Chapter 83: The Peasant Girl’s Splendid Manor
Chapter 83: Chaos
On the twenty-second day of the twelfth month, around noon, when most families in Liuyang Village were preparing for lunch, a group of more than ten constables armed with long swords stormed into the village, causing a commotion.
The timid villagers quickly locked their doors and stayed indoors, while the bolder ones whispered and followed discreetly until the constables entered the old Mo residence and chained up Mo Yongshou and Mo Yonglu, revealing that the two brothers had committed a serious crime.
"No wonder we've been smelling the aroma of meat coming from their house every day lately. Turns out they've been squandering the money they cheated."
"And more than that. The other day, I saw them go to the city and bring back several carts of goods, rice, and flour, all packed in several sacks!"
"Tsk tsk, their old lady parades around every day in her silk clothes, boasting about how well her third son is doing, thinking he's really making something of himself. Who knew he'd come up with such a 'successful' scheme, haha~"
Many villagers crowded around the entrance of the old Mo residence, watching the struggling Mo Yongshou and the tearful Hong Shi, sharing gleeful gossip about what they had seen and heard in recent days.
These people had all fled from various places, and after more than two months, they had become familiar faces in the village. Combined with the fact that the Mo family didn't treat others well, there was no bond between neighbors. Seeing the Mo family in trouble now, they gathered to watch the spectacle, with no one stepping forward to console them.
"Master, the money was given to my son voluntarily by the shopkeeper. My son did nothing wrong. Please, spare him!"
Hong Shi, now in tears, knelt on the cold ground, clutching desperately at the constable's clothes, begging for her son's release.
"Sir, even if my son has the guts, he wouldn't dare to cheat people. It must be a misunderstanding on your part!"
Old Mo desperately held onto Mo Yongshou's arm, preventing him from being taken away by the constables. His wrinkled face was full of panic and confusion.
"That's right, that's right, it's like this! The money was given to me by Shopkeeper Xing voluntarily, not something I cheated. I'm innocent! You can't arrest me! Let me go!"
Mo Yongshou's face turned pale as he struggled desperately, sweat dripping down his forehead like a stream.
He couldn't figure it out. He and Shopkeeper Xing had planned to set a trap together to force their cousin to reveal the secret of the vegetables. But now, his cousin's family was unscathed, and it was his own brothers who were being arrested!
"We're only responsible for arresting people. If you have any grievances, wait for the trial day and plead your case before the magistrate. Now, leave at once!"
The constable pushed Mo Hongshi aside and waved his hand, signaling his subordinates to take the prisoners away.
"No, you can't take my husband away! You can't take my husband away!"
At this moment, Niu Shi rushed out with a thick wooden stick, blocking the way. Her face was fierce.
As the eldest brother, Mo Yongfu also broke free from Hong Shi's grip and rushed over with an even longer wooden stick, preventing his two younger brothers from being taken away.
But they didn't realize that this obstruction only fueled the constable's anger.
The constable's face darkened instantly. He drew a long sword from his waist and slashed at the two wooden sticks, breaking them in half like tofu. The tremendous force knocked Mo Yongfu and Niu Shi to the ground.
Hong Shi's face turned pale with fear, but she didn't have time to be afraid. She hurriedly rushed over to pull Mo Yongfu, who was still resisting, and cried, "You can't stop them. Both of your brothers are in trouble. You can't get yourself involved."
Mo Yongfu trembled all over, looking at the constables with martial prowess, and collapsed to the ground in despair.
This blow also stunned Old Mo, Hong Shi, and Niu Shi. They watched as the broken wooden sticks lay on the ground, their eyes filled with fear, and instinctively backed away, unable to muster any resistance.
As Mo Yongshou, escorted by two constables, saw this, he calmed down. Looking at his parents and brothers who dared not resist anymore, a thought suddenly flashed through his mind. He shouted to Old Mo:
"Dad, hurry up and find our cousin. Let him hand over the secret. As long as we have the secret, your son will be saved!"
Beside him, Mo Yonglu, who had been dull-witted, suddenly became smart and shouted to the still-unresponsive Old Mo, "Dad, hurry up. We must get the secret to save us——"
The cries of their sons finally woke Old Mo up from his stupor. He didn't understand why his sons would say such things, but in order to save his two sons, even if he hated it to death, he had to go and beg that nephew...
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