Picking Up a General to Plow the Fields

Chapter 337: Consequences

Lian Fang Zhou smiled respectfully, repeatedly saying that it was what they deserved.
Without the presence of these respectable elders, how could a little girl like her hope to win?

Everyone was happy to heart this, feeling that they had a good excuse to accept the money, which was even more pleasing to Lian Fang Zhou.

Master Zhao silently sighed again: This girl’s methods were truly exquisite, not a bit lacking.
Jun’er had always been so sensible and calm, what had happened this time? Why did she need to gnaw the bones so hard? She also needed to think if she had the ability to chew the bones without moving! Ugh!

He understood that his daughter was a woman and it was difficult for men to guess a woman’s thoughts.
However, if he knew that his daughter had done this entirely because she didn’t like having another strong woman in Yuhe county, who knew how dumbfounded he would be!

“Then this matter is settled! Master Zhao, I hope no more unpleasant things will happen between our families again.
Otherwise, next time, I’m afraid I won’t feel safe unless I speak to an official.” Lian Fang Zhou said softly.
Though she was smiling, the meaning of her words were not at all polite.

“No need to worry, Miss Lian! This old master of Yuhe county is a person with a good face, his words count! Our Zhao family will never do such a thing again!” Master Zhao nodded.

“That’s good!” Lian Fang Zhou saluted him and said: “It’s very late, so Master Zhao should not stay.
Master Zhao, please!”

“Farewell!” He nodded.
Glancing at the eight servants still tied on the ground, he left with his own steward and the few servants he had brought.

Originally, he had planned to not only give Lian Fang Zhou two hundred taels of silver but also twenty taels to the village elders and the other witnesses.
This was to show his sincerity and leave a good impression with them of the Zhao family.
It wasn’t much but his hands were tied.

However, he had never expected that Lian Fang Zhao would actually use the ‘borrowing flowers to offer Buddha’ trick, using his Zhao family’s silver to buy people’s hearts! The effect was so good, he nearly fainted!

Under the circumstances, even if he was willing to give them a hundred taels each, he had already missed the opportunity and the effect would not be as good as Lian Fang Zhou, who had spoken first.
It may even backfire, as in the eyes of these people, he would look as though he only gave it after seeing Lian Fang Zhou offered; not sincere at all!

So he simply didn’t bother offering.

“Miss Lian!” Master Zhao stopped walking abruptly and turned to Lian Fang Zhou, looking deep in thought: “That note… could it be handed over to this old man?”

He was referring to the letter of Zhao San’s words written by Sun Ming, which also contained the fingerprints and signatures of all the witnesses.
If this letter was leaked, the Zhao family’s face would really be lost! Master Zhao could not bear to leave it in Lian Fang Zhou’s hands.

“Master Zhao,” Lian Fang Zhou smiled at him with an understanding expression.
“Don’t worry, I would never pass on the contents of this letter for no reason! The village elders and Uncle Li Zheng are not cheats and liars, I can assure you of their character!”

Lian Fang Zhou happily gave him a high hat again.

Expectedly, Zhang Li Zheng’s face changed a little and he said to Master Zhao with a tight smile: “Master Zhao, don’t worry! You can count on our words and the people of Dafang village can count on yours! This letter is best left in Fang Zhou’s hands.”

Some of the village elders agreed while others directly asked: “Master Zhao doesn’t believe in our character?”

“No, that’s not it! That’s not what this old man meant!” Master Zhao was forced to say, laughing reluctantly: “Of course I trust everyone here and Miss Lian, just take it as I didn’t say anything.”

Who said that the people in your own family were the best? Master Zhao couldn’t help but glare at Zhao San coldly.
If it hadn’t been for this dog slave speaking wildly, would things have come to this point? Jun’er was so confused, how could she bring such a slave home?!

After he left with his entourage, Lian Fang Zhou sent Zhang Li Zheng and the village elders home.
To Qin Feng, she said: “Send a few people to lock them up and keep watch, we can untie the ropes when they are secure.”

Master Zhao had said he would send people to replace them with their contracts, it was impossible for them to run away.

Qin Feng accepted her orders and directed their people to follow suit while Lian Fang Zhou, Ah Jian, and Lian Ze went home by themselves.

“That Zhao Ru Jun is really narrow-minded.
Although she suffered such a big loss this time, I’m afraid she won’t be willing to accept it.
Fang Zhou, what are you going to do?” Ah Jian couldn’t help asking.

How much Lian Fang Zhou valued her cotton, he had learned little by little.

It would be almost another three months before they could harvest the cotton and Lian Fang Zhou had a headache just thinking about it.
She sighed painfully: “There is nothing we can do about this! We can only try to be more cautious!”

Ah Jian glanced at her and said lightly: “Actually, there was a way but you were too soft-hearted in the end!”

Lian Fang Zhou looked at him in surprised, paused, and said: “Originally, I thought that if Master Zhao and Zhao Ru Jun were the same type of person with the same type of attitude, I would not be soft-hearted.
However, Master Zhao is not like his daughter.
He was confused by her behavior and I think that since he agreed, he should be able to control Zhao Ru Jun.”

“I hope so!” Ah Jian sighed.

“Sister, Brother Ah Jian!” Lian Ze looked between the two and touched his head, looking confused: “What kind of riddles are you speaking, I can’t understand a word!”

Ah Jian exchanged a look with Lian Fang Zhou and said: “It’s actually very simple to eliminate the troubles forever, as long as Zhao Ru Jun is completely destroyed! We had a good opportunity but your sister chose to be kind.
This depended on Master Zhao’s attitude.
Since his attitude was good, she was not willing to destroy him! Unfortunately, this may give Zhao Ru Jun the chance to try again.”

Lian Fang Zhou sighed: “Although Zhao Ru Jun is not a good thing, I think Master Zhao is an honest and upright man.
It’s a pity, I hope he can control his daughter!”

Her brother scratched his head: “Sister, I think Brother Ah Jian is correct.
That Zhao Ru Jun is vicious, I’m afraid she won’t appreciate your kindness.” He quickly added, “But I will always support Eldest Sister’s decisions!”

“Little flatterer!” Both Ah Jian and Lian Fang Zhou laughed.

“Lets go back.
We can send out more men for the night patrols and tomorrow, Ah Ze and I will prepare some traps.
Don’t worry!”

Hearing this, Lian Fang Zhou was so happy, she smiled like a flower.
She nodded and laughed, praising them.

~

The eight servants of the Zhao family, including Zhao San, were imprisoned in an empty room.
There were not many people in the compound, so there were many empty rooms around.

The entire house was empty, without beds, pillows, or even straw.

It was midsummer now and the weather was neither hot nor cold at night, so there was no worry about them suffering.