Chapter 542: Chapter 542: An Invitation from Old Madam Qi
Ma Shisan was utterly confounded by Gu Jinli’s series of tactics. Having lived nearly thirty years, he had never encountered such a monstrous girl: "You little wretch, what nonsense are you scribbling?!"
If this testimony were really sent to the Prefecture Government Office, whether Boss Bao and Squad Leader Bao would be arrested, he did not know, but he himself would certainly be skinned alive.
Gu Jinli feigned innocence: "What do you mean by nonsense? I’ve merely written what you said."
Perhaps because she felt Ma Shisan had not yet been angered to death, she asked again: "Have you any other confessions to make? Hurry up and speak, Uncle Xiao Liu is in a rush to report to the Prefecture Government Office."
Huff huff huff~
Ma Shisan was so furious he was gasping for breath. If he were fifty-seven this year, he would certainly have died of rage on the spot.
Suppressing his anger, he said to Gu Jinli: "Little girl, don’t meddle and report anything; us common folk dislike getting involved with the government the most. That place is ominous... mmph mmph mmph!"
Ma Shisan exploded with rage, glaring at Qin San Lang and wishing he could devour him. Damn it, can he not finish a single sentence? What is everyone trying to do? Is there not a single normal person here?
Han Liu had already finished drying the ink and packed up the papers.
Qin San Lang instructed Han Liu: "Uncle Xiao Liu, take the confession directly to Hu Tongpan or you may seek out Vice Magistrate Ding. If neither of the gentlemen is present, go find Magistrate Liang. Magistrate Liang, knowing that it is us reporting, will surely dispatch someone immediately to arrest Ma Shisan and the others."
Upon hearing this, Ma Shisan rolled his eyes and fainted... This lad actually knows the three most powerful officials of the Prefecture Government Office; it’s all over!
The ruffians, hearing this, were also terrified and started begging for mercy: "Please spare our lives! It was Ma Shisan who forced us; we didn’t do anything bad."
Alas, before they could plead much, they were gagged with rags by Feng Jin and others and beaten up once again.
Uncle Cheng, serving the Jiang Family as a servant and representing them, followed Han Liu to the Prefecture Government Office.
Qiu Lang rushed over to support Qiu Li, who had collapsed from exhaustion: "Sister Li, how are you? Respond to brother, I’m back, don’t die."
He then pleaded with Gu Jinli: "Miss, I’m begging you to quickly see to my sister; she’s fainted again."
"Carry her back to the room and lay her flat." Gu Jinli spoke as she briskly walked inside. Once Qiu Lang and Xiao Ji had settled Qiu Li, she took her pulse and after a moment declared: "She’s fine, just fainted from exhaustion."
She added: "I guess she’s not crazy. A fool couldn’t possibly know about seeking revenge."
This was Qiu Lang’s biggest concern. Relieved, his eyes reddened with joy as he asked: "Miss, when will Sister Li wake up? If she keeps fainting, her health might be ruined."
Gu Jinli took out her silver needles and began acupuncture on Qiu Li, but this time she only inserted a few needles into her head before stopping: "She will wake up in a quarter of an hour. Her constitution is not bad; after recovering from her illness, a few months of convalescence should restore her."
Qiu Li was someone who had been practicing martial arts since a young age and was in good physical condition; otherwise, with her illness so severe, she would have long since perished.
After examining the other five patients and ensuring their conditions had stabilized, Gu Jinli gave a few words of caution and left the room.
Ah Jiang was in a dilemma, watching Gu Jinli and Third Grandpa and the others; there were not enough tree stumps to sit on. Who should sit where?
Ah Duo, seeing his foolish look, got annoyed and smacked him on the head: "You’re so stupid, quickly fetch the cleanest mats from inside the house for the Elder and them to sit on."
Brother Lang had initially intended to let him stay, but as his elder brother, he couldn’t let his younger sibling go into servitude. He had firmly kept Ah Jiang there and went with Brother Lang to the government.
"Eh." Ah Jiang cheerfully fetched a newly woven straw mat from inside, and after sweeping it clean with Ah Chun, he laid it on the ground and said to Third Grandpa and the others: "Please, Grandpa, dear benefactor, have a seat."
