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Chapter 103 - 103: The Thief’s Heart Never Dies _1
Chapter 103 - 103: The Thief’s Heart Never Dies _1
Chapter 103: Chapter 103: The Thief’s Heart Never Dies _1
Translator: 549690339
A servant in blue clothes came out from the inner yard, saw the three people by the mule cart, glanced around and saw that no one was watching, and immediately beckoned Yingbao over.
Yingbao immediately ran over, looking up and asking, “Uncle Wu, is uncle Wu inside?”
“He is in the back hall discussing business.”
Wu Rui led her to one side and quietly warned her, “There are two people with the surname Chen accusing your father of attempted murder. If your father has an alibi, this will be a minor issue.”
Yingbao understood immediately and nodded, “My dad is a good person, he would never commit a murder.”
Wu Rui: “I can only say this much, hurry up, in another hour the court will begin hearing the case.”
“Thank you Uncle Wu.” Yingbao ran back and relayed Wu Rui’s words to her mother and second uncle.
Upon hearing this, Jiang Erlang immediately said, “I have to go back and find a witness. You take Yingbao and stay here, don’t wander off.”
Chunnian held her daughter’s little hand tightly: “Alright.”
Jiang Erlang unloaded the mule cart, jumped onto the mule, and galloped away.
Not long after, government officials came to take up their posts, followed by clerks and other personnel.
The County Magistrate also arrived, accompanied by two sword-bearing guards.
Cao Can, in his thirties, glanced over the mother and daughter, then took another few looks at Chunnian.
Yingbao recognized at a glance that this was Cao Can, Chen Guanglu’s superior.
If he presided over the case today, her father would certainly suffer.
What to do? Perhaps they should hire a lawyer to help them with their case.
Yingbao looked around, her gaze landing on a lane in the distance.
She remembered that in her previous life there was a very famous lawyer living in that lane.
“Mother, we should hire a lawyer.” Yingbao tugged at her mother’s sleeve, “Ms.
Wen said that if we have a lawyer to help us with a lawsuit, we are sure to win.”
Chunnian looked at a loss, “What’s a lawyer?” Having been raised in a rural area and the farthest place she had been was this county town, how could she know what a lawyer was?
“Follow me.” Yingbao knew it would take a long time to explain, and there was no time to lose, so she simply pulled her mother and ran towards that lane.
Entering the lane, Yingbao was a bit dumbfounded.
This row of dilapidated yards and old houses, she didn’t know where the lawyer actually lived.
Adding up the time, that lawyer should be less than thirty years old this year, she didn’t know if he was famous or not.
What was his name again? Oh, it seemed to be Mr. Song Wenyu.
Approaching a house, she saw a few kids playing at the door, so she asked: “Can you tell me where Mr. Song Wenyu lives?”
The children looked at each other, and shook their heads in unison, “Don’t know!”
Yingbao was not discouraged and continued to ask as they walked along.
Finally, she asked an older man, “Uncle, do you know where Song Wenyu’s house is?”
The man looked at the little girl, then glanced again at Chunnian who was following her, and instantly grinned, showing his yellow teeth: “In the house, in the house.”
Yingbao looked at him doubtfully, feeling that this man was a bit unreliable, so she asked again: “I am asking about Song Wenyu who helps people with lawsuits, do you know him, Uncle?”
“I know, I know, he’s lying in the house right now.” Dahuang said: “I am his father, how could I not know him.’
Yingbao was still doubtful.
Looking around and seeing someone looking this way, she hurriedly ran over to ask, “Uncle, do you know Song Wenyu?”
The man pointed at Dahuang: “That’s his father. His fourth son’s leg was broken a few days ago and is lying in the house.”
Following Chunnian frowned, she whispered, “Bao’er, is that Song Wenyu really a lawyer?”
“Yes.” After confirming that Dahuang was indeed Song Wenyu’s father, Yingbao dared to follow him into the house.
Chunnian tightly gripped her daughter’s hand, warily scanning her surroundings.
Upon entering the dilapidated thatched hut, they were immediately hit by a musty, rotten smell.
