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Marriage of the Di Daughter Chapter 111 Part 4: Mute Grandmother
“Is it fair for County Deputy Xue to go to jail? Don’t tell me Feng Yu Tang, that kind of person, can be the judge. Is there any justice? Don’t talk about other things, when County Deputy Xue was in office, grandmother, your life should have been much better than it is now, at least you can eat your fill and dress warmly, right?” Jiang Li smiled, her eyes swept to the table at the side where the food that was previously had been eaten cleanly by the grandmother. In addition, the winter clothing on the grandmother’s body already had many holes.
The mute grandmother lowered her head.
What the rich lady facing her said was right. When Xue Huai Yuan was still in office, she could eat her fill and dress warmly. Xue Huai Yuan’s son, Xue Zhao, and his daughter, Xue Fang Fei, often sent things for her. Now, although she was still in the yamen, no need to talk about the monthly money, even her everyday meal were the leftovers from the officers’ meals.
The days were not good, Feng Yu Tang’s days in office were like those days in her youth when she was humiliated by the people. But on earth, why do good people always not live long while the bad people stay for millennia?
The grandmother once again raised her head to look at Jiang Li. She asked, “Why do you want to help the Xue family?”
“The Xue family and I are old friends,” Jiang Li said, “I’m also entrusted by others to redress the injustice done to the Xue family. Be at ease, I won’t tell others that you are the one telling us these things. Feng Yu Tang also won’t find your involvement. I can guarantee your safety.”
The grandmother smiled. Her smile made the wrinkles on her face squeezed together like a ball. However, compared to the gloominess before, she looked much more benevolent. She said, “What am I afraid of, I’ve lived for so many years, it’s already enough. I still live in the yamen to see until when Feng Yu Tang can sit in this county deputy position. I hope I can take revenge for the Xue family, but I am unable. I waited, waited, and finally you came.”
Ye Ming Yu opened his mouth wide. Suddenly, such impressive words coming from the old lady’s mouth who couldn’t speak well, it’s indeed shocking. And her words made people emotional.
Jiang Li looked at her quietly for a long time. Then she reached her hand out to hold the grandmother’s hand and said, “Thank you.”
The young, plump hand and the old, dried up hand lay together. The old lady seemed to be injected with vitality, her eyes turned bright and though she then spoke very slowly, each of her words was very clear.
All the people in the yamen were replaced by Feng Yu Tang and the others. Master Xue was imprisoned, his subordinates refused to accept and were locked up. There one person, Xiao Hei, who struggled strongly and was killed. Feng Yu Tang was afraid that killing the remaining people would cause too much trouble and sent them to the mine in Dongshan to dig.
“Dongshan mine?” Jiang Li was surprised, “Isn’t that a mine that has been abandoned long ago?”
The grandmother glanced at her, “Rare that you also know about it.”
Ye Ming Yu interrupted, “What mine is that? Is there still mine in Tongxiang?”
The grandmother sighed, “Very few people know about the mine. When it reached the younger generation, don’t even mention outsiders, even the local people of Tongxiang might not be aware that there’s a mine in Tongxiang. Several tens over years ago, someone dug out gold in the Dongshan mine, so people said that it was a gold mine and reported it to the court. The court dispatched some people to come down, explore and let people dig. But after digging for a whole year, aside for a bit of things on the surface, no gold was dug out. The official in charge of the mine at that time was dismissed, thus the mine became an abandoned mine.”
Jiang Li listened to the grandmother’s story, her expression was unlike Ye Ming Yu’s expression of amazement. Tongxiang’s younger generation, even those who are a bit older in age did not know about this, but she knew. Before Xue Huai Yuan took office, he wanted to understand Tongxiang’s history and he personally took a look at Dongshan mine.
Jiang Li asked, “Since it’s an abandoned mine, why did Feng Yu Tang send them there?”
The grandmother sneered, “Because Feng Yu Tang wants to torture these people. He sent those people to the mine and made them work from dawn to dusk until they could dig gold out. Everyone knows that there’s no gold in Dongshan mine. Those people could dig for a long time and won’t find gold, don’t think about coming out for a lifetime.”
“He is abusing his power. Mining a mine must be reported to the court. He actually digs gold privately. Even if it was an abandoned mine, this is enough to accuse him of a crime!” Jiang Li spoke angrily.
“Girl, you should know that the people working in the mine, not a single one is comfortable. Furthermore, Feng Yu Tang originally intended to torture them, it would be more severe. I heard Feng Yu Tang’s subordinate say those officers were stripped of their clothes and their arms and legs bound with iron cuffs. They have to work all day long, if they do not do a good job, they will get beaten up at every turn, it’s a common thing for death and injuries. A good man is not as good as a dog. Going on like this, I don’t know how many people can still maintain it, don’t know how many people are still alive.”
“This is too much!” After listening to the grandmother’s words, Ye Ming Yu slapped the table, “it’s just crazy!”
Jiang Li pressed her lips and did not say a word. Making people who were originally officers to become slaves, sending them away, Jiang Li imagined the bleak and miserable condition of those people. Such torture was not just physical torture. It was also a huge crush to their self-esteem.
Feng Yu Tang was really lawless and out of control in Tongxiang.
“This is what I know.” The grandmother said, “Girl, if you want to look for those officers that disappeared, go and take a look in Dongshan. But don’t let anyone discover, a subordinate of Feng Yu Tang is keeping a close watch over there….. Do you know where Dongshan is?”
“I know.” Jiang Li said, “I know how to find those people.”
The grandmother looked at her and slowly said, “Girl, I don’t know what you are coming for, but since you started to investigate the Xue family’s case, I hope you will continue investigating till the end. My body is old, soon going to enter the coffin, as long as able to reverse the verdict of the Xue family, let me see that the heavens still have justice and righteousness, it’s worthy to put up my life.”
“Please be a.s.sured.” Jiang Li looked at her, as if making a vow, she said, “I swear I will investigate until the end, will not give up halfway, no matter what trouble I’ll run into, I won’t give up. If I go against the promise, I’ll be struck by lightning.”
The grandmother put her heart down.
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