Lao Pang's Anping medicinal shop is in the west of the city, and the county government office is in the north of the city.
The East-West Street in Tongcheng is not in a regular pattern. In other places, it should be straight through the west gate and the east gate. However, the East-West Street in Tongcheng is curved towards the north. If you look at it from the sky, it looks like an arch bridge.
Pang Yu and his servants walked on the street with their heads held high. Because they had some money, they were full of confidence. They held their heads high and were high-spirited, walking with wind.
The county towns at this time were generally small, so Pang Yu walked around and looked around. After a while, the two of them arrived at Xianqian Street outside the Yamen.
People came and went at the gate, including people in uniforms and civilian clothes. In addition, there were many green-skinned people standing or sitting around the splayed wall. There were also three or four cages, each with a person in it.
As soon as he walked out of the door, some people gathered around to watch.
Outside the main entrance of the county government office is an eight-character wall on the left and right. On the top of the left and right walls are four characters, "What you eat and use is the people's fat and the people's anointing." It was probably engraved in the early Ming Dynasty to remind officials to treat the people well.
The wall of the Eight-Character Wall is covered with various notices, including official notices, notices, examination notices, imperial examination results, etc. If there is something happening in the local area or there is anything the court needs to let the people know, it will be posted here.
.
Pang Yu took a casual glance and saw that there were some old notices on the wall. Some were soaked by the rain, stained by ink, and the paper peeled off, but no one paid attention to them.
There are some clear words on an unknown notice, which seems to be a commendation for those who passed the examination. Pang Yu read it and read, "Tongcheng Guangshi Hengzhong, Anqing Prefecture, South Zhili, was ranked top three in the examination, and was granted the same background as a Jinshi.
The name Shi Heng is quite strange, and there is actually someone named Guang."
"Master, can you really recognize so many words?"
Next to him, Pang Ding looked at the young master in surprise, "I thought the young master was just pretending."
Pang Yu said disdainfully, "Not only can the young master read, there is nothing I don't understand."
Just as he was about to enter the Yamen to take a look, he heard someone shouting from behind him, "Second brother, why are you out here?"
He looked back and saw a government servant and a man wearing green blouse chasing each other, and Pang Yu couldn't help but smile.
He held up his hands and was about to salute the two of them when the Yamen servant came over, grabbed Pang Yu and whispered, "Why are you out here? The longer you stay at home, the better we brothers can take care of the shopkeeper of the Zhou family."
This person is Jiao Guozhao, Pang Yu's sworn brother. Both of them are characters who share the same odor and are disgusted by others.
Although the old Pang Yu had some mental problems before, Jiao Guozhao didn't care. He was three years older than Pang Yu and was considered Pang Yu's eldest brother.
Pang Yu ranked second, and people in the yamen often mocked him as Pang Erfeng.
Jiao Guozhao had gone to visit Pang Yu in the past few days, so he already knew this person.
After hearing this, Pang Yu could only say: "It's really boring to stay in the house. If you don't believe me, try it yourself."
Jiao Guozhao smiled and said: "With your temperament, it's true that it doesn't matter if you come out. Shopkeeper Zhou is still in prison that time, and he doesn't have enough time to bail him out. We will never let him out. Since you are here today, let's go to him first."
Shen Mingting, the cost of the decoction and medicine must be overcharged."
"Of course I have to do it."
Pang Yu nodded and said, "At least let him pay...a lot of money."
For a moment, Pang Yu couldn't figure out how much to say. He was afraid of being called stupid if he said too much, and he was afraid of being laughed at if he said too little, so he had to muddle through.
The young man next to him was called He Xianya. He was also Pang Yu's sworn brother. He had read a lot of books, but he had never been admitted as a scholar. He didn't have enough money to donate tribute students, so he worked as a helper with Jiao Guozhao and sometimes helped others as a litigant.
Although He Xianya is older than Pang Yu, his status as a helper is lower, so he is ranked third in terms of status.
He came over and said to Pang Yu: "Second brother, please listen to me about the prosecution. The owner of the Zhou family is currently on bail and is only in the South Prison awaiting trial. During this bail period, your injuries may be serious or minor.
, if he dares to speak harshly, you immediately find a place to lie down, and you must insist that your head injury has become a serious illness."
"Why?"
He Xianya said impatiently: "Second brother, do you think you have been working as a slave for nothing all these years? There is a big difference between a serious illness and a flesh injury. Paying you ten taels of silver for a flesh injury is still a lot.
