Peaceful Farm Life
Chapter 218 False Accusation_1

Chapter 218: Chapter 218 False Accusation_1

As soon as the village chief and Wu Xiaoshan arrived at the entrance of the County Yamen, they complained to the officials guarding the entrance, accusing An Jing and Xiao Changyi of forging government documents.

There were two officials at the entrance of the County Yamen. Upon hearing the name Xiao Changyi, they were greatly alarmed. Although they did not know who Xiao Changyi was, their Lord County Magistrate had instructed them that if anything concerning this person arose, they had to inform him immediately.

The two officials exchanged a glance, and then one of them hurried in to report the matter to their Lord County Magistrate.

As for the village chief and Wu Xiaoshan, they were told by the other official to wait at the entrance.

The village chief and Wu Xiaoshan thought that the official who went inside was summoning people to come to Jiuping Village to arrest An Jing and Xiao Changyi, and they could not help but reveal a satisfied smile on their faces. How could they not be thrilled at the downfall of their adversaries?

However, the thought that An Jing and Xiao Changyi had refused to kneel to them made their satisfaction diminish by half.

It wasn’t long before the official went inside that the Lord County Magistrate came out with his men.

The Lord County Magistrate, donned in official robes, came out and pointed at the village chief and Wu Xiaoshan, sternly shouting, "Bold and insolent rabble, how dare you falsely accuse others! Come, take down these two and give them each thirty heavy beatings with the plank!"

"Yes!"

The government officials immediately seized the village chief and Wu Xiaoshan to administer the punishment.

The village chief and Wu Xiaoshan were initially taken aback; they only realized what was happening when the officials came to grab them, and they both cried out in unison, proclaiming their innocence and insisting that An Jing and Xiao Changyi had indeed forged government documents, a crime punishable by beheading.

The County Magistrate scoffed, "The seals on those documents in An Jing and Xiao Changyi’s possession were personally stamped by me; they are government-issued documents, not forgeries."

The faces of the village chief and Wu Xiaoshan turned instantly pale.

"Ah—" Their screams echoed as the officials showed no mercy in their beating.

The officials struck with the planks, each blow heavy and harsh, leaving the two men no capacity to think of anything else but the excruciating pain, with their screams growing louder with each hit.

While watching the village chief and Wu Xiaoshan being beaten, the County Magistrate coldly said, "I’ve long heard of the unruly folk of Jiuping Village. Although you’ve committed no grave crimes, I turned a blind eye. But now, you’ve repeatedly caused disturbances at the Yamen, showing no regard for Imperial Law. From now on, expect no leniency from me! Henceforth, I will have someone patrol Jiuping Village every day. Whoever dares to cause more trouble, I will not forgive lightly! And as for you, the village chief, your position is no more. Jiuping Village will be directly governed by the County Government!"

If a village were to be directly governed by the County Government, it would be an honor; however, having officials patrol the village daily meant that all its inhabitants were being treated as criminals.

The village chief of Jiuping Village and Wu Xiaoshan were so dismayed they wanted to weep.

After a long silence, the County Magistrate looked up at the sky, filled with emotion, and said, "It’s a pity that your ancestors were three first-class good citizens, how glorious they were back then, and the name ’Jiuping’ which they chose for your village was to hope for enduring peace. Who would have thought that it would come to this in your generation, with not a single good person among you. If your ancestors have any spirit left in heaven, they must bitterly regret that you are their descendants."

To have even one first-class good citizen in a village was extraordinarily honorable, let alone three.

Back then, Jiuping Village was the most glorious village in Hecheng County; now, Jiuping Village had come to this state...

No wonder the County Magistrate felt such remorse.

Meanwhile, the village chief and Wu Xiaoshan stood in mortified disgrace. Compared to their ancestors, they were utterly disgraced.

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