vile matter.
"A seat for the elderly." Thinking that the investigation would take some time, Liu Zhimo could not bear to see an elderly man kneel in front of him.
When the woman heard this, she quickly waved her hands and said, "No need, no need."
Why would she allow the County Magistrate to treat her in such a manner?
She couldn't help but wipe the tears at the corner of her eyes. This County Magistrate was a good person, he wasn't the same pervert who tried to kill her for her wealth.
Seeing that the woman was truly unwilling to sit, Liu Zhimo could only let her stand, and not kneel.
The woman hesitated, and after thanking Liu Zhimo, she stood to the side with her back hunched.
Liu Zhimo looked at the commoners in the court and said loudly that no matter who suffered from the injustice, or how many years the case had been, they could still turn it over.
The moment these words came out, the people all kneeled down and shouted, "The lord is wise!"
Some of the citizens who had been wronged wiped their tears. The heavens had finally opened their eyes and sent a county magistrate for the citizens to come to Ninghua County.
Liu Zhimo raised his hand, allowing them to stand up.
After waiting for about an hour, the guards that had gone to investigate returned. At the same time, they brought several people with them.
When those people saw the woman, they all called out to her.
The woman wiped her eyes and bowed to them, thanking them for their testimony.
"Aunt, Jiao Jiao is someone we've seen grow up. We're very happy to be able to do something for her."
Liu Zhimo tapped the table and asked the witnesses their questions.
After he finished questioning the witnesses, Liu Zhimo looked at Sun Qiang and asked him if he had anything else to say.
Sun Qiang collapsed onto the ground, scared speechless.
Given how detailed the situation was, how could he defend himself?
"Milord." Magistrate Ma handed over the case written down by him for Liu Zhimo to look at.
Liu Zhimo took a look and felt that there were no problems, he could take it to draw a bet for Sun Qiang.
Magistrate Ma said yes, then walked in front of Sun Qiang and asked him to sign the contract.
Being suppressed by the guards, Sun Qiang could not protest at all. He could only tremble and sign his name and press his own handprint.
Finished, finished, this time he was finished.
I wonder what the County Magistrate will sentence him for?
"Sun Qiang, you have committed multiple crimes, yet you do not repent. "Decide." Liu Zhimo threw the stenciled note in front of Sun Qiang, "Put the official in first, and then we'll cut him off."
When the verdict was out, the citizens cheered. A person who committed so many evil deeds should be long dead.
"Thank you lord, for standing up for this woman, thank you sir." The lady knelt down with tears flowing down her face and kowtowed to Liu Zhimo a few times.
My daughter, my child's father, did you see that? You may rest in peace now that the villains who have destroyed our family have been convicted.
Sun Qiang threw himself to the ground and shouted, If he did not accept, then what right did he have to make such a decision?
"Magistrate Ma, you recite the crimes Sun Qiang committed one by one to him so he can hear how many crimes he has committed. Should you make a decision now?"
Liu Zhimo looked at Sun Qiang coldly, and turned to instruct Magistrate Ma.
Magistrate Ma responded and once again recited the crimes Sun Qiang committed loudly out loud one by one.
After reading till the end, the people had all shouted that Sun Qiang was guilty of so many crimes, he should have already decided.
Previously, no one had acted on their behalf, but now, they could finally speak out their grievances.
Sun Qiang's face was pale white as he laid on the ground, unable to say another word.
Liu Zhimo asked the guards to drag Sun Qiang down and imprison him in his cell.
The rest of the constables did not dare to make a sound. They were afraid that they would end up like Sun Qiang.
Liu Zhimo glanced at them and also decided to take them in first before coming back to properly punish them with their crimes.
"I am waiting for you at the yamen. If you have any grievances, feel free to speak up." Liu Zhimo stood up and looked at the citizens again, "Retreat."
After this matter, Liu Zhimo busied himself until the sky turned dark. He went out early in the morning and he would only be back in the middle of the night.
She had lost a lot of weight, which made Li Qingling's heart ache.
"No need to wake up, continue sleeping." Liu Zhimo pressed his hand on Li Qingling, who wanted to follow him to get up, and kissed her on the forehead, "Remember to get up and eat breakfast, huh?"
