When night fell, the matter of submitting the complaint was finally confirmed, and the housekeeper also invited an official from Jiangzhou Prefecture who was close to the Cheng family to tell more detailed facts.
"I received the complaint and I've read it. It's absolutely true. The name is Cheng Jiaoniang. Is she your daughter?" he asked.
Damn it, isn't it?
"The name given by the Zhou family." Mrs. Cheng murmured.
Jiao Jiao'er, at first I gave this name to a fool with a smile, but now it seems that she is not the Jiao Jiao'er of the Zhou family. She is even more ruthless than the Zhou family who tormented their family back then. The Zhou family must be laughing behind their backs now.
How dare you submit a complaint to the government! How dare you ask the government to clarify the dowry!
Please let the government make a clear decision. This kind of talk is actually not unfamiliar to the Cheng family. In the past few years, they have said it and heard it more than once during their interactions with the Zhou family. Mr. Cheng said it, and Mr. Zhou also said it, but
It's just talk, no one can really cause trouble in Shangguan Mansion.
Getting into trouble with the government because of your family property is an unwelcome thing, both in terms of face and reputation.
The arrogant Zhou family always just shouts, but this fool didn't expect that he would go straight to stab the government without even shouting!
How dare she make trouble! This bastard!
Mr. Cheng slapped Pingji with one palm.
"She is a fool and dares to hand it over, and the Jiangzhou government is also a fool and dares to accept it?" he shouted, "Shouldn't this disobedience of a junior who dares to sue an elder deserve to be beaten with a killing stick?"
The clerk shook his head and looked confused.
"It stands to reason that it really shouldn't be the case, but when the other side picked up the call, I don't know what he was thinking," he said.
Mr. Cheng snorted.
"What do you think? It's more than just accepting the complaint." He said, he knew very well about the activities of these officials.
Accepting people's money to eliminate disasters is a good reputation.
But that also depends on what kind of money can be collected and what kind of disaster can be eliminated.
"Does the government just watch and do nothing? I'll go find him and ask him for advice!" He stood up and said.
"The prefect has been in poor health recently and has been recuperating behind closed doors, so many things are handled by his subordinates." The official said, leaning closer and lowering his voice, "He doesn't know about this at all, Mr. Cheng, it's getting late at this time.
Why don't you go there tomorrow morning? If you are kept in the dark for a while, you will be even more angry."
The angrier the prefect becomes, the more unlucky the judge will be.
Mr. Cheng sat back down again, exhaled and nodded, while gesturing to the butler beside him.
The butler hurriedly pushed over a gift list.
"Take some tea, thank you for your hard work," he said.
The clerk was not polite and accepted the offer after making a few false suggestions. He glanced at it from the corner of his eye. Although he guessed that the tea money given would be quite large, he was still secretly happy when he saw the amount.
The Cheng family is really rich...
"Don't worry, sir. It's just the younger generation who are fooling around. Some people are confused and follow suit. Since it's just fooling around, it's not a big deal." He smiled and stood up to leave.
Mr. Cheng nodded and asked the butler to send the person out.
"Master and Madam, let's have something to eat."
The servants came in and advised him carefully.
The food has been placed on the dining table over there for quite some time.
Mr. Cheng waved his hand, Mrs. Cheng was not in the mood to eat, and stopped reciting either Buddhist or Taoist scriptures.
"You go to Wang's house tomorrow and hurry up and get the marriage certificate. When the date comes, get married as soon as possible. If you love, you will harm whoever you love." Mr. Cheng said angrily.
Mrs. Cheng nodded and suddenly realized something was wrong.
"What does it mean to harm anyone you love? Why should I harm my parents' family?" She said angrily.
"Okay, let's go and cause harm to other people's houses. The second room is waiting for us." Mr. Cheng said unceremoniously.
Mrs. Cheng suddenly cried angrily.
"What am I trying to do? I'm not a human being inside and out," she cried.
