Chapter 220: If Only We Knew Then What We Know Now

Chapter 220: If Only We Knew Then What We Know Now

Meng Haining inspected the scene and then instructed, "Meng An, all the Cuis are here. Read it out!"

Meng An pulled out a thick stack of papers from his robes and began to read in front of the Cui family.

"The head of the Cui clan, Cui Fugui, village chief of Xiling, abused his nephew Cui Wen's connections to extort twenty-five acres of good land from the Zhao and Zhou clans. He exploited their people for free labor and allowed his clansmen to forcefully take what they wanted.

Now that the evidence is irrefutable, the magistrate, considering his advanced age, has spared him fifty strokes of the rod. Starting today, he will be imprisoned for ten years..."

As soon as Meng An finished speaking, the Cui clan burst into wailing cries.

"My lord, we've been wronged..."

"Silence!" With the sharp crack of whips against flesh, the cries of the Cui family were abruptly silenced.

Seeing that the surroundings had quietened down, Meng An continued:

"Starting from today, within three days, Cui Fugui must compensate the Zhao and Zhou clans with two hundred and eighty taels of silver for their losses."

There were compensations for others too, but there was no need to read them out here. In other words, the Cuis would have to pay much more than what they heard.

This time, the Cui family was truly shaken.

Two hundred and eighty taels! Where could they find so much silver?

"My lord, please show mercy. The old man is now in prison, and my sons haven't returned home. There are only us elderly women and children left, we can't afford to pay such a large sum..."

Meng An gave a cold glance at the elderly woman who spoke up. From her tone, she was likely Cui Fugui's wife.

"Don't worry, there are also fines for your sons. Prepare for them all together after I finish."

Upon hearing this, the old woman suddenly lost consciousness and fainted.

Her daughters-in-law quickly supported her, kneeling before Meng Haining and pleading with tears.

However, the Cui family's sins were deep, and no matter how pitifully they cried, they would not be forgiven.

The officers, without needing Meng Haining's instructions, stepped forward to maintain order. Once the women dared not cry out anymore, Meng An continued to announce the punishments for the Cui family.

Cui Fugui's sons had also committed many misdeeds. Apart from imprisonment, they too had to compensate the Zhao and Zhou clans one hundred taels each.

No member of the Cui clan who had done wrong was spared; some were imprisoned, others compensated.

For the Zhao and Zhou clans, this news was a cause for great joy.

Finally, they would no longer suffer under the oppression of the Cui family and could receive due compensation.

Everyone knelt before Meng Haining, repeatedly shouting, "Justice is served..."

Judging from their demeanor, they would have even shouted "Long live" several times if it weren't for the taboo.

Meng Haining raised his hand toward the kneeling civilians, signaling them to rise.

"This is all within the scope of my duties, there's no need for such formality."

After speaking, he loudly addressed the Cui family's direction: "If the penalty silver isn't paid within three days, your houses and land will be seized as compensation."

The Cui family had been thinking that since they couldn't come up with the silver, the county magistrate wouldn't be able to do anything about it.

However, the county magistrate was being so resolute, actually planning to use their houses and land as debt repayment.

This left the Cui family completely dumbfounded. They had squandered every bit of the silver they had once obtained, where could they find so much silver now to pay in compensation?

If they didn't compensate, they would have to sell their houses and land, how could they survive after that?

Thinking about this, the Cui family members knelt down before Meng Haining one by one.

"Mercy, Your Honor, please spare us..."

Meng Haining looked at them coldly.

"If you knew today, why did you do it back then? Doing something wrong deserves the appropriate punishment."

After saying this, he flicked the sleeve of his official robe and turned around to look for Mo Jiuye.

"Brother Mo Jiu, Sister-in-law, it's still early, would it be convenient to bother you at your place?"

Mo Jiuye and He Zhiran could hardly refuse such an invitation.

"We'd be delighted."

Meng Haining instructed the officers to go about their business, while he took Meng An to the Mo residence.

Once the county magistrate and the officers left, the Cui family members returned home with long faces, trying to figure out ways to raise silver. The clansmen of the Zhao and Zhou families, seeing there was no more spectacle to watch, also went back to their own homes.

With Meng Haining's visit, the Mo family naturally had to entertain him well.

Fortunately, He Zhiran still had plenty of exotic foods she had claimed to have obtained from foreigners a few days ago, so arranging a decent meal posed no problem.

He Zhiran led the womenfolk to prepare the meal, while Mo Jiuye and Mo Chuhan accompanied Meng Haining in the room for a chat.

Meng Haining took a look at where the Mo family was currently residing. Although the house was somewhat dilapidated, it served its purpose of sheltering them from wind and rain.

"Brothers, are you getting used to living here with your family?"

"It's very good here. Apart from the Cui family, the clansmen of the other two families are easy to get along with. Compared to the intrigues of the capital, life here is much more peaceful," said Mo Jiuye.

"Brother Jiu is right, I also yearn for such a life."

Meng Huaining spoke from the heart; if not for his family's hopes resting on him, he would have no interest in serving such an incompetent emperor.

He turned to Mo Chuhan and asked, "When will Eighth Brother finish handling matters at home? I've just taken office in Yun City, and the government office is short-staffed."

Mo Chuhan had initially wanted to stay home longer to help his ninth brother and sister-in-law.

But he could see that Ninth Brother and Ninth Sister-in-law were highly organized in their affairs, needing little of his assistance.

In that case, it was better to start work at the office sooner rather than later. Regardless of the amount, it would earn some income for the family. Moreover, as a detective, he held a minor leadership position in the office. With this identity, he could provide some support to the family.

"If Brother Meng needs me, I can start working anytime."

Overjoyed upon hearing this, Meng Huaining said, "In that case, Eighth Brother, report to the office tomorrow. I'll have Meng An arrange everything for you."

"Alright, I'll be there promptly tomorrow morning."

With Eighth Brother's employment settled, Mo Jiuye brought up the mountain and the barren lands to the north.

"Brother Meng, I have another favor to ask."

Meng Huaining politely replied, "No need to mention favors. Whatever Ninth Brother needs, just say it. If I can manage it, I'll make sure to handle it well for you."

"I won't hide it from Brother Meng. My wife and I have our eyes set on the mountain behind the village and some of the wastelands. We'd like to buy them."

Meng Huaining knew that the Mo family had already purchased a considerable amount of land from the villagers, with him personally assisting in the procedures.

At the time, he wondered how the Mo family, consisting of only about a dozen people, mostly women, could possibly farm so much arable land?

Not only that, but the Mo family also bought many abandoned courtyards.

In Meng Huaining's mind, even with ample silver, one wouldn't spend it in such a manner.

Later, he imagined that the Mo family might plan to hire people to cultivate the land.

Just like the large estates of wealthy families, they wouldn't tend to the land themselves but hire others instead.

Therefore, the Mo family's purchase of so much land might stem from this idea.