"I'll take your lunch from the kitchen at noon." Li Qingling reached out to touch his face, "You need to pay attention to rest, don't take it head-on."
Liu Zhimo nodded, and kissed her on the lips once more before standing up and leaving.
During this period of time, there had been a lot of people who had turned the case against him. He had been so busy that he didn't even have the time to drink his saliva, let alone eat properly.
However, seeing the smiles on the citizens' faces, everything was worth it.
"Good morning, County Magistrate."
As Liu Zhimo walked along the road, he saw his citizens greeting him one by one.
"County Magistrate, come and eat the steamed buns. I made it myself, it's very delicious."
The two big bun were shoved into Liu Zhimo's hands, and he quickly escaped.
Liu Zhimo wanted to call him back, but he had no way of doing so.
"County Magistrate, come and eat the sesame seed cakes."
Another commoner wanted to put the sesame seed cake into Liu Zhimo's hands, but Liu Zhimo hurriedly took a step back and waved his hands, saying, "No need, let him keep it for sale."
He was afraid that the others would also give it to him, so he ran away in fright.
The people were too enthusiastic for him to handle.
"Ai... County Magistrate is too kind. "
"I saw that County Magistrate has lost a lot of weight. Tomorrow, I will catch an old hens and let him heal his body."
"It wasn't easy for us to find a County Magistrate to take care of us, so let's not let him get tired. Let me see what kind of body nourishing items are in the house and give some to the County Magistrate."
"I'll go home and take a look as well .."
Liu Zhimo who had run to the yamen did not know that the citizens would all think so much for him.
He hurriedly finished two steamed buns, then threw himself back into the Zong Volume.
Not to mention the commoners outside, even Magistrate Ma had great admiration for Liu Zhimo. He would often go back to his home and tell Hu Juanjuan that the County Magistrate was a good official who thought for the citizens wholeheartedly. He must follow the County Magistrate and not drag him down.
"Sir, this is the millet congee cooked by my wife. She asked me to bring some for you to drink." Magistrate Ma pushed the congee in front of Liu Zhimo, allowing him to drink it to nourish his stomach.
Liu Zhimo looked up and glanced at Magistrate Ma, then smiled at him: "This time is fine, next time don't bring another one, I've already eaten breakfast at home." With that, he quickly finished the porridge in his hand.
He stood up, wanting to wash the bowl clean before returning it to Magistrate Ma.
Seeing his stance, Magistrate Ma immediately snatched the bowl over, "County Magistrate, let me do it." How could he let County Magistrate wash the dishes?
As Magistrate Ma washed the dishes, he sighed at how the County Magistrate's education was simply too good.
Even the four brats in his house, playing with the young masters, had become more polite and understanding.
He was comforted by what he saw.
"Magistrate Ma, come, take a look at this Zong Volume." When Liu Zhimo saw Magistrate Ma coming back with the bowl, he waved his hand and pushed the Zong Volume in front of him so that he could look, "Do you have any impression of this case?"
Magistrate Ma took the Zong Volume and looked at it seriously. He frowned and recalled it for a while, only then did he have a little impression of it.
He nodded and told her what he remembered.
Hearing that, Liu Zhimo frowned, what was the reason for the woman's withdrawal?
"When you are free, go to Wutong Village and see what's going on there."
"Yes..." Thinking about Wutong Village, the corner of Magistrate Ma's mouth involuntarily twitched. Whoever it was that was grabbed by someone and sent to the woodshed for no reason would have a bad impression of that place either, right?
Liu Zhimo silently noted down this matter, put the Zong Volume aside and looked at the other Zong Volume.
This entire morning, no one came to report anything. Liu Zhimo stood up, stretched his body, and turned his head to look at Magistrate Ma, telling him to go back and eat lunch.
"What about you?" "It can't be that you don't want to eat, right?" County Magistrate, do you want me to bring some food over for you to eat? "
"No need. Today, my wife is coming to cook. She will bring me food."
Caught off guard, he was fed another handful of dog food.
Magistrate Ma looked at Liu Zhimo wrathfully. What was so special about his wife bringing him food? He also had a wife. He wanted her to bring him food, hmph ..