Seeing Mrs. Cheng crying, Mr. Cheng was also a little depressed. He didn't want to vent his anger on Mrs. Cheng, but the unknown fire in his heart was really ignited.
"I'm sick, and I'm running around in and out. I have trouble sleeping and eating, and I can't sleep day and night. But in exchange for your words, my mother-in-law complained about me, my brothers and sisters hated me, and I tolerated it. It's just you, how can you
You can do this to me too!"
The more Mrs. Cheng talked, the more she felt sad and discouraged, and she fell on the table and cried bitterly.
How come this life is like this? What evil has she done!
Mr. Cheng also knew that he had lost his temper, but a man could never admit his mistake to a woman.
"I didn't say anything to you." He said in a low voice, "Why are you crying?"
"You haven't said anything yet. What you say in your heart is more hurtful than what you say with your mouth." Mrs. Cheng cried.
Look, you really can't pay attention to it, otherwise the more you talk, the more confused you become.
"Let's get the troublemaker back first and then we can talk about anything else." Mr. Cheng quickly changed the subject and took the opportunity to go out and call the housekeeper.
When the housekeeper came back from seeing guests off, he heard a shout and came running over.
"You were just preoccupied with the lawsuit and forgot to pick her up, right? Go pick her up as soon as it gets dark," Mr. Cheng said.
The butler looked embarrassed.
"Master, I didn't forget at that time. I picked it up, but I couldn't pick it up," he said.
"You can't pick up so many of you? Aren't the Zhou family members not going to the prison anymore? A fool and a maid, even if you can shoot arrows, you can't beat four hands with two fists, how can you be such a waste?" Cheng Da
The old man said angrily.
I didn't think that my family members were so stupid. They were among the best in Jiangzhou Prefecture in business and housekeeping. Why did they seem to have become such wastes overnight?
"No sir, although those people are gone, the people from Nancheng are blocking the way and they can't get in at all," the steward said.
People from the south?
"You have rebelled against them! I haven't settled the accounts with them for the money they deceived and defrauded my daughter, but they dared to hold my daughter hostage!" Mr. Cheng was shocked and angry.
What's wrong with each other? Are they all crazy?
"Someone is coming, someone is coming!" He shouted loudly and walked out. "I don't believe it anymore. They dare to stop me."
The housekeeper stopped him first.
"Master, I can't force you to come here," he said. "The people in Nancheng insisted that the lady didn't want to leave and that she asked them to do this. At other times, they just accused them of lying and took her away by force. But
Now that lady has sued us, and if we start making trouble now, I'm afraid it won't be clear when the time comes. After all, people talk a lot..."
"What's so unclear! I didn't do anything wrong, so why am I afraid of her?" Mr. Cheng said with a glare, but stopped in his steps.
"Sir, you are naturally not afraid of others' criticism of your character, but our family has already had several troubles in this short period of time. People in this world are stupid and prefer to fan the wind and make fire. Three people become a tiger..." the housekeeper said hurriedly.
Mr. Cheng looked at him.
"Why are you so smart at this time?" He said, flicking his sleeves, "You try to persuade me to do all the tricks, but why are you so dumb when facing people from the Zhou family?"
The housekeeper smiled sarcastically.
Can it be the same? There are bows, arrows and sticks facing you. When you open your mouth, you will most likely be injured and bleeding. How can you feel relaxed at this moment?
"Master, you are a reasonable person. Those people in the Zhou family and that little lady are all unreasonable..." He said with an apologetic smile and followed him, "Master, don't worry, if she wants to make trouble, we won't follow her.
She is making trouble. She is a child and is not sensible. We can’t be ignorant and just wait and see what she can do. Should we leave from outside when we get married?”
Get married!
Mr. Cheng suddenly stopped, and his sinking heart suddenly rose again.
No! If something like this happens, the second room will probably take the opportunity to take action!
"It's not good for me to go."
At night, the corner door of Miles' house opened, and two maids came out first with lamps, casting a bright light, followed by the sound of voices behind them.
