Su Shi's eyes reddened as she yelled back, "Then have you ever treated me as your sister! When you sold the carriage from the Jiang family, did you ever think about how I would explain it to the Jiang family! Did you ever think that because of this carriage, I would be looked down upon by the Jiang family for my entire life!"
"What have I done to wrong you that you would harm me like this?! What sin have I committed to have relatives like you!"
Su Qing had never seen Su Shi like this, and guiltily avoided her gaze. "It's just that the family was truly at its wit's end. The Jiang family certainly wouldn't be willing to provide more money. With such a large family, we couldn't just starve to death."
Su Shi gave a desolate smile. "So, you sold the Jiang family's carriage without any regard for the consequences, without considering my life or death, and without considering if the Jiang family would reject me? You truly are my good elder brother!"
Su Qing dared not look at her, only mumbling, "I had no other choice..."
Su Shi felt more bitterness than eating Huang Lian. She turned to Magistrate Cheng and said, "Please, Your Honor, make a just ruling."
Su Qing anxiously roared, "It's just a carriage! Why do you have to be so persistent! I'm already trying to find a solution, what more do you want! Do you have to push me to my death? How can your heart be so cruel!"
Magistrate Cheng grabbed his gavel and slammed it down heavily. "No shouting in the court! Otherwise, this official will have you beaten twenty boards!"
Upon hearing he would be caned, Su Qing immediately stopped his impudence. He still argued for himself, "Your Honor, this humble one sold the Jiang family's carriage because I was worried about my family starving to death. That carriage and horse dealer maliciously lowered the price. When this humble one wanted to redeem it, they not only refused but also beat me. I beg Your Honor to uphold justice for me!"
The owner of the carriage and horse dealership immediately stepped forward and knelt. "Your Honor, doing business is about bargaining and mutual consent. Yesterday, he sold the carriage to my dealership for twenty taels of silver, and that carriage belongs to this humble subject. Today, he wants to buy it back, and this humble subject is unwilling to sell it back at the original price, which is not a violation of the law. I implore Your Honor to clarify!"
Magistrate Cheng patted his desk and said sternly, "In this matter, the carriage and horse dealership is not at fault. It is confirmed that the refugee Su Qing deceived and privately sold the Jiang family's carriage. He is to be punished with ten strokes and the Jiang family's carriage is to be returned. Furthermore, the Su family's moral conduct is lacking, and they have no household registration or property. Therefore, they are to leave Yao County within two days, or the entire family will be dealt with as rioters!"
Su Qing turned ashen and desperately pleaded, "Your Honor, spare my life! This humble one was just momentarily confused. I beg Your Honor for mercy!"
Seeing Magistrate Cheng pick up the execution token, he quickly turned and grabbed Su Shi, shaking her violently. "Quickly plead with His Honor, do you want to see me beaten to death?"
Su Shi had already been somewhat exhausted by the events of the past two days. Su Qing's violent shaking made Su Shi's complexion change instantly.
"My stomach hurts so much—"
Among the Jiang family members, Jiang Wan reacted the fastest. She kicked Su Qing away, quickly supported Su Shi, and used her abilities to stabilize the fetus.
Da Lang also reacted, rushing forward to help Su Shi, anxiously asking, "A'luo, how are you? I'll take you to the doctor, let's go!"
Su Shi only felt a sharp pain in her belly, and then nothing else, as if the pain were merely her imagination.
But she didn't want to stay here any longer, for fear she might soften and plead for Su Qing.
So she nodded, letting Da Lang help her in.
Da Lang quickly said to Magistrate Cheng, "Your Honor, may we leave now?"
Magistrate Cheng naturally would not make things difficult for them. "Go ahead."
Da Lang thanked Magistrate Cheng and helped Su Shi walk out.
Su Qing hurriedly tried to stop them. "You can't leave, what will happen to me if you leave?"
Jiang Wan grabbed him, "If you have the ability to do bad things, you must have the ability to bear the consequences. What will happen to you? Of course, you'll stay and accept your punishment!"
Su Qing wanted to struggle, but Jiang Wan's strength was not something he could match. With one hand, she dragged Su Qing back and pinned him to the ground. No matter how Su Qing struggled, he couldn't break free.
Magistrate Cheng witnessed Jiang Wan's strength firsthand for the first time and was stunned, his eyes wide.
When he had heard about this from Madam Cheng and Cheng Sinian earlier, he had thought they were exaggerating. But now, it seemed Jiang Wan's strength far exceeded his understanding.
Such innate divine strength, if possessed by a man, what achievements could he accomplish.
It was just that Jiang Wan was born a woman. Such strength, not only was it useless, but it could also become her burden.
After all, in the eyes of the world, girls should be more delicate to be more cherished.
Magistrate Cheng came to his senses, threw the token in his hand, and said, "Execute!"
The surrounding yamen runners stepped forward, took Su Qing from Jiang Wan's grasp, pressed him to the ground, and raised their execution staffs.
Su Qing's pig-like screams followed. Jiang Wan, with a mischievous spirit, pulled his clothes and stuffed them into his mouth.
"What are you screaming for? How painful can it be?"
Su Qing was in pain and anger, glaring at Jiang Wan with hatred, veins bulging on his neck and forehead due to the pain.
The yamen runners were quite skilled. The ten boards were finished in no time.
Su Qing's crime was not a major one, so the caning was merely a punishment and a deterrent. The yamen runners had also exercised restraint, at most causing Su Qing pain for a few days, but not harming his foundation.
Su Qing thought he would be fine after the beating, but he didn't expect the yamen runners to escort him out of the yamen to the carriage and horse dealership.
This was to make him quickly return the Jiang family's carriage.
The owner of the carriage and horse dealership did not say anything else this time, only letting Su Qing return the original price before handing over the carriage.
After all, he had heard very clearly in court that the Jiang family had a connection with the magistrate. He could disregard the Jiang family, but he had to give Magistrate Cheng some face.
The owner brought out the carriage and said to Jiang Pan with a smile, "Brother Jiang, I apologize for the trouble caused to your family."
Jiang Pan politely replied, "You are too kind, shopkeeper. It is I who have troubled you and delayed your business."
The owner laughed heartily, "Brother Jiang, please visit me often in the future."
Jiang Pan smiled and agreed, "Certainly, certainly."
After exchanging pleasantries, they bid farewell.
Having retrieved the carriage and punished the Su family, and also allowing Su Shi to recognize the true nature of the Su family, Jiang Wan was very happy, grinning all the way.
Chen Yuezhi, taking advantage of the fact that only she and Jiang Pan were in the carriage, pulled Jiang Wan and asked, "What's this about the Su family's money?"
Jiang Wan played dumb. "What money? I don't know."
Chen Yuezhi nodded her hand. "You're still playing dumb with me? Do you think your mother is a fool? How could the Su family's money disappear for no reason? Did you ask the old immortal for help?"
Jiang Wan chuckled. "It seems nothing can escape my mother's wise eyes. Mother, why are you so smart?"
Chen Yuezhi glared at her. "You girl! You actually let the old immortal help you cause trouble!"
Jiang Wan pouted. "Why is it called trouble? The Su family acted immorally first, what's wrong with me teaching them a lesson? Otherwise, you and father will have headaches in the future."
"But that's your sister-in-law's family. If your sister-in-law knew you did this, how heartbroken would she be?"