If he gets into trouble with you, you will insist that you will suffer internal injuries and vomit blood on the spot, and it will be a serious illness. Do you remember this, brother?"
Pang Yu suddenly realized that this bail period is to protect the victim. Mainly because some injuries are not clear at the beginning, such as internal injuries, so an observation period for injuries is set, which is called bail, minor injury and serious injury.
The sentencing is completely different.
If you appear in court during the bail period, you can use your injuries to become more important at any time and threaten Shopkeeper Zhou.
After thinking about it, Pang Yu nodded and said: "Since we are going to fight this lawsuit, we must win.
I’ll ask you two brothers to make up your mind on this matter. I’ll do whatever you want me to do.”
Seeing Pang Yu nodding, He Xianya also breathed a sigh of relief. This Pang Yu used to be a bit stupid and often did unexpected stupid things. Plus, after receiving such a blow on the head this time, he seemed to be even more stupid and even had a beard.
They've all been shaved off. If Pang Yu doesn't understand, it will be very difficult for me as a lawyer.
So He Xianya continued, "Two brothers, listen to me. I have found out in the past few days that the Zhou family is originally from Shaanxi and has only been here for more than two years. He usually has a bad temper and the neighbors usually dare not provoke him.
I heard that a relative also makes paper business in Fengyang Mansion. Looking at the inventory in the shop and the size of the store he rented, I estimate that five or sixty taels should be enough, and some people say maybe a hundred taels."
Pang Yu heard that this amount didn't seem to be much money. He even made more than 20 taels for breaking off the engagement, so he couldn't help but sigh: "It's not much."
He Xianya was surprised and said: "That's a lot. Second brother, what do you mean... you sold his daughter too?"
Pang Yu said thoughtfully, "I can sell my daughter, it depends on the price... Hey! Don't encourage me to do bad things, I tell you, I will never do bad things in this life."
Besides, how much money is a daughter worth? I used to do big business, so how can I see the business of one or two women?"
He Xianya didn't think so. Pang Yu had done some mindless things in the past, and he only extorted a few dollars from others in big business. He just thought that Pang Yu had become stupid again.
But Jiao Guozhao had already said harshly: "Our second brother is still so cruel. He can't hold back even a hundred taels. Hum, he is a guest in Tongcheng and he dares to beat our second brother. Let's not let him escape this time."
layer of skin.
Let's go and go to the prison to add fuel to the fire."
...Pang Yu left Pang Ding outside and followed Jiao Guozha into the county government office. Pang Yu was a little surprised when he passed the gate. The gate of this government office was supposed to be majestic, so that those who came to do things would lose their momentum first.
Three points, but in fact it is dilapidated, with old paint peeling off the wooden beams and plaques, giving it a dilapidated appearance. In the Ming Dynasty, it was said that officials did not repair yamen, and it certainly lived up to its reputation.
Behind the gate is a corridor. On the right side of the corridor is Kuaishou's room, and on the left is Zaoli's room. The floor is paved with bluestones. People come and go in the corridor. Most of the government servants look wretched. When they saw Pang Yu, they were not very affectionate.
Some even gave it a passing glance.
Behind the Zaoli room is the county government's prison cell, usually in the southwest corner of the government office lobby, so the cell was also called the South Prison in the Ming Dynasty.
Pang Yu was on leave due to illness, so he was unwilling to continue walking inside, lest he meet the shift leader or the officer who would not be able to defend himself when asked, so the two of them turned left at the Yimen and went to the cell.
Pang Yu turned the corner and saw the tall green brick courtyard wall of the South Prison. A cold air came to him. The word "prison" was written on the door, and there was also a head of Bi An engraved on the door. It is said that Bi An was one of the sons of the dragon.
, likes to litigate, so it is often engraved on the prison door. In Pang Yu's opinion, its appearance is not much different from a tiger's head.
There was a small sentry room at the door of the cell. In front of the room sat a cellman and six or seven helpers, all of whom had slanted eyes and a sinister air about the cell when they smiled.
In the Ming Dynasty, there were not many organized prisons, but there were many helpers. In large counties such as Susong, there were hundreds of people in various prisons alone. Those who were organized were called prisons, and such helpers were called small prisons or wild prisons.
son.
There was a woman in yellow at the cell door, kneeling in front of several cells. Her red skirt was spread wide on the ground, and there was a bamboo basket beside her.
I just heard her say, "I beg you officials to be kind. I'm just giving dad some food."
Pang Yu recognized who it was as soon as she heard the voice, "The daughter of the Zhou family."