In the dimly lit room, there seemed to be a person leaning against the cot by the window.
Yingbao carefully assessed the man, who was also sizing them up.
Dahuang ran to the bedside with excitement and said, “Hey, Fourth, your old flame brought her kid to see you!”
Chunniang’s face darkened instantly, Yingbao loudly corrected him, “We are here to ask for Mr. Song Wenyu’s help with our lawsuit, Uncle, please don’t speak nonsense.”
She had recognized that the young man leaning against the head of the cot was Song Wenyu. The most apparent sign was, of course, the large mole in the middle of his forehead.
It was said that because of this mole, Song Wenyu could only attain the title of “scholar.”
To repay his father’s gambling debts, he initially wrote statements for others, but later became a lawyer.
The young man put down his book and asked, “What is the lawsuit that you want me to help with? Speak freely.”
Seeing potential business arrive, Dahuang no longer annoyed his son, and cheerfully opened the window to brighten up the room.
Yingbao recounted the feud between her family and the Chen Family. In conclusion, she said, “Now the Chen Family falsely accuses my father of assault and turned him in to the County Magistrate. Yesterday, they detained my father at the County Government. I wish to seek Mr Song’s help to defend my father’s innocence and, if possible, I would like to file a counter-complaint accusing them of hiring thugs to kidnap a child.”
Song Wenyu thought for a moment, then nodded: “I can help you with the lawsuit, but my fee will be twenty taels of silver.”
“No problem!” Yingbao replied instantly: “But if we lose, I can only afford to pay you two taels.”
“Fine!” Song Wenyu stated, “Then you must also guarantee that every word you tell me is the truth, otherwise, I demand the full twenty taels.”
“Uh-huh, I assure vou that every word I sav is true. The Han Family was the principal instigator in hiring the thugs, and the young Han woman personally took me to Zhouhe County. Later, she gave two taels of silver to the members of the Chen Family of Zhouhe County and had them guard me.”
“Who would have thought that they’d still be trying to harm my father now.”
After Yingbao finished speaking at once, she asked, “Mr Song, when will you be able to go? The County Government will begin its trial in just over an hour’s time.”
“Give me half an hour to prepare the complaint.” Song Wenyu sat up and loudly called for his father to bring him his pen, ink, paper, and inkstone.
Dahuang responded from outside and hurried in.
Yingbao: “In that case, my mother and I will wait for you outside the County
Government. Our donkey-cart is parked over there too, you can meet us there.”
“Okay, you two go ahead.” Song Wenyu then focused on preparing the complaint.
Upon leaving the Song Residence, Yingbao and Chunnian hurried back to the County Government office.
Chunnian had many doubts she wanted to ask her daughter, but before she could ask, her attention was drawn by the sudden appearance of a few people.
She saw Chen Guanglu leaning on a crutch, being supported by his wife, Han, as he was glaring at them maliciously.
Chen Changping and his wife had also arrived, standing together with Chen Guanglu and his wife.
Chunnian’s face darkened as she carried Yingbao and moved them further away from those people.
Half an hour later, Song Wenyu arrived on a bamboo chair carried by his father, Song Daya. After submitting his complaint to the officials, he joined Chunnian and Yingbao.
“I have already submitted the complaint. After a while, follow me in.” Song Wenyu signaled to Yingbao.
This little girl, though young, is very smart and eloquent, much stronger than her mother. Therefore, he wanted to bring her into the courtroom.
“Is the Wu official who saved you really the newly appointed County Magistrate?” Song Wenyu asked.
Yingbao: “Yes, but we don’t know if Uncle Wu will be willing to testify for us.”
Unless Wu Daozi himself was willing, it wouldn’t be suitable for them to ask him to testify.
Song Wenyu laughed, “I was just confirming.” If they had the help of the newly appointed County Magistrate, he was sure to win this lawsuit.
“Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!” The mighty sound of the court gong began to echo; one by one, the government officials filed into the courtroom.
The voice of the County Magistrate thundered from the hall, “Bring the plaintiffs before the court!”