Chapter 107: Taking Care of the Child 2/2

The boy’s face changed slightly, then he said, ‘Yes, there is trouble; everyone died. Now that this girl has no one, big sister, do you want her?’

‘Even if there’s trouble in your family, you can’t just give the child to someone you meet on the road! ‘Jin Xiaoye frowned.

The girl cried even harder.

The boy said, ‘Big sister, please take her. She’ll be old enough to work soon… I saw you carrying a girl to the doctor’s just now. You’re a good person…’

Jin Xiaoye said, ‘What’s wrong with you? If you’re having a hard time, I can introduce you to a job…’

‘I don’t want to work. I just don’t want her.’ The boy said, trying to pull the little girl clinging to his leg away.

Although he looked fierce, his tone softened when he spoke.

Jin Xiaoye looked at him and felt that he did have some feelings for the girl.

For one thing… She gave him a steamed bun, and he didn’t take a single bite, giving it all to the girl.

Moreover, although the boy said he despised the girl and wanted to give her away, if he really despised her, he could just abandon the child. Why go through the trouble of giving her away? Was it because he saw her carrying Jin Mao’er to the doctor’s that he decided to do this?”

“I already have children; I don’t need yours.” Jin Xiaoye took out the buns she had prepared for Li Damao and Li Ermao and gave them to the two. “Eat something first and fill your stomachs. If you’re looking for work, you can come to Jin Xiaoye Embroidery Workshop and find me.”

After saying that, Jin Xiaoye left. The boy wanted to follow, but the girl was clinging to his leg, preventing him from catching up.

The buns in his hand smelled particularly delicious. The boy snatched the steamed bun from the girl’s hand and gave her a bun instead, saying, “Stop crying; I won’t give you away to anyone!”

The girl stopped crying and started nibbling on the bun.

“What kind of people are they? Giving away their own niece!” Jin Moli couldn’t help but say, then looked in the direction Jin Xiaoye had left. “Jin Xiaoye is always pretending to be kind and righteous!”

In her previous life, Jin Xiaoye sold braised meat very well, so she recruited some women from the village to help her slaughter chickens and ducks and cook braised meat. Jin Xiaoye also recruited people from the village to help him row boats.

People in the village said they were good people, but they didn’t help her natal family either. When her second sister-in-law needed money and came to Jin Xiaoye, Jin Xiaoshu only let her second sister-in-law help slaughter chickens and ducks with other women.

When the boy heard what Jin Moli said, he glared fiercely at her, then picked up the girl who was nibbling on the bun and left.

When they were in a secluded place, he said to the girl, “You’re so silly! That big sister obviously has money. If you follow her, you’ll be able to eat your fill in the future!”

“Uncle, have some meat,” The little girl offered the bun to the boy.

“What meat? You’re making me so angry. Next time you see her, call her mother…” When the boy mentioned “mother,” the little girl started crying again.

The boy’s eyes also turned red.

He had seen Jin Xiaoye before, when she was carrying Jin Mao’er.

Jin Xiaoye was dressed well, but Jin Mao’er was dressed shabbily. Considering their ages, they couldn’t possibly be mother and daughter.

He thought Jin Xiaoye must be a good person.

Later, Jin Xiaoye bought so many things… It seemed like she was very wealthy.

He had wanted to send his niece away, and Jin Xiaoye even gave him a steamed bun… He suddenly mentioned giving away the child, but unfortunately Jin Xiaoye didn’t want her.

The girl kept crying, but the boy didn’t comfort her. He carried her in the direction Jin Xiaoye had left and also asked someone about Jin Xiaoye Embroidery Workshop.

After inquiring, he found a secluded corner and sat down with his niece. He took out another bun and fed it to her.

The girl was sick and exhausted, and as she ate, she fell asleep. Seeing this, the boy took out a book from his pocket and put it into the girl’s clothes, then straightened her clothes.

He planned to wait until nightfall to take the girl to Jin Xiaoye’s house.

As for himself, he wanted to go and kill the official surnamed Yan.

