Mr. Jing and His Lit Chapter 87

Brother Dao’s Exit and Subsequent Events

“Dong dong dong dong!” The drum of injustice echoed outside the county yan.

The county magistrate, with nothing important to attend to, quickly ascended the court upon hearing a brief summary from the yan runners about the case involving a certain Boss Jing and Yi. As soon as he heard the nas, he wasted no ti in ascending the court.

This case was practically a gift for trial, with witnesses, testimonies, and even damning confessions. Moreover, there was a connection with the Huangs, who held so sway in Qingzhou Prefecture. Therefore, the county magistrate didn’t prolong the proceedings unnecessarily.

When he saw the extensive list of charges, he beca even more excited. Knowing that resolving this case would be a significant accomplishnt, it might even help him move up the ranks slightly next year.

However, as the trial progressed, Brother Dao, unable to bear the situation, revealed the involvent of the Liu family. The county magistrate was inwardly alard and looked at Jing Yi. Seeing that Jing Yi showed no intention of implicating the Liu family, he breathed a sigh of relief, happy that they had so sense.

Jing’s family saved him from trouble, and the county magistrate reciprocated by saving face. The verdict was swift and harsh. Under the laws of the Da Yuan Dynasty, theft with evidence was a straightforward conviction. Accumulating all the charges, Brother Dao would have to mine in the frigid north for a lifeti.

In the end, Brother Dao received fifty strokes and was exiled to the harsh northern lands for life. The other henchn received twenty strokes each and faced a similar fate. Additionally, they were sentenced to twenty years of exile.

The house Brother Dao bought, the large courtyard in the western part of town, and the one hundred and sixty taels of silver he found in Man Hong’s house were all returned to the rightful owners, as indicated in the confession.

In the courtroom, the county magistrate’s prestige and popularity soared. The county magistrate, although sowhat corrupt, understood the importance of big cases. Cutting through the chaos with swift judgnts and imposing the harshest penalties, the magistrate earned accolades. Following the combined penalties, Brother Dao and his n had no chance of returning to society. The public and the victims alike were satisfied.

In the end, Jing Yi also gave so money to the yan runners, asking them to “take care” of Brother Dao and his n during the escort.

On the journey back to town, the once teary-eyed victims appeared to be relieved. Jing Yi and his companions felt a similar mix of joy and fulfillnt. This incident was more than just self-defense; it was a collective effort that left everyone with a unique sense of contentnt.

Even the young children attending school understood a bit more about the saying: “When you succeed, benefit the world.”

Unlike the optimistic Xiao An and Dongshan, although Dongjiang was happy, there was always a sense of restraint in his excitent. Now that Brother Dao’s matter was resolved, he couldn’t help but look at Jing Yi.

Seeing Dongjiang’s worried and sowhat resentful eyes, Jing Yi understood without any confusion. He comforted Dongjiang, “There might still be involvent from the main Liu family in this matter. With deep roots and a strong foundation, it’s better not to uproot them completely. Instead, let the enemy relax their guard, bide our ti, and then strike decisively.”

Upon hearing this, Dongjiang’s eyes lit up, and he nodded firmly.

Back at ho, they faced various inquiries, so filled with concern, others probing. Jing Yi delegated the task of responding to these interactions to his younger brothers. Following Jing Yi’s instructions, they recounted the misdeeds of Brother Dao and his gang, leaving out only those actions that could tarnish the reputation of the gers and won.

The news of Brother Dao’s downfall and the subsequent relief brought a sense of unity among those who had suffered from his actions. The focus shifted away from the Jing family. However, the involvent of the Liu family remained undisclosed for now. It was crucial not to startle the snake in the grass, and even if the testimonies reached the Liu family, they would likely interpret it as Jing Yi fearing them, leading to a relaxation of their guard.

Leaving the ongoing developnts in Jing’s control, he chose not to intervene directly. Still, he kept an eye on things, periodically having his people inquire about the situation with the Liu family.

Ti swiftly passed, reaching early August. Chen Jiawen had returned ho a couple of days earlier to recuperate. On the second day of his return, Jing Yi, accompanied by Chuxia and Xiao An, visited him. They apologized to his mother and grandmother, acknowledging that the incident was caused by the Jing family, resulting in undeserved misfortune for their family.

Jing Yi not only covered all the dical expenses but also compensated Chen’s family with an additional twenty taels of silver. He urged them not to worry about money during Jiawen’s recovery, insisting they spend generously on his well-being.

“Boss Jing, this can’t be accepted. Xiao Wen has always spoken highly of you, saying how much you’ve helped us. He made a mistake this ti, blindly following bad people. Usually, he’s smart, but when it mattered, he faltered!”