"What's wrong!" Mrs. Cheng Er said, pushing Master Cheng Er out with her hand, "You are his father, it is best for you to go see her."
A group of people stepped out, with two servant girls in front and behind holding lanterns, and headed south.
The corner on the south side was brightly lit and noisy with people.
"That's where the house is to be built." Mrs. Cheng Er pointed to Mr. Cheng Er and said, "Working hard day and night, I wish I could grab all the money as soon as possible."
Mr. Cheng Er was not in the mood to pay attention to this, he lowered his head and was depressed.
"I won't talk to her when I go," he said, "I have nothing to say to her."
"You don't need to say anything, you will show your attitude when you go." Mrs. Cheng Er smiled happily, stretched out her hand to hold his arm, leaned over and whispered, "I knew Erlang was the best to me."
Although it was night, this immoral behavior still frightened Mr. Cheng and threw away Mrs. Cheng's arm.
Mrs. Cheng Er chuckled and followed a few steps behind.
The sound of footsteps walking in the messy and narrow alley was mixed with the crowing of chickens and the barking of dogs all around.
"Madam is coming soon." The maid in front turned around and said.
As soon as she finished speaking, she heard a loud roar and a person jumped out in front of her. Mrs. Cheng was caught off guard and screamed and retreated.
"What are you doing?" shouted a thin male voice.
Mrs. Cheng Er hid behind Mr. Cheng Er and turned pale.
Didn't it mean that all the followers of the Zhou family were imprisoned?
"It's me." Master Cheng Er shouted in a deep voice, "Who are you?"
The servants who shrank back bravely raised the lamp forward, and saw two skinny half-year-old children standing in front of them. They were wearing tattered robes that exposed their wrists in winter, and their faces were dirty and blended with the night.
as one body.
This is a poor kid from Nancheng!
The servants immediately stood up straight.
"Go away." They shouted angrily.
As expected, the two children turned around and ran away.
"...Two men came with four women...no one wanted..."
"…just a man…"
They shouted as they ran, their voices shrilling in the night.
Mr. Cheng Er and others' faces turned dark.
What's this called? A sentinel?
Sure enough, following the shouting, many figures emerged from the low, dark houses on both sides, and a row of people also appeared in front of Cheng Jiaoniang's yard at the end of the alley.
"What are you doing?" the leader asked.
This is like being treated as a thief! Master Cheng Er rolled up his sleeves and was about to leave, but Mrs. Cheng Er quickly held him back.
"It's us," she said.
Only then did someone recognize him clearly, and the crowd became a little commotion.
"Get out of here now." Mr. Cheng Er raised his eyebrows and shouted.
The crowd did not respond and moved out of the way, still blocking the road.
"Second Master, are you here to take the lady back?" A person said, "The lady said that if she doesn't go back, no one will come to pick her up."
Mrs. Cheng second held back the second master who was about to get angry again.
"No, no, we are not here to pick her up. She can live wherever she wants." She smiled, "We are here to talk to her about other things."
Mrs. Cheng Er never thought that one day she would smile on these people's faces, but she still smiled unconsciously to please her. Thinking of this, she couldn't help but smile a little ugly, and no one noticed in the night.
The people in front of him seemed to be discussing in low voices, and just when Master Cheng was about to get angry, someone finally spoke.
"Let's go ask Madam for instructions," someone said, then turned and left.
It's already a shame for me to come to see my daughter, but I still have to wait for instructions. Master Cheng Er's face turned pale, and Mrs. Cheng Er reached out and pinched his sleeve.
"Dowry, future." She reminded in a low voice.
This is a good opportunity for their second wife to control all the dowry and future in-law relations, which is not only related to them, but also to their children.
"Do you want Brother Xi to live a life of dependence on others like you?" Mrs. Cheng Er said in a low voice.
His son was Mr. Cheng's favorite, and his complexion was indeed a bit softer.
"Then we don't have to look up at her and breathe." He whispered.