He had fled to Chongcheng County with his niece. Originally, he wanted to entrust his niece to relatives and then go back to seek revenge.

But his relatives didn’t want his niece, and he also saw the official surnamed Yan in Chongcheng County.

He wanted to quickly send his niece away and then go kill the official.

This boy’s name was Chang Zhan; he was originally a rich young master.

They lived in the county town of Linhu County and ran a restaurant, which did quite well. Their family was harmonious, but later, his father accidentally offended Mr. Lou.

Who was Mr. Lou? Mr. Lou’s nephew was a prince!

“After that day, the county yamen officials would come to their house every day, eating and drinking for free and even shouting loudly in the restaurant, causing other customers to be too scared to come and eat.

His father was afraid, so he took some silver to apologize, but Mr. Lou was not satisfied and demanded that they hand over the restaurant.

The restaurant had been passed down through generations in their family, and his father definitely didn’t want to give it up.

Later, his father gritted his teeth and went to the capital to file a complaint, but he never returned.

Then, someone reported that people had died from eating at their restaurant… His brother was also arrested, and he died in prison.

The restaurant eventually became someone else’s property, and his mother and sister-in-law struggled to make ends meet with him and his niece.

They lived like this for two years until Magistrate Yan came to Linhu County.

People said he was a good person, so his sister-in-law couldn’t resist and went to file a complaint. When she came back, she said Magistrate Yan had promised to investigate the case properly.

But how could there be a proper investigation? The next day, people from the Lou family came and even insulted his sister-in-law.

Unable to bear it, his sister-in-law hanged herself that day, and his mother died of anger.

He secretly went to find Magistrate Yan and saw him being friendly with the young master from the Lou family.

At that moment, he didn’t think of anything else; he just fled with his niece. But as he ran, he started thinking about revenge.

Filing complaints was not reliable; his father and sister-in-law had filed complaints but to no avail. Now, he only wanted to use a knife to stab the evildoers to death.

But first, he had to send away his niece.

And at this time, Li Qingzhi and Magistrate Gou had returned to Chongcheng County.

Magistrate Gou was in a good mood. ‘Zixiao, I helped Magistrate Yan solve many cases; he must be very grateful to me! ‘

Li Qingzhi smiled. ‘The adults are dedicated to serving the people, so Magistrate Yan must be very grateful.’

Although he said that, Li Qingzhi felt that Magistrate Yan might not necessarily be grateful to Magistrate Gou.

Magistrate Gou had stirred up quite a bit of trouble in Linhu County, and now many people in Linhu County praised Magistrate Gou while having some criticisms of Magistrate Yan… Magistrate Yan might not be pleased. And… He faintly felt that Magistrate Gou’s punishment this time was actually targeting some abandoned people.

These people indeed had done a lot of bad things, but they had only oppressed ordinary people… None of these people had any connection to the Lou family.

But the relatives of the Lou family, combined, almost owned half of Linhu County. Would there be no one in the county government related to them?

He had been observing secretly all along and had gleaned some insights. He could write another letter and present it to Magistrate Zhang during the provincial examination.

Now there was only half a month left until the provincial examination.

The Zhu family’s boat was parked near the county government.

Li Qingzhi got off the boat, carrying not fewer things but rather more.

People from Linhu County had sent him some white tea and other miscellaneous items.

‘Zixiao, why don’t you have a meal at my house before you leave? ‘Magistrate Gou invited Li Qingzhi.”

“The sky was already getting dark… Li Qingzhi declined: ‘Sir, I’m eager to get home, so I’ll head back first.’

‘Alright, then I won’t keep you! ‘Magistrate Gou smiled.

Li Qingzhi bid farewell to Magistrate Gou and walked towards home.

The sky was already getting dark, but the county town was still lively, with many households lit up with lamps.

Even those without lamps lit up were not asleep; they would choose to visit those who had lit up.

Li Qingzhi hurried forward and soon saw his own home.

Jin Xiaoye Embroidery Workshop was also lit up, and there were voices coming from inside… Although he didn’t hear Jin Xiaoye’s voice, Li Qingzhi’s mood was still very good.

This was his home.