Mother Chen, Jiawen’s mother, had a loud voice and was a talkative person. She was kind-hearted and deeply attached to family. Earlier that year, Jiawen’s father fell seriously ill, and despite his reluctance to continue treatnt, she persisted in seeking dical advice. Unfortunately, Jiawen’s father did not recover.

After the family’s pillar was gone, relatives from Jiawen’s uncle’s side repeatedly urged his sister (Jiawen’s mother) to abandon her mother-in-law and child, remarrying instead. At her age, still in her thirties with lingering charm, she could potentially secure a hefty dowry from her natal family.

In the end, Jiawen’s mother decided to leave with Jiawen, severing ties with her natal family. She did so resolutely, showing great strength.

“Madam Chen, Jiawen is a good-hearted and capable young man. He is my younger brothers’ classmate, and we treat him like a younger brother. Due to my misfortune, he suffered. As an elder brother, I couldn’t stand idly by.” Jing Yi explained.

“Yes, Madam Chen, please don’t be too polite. This is our sincere gift. If you and Grandma can understand and accept it, we would be very grateful,” Chuxia added.

“Why bla you? You are all good children,” Jiawen’s grandmother, a gentle lady, patted Chuxia’s hand and spoke warmly.

Now, the few people who had helped Chen’s family were deeply rembered, and they hoped to repay the kindness in the future.

After so reluctance, Jing Yi forcefully handed the money to Jiawen, urging him not to let his mother and grandmother be troubled. Eventually, the young man accepted the money, and both parties were satisfied.

“Big Brother Jing! Consider this money a loan from

to you! I won’t continue my private studies after the twelfth month. Next year, can I work at your shop to earn money and repay you?” Chen Jiawen eagerly proposed.

Jing Yi playfully patted his shoulder and said, “You think too much! What borrowing and repaying? I was actually planning to discuss this after you finish your private studies. If you decide not to continue with private studies and are willing to engage in business, co find . Big Brother Jing truly needs talents like you.”

“Alright!”

Exiting Chen Jiawen’s house, Jing Yi, along with the other two, turned right toward Qingfeng Academy, requesting a ten-day leave for Jiawen. Doctor Cen from the clinic had ntioned that Jiawen could resu his studies at the academy in ten days, as long as he avoided exertion.

Jing Yi initially intended to personally request leave from the academy director as a sign of respect. However, the academy director unexpectedly visited and left the academy quickly today. The duty teachers assured Jing Yi that they would convey the ssage.

Regrettably, Jing Yi had to leave, missing the chance to witness the grandeur of this hidden powerhouse. That night, the small team from Ice Nectar Pavillion gathered for a al in the backyard’s eting hall of the hot pot restaurant. Although they were reluctant to part ways, the youngsters understood their imdiate priorities.

After dinner, everyone retired to rest. As Jing Yi pushed open the door to their room, he sensed sothing amiss. Quickly, he ushered Chuxia out, instructing him to wait in the main hall.

Jing Yi cautiously examined the room and soon discovered the discrepancy: his desk, near the back window, showed slight adjustnts in the positions of the pen holder and the two brushes placed on the inkstone.

Alert and cautious, Jing Yi approached for a closer inspection. While the inkstone and brushes appeared untouched, a neatly folded piece of paper rested inside the pen holder.

Observing the smooth, dry surface of the paper, Jing Yi decided to open it facing away from him, flipping it over only after a five-second delay to minimize any potential foul play.

The note was concise—a willow tree leaning against a tall house, five snakes enshrined inside the house. At the bottom, a crooked “wait” character.

Pondering the ssage, Jing Yi considered the possibility that the force behind the Liu family was related to the Fifth Prince. If a prince supported them, it explained their audacity. He realized that even if the Liu family had discovered the Jing family’s business dealings, it wouldn’t deter them if they had a royal backing.

However, he refrained from hastily concluding whether this hidden force was an enemy or an ally. Since the Liu family matters needed to be temporarily set aside, he decided to stay vigilant for the ti being. The note hinted at a looming threat, but he would bide his ti for a strategic counterattack.

About to keep the note and summon Chuxia to the main hall, Jing Yi caught a faint scent of ink in the air—Hui ink, the finest quality from Hui Prefecture!

Since Jing’s younger brothers began their studies, Jing Yi and Chuxia brought back high-quality writing materials each ti they visited Qingzhou Prefecture. Jing Yi recalled seeing treasures in Qingzhou, among them, a premium ink nad Cang Lan. This exquisite fragrance matched that ink.

Thinking to himself, “I’ll rember you,” Jing Yi realized that there weren’t many people in this town willing and able to use Cang Lan ink casually.