Chapter 270: Chapter 270: The Promissory Note

After their meal, the group followed the crowd of common folk towards the County Yamen.

In front of the County Yamen, a large crowd had already gathered.

Jun Mo protected Su Li, standing within the throng of people.

Inside the great hall of the County Yamen, a girl of about ten years old knelt. Her face was delicate and refined, and her clothes were well-made, but her eyes held a deep fear.

Beside her stood a man in his fifties, holding a worn piece of paper in his hand. This must have been the promissory note the common folk were talking about.

"Ah, how pitiful."

"Pitiful? Debt must be repaid, that’s only natural!"

"Exactly! That Zhang Mazi runs a gambling house, not a charity."

"This Li family girl is quite pretty, isn’t she? She looks like this even before she’s fully grown. If she were fully matured, tsk, tsk... if she has nowhere to go, it wouldn’t be out of the question for her to come home with me."

"You? Give it a rest! Who doesn’t know you have a tigress at home?"

...

The common folk debated amongst themselves, saying all sorts of things.

"Clap!"

The gavel struck the desk above, and the surroundings instantly fell silent.

"Silence!"

"Today, this official is retrying the case of the Li family’s old residence. This official has investigated and confirmed that this promissory note is indeed Elder Li San’s handwriting. Now, this official has also found relevant witnesses for this case."

The Li family girl looked up in surprise, only to see a person emerge from the crowd.

"Great-uncle?" the young girl called out in disbelief.

The county magistrate above spoke loudly, "Li Wang, tell us everything you know!"

Li Wang cupped his hands and bowed to the magistrate. "My Lord, I am Elder Li San’s elder brother. This commoner testifies that this promissory note was indeed written by my good-for-nothing third brother. That day, my father sent me to find him and bring him back. I found him at the gambling house. He had lost a lot of silver and mortgaged that plot of land, saying he would take back the promissory note once he repaid the debt. But now he’s dead before repaying it."

Zhang Mazi said triumphantly, "My Lord, he didn’t pay it back. According to this promissory note, that plot of land is mine, and the house on that land naturally belongs to me too."

The girl shouted, "You’re lying! My father never gambled, and I never heard him mention any promissory note!"

Zhang Mazi immediately retorted, "Hey, I say, little girl, you weren’t even born when your father gambled! You’re just an adopted daughter he picked up. You, an adopted daughter, want to hog someone else’s house?"

Li Wang also sneered, "Exactly! My third brother provided you with food and shelter, raising you to this age. He’s already shown utmost benevolence. You still want to seize the house? No way!"

The Li family girl trembled with anger, pointing at the two for a long time, unable to utter a word.

"Clap!" The gavel struck the desk once again.

"Zhang Mazi, with so many common folk observing today, this official always handles cases based on evidence, making every piece of evidence public. Now, read Elder Li San’s promissory note aloud for everyone to hear."

The Li family girl looked at the group of people with despair. She knew this county magistrate wouldn’t help her.

He kept referring to it as ’Elder Li San’s promissory note,’ which said it all.

Zhang Mazi immediately replied loudly, "Yes, My Lord!"

"In the twelfth year of Tianqi, I, Elder Li San, owe Ruyi Gambling House a total of one hundred eighty-three thousand taels of silver. I now offer the Apricot Hill residential land as collateral. Once the debt is repaid, this promissory note will be retrieved. Below is Elder Li San’s full name. Everyone, see, these black words on white paper cannot be denied!" Zhang Mazi held up the promissory note for everyone to see.

"Everyone knows that although Bixia has developed rapidly in recent years, Apricot Hill has also become Apricot Street. But since he hasn’t repaid his gambling debt, this residential land belongs to my Ruyi Gambling House. Everyone, tell me, isn’t this the truth?"

The common folk nodded in agreement.

"That’s the truth, alright."

"That house really should belong to the gambling house."

The Li family girl shouted, "No! When my father was alive, why didn’t you come to our door? Also, although one hundred eighty thousand taels of silver is a lot, with my father’s capabilities, how could he not have repaid it in twenty years! This is clearly fake!"

"Clap!" The gavel struck again.

"Silence in the court! This official has already had someone compare Elder Li San’s handwriting, and it is indeed his. Now that the witness and physical evidence are all present, as for why he hasn’t repaid his gambling debt, it must be due to interest compounding, making him unable to repay it!" The county magistrate, seeing the surrounding common folk begin to discuss, quickly explained loudly.

Zhang Mazi immediately echoed, "Exactly! Everyone knows that for gambling debts, you owe one and pay back two."

"Nonsense! You’re clearly colluding! My great-uncle has long been coveting my family’s house! You corrupt official, unable to distinguish right from wrong! I’ll report you to the prefectural yamen! I’ll go to the capital and appeal to the Emperor!" The young girl cried out, her eyes red.

"Clap!"

"Impudent! Shouting in the public hall, fifty lashes with the heavy stick!"

A yamen runner stepped forward, seizing the frail girl. The stick was about to fall when—

"Stop!" A clear voice rang out from behind the crowd.

Everyone turned back, only to see a woman with a veiled hat emerge from the back of the crowd.

Beside her was a remarkably handsome man.

"These two don’t look like they’re from our Bixia City."

"That young master is truly handsome."

"Is this girl trying to go against the county magistrate?"

The county magistrate frowned, "Who are you? How dare you interrupt this official’s judgment!"

Su Li stepped forward and said, "My Lord, you said you compared the handwriting, but does a person’s handwriting not change in twenty years?"

The county magistrate looked at her with a cold face and said, "Handwriting may change, but some subtle habits cannot be altered. Are you questioning this official? This official advises you to retreat quickly, otherwise, if you disturb the court, you will bear the consequences!" 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

Su Li ignored him and turned to look at Zhang Mazi.

"Read this so-called promissory note again."

Zhang Mazi stiffened his neck and said, "Who are you?! You say read, and I read?"

Su Li curved her lips, "What? Are you feeling guilty?"

"Guilty of what? I’ll read it then!"

Zhang Mazi finished speaking, picked up the promissory note, and said, "In the twelfth year of Tianqi, I, Elder Li San, owe Ruyi Gambling House a total of one hundred eighty-three thousand taels of silver, now..."

Su Li raised her hand and interrupted him.

"Stop!"

Everyone looked at her curiously.

The Li family girl looked as if she had seen a savior. She felt that this young woman and the man beside her possessed an extraordinary demeanor.

She was the first person brave enough to stand up and speak for her.

Su Li looked at the Li family girl and asked, "How old is your father this year?"

"My father is sixty-two this year."

Su Li looked at Zhang Mazi and said, "Sixty-two years old. Twenty years ago, he would have been less than forty. Was he already called Elder Li San back then?"

The Li family girl’s eyes lit up. "My father has only been called Elder Li San for a few years!"

The common folk in front of the County Yamen began to discuss amongst themselves.

"That’s right! Twenty years ago, Elder Li San wasn’t called Elder Li San yet!"

"This girl is so clever, she caught the loophole right away."

"So that means this promissory note is fake."

"It must be Zhang Mazi colluding with the Li family’s eldest brother, wanting to seize their house and bullying the orphaned Li family girl."

Zhang Mazi exchanged a panicked glance with Li Wang, then quickly looked at the county magistrate.

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