Third Grandpa was not disdainful and sat down with San Lang, while Gu Jinli and Gu Daya took the wooden stumps.
A quarter of an hour later, Qiu Li woke up, and her first words were to see Gu Jinli.
Gu Jinli entered the room once more.
Qiu Li said, "I beg the young master to take us in... We can work, just give us food to eat, as long as we can be with big brother and the others."
Gu Jinli responded, "I will not take you in. If you want to follow me home, you have to sign an indenture. I only want those who have signed a life indenture and are registered in the Slave Registration Book at the government office."
Feeling that her words came off as cold-hearted, she added an explanation, "You fled here because of famine and know very well that strangers cannot be trusted; to me, you are strangers as well. Without the life indenture as a commitment, I dare not take you home. Discuss amongst yourselves before deciding. Regardless of whether you are willing to sell yourselves into servitude, I will help you settle the issue with Ma Shisan and his group of evil men."
Having said that, she turned around and left the room, sitting and waiting for Han Liu and Old Uncle Cheng.
After today’s events, Qiu Lang dared not leave his sister behind, but he was troubled by the thought of so many people signing life indentures to sell themselves.
He had Feng Jin gather everyone in the room to discuss, while Ah Chun and Ah Jiang brought over baskets of flatbread, "Brother Lang, Brother Jin, these are from our little benefactor. Have some."
Qiu Lang and Feng Jin took them, but handed them over to their younger brothers and sister. After making sure all the kids in the room had flatbread, Qiu Lang explained the situation to everyone.
Unexpectedly, everyone agreed.
Ah Jiang said, "The little benefactor is a good person, generous and wealthy without being stingy. Following her, we will have food to eat."
Ah Duo’s face turned dark, how did his brother become such a foodie? It must have been the hunger from fleeing the famine that made him constantly think about food, and he couldn’t help but feel sorrowful.
Feng Jin, usually not talkative, spoke up then, "Brother Lang, we don’t have household registrations. After today’s incident, the government will surely know we are refugees. If we all sell ourselves to the young master’s family, we can live together. Otherwise, once we leave, Lianzi, Ah Jiang, Sister Li, and the others will surely be captured by other scoundrels and sold off."
He looked at Qiu Lang and added, "There are more than just Boss Bao’s group of evil men in He’an Prefecture."
Hearing this, Qiu Lang shuddered and, not willing to let his sister become a servant, immediately agreed.
He then asked each person in the room and seeing that everyone was willing to sell themselves to the young master’s family, he said, "Alright, we’ll sell ourselves together. From now on, we’ll stay together, never apart."
Many of the kids cried upon hearing this; without Brother Lang and Brother Jin, they felt nervous. They had been troubled by various gangs several times, and sometimes they didn’t even dare to sleep.
Qiu Lang led them to see Gu Jinli and told her about their decision.
Gu Jinli was straightforward and said to them, "Alright, I will go to the government agent and have Aunt Lv help with your servitude contracts. Gather your belongings; you will come back with me today."
Shortly after, Han Liu and Old Uncle Cheng brought an officer from the Prefecture Government Office. The officer’s surname was Shi, one of the squad leaders from the government office, and an old acquaintance of County Captain Jiang. Upon arrival, he assured Elder Gu and Qin San Lang, "Elder Gu and young master of the Qin family, rest assured, Lord Magistrate has been informed of this matter and will take this opportunity to clean up the West City, ensuring that these evil men cannot wreak havoc any longer."
In fact, the Prefecture Government Office already had evidence against Ma Shisan’s group of evil men, but they had been too busy dealing with the Water Bandit Case to deal with them. Today, Ma Shisan and his men had run into their own demise.
Hearing this, the gang understood they were done for, and several of them fainted on the spot.
Squad Leader Shi looked on with disdain, "With such little courage, they still dare to commit evil deeds. Truly seeking death."
Squad Leader Shi and his men were in a hurry to return and report, so they did not stay long and quickly left with the prisoners.
Ah Jiang and the others also packed up their belongings and followed Gu Jinli to the Jiang Residence.
Upon returning to the Jiang Residence, before everyone was settled, a gatekeeper came with an invitation, "Miss Gu, this is from the Old Madam of the Qi Family of Prefecture City, inviting you to visit Qi Mansion."