Mrs. Cheng Er glanced at him. The couple were talking in a low voice, and the crowd over there separated.
"Second Master, madam, please come in."
"Look, after all, we are biologically related to you. If others don't see it, they will see you." Mrs. Cheng Er smiled lowly and took the lead.
If it hadn't been for him, there wouldn't be so many things happening now.
Mr. Cheng Er looked at the dark winter night, and a woman's face seemed to flash across the night sky, which seemed familiar yet strange.
What bad luck! I shouldn’t have married her in the first place!
He exhaled and followed with a sullen face.
There were two lamps hanging on the porch in the small courtyard, swaying in the wind, and making tinkling sounds.
Mrs. Cheng Er couldn't help but look curiously, and saw clearly that there was a string of wind chimes hanging next to the lantern.
Even the darkness of night could not hide the dilapidated and narrow nature of this small courtyard.
There was a girl sitting in the corridor, leaning down to salute and open the door.
Mrs. Cheng Er looked away and raised her hands to wipe her tears.
"My poor son suffers like this," she choked, and took a step forward.
Mr. Cheng Er also stepped in with a face on his face.
In the narrow hall, there were suddenly so many people that they couldn't stand.
"Don't live here, what's it like? Move back, there won't be a place for you to live anywhere..." Mr. Cheng Er said angrily, raising his head, and his words stopped abruptly.
Under the dim light, in front of the feather gauze screen, a girl in a brocade gown sat upright, her bright eyes shining on the entire room.
This...this...is that fool?
Mr. Cheng Er looked surprised, that fool turned out to look like this.
No wonder the Zhou family was able to coax so many people from the capital to propose marriage!
"Didn't you say you didn't come here for this?"
The woman's voice interrupted Mr. Cheng's trance, and the impatience in the voice made Mr. Cheng immediately unhappy.
Biological? Is there any biological person who talks to his father like this?
Seeing that Mr. Cheng Er looked ugly, Mrs. Cheng Er hurriedly took over the conversation.
"Your father feels sorry for you." She said while wiping her tears, "My dear, look, you are allowed to live in a place like this..."
"No need to worry." Cheng Jiaoniang said, stopping what she was saying, "What do you want to do with me?"
Even business matters need to be warmed up with courtesy, look at her attitude!
Master Cheng Er frowned.
"You sued your family?" he asked, "How dare you!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Cheng Jiaoniang was about to get up.
"Send off guests," she said, "I want to rest."
Mr. Cheng Er was furious, and Mrs. Cheng Er held him tightly.
"My dear, my dear, we are not here to blame you. We think you did the right thing in this matter!" she said.
What is right?
Mr. Cheng Er's expression was even more ugly. Even if that was what they meant when they came here, they couldn't say it so nakedly!
What is this? You must know that Cheng Jiaoniang is suing the elders of the Cheng family, and they are also the elders. If they say that she did the right thing, isn't this a slap in the face to herself?
"You..." He wanted Mrs. Cheng to get angry again, but Mrs. Cheng raised her hand first and hit him on the arm.
"If you have anything to say as a family, please speak directly. When you are tired, please go to bed early after talking." She said with a hint of reminder.
If he didn't make his attitude clear soon, this idiot would really dare to drive them out. She knew firsthand that those servants really dared to take action.
Sure enough, after she said these words, Cheng Jiaoniang sat upright again.
"I also want to ask for an explanation." She said, smiling slightly.
Mrs. Cheng Er happily shook off Mr. Cheng Er and nodded with a smile.
"Yes, we should seek an explanation." She said.
"You made an agreement at the beginning that I would not bring a dowry when I got married, right?" Cheng Jiaoniang asked.
"Well, that's all decided by them. There is no place for your father to talk at home." Mrs. Cheng Er said hurriedly.
Cheng Jiaoniang nodded.
"Then when your government asks, can you testify?" she asked.
What?
testify?!
Mrs. Cheng Er was stunned, and Master Cheng Er